AGP Executive Report

Softball Super Regional: Mississippi State is one win from the Women’s College World Series after stunning Oklahoma 11-9 in Game 1, then returning for Game 2 at noon CT on ESPN. The Bulldogs’ comeback was powered by a big late surge and a bullpen mix that kept OU’s Kendall Wells (two homers, six RBIs) from finishing the job. Fan Culture: “Broccoli Guy” (Jim Stewart Allen) has been showing up with broccoli florets as a good-luck charm, and MSU players have been carrying the prop in the dugout. Gulf Coast & Beyond: New Orleans is set to kick off Sail250 next week with free tall-ship and military vessel tours along the riverfront (May 27–June 1). Travel & Weather: Memorial Day weekend is shaping up as a wet one in parts of the country, with storm risk and travel delays possible. Sports Betting (MS): Kalshi is pushing a Stanley Cup Playoffs $10 trading bonus in Mississippi via promo code NYPMAX.

Super Regional Shock: Mississippi State softball stunned Oklahoma 11-9 after trailing 6-2 and 9-6, scoring nine runs in the final two innings to grab its first-ever super regional win and move one step from the WCWS. SEC Baseball Buzz: In Hoover, Auburn kept rolling in the SEC Tournament, while Ole Miss helped spark a social-media meme war over the new automatic ball-strike system—so even baseball’s tech got a hype moment. Politics in Focus: Three Republican senators say Mississippi redistricting is still “early,” arguing lawmakers haven’t even introduced new maps yet, despite protests and voting-rights warnings. Public Safety: Louisiana State Police report a deadly chain-reaction crash on I-10 near the Mississippi line, with investigators still looking into whether drugs or alcohol played a role. Entertainment & Travel: Universal announced Halloween Horror Nights 2026 will feature a “Sinners” haunted house set in the 1930s Mississippi Delta.

Memorial Day Road Safety: Mississippi Highway Patrol kicked off its holiday enforcement period Friday through Monday, aiming to cut speeding, distracted driving, and unbuckled trips with checkpoints and extra troopers. Natchez Trace Crash: A tree fell on a car on the Natchez Trace near Utica; the driver was rescued and airlifted to a hospital. Blues in Gulfport: Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience lands in South Mississippi Oct. 17 at iMPAC in Gulfport, with tickets coming soon. Local Arts & Activism: Ocean Springs’ Walter Anderson Museum hosts the Fisheye Film Festival June 11–13, spotlighting environment and activism through Mississippi filmmakers. Sports Spotlight: Tennessee softball is up 1-0 over Georgia in the NCAA super regional, with Game 2 Friday on ESPN2. Food Recall: Kettle Cuisine recalled 24-oz Whole Foods Market Kitchen Minestrone cups due to undeclared shrimp allergens.

Pentagon Funding Boost: Michigan lawmakers just cleared $152M for Selfridge, unlocking $792M in federal upgrades for new aircraft platforms—big money for the base’s future. Mississippi Spotlight: ProSat Networks is expanding in Mississippi with professional Starlink installation plus managed IT and wireless networking services. Voting Rights Fight: The NAACP’s “Out of Bounds” campaign is pushing Black athletes and fans to boycott major Southern college sports tied to states accused of weakening Black voting power through redistricting—Mississippi is in the target list. Local Main Street Wins: Lumberton’s Main Street Association handed out façade grants funded by Mississippi Power, helping downtown businesses spruce up. Entertainment & Pop Culture: Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is rolling out “Sinners,” a cinematic vampire haunted house inspired by Ryan Coogler’s film. Sports (MS): Petal won the 2026 MHSAA Class 7A baseball title, beating Oxford 7-4.

Death Penalty Drama in Tennessee: Tony Carruthers’ execution was halted after officials couldn’t find a suitable vein for a required backup IV line, and Gov. Bill Lee then granted him a one-year stay. Mississippi Community & Public Safety: Mississippi’s 2026 Public Safety Summit drew 900+ first responders and leaders in Flowood, pushing shared training and mental wellness. Local Events & Culture: Bay St. Louis is getting national shine as World Atlas names it No. 2 on “Most Welcoming Towns,” while Oxford’s Old-Time Piano Playing Contest returns May 21-24. Entertainment & Travel Buzz: Universal announced Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” is coming to Halloween Horror Nights as a haunted house set in a 1930s Mississippi Delta juke joint. Sports Spotlight: Mississippi State softball pitcher Peja Goold earns Second-Team All-American honors as the Bulldogs chase the WCWS.

SEC Tournament Weather Shuffle: Rain and lightning risk in Hoover forced the SEC to tweak Thursday’s baseball schedule, moving Mississippi State–Georgia up to 12 p.m. CT and setting Alabama–Florida for 30 minutes after. Alabama vs. Florida (How to Watch): No. 4 seed Alabama (double-bye) opens Thursday at 3:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network/ESPN+. Local Headline: Meridian business owners say dumpster divers are escalating—overturned bins, mess left behind, and even locks not stopping break-ins—so the city is asking for camera footage to identify the culprits. Ole Miss Summer Plans: The Summer Sunset Series returns to The Grove in June with free Sunday concerts starting at 6 p.m. History on the Calendar: Two Mississippi Museums hosts Civil War historian Charles Dew June 10 for “History Is Lunch.” Sports Heartbreak: LSU’s season ends in the SEC Tournament after a 3-1 loss to Auburn, with a late error and a lightning-delayed finish. National Impact: The NAACP and CBC launch an “Out of Bounds” boycott urging Black athletes and fans to withhold support from major public universities in states accused of restricting voting rights.

SEC Baseball: Mississippi State kept rolling in the SEC Tournament, run-ruling Missouri 12-2 in seven innings behind Tomas Valincius’ six-inning gem and a big hitting surge from Vytas Valincius, sending the Bulldogs to face Georgia next. NCAA Softball: The SEC’s softball footprint is huge in super regionals, with nine SEC teams still alive—LSU, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi State all set for high-stakes matchups. Mississippi Sports Spotlight: Tomas Valincius also grabbed the Ferris Trophy, adding hardware to a standout season. Local Governance: Jackson County is asking questions after officials heard about a possible AI/data center proposal near Highway 231, but say they still lack concrete details. Politics & Culture: The NAACP and Congressional Black Caucus are pushing a college-sports boycott tied to voting-rights and redistricting fights, with SEC schools in the crosshairs. National News: Liberal icon and gay-rights pioneer Barney Frank has died at 86.

Sports Spotlight: Mississippi State’s Tomas Valincius just won the 2026 Ferriss Trophy, capping a standout season that’s put the Bulldogs in the postseason spotlight. Softball Magic: MSU’s super regional run is being credited to a very real “broccoli” good-luck ritual after Alyssa Faircloth’s no-hitter helped push the team forward. SEC Tournament Buzz: Ole Miss is out after a Missouri upset in Hoover, while Mississippi State is set to open its SEC Tournament run Wednesday. Public Health Alert: Kroger is recalling certain Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons over possible Salmonella risk, with no illnesses reported. Civic Pressure: The NAACP launched its “Out of Bounds” campaign urging Black athletes and fans to boycott major public university sports programs in states it says are weakening Black voting power. Local Life: Boozy Rae’s bar in Fort Madison announced it will close June 4. Community Calendar: Mississippi Pickle Fest is coming to Jackson June 13–14.

SEC Baseball Tournament: The conference’s big week is underway in Hoover, Alabama, and Missouri just pulled a shocker—beating Ole Miss 10-8 in the first round and setting up a Wednesday matchup with Mississippi State. Civil Rights & Sports: The NAACP launched its “Out of Bounds” campaign, urging Black athletes and fans to boycott public college sports in states it says are weakening Black voting power, naming Mississippi among others. Local Education Spotlight: SR1 College Preparatory & STEM Academy in Canton says 69% of its kindergarteners hit reading benchmarks at or above level. Crime & Courts: A former Reservoir Police officer, Rodney Jernigan, was sentenced to 40 years for child sex crimes. Food Safety: Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons are under recall in multiple states, including Mississippi, due to possible salmonella risk. Community & Culture: The Ohr O’Keefe Museum of Art gets a Coast Chamber spotlight, while the New Orleans Symphony Book Fair returns May 30-31.

AI Crime Sentencing: A former Corinth middle school teacher, Wilson Jones, was sentenced to five years in prison for creating AI-generated pornographic videos of students, after investigators say he used school laptop access to upload explicit AI videos made from girls’ images; he’ll also face five years of supervised release and sex-offender registration. Sports Spotlight: Mississippi State’s Tomas Valincius won the 2026 Ferriss Trophy, beating finalists from MSU and Ole Miss, after a standout season on the mound. State Sports & Events: The 2026 State Games of Mississippi lineup is set, with team sports like baseball and volleyball plus events ranging from chess to archery, kicking off June 5 in Meridian. Politics & Voting Maps: Mississippi’s redistricting fight is heating up again after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a ruling tied to the Voting Rights Act, with lawmakers moving toward new district proposals. SEC Baseball Buzz: Auburn’s latest rankings update came after a weekend loss to Georgia, while LSU’s SEC Tournament path remains a steep climb.

Special Olympics Spotlight: Special Olympics Louisiana and Special Olympics Mississippi are teaming up for the 2026 State Summer Games at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, May 22–24, with 500+ athletes and Unified Partners plus new events like Golf and Powerlifting. Mississippi Sports Buzz: Alyssa Faircloth fired a no-hitter as Mississippi State softball beat Oregon 4-0, putting the Bulldogs one win from a super regional. Coast Casino Update: A new $75 million, smoke-free Beach Casino opened in Gulfport with plans for a sports-betting setup. Politics & Culture: Lane Kiffin’s latest Ole Miss recruiting comments are still sparking backlash, with Ole Miss-linked voices pushing back on what he said about “segregation” concerns. Legal/Policy Watch: NetChoice is suing to block Nebraska’s parental-consent and age-verification rules for social media, arguing it violates the First Amendment. Weather: Magnolia starts the week warm and humid, then turns wetter Tuesday and Wednesday.

NCAA Softball: The 2026 NCAA Tournament is now down to the Super Regional matchups, with the bracket officially set after the field of 64 shrank to 16—expect big-name programs to keep rolling as only a few top seeds stumbled early. Mississippi Sports Spotlight: Mississippi Senior Games beach volleyball brought the community to Long Beach Harbor, with athletes 50+ competing in doubles and quads and organizers calling it a “same-age” boost for confidence. Music & Live Events: Country icon Jo Dee Messina is headed to the Kansas State Fair on Sept. 13, with Adam Doleac opening—another reminder that major touring acts are still finding room for big regional stages. Local Arts: The Gulf Coast Art Association is gearing up for its near-100-year milestone with a centennial exhibit at the Gulfport Museum of History. Pop Culture Buzz: Dak Prescott’s dating rumors keep swirling after a would-be bridesmaid spoke out following his split from Sarah Jane Ramos.

NCAA Softball Spotlight: Tennessee is headed back to the regional championship after beating Virginia 7-5, powered by a five-run first inning and big swings from Makenzie Butt and Emma Clarke; the Lady Vols will play the winner of the other loser-bracket game on May 17 at 2 p.m. Mississippi Coast Community Giving: Malco’s “Midweek at Malco” is back with $3 animated-classic tickets, with proceeds benefiting children’s hospitals including Children’s of Mississippi in Jackson. Local Growth Watch: Gautier Mayor Casey Vaughan highlighted momentum from Town Commons to Legacy Park and the new Songwriters Museum, plus more concert partnerships at The Sound Amphitheater. SEC Baseball in Focus: The SEC Tournament bracket is set at Hoover, with Ole Miss starting Tuesday vs. Missouri and Mississippi State waiting in the second round depending on results. Mississippi Sports Moment: Alyssa Faircloth’s no-hitter lifted Mississippi State over Oregon 4-0, a first for the Bulldogs in NCAA tournament play.

SEC Baseball Stakes: Mississippi State’s regular season ended with a 7-6 loss to Texas A&M, despite 11 hits and a late push—setting up the Bulldogs for the SEC Tournament in Hoover with a possible No. 8-10 seed. Softball Shockwave: Oregon’s NCAA run took a hit in Eugene when Mississippi State’s Alyssa Faircloth fired a no-hitter in a 4-0 win, forcing the Ducks into a knockout path. College Football Health Update: Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy returned to Columbia after being hospitalized for a shooting in Laurel, Mississippi; he’s walking and doing physical therapy while police work continues. Tournament Countdown: The SEC Baseball Tournament bracket is set, with Arkansas landing the No. 7 seed and Mississippi State set to open Wednesday. Music on the Move: Country icon Jo Dee Messina is booked for the 2026 Kansas State Fair on Sept. 13, with Adam Doleac opening. Learning Recession Watch: A new study says U.S. test scores have slid for years, with Arkansas math showing a modest rebound since 2022.

NCAA Softball Spotlight: Tennessee punched its ticket in the winners’ bracket, beating Northern Kentucky and setting up a 3 p.m. showdown with Virginia after Virginia survived extra innings vs. Indiana. SEC Baseball: Mississippi State exploded for 13 in the third to stun Texas A&M 18-11 in the opener, while LSU and Florida are tied to a series finale after LSU was run-ruled 11-1. Sun Belt Baseball: Louisiana’s bats went quiet in a 6-0 shutout loss to No. 20 Coastal Carolina, tying the series and forcing a rubber match. Missouri Football Update: RB Ahmad Hardy is “in good spirits” after being shot, hoping to leave the hospital Monday as police follow leads from the May 10 incident. Local Mississippi: Starkville is set to halt its Power of Change utility donation program after a 2023 AG opinion raised legal concerns. Music & Entertainment: Jo Dee Messina lands at the Kansas State Fair Sept. 13, and Netflix finally gets Taylor Sheridan’s “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” with a new premiere date.

Sports Shockwave: LSU’s baseball season took another hit as the Tigers were run-ruled 11-1 by No. 20 Florida, dropping the series after a rough start that saw freshman Marcos Paz burn through pitches early. SEC Weekend Watch: Auburn’s baseball couldn’t close it out either—Georgia beat the Tigers 9-7 to complete a series win. Mississippi on the Board: In softball postseason action, Arkansas’ Payton Burnham kept rolling with an 8-0 run-rule shutout of Fordham in the Fayetteville regional opener. America 250 in Mississippi: Mississippi National Guard troops are deploying to Washington, D.C., to support security for the America250 celebration, with Gov. Tate Reeves sharing the news. Local Culture: A new Jackson mural honoring Mississippi history and the Civil Rights Movement is now on display at the Albert Wilson Empowerment Building. Courts & Water: A lawsuit over whether Mississippi withheld Jackson ARPA water funds heads into another fight, with plaintiffs disputing the state’s claims about full disbursement.