AGP Executive Report

MSU Sports: Mississippi State cornerback Kelley Jones keeps stacking honors, landing on the AP preseason All-America second team and earning watch-list buzz for the Jim Thorpe and Bronco Nagurski awards. Local Arts & Community: Laurel artist Adam Trest brings his Venice Biennale experience to an Art Talk at the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, with the museum also rolling out ARTful Yoga and a September music night. Mississippi Entertainment & Nightlife: Birdcall opens its first franchise location in Starkville, placing the new spot next to the historic State Theatre and kicking off more downtown energy. Library & Arts Programming: Meridian Museum of Art opens registration for fall after-school art classes (Sept. 3–Nov. 19). Music Spotlight: Lil Wayne brings Carter classics to a sold-out Mississippi Coast Coliseum, while Hook’em for Heroes in Pass Christian lines up JJ Grey & Mofro and Marc Broussard. Big Story: Prayer vigils and an online service are planned for Nolan Wells’ birthday as questions linger after his death.

College Football Hype: The AP preseason Top 25 is out, with Ohio State No. 1 and Oregon No. 2, while the SEC flexes with nine ranked teams—Ole Miss lands at No. 9 and Mississippi is right in the mix. SEC Quarterback Buzz: A new SEC QB ranking puts Mississippi’s Trinidad Chambliss at the top, arguing the Rebels’ signal-caller is the league’s star. Mississippi Sports Spotlight: The Frontier League’s Wild Things keep rolling—Andrew Czech earns Player of the Week after a huge Mississippi week, and the team heads into a key series. Local Arts & Community: Parke teams up with ’47 for a back-to-school collegiate apparel drop launching Aug. 25, including officially licensed gear for Ole Miss. Health Watch: The American Cancer Society reports Mississippi has the highest adult physical inactivity rate (30%), a reminder that movement matters for cancer risk. Business/Books: Barnes & Noble College expands First Day Complete to 263 campuses for Fall 2026, aiming to make course materials easier and cheaper for students.

Mississippi Politics: Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell says he’s running for attorney general and plans to step down from DPS to focus on the campaign. Mississippi Court & Community: Benoit’s new municipal judge, Assma Ali, is facing online backlash over her religion, but legal experts say Mississippi and the U.S. constitutions bar disqualifying officials for faith. Mississippi Sports & Legacy: Mississippi State basketball and SEC broadcaster Joe Dean Jr. has died at 71; he played for the Bulldogs, coached at multiple schools, and became known for the “String Music” call tied to his father. Mississippi Music: Country star Lainey Wilson is set for two shows at the Ellis Theater in Philadelphia, Mississippi on Oct. 20. Starkville Concert: HARDY will perform at Humphrey Coliseum Oct. 2, just before MSU-Alabama weekend. Arts & Family Fun (Gulf Coast): Humane Society of South Mississippi held a “Paw Patrol” themed pet adoption event at Premiere Lux Cinema in Biloxi. National Sports Buzz: Ohio State and Oregon open the season 1-2 in the AP preseason Top 25, with Mississippi listed among the ranked teams.

Netflix YA Buzz: Netflix is expanding its teen lineup with “Sid & Zoey,” a supernatural mystery-romance from Blumhouse Atomic Monster and Bad Robot, set in Mississippi, plus “Sunshine Girls,” debuting in December. Mississippi Arts & Theater: Laurel Little Theatre returns to the Arabian Theatre with “Once on This Island - The Musical,” directed by Dr. Katrina Cox, the first Black director there last year. Local Sports Spotlight: Pass Christian 11-year-old Charlie Magee won the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship for his age group, firing a bogey-free 5-under final round. Mississippi River Finds: With the Mississippi River running low, people along the banks are uncovering fossils, artifacts, and old pottery—turning a low-water moment into a real-life history hunt. College Football Season Prep: A guide to making the most of college football’s fall slate highlights big Week 1 matchups, including Clemson at LSU and Louisville vs. Ole Miss. Music Culture: A roundup looks at what makes the greatest guitar solos of all time truly unforgettable.

Mississippi Sports Spotlight: Boise State punter Oscar Doyle made the Ray Guy Award preseason watch list, with Ole Miss punter Oscar Bird also named—another sign of SEC special teams talent to watch. Ole Miss Football Buzz: National media chatter is split on Ole Miss’ championship odds as QB Trinidad Chambliss returns after an NCAA appeal, with expectations ranging from “high” to “hesitant.” NFL Roster Moves: Za’Darius Smith is expected to come out of retirement and rejoin the Cleveland Browns after a tryout impressed coaches. Local Culture & Music: A new biography review spotlights Mahalia Jackson’s civil rights impact, while coverage also revisits Elvis Presley’s 1977 death and how his fame shaped his life. Community & Entertainment: Netflix orders supernatural YA mystery romance series “Sid & Zoey,” teaming J.J. Abrams with Bad Robot and Blumhouse. Mississippi Gulf Coast Resilience: Paul Davis Restoration highlights storm-season prep on the Coast, including local crews and backup resources. Food & Local Meat: Opinion and reporting push back on federal meat rules and a vetoed bill affecting small Mississippi farmers selling locally.

Local Food & Community: LAN Farms in Copiah County is delivering locally raised, locally processed beef to Jackson-area customers, with buyers praising fresh cuts and “clean tasting” flavor. Books & Culture: Out West Books highlights fresh reads including Kathryn Stockett’s The Calamity Club, set in Oxford, Mississippi in 1933. TV & Streaming: J.J. Abrams’ new Netflix supernatural YA series Sid & Zoey is being pitched as a mix of gothic mystery and teen drama. Music & Arts: The Walter Anderson Museum of Art and local partners unveiled a three-year arts partnership, while Mississippi Aquarium’s “Toxic Beauty” exhibit turns pollutants into masterpieces. Sports (Coast Focus): Ocean Springs Greyhounds open fall camp with early-morning practices and a younger roster stepping into starting roles. Public Safety: Mississippi is rolling out updated active-shooter training for schools ahead of the 2026-27 year. Justice & Accountability: The Nolan Wells Sea Tow audio controversy continues as new claims raise fresh questions about what was shared online.

Local Arts & Environment: The Mississippi Aquarium is debuting “Toxic Beauty: Plastic’s Hidden Cost,” turning Gulf Coast trash into art pieces by local artists and schools, running through Sept. 9. Community & Education: Mississippi is rolling out updated active-shooter training for schools ahead of the 2026-27 year, using ALERRT to focus on faster medical care for victims. Public Health: Mississippi’s health officer says a Trump executive order on childhood vaccines won’t change Mississippi school requirements, since the state sets its own rules and exemptions. Sports & Talent Pipeline: Mississippi State punter Ethan Pulliam is giving back with $4,000 for school supplies in Starkville, and Arkansas added Mississippi-area baseball talent with Levi Abrego’s commitment. Culture & Music: Tupelo singer-songwriter John Murry returns to Mississippi for an intimate Columbus show at Munson and Brothers Trading Post. Sports Media: SEC Network is bringing AVTF program alum Beth Hicks to camera-operate at Mississippi State football games this fall.

Politics & Power: A Baton Rouge vote on the planned Omni New Orleans convention center “headquarters” hotel hit a snag after Senate President Cameron Henry said the Bond Commission shouldn’t approve it next week, citing missing financing and an incomplete deal. Community & Culture: In Jackson, the International Museum of Muslim Cultures and local churches urged Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson to retract “divisive” Sharia-law remarks after backlash and threats tied to the appointment of Muslim judge Assma Ali in Benoit. Mississippi Sports (Football): Mississippi’s college football kickoff dates are set for Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Southern Miss, Jackson State, Alcorn State and more. Arts & Music: Red’s Blues Lounge in Clarksdale earned a top dive-bar nod, while a Morristown Jazz and Blues Festival (free) spotlights Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. Local Spotlight: The Lumber Manufactory opened a New Albany sawmill, investing $15M+ and creating 50+ jobs. Environment: A Mississippi River carp die-off near Alton is blamed on extreme heat and low oxygen, raising invasive-species alarms. Youth & Hobbies: Wyatt Kurts won gold at a national 4-H shooting competition.

Local Politics & Faith: Mississippi leaders are urging gubernatorial candidate Andy Gipson to remove social media posts calling for a ban on Sharia law, after threats targeted Benoit’s Muslim judge Assma Ali—Gipson says he won’t back down. Sports & Leadership: Alcorn State hired former NBA scorer Monta Ellis as men’s basketball general manager, betting on a championship culture. Football Eligibility Watch: Mississippi State says Jahron Manning and Malick Sylla are back at practice after a preliminary injunction, even as the NCAA appeals their extra year. Community & Education: West Bolivar’s school board hit a crisis as a quorum failed during a special meeting amid superintendent leadership gaps and state scrutiny. Arts & Culture: Jackson’s Smith Robertson Museum faces renovation delays as failing HVAC and leaks stall national exhibits. Music & TV: Netflix ordered the teen gothic romance series “Sid & Zoey,” set in an idyllic Mississippi town. Public Safety Law: Mississippi expanded the death penalty to include sexual battery of a child under 12, drawing criticism over deterrence and victim barriers. Entertainment Weekend: Folsom Powerhouse’s lineup blends ’80s energy, island sounds, and blues with Eden Brent closing out the weekend.

Nolan Wells Case: Wells’ parents and civil rights attorney Ben Crump spoke at the NABJ convention in Atlanta, renewing calls for a federal investigation into the 18-year-old’s July death after a Horn Island boating trip, while also pushing back on online claims and alleged inconsistencies. Heat & Safety: A major late-summer heat wave is gripping the central Plains through the lower Mississippi Valley, with dangerous humidity and little nighttime relief prompting warnings to stay hydrated and limit time outdoors. College Football Fun (and Chaos): Akron is letting a fan serve as “offensive coordinator” for a drive in a real game—boom or bust—for a promotion that’s already turned heads. Mississippi Education: Mississippi’s push for stronger reading and a new financial literacy requirement for students are spotlighting how the state is trying to build everyday skills. Arts & Culture: Opera Mississippi leadership updates and a new arts partnership highlight ongoing momentum for local arts organizations. Local Sports: MTSU women’s soccer opened its season with a win, using two set-piece goals to turn things around late.

Mississippi Justice & Safety: A Poplarville man, Daniel Joseph Chaplain III, was convicted and sentenced to four life terms without parole plus 15 years for sexually abusing a 4-year-old over years. Horn Island Case: Nolan Wells’ family and supporters renewed calls for an FBI/DOJ federal review after his body was found off the Mississippi Gulf Coast; donations topped $850,000 as questions linger. Maternal Health: Hospitals in at least 27 states are sending new mothers home with a “I Gave Birth” wristband to help emergency teams spot postpartum risks. Local Entertainment & Community: Opera Mississippi reappointed an MC music chair leader to its board, while Meridian’s Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Rodeo was announced for November with proceeds aimed at the Boys & Girls Club of East Mississippi. Arts & Culture: The Sudan Tapes Archive spotlights Sudanese cassette heritage through digitization and community listening. Weather & Travel: NOAA warns El Niño could become historic this fall/winter, and Mississippi Gulf Coast anglers got fresh river updates as conditions hold steady.

Native American Education: Santa Rosa County, Florida is rolling out what it calls the first Native American Studies curriculum in the state, built with Lower Muscogee leaders and designed for K-12 students using VR tours of tribal grounds and hands-on “three sisters” farming lessons. Local Weekend Culture: Daytona and Port Orange are serving up a waterfront night and big ‘90s energy—Port Orange’s Riverwalk Social (citrus twist) hits Aug. 15, and One Daytona hosts free ‘90s Night Live. Music Spotlight: Temples is leaning deeper into dance-rock on its ‘Bliss’ era, while Hayley Williams and Daniel James’ Power Snatch drops ‘EP2’ with four new tracks. Mississippi Arts & Community: The MAX in Meridian announces new Hall of Fame inductees and a teen-focused digital comic inking workshop. Mississippi Sports Notes: Madison-Ridgeland Academy will retire Josh Hubbard’s number 12, honoring his record-setting scoring run. Mississippi Public Life: A Benoit municipal judge, Assma Ali, is facing backlash tied to her Muslim faith, and town leaders say she meets qualifications and will stay on the bench.

Local Legal Fight: Residents in Dowagiac, Michigan sued a data center operator, saying nonstop “high-pitched” noise from an industrial site converted to cryptocurrency mining has gone on for years and violates new city noise limits. Mississippi Courts & Speech: UM employees and FIRE-backed briefs support former UM staffer Lauren Stokes’ appeal after she was fired for reposting a critical message tied to the Charlie Kirk assassination backlash. Music & Culture: Biloxi’s Ground Zero Blues Club agreed to pay $35,000 to settle a federal sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the EEOC. Film & Entertainment: D-BOX and Malco Theatres announced their first deal to bring haptic motion seating to 13 auditoriums across four theaters in Tennessee and Arkansas. Sports Betting Watch: Mississippi State reported two football players received minor NCAA Level III penalties for sports gambling via Kalshi. Blues Night in Mississippi: Muddy Waters Gastropub hosts original blues with the JB Blues Band on Saturday, a CD release party tied to “My Mississippi Blues.” Community Recovery: Flood survivors in Stone County were urged to apply for FEMA help after Tropical Storm Arthur.

Local Arts Partnership: The Walter Anderson Museum of Art and Merchants & Marine Bank unveiled a three-year deal to boost arts and environmental education, including a Walter Anderson debit card program and support for the museum’s Senior Art Award and Student Art Show. Mississippi Sports Recruiting: Ole Miss landed 2028 in-state defensive tackle Antavion Allen, a four-star from Hattiesburg, keeping another top Mississippi prospect home. Women’s Basketball Schedules: Alabama and Texas A&M both released SEC conference slates for 2026-27, with Alabama opening league play at South Carolina and A&M starting at home vs. Tennessee on New Year’s Eve. Music & Pop Culture: YouTube kids’ star Ms. Rachel (Rachel Griffin Accurso) and Mr. Aron announced their debut album “I’m So Happy,” dropping Sept. 25. Community & Health: Hospitals are rolling out “I Gave Birth” silicone wristbands to help reduce postpartum risks, with Mississippi among the states adopting the program. Human Interest: Tupelo mourns Kermit Davis Sr., former Mississippi furniture market executive and longtime basketball figure, who died at 91.

Local Arts & Film: Mississippi-born director Princeton James brings his basketball drama “Hoop Street” to the Filmland Film Festival in Little Rock, spotlighting resilience and a shot at a scholarship. Campus Life: William Carey University kicks off the new school year with its annual faculty and staff assembly in Hattiesburg, plus major updates and more students living on campus. Music Spotlight: The North Mississippi Allstars roll into Sweetwater with “Still Shakin’,” a 25th-anniversary set of new songs rooted in Mississippi hill country sound. Community & Sports: Jacob Hoover earns 3rd at the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championship after winning slow-fire and placing high in other events. Food Safety: Taylor Farms recalls jalapeño products tied to a possible salmonella risk, including salsa, taco dip, pico de gallo and guacamole. Entertainment Calendar: Derby Dinner Playhouse in Clarksville stages Elvis’ “Heartbreak Hotel” starting Aug. 12. Statewide Watch: The Fifth Circuit vacates Biden-era stove efficiency rules after procedural missteps, with Mississippi among the states involved.

Music & Media: YouTube kids’ star Ms. Rachel is set to drop her debut album, “I’m So Happy,” Sept. 25, bringing her screen-to-sing-along approach to real instruments and family-friendly lessons. Mississippi Music Spotlight: Morgan Freeman’s “Symphonic Blues Experience” is releasing an album tied to his Clarksdale roots and the Ground Zero Blues Club story. Local Arts & Culture: The National Maritime Museum of the Gulf plans a Jimmy Buffett exhibit in Mobile with 130+ never-before-seen items and rare concert footage. Sports (Mississippi ties): Donaldsonville senior Khy Jones talks comeback goals after injuries, while ECU women’s soccer opens its 2026 season with a veteran-heavy roster plus new impact transfers. College Football Buzz: Lane Kiffin’s LSU move keeps Ole Miss rivalry talk hot, and Joel Klatt warns Alabama’s 2026 outlook hinges on replacing key production. Community & History: Livingston Parish historians dig into a Civilian Conservation Corps camp tied to local records, with hopes for a marker. Public Safety & Justice: Mississippi’s unclaimed-money program stopped a sophisticated fraud bid near $800K, and Jackson continues investigating the hanging death of Tasia Fortune.