| Tuesday, September 15, 2026 |
| State Rep. Mims won't seek 7th term | |
 | State Rep. Sam Mims announced Monday that he would not be seeking re-election to the Mississippi House of Representatives in the 2027 election cycle. The six-term Republican served 12 years as House Public Health Chairman and the last four years as House Appropriations D Chairman. "I consider these years representing the great people of District 97 as the professional honor of my life, and I am extremely grateful for this rare opportunity," Mims said in a statement. Mims was first elected to the Legislature in 2003 to represent Southwest Mississippi in portions of Adams, Amite, Franklin, and Pike counties. "As I entered public service in 2004 at the age of 31, my wife and I had two daughters, and today, we have been blessed with not only those two daughters, but also a son, a son in law, and two grandsons," Mims said Monday. Mims went on to express his gratefulness to his wife and children "for their love and understanding of my challenging schedule as I always wanted them to be proud of my public service." |
| State Rep. Sam Mims not seeking reelection in 2027 | |
| State Rep. Sam Mims is not seeking reelection next year. The Republican, who represents District 97 in the Mississippi House of Representatives, announced Monday that his time in the legislature will come to an end after the upcoming session. Mims' district spans Adams, Amite, Franklin, and Pike Counties. He was first elected to the House in 2003 and has held the seat since. Mims spent 12 years as House Public Health Committee chairman and most recently chaired the Appropriations Committee. This past session, he served on the Appropriations, Enrolled Bills, Public Health and Human Services, and Medicaid committees. Mims added that he is beginning a new chapter of his life with his family, but did not explain what his next venture would be. Mims is not the only state lawmaker not seeking reelection. Last week, Sen. Briggs Hopson announced that he would not be on the ballot in the 2027 election cycle. |
| Jackson State students to honor 9/11 anniversary through art and service | |
| Jackson State University students will use artwork, reflection and storytelling to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks during a Day of Remembrance event Tuesday. The university's Veterans Center and Department of Art will host Art and Service: 9/11 Day of Remembrance from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 15 at Jacob L. Reddix Hall, 3rd Floor, Suite 302. The student-led project is supported by the 2026 9/11 Day Campus Grant and was created in collaboration with JSU Professor Ho Sik Kim. The event will feature student artwork, interactive reflection spaces and service-focused narratives exploring the lasting impact of Sept. 11, 2001. Organizers said the project is particularly intended to help a generation that has no personal memories of the attacks understand their significance and reflect on civic responsibility and service. |
| U. of Alabama breaks enrollment record as in-state student numbers climb | |
 | The University of Alabama is poised to break an enrollment record this fall, with a slight increase in students compared to last year. This year's enrollment isn't as dramatic as previous years. While more students are attending Alabama universities, lower birth rates statewide and across the country may affect college enrollment. UA enrolled 42,431 total students this fall, according to a news release from UA's Media Relations. This is an increase of 71 students from the fall of 2025, or about .16%. In-state student enrollment has increased by 3.6%, from 18,007 students to 18,652 students. Final enrollment figures may vary by the end of the semester. The University of Alabama at Huntsville saw an increase in student enrollment for the first time since 2020. The University of Alabama at Birmingham also broke freshmen enrollment records this year. |
| Oklahoma researchers test new turf to cut irrigation costs | |
| Keeping athletic fields and lawns green year-round can be a challenge in states similar to Oklahoma, where scorching summers can give way to hard winter freezes. Now, researchers at Oklahoma State University and Mississippi State University are studying whether a turfgrass system known as "bluemuda" can help. Bluemuda turfgrass combines warm-season bermudagrass with cool-season Kentucky bluegrass. The multi-state project is evaluating whether the dual system can provide year-round green turf, reduce irrigation needs and lower maintenance costs in transition-zone climates. The project started in June and is studying bluemuda turf at two research locations in Oklahoma and one in Mississippi. Mingying Xiang, assistant professor in the OSU Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and project leader, said the team is testing a wide range of grass pairings to find the best-performing combinations. |
| Cities want college grads to stay. Here's Cleveland's pitch | |
| If you want to pitch Cleveland to a bunch of younger people, you're going to do it at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Between displays of fabulous outfits and instruments that belonged to Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie, hundreds of recruiters in polos and button-downs peddle entry-level jobs at places like Progressive Insurance, Sherwin-Williams, and The J.M. Smucker Co. "In places like Cleveland, jobs are plentiful. And for our employers, the single greatest challenge for growth right now is talent," said Baiju Shah, CEO of Greater Cleveland Partnership, which is the regional chamber of commerce that puts this whole thing on. Shah said that five years ago, most of greater Cleveland's 190,000 college students left the area after they graduated. Now, just over half stay. "That might not sound like a huge jump, but that's a couple thousand extra students each year that become graduates and become residents of our region," he said. This is College Fest's third year. Nearly 900 students registered to listen to 82 employers pitch them on why they should work in Northeast Ohio. |
SPORTS
| SEC's Greg Sankey's response to questions about LSU legal saga | |
| After simmering tensions between the SEC and LSU boiled over last week, league commissioner Greg Sankey had no comment on the matter Monday. Meeting with reporters before the Monday Morning Quarterbacks Club in Birmingham, Sankey was asked about any remaining issues to be resolved regarding LSU and the federal lawsuit the league filed against the member institution. "Let's talk about football," Sankey said. Asked if that was a no comment, Sankey stuck to the talking point. "I'm happy to talk about football," he repeated. Sankey agreed the last two weeks had been stressful while noting "that's not the first that's ever happened." It's unclear what comes next with the SEC and LSU after delaying a hearing Wednesday and opting against the vote for expulsion Thursday. Sankey said they plan on enforcing the rule about former pros "just as we have been, through our communication." More than anything, Sankey was happy to see competition on the fields instead of courtrooms. |
The Office of Public Affairs provides the Daily News Digest as a general information resource for Mississippi State University stakeholders.
Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.
