| Tuesday, October 20, 2026 |
| MSU-Meridian receives $500,000 grant to expand rural clinical training for physician assistant students | |
 | Mississippi State University-Meridian is one of two Magnolia State institutions sharing a $500,000 U.S. Department of Education grant to expand clinical training opportunities for physician assistant students in rural Mississippi. The funding, which runs through August 2029, will help strengthen future healthcare workforces and improve patient outcomes where access to care is needed most. Collaborating with Mississippi Christian University in Clinton, the shared funding will support the development and expansion of rural preceptor partnerships, which provide supervision and training for students during required clinical rotations. Lesley Clack, dean of MSU-Meridian's School of Health Professions and principal investigator, said in addition to creating more preceptor relationships, the award will reduce financial barriers for the 40 MSU-Meridian PA students who are currently completing nine five-week rotations throughout the state. Pamela Vayda, who serves as MSU's PA program director and department head, said, "MSU-Meridian already works with preceptors throughout Mississippi and in neighboring states, but this grant will expand the program and will allow students to expand job opportunities within Mississippi's rural areas. |
| Reeves appoints Jordan as DeSoto County Court Judge | |
 | A Desoto County prosecutor has been appointed by the governor to serve as the county's new County Court Judge. The appointment was announced Monday by Governor Tate Reeves. Starting on November 1, Russell B. Jordan of Hernando will begin his duties as the interim County Court Judge. A special election will be held next year to determine a permanent replacement. The appointment was made in response to a vacancy that occurred when Craig Treadaway, the former DeSoto County Court Judge, was appointed by Reeves to take over responsibilities of the 21st Circuit Court District in August. Jordan's legal experience entails various civil and criminal cases heard in state and federal courts. He earned his J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law and his B.B.A from Mississippi State University. |
| Mississippi AG says officer's force was justified during shoplifting call in which boy was killed | |
 | Mississippi's attorney general says a Senatobia police officer was justified in the use of force during a June shoplifting call that ended in the fatal shooting of a 1-year-old boy. The conclusion of the state's investigation into the shooting death of Kohen Wiley follows months of mourning and calls for justice, both nationally and in the small town about 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of Memphis, Tennessee, where the shooting took place. The shooting occurred in mid-June as Senatobia officers responded to a shoplifting call at a local Walmart, where they saw Vellesiya Wiley, Kohen's mother, carrying her son as she and a friend left the store, got into a car and began driving away. Wiley and her friend are both Black. Police reports indicate diapers and baby clothes were allegedly stolen. According to a statement released shortly after the shooting by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the car drove toward law enforcement, prompting an officer to fire into the car, striking Kohen and his mother's friend. |
SPORTS
| Jeff Lebby gives Kamario Taylor injury update for Mississippi State vs Oklahoma | |
 | Mississippi State football coach Jeff Lebby would not commit to star quarterback Kamario Taylor playing in Week 8 vs Oklahoma. "The injury report will continue to speak to that," Lebby said on Oct. 19. "I talked about it in the post-game (press conference vs LSU). He didn't wake up yesterday morning and was healed. It's going to be day-to-day. He's got a lot of work to do, but we'll see where we end up." The Bulldogs (4-2, 2-2 SEC) host Oklahoma (3-3, 1-2) at Davis Wade Stadium on Oct. 24 (2:30 p.m., SEC Network). Taylor, the sophomore who emerged as a contender for the Heisman Trophy early in the season, missed MSU's Week 7 game at LSU. MSU has not said what his exact injury is. Taylor watched the 31-0 loss from the sideline with a boot on his right foot. The first availability report for the Oklahoma game will release on Oct. 21. Mississippi State was also without starting running back Fluff Bothwell for the LSU game, but Lebby did not give an update on him or any other injured players on Oct. 19. |
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