Important state and national stories, market and business news, sports and entertainment, delivered in quick-hit fashion to start your day informed.
In Mississippi
1. Cold weather coming to the Magnolia State
Some places in Mississippi could see single-digit temperatures early next week as a cold front moves through the lower U.S. over the next few days.
The lowest temperatures are expected in North Mississippi but Central and South Mississippi could also see temperatures in the teens.
Officials are warning residents now to prepare to protect their pets and pipes from the cold weather, as well as check in on loved ones who may need a hand in ensuring their heaters are running properly. Power outages may occur due to the low temperatures.
The cold weather could also impact travel conditions with icy roads and bridges.
Cold weather shelters are likely to open around the state on a temporary basis. To find those, check with your local safety officials.
2. MS State Hospital employee arrested for falsifying timesheets
State Auditor Shad White announced on Wednesday that Roger Lofton, a Support Care Professional at the Mississippi State Hospital, had been arrested. Lofton is accused of falsifying his timesheets and was served with a $2,671.75 demand letter.
Lofton faces up to 5 years and $10,000 in fines if convicted, according to the Auditor’s office. District Attorney John “Bubba” Bramlett’s office will prosecute the case.
No surety bond covers Lofton’s employment at the Mississippi State Hospital. Lofton will remain liable for the full amount of the demand in addition to criminal proceedings.
3. Two Mississippi teens selected for U.S. Senate program
On Wednesday, the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) announced that high school students Katherine Marie Farthing of Madison and Iris Jiani Xue of Southaven will join U.S. Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith in representing Mississippi during the 62nd annual USSYP Washington Week, to be held March 2-9, 2024.
According to the Mississippi Department of Education, Farthing and Xue were selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be among the 104 national student delegation. Each delegate will also receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study.
The USSYP was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 and has been sponsored by the Senate and fully funded by The Hearst Foundations since inception.
National News & Foreign Policy
1. DeSantis-Haley debate on CNN as Trump sits down with FoxNews
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley appeared at the fifth Republican Presidential Debate on Wednesday. The forum was hosted and aired by CNN. It is the last GOP debate before voters begin cast their ballots next week in early primary states.
The two candidates, who along with former President Donald Trump, were the only ones in the GOP field to qualify to appear at the debate. Trump, as he has done for each debate, did not appear on stage with DeSantis and Haley. Instead, Trump visited with FoxNews in a town hall event aired by the news network in a competing time slot.
While no new ground as broken between DeSantis and Haley, Trump did reveal that he knows who he will pick at his running mate but did not say who that was.
Trump is running away with the nomination according to national polls which show him up by 40-50 points over DeSantis and Haley. Iowa caucusgoers begin the process early next week with New Hampshire to follow. DeSantis could come in second to Trump in Iowa while Haley is likely second to Trump in New Hampshire.
2. Christie drops out of presidential race
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said he was suspending his campaign for president in the 2024 cycle.
“It’s clear to me tonight, that there isn’t a path for me to win the nomination, which is why I’m suspending my campaign tonight for president United States,” he said at an event in Windham, New Hampshire, as reported by CBS News.
Much of Christie’s campaign was aimed at making a case against frontrunner former President Donald Trump. Yet, Christie has not received any real traction on the campaign trail in any of the early primary states, which start voting next week.
3. NASA delays moon missions
It’s been more than 50 years since the U.S. landed a man on the moon, and now NASA has pushed back the timeline to make another trek.
Artemis II was set to launch and make its way to the moon in November of this year. This week, however, NASA announced that it was moving the date back to September 2025.
The reason given for the delay was a battery flaw as well as issues with the air ventilation and temperature control systems of the Orion spacecraft.
4. Hunter Biden makes surprise appearance at House hearing
Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, made an unexpected appearance at the U.S. House Oversight Committee hearing on Wednesday where members were set to vote on holding him in contempt for not appearing previously as requested.
A smiling Biden was joined in the hearing room by his attorney Abbe Lowell. The two sat in the chamber briefly before exiting the room to a gaggle of reporters awaiting outside.
“The Republican chairs today are commandeering an unprecedented resolution to hold someone in contempt who has offered to publicly answer all their proper questions,” Lowell said, as reported by USA Today. “The question there is: What are they afraid of?”
Congresswoman Nancy Mace of South Carolina said the younger Biden should be arrested immediately, adding that he had “no balls” in his failure to appear and speak with the committee.
The committee ultimately voted 23-14 to hold Biden in contempt.
The political stunt comes as Biden is set to be arraigned later this week on tax charges. The full House could consider contempt charges and recommend the Department of Justice charge Biden criminally.
Sports & Entertainment
1. Miss. State upsets No. 5 Tennessee
Mississippi State’s men’s basketball team pulled off a big upset Wednesday night, taking down No. 5 Tennessee 77-72.
The Bulldog win is the first win against a top 5 team since 2002.
2. Saban retiring from Alabama
According to ESPN’s Chris Low, Alabama head coach Nick Saban informed his team on Wednesday that he was retiring.
Saban, who has been at Alabama for 17 years, has won six national championships while at the helm of the Crimson Tide. He won another while head coach at LSU. He is regarded as the greatest college football coach of all time.
His career college record is 292–71-1, placing him as the 15th winningest coach of all time.
3. M-Braves holding job fair
A day after announcing their departure from Mississippi following the 2024 season, the Mississippi Braves announced they are holding job fair later this month.
The Mississippi Braves and OVG Hospitality (Food & Beverage) job fair is set for Thursday, January 25, from 5-7 pm to fill part-time game day positions for the 2024 season. The job fair will take place inside the Farm Bureau Grill at Trustmark Park.
Interviews will be conducted that day for seasonal, part-time positions.
All applicants must be at least 16 years of age and able to work nights, weekends, and some holidays.
Markets & Business
1. Gas, diesel inventories high; prices down
According to Yahoo Finance, gas inventories reached the highest level in a year last week, signaling weakening demand.
“Inventories rose by more than 8 million barrels versus expectations for gains of more than 2 million barrels, according to data released by the Energy Information Administration,” Yahoo reported, adding, “Inventories of distillate fuels, which includes diesel, also grew by 6.5 million barrels versus expectations of 1.7 million. Diesel stockpiles are at their highest level since 2021.”
Average gas prices nationally are down $0.20 from this time last year.
2. Stock futures up ahead of CPI report
CNBC is reporting that stock futures tied to the S&P 500 inched up Thursday morning as Wall Street prepared for the latest inflation data and the start of the fourth-quarter earnings season.
“S&P 500 futures added 0.1%, while Nasdaq 100 futures advanced 0.4%. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures added 5 points, or less than 0.1%,” CNBC noted.
The latest Consumer Price Index Report for December 2023 is expected to roll out Thursday morning, setting the stage for the day’s trading as analysts consider the inflation data.
Magnolia Tribune
