- Important state and national stories, market and business news, sports and entertainment, delivered in quick-hit fashion to start your day informed.
In Mississippi
PSC objects to receiver appointed to oversee troubled Holly Springs Utility District
Mississippi’s 18th Chancery Court District Judge Lawrence “Larry” Little released an order appointing Michael F. Watson as Receiver over the Holly Springs Utility District (HSUD) late Tuesday.
Watson is not the same Michael Watson who is Secretary of State.
According to the Public Service Commission, Watson was recommended by the City of Holly Springs, and prior to his appointment as Receiver, had been working for approximately nine months as a contracted consultant for the city.
The Mississippi Public Service Commission now says it is preparing to file a motion to reconsider the appointment of Watson.
Within the order, the PSC said Judge Little rightly finds that the current management of HSUD is “grossly inefficient, irresponsible, and unresponsive to the needs of its electric utility customers.” The MPSC fully supports these findings, and intends to show that the appointment of Michael Watson, who has been employed by the city, does not represent a change in the management of HSUD. Along with the motion to reconsider, the MPSC intends to request a comprehensive forensic audit of the utility.
National News & Foreign Policy
1. Former Fauci advisor pleads guilty to plotting to conceal COVID records
As reported by ABC News, “A former senior adviser to infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci pleaded guilty Tuesday to plotting to conceal federal records related to research on the origins of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Dr. David Morens is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 12 by U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis in Greenbelt, Maryland. Morens pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the U.S. government, a felony punishable by a maximum prison sentence of five years,” ABC News reported. “Morens is accused of using his private email account to intentionally circumvent public records laws while employed at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The Justice Department alleges that he concealed or destroyed records of discussions related to COVID-19 research grants, including an effort to revive a controversial coronavirus grant.”
ABC News continued, “The indictment follows a probe by House Republicans into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic that scrutinized Morens’ email communications and accused him of intentionally concealing records. In congressional testimony, Morens denied attempting to evade federal transparency laws by using his personal email.”
2. Florida Democrats send Democratic Socialist to Senate General Election
The Hill reports that “a progressive scored an unexpected upset in Florida’s Democratic primary for Senate, a left-wing breakthrough in President Trump’s home state that tees up a tough, GOP-favored fight this fall.”
“Florida state Rep. Angie Nixon, who is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) but was not endorsed by the national organization, toppled Alex Vindman, whose star rose as a witness in Trump’s 2019 impeachment hearings, in one of the cycle’s most unexpected primary results,” The Hill reported. “She’ll face off in November against Republican Sen. Ashley Moody for the final two years of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Senate term.”
The Hill further reported on the Florida primary results, stating, “But it wasn’t all good news for progressives in the Sunshine State. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) easily fended off DSA-backed Oliver Larkin in a critical toss-up House district, while Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) prevailed over a progressive rival in a crowded primary for a newly reshaped, plurality-Black seat. Meanwhile, two of Trump’s picks for the House lost their primaries: Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), whose campaign was dogged by controversy, and GOP contender Catalina Lauf, who was vying for Rep. Byron Donalds’s seat. Donalds, with Trump’s support, notched the Republican nod to succeed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).”
Sports
1. MSU’s Jones named to preseason AP All-America team
Mississippi State cornerback Kelley Jones has been named to the 2026 preseason Associated Press All-America team announced Tuesday.
Jones, who appeared in 11 games with four starts and collecting 29 tackles during the 2025 season, was labeled a preseason second team defensive back on Tuesday’s elite list of college football talent.
In addition to his AP All-America selection, MSU Athletics said Jones was also named a PFN All-America second team member and is on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List, an award presented annually by the Football Writers Association of America to the top defensive player in college football.
2. Ole Miss adds Progressive as field sponsor at the Vaught
Ole Miss Athletics and Progressive Insurance announced an agreement Tuesday through Learfield that includes on-field branding sponsorship at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium debuting with the start of the 2026 season.
“Progressive is one of the most recognizable and respected brands in the country, and we are excited to welcome them as the new on-field branding sponsor at Vaught-Hemingway,” said Keith Carter, Ole Miss Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics. “This sponsorship represents an investment in the continued growth of Ole Miss Athletics while aligning with a company that shares our commitment to excellence, innovation and creating memorable experiences. We appreciate Progressive’s confidence in our program and Learfield’s role in making this relationship a reality. We look forward to showcasing this collaboration on one of college football’s great stages in Oxford.”
Ole Miss Athletics said the agreement is part of an expanded investment in college football for Progressive, who will be featured on the playing field at 13 universities. Ole Miss will be one of two SEC schools in the launch along with Georgia, while others include Boise State, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas State, Oregon, Purdue, SMU, Syracuse, Texas Tech, USC and Wake Forest.
3. Four Mississippi JUCOs land on NJCAA preseason Top 15
Four Mississippi community college football teams earned spots in the NJCAA’s Division 1 Preseason Poll.
Leading the Mississippi JUCOs was Northwest which came in at No. 3. MGCCC ranked No. 5 while Co-Lin and East Mississippi made the list at No. 9 and No. 11, respectively.
JUCO football games kickoff next Thursday, August 27.
Markets & Business
1. Trial against Meta over child safety gets underway in California
The Wall Street Journal reports that “opening arguments in a child safety trial against Meta Platforms began Tuesday in what could be the most consequential social media harm case yet.”
“The case, brought by the state attorneys general of California, Kentucky, Colorado and New Jersey, will explore whether Meta violated state consumer protection laws and the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, commonly known as COPPA, by knowingly making its platforms addictive and going after young users,” WSJ reported. “Meta is facing thousands of lawsuits from more than 40 state attorneys general, school districts and individual social media users that allege the company prioritized growth over the safety of its underage users and could force it to change the ways its platforms operate.”
“What you’re going to hear in this trial is how Meta hooked children on its platforms,” Megan O’Neill, a deputy attorney general for the California Department of Justice, said during opening arguments in the case taking place at a federal courthouse in Oakland, California, per WSJ. “It designed platforms so that children would keep coming back.”
2. Trump holds off on imposing 50% tariffs on Canadian goods
According to FoxBusiness, “President Donald Trump said late Tuesday that he is pausing 50% tariffs on Canadian goods scheduled to take effect Wednesday, saying the two countries have reached a deal pending final documentation.”
“I have paused the 50% Tariffs against Canada, that were scheduled to kick in tomorrow morning for a three day period, based on the fact that Canada and the U.S.A., subject to the finalization of documents, have a DEAL!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“The great Keystone XL Pipeline, long ago killed by Sleepy Joe Biden, may be awoken from the grave!” Trump added.
FoxBusiness added, “Trump’s announcement came just hours before the tariffs were scheduled to take effect for a three-day period under the Tariff Act of 1930. The duties would have covered roughly $20 billion in Canadian imports, including liquor, dairy products, vehicles, hockey equipment and other goods. Certain food products, wearables, synthetic materials and industrial goods were also expected to be affected.”
