- 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. White House backs Hyde-Smith’s Buying American Cotton Act
On Thursday, the White House issued a statement backing Mississippi U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith’s Buying American Cotton Act (BACA), an action the Senator deemed as a “call to action” to get the measure passed by year’s end.
The White House statement said the administration “strongly supports” the measure and would recommend President Trump to sign it if passed by the Congress.
The Statement of Administration Policy on S.1919 said, in part, that “The Administration strongly supports S. 1919, the Buying American Cotton Act of 2025. This legislation advances core Administration priorities of putting American farmers and workers first, restoring domestic manufacturing, securing critical supply chains, and reducing reliance on foreign sources. It also complements the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Great American Cotton Plan to revitalize the cotton farm economy and expand demand for U.S.-grown cotton.”
The measure would authorize tax credits to incentivize the use of U.S.-grown cotton and U.S. cotton-manufactured products like yarns and fabric in cotton-based products sold in the United States.
2. State Fire Marshall announces arrest in Grenada arson case
Deputies with the Mississippi State Fire Marshal’s Office assisted the Grenada County Sheriff’s Department with the arrest of Deigo Stokes. The Tie Plant Volunteer Fire Department also assisted in the investigation.
Stokes is charged with first-degree arson in connection with a manufactured home fire on Hebron Church Road in Grenada.
The fire happened around 6:30 a.m. on August 31. Investigators estimated the damage to the manufactured home at approximately $80,000. Stokes owned the manufactured home, which investigators believe was financed and insured.
Stokes’ bond is set at $10,000.
The State Fire Marshall noted that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
National News & Foreign Policy
1. Democrat strategists worry that socialism is a “nonstarter” for Hispanic voters
According to The Hill, “Democrats have been trying to regain lost ground with Hispanic voters since the bruising 2024 election.”
“But as they attempt to win back voters who migrated to the GOP, Democrats are also gripping with the rise of democratic socialism within their own party — a movement they see as a turnoff to some Hispanic voters, particularly the older set who hail from nations like Cuba and Venezuela,” The Hill reported. “Democratic strategists say while they may prevail in the midterms, they worry that the socialism label will take hold in the 2028 presidential election if centrists in their party don’t sound the alarm.”
“Socialism is a nonstarter in places like Florida, where there are big swaths of Hispanic voters,” said one Democratic strategist in the state. “The word in and of itself is toxic.”
2. U.S. House cancels votes in late September
The Washington Post reports that “with midterm elections looming and members of Congress eager to campaign, the Republican-led House was scheduled to work for three more weeks before November.”
“On Thursday, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) cut that back to one, canceling planned votes in the final two weeks of September,” WP reported. “The House, which returned briefly this week after a months-long recess, had already been facing attendance issues and a shortage of must-pass legislation. The two extra weeks will give candidates in competitive races more time to sell themselves to voters. And it means little, if any, legislation is likely to pass Congress before the midterms.”
WP continued, “GOP leaders left open the possibility of calling members back before November if the Senate makes progress on a party-line spending bill that would send funding to the Pentagon for the Iran war and incentivize states to tighten voting rules for the elections.”
Sports
1. College football season officially begins for Mississippi’s Big 3
No. 9 Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Southern Miss all kick off their 2026 season this weekend.
Ole Miss heads to Nashville to take on the No. 24 ranked Louisville Cardinals in the Music City Kickoff at Nissan Stadium at 6:30 p.m.
Mississippi State takes on the ULM Warhawks to open its season on Saturday night at Davis Wade Stadium at 6:30 p.m.
Southern Miss hosts Alcorn State at 4 p.m. in Hattiesburg.
2. Recap of Mississippi JUCO scores
Mississippi’s community colleges took the field for Week 2 on Thursday. Here’s a rundown of the scores:
- Jones 27 – Coahoma 14
- Co-Lin 47 – Holmes 27
- Southwest 15 – Northeast 18
- Pearl River 37 – MS Delta 10
- East Central 31 – No. 13 Itawamba 34
- Hinds 20 – No. 9 East Mississippi 28
- No. 5 MGCCC 36 – No. 3 Northwest 34
Markets & Business
1. Futures mixed as investors await payroll report
CNBC reports that “stock futures were mixed on Friday as traders looked ahead to August’s big payrolls report.”
“Futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down 46 points, or 0.1%. S&P 500 futures added 0.1%, and Nasdaq-100 futures were 0.5% higher,” CNBC reported. “In Thursday’s regular trading, the three major averages rose. The 30-stock Dow gained more than 600 points, or 1.2%, and posted its best day since Aug. 4. The S&P 500 climbed more than 1%, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.4%.”
CNBC added, “U.S. stocks caught a tailwind as Treasury yields pulled back after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said he would be ‘inclined’ to support holding rates at their current target range of 3.5% to 3.75% at the central bank’s Sept. 15-16 meeting.”
2. Mortgage rates hit highest level since July 2025
As reported by the New York Times, “Higher costs for home loans have put a squeeze on the housing market, adding pressure to consumers already struggling with elevated inflation.”
“Mortgage rates climbed to their highest levels in more than a year, as recent turmoil in the bond market continued to spread, putting pressure on consumers already struggling with persistent inflation and compounding the housing crisis in the United States,” NYT reported. “The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, the most common home loan in the United States, hit 6.71 percent, the mortgage finance giant Freddie Mac said Thursday, up from 6.66 percent the week before and the highest since July 2025.”
NYT noted, “The U.S. housing market has essentially been stuck for the past several years, squeezed between high prices and high mortgage rates.”
