- 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. Wicker’s Telehealth Awareness Week approved in Senate
The U.S. Senate unanimously approved the resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R) and Brian Schatz (D) designating September 20-26, 2026, “Telehealth Awareness Week.”
This resolution recognizes the role that telehealth services play in delivering high-quality health care to millions of Americans.
“Telehealth has reduced barriers to health care across Mississippi, yet too many patients around the country are not fully aware of its benefits,” said Senator Wicker. “Our resolution shines a light on the value of telehealth services and encourages further action to expand the offerings and outcomes around this innovative type of care.”
2. Arrest made in Brookhaven arson case
The State Fire Marshall said Thursday that 65-year-old Kimberly Gayten was arrested on September 16, 2026, and charged with arson. He is accused of setting fire to a FEMA cottage on Fulton Street in Brookhaven on August 28.
A man inside the trailer noticed smoke outside and reported seeing Gayten running from the area. Gayten was arrested by the Brookhaven Police Department. The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) assisted with the investigation.
The trailer sustained minor fire and smoke damage to the outside. Evidence is still being examined by the Mississippi State Crime Laboratory. The total amount of damage has not yet been determined.
All persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
National News & Foreign Policy
1. Trump, Xi discuss AI, security
As reported by the Washington Post, “Amid pomp and symbolism, Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump capped a day of ceremony and meetings with a state dinner at the White House, as the two leaders attempted to project comity despite deep divisions.”
“The dinner came after the two leaders exchanged gifts, then watched a muscular flyover by a B-2 stealth bomber of the type that struck Iran’s nuclear program last year, flanked by four advanced F-22 fighter jets, as the U.S. Army’s Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps played music in the Rose Garden dating to the American Revolution,” WP reported. “Trump said the two would discuss pressing issues on security, technology and artificial intelligence. And he talked about his personal bonds with the Chinese leader. Xi seemed focused less on building personal rapport and more on concrete policy issues. The Chinese president said he and Trump hoped competition between the two countries would remain “healthy” and called on their respective militaries to improve crisis-prevention measures.”
“China-U.S. cooperation may not solve every problem in the world, but without our cooperation, it would be hard to solve many of the world’s problems,” Xi said.
“Achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand,” he added.
2. Obama says government is ‘so much less corrupt’ than it was in the past
The Hill reports that “former President Obama says in his just-launched literary-focused podcast that the federal government is ‘so much less corrupt’ than it was in the past.”
“People are always surprised when I tell them the federal government is so much less corrupt than probably it’s ever been, in terms of just pure bribes, or patronage or favors,” Obama said in a preview clip exclusively obtained by ITK from the 44th president’s new podcast, “A Great Book with Barack Obama.”
The Hill added that “the six-episode series — in which Obama sits down with high-profile figures to chat about the ‘books that have profoundly shaped his worldview and our society’ — premiered on Audible on Thursday.”
Sports
1. Miss. State back home as Ole Miss, Southern Miss hit the road
Mississippi’s Big 3 are back in action this Saturday with storyline galore for each program. Ole Miss is coming off a huge win over LSU while Mississippi State has its first ranked Top 25 matchup in years. Southern Miss has its own headlines, facing a former head coach.
Here’s how to watch each game this weekend:
- No. 4 Ole Miss visits No. 21 Florida in a game where the homestanding Gators are favored. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. on ABC.
- No. 24 Mississippi State hosts No. 19 Missouri in Starkville. The game will air on the SEC Network at 6:45 p.m.
- Southern Miss travels to Tulane to face their former Head Coach Will Hall’s Green Wave. The matchup gets underway in New Orleans at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
2. JUCO score roundup from Week 5
Two upsets were the storyline in this week’s JUCO action on the gridiron, with Co-Lin besting Jones and MS Delta upending East MS.
Here is a roundup of the Mississippi community college football scores from Thursday’s games:
- East Central 28 – Hinds 52
- No. 12 Itawamba 42 – Coahoma 41
- No. 11 Northwest 20 – Northeast 10
- Southwest 16 – Pearl River 24
- No. 15 Jones 7- No. 13 Co-Lin 26
- No. 3 MGCCC 28 – Holmes 24
- No. 5 East MS 15 – MS Delta 24
Markets & Business
1. U.S. economy keeps powering through
According to the Wall Street Journal, “The U.S. economy keeps powering through inflation, tariffs and higher borrowing costs, defying a run-up in Treasury yields and a Fed rate increase. That has the bond market spooked.”
“The usual economic brakes aren’t slowing growth, hiring or an AI investment boom that looks to be unstoppable. To some, AI’s potential returns seem so bright that even steep interest rates won’t slow down tech companies’ investments,” WSJ reported. “The growth outlook helps explain the current predicament in the bond market: The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which plays a critical role in determining rates on mortgages and other types of debt, this week hit highs not seen in nearly 20 years, climbing again Thursday to almost 5.2%.”
WSJ continued, “Bond prices have sagged over concerns about surging energy prices and elevated inflation. Treasurys are facing more competition for investors’ cash from an explosion of bonds issued by companies involved in the AI build-out. Strong economic data are also pushing up yields by stirring speculation that the Fed may have to raise rates even higher than previously expected to cool a potentially overheating economy.”
2. Futures rise as volatile week wraps up
CNBC reports that “U.S. equity futures rose on Friday, as Wall Street gets set to wrap up a volatile week of trading, as a surge in Treasury yields rippled through financial markets.”
“S&P 500 futures were up 0.4%, and Nasdaq-100 futures advanced 0.7%. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 199 points, or 0.4%,” CNBC reported. “The Dow is heading for a fourth consecutive losing week, down 0.6% through Thursday’s close. The S&P 500 is on track for a 0.7% advance, while the Nasdaq is up 1.6% week to date.”
CNBC noted, “The drama continued in the bond market, where the 10-year Treasury yield climbed to 5.225% late Thursday, the highest level since 2007, while the 30-year yield reached 5.502%… The 30-year fixed rate mortgage, which tracks the 10-year note, rose to 7.45%, the highest level since 2024, as borrowing costs for consumers looked poised to increase ahead of the midterm elections.”
