- 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. Federal judge says mass cell tower searches violate Constitution
WALA/WLOX reports that “a federal judge in Mississippi has ruled that so-called ‘tower dump’ warrants are unconstitutional — a decision that could have major implications for how law enforcement investigates crimes across the country.”
“U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves issued the ruling Wednesday, declaring that tower dumps violate the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures,” WALA/WLOX reported. “Tower dumps are a surveillance tool that allows law enforcement to collect data on every cell phone that connected to a specific cell tower during a set window of time. Investigators use that data to try to identify suspects at or near a crime scene.”
The outlets further reported, “But Judge Reeves said the problem is that tower dumps don’t just capture data on suspects — they capture data on everyone in the area, including innocent people who simply happened to be nearby.”
2. Hyde-Smith, Britt reintroduce bill to close illegal immigration loophole
On Thursday, Mississippi U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) joined Alabama U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R) in reintroducing legislation to close a legal loophole that generally requires the release of illegal aliens, including those with criminal records, from immigration detention into American communities after six months if no country has accepted them for deportation.
The Keep Our Communities Safe Act addresses the six-month legal loophole created by the U.S. Supreme Court in its 2001 Zadvydas v. Davis ruling.
The legislation would amend Section 236 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to expand the authority of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain criminal aliens.
“I am again supporting this commonsense legislation because closing this ‘catch and release’ loophole will ultimately keep dangerous illegals detained instead of being freed to put law-abiding Americans, law enforcement, and our communities at risk. It’s time to finally fix the current law that permits illegal aliens with criminal records to be released back into the United States after six months simply because no other country will accept them for deportation,” Hyde-Smith said.
National News & Foreign Policy
1. FCC eliminating broadcast ownership rule
The Hill reports that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday “voted to eliminate a long-standing rule capping the number of households a single broadcaster can reach nationwide, a move the commission said is necessary to better help television networks compete with the rapid growth of tech companies in the media sector.”
“The now-scrapped rule, which had been in place since the early 2000s, limited the number of viewers any single broadcaster could reach at 39 percent of the national television viewing audience,” The Hill reported. “It will be replaced with what the agency said will be ‘a granular, case-by-case review.’”
The Hill added, “The rule change is likely to have major implications on the future of television news and could accelerate consolidation by media companies across the country.”
2. Trump takes another swipe at reining in ‘birth tourism’
As reported by CBS News, “President Trump on Thursday signed two executive orders in his latest effort to refuse citizenship to some children born in the United States, after the Supreme Court struck down his earlier executive order aiming to end birthright citizenship.”
“We had a very unfortunate decision in the Supreme Court concerning birthright, it was close,” Mr. Trump said in an Oval Office signing on Thursday. “But a very, very unfortunate decision. So we’re making adjustments.”
CBS News reported, “One order the president signed Thursday targets people who engage in commercial ‘birth tourism’ by seeking to deny them access to the country. The other expands the definitions of people that it states are ineligible for birthright citizenship, such as children of foreign citizens who lobby on behalf of foreign governments.”
“This has been something that people have talked about, not only for years, but for decades,” White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said of “birth tourism.”
Sports
1. MSU’s Boone named to Rimington Trophy Watchlist
Mississippi State offensive lineman Canon Boone has been named to the 2026 Rimington Trophy Watchlist, as announced Thursday.
The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I College Football. The 2026 preseason watchlist was compiled by the Trophy committee in collaboration with Pro Football Focus (PFF), utilizing comprehensive play-by-play grading and school nominations.
Entering the 2026 campaign, MSU Athletics said Boone looks to anchor the Bulldogs’ upfront unit for the conclusion of his versatile collegiate career in Starkville. After eight appearances in 2023 without allowing a sack or committing a penalty, Boone played multiple positions on the offensive line in seven games of the 2024 season. He started all 13 games at center in the Bulldogs’ 2025 campaign for a career-high 944 snaps.
2. Miss. State’s Pulliam earns Sporting News Preseason All-America nod
Mississippi State punter Ethan Pulliam has been named to The Sporting News 2026 Preseason All-America second team.
The Sporting News is one of five outlets used to determine consensus All-American status at the end of the season.
MSU Athletics said Pulliam enters the 2026 season carrying a remarkable mantle of career notes and accolades following a stellar sophomore campaign. During a record-breaking 2025 season, the Starkville native earned Sporting News All-America Second Team and Phil Steele All-SEC Third Team honors, while also being named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll. He blasted 45 punts for 2,104 yards, averaging a single season program record 46.8 yards per attempt to anchor the Bulldogs’ special teams.
Markets & Business
1. Oil rises as Iran seeks to restrict U.S., Israel from Strait of Hormuz
CNBC reports that “oil rose Friday amid worries over supply disruptions after Iran published a restrictive draft plan for the Strait of Hormuz.”
“Futures for international benchmark Brent crude for October delivery gained 1.25% to $83.52 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures for September advanced 1.10% at $78.14 per barrel,” CNBC reported. “According to the apparent draft plan published by Iran, the country would ban U.S. and Israeli ships from transiting the Strait. Until compensation is paid, other nations that have harmed Iran would not be allowed to transit, according to the draft.”
“Higher oil prices signaled that a further inflationary impulse from energy and the situation in the Middle East could not be discounted, sending US dollar higher and government bonds lower,” Westpac said in a note.
2. Burger King strikes back
The Whopper is striking back in the burger wars, reports the Wall Street Journal.
“Burger King executives said Thursday that work to revamp its signature burger earlier this year helped deliver an 8.5% increase in domestic U.S. same-store sales for the three months ended June 30,” WSJ reported. “Burger chains have been working to elevate their signature sandwiches, with both McDonald’s and Burger King staging overhauls in recent years. McDonald’s in 2023 debuted a renovation of its Big Mac and other core burgers in the U.S., promising hotter and juicier sandwiches.”
WSJ continued, “Burger King, owned by Restaurant Brands International, earlier this year improved the bun, box, mayo and other elements of its Whopper. [Tom Curtis, president of the chain’s U.S. and Canada business] said that the Whopper upgrades were working, and the chain now needs to focus on hospitality.”
