- Important state and national stories, market and business news, sports and entertainment, delivered in quick-hit fashion to start your day informed.
In Mississippi
McComb man sentenced for producing, possessing child sexual abuse materials
Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced Monday the recent sentencing of James Cory Matthew Hill of McComb for one count of production of child sexual abuse material, one count of possession of CSAM, and one count of sexual battery of a minor.
The case was investigated and prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office with assistance from the FBI and the Pike County Sheriff’s Department.
On September 15, 2026, Pike County Circuit Court Judge David H. Strong Jr. sentenced Hill to 40 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC), with 25 to serve, for sexual battery; 40 years in MDOC custody, with 20 to serve, for the production of CSAM; and 40 years in MDOC custody, with 10 to serve, for the possession of CSAM. The counts will run concurrently and Hill will be required to serve his sentence day-for-day without the possibility of parole. He was also ordered to pay $1,000 to the Mississippi Children’s Trust Fund, $1,000 to the Mississippi Crime Victim Compensation Fund, and $1,000 to the Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Fund. Hill will have to register as a sex offender upon release.
National News & Foreign Policy
1. Fewer Democrats plan to vote by mail
The Hill reports that “more Democrats plan to vote in person as President Trump ramps up his attacks on casting mail-in ballots, according to a new poll released Sunday.”
“NBC News’s latest poll shows that 36 percent of registered Democratic voters plan to cast their ballots in person at an early voting site, a 6-point increase from this point in 2024. Another 36 percent say they will vote at a polling site on Election Day, 1 point higher than it was two years ago. Five percent say they are not yet sure how they will vote or are unlikely to vote at all,” The Hill reported. “The poll also found that 23 percent of Democrats say they will mail their ballots in the November midterm elections, down from the 34 percent who said the same this time in 2024.”
The Hill continued, “Fewer independents say they will vote by mail in the midterms, at 20 percent compared with 28 percent in 2024. Twenty-eight percent also said they will vote early but in person, a 6-point increase from two years ago. More independents, 37 percent, say they will vote on Election Day, while 15 percent say they are not sure or likely won’t vote. NBC News pollsters found virtually no changes with how Republicans plan to vote this year compared with the last general election. Sixteen percent say they will vote by mail, 26 percent say they will vote in person and 53 percent will vote on Election Day.”
2. Trump, Mamdani meet in NY
As reported by Politico, “In a continuation of one of the most unexpected bromances in American politics, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and President Donald Trump praised each other Monday after meeting privately at the mayor’s residence in New York City for a wide-ranging discussion about everything from interior design to housing to immigration.”
“I want what’s good for New York. I want what’s good for the country. So if I had a choice of having him be a bad mayor, or a horrible mayor — I don’t want that. I want him to be a great mayor, and he’s certainly got potential, got great potential,” Trump, standing alongside Mamdani, told reporters on the lawn of Gracie Mansion before giving the mayor a slap on the back.
Politico further reported, “Mamdani — a democratic socialist who once freely called the Republican president a fascist but has taken a softer approach since taking office — returned the compliments by thanking Trump for committing to take conversations to ‘a new level’ about securing federal funding for building more than 12,000 units of housing on top of an old rail yard in Queens.
“I appreciate the president, his interest in this, and we also know the president not just as the leader of the country but also as someone who has built quite a lot of housing here in our city,” Mamdani said.
Sports
1. Golding named Bear Bryant Awards National Coach of the Week
Following a thrilling 32-24 victory over No. 7 LSU in one of the premiere games of the weekend this past Saturday, Ole Miss football head coach Pete Golding was named the Bear Bryant Awards National Coach of the Week, announced on Monday.
Golding has begun his first full season at the helm of the Ole Miss program 3-0, with victories over No. 24 Louisville, Charlotte, and now No. 7 LSU. Recently elevated to No. 4 in the AP Poll, the Rebels will head south to take on No. 21 Florida in Gainesville next on Saturday, September 26 at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC.
2. Chambliss named SEC Offensive Player of the Week
Leading Ole Miss to victory over No. 7 LSU in one of the nation’s premiere games of the weekend this past Saturday, quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was selected as the SEC Offensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced on Monday.
Leading the offense with a passing attack that now ranks eighth in the nation, Chambliss threw for 363 yards with three total touchdowns, completing a career-high 33 passes to help the Rebels defend Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in front of a record crowd.
Markets & Business
1. Ingalls’ VR welding lab surpasses 1,000 trainees
Ingalls Shipbuilding’s Virtual Reality (VR) Welding Lab has officially surpassed 1,000 trainees since opening in January 2025.
The milestone highlights the impact of Ingalls’ investment in advanced training technology and the collaborative support of the U.S. Navy, AccelerateMS and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) which helped establish the facility.
The VR Welding Lab integrates immersive simulations into Ingalls’ established welding certification process, enabling new and experienced shipbuilders up to 10 times more hands-on practice in a safe and controlled environment.
Shipbuilders who complete the VR program report immediate improvements in welding technique, confidence and readiness for certification. Welding Apprentice Olivia Saranthus says the VR training has already made a noticeable difference in her skill development.
2. Market sees best day since early August
CNBC reports that “U.S. equity futures were little changed on Tuesday following a rally driven by stocks tied to artificial intelligence.”
“Tuesday’s moves follow a strong session on Wall Street. The S&P 500 climbed 1.5% for its best day since Aug. 4, while the Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.3% for its first closing record since June. The Dow Industrials rose 366 points, or 0.7%,” CNBC reported. “A decline in oil prices fueled the stock market’s gains, while Treasury yields pulled back as well. Even prior to the Federal Reserve’s move to hike its key interest rate by a quarter point last week, Treasury yields have been trending higher as the economy contends with rising debt, elevated oil prices and stubborn inflation.”
CNBC noted, “Traders’ attention will turn to this week’s summit in Washington, DC between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Artificial intelligence, the Iran war, tariffs and rare earth metals are expected to be among the key topics covered in the meeting. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent convened with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng prior to Xi’s visit to the U.S.”
