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It’s Election Day… Go Vote, Mississippi!
In Mississippi
1. $22 million coming to Mississippi for safety, traffic improvements
More than $22 million in funding is coming to Mississippi to advance infrastructure improvement projects across the state, U.S. Senator Roger Wicker announced on Monday.
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded funding for three local governments to support the removal of several at-grade crossings, which adversely affect traffic flows and road safety. These grants stem from the Rail Crossing Elimination Program created under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The projects include:
- Pike County Board of Supervisors: $4,000,000 to grade separate a rail crossing at Metro-Pike Industrial Park to carry U.S. Highway 51 over a Canadian National Railroad industrial spur in the county
- City of Hattiesburg: $2,489,608 to support the development of future grade separations within the city
- George County Board of Supervisors: $1,300,000 to study the possible grade separation or elimination of two railroad crossings
- Town of Byhalia (Marshall County): $200,000 to support planning activities for a corridor safety study on MS 309
- City of Biloxi (Harrison County): $600,000 to construct continuous sidewalk and pedestrian safety improvements along the south side of Pass Road from McDonnell Avenue to west of Tara Lane
- City of Laurel (Jones County): $2,256,000 to implement pedestrian and roadway safety improvements along North 10th Avenue from West 12th Street to just south of West 6th Street near Laurel High School and Daphne Park
- City of Columbus (Lowndes County): $4,664,741 to implement the Fifth Street Corridor Safety Enhancement Project along 5th Street from Main Street to 5th Avenue North and at six intersections in downtown Columbus
- University of Mississippi Medical Center: $1,744,259 to conduct post-crash care demonstration projects across seven central Mississippi counties
- Mississippi State University: $4,874,757 to implement the Blackjack Road Safety Improvements corridor project along Blackjack Road from Locksley Way to Wingo Way near campus
2. 200 lbs. of cocaine, 2,000 lbs. of marijuana seized in Rankin County
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety announced Monday the seizure of approximately 204 pounds of cocaine and 1,959 pounds of marijuana following a joint law enforcement operation in Rankin County.
On Thursday, October 29, 2026, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Mississippi Department of Public Safety Interdiction Team, Rankin County Sheriff’s Department and Madison Police Department conducted a coordinated law enforcement operation that resulted in the seizure of more than 2,100 pounds of illegal narcotics.
During the operation, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop involving an 18-wheeler traveling along Interstate 20 in Rankin County. The stop resulted in the discovery and seizure of approximately 204 pounds of cocaine and 1,959 pounds of marijuana.
The driver, Yohannes Haile, and co-driver, Befikadu Belayneh, were arrested and charged with Aggravated Trafficking of Cocaine and Trafficking of Marijuana. Both individuals were transported to the Rankin County Detention Center.
National News & Foreign Policy
1. Blue wave coming this Election Day?
Voters across the United States began heading to the polls on Tuesday, reports the New York Times, “capping a divisive midterm campaign that will determine control of Congress and offer the first nationwide verdict on President Trump’s second term.”
“Mr. Trump, who has repeatedly urged his supporters to act as if he is on the ballot, has insisted that Republicans would win if his base turned out. Democratic campaigns have blamed the president and his signature policies for the struggles of Americans trying to make ends meet,” NYT reported. “Republicans attempted to transform the election from a referendum on Mr. Trump into a choice between their party and Democratic opponents they cast as radical, far-left activists.”
NYT continued, “Polls show that Democrats are widely favored to win control of the House, although it is not clear how deep into Republican terrain their victories might extend. Surveys also indicate that Democrats are on track to increase their numbers in the Senate, and party leaders are cautiously optimistic about winning a majority. But that is a tall order. Democrats would have to flip four Republican-held seats and defend all of their own to take control of the chamber.”
2. Trump touts oil price drop
The Hill reports that “President Trump on Monday touted a new drop in oil prices during his closing pitch to voters ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections.”
“International benchmark Brent crude was trading at $104 Monday afternoon, down from $112 earlier in the day. U.S. benchmark WTI was trading at about $96 per barrel, down from nearly $103,” The Hill reported. “The price drop came amid some signs of positivity in talks with Iran. Tehran offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. agreed to meet certain conditions, but it is unclear if the U.S. will meet those conditions. There has also been talk in Washington of new strikes on Iran after the midterm elections.”
The Hill added, “The war has periodically seen closures of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping lane, as well as higher costs to transport oil even when ships have been allowed to pass through. Damage to oil infrastructure in that conflict and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have also put upward pressure on prices.”
Sports
1. Ole Miss’ Kutas named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week
For the second time in the past three weeks, Ole Miss right guard Patrick Kutas has earned all-conference weekly honors, as the Southeastern Conference named him the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week on Monday.
Making his 23rd career start at the right interior position, Kutas helped the Ole Miss offense put up 45 points in a home victory over Auburn this past Saturday.
Graded out at a 93% with 10 knockdowns, he and the rest of the offensive line paved the way for 224 rushing yards and a total of 487 yards on the day.
2. MSU women soccer’s Tappe named SEC Defensive Player of the Week
Mississippi State’s Chiara Tappe was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after scoring the game-winning goal in the Bulldogs’ upset win over No. 6 Alabama.
It was the first official goal of Tappe’s career, although the German native had found the back of the net in an earlier match this season that was abandoned due to inclement weather before becoming official. She now leads all Bulldog defenders with five points this season thanks to three assists earlier in the year.
Defensively, Tappe was part of a Bulldog squad that posted its ninth shutout of the year, sixth in SEC play and fourth against a ranked team.
Markets & Business
1. Hutto joins Southern Garden Centers
Southern Garden Centers (SGC) announced Monday that Hutto’s Home and Garden Center, a Jackson institution and family-owned business since 1968, has joined the Southern Garden Centers family of independent garden centers as its founding location. Hutto’s will continue to operate under the Hutto’s name, at its current location, with the knowledgeable team upon whom customers have relied.
The transaction gives Hutto’s access to Southern Garden Centers’ capital, purchasing scale, technology, and operating infrastructure, while preserving the local ownership feel, product knowledge, and customer service that have made the store a fixture of the Jackson community for nearly six decades.
Founded in 1968, Hutto’s has grown from a neighborhood garden shop into one of central Mississippi’s most trusted destinations for plants, soil, landscape supplies, and expert advice. Its Mama Hutto’s line of locally blended soils and bed mixes has become a staple in Jackson-area gardens, and the store’s staff are known for the kind of hands-on guidance that is hard to find anywhere else.
After decades of family ownership, the Hutto family chose to work with Southern Garden Centers to ensure the business has the resources it needs to continue growing for the long term. SGC’s investment will support upgrades to the store’s inventory systems, point-of-sale technology and facilities, expanded purchasing power with growers and suppliers, and career advancement opportunities for the Hutto’s team.
2. Health insurance costs rising
As the Wall Street Journal reports, “Food and energy get the spotlight, but there is another source of inflation on the minds of voters headed to the polls today: health insurance.”
“At first glance, there ought not to be much to see here. The government’s broadest measure of health inflation was 3% in the third quarter, right in line with its six-year trend,” WSJ reported. “Most of people’s healthcare costs are picked up by their employers or the federal government (through Medicare or Medicaid). What consumers see is what those payers pass on: premiums, deductibles, copays and uncovered services.”
WSJ further reported:
“According to a survey of employers by KFF, a health research and news organization, average premiums rose 5% this year. This was actually less than employers’ own healthcare costs, which rose 6.4% in the third quarter from a year earlier, the fastest in at least a decade, according to the Labor Department.
“Employers responded to higher costs first by having workers contribute more via deductibles or premiums, cost-sharing for specific services, prior authorization for some services, or changed plans or providers. Contribution increases averaged 16% for individuals and 9% for families, KFF found.”
