Air Service & Local Growth: Natchez restored commercial air service after more than 30 years, with a new nearly $7 million terminal supporting United flights to Houston—years of local, state and federal work paying off. Ag & Supply Chain Risk: The New World screwworm parasite has re-emerged in the U.S. after being eradicated in the 1960s, with confirmed cases in Texas and New Mexico and a renewed push for long-term agriculture research and funding. Data Centers, Power & Environmental Justice: Reuters reports xAI installed 59 natural gas turbines for its Colossus 2 project without federal clean air permits, with most turbines located in Mississippi and emissions concerns hitting Black communities hardest. Downtown Revitalization: New Orleans launched a grant pilot to match up to half the cost of renovating long-vacant downtown storefronts, offering as much as $20,000 per project to help new businesses get leases moving. Workforce & Education Funding: Mississippi’s MDE will make Education Enhancement Funds available July 15, moving teacher purchasing to a digital wallet system (ClassWallet) with $748 per eligible teacher for 2026-27. Local Business Development: A Hamilton City Council ordinance package advanced solar/battery rules and a TIF update tied to a proposed retail butcher shop and processing facility, with a public hearing set for July 20. Retirement Costs for Mississippians: A retirement-planning story highlights how “services inflation” can outpace income for aging households—an issue that matters for long-term household budgets.