State Politics: Lowndes County Supervisor Trip Hairston officially announced he’ll run for the District 17 state Senate seat in 2027, setting up a ripple effect after Sen. Chuck Younger’s move toward a transportation commissioner bid. Local Business & Tourism: Starkville Community Market hit a new high in 2026, topping 20,000 annual customers, with the market’s farm-to-table Harvest Moon dinner raising nearly $6,000 for local farmers. Economic Development: Mississippi Development Authority highlighted how faster timelines, workforce availability, and infrastructure readiness are driving today’s foreign direct investment decisions. Public Safety & Health: A new synthetic opioid, cychlorphine, has been detected in 18 states and linked to dozens of deaths, including Mississippi. Crime & Courts: Jackson police say the hanging of Tasia Fortune was “staged” after a drug dispute, and a detective testified in court. Banking/Finance: Merchants & Marine Bancorp renamed its bank subsidiary to TownBridge Bank. Workforce/Community: Yellow Rabbit held an AI Summit on the Gulf Coast to help schools and businesses use AI responsibly. Real Estate: An Ocean Springs “Taj Mahal” unfinished waterfront home is listed for $2.5 million.