AGP Executive Report

Real Estate: An Ocean Springs “Taj Mahal”-inspired, unfinished five-bedroom estate on nearly an acre with 126 feet of water frontage is back on the market for $2.5 million, up from $2 million in 2016, with the seller ready to retire and a new buyer needed to finish the decade-plus build. Public Safety & Courts: A federal judge ruled a Tulsa County deputy violated the Fourth Amendment by searching a driver’s historical vehicle-location records via license plate reader systems without a warrant, ordering prosecutors to exclude the tainted evidence. Mississippi Business & Community: Firehouse Subs opened in Magee with a ribbon cutting that included the Magee Volunteer Fire Department’s fire truck. Food Safety: Walmart and Trader Joe’s frozen berry recall expanded after an E. coli outbreak sickened 17 people, including lots sold in Mississippi. College Football (Local interest): Alabama’s Keelon Russell powered a big win over Mississippi State, while Week 5 also sets up ranked matchups involving Florida and Iowa.

Economic Development: Janus Organization plans a $2.1 million gasifier manufacturing operation in Greenwood, Mississippi, creating 13 jobs at the Greenwood-Leflore Industrial Park, with support through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive (MFLEX). Public Finance & Cost Pressures: A new Associated Press analysis finds Mississippi has the highest federal student loan default rate in the U.S., with 28.3% of borrowers in default, as repayment struggles shape life decisions. Energy & Household Budgets: Multiple reports flag rising gas prices and higher energy costs tied to federal policy changes, adding pressure to Mississippi household affordability. Local Government: Dora’s fire and rescue truck order is still delayed past the contract deadline; officials say the vendor can supply a chassis in 90 to 120 days, while the city also moves forward on radio upgrades funded by a grant. Health & Regulation: Federal prosecutors say two Ole Miss-related deaths are tied to illegal kratom-like pills, with a store clerk and his son charged after toxicology found specific synthetic compounds. Tech & Community Impact: Amazon Web Services says it will invest more than $1 billion over five years in communities hosting data centers, aiming to address electricity and water concerns amid local opposition.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Real Estate: Ocean Springs’ “Taj Mahal”-inspired unfinished estate is back on the market at $2.5 million, up from $2 million in 2016, with the 4,402-square-foot, five-bedroom build still waiting for a contractor to finish the vision. Consumer Protection/Health Costs: AG Lynn Fitch is urging Mississippians to check eligibility and file claims tied to the multistate generic drug settlement after a court approved a distribution plan for purchases from May 2009 to Dec. 2019. Economic Development: Mississippi Land Bank will cover the first year of Genuine MS® memberships for the first 25 agritourism operators that enroll by Oct. 31, aiming to grow the state’s fast-rising agritourism sector. Business Expansion: Big-D Heavy Industrial opened its first Louisiana office in Covington to support power, energy infrastructure and manufacturing projects across the Gulf Coast, including Mississippi. Local Housing/Construction: In New Orleans’ River District, developers closed financing for the $111 million Rivana Apartments, clearing the way for construction to begin later this month. Tech/Infrastructure: Amazon says it will invest more than $1 billion over five years in U.S. data-center communities, including Mississippi, and promises steps to address local electricity and water concerns.

Ocean Springs Real Estate: A “Taj Mahal”-inspired, unfinished five-bedroom estate on nearly an acre with 126 feet of water frontage is back on the market in Ocean Springs, now listed at $2.5 million after first appearing in 2016 at $2 million—still seeking a buyer to finish the decade-plus build. Madison County Tourism & Hospitality: The Madison County Board of Supervisors approved a 50,000-square-foot Madison County Conference Center in Ridgeland, paired with a privately financed 250-room Dolce by Wyndham hotel, targeting about $120 million in combined investment to land more corporate and convention business. Mississippi Business Alliance: Lockheed Martin won the 2026 Mississippi Makers Challenge at the MSBA General Assembly, earning the “Coolest Thing Made In Mississippi” designation. Internet Expansion: Paris’ public-private fiber network could expand across Henry County, with TEC holding exclusive service rights for 20 years. Local Economy & Cost Pressure: A new AP-NORC poll finds Americans increasingly blame Trump for high prices and worry about affording groceries and gas—an issue Mississippi businesses will feel in demand and consumer spending. Drug Pricing Accountability: Mississippi’s AG Fitch is tied to a broader, $400 million Sandoz settlement push over alleged generic drug price-fixing and reduced competition. Kratom Crackdown: Lee County arrested two men tied to kratom sales/possession under a local ordinance, as kratom scrutiny continues after Ole Miss-related deaths.

Legal & Business Services: Bass, Berry & Sims is expanding its litigation and investigations bench in Nashville with new hires Jeff H. Gibson, Mary Elizabeth Clemons and Quint Doan. Energy Jobs: Mississippi’s Energy Expo & Job Fair in Jackson (Oct. 1, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.) will connect workers with Entergy and Ingalls Shipbuilding roles via the state Department of Employment Security. Health Care Dollars: The Trump administration has started mailing $500 ACA “refund” checks to nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, tied to marketplace user fees. Property & Consumer Protection: Michigan AG Dana Nessel is urging consumers to file for compensation in a multistate settlement over alleged generic drug price-fixing. Real Estate Fraud Watch: EquityProtect says deed-theft laws are spreading, with 12 states now having dedicated protections. Local Public Safety/Health: Federal charges were filed against two Oxford vape shop clerks tied to purchases linked to two Ole Miss student deaths, as kratom/synthetic kratom scrutiny intensifies. Tech & Defense: The Pentagon unveiled an Autonomous Warfare Command roadmap, with major tech figures tapped for future weapons research. Mississippi Economy Mood: A new AP-NORC poll finds only 17% approve of Trump on cost of living, with 65% blaming his policies for high prices.

Mississippi Economy & Energy: Entergy won $13.7 million in federal funding to upgrade grid reliability across Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, aiming to add transmission capacity and reduce congestion. State Policy & Costs: Mississippi agriculture and forestry groups urged Gov. Tate Reeves to deliver fuel relief, saying higher diesel costs are forcing some logging operations to shut down or file for bankruptcy. Healthcare & Consumer Impact: Mississippi is set to receive more than $770,000 from an Abbott Laboratories infant formula settlement tied to contamination allegations, with the broader deal totaling hundreds of millions nationwide. Local Business & Tourism: Hotels along the Mississippi Gulf Coast are filling up ahead of Cruisin’ the Coast, an event expected to drive more than $36 million in economic impact. Courts & Municipal Planning: Long Beach’s annexation trial continued as a public works director testified the city wouldn’t need new staff or equipment to serve the areas it wants to annex. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reported the lowest midgrade price in Marshall County at $4.24 per gallon (week ending Sept. 19). Public Safety & Health: Kratom remains a flashpoint after reports tied it to the deaths of two Ole Miss students, prompting renewed calls for bans and enforcement.

Workforce Development: AccelerateMS is pushing a more creative workforce pipeline, including placing career coaches in nearly all Mississippi public high schools to help students map career paths. Energy & Comms: Entergy Mississippi hired Tamica Smith-Jeuitt as senior media relations specialist, adding a new spokesperson to support its media and external relations strategy. Business Growth: Mississippi State is set to open Bulldog Innovation Labs in December, leasing 10,000 sq. ft. in Starkville to replace the Idea Shop and expand startup research, labs, and robotics/engineering space. Manufacturing Expansion: SANY Nutrition Group is ramping up in Jonesboro, with its first Walmart product hitting shelves this week and plans to add shifts and reach about 150 employees by early 2027. Corporate Finance: Cal-Maine Foods reported sharply lower first-quarter results for fiscal 2027, with net sales down year over year and a net loss. Local Community: A “Lights Out” initiative in Louisiana urges businesses and residents to dim nonessential lights during fall migration through Oct. 31 to reduce bird-window collisions.

Space & Industry: Louisiana leaders are pushing to host the proposed U.S. Space Academy, banking on NASA’s Michoud heritage and the nearby SpaceX buildout as NASA seeks input from governors. Local Government & Data Centers: Mississippi River mayors, including in Arkansas, are urging guardrails for AI-driven data centers as projects strain local permitting, power, and oversight. Energy Costs: GasBuddy reports show bargain pockets across Mississippi—Tishomingo regular at $3.74 and Adams regular at $3.69 (week ending Sept. 19), while diesel lows hit $5.69 in Mississippi County and Itawamba County. Business & Jobs: Mississippi State alum Christine Powell was promoted to director of NASA’s Stennis Space Center, overseeing rocket propulsion testing and key facilities. Banking: Peoples Bank promoted Tiffany Mangum to Senior Operations Officer, expanding leadership over bookkeeping and daily operations. Consumer Protection: BBB warns homeowners about contractor scams, urging checks on licensing, insurance, and written agreements before paying deposits. Public Safety & Cyber: MSU and MGCCC teamed up for “Securing the Coast,” a cybersecurity event aimed at helping small businesses win and protect defense contracts. Kratom Crackdown: After two Ole Miss student deaths, Oxford police arrested men tied to illegal kratom sales; officials say no confirmed link yet, but lawmakers are again calling for statewide action. Community Events: Diamondhead’s city-run Fall Fest returns Oct. 17 with vendors and family activities, taking over from the property owners group.

Kratom & Consumer Health: Mississippi’s AG Alan Wilson urged people to file claims tied to a multistate settlement over allegedly inflated generic drug prices, while separate coverage keeps spotlighting kratom after two Ole Miss student deaths, including arrests tied to alleged kratom sales and ongoing toxicology work. Manufacturing & Jobs: A Perry County re-entry training center in Alabama opened to expand welding and heavy machinery skills for people on parole or probation, aiming to reduce recidivism. Steel Investment & Trade: U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick credited steel tariffs for Essar Group’s planned $15B integrated steel complex in Iowa, with workforce questions already surfacing for the region. Housing & Rates: Ocean Springs reported first-time buyers facing mortgage rates topping 7%, but said higher rates may be shifting leverage toward buyers as listings linger. Business Growth: Refuel sold 41 convenience-store locations for $261M and will lease them back, including Mississippi properties, while Third Wave Insurance named Awan Sikri as CIO. Education & Talent: Jackson State University welcomed Dr. Denise Jones Gregory as president amid a major campus transformation, and Ole Miss celebrated its August 2026 finance graduate class. Environment: A new analysis estimates atrazine contamination at harmful levels may span nearly 860,000 river miles, renewing scrutiny of the herbicide.

Kratom Crackdown: Mississippi doctors and lawmakers say the Ole Miss student deaths have renewed urgency for tighter kratom rules, even as toxicology results are still pending; Rep. Lee Yancey argues the state’s “convenience store” kratom market remains a public health problem. Tourism Impact: Visit Mississippi’s 2025 report says 45.5 million visitors spent $12.4 billion, driving $18.9 billion in total economic impact and supporting nearly 138,000 jobs. Energy & Costs: GasBuddy price checks show weekly swings across the state, including the lowest premium gas in Perry County at $4.19 (week ending Sept. 19) and diesel lows in Marshall County at $5.99. Infrastructure Watch: A planned Southeast Connector natural gas pipeline would cross western DeKalb County, affecting about 50 landowners, with service projected for 2029. Education & Services: Laurel’s Wonderfully Wired Institute for Learning is expanding a new private school for students needing individualized support, including spectrum and sensory disorders. Wildlife Rule Change: Mississippi hunters can now broadcast supplemental deer feed on the ground (with limits) under updated rules aimed at slowing chronic wasting disease spread. Business & Finance: Federal prosecutors charged the former CEO of Jackson Area Federal Credit Union with embezzling tens of millions.

University Leadership: Mississippi State named Kristine Evans interim director of its Geosystems Research Institute, with John Cartwright stepping in as interim associate director—an update that keeps the institute’s agriculture, water, and conservation work moving. Energy & Infrastructure: A Florida-based startup, One Nuclear, is pitching Ascension and Iberville parishes in Louisiana for major power projects—gas plants, small nuclear reactors, batteries, and possible solar—aimed at serving data centers and industry. Health Benefits Policy: CMS and the SBA rebranded ICHRAs as “CHOICE Arrangements,” highlighting a tax-credit model for small employers that’s gaining bipartisan momentum, including in Mississippi. Public Safety Funding: FEMA awarded more than $72 million across Region 4 for fire departments and first responders, including nearly $900,000 to the Lawrenceburg Fire Department, with Mississippi among the states receiving grants. Politics & Voting Rights: A Supreme Court ruling could make it harder to challenge majority-minority voting districts, raising concerns about Black representation in the South. Mississippi Senate Race: Candidates in Mississippi’s U.S. Senate race tied Iran policy to gas prices and household costs, arguing over how to bring energy costs down. Local Business & Community: A Starkville-area college fair and MSU-linked education outreach highlight ongoing workforce and student pipeline efforts.

Pension & Energy Risk: Canada’s CPP investment board is backing gas-powered buildout for AI data centers, a move critics say clashes with climate goals and could lock in carbon pollution. Teen Tech Crackdown: Alabama reached a TikTok deal worth at least $100 million, with teen accounts facing a two-hour daily cap and “productive pauses” to curb endless scrolling. Workforce Re-entry: Stone County’s Correctional Facility is seeing growing demand for its Pathway Home 5 program, but a waitlist is forming as inmates seek resume, digital and financial literacy, and job-readiness training. Local Culture & Tourism: Jackson’s first LEGO Brick Convention at the Mississippi Trade Mart drew strong crowds, with professional builders and fans packing the event. Public Health & Consumer Safety: The American Kratom Association is pressing Mississippi officials for clearer identification and independent testing of “packaged kratom” tied to two Ole Miss student deaths. Housing Market Watch: Copiah County’s typical home value rose 3.2% to $131,400 in August 2026, per Zillow. Fuel Prices Snapshot: GasBuddy reports Mississippi regular gas averaging $3.91 for the week ending Sept. 19, with the lowest single-station regular price in Scott County at $3.67.

Gas Prices Watch: Tippah County hit the week’s low for premium gas in Mississippi at $4.64 per gallon (week ending Sept. 19), with the county averaging $4.69 while the state premium average sat at $4.75. Public Health & Safety: After two Ole Miss student deaths where packaged kratom was found, Oxford and state officials are warning residents about the supplement’s risks; police also arrested two smoke shop employees and seized more than 500 units of kratom plus THC cartridges and gummies. Agriculture & Climate: Drought is worsening across the Mid-South as harvest season ramps up, with farmers reporting production drops and growing uncertainty. Carbon & Farming Research: A Yale-led study says agricultural liming in the Mississippi River Basin can store more carbon dioxide than it emits, potentially shifting how climate impacts of a common soil practice are measured. Local Business & Community: Oxford’s late-night food scene is drawing students and visitors, with new and growing spots built around football-weekend demand. Energy/Weather: A persistent nor’easter is battering the Northeast, knocking out power and threatening coastal flooding—another reminder of how weather can disrupt commerce and travel.

Kratom Crackdown in Oxford: Two smoke shop employees, including a 51-year-old and an 18-year-old, were arrested after police raided Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store and seized 500+ units of kratom plus THC cartridges and gummies. The bust comes days after two Ole Miss students were found dead with packaged kratom at the scenes, though investigators say they haven’t confirmed a direct link. Public Safety Warning: Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill urged residents to avoid kratom, calling it “rolling the dice on death,” as state toxicology reports are expedited. Local Business Pulse: Oxford’s late-night food scene is thriving, with businesses like Feedlot drawing heavy post-midnight crowds during football weekends. Fuel Watch: GasBuddy data shows Mississippi regular prices averaged $3.91 per gallon for the week ending Sept. 19, with some counties seeing lows like $3.59 in Yazoo and $3.77 in Tate. Workforce & Re-entry: Stone County’s Pathway Home re-entry program is seeing a growing waitlist as it prepares the next cohort, supported by a U.S. Department of Labor grant. Defense & Industry: The future USS Ted Stevens (DDG 128) is set for commissioning Oct. 3 in Whittier, spotlighting a major Navy milestone with economic ripple effects for the region.

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.

Banking Branding: Merchants & Marine Bancorp says its bank subsidiary will rename to TownBridge Bank on Sept. 28, keeping local brands and leadership while moving to a shared charter identity. Public Safety & Community: St. Landry Crime Stoppers won two national Crime Stoppers USA awards, including a radio PSA tied to a 21-year-old missing-person cold case. Local Events & Tourism: Jackson braces for traffic strain from the Mississippi Book Festival and a Jackson State–Southern football game, with the game alone projected to generate about $6.3 million in economic impact. Workforce & Energy: Mississippi’s Energy Expo & Job Fair is set for Oct. 1 at the Mississippi Trade Mart, aiming to connect energy employers with job seekers. Agriculture & Grants: Airbnb and American Farmland Trust are offering up to $10,000 grants for “Farm to Stay” agritourism upgrades. Food & Seafood: Mississippi oyster season opens Oct. 1 with daily harvest limits set by the state. Legal/Justice: In Jackson, a detective testified Tasia Fortune’s hanging was “staged” after a drug dispute, as murder charges proceed.