Mississippi
Mississippi State’s clash with LSU to feature multiple reunions
Last year, Darrione Rogers was Aneesah Morrow’s co-star at DePaul, with the duo helping the Blue Demons lead the Big East in scoring offense as Morrow finished second in the conference in points per game with Rogers in fourth.
The Chicago natives have both found new homes this season in the Southeastern Conference, and will play against each other for the first time in their collegiate careers on Monday night when Rogers and Mississippi State host Morrow and No. 9 LSU.
“I respect Aneesah as a player. We had a great relationship,” Rogers said. “But we have not spoken or anything, so at the end of the day, I wish her nothing but the best. She’s at LSU, I’m at Mississippi State, no bad blood. We’re both competitors. When we step on the court, she’s going to try to win and do what it takes for her team to win, and I’m going to try to lead my team to a victory.”
The defending national champion Tigers also added star point guard Hailey Van Lith from Louisville in the transfer portal, and Van Lith’s time with the Cardinals overlapped with that of Bulldogs head coach Sam Purcell, who was a longtime Louisville assistant coach before taking the MSU job in 2022.
Purcell was the Cardinals’ recruiting coordinator when Van Lith was going through her recruiting process, and the two have maintained a strong relationship.
“I know that kid like the back of my hand. She’s special,” Purcell said. “She keeps reaching out, she checks on my kids and my family. Her parents are awesome. We’ll hug, and she knows it’s nothing but love, but when the lights come on, we’ll both be going at each other because that’s who we are.”
The Bulldogs (16-5, 3-3 SEC) have a full week to prepare for LSU after their road win over Florida this past Monday, while the Tigers (18-3, 5-2) are coming off a home loss to No. 1 South Carolina on Thursday night in which they led for nearly 33 minutes. With LSU star Angel Reese battling foul trouble and ultimately fouling out with four minutes left, the Gamecocks took control late and outscored the Tigers 24-14 in the fourth quarter.
Reese, who played her first two college seasons at Maryland, leads LSU with 19.6 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, both of which are second in the SEC. Morrow is fourth in the conference in scoring with 18 points per game, and Mikaylah Williams is the Tigers’ 3-point specialist, having made 41 of her 100 attempts this season. Van Lith is fourth in the SEC in assists with 4.5 per contest.
“They had the No. 1 transfer class in the country (and) they had the No. 1 high school recruiting class in the country,” Purcell said. “They’re a lot like us where they had some injuries, and what’s scary is that team is playing their best basketball.”
MSU is in a better place on the injury front with the return of Nyayongah Gony, who played eight minutes against the Gators in her first action since early December. Gony gives the Bulldogs more depth in the paint alongside Jessika Carter and Erynn Barnum, which will be critical against an LSU team that has the best rebounding margin in the SEC, pulling down 15.3 more boards per game than their opponents.
The Tigers also have the third-best overall offense in the country, putting up more than 90 points per game, and are in the top three in the conference in field goal percentage, free throw percentage, assists and steals. They also force 21.6 turnovers per contest, the most in the SEC.
LSU opened the season with a home loss to a Colorado team that has since risen to No. 3 in the AP poll, then reeled off 16 straight wins before falling at Auburn on Jan. 14. The Tigers then blew out Alabama and Arkansas before dropping Thursday’s home showdown to South Carolina.
“We’re looking forward to hosting them here at our place,” Purcell said. “It’s as simple as this: You have to rebound. The way they’re able to get after it, looking at last year’s box score, we gave up 24 second-chance points. That’s game. Our team knows that, we have to be tough, and most importantly, we have to be a four-quarter team.”
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Mississippi
Political speeches happening at Neshoba County Fair. Here’s the schedule – SuperTalk Mississippi
Mississippi’s most prominent political stage will once again be filled with elected officials and candidates looking to make their case to voters during the 137th annual Neshoba County Fair.
The podium, situated beneath a wooden pavilion in Founder’s Square, gained national attention when Ronald Reagan delivered a speech there during the 1980 presidential campaign. In the decades since, the venue has become a proving ground for candidates seeking office at every level of government, often serving as a launching pad – or stumbling block – for political ambitions.
With the 2026 election cycle featuring congressional midterms, this year’s fair offers challengers a chance to connect with voters while incumbents remain in Washington as Congress conducts business. The event also provides an early look into the 2027 statewide election cycle, giving fairgoers an opportunity to hear from current officeholders who may be considering bids for higher office.
Political speaking is scheduled for the mornings of Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25. Invitations are extended to Mississippi’s statewide elected officials, candidates seeking statewide office, and elected officials and candidates who districts include Neshoba County.
Wednesday, June 24
- 9:30 a.m. — Lane Taylor (R), state senator, District 18
- 9:40 a.m. — Michael Chiaradino (D), candidate for U.S. House, Mississippi’s 3rd Congressional District
- 9:50 a.m. — Ty Pinkins (Ind.), candidate for U.S. Senate
- 10 a.m. — Scott Colom (D), candidate for U.S. Senate
- 10:10 a.m. — Break
- 10:20 a.m. — David McRae (R), state treasurer
- 10:30 a.m. — Lynn Fitch (R), attorney general
- 10:40 a.m. — Delbert Hosemann (R), lieutenant governor
Thursday, June 25
- 9 a.m. — Scott Bounds (R), state representative, District 44
- 9:10 a.m. — DeKeither Stamps (D), public service commissioner, Central District
- 9:20 a.m. — Willie Simmons (D), transportation commissioner, Central District
- 9:30 a.m. — Jenifer Branning, Mississippi Supreme Court justice, District 1, Place 3
- 9:40 a.m. — Kenny Griffis, Mississippi Supreme Court justice, District 1, Place 1
- 9:50 a.m. — Break
- 10 a.m. — Andy Gipson (R), commissioner of agriculture and commerce
- 10:10 a.m. — Michael Watson (R), secretary of state
- 10:20 a.m. — Jason White (R), speaker of the Mississippi House
- 10:30 a.m. — Tate Reeves (R), governor
Republican State Auditor Shad White will not attend the fair due to military obligations. White serves as an officer in the Mississippi National Guard.
Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and U.S. Rep. Michael Guest, both Republicans seeking reelection in 2026, will remain in Washington and not participate in political speaking at the Neshoba County Fair.
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Gov. Tate Reeves said Mississippi’s total nonfarm employment reached a new all-time high in May, topping 1.19 million jobs.
The state said the number shows its economic development strategy is working. Workforce leaders said the job market includes opportunities for people who are unemployed or looking for better-paying work.
Workforce leaders point to training options
Blaise King, director of strategy and alignment for Accelerate Mississippi, said job seekers should not let timelines or a lack of skills keep them from pursuing work.
“Not everything has to be a degree. It can be short-term training that can get you into work quickly and making good money,” King said.
King said Mississippi is seeing strong demand for construction jobs, driven in part by new data centers coming to the state. He said those jobs can lead to long-term careers.
“Someone could very easily have a career in the construction trades and move up beyond manual labor to the project manager and things like that to really have a high quality of life for them, for their family, and contribute back to society,” King said.
Advanced manufacturing is also a high-priority occupational sector.
Employers looking for skills and commitment
John McKay, president and CEO of the Mississippi Business Alliance, said opportunities exist across job sectors.
“There’s really no sector where there’s no opportunity,” McKay said.
McKay said companies are willing to invest in workers who show commitment.
“They’re willing to put that money on the line because they are really there. There’s a deep need for skilled people who can come in and kind of be ready on day one, and they’re willing to invest that capital in that,” McKay said.
McKay said soft skills can help job seekers get started.
“I will say that employers are most excited about an individual that has the drive and determination to show up to work every day and put in the effort. And so if your problem is you think you have a lack of skill or education, do not let that be a barrier,” McKay said.
While opportunities exist statewide, unemployment rates show an uneven distribution of economic success. The rates range from a low of 2.5% in Rankin County to a high of 8.8% in Issaquena County.
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JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Eleven people have been indicted in connection with an alleged Medicaid fraud scheme involving more than $12.3 million.
This according to Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, who said the indictments involve allegations of fraudulent billing, wire fraud, and/or false documentation seeking to defraud the government.
All 11 charged include:
- Isluv Robertson, 36, of Jackson
- Shawncee Vassar-Cunningham, 51, of Olive Branch
- Katricia Smith, 47, of Olive Branch
- Sheila Boney Collins, 53, of Hollandale
- Ahyana Nicole Crosby, 34, of Laurel
- Angela Nannette Crosby, 51, of Laurel
- Yolanda Evette Blackman, 54, of Hattiesburg
- Linda Jenkins, 46, of Hermanville
- Deja Almore, 30, of Yazoo City
- Curtis Moore, 51, of Gulfport
- Taylor Christian Rushing, 34, of Gautier
Officials said the defendants are accused of participating in health care fraud schemes involving more than $6.5 billion in intended loss.
“These indictments are just the latest efforts we are taking to fight waste, fraud, and corruption,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “I am proud to partner with President Trump to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure that money meant to help those in need is not stolen from safety net programs. I will remain laser-focused on rooting out fraud, recovering money wrongfully stolen from hard-working taxpayers, and holding fraudsters accountable.”
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