Mississippi
Mississippi State’s Jacob Parker wins National Freshman of the Year award from Perfect Game – SuperTalk Mississippi
While year one of the Brian O’Connor era in Starkville ended short of advancing to the College World Series, one of the Mississippi State skipper’s best young players has been named National Freshman of the Year by Perfect Game.
Jacob Parker, a Purvis native who turned down an early start in MLB to play for O’Connor, became the fourth Bulldog and first since Christian MacLeod in 2020 to earn a National Freshman of the Year award. Before that, J.T. Ginn won the Perfect Game honor in 2019.
Parker wrapped up his freshman campaign with three hits – two of which were home runs – and four RBI in Mississippi State’s two-game super regional against Georgia last weekend. He finished the season with a .339 clip from the plate with 18 home runs and 62 RBI.
In the process, Parker broke the program record for most home runs by a freshman and finished second on the team in the category. The outfielder added 10 doubles, one triple, and seven stolen bases.
In addition to his Perfect Game honor, Parker was also tabbed as a Freshman All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Freshman All-SEC, and the Most Outstanding Player of the Starkville Regional.
Parker could pull in another honor this week when Baseball America announces its Freshman of the Year recipient on Thursday. He is one of five finalists, alongside Texas pitcher Sam Cozart, North Carolina pitcher Caden Glauber, Texas outfielder Anthony Pack Jr., and Stanford outfielder Teddy Tokheim. The only other Bulldog to ever win the award is Rafael Palmeiro, who did it in 1983 before later going on to play 20 seasons in the MLB.
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Global manufacturing giant Jabil plans to open a massive new production facility in Marshall County, representing a $119 million corporate investment that will create approximately 2,200 jobs North Mississippi, officials announced Tuesday, July 7.
The St. Petersburg, Florida-based company is purchasing and renovating an existing 1.5 million-square-foot facility to support customers in the booming data center infrastructure market.
The expansion comes just nine months after Jabil first entered the Marshall County landscape. In September 2025, the company’s healthcare division announced a separate $70 million investment over three years to establish X-ray sterilization capabilities in the area.
“Investments like this are why Mississippi has one of the hottest job markets in America,” Gov. Tate Reeves said in a statement, noting the quick turnaround between Jabil’s local projects. “Jabil would not be making this investment unless the company was confident that Mississippi and her people can deliver results.”
The Mississippi Development Authority is assisting the project through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive, known as the MFLEX program. Additional support is being provided by Marshall County officials, AccelerateMS and the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Large scale facility is key
State economic leaders emphasized that the scale of the facility positions Mississippi to capitalize on the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure.
“A 1.5-million-square-foot operation producing data center infrastructure isn’t a marginal project,” said Bill Cork, MDA executive director. “It’s proof we are in the game for advanced manufacturing tied to global demand.”
Jabil operates in more than 25 countries with a workforce of 140,000 employees, providing engineering, supply chain and manufacturing solutions across the robotics, automotive, healthcare and energy sectors.
Matt Crowley, Jabil’s executive vice president of global business units for intelligent infrastructure, said domestic capacity is becoming increasingly vital for the industry.
“Companies across the data center ecosystem are looking to build fast, and they’re increasingly looking to build in the United States,” Crowley said.
A timeline for the completion of the renovations and the start of hiring has not yet been disclosed.
Ross Reily is a writer for the Clarion Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at rreily@gannett.com or 601-573-2952. You can follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter @GreenOkra1.
Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 6, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from July 6 drawing
05-08-15-26-29
Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from July 6 drawing
Midday: 0-0-6, FB: 1
Evening: 5-5-2, FB: 2
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from July 6 drawing
Midday: 2-0-2-5, FB: 1
Evening: 3-3-6-3, FB: 2
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from July 6 drawing
Midday: 11
Evening: 07
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Story continues below gallery.
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.
Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:
Mississippi Lottery Corporation
P.O. Box 321462
Flowood, MS
39232
If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.
Mississippi Lottery Headquarters
1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100
Flowood, MS
39232
Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.
When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?
- Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
- Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Hinds County DA Jody Owens pleads guilty in Jackson MS bribery scandal
Hinds County DA Jody Owens pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge related to the Jackson bribery scandal. He also resigned as district attorney.
The Mississippi Supreme Court received a formal complaint Monday, July 6, from the Mississippi Bar requesting that former Hinds County District Attorney Jody E. Owens II be immediately suspended from the practice of law.
The compliant comes after Owens resigned from his position and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy on June 29 inside the Thad Cochran United States Courthouse in connection with a Jackson bribery scandal.
A judge set Owens’ sentencing for 9 a.m. Oct. 15.
According to the complaint, the crime for which Owens entered a plea of guilty is a felony thus the court should “immediately suspend (Owens) from the practice of law.”
The Bar requested that Owens be immediately suspended from practice in the State of Mississippi “with all costs and expenses associated with the filing and litigation of this Formal Complaint being taxed against (Owens).”
The Bar also requested other such relief as the court deems proper.
Owens was charged in federal court as part of a broader public corruption investigation involving former Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and former Jackson City Councilman Aaron Banks.
A week after Owens pleaded guilty, Lumumba and Banks followed suit. Lumumba and Banks each pleaded guilty July 6 to one count of conspiracy related to the scandal.
Lumumba’s sentencing hearing is set for 10 a.m. Oct. 15. Banks is set to be sentenced at 1:15 p.m. Oct. 15.
Similar to Owens, Lumumba and Banks consistently denied wrongdoing after being indicted in 2024 and was scheduled to stand trial in mid-July.
Former Ward 2 Councilwoman Angelique Lee and local insurance specialist Sherik Marve’ Smith, an associate of Owens, also previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in 2024. Their sentencing dates have been delayed indefinitely.
Pam Dankins is the breaking news reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Have a tip? Email her at pdankins@gannett.com.
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