Mississippi
Mississippi’s agricultural leaders call for continuing resolution to be passed by Congress – SuperTalk Mississippi
The clock is ticking for congressional leaders to pass a stopgap measure, avoiding a government shutdown, and one sector of Mississippi’s population is loudly urging lawmakers to go ahead and get legislation passed before Friday’s deadline.
Although a bipartisan measure was released Tuesday, President-elect Donald Trump rejected the plan Wednesday and told House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republicans to essentially renegotiate. As lawmakers work to get home for the holidays, a deal must be reached, or federal funding will run out and the government will shut down until a new funding bill is approved.
As part of the package that Trump rejected, farmers would have received $21 billion in disaster relief and $10 billion in economic assistance, along with a one-year extension of an agricultural funding bill called the F.A.R.M. Act. The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, a general farm organization that often serves as a liaison between the agriculture sector and Washington politicians, issued a press release calling for Congress to act during a “dire situation” for Mississippi farmers.
“Our state’s number one industry is in a dire situation,” Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President Mike McCormick said. “We are seeing a crisis in farm country for farmers of our major crops. Producers are facing this perfect storm of record-level production costs, low commodity markets, and an outdated farm safety net.
“The funding in this bill could mean the difference between planting a crop next year and giving up for many farms in the state. We appreciate our members of Congress who rolled up their sleeves to ensure farmers can continue to deliver the safest, most affordable, and abundant food supply in the world.”
While McCormick showed gratitude for the chunk of funding granted to farmers in the continuing resolution agreed on earlier in the week, he wants to see it remain in what lawmakers come up with between now and Friday night, assuming they pass a measure to avert a shutdown.
McCormick specifically hopes Mississippi’s delegation consisting of Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith along with Reps. Trent Kelly, Bennie Thompson, Michael Guest, and Mike Ezell will join forces to pass a continuing resolution that also includes agricultural aid.
“We urge our Mississippi congressional delegation to pass this legislation and then return in January ready to tackle the challenges facing agriculture,” he continued. “Another one-year extension of the farm bill addresses immediate needs, but only a new, modernized farm bill will bring certainty for America’s families, farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.”
Any bill reached would need to fund the government at current levels to prevent everything from the mail service halting to military members not being paid. However, as is often the case in Washington, heaps of add-ons are added to funding bills to please all with their hands in the proverbial cookie jar.
Some examples of add-ons included in Tuesday’s 1,500-page measure were transferring RFK Memorial Stadium from the federal government to Washington, D.C., providing money to rebuild Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, and giving members of Congress a pay raise for cost-of-living increases. To that, Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson joined forces with the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation but asked for an end to the “frivolous spending measures” in whatever a new package might look like.
“It is extremely unfortunate that the Continuing Resolution that contains a Farm Bill extension and farm relief that also contained a host of frivolous spending measures,” Gipson wrote on X. “There is still time for Congress to pass a clean bill with farm relief. Put politics aside for our farmers.”
Mississippi
Governor: At least 47 homes, 50 roads damaged by Mississippi storms, flooding – SuperTalk Mississippi
Gov. Tate Reeves has released updated damage assessments following the severe weather and flooding that inundated parts of southern Mississippi last week.
According to Reeves, assessments through the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency are ongoing, and disaster aid is still being distributed through a mix of federal, state, and local agencies, along with nonprofits. But numbers as of Monday morning showed dozens of homes and businesses damaged and even more public roads affected.

Among the counties with significant impacts are Covington, Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Jackson, Pearl River, Perry and Stone. Across those counties and others, at least 47 homes were affected, seven of which were completely destroyed. Nine businesses sustained damaged, six of which are considered major. One farm sustained major damage.
50 public roadways were affected, including four that are considered major and four that were completely destroyed. Two bridges sustained major damage, while two public buildings sustained minor damage.
Reeves said two rivers are in the moderate flood stage – Leaf River near McClain and the Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry.
15 other waterways are in the minor flood stage: Big Black River near Bentonia, Biloxi River near Lyman, Chickasawhay River at Enterprise, Chickasawhay River at Leakesville, East Hobolochitto Creek near Caesar, Pascagoula River at Merrill, Pearl River at Jackson, Pearl River near Pearl River, Pearl River near Philadelphia, Pearl River at Rockport, Strong River at D’Lo, Tallahala Creek at Laurel, Tuscolameta Creek at Laurel, West Hobolochitto Creek near McNeill, and Wolf River around Gulfport.


Damage reports could have worsened on Monday with additional rounds of severe weather in some parts of the state. The worst of the storms and floods came with the remnants of what was Tropical Storm Arthur late last week and into the weekend.
Mississippi
Family of 1-year-old killed by police at a Walmart in Mississippi wants video released
(AP) – A Mississippi family whose 1-year-old child was killed when police fired into a moving vehicle said Monday they want authorities to release video showing whether officers were in danger of being struck when one of them opened fire.
The shooting has sparked outrage in the small city of Senatobia, where some say it’s the latest in a series of troubling encounters between police and Black residents.
Kohen Wiley was riding with his mother and another woman in a Walmart parking lot on June 14 when police responded to a shoplifting call. The family says they were driving away, while the officers say the car was heading toward them.
“I watched my baby take his first breath, and I watched my baby take his last breath,” Vellesiya Wiley said at a news conference Monday.
The other woman in the car, whose name has not been released, suffered “critical injuries,” according to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, which is handling the inquiry.
Standing alongside Kohen’s parents and grandparents at a local church, civil rights attorney Ben Crump told reporters Monday that the best way to determine whether the officers were at risk is to publicly release any body camera, dash camera or Walmart security camera video.
“If that is the truth, then show us that,” Crump said. “The longer you delay releasing the video, the more distrustful we become.”
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation declined to comment on what videos investigators have or whether they would be released, agency spokesperson Bailey Martin said Monday.
“This case has been made a top priority,” Martin said in an emailed statement, “and we currently have multiple agents working tirelessly to ensure every aspect of the investigation is thoroughly examined.”
The agency says the officers weren’t hurt. Senatobia Police Chief Harold Vanderford did not return a phone message seeking comment Monday.
State investigators gave an initial account of the shooting last week, saying that when Senatobia police arrived at the Walmart, they found two women and a child getting into a car and driving away.
“Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver drove in the direction of the officers, almost striking one. An officer then discharged their weapon and the vehicle fled the scene,” the agency statement said.
Kohen’s mother has said the shoplifting call was over a box of diapers that her friend was carrying — and that she believes her friend had paid for the diapers. State investigators declined to comment on those details.
Crump questioned why police didn’t let the car go and take down the license plate number.
“They were called over a box of diapers and a family now has to bury their baby,” Crump said Monday. “You cannot put those two things next to each other and call it reasonable policing.”
Crump also said an independent autopsy would be performed.
While there’s no question the child was shot by police, he said, details about the angles at which any bullets struck the child could yield clues as to whether the officer fired from in front of the car or off to the side — and therefore whether that officer was in any danger.
Policing expert Ian Adams, who teaches criminal justice at the University of South Carolina, told The Associated Press last week that police should know that “shooting into a moving vehicle is a very bad idea and one to be avoided at almost all costs,” noting the danger to passengers and other bystanders.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Mississippi
Mississippi Association of Coaches Inducts Six New Members
Six new members were inducted into the Mississippi Association Coaches Hall of Fame on Friday.
Five electees and one surprise honorary inductee announced at the evening’s end.
Each says the MAC HOF is a special one and this is the ultimate honor for a coach in Mississippi.
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