Good morning, Biloxi.

Mississippi community bankers rely on local deposits to fund farming, home loans, and small business credit, but a Senate debate over the current CLARITY Act’s stablecoin yield loophole could risk nearly $3 billion in credit for rural growth + lawmakers must tighten its language to keep funds local.

Mississippi State geology professor Adam Skarke + his Ph.D. student Ramon Kalski will join three universities on a National Science Foundation-funded $3 million expedition to study methane emissions on the Atlantic seafloor using the Navy research vessel Atlantis until late September.

Ocean Springs High School has been named the best traditional high school in Mississippi by U.S. News and World Report today + the honor reflects the school's strong focus on college readiness and academic performance.

AccelerateMS and the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid launched the new UPSKILL Mississippi Grant today to help eligible adults pay tuition and fees at public community and junior colleges for workforce-aligned programs (targeting industries such as advanced manufacturing and maritime) while also offering a $500 annual stipend.

Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced new details for the 2026 Opioid Settlement Fund grant cycle and made updated application materials available on her website and a dedicated portal.

Organizations will be able to apply online from Aug. 31 to Oct. 5 and join webinars (Tue, Sept. 15, 2:00-3:00 pm; Wed, Sept. 23, 1:00-2:00 pm) for technical assistance.

Mississippi lawmakers raised concerns over a plan allowing up to (300,000 lb) of imported ground beef to enter tariff free, saying local farmers should not absorb the cost of cheaper imports.

Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann urged the administration to prioritize U.S. beef and support local ranchers.

Coastal Family Health Center received a $40,000 grant from Delta Dental Community Care Foundation to add new equipment & expand preventive oral health screenings at school-based clinics and on its mobile unit to catch problems early.

UMMC and the Mississippi Public Health Institute will launch a center for optimizing maternal outcomes next month.

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker secured $1 million to support 30 counties in Southern Mississippi by uniting health experts and community partners to lower maternal mortality.

The Long Beach Bearcats will host the Pass Christian Pirates for the 9th Annual Oyster Bowl game at Lumpkin Magee Stadium Friday, Aug.

28. Both teams aim for a strong start to their 100th football season in a long-standing coastal rivalry.

St. Martin Yellow Jackets finished a 7-4 season under first-year coach Woody Cagnolatti but missed the playoffs and will look to improve as a veteran-heavy team.

They will kick off the 2026 season Friday, Aug. 28 at Joe Barlow Stadium against Vancleave High School.