Dr. Richard E. Holmes, Mississippi State University’s first African American student, died Oct. 16 at age 82, Magnolia Tribune reported.
According to Magnolia Tribune, MSU President Mark E. Keenum praised Holmes’ courage and influence, noting Holmes enrolled on July 19, 1965, later served as a physician at the student health center and was named the university’s first Black National Alumnus of the Year.
Magnolia Tribune also reported that State Rep. Justis Gibbs (D-Jackson), the youngest Black member of the Mississippi Legislature, will receive the ninth annual Rising Star Award from Future Caucus for his cross-partisan work on House Bill 1444, which protects incarcerated workers from hazardous chemical exposure. The site said HB 1444 was the only corrections-related bill to become law in the 2026 session.
On national news, The Hill reported that White House border czar Tom Homan said federal investigators have a “strong case” in the ongoing criminal investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar after federal agents searched her home; Omar has not been charged and has denied the allegations, The Hill reported.
The Washington Post reported mass protests over rising living costs in France escalated into riots, with more than half a million people demonstrating and officials saying police detained at least 2,000 people; the Post described widespread damage including a historic town hall in Limoges destroyed by fire.
In sports, Magnolia Tribune summarized weekend college football results. On Oct. 17, No. 9 Ole Miss defeated No. 13 Missouri 31-13 and rose to No. 7, Mississippi State lost 31-0 at No. 22 LSU and dropped out of the Top 25, Southern Miss fell 23-13 to Arkansas State, and Jackson State beat Florida A&M 27-17.
Markets coverage cited CNBC reporting that stock futures rose early Monday with Nasdaq 100 futures up about 1.1% after the prior week’s declines, and The Wall Street Journal reported China’s GDP expanded 4.5% year over year in the third quarter as exports helped offset weak domestic demand.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
