Mississippi News Report — Friday, Oct 23: Hall of Fame Class

Good morning, Mississippi. Here’s your statewide news roundup for Friday, October 23, 2026 — the stories making headlines across the Mississippi News Group network, from Jackson to Tupelo to the Gulf Coast.

Top Stories

Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Class of ’27 is the most diverse in the museum’s history. The latest class honors a landmark group of athletes and contributors, and among them is Jackson State baseball legend Dave Clark, whose induction marks his second Hall of Fame honor this year. Read the full story.

A year after Mississippi declared infant mortality a public health emergency, what’s changed? Mississippi Today takes stock of what state officials have done in the year since the emergency declaration — and what’s still ahead. Read the full story.

Around Mississippi

Toyota Wellspring Education Fund gives $196,106 to Tupelo schools for an aviation program. The check presentation — for “one hundred ninety-six thousand one hundred six dollars” to the Tupelo Public School District — will fund development of an aviation program at the Tupelo Career & Technical Center. Read the full story.

Traffic alert in Oxford. The Oxford Police Department announced a traffic alert for a permitted event in downtown Oxford beginning at 7 p.m., with temporary traffic delays expected along the route. Read the full story.

Sports

Hinds rallies past Gulf Coast for MACCC South Division championship. The Hinds Community College football team overcame a 21-point deficit to beat Mississippi Gulf Coast 49-42 on Thursday night and claim the division title. Read the full story.

East Central stuns Jones 41-40. East Central scored two late touchdowns to erase a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit and edge Jones College on Thursday night at Bobcat Stadium. Read the full story.

This is the Mississippi News Report, published every morning and evening on tippahnews.com. For breaking Mississippi news throughout the day, follow the Mississippi News Group network.