Mississippi News Report — Thursday, Oct 8: Guilty Plea, Isaias
Good evening, Mississippi. Tonight’s report for Thursday, October 8, 2026: a Tupelo man pleads guilty to three manslaughter charges and is sentenced to 31 years, Hurricane Isaias is driving warnings and schedule changes across the state, and Southaven’s mayor pushes back on TV coverage of the SpaceXAI home buyouts. Here are the biggest stories from the Mississippi News Group network since this morning.
Top Stories
Tupelo man pleads guilty to three manslaughter charges
Jaylen Wells pleaded guilty to three manslaughter charges in a 2021 Tupelo killing and was sentenced to 31 years in prison, with 29 years suspended, per Mississippi News Group reporting Thursday evening.
Morning briefing: Isaias warnings expand; MSU announces $10 million gift
Thursday morning’s Mississippi News briefing covered expanding Hurricane Isaias coastal warnings, a revised inland rain outlook and storm preparation — plus a $10 million gift to Mississippi State’s engineering school.
Southaven mayor defends SpaceXAI home buyouts as voluntary
Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite says the SpaceXAI home buyouts near the Stanton Road power plant are voluntary, calling Memphis TV coverage of the issue slanted and false, per DeSoto County News.
Regional
Flood watch issued for Alcorn, Prentiss, Tishomingo counties
A flood watch was issued Thursday afternoon for Alcorn, Prentiss, and Tishomingo counties in northeast Mississippi as Hurricane Isaias impacts approach, reports Alcorn News.
Sports
No. 22 Jackson State travels to Grambling State for SWAC game
No. 22 Jackson State plays its second straight road game Saturday against Grambling State in Louisiana, per Mississippi Sports.
Millsaps football, soccer schedule changes due to Hurricane Isaias
Millsaps College adjusted its football and soccer weekend schedules amid forecasted heavy rain and weather from Hurricane Isaias.
The Mississippi News Report publishes every morning and evening on Tippah News, rounding up the top headlines from Mississippi News Group publications across the state.
