Magnolia Mornings: October 21, 2026

Magnolia Tribune

Magnolia Mornings: October 21, 2026

Important state and national stories, market and business news, sports and entertainment, delivered in quick-hit fashion to start your day informed.

By: Magnolia Tribune - October 21, 2026

In Mississippi

1. Mississippi delegation celebrates signing of Vicksburg National Military Park Boundary Modification Act

The full Mississippi federal delegation welcomed the signing of the Vicksburg National Military Park Boundary Modification Act into law this week.

The legislation permits the State of Mississippi to build a new informational visitor center and make necessary structural improvements around the park.

Congressman Bennie Thompson (D) introduced the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, which was approved on March 16. Last month, U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) led the effort to push the bill through the Senate, where it received unanimous support.

Following the bill signing, the Mississippi delegation released the following statement:

"Vicksburg National Military Park tells a core part of Mississippi's story, and it is a key source of economic activity in the South Delta. We came together in a bipartisan manner to move this legislation through Congress and support our state's efforts to preserve this chapter of our history.

"We are grateful to President Trump for signing this bill into law and to all of our partners in Congress and Mississippi who made this moment possible. As we celebrate this occasion, we are excited for the countless students, families, and visitors who will experience this part of our history when visiting Vicksburg."

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new visitor center is being held Wednesday.

2. $5.9 million awarded to Mississippi to assist with storm recovery

The Federal Highway Administration has approved two grants totaling $5.9 million to help Mississippi continue recovery work associated with Tropical Storm Arthur and Winter Storm Fern.

The grants, which derive from the agency's Emergency Relief for Federal-aid Highways and Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads programs, will help the state and U.S. Forest Service defray the cost of repairs to federal-aid eligible roads, bridges, and other infrastructure.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation is being awarded more than $3.0 million in ERFA funding for costs associated with damage caused by Tropical Storm Arthur, which caused severe storms, tornadoes, and flash flooding on June 18-19. The U.S. Forest Service will receive more than $2.8 million in ERFO funding to address Winter Storm Fern damage to roads and trails in the state's national forests during the Jan. 23-27 disaster that blanketed 38 counties in ice.

"Winter Storm Fern in January, followed by the drenching Tropical Storm Arthur early this summer, damaged transportation infrastructure throughout Mississippi. These two FHWA grants will augment the significant resources already spent by federal, state, and local entities to overcome these two natural disasters," said U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith.