Mississippi Back-to-School Tax Break: Mississippi’s sales tax holiday runs Friday July 10 through Sunday July 12, waiving sales tax on eligible clothing, shoes and school supplies priced under $100 per item, with regular tax applying above that threshold. Weather & Water Research: ULM won a record $4.21 million federal cooperative agreement to expand weather and water nowcasting/forecasting across the Lower Mississippi River Basin, including installing 50 new monitoring stations in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. Irrigation Efficiency Push: Mississippi State researchers are testing irrigation and field management practices across cotton, corn and soybeans to cut water use while boosting yields, building on prior conservation findings. Port & Freight Equipment: Missouri’s Jefferson County Port Authority received a $186,000 MoDOT grant for a new front-end loader at the Herculaneum port, supporting Mississippi River shipping operations. Engineering Leadership: The Mississippi Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers & Surveyors elected Michael Blake Collins as board president, alongside new officer roles for vice president and secretary/treasurer. Local Business Impact: D’Iberville’s Popp’s Ferry Road expansion is nearing completion, with officials saying the finished corridor could help pave the way for a proposed BJ’s Wholesale Club. Small-Business Compliance Fight: NFIB is urging Congress to repeal the Beneficial Ownership Information mandate, saying it affects nearly 300,000 Mississippi small businesses and carries steep penalties. Agriculture Trade Watch: China resumed U.S. soybean purchases after a trade freeze ended, but volumes remain below pre-freeze levels.