Magnolia Mornings: October 30, 2026

Magnolia Mornings: October 30, 2026. Magnolia Mornings: October 30, 2026.

Key points

• Along with privacy protections, the states secured $220 million and Mississippi will receive $3, 607, 640.00 through the settlement.
• From 2016 to 2024, GM enrolled millions of drivers in their Smart Driver program.
• The State Auditor's Office has already diverted taxes for Grenada, Canton, Holly Springs, Indianola, Maben, and Tchula.
• Ole Miss' Cooper named to Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Watch List.
• When adjusted for one-time items, it documented earnings of $5.28 per share, soundly beating Wall Street's expectations of $4.89, CNBC noted.

Magnolia Mornings: October 30, 2026. Magnolia Mornings: October 30, 2026. By: Magnolia Tribune – October 30, 2026.

Significant state and national stories, market and business news, sports and entertainment, delivered in quick-hit fashion to start your day informed. 1. Mississippi to receive $3.6 million from GM settlement.

On Thursday, Attorney General Lynn Fitch and a coalition of 36 attorneys general confirmed a settlement with GM that requires the business to obtain affirmative express consent from consumers before collecting or disclosing consumer driving and location data.

From 2016 to 2024, GM enrolled millions of drivers in their Smart Driver program. It tracked their driving habits. GM pitched this tool as a way for drivers to improve their own driving safety and informed drivers that they would not share their data with insurers without express consent.

Nevertheless, the attorneys general identified that GM sold this information to data brokers under contracts that specified the data was to be applied for insurance products. The data brokers sold the data to insurance firms. This person could then change the driver's premium based on their driving habits. GM did not disclose to drivers that their data would be sold for this purpose. 2. Auditor diverting taxes to pay for delinquent municipal audits.

State Auditor Shad White confirmed Thursday that the State Auditor's Office will start diverting funds from a number of municipalities that are behind on their audits. The funds will be applied to pay for outstanding or delinquent audits.

Municipalities with outstanding or delinquent audits are often not eligible for grants, cannot borrow funds, and citizens are unable to know how their tax dollars are spent, the Auditor observed.

Meanwhile, the State Auditor's Office has already diverted taxes for Grenada, Canton, Holly Springs, Indianola, Maben, and Tchula. The new municipalities to have their taxes diverted are. National News & Foreign Policy. 1. Trump pushes back on Democrats' Hegseth impeachment talk.

As documented by The Hill, "President Trump blasted Democrats Thursday over their ongoing calls to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whom they see as one of their primary targets, if the party takes control of the House."

"I think it's terrible. All they do is they talk regarding impeaching everybody, " the president stated to journalists when asked if he is worried regarding Democrats trying to oust Hegseth.

"A number of House Democrats have informed The Hill they backing Rep. Thomas Massie's (R-Ky.) impeachment salvo. It he unveiled last month, and they would separately back Democrats' potential push to force Hegseth's removal if they regain a majority in the lower chamber, " The Hill documented.

"I mean, honestly, if we wanted to play that game, we could play it just as well. But they're talking regarding Pete Hegseth, " Trump said, praising the Pentagon chief for doing a "great job" and being a "great warrior." 2. Netanyahu notes Israel's election "stolen by Arab parties".

FoxNews reports that "Israel's two Arab parties are in a position to have a say in who the country's next prime minister and government will be – but not if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has anything to do with it, after he alleged serious criminal activities took place during voting in the Arab areas of the nation."

"The two parties were projected to win a combined 19 Knesset seats, according to preliminary results. Nevertheless, both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud-led right-wing bloc and the opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot's centrist bloc fell short of the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority, " FoxNews noted. "On Wednesday, Prime Minister Netanyahu wrote on X that Israel's election had been 'stolen by Arab parties that support terrorism and the elimination of the Jewish state, ' alleging serious criminal offenses, including bribery, threats, violence, forgery and the use of prohibited software to mobilize voters."

FoxNews continued, "He cited allegations of thousands of envelopes containing cash and Ra'am ballot slips, threats and violence against polling station staff, multiple votes cast behind the voting curtain, voting under multiple identities, discrepancies between the number of ballot envelopes and the number of voters, the use of prohibited voter-mobilization software and other offenses." 1. Hinds, Northwest move on as JUCO regular season ends.

In practice, the Mississippi JUCO football regular season concluded Thursday night, with Hinds and Northwest moving on to play in the state championship game. Here is a roundup on scores from the week's games.

2. Ole Miss' Cooper named to Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Watch List.

Ole Miss women's basketball senior Talaysia Cooper has been named to the 2026-27 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Watch List, the Atlanta Tipoff Club confirmed on Thursday.

This marks Cooper's third time on this prestigious preseason list, earning a spot on the late midseason watch list in 2024-25. As Cotie McMahon and Madison Scott were each recognized, additionally, it's the third consecutive year a Rebel has been named to this player of the year watch list.

Notably, the watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's board of selectors. It based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2026-27 college basketball season. The Naismith Trophy will be awarded afterwards this season at the 2027 NCAA Women's Final Four in Columbus, Ohio. 1. Chevron, ExxonMobil refining profits soar.

CNBC reports that "Chevron and ExxonMobil on Friday reported profits that surged in the third quarter, as their U.S. Refineries ran at full capacity to take advantage of high diesel fuel prices."

"Chevron's net income surged almost 200% to $9.9 billion, or $5.06 a share, compared to $3.5 billion, or $1.82 a share, in the same period last year. When adjusted for one-time items, it documented earnings of $5.28 per share, soundly beating Wall Street's expectations of $4.89, " CNBC noted. "Diesel rates have surged globally as Ukraine and Iran have bombed refineries in Russia and the Middle East. U.S. Refiners have ramped up production to fill the supply gap."

CNBC continued, "ExxonMobil's profits doubled to $15.4 billion, or $3.72 a share, compared to $7.5 billion, or $1.76 a share, in the same period in 2025. When adjusted for one-time items, it posted earnings of $4.23 a share, beating the Street's expectations. While Exxon is trading concerning 1.5% higher.", chevron shares are up regarding 2% in premarket trading.

2. U.S. National debt hits 100% of GDP for first time since 1946.

For context, the U.S. National debt reached 100% of gross domestic product for the fiscal year that concluded Sept. 30, reports the Wall Street Journal, hitting the triple-digit mark for the first time since 1946.

"The federal administration had previously noted that the publicly held debt as of Sept. 30 was $32.2 trillion. With the release of economic output for third quarter Thursday, that figure equaled 100% (100.03%, to be exact), of gross domestic product over the fiscal year, " WSJ documented. Though below the Congressional Budget Office's February forecast of 100.6%, "That was up from 99.4% at the end of fiscal 2025. In practice, the U.S. Is moving steadily closer to breaking the 1946 record of 106%, an growth that reflected the heavy borrowing needed to win World War II."

WSJ observed, "The annual budget deficit of nearly $2 trillion was 6.2% of GDP, continuing an unusual streak of red ink outside of wars, recessions and emergencies." Concerning the Author(s). This article was produced by Magnolia Tribune staff. News Cass Rutledge October 29, 2026.

Ezell the odds-on favorite to win re-election in Mississippi's 4th Congressional District over Hulum, Boyanton.

Notably, the Republican incumbent Congressman, a former Jackson County Sheriff, is being challenged by a Democrat State Representative and a former Republican turned Independent who has run unsuccessfully for Congress every two years since 2020. More From This Author. News Magnolia Tribune October 29, 2026. Magnolia Mornings: October 29, 2026. News Magnolia Tribune October 28, 2026. Magnolia Mornings: October 28, 2026. News Magnolia Tribune October 27, 2026. Magnolia Mornings: October 27, 2026. News Jeremy Pittari October 29, 2026.

Budd Van Lines entry into Mississippi draws objection from firms already operating in the state. News Jeremy Pittari October 29, 2026.

Local administration advocates urge Mississippi lawmakers to consider changes to procurement laws.

Local governing bodies would like the Mississippi Legislature to raise the current $5, 000 threshold for requiring bids due to inflation and rising costs of supplies and services. News Frank Corder October 28, 2026.

Clinton coming to Tupelo, Clyburn in Jackson to stump for Colom, Democrats.

Former President Bill Clinton and Congressman Jim Clyburn's visits to Mississippi follow a growing list of national Democrats who have come to the state seeking to buoy Sccott Colom's chances against incumbent Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. News Frank Corder October 29, 2026.

With President Trump in her corner, Senator Hyde-Smith doesn't pull punches as she seeks re-election. News Frank Corder October 29, 2026.

Mississippi hasn't elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1982. Scott Colom believes he will change that November 3. News Frank Corder October 29, 2026.

Independent U.S. Senate candidate Pinkins believes plenty of Mississippi voters want something different. Business Meredith Biesinger October 22, 2026. New Albany's claim to cake fame: Sugaree's Bakery. Business Frank Corder October 20, 2026. Fairbanks Morse Defense doubling manufacturing capacity at its Pascagoula facility. Business Cass Rutledge October 20, 2026. Lumber manufacturer investing $8.3 million in Macon expansion. Culture Susan Marquez October 30, 2026. What's happening in the Magnolia State this November? Culture Alistair Begg October 30, 2026. Culture Associated Press October 29, 2026.

Ole Miss and coach Chris Beard look to bounce back with a transfer-heavy roster. Opinion Sid Salter October 28, 2026.

'Hail, Dear Old' State!' meant something quite special to the late Dr. Richard E. Holmes. Opinion Laurie Todd-Smith October 27, 2026.

In short, magnolia Mornings: October 30, 2026 is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.