Tupelo infant death charges, Delta grant and ranked football games shape Mississippi’s Sept. 22 rundown

Mississippi News and Sports | Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Police cases in Tupelo and Gautier, a Washington County development grant, and several nationally ranked college matchups led the reporting published by Mississippi News Group and sister site Sports Mississippi in the 24 hours ending at 4:45 p.m. Central on Tuesday. The stories below reflect what those outlets had reported by that cutoff; investigations and upcoming games may have changed since then.

Mississippi News

Infant's death leads to two felony child-abuse charges in Tupelo

Tupelo police charged Daniel Ross, 37, of Plantersville, and Charity Burdine, 33, of Tupelo, with felony child abuse after an infant was taken from the Super 7 Inn to North Mississippi Medical Center and later pronounced dead. According to the Mississippi News Group report, officers responded to the McCullough Boulevard motel on September 18. A municipal judge ordered both defendants held without bond that day, police said.

The department described the investigation as active and said the charges would be presented to a Lee County grand jury. The published account did not establish a cause of death. The charges are allegations, and neither defendant's guilt has been established.

Gautier shooting leaves man critically wounded

Gautier police arrested Regina Joe, 33, of Pascagoula, after a September 18 altercation and shooting on Highway 90 near Gautier-Vancleave Road. A 20-year-old man was taken to a hospital in critical condition after being shot, and an 18-year-old woman was assaulted, according to Mississippi News Group's account of the police statement. Police listed aggravated assault and simple assault among several charges. They said the investigation remained open and asked witnesses to contact the department or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers. The charges remain allegations.

Washington County alliance announces rural business grant

The Washington County Economic Alliance announced an $83,000 Rural Business Development Grant for District 4, Mississippi News Group reported. The alliance also said an incoming company could bring substantial property-tax revenue, but the report did not name the company or give a timetable for that projection. The grant is the concrete announcement; the larger tax figure remains the alliance's forecast. The group said it hopes future revenue will support public safety and other county services.

Mississippi Sports

Jones College enters NJCAA football Top 15

Jones College moved into the NJCAA football poll at No. 15 after three straight wins. The Bobcats were 3-1 when Sports Mississippi reported the ranking and were due to visit No. 13 Copiah-Lincoln on Thursday. The matchup opens a stretch of three games against Top 15 opponents. Jones quarterback Jevarion Glover had thrown for 974 yards and four touchdowns while adding 182 rushing yards and two more scores. Mississippi Gulf Coast, East Mississippi, Northwest Mississippi and Itawamba were also ranked in that week's poll.

Northwest volleyball sweeps ranked Jones, stays unbeaten

Northwest Mississippi Community College swept No. 23 Jones College in three sets, improving to 19-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Jones fell to 11-5, according to Sports Mississippi's match report. The result followed Northwest's 4-0 run at the Wallace State Invitational. Tournament coverage named Valerie Hurdle and Chloe Rodriguez to its all-tournament team; Hurdle recorded 37 kills and Rodriguez 82 assists across those four matches. The reports describe successive stages of the same unbeaten season.

Prescott passes Romo for Cowboys touchdown-pass record

Former Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes in Dallas' 37-20 win over Washington, bringing his career total to 249 and surpassing Tony Romo's franchise mark. Sports Mississippi reported that Prescott completed 26 of 31 passes without an interception. Two touchdown throws went to CeeDee Lamb and two to Jake Ferguson. The NFL result is included here because Prescott played at Mississippi State.

State defender honored after South Carolina win

Mississippi State defensive end Amaree Williams was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week after the Bulldogs' 24-17 road win over South Carolina. He made 10 solo tackles, including two for loss and a sack, according to Sports Mississippi's account. The honor came as No. 24 State prepared to host No. 19 Missouri on Saturday. It recognizes an individual performance in a road victory ahead of another ranked opponent.

Ole Miss heads to Florida for ranked SEC meeting

No. 4 Ole Miss was scheduled for its first SEC road game at No. 21 Florida on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Central, with ABC carrying the game. Both teams were 3-0 when Sports Mississippi previewed the matchup. The Rebels entered after beating LSU; Florida had won at Auburn. Mississippi News Group also reported a Maxwell Trophy weekly honor for Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. The meeting offers both teams another early measure against a ranked conference opponent.

Featured image: A Washington County meeting image published with the Economic Alliance grant report. Source: Washington County Economic Alliance.