Rural Health Funding: Gov. Tate Reeves announced Mississippi’s Rural Health Transformation Program awards, approving 167 projects from 724 applications and distributing $104 million in the first round (with $205.9 million for year one), including telehealth and care-gap work in Pearl River County. Maternal Health: Miriam Estes Hankins, MD, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, joined WK Regional Perinatal Group, expanding high-risk pregnancy care and prenatal imaging in the region. Cancer Care Coverage: Two Mississippi lawmakers—Rep. Sam Creekmore and Sen. Walter Michel—won an American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network advocacy award for Jill’s Law, which requires insurer coverage for biomarker testing for cancer patients. Infant Health Watch: Mississippi’s infant mortality rate hit its highest level in a decade in 2024 (9.7 deaths per 1,000 live births), with the state pointing to prematurity, low birth weight, maternal conditions, and unsafe sleep as key factors. Food Safety: FDA actions continue after hand soap recalls tied to possible bacterial contamination, and regulators also flagged recalled jalapeño products over salmonella risk—both relevant for Mississippi households. Public Health & Safety: Oxford braces for heat and crowd-related illness risk ahead of the Ole Miss–LSU weekend, with local hospitals adding staffing for heat-related visits. Health Policy & Costs: The White House says nearly 1 million ACA enrollees in 30 states, including Mississippi, will receive $500 “Obamacare” refunds tied to federal exchange “user fees.”