SUMMARY: Over 180 current and former FEMA employees warned Congress that severe budget cuts and poor management threaten disaster response, risking failures akin to Hurricane Katrina. Their letter, coinciding with Katrina’s 20th anniversary, criticizes policies such as requiring Homeland Security approval for large expenditures, staff cuts, and reassignment of FEMA workers to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Recent leadership upheaval and FEMA’s criticized response to Texas floods highlight the agency’s weakened capacity. The letter urges Congress to establish FEMA as an independent cabinet-level agency, mirroring a bipartisan bill. Many signatories remain anonymous, fearing retaliation amid the administration’s punitive stance on critics.

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SUMMARY: Mississippi State University, in partnership with West Side Funds Inc., has unveiled a master plan for the 15-acre Crossroads District between campus and the Cotton District in Starkville. Anchored by the upcoming 122-room boutique Hotel Madelon, a Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel opening in summer 2027, the district will feature restaurants, retail, residential spaces, and cultural landmarks including the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library. A pedestrian bridge will improve connectivity, while innovation hubs will foster research and startups. The project aims to create a vibrant, walkable community blending university spirit, local culture, and economic growth, serving students, residents, and visitors alike.

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SUMMARY: A library book titled “Your Child, His Family, and Friends” was returned to the San Antonio Public Library nearly 82 years after being borrowed in July 1943. The borrower’s relative explained it was originally checked out by their grandmother, who took it when she moved to Mexico City for work at the US Embassy. The book, a parental guide by Frances Bruce Strain, was accompanied by a note saying, “Grandma won’t be able to pay for it anymore.” The library waived overdue fines, which could have amounted to nearly $900, and will display the book before selling it to support library services. The longest overdue book was returned after 288 years in England.

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