| Friday, May 22, 2026 |
| MSU professor wins top national recognition for cancer detecting technology | |
 | Mississippi State University professor Dr. Colleen Scott, PhD, has won the Bayh-Dole Coalition's American Innovator Award. The prize recognizes federally-funded inventions that stand to greatly benefit the public. Past recipients have included the developers of the mRNA vaccine tech and daily HIV medication. Scott's work stands to dramatically change how accurately doctors and surgeons can differentiate between healthy cells and cancer cells. "I got an email saying that the office of Congresswoman Cindy Hyde-Smith had asked about several intellectual properties that came out of the state, and they had chosen my intellectual property work," said Scott, an MSU associate professor of chemistry. The chemist attributes her move to Mississippi to the major shift in her work. "When I moved to Mississippi State, that's when it opened up more opportunities for me," she said. |
| MSU's Famous Maroon Band announces 2026-27 drum majors | |
 | Mississippi State is ready to strike up the Famous Maroon Band with four drum majors from Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee leading the more than 400-member group in the upcoming academic year. Performing at all Bulldog football games and other university functions, the 124-year-old band has achieved national and international acclaim, including the 2026 national Sudler Trophy -- considered the highest honor a collegiate marching band can receive. Chosen from auditions, the 2026-27 drum majors include: Olivia Dickerson, senior biochemistry major, Gautier; Josh Ducey, sophomore aerospace engineering major, Arlington, Tennessee; Ava Hinyub, junior music education major, Gulf Shores, Alabama; and James Leon, junior electrical engineering major, Biloxi. Band members fine-tune and showcase their talents under the leadership of Director of Bands Elva Kaye Lance, with Craig Aarhus and Cliff Taylor, who serve as associate directors of bands and professors in MSU's Department of Music. |
| 2 Coast natives named drum majors for Mississippi State's Famous Maroon Band | |
 | Mississippi State is set to launch another season for the Famous Maroon Band, led by four drum majors, including two from South Mississippi. The Mississippi Gulf Coast drum majors are Olivia Dickerson, a senior biochemistry major from Gautier, and James Leon, a junior electrical engineering major from Biloxi. Dickerson and Leon were also drum majors last year. The other drum majors for the upcoming season are Josh Ducey from Arlington, Tennessee, and Ava Hinyub from Gulf Shores, Alabama. Director of Bands Elva Kaye Lance said the drum majors play a key role in connecting leadership and students. "The drum majors of our marching band serve as the bridge between the staff and our student membership," said Lance. "In addition to functioning as the primary conductors for the performances of the marching band both on the field and in the stands, these students communicate with students, alumni, fans and the athletic department operational team to produce the in-game environment." The drum majors will lead the more than 400-member group in the upcoming academic year. |
| MSU's Hunter selected for prestigious Brooke Owens Fellowship | |
 | According to an MSU press release, Mississippi State University industrial engineering senior Kyla Hunter has been selected for the highly competitive Brooke Owens Fellowship, a nationally recognized program supporting exceptional undergraduate students pursuing careers in aerospace. A native of Columbus, Hunter serves as president of MSU's National Society of Black Engineers chapter and as an elected student senator in the Student Association. Originally an aerospace engineering major, she transitioned to industrial engineering with the goal of exploring the intersection of engineering, aerospace, and public policy. "I've always wanted to do policy and engineering," she said. "This has been a dream of mine for a very long time." Hunter expects to graduate from MSU next May, with plans to pursue graduate studies in industrial systems engineering, engineering education or engineering policy, and eventually hopes to influence engineering policy and expand opportunities within her profession. |
| Cullman's Sarah Kate Dockery receives 2026 Spirit of State Award from Mississippi State | |
| Sarah Kate Dockery, a senior majoring in aerospace engineering from Cullman, is among 24 Mississippi State students receiving the 2026 Spirit of State Award. Organized by the university's Division of Student Affairs and celebrating its 21st year, the award honors students who have made a positive impact on peers and the broader campus community through organization involvement, service to the institution and personal actions promoting school spirit and tradition. "We are proud to honor these outstanding student leaders whose selflessness, service and integrity exemplify what it means to be a Bulldog," said MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt. "This recognition also extends to the families, mentors, faculty and staff who have supported and uplifted these students along the way. It truly takes a village, and it's exciting to be able to celebrate the entire community that helps shape and inspire student success at Mississippi State." |
| SALUTATORIAN: Lott excited about studying medicine | |
| Kinley Lott is the Salutatorian for the St. Aloysius High School class of 2026. The graduation ceremony for the class was held on Tuesday. In her address to her classmates, Lott said she was excited when she found out she was this year's salutatorian, almost as much as her mother, Brooke Lott. "When I called (my mother) to tell her I was this year's salutatorian, she screamed so loud she almost busted the microphone. Like you couldn't even hear the scream because the phone couldn't register a noise that loud," Lott said. "She's the most positive person in my life, who makes this life worth living." Lott said she is excited about her plans to enter the medical field. "I plan to attend Mississippi State University and major in biochemistry on a track of pre-med," Lott said. "And then when I graduate from there, I plan to go to medical school and hopefully become a dermatologist in the future." |
| AICPA elects Jan Lewis as chair | |
| Jan Lewis, a tax partner at BMSS Advisors in Ridgeland, Mississippi, has been elected as the new chair of the American Institute of CPAs and the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, which combines the AICPA and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. She was elected Wednesday to the one-year AICPA volunteer post by the organization's governing Council, which concludes its Spring Council session tomorrow. Lindsay Stevenson, chief strategy officer at BPM, was voted in as the AICPA's vice chair. "We're part of a profession with a long legacy of integrity, adaptability, and innovation," Lewis said in her acceptance speech. "With that legacy comes responsibility to keep earning trust and to help shape what comes next. I'm incredibly grateful for the trust you've placed in me, and I'm excited about what the year ahead holds." Lewis earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Mississippi State University. She is a member and past chair of the Adkerson School of Accountancy Advisory Board at MSU. She was also previously selected as the MSU College of Business's Alumni Fellow, as well as MSU Beta Alpha Psi Alumnus of the Year. |
| Cattle industry continues to look for signs of herd expansion | |
| A livestock economist says he doesn't expect many surprises in Friday's Cattle on Feed report. Josh Maples with Mississippi State University Extension says he anticipates a significant drop in marketings. "You look at steer and heifer slaughter in April, it was down 9.8% from where we were last April, looking at the daily slaughter data," he says. "So big drop there. April 2026 was the third lowest April of the past three decades. He tells Brownfield he's looking for placements to also decline, "It's just a question of how much lower." Maples says slightly more than 5 million head were placed into feedlots during the first quarter, the lowest for Q1 since 1998. "We know we've got fewer cattle coming in and we know we've got fewer cattle going out of feedlots," he says. "The placements numbers to me is going to be the one that's kind of the biggest question mark, like it always is, as we try to get a picture of just how many feeder cattle are moving into feed lots and how long they're staying there." |
| Why are buttons and zippers on different sides of men's and women's clothes? | |
| Mississippi State University's Caroline Kobia and JuYoung Lee write for The Conversation's Curious Kids series: Q: Why are zippers on different sides of male and female jackets? - Agrima, age 13, Delhi, India. A: Imagine you're at a clothing store that stocks items for the whole family. You pick up a white buttoned shirt to try on. The style is pretty plain. Was it designed to be worn by a woman or man? There may be a clue: Many women's shirts have buttons on the left side, while men's shirts usually button on the right. Even zippers in pants and jackets sometimes follow the same pattern. But why does clothing fasten differently depending on whether it's made for men or women? Fashion researchers and historians like us have wondered about this gender difference. The answer has a lot to do with tradition, history and the way clothes were made long ago. Even small details, like a zipper, can tell a story about the past. |
| 'Leading the way in American innovation': Mississippi establishes statewide AI framework | |
| Mississippi has unveiled a statewide plan to navigate the ever-evolving roadmap of artificial intelligence with the overarching goal of boosting its workforce. Gov. Tate Reeves announced the Mississippi Statewide AI Framework on Thursday, articulating priorities and providing a structured, stage-by-stage map of the AI skills learners need from K-12 through career leadership. The governor added that the framework is rooted in the idea that AI will not replace human input, but rather strengthen it. Reeves noted that the Mississippi Statewide AI Framework establishes a shared statewide foundation for how artificial intelligence is understood, taught, and applied across education and the workforce. Organized around 11 core AI skill domains, the framework defines competencies ranging from foundational AI understanding, ethical reasoning, cybersecurity awareness and real-world application across Mississippi industries, including precision agriculture, coastal resilience, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare. Notably, the framework is not a curriculum or mandate. Instead, it serves as a flexible guide that enables schools, colleges, and workforce partners to design programs that align with statewide priorities while meeting local needs. |
| The Memorial Day Barbecue Is Starting to Cost a Small Fortune | |
 | Caitlin Green pictured 30 people in her backyard for Memorial Day weekend: smashburgers on her new outdoor griddle, a soda bar, a fruit bowl piled with mango and raspberries. Then she priced the ground beef. A pound of it runs close to $8 where she shops, two times what she remembers paying a couple of years ago and more than she could stomach for feeding a crowd. She estimated that the all-in cost of putting on the event would be at least $300. "I just feel awkward inviting so many people to my home and being like, 'I'm gonna host you, but also can you pay me so that I can afford to have you over?' " said Green, a 25-year-old real-estate agent in Logan, Utah. Inflation is back, and it is coming for Memorial Day gatherings and the summer activities beyond. Gas prices are up and cookout grocery lists are getting squeezed. Rising costs are prompting Americans to rethink holiday-weekend decisions like how far to drive, how many people to invite and how much of the tab a host should absorb. |
| More state troopers to be on Mississippi roadways during Memorial Day weekend | |
| Those on the roads this Memorial Day weekend can expect a heightened law enforcement presence. The Mississippi Highway Patrol announced its 2026 Memorial Day Holiday Travel Period will begin Friday, May 22, at 6 p.m. and conclude Monday, May 25, at midnight. Each year, with an influx of travelers during the holiday weekend, additional troopers patrol highways and interstates with the goal of increasing public safety. The Memorial Day Holiday Travel Period coincides with the national "Click It or Ticket" campaign, which means the enforcement of seat belt laws will be an emphasis for state troopers. Troopers will also be watching for speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving. Various safety checkpoints will be set up statewide in hopes of reducing crashes throughout the weekend, MHP Capt. Chris Turnipseed said. During the 2025 Memorial Day Holiday Travel Period, the Mississippi Highway Patrol investigated 137 crashes, with six fatalities reported. Troopers also made 73 DUI arrests on state and federal highway systems and issued a total of 5,587 citations. |
| Columbus braces for dinosaur stampede May 30 | |
 | Few people can say they've run through downtown wearing an inflatable dinosaur costume, but that's about to change. Those participating in the upcoming inaugural Great Fossil Chase, organized by the city and Main Street Columbus, will have the opportunity to live out their wildest dreams of dressing up in an inflatable dinosaur to race their fellow fossil enthusiasts. While this event is planned to promote the Dr. John "Jack" Kaye Cretaceous Fossil Park, dinosaurs don't have to have all the fun. "I mean, they may come in a unicorn costume," said Susan Wilder, city grant writer and administrator. "We don't care as long as it's a blowup." An inflatable costume is required to race, and anyone who intends to participate must bring their own costume, Main Street Columbus Executive Director Barbara Bigelow told The Dispatch. The event kicks off at 3 p.m. May 30 at the Roger Short Soccer Complex, where there will also be arts and crafts activities, a bouncy house, fossil park-themed activities, educational materials, cold drinks, music and more, Bigelow said. There is no cost to enter the races. Winners of each category will compete for prizes ranging from dinosaur Lego sets to gift cards for downtown Columbus businesses. |
| Genuine MS Farmers Market moving to Brandon Amphitheater after strong opening turnout | |
| The Genuine MS Farmers Market in Brandon is moving to a new location after large crowds during its opening weekend quickly exceeded parking capacity, state officials announced. Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson said the seasonal market will begin operating Saturday, May 23, at the Brandon Amphitheater, located at 8190 Rock Way. Gipson said the decision was made following an "incredibly positive public response" to the market's debut. "We are excited to relocate the Genuine MS Farmers Market to the Brandon Amphitheater," Gipson said in a statement. "This move will also allow the market to grow by adding more vendors as we head into the summer season." Officials said the new location offers better access, additional parking and more room for vendors and shoppers. The market features vendors selling Mississippi-grown, Mississippi-raised and Mississippi-processed products, including produce, meat, dairy items, honey, plants and specialty foods. |
| Fondren theater, other venues in The Block to close. See plan to reopen | |
 | The Pearl, The Capri Theater, Highball Lanes and Fondren Yard in the Fondren Business District of Jackson will be closed from May 24-28. However, patrons of the entertainment venues and restaurants can rest assured that all is good. When the three reopen, first privately on the 29th, and then to the public on the 30th, all will have a different feel. Joe Cravens, the new owner of Walker's Drive-In in Fondren, will be taking over management of the food at The Pearl, The Capri and Fondren Yard. The three locations are the creation of local developers David Pharr and Jason Watkins, who have made it their mission to change the face of the area. "We sat down and talked, and they showed me everything they were doing," Cravens told the Clarion Ledger. "They need someone that comes into an establishment and treats it like their own. Then, they are looking at waste and quality. They are looking at everything across the board that an owner is looking at. Hopefully, we are the guys to do that." Both Pharr and Watkins say they are excited for the new chapter. |
| Consumer Sentiment Drops to New Low, U. of Michigan Survey Finds | |
| Higher gasoline prices and the tense standoff in the Middle East helped push consumer sentiment to a new all-time low in May, with rising anxiety about future inflation, according to the University of Michigan's monthly survey. The survey's headline index declined to 44.8 this month, from April's 49.8, per results published Friday morning. The April reading was itself the lowest final number ever recorded to that point. Consumers' grim mood spanned people from both political parties and reflected concerns about high living costs and the prospect of more inflation ahead, said survey director Joanne Hsu. Lower-income people, and people without college degrees, were particularly unhappy. |
| Mississippi makes fewer errors in SNAP program, but still faces $80M in federal penalties | |
| In recent months, Mississippi made fewer errors when determining payment for its food assistance program, according to the most recent data from the Mississippi Department of Human Services. Mississippi will still owe the federal government at least $80 million to continue running the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, based on its latest data tracking error rates and changes to federal law. However, that amount could rise to $120 million if the state distributes too much -- or too few -- benefits to people enrolled in the program. Under the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill passed by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump last summer, the cost of food assistance benefits will shift from the federal government to states. A state's payment is based on its error rate for the SNAP program. A payment error rate measures how accurately each state determines the number of SNAP dollars an eligible person receives. Experts say the metric does not comprehensively measure the program's success and that it wrongly incentivizes states to deny eligible people. Some experts warn states may be unable to afford to keep their programs running at all. |
| Thousands in Mississippi Rally Against 'Jim Crow 2.0' | |
| Waikinya J.S. Clanton gestured with her hands as she walked across the stage of the Jackson Convention Center on Wednesday while wearing a black t-shirt with the words, "I FIGHT FOR VOTING RIGHTS" in white all-capital letters. The Southern Poverty Law Center's Mississippi State Director recalled the history of her ancestors who had fought for voting rights while also celebrating the thousands of protestors who had gathered that day in Jackson to fight against efforts to erode Black electoral power in the state. "This is our fight. Say, 'This is our fight!'" Wanton encouraged the crowd. "This is our fight!" protesters chanted back. Thousands gathered in Jackson on Wednesday to protest proposed redistricting that could reduce the number of Black-majority districts in Mississippi's legislative maps, eliminate its lone majority-Black U.S. House district, and potentially further diminish Black political power. Protestors poured into the Jackson Convention Center and were greeted by an auditorium full of advocates, civil rights activists and lawmakers loudly vocalizing their support. On a stage in front of a black banner with "voting rights" in white and yellow writing, community leaders and U.S. House Rep. Bennie Thompson were speaking to attendees. |
| Mississippi House minority leader calls GOP redistricting push 'strange' given 2022 map drawing | |
| Rep. Robert Johnson, the minority leader in Mississippi's House of Representatives, believes many Republicans' recent interest in redrawing the state's congressional lines is "kind of strange" considering the way lawmakers handled redistricting just a few years ago. Johnson, appearing on MidDays with Gerard Gibert, said Republicans "got what they wanted" when lawmakers passed a new congressional map in 2022 based on the 2020 Census. At the time Democratic lawmakers proposed moving more Democratic and Black voters out of the 2nd District represented by Congressman Bennie Thompson and adding more Republican-heavy areas, including the southern part of Madison County. The move would have made Thompson's district more compact and less Black with the Democratic hope being that the neighboring 3rd District would become easier to win. "I find it kind of strange," Johnson said. "In 2022, when we redistricted, we actually advocated for taking more Democrats and African Americans out of Bennie Thompson's district and giving him more of Madison County and all of Hinds County." Republican lawmakers balked at the idea and instead voted to expand the 2nd District by roughly 60 miles and further preserve its majority-minority status while keeping the state's remaining districts solidly Republican. |
| Protesters detained at State Capitol during anti-redistricting rally | |
| Several protesters were detained Wednesday during an anti-redistricting rally at the State Capitol after demanding to speak with Gov. Tate Reeves. Karissa Bowley was among those placed in handcuffs inside the Capitol building. A Facebook Live video showed protesters being detained one by one. "If you redraw maps to make them unfair, then you will not be able to do so without pushback or without your people speaking up," Bowley said. Bowley and other demonstrators came with demands including fair political maps, protection of Black representation and the enactment of a State Voting Rights Act. They wanted to deliver that message directly to Reeves but were told he was not there. "We just wanted to let him know that we do not support his blatant racism about targeting Bennie Thompson specifically and his district. So, we just had a list of demands for the governor and we wanted to see him," Bowley said. The group waited and read their demands aloud, chanting and singing with instruments inside the Capitol building. Capitol Police then moved in. Capitol Police released a statement saying a small group was detained for disorderly conduct inside the Capitol for a brief period and escorted out of the building. Once outside, the group was released and was not charged with anything. |
| Rural hospital legislation passes U.S. Senate, heads to House for consideration | |
| The U.S. Senate late Wednesday approved the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Reauthorization Act (S.4460) by unanimous consent, making it available for consideration by the U.S. House of Representatives. U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith cosponsored the measure as it reauthorizes a federal health program that currently supports six rural Mississippi Hospitals. Introduced by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), S.4460 includes a five-year reauthorization of the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration (RCHD) program that would allow rural hospitals to continue using innovative Medicare hospital payment models that improve financial sustainability and support health care access. Hyde-Smith's office noted that in November 2024, CMS agreed to enroll additional hospitals, which led to Greenwood Leflore Hospital, Magee General Hospital, and Wayne General Hospital joining the program in April 2025. Other RCHD hospitals in Mississippi include Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian, Highland Community Hospital in Picayune, and Marion General Hospital in Columbia. |
| Trump Commits Troops to Poland After Asking Hegseth About Canceled Deployment | |
| President Trump said Thursday that he plans to send 5,000 troops to Poland, a move that is intended to reassure an ally but which won't forestall the White House's effort to shrink the American military presence in Europe. "Based on the successful Election of the now President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki," Trump wrote in a social-media post, "I am pleased to announce that the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland." Trump's decision followed a surprise move by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this month to cancel the nine-month rotation of an armored brigade to Poland from Fort Hood, Texas. The decision by Hegseth drew sharp criticism from Republican and Democratic lawmakers and concerned Polish officials, who told The Wall Street Journal they weren't consulted about the move. In Congress, frustration has been mounting over the Trump administration's bypassing of lawmakers on the Iran war and now the troop withdrawal from Europe. Lawmakers and aides have been trying to piece together the Pentagon's troop withdrawal plan. "There will be more action in the 2027 NDAA to create even more guardrails than already exist," Rep. Mike Rogers, the Alabama Republican who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, said this week. |
| 'Goes to Show You How Stupid They Are': Tillis Lets Loose on Trump Advisers | |
 | Sen. Thom Tillis isn't afraid to give his party, or the president, a dose of bitter medicine. In an interview with POLITICO Magazine in his Capitol Hill Office, the retiring North Carolina Republican said his criticism -- whether it's directed at White House "sycophants" or an "incompetent" Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth who he wants to see fired -- has the same end game: protecting Republicans' Senate majority and Donald Trump's legacy. "I've made it clear to the president that my beef is with people who are giving him some sense that some of the decisions he makes are not without significant consequence," he said. "And the consequence, in my opinion, is his legacy, and our election in November." Tillis announced last year that he would retire after two terms in the Senate, even as he's relatively-young-for-a-senator at 65 years old, and he's since been one of his conference's most frequent troublemakers for Trump. He was a one-man blockade for Kevin Warsh's Federal Reserve nomination until the Justice Department dropped its pursuit of Jerome Powell, and he has sunk nominees seen as Jan. 6 apologists. He said he is ready to "nuke" the administration's new "anti-weaponization" fund. |
| GOP furor over Trump's 'anti-weaponization' fund sinks Senate budget reconciliation bill | |
 | Senate Republicans blasted acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Thursday over the Trump administration's proposal to set up a $1.8 billion fund to compensate MAGA allies prosecuted by the Justice Department and made it clear that a budget reconciliation bill to fund immigration enforcement won't move until their concerns are resolved. GOP senators pressed Blanche during a tense meeting in the Capitol's Mansfield Room to accept guardrails to limit who could get paid by the fund and vented their anger over the attorney general's refusal during a hearing Tuesday to rule out the possibility that people convicted of crimes related to Jan. 6, 2021, could receive payouts, according to several people familiar with the meeting. But Blanche resisted the Republican lawmakers' demands to limit who would be eligible to get paid by the fund, further fueling the frustrations of senators in the room. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) told reporters before the meeting he was outraged by the idea that the "anti-weaponization fund" could be used to pay out claims to people who were convicted of assaulting U.S. Capitol Police officers on Jan. 6, 2021, when thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol to halt the certification of the 2020 presidential election. |
| Todd Blanche pulls his most eyebrow-raising move yet | |
| When Todd Blanche announced charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center last month, critics accused him of placating President Donald Trump in an effort to secure the attorney general job permanently. Blanche weathered similar criticism about a week later, when the Justice Department indicted longtime Trump foe James Comey a second time, accusing him of threatening the president's life with an Instagram photo of seashells. But perhaps nothing Blanche has done in his time as acting attorney general compares to this week's one-two punch: a nearly $1.8 billion fund to compensate victims of alleged weaponization of law enforcement, effectively designed to reward Trump allies; and a pledge, signed by Blanche alone, that the IRS will no longer pursue any claims it may have against Trump, his family members or his companies over unpaid taxes. The second measure in particular struck many as Blanche's most audacious move yet, designed not just to punish the president's enemies or compensate his supporters, but to provide a personal, lasting benefit to Trump himself. At the White House, Blanche's actions are winning raves. "He's the guy everyone loves," said a senior administration official, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly. Asked if anyone is poised to replace him, the official laughed and said "no." |
| Trump could face foreign policy squeeze in Senate after primary ruckus | |
 | New questions have emerged about whether President Donald Trump has lost sway with some Republican senators as they mull action related to a number of thorny foreign policy matters after they have clashed with Trump over the Iran war, the White House ballroom and his targeting of respected incumbents. Trump's Senate headwinds could show up most often on matters of foreign policy because second-term presidents typically devote more time to global affairs as they fight lame-duck status domestically. The president this week celebrated the primary defeat of Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and endorsed Texas state Attorney General Ken Paxton in a heated primary runoff with Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Both Cassidy and Cornyn are widely respected by their Republican peers, creating new intraparty unrest. Josh Holmes, a longtime former senior aide to Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., wrote this week on X that "the Senate GOP is going to be pretty ungovernable for the next couple months," adding: "Unenviable task for White House office of legislative affairs." Trump ally Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., an Armed Services Committee member, acknowledged Wednesday that the primary ruckus would make things harder for the party. For some committees, the newly minted GOP nominee for Alabama governor said, "I'm not sure what we can get [to the floor]." But when asked if he senses that Trump's recent moves have undercut his sway with GOP lawmakers, Tennessee Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty replied: "I don't think so." |
| Texas runoff roiled by shadowy spending and a call to imprison 'American Zionists' | |
 | A Democratic House candidate in Texas who said she wanted to turn a local immigrant detention center into a facility to imprison and castrate "American Zionists" has Democrats scrambling to distance the party from her and accusing Republicans of behind-the-scenes interference in the race. The contest is happening in a congressional district that Texas lawmakers redrew last year to favor Republicans but that Democrats think can still be won as President Donald Trump's approval rating plunges. The candidate, Maureen Galindo, finished first among four in the March Democratic primary and is competing in Tuesday's runoff. Now, Democrats are trying to ostracize her, and Republicans are trying to cast her as a posterchild for rising antisemitism on the left. On May 13, Galindo wrote on Instagram that if elected to Congress, she would write a bill to declare that Zionism is antisemitic, and she would convert an ICE detention center located in her district into a prison with a "castration processing center" for "American Zionists" and former ICE officers. She has said she is not antisemitic. Israel and antisemitism have been among the thorniest issues in the midterms. Republicans are relishing the Texas race's frenzy. |
| Cuba tells its citizens to prepare for war as U.S. targets Castro | |
 | In recent days, the U.S. Navy stationed an aircraft carrier off the coast of Cuba, the White House expanded sanctions on Havana's leaders and federal prosecutors charged former Cuban President Raúl Castro with murder. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to reporters, said what to many is becoming obvious: that the likelihood of a "negotiated and peaceful agreement" with Cuba's communist government is "not high." Months into a punishing oil blockade that has triggered widespread blackouts on the island, the Trump administration has ratcheted up its pressure campaign against Havana even further, raising questions about whether Cuba will be the next U.S. target after Venezuela and Iran. The U.S. overthrew Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January and a month later killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Officials in Cuba, who slammed the indictment against Castro as "a political action" to build the case for an invasion, say they are preparing for war. Carlos Fernández de Cossío, Cuba's deputy foreign minister, said that while the country hopes to avert conflict, it is hardening its defenses. "We would be naive" not to, he said. |
| What prompted, and what's holding up, an agency for men's health | |
| Just before he was sworn in as assistant secretary for health at the end of 2025, Admiral Brian Christine -- a urologist whose practice treated primarily male patients -- talked at an FDA panel on testosterone about a series of alarming statistics: Male life expectancy is close to seven years shorter than women's; men have higher mortality rates in 10 of the leading causes of death; and they make up the vast majority of deaths by suicide. "We have a men's health crisis in this country. Now we need a national strategy," he said, in a panel on testosterone replacement. He added that establishing a "parallel track" to women's health for men at the Department of Human and Health Services was a priority of HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and reiterated the message on the day of his swearing in. His words, and the fact that a urologist was in the assistant secretary role, gave the men's health community the hope -- close to the expectation, in fact -- that the agency would soon launch a federal men's health initiative to mirror the Office of Women's Health established within the HHS in 1991. But it doesn't look like that's going to happen anytime soon. |
| IHL Board of Trustees presented with proposed new university funding model | |
| Consultants with the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems presented Mississippi's Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees with a proposed new funding model for the state's eight public universities on Thursday. Proposed allocations under the new funding model for each of the eight universities based on total funding would be $442.6 million for the upcoming fiscal year if the model was in place. NCHEMS representatives told the IHL Board that they had identified gaps in foundational funding for three public universities: $4.2 million at Alcorn State University, $20.5 million at Mississippi State University, and $29.5 million at Ole Miss. Additionally, a recommendation to the IHL Board was made for members to consider performance funding for research and other components such as graduation rates, the number of adult learners, and efforts to meet the workforce needs of the state. |
| Judge releases man who ran over Ole Miss students | |
 | A Tennessee man sentenced to serve 10 years in prison for running over a pair of Ole Miss students nearly three years ago, killing one and maiming the other before fleeing the scene, served just over two years in a county jail before being released last month. In early April, Circuit Judge Kent Smith suspended the balance of the sentence of Seth Garron Rokitka, 28, of Collierville, Tennessee, and ordered him released from custody. "Mr. Rokitka should be re-sentenced in light of his continued rehabilitation and his institutional conduct, education and treatment," the judge wrote in the April 2 order. Rokitka pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI and leaving the scene of an accident causing death. He admitted he was driving a Toyota pickup around 1 a.m. on Oct. 16, 2022, and ran over two people in the parking lot behind Oxford City Hall. Walker Fielder, 21, of Madison, died from his injuries. Blanche Williamson, then 20, of Raleigh, North Carolina, suffered a broken pelvis and couldn't walk for a month. |
| ICC Construction Management graduates commit to careers, university transfers | |
| Itawamba Community College hosted its annual Construction Management Technology Signing Day ceremony prior to commencement exercises on Friday, May 15, recognizing graduating sophomores as they officially committed to the next step in their careers and education. The event was organized in partnership with North MS FORGE, a regional network of construction industry employers focused on promoting workforce development and increasing awareness of career opportunities within the construction industry across local schools and communities. During the ceremony, 23 graduating second-year Construction Management Technology students signed letters of intent representing employment commitments with industry partners, transfer plans to four-year universities or their continued pursuit of careers within the construction workforce. "The construction industry continues to offer tremendous opportunities for skilled and dedicated individuals, and this ceremony is a meaningful way to recognize the accomplishments and future plans of our students," said Scott Emison, Construction Management Technology program director. |
| Mississippi sees roughly 2% drop in 3rd graders passing initial reading assessment | |
| Just under 76% of Mississippi's third graders passed the initial state reading assessment during the 2025-26 school year. The Mississippi Department of Education reported Thursday that 75.6%, or 24,118, of third-grade pupils cleared the initial administration of the reading test. A total of 31,887 students took the test. The figure marked a near 2% decline in the number of students who passed. In 2024-25, 77.3% of third graders passed the initial administration of the assessment, with 84.6% of students passing after final retests. In 2023-24, 75.7% of students passed the initial administration, with 84% passing after final retests. In accordance with the Literacy-Based Promotion Act, third graders who do not pass the initial administration of the reading test are given up to two attempts to retest. Students who did not pass the initial reading assessment took retests from May 11-15. The second retest window is June 22-26. |
| Social-Media Companies Settle Youth-Harm Case Ahead of Wave of Trials | |
| Meta Platforms reached a settlement with a Kentucky school district over accusations that social-media companies intentionally designed their platforms to addict young people, becoming the last major platform to resolve the case and avert a coming trial. The settlement announced Thursday spares the companies from a June jury trial that was poised to be the first among more than 1,200 lawsuits brought by school districts alleging student mental-health harms caused by Meta, TikTok, Snap and Alphabet's YouTube. The cases are consolidated in federal court in Oakland, Calif., but will be tried individually. Meta was the last of the tech companies to reach a settlement with the district. TikTok, Snap and YouTube all settled the case last week, according to court filings. The school district trial was poised to be the latest test in the landmark litigation against social-meda companies, which have long been insulated by federal protections for third-party content posted on their platforms. Thursday's agreement represents the first time that Meta has settled one of the lawsuits, a shift in tone from what it was saying as recently as two months ago. |
| Conservatives Raise Red Flags Over Stuart Bell's Nomination for UF Presidency | |
 | Opposition to Stuart Bell's nomination to be president of the University of Florida grew this week with several prominent conservative activists, a Trump appointee, and a U.S. senator weighing in. Activists from the Manhattan Institute argued that Bell is an ideologue who during his tenure as president of the University of Alabama discriminated against white people in his efforts to diversify the student body and faculty. Rick Scott, a Republican U.S. senator and former Florida governor, said in a scathing letter to the university system's chancellor that the process had lacked transparency and would cost the university millions of dollars. Under Bell's decade-long tenure at the University of Alabama, Black and Latino enrollment doubled after he launched an aggressive diversity campaign in response to a series of racist incidents. "Both in the policies that he enacted and the people that he appointed, it's pretty clear that he was on board with this (DEI) agenda," John Sailer, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, said. "That raises red flags." Sailer's social-media posts criticizing Bell's nomination have gained traction, catching the attention of Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights at the Department of Justice, who responded to one thread with, "oh no." |
| Golf memberships, condo payments: LSU nonprofit affiliate misused millions in funds, audit says | |
 | A cybersecurity research nonprofit affiliated with LSU paid its executive staff millions without approval, misused state funds and possibly retained as an attorney a contractor who wasn't licensed to practice law, an audit released last week found. The report from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor said LSU may have violated the Louisiana Constitution and state law by failing to properly oversee the nonprofit Stephenson Technologies Corporation, or STC. The LSU Board of Supervisors approved STC as an affiliate in 2015 to secure federal contracts for the university. In a statement Thursday, LSU System President Wade Rousse said he had directed Chancellor Jim Dalton to "immediately evaluate STC's sustainability as a partner." "The audit clearly reveals significant deficiencies in LSU's past oversight of Stephenson Technologies Corporation leading to considerable funds being misdirected and misused, and those actions do not serve this university's mission or values," Rousse said. "LSU is committed to taking decisive action to strengthen oversight over all of our affiliated organizations moving forward." |
| U. of Kentucky HealthCare will build a $580M utilities plant as part of an expansion | |
 | University of Kentucky hospital is going to build a $580 million utilities plant to help serve more patients, according to a news release from the university. UK's Albert B. Chandler Hospital will expand its infrastructure through a public-private partnership with Kentucky Infrastructure Partners, which includes designers, developers and utility operators, the release said. The utility plant is an early step in UK's planned expansion of the hospital. "This is the first project that has to be done in order to expand Chandler, because our current heating and cooling is not enough to support an expansion," said Lindsay Travis, a spokesperson for UK HealthCare. The facility will provide utility services to the hospital with a "connected distribution system and optimize existing equipment to provide heating and cooling to a growing campus," the university said. The project is expected to modernize UK's existing water systems to be energy efficient. It will also provide backup generators to the hospital and more "utility piping" to support other areas of the south campus, Travis said. |
| Texas A&M Board of Regents approves billion-dollar budgets and construction plans | |
| The Texas A&M Board of Regents met to discuss and vote on budgets which will impact the student body. Thursday's regents meeting focused on agenda items such as the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, construction projects, and mental health trends. Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Ryan Griffin said the board reviewed the numbers in April and was ready to get approval at Thursday's meeting. "Our fiscal 27 through 2031 capital plans total $6.8 billion; out of that $6.8 billion, $1.5 billion are new, proposed projects," said Griffin. One of the projects already moving forward is a satellite utility plant at Texas A&M which is set to break ground next month with an expected completion date of February 2028. Chief Facilities Officer Brett McCully said the project has a total budget of $30 million. The budget discussion also directly impacts students. Tarleton State University students will see higher health and wellness fees starting this fall. This change was voted by students to approve earlier this year, citing a growing mental health crisis on campus. |
| Indiana University Biologist's Lab Reopened but Research Is Set Back | |
 | Indiana University Bloomington biology professor Roger Innes's lab is back up and running nearly two weeks after federal officials ordered the university to lock it down. Innes said he still hasn't received a clear explanation for why the United States Department of Agriculture told the university to close the lab, but he suspects it is retaliation for his speaking in defense of Youhuang Xiang, his former postdoc, and other Chinese researchers in the United States who have been investigated and deported in recent months. "The timing is just suspicious," Innes said. "I spoke out broadly to the press after my postdoc had been sentenced [in April] and was safely back in China ... And basically two weeks after that, I got this retraction on my compliance notification." U.S. officials started investigating Xiang in November after flagging a "suspicious shipment" he received from China. The investigation prompted a search of Innes's lab in January, after which the USDA notified him and said his lab was in compliance with U.S. laws and regulations. But the agency retracted the notice shortly before the recent closure, telling him it had been sent in error. "[They said] there was some sort of automated system and they didn't realize the compliance notification had gone out," Innes said. "Honestly, that's very hard to believe." |
| When sustainability is made doable, one college student's trash can become another's treasure | |
| "Reduce, reuse, recycle" is a mantra repeated by everyone from seasoned environmental advocates down to elementary school students learning about protecting the planet for the first time. But not everyone is taking part. According to the research and policy center Environment America, the average American throws out 1,788 pounds of waste a year. Much of it goes to landfills, which are a major source of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. One way to keep something out of the landfill is to give it a second life -- and that's what's happening at Illinois State University, a public Midwest university a few hours south of Chicago. Every school year begins with ISU's Front Yard FreeCycle, when one student's trash -- like discarded mini-fridges and futons -- become another's treasure. The solution works because it unites sustainability with convenience, and empowers the students to practice sustainability themselves. A little went a long way for broke college students. Nayeli Wood, a junior, glommed onto cooking utensils, baking pans and plates. |
| Duke University Plans a Data Center It Says Will Boost 'Environmental Responsibility and Sustainability' | |
| Duke University plans to build a small data center at Central Campus, potentially the first of several similar-size projects, which has raised questions among some faculty about whether the energy- and water-intensive endeavors could derail the institution's climate commitments. The 1.5-megawatt data center could eventually expand to 3 megawatts, a university spokesperson said. It will be built on 12 acres on Duke-owned property along Yearby Avenue, near the university electric substation and water chiller plant, according to the city-county building permit dated April 8. Contractors began preparing the site this week; construction is expected to be complete next year. Many U.S. universities and colleges have built, or are building, their own data centers to manage student information, confidential medical records and academic research. Duke could also use data centers to attract faculty, according to minutes from the April meeting of the Academic Council, the main body for faculty governance. The Duke facility will provide computing power to support the university's researchers. |
| What's in the Trump Administration's Final Proposal for Overhauling College Accreditation | |
| A committee of negotiators voted Thursday to approve a draft of federal regulations that will make broad changes in accreditation, adding significant new responsibilities for accreditors and their member colleges. The measures are meant to enact key principles of President Trump's 2025 executive order that calls for the creation of new accreditors, requires them to focus on student achievement and issues like intellectual diversity, and prohibits them from requiring policies that support racial diversity. "Accreditors today are failing to ensure that the quality-assurance process functions as it should," Nicholas Kent, undersecretary of education, said following the vote on Thursday. "Accreditation is no longer a reliable indicator of quality," he continued, "but with this committee's work, we are moving toward a system where accreditation once again means something." Left-leaning critics of the department, however, see the draft measures as extreme government overreach into matters of academic freedom and institutional autonomy. In addition, the draft regulations could increase the bureaucratic burden of accreditation as well as the cost to colleges. |
| We must never forget the sacrifice | |
| Mississippi newspaper publisher and columnist Wyatt Emmerich writes: The family photo of Billy Elmore has always haunted me. It pops up every now and then as my computer screen rotates through thousands of stored photos. ... I am probably the only person left in the world who can recognize him. He died in World War II in 1942 and left no children. He was my great-uncle. My mother's mother's brother. ... My grandmother told a story about the day she found out about brother Billy's death. She dreamed that night that he was dead. She woke up and announced to her family that something bad had happened to Billy. That day, she received a call that he had died working on the Burma Road. ... He died far away from home and anyone who loved or cared about him. Imagine the pain and grief this young man must have endured. He died for freedom and liberty. ... Enjoy Memorial Day. Have fun. And at some point, think of what a price tag it was. Our freedom was paid for with blood. |
SPORTS
| Softball: No. 20 Bulldogs Start Super Regional At No. 2 Oklahoma Friday | |
| A familiar foe is all that stands between No. 20 Mississippi State and its first trip to the Women's College World Series. The Bulldogs are set to play at No. 2 Oklahoma in the Super Regionals beginning Friday, May 22 at noon CT. State and the Sooners have met every year since 2021, the Bulldogs' longest active uninterrupted series. The teams did not meet in the regular season, but the postseason matchup will extend the annual series. The two programs have never met in the postseason. This year, the Bulldogs completed a dominant run through the Eugene Regional, winning three straight games and allowing just two runs. In fact, the only runs MSU allowed came in the first inning of the first game. MSU has not allowed a run in 21.2 consecutive innings. Samantha Ricketts was an All-American under Patty Gasso at Oklahoma. With a win, Ricketts would become the first former Gasso player-turned-head-coach to beat a Gasso-led Sooners team as a head coach. Despite not playing in the regular season this year, the postseason matchup extends MSU's longest active uninterrupted series. The Bulldogs and Sooners have met every year since 2021. |
| Bulldogs open Super Regional today in Norman against mighty Sooners | |
| After three days of softball in Oregon that rewrote some pitching records for Mississippi State's softball team, the squad finds itself in waters it has rarely chartered this weekend with an opportunity to make even more history. The No. 20 Bulldogs begin the battle of their second-ever Super Regional against softball powerhouse and eight-time national champion No. 2 Oklahoma in Norman at noon today. This deep into the postseason, to the winner goes all the spoils, and for MSU (41-18) a series win over the Sooners (51-8) would deliver the team its first-ever Women's College World Series appearance. The series also marks the first time head coach Samantha Ricketts is set to coach against her alma mater in the postseason. Ricketts was an All-American for the Sooners during her playing career in Norman under Patty Gasso, who still remains the team's head coach. "It's always a special moment to be able to go back to where I played (and compete against) the coach I played for," Ricketts said. "At this stage it's special every game, we're not going to take it for granted, and for us we are just going to get back to work like we've been doing all year." |
| How Samantha Ricketts' OU softball career impacted Mississippi State coaching style | |
| Although Samantha Ricketts has coached Mississippi State softball against her alma mater Oklahoma in each of the past three seasons, she referred to this year's postseason matchup as a "full-circle moment." Ricketts' Bulldogs (41-18) will face the No. 3 seed Sooners (51-8) in a best-of-three series in the NCAA Tournament super regionals beginning May 22 (noon CT, ESPN2) at Love's Field in Norman, Oklahoma. Ricketts played at Oklahoma from 2006-09 and began her coaching career there as a graduate assistant from 2009-11. She has been Mississippi State's coach since 2020. "For me personally, just looking at it from a perspective of starting in this program, that was kind of everything that started my career," Ricketts said on May 21. "And then to continue on with the growth of Mississippi State and to now be back in this position and to be back in Norman is pretty special." Ricketts was a four-time All-Big 12 player and two-time NFCA All-American. She played under eight-time Women's College World Series champion coach Patty Gasso, who still leads the Sooners program. |
| OU trying to 'crack the code' of Mississippi State pitching in Norman Super Regional | |
| There are other facets of Mississippi State for OU softball to worry about this weekend. But all eyes go to the battle of the OU offense vs. the MSU pitching. And it's perfectly OK to admit that fact. The Mississippi State duo of Peja Goold and Alyssa Faircloth vs. the Sooners offense is worth the price of admission this weekend at the Norman Super Regional. Talking to head coach Patty Gasso, yep, she knows what a challenge this will be. And she knows the work OU has put into it all through this week. "Their staff is outstanding," Gasso said. "Their pitching coach is an elite, elite pitcher we had to face back in the day, Taryne Mowatt. The pitchers pitch a lot like her. It's very easy to see who their coach is. She has done a great job with them. Our offense is -- we're really working hard to kinda crack the code of this group. That's going to be a big part of this." Game 1 is set for Friday at noon on ESPN2. |
| Track & Field: Twenty-Six Bulldogs Qualify For NCAA East First Round | |
| Mississippi State track and field has qualified 26 athletes for 20 events at the NCAA East First Round, hosted by Kentucky next week. Athletes will compete at the eastern preliminary to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, held in June. Qualifications are earned by finishing in the top 12 in their events or on a relay. There are 15 men and 11 women set to represent State in Lexington next weekend. Several competing Bulldogs are ranked in the top 30 nationally and in the top 48 in the East Region. The meet will begin next Wednesday, May 27, and continue through that Saturday, with men and women competing on alternating days. |
| Record-setting Savannah Bananas game generated millions for Aggieland | |
| An evening of Banana Ball at Kyle Field last month translated into more than $21 million in direct economic impact for College Station and the broader Brazos Valley, Texas A&M Athletics announced Thursday. The Savannah Bananas faced the Texas Tailgaters on May 2 before a crowd of more than 102,000, breaking the team's previous single-game attendance record by upward of 20,000 fans. The event also generated an estimated $3.5 million in gross revenue for Texas A&M. The economic ripple extended well beyond the stadium. More than 35,000 overnight visitors poured into the region, driving an estimated $8 million in lodging revenue and another $4.35 million to local restaurants. Texas A&M Athletics said the event reflects its broader strategy of leveraging high-profile, non-traditional programming at iconic venues like Kyle Field to expand audiences and benefit the surrounding region. |
| Georgia president Jere Morehead: 'A 24-team Playoff is a mistake' | |
 | As all eyes turn to the SEC meetings next week and whether the conference will sign on for a 24-team College Football Playoff, an important voice in the conference says he is against expansion. Georgia president Jere Morehead told The Athletic on Thursday that "a 24-team Playoff is a mistake," and that the Big Ten has not thought through the long-term implications. "It's going to devalue big games during the regular season. I think it's going to devalue Georgia-Alabama or Georgia-Oklahoma next year. So I don't think that's a good idea," said Morehead, who took office in 2013 and is the SEC's third-longest tenured president. "I was OK with going to 16. I thought that was a good number. But 24 scares me, particularly jumping from 12 to 24. If we went to 16 and tried that for a few years, see how it goes, and then we can evaluate whether we should go to 24. And from my standpoint, I would just stay at 12 then, if we can't get an agreement on 16. But again, there's one person in the room I'm always going to be listening to, and that's Commissioner (Greg) Sankey. And so if he were to give me arguments to the contrary, then I would listen to him." |
| CEO of NIL enforcement reminds frustrated schools: These are your rules, we just enforce them | |
 | While frustration mounts across college sports and talk of breakaway conferences hits the hallways at conference's spring meetings, the leader of the agency formed to police name, image and likeness payments has a simple reminder: These are the rules you wrote. In an interview with The Associated Press this week at the Big Ten meetings, Bryan Seeley, the CEO of the 11-month-old College Sports Commission, said he has actually heard more good feedback than bad as he's started making the rounds at league meetings. The problem is that the bad stuff mostly revolves around issues that could break everything apart -- notably, the third-party NIL deals that have blown budgets sky high and become the fulcrum of the frustration for schools trying to figure out how to survive in an era where they pay players. "I was hired to launch the CSC and enforce the rules as written," Seeley said. "It is totally fine with us if the rules end up changing if there is consensus to change those rules. But until that happens, we're going to enforce the rules as written and that's what we were told to do." |
| Texas' Steve Sarkisian believes every SEC team is spending at least $30 million on roster | |
| Texas coach Steve Sarkisian speculated that every team in the SEC has a roster budget of at least $30 million and some schools in the league may be nearing $50 million. Sarkisian, speaking to reporters before an alumni luncheon on Thursday at the Touchdown Club of Houston, alluded to public speculation around roster budgets and was asked where he believes the SEC sits in that category. "I don't think there's a team in our conference that doesn't pay, at minimum, $30 million for their roster," Sarkisian said. "I think there are some that are close to $50 million, truthfully. I think the reports of what people say (teams) are paying based on evaluation of players, I don't think those are necessarily true." The money spent on rosters has been a much-discussed topic because those numbers exceed the cap set originally by the House v. NCAA settlement, which was $20.5 million last year. However, that cap accounts only for what athletic departments pay directly to athletes across all sports. Third-party name, image and likeness deals are not subject to the cap, as long as they are approved by the College Sports Commission. Third-party NIL is a mechanism that many top-spending programs are doing their best to utilize to increase budgets to acquire top players. |
| NCAA tennis served up a dose of uncertainty as colleges face growing financial strain, program cuts | |
| It was sunny and 80 degrees in Athens as the Virginia men and Texas A&M women were crowned this year's national champions in college tennis, moments of joy in front of the best turnout in years and a welcome respite during an unsettling time for the sport. The elimination of tennis programs has accelerated in recent months, with Saint Louis, Illinois State, North Dakota and Gardner-Webb shuttering one or both of their programs. Arkansas dropped its men's and women's tennis programs in late April -- a decision that turned heads given the Southeastern Conference's deep resources -- then reinstated them with short-term funding promises from supporters. "It's a tragedy when any school cuts its program," said Reese Stalder, a tennis pro who played for TCU. "While (Arkansas) did get reinstated, it was on the verge of being done for. ... That goes to show that it doesn't matter how big of an athletic program you are, no school is fully guaranteed to be safe." Other so-called non-revenue sports --- those outside of football and basketball --- have been cut as well as athletic departments navigate rising costs and mounting financial pressures associated with revenue sharing and name, image and likeness compensation deals now funneling millions of dollars to athletes. Tennis, however, sticks out for the rash of recent announcements. |
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