| Thursday, September 10, 2026 |
| NOAA names Mississippi State University to host new Northern Gulf research institute | |
 | NOAA has selected Mississippi State University to host NOAA's Cooperative Institute in the Gulf of America (CINGA). The mission of this cooperative institute is to promote collaborative research with NOAA to build a comprehensive understanding of Gulf ecosystems, along with the social and economic forces that define the region. "This collaboration builds on the 20-year partnership between NOAA and Mississippi State University through the Northern Gulf Institute offsite link," said Steve Thur, Ph.D, NOAA assistant administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. "CINGA will advance and support NOAA's mission to apply science-based decision-making to the northern Gulf region." The selection comes with an award of up to $100 million over the course of five years, with the potential for a five-year renewal based on successful performance. NOAA selected Mississippi State University offsite link, which is located in Starkville, Mississippi, after an open, competitive evaluation. NOAA's cooperative institutes are centers of excellence that use their research and educational expertise to support NOAA's mission and build talent for the future workforce in shared areas of expertise. |
| How AI Is Changing Modern Agriculture | |
| The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), based on the peer-reviewed report AI in Agriculture: Transforming the Food System from Data to Decisions to Action, has released a brief authored by Alex Thomasson, Professor and Director of the Agricultural Autonomy Institute at Mississippi State University. The report shows that artificial intelligence is no longer a technology reserved for research laboratories. Across the United States, AI is becoming an important part of everyday agricultural operations, helping farmers improve efficiency, reduce costs, and make better decisions. The newly released policy brief examines how AI is transforming agriculture from crop production to food processing. The report highlights the growing role of advanced technologies across the food system while stressing that government policies must evolve to support continued innovation. "Artificial intelligence has advanced so fast that it's not really just a research tool anymore; it's embedded in agricultural practice now," said Thomasson. "From autonomous weed spraying to AI-assisted seed selection to real-time food safety inspection on processing lines, the technology is already changing how farmers work, how food moves through the system, and what we expect from that system. The policy conversation needs to catch up." |
| MSU poultry scientists recognized with early career awards | |
| Two faculty members in Mississippi State University's Department of Poultry Science have earned early career awards from the Poultry Science Association (PSA), an international organization dedicated to advancing the poultry industry. Associate Professor Li Zhang received the Early Achievement for Research Award, while Assistant Professor Timothy Boltz received the Early Achievement in Teaching Award. These awards are given to individuals who have made significant strides in the first six years of their professional careers. Both were recently recognized at the PSA's annual meeting held in Toronto, Canada. Zhang, who joined the Mississippi State poultry science faculty in 2018, uses microbiology, genomics and microbiome science to determine how harmful and beneficial microorganisms affect poultry. His team also develops rapid diagnostic tools and practical prevention and control strategies, including vaccines and microbiome-based alternatives to antibiotics. Boltz, another MAFES scientist, joined the Mississippi State faculty in 2022 as a poultry science assistant professor. He has dedicated more than 10 years to the PSA and serves as an advisor for Mississippi State's Sigma Alpha Chapter. |
| The Career Center at Mississippi State University hosts Resume Blitz | |
 | The Career Center at Mississippi State University kicked off their path to next week's Career Expo today with a Resume Blitz event. Resume Blitz gives students a chance to present their resumes to Career Center advisors and industry employers. Doing so, they'll get face-to-face advice about their resumes on things from formatting and layout, to tailoring their resume for the field they wish to go into and gaining connections. One of the career advisors working at the event today was Daniel Morgan. "With the expo in any of our career fairs and workshops, it gives them a chance to have some good direct contact with employers," said Morgan. "Because we have employers from all over the country that come to Mississippi State specifically to network and connect and interview our students for positions, internships, co-ops that they may have available. It gives students a chance to be able to connect in person with those employers right here on campus." Mari Bradley, a freshman industrial engineering major, was one of the many students to attend and present a resume to an employer. "I think this is a pretty cool place to get information on what you want on your resume," said Bradley. |
| 'This Will Always be a Part of Me': 25th anniversary of 9/11 sees MSU sophomore earn Flight 93 scholarship honoring pilot | |
| Though he was born years after September 11, 2001, Mississippi State sophomore Bradyn Long carries a deep connection to that date's national tragedy, shaped by more than a dozen childhood visits to a quiet field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The MSU aerospace engineering major, a 2026 recipient of the Flight 93 LeRoy Homer Jr. Flight Scholarship, is turning his personal history into a lifelong calling, with the road bringing him through Mississippi State. Learning of the national scholarship while an MSU freshman, Long quickly applied when he realized the funds could help him combine his desire to be not only an engineer, but a pilot like Flight 93 hero and First Officer Leroy Homer Jr. "When they told me they had chosen me, I really didn't have words," Long said. "There's obviously the motivation to learn to fly, but on top of that, I want to honor LeRoy's legacy. I want to be part of the reason his name will never be forgotten." Before moving to the Blue Springs area in Union County, Long's family grew roots in Pennsylvania and Illinois. Even though he didn't initially think of going to college in Mississippi, MSU quickly stood out once he began comparing aerospace programs. |
| SOCSD awards $24M in new contracts for SHS construction | |
 | Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved another round of construction contracts for the new Starkville High School off Highway 182. Bid packages accepted during the board's regular meeting Tuesday at Greensboro Center total more than $23.9 million, to be paid for with the district's bond issue. Board President Sumner Davis said the district had a favorable day in the market for the bond sale. What was expected to be $101 million in bonds actually sold for $106,750,614. Davis said the extra proceeds will go toward construction costs. Projected to open summer 2028, the new high school will be the first traditional public high school built on a college campus, specifically on the north edge of Mississippi State University's campus. Along with a classroom wing and common lab spaces, the campus is expected to feature administrative offices, two gymnasiums, a performing arts center, an outdoor patio and courtyard as well as practice athletic facilities and a field house. |
| Camp Shelby's Magnolia Crucible 2026 focuses on drone, counter-drone technologies | |
 | Camp Shelby is hosting a symposium on drone and counter-drone technology. The Magnolia Crucible 2026 is co-hosted by the Mississippi National Guard, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Mississippi State University. The event features live-action demonstrations, vendor showcases and panel discussions. The focus is on assessing emerging technologies and new challenges associated with unmanned aircraft systems and counter-unmanned aircraft systems. "(This forum and exercise is) very important," said Capt. Johnathon Bigham, president of the Mississippi Chapter of the Law Enforcement Drone Association. "At the end of the day, everybody needs to know that we're all on the same team and if something (related to drones) happens in Mississippi, you've got to have all these resources that are able to come together to either prevent it or to solve an issue or whatever the case may be," said Bigham, who is also a captain in the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office. |
| Swindle earns master's degree, remains committed to serving Attala County | |
| For Jessica Swindle, earning a Master of Science in Nursing represents more than an academic achievement. It is an opportunity to continue serving the Attala County community that raised her. Swindle, a lifelong resident of Ethel and Attala County, graduated Aug. 6 from Mississippi State University-Meridian after completing its intensive accelerated nursing program. She reached that milestone while working full time, raising two children, caring for aging grandparents and commuting more than three hours each day. "After approximately a decade as an LPN, earning my Master of Science in Nursing represents a new chapter, but my purpose remains the same: to care for our people," Swindle stated. Swindle received scholarship assistance from the Mississippi Nurses Foundation while attending Mississippi State. Her story was among those featured by the university in an article highlighting how scholarships helped Master of Science in Nursing students reach graduation. For Swindle, graduation does not mark the end of her journey. It marks the beginning of another opportunity to serve. |
| Pumpkin spice lattes are back | |
| After a long summer of oppressive heat, the promise of cooler fall days ahead gives hope to many. Labor Day, often considered the harbinger of fall, has passed. While the "feels like" temps are still hovering around the three-digit mark, there's no doubt they are on a slow downward trend. One true sign that fall is on the way is all things pumpkin spice. It started with Starbucks many years ago, when they rolled out their wildly popular pumpkin spice latte. The drink took the country by storm, and soon everywhere you turned, something with pumpkin spice flavoring was offered. Other coffee shops jumped on the pumpkin spice bandwagon, making their own riff on the modern-day classic. Around the state, numerous coffee shops offer fall drinks, from coffees to chais to teas. But if you want to stay inside in your cozy pajamas and sip a pumpkin latte, you can make your own. If you love lattes and this quintessential fall flavor that has become all the rage, this recipe is for you! Natasha Haynes with the Mississippi State University Extension Service shares this recipe for a make-at-home pumpkin spice latte that is as nutritious as it is delicious. |
| Mary Means Business: Charcuterie, sweet treats and design businesses now open in Starkville | |
| There are a few new businesses open in Starkville, from charcuterie to baking to designing and contracting. First up, if you are planning a party or just looking to elevate your snack game, Olivia Klass has launched Klass & Co., a new charcuterie business serving the Starkville area. Klass' custom boards range from a single-serving option for $25 up to a 12- to 16-serving spread for $225. Each layout includes a curated assortment of cheeses, meats, artisan crackers, seasonal fresh and dried fruits, nuts, olives and more. ... Also in town, Rachelle Cooper, owner of Sweet Masterpiece, has relocated her custom baking operations from Texas to God's Country. Cooper first stepped into baking about five years ago, initially catering to friends and family before launching her business page the following year as order volumes grew. Cooper said she bakes "all kinds of sweet treats," including cupcakes, chocolate-covered pretzels and strawberries, cake pops, gourmet cookies and more. She specializes in custom designs for each client's specific theme. ... Over in the home improvement sector, husband-and-wife duo Kaitlyn and Zachary Majure announced the launch of M&S Design-Build last week. Bringing together years of combined background in construction, business and project management, the team offers residential construction, whole-home renovations, kitchen and bath remodels, outdoor living spaces, decks, roofing and general repairs across Starkville, Louisville, Philadelphia and surrounding areas. |
| Teen charged with attempted murder for Brookville Garden shooting | |
| A Starkville teen was arrested Tuesday night after allegedly shooting a man during a fight at Brookville Garden Apartments. Braylen Neil, 15, is charged with attempted murder, a Wednesday press release from Starkville Police Department said. Officers responded at about 6:47 p.m. Tuesday to reports of a shooting at the apartment complex on Everglade Avenue. A verbal altercation reportedly occurred between Neil and the victim, which led to the shooting, the press release said. Public Information Officer Lt. Brandon Lovelady told The Dispatch that Neil and the victim knew each other, but he did not specify their connection. The victim suffered a single gunshot wound and was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Oktibbeha County, where he was treated and released, the press release said. |
| Lockheed Martin's C-130J wins Mississippi Makers Challenge | |
| Lockheed Martin has been named the winner of the 2026 Mississippi Makers Challenge, presented by the Mississippi Business Alliance (MSBA). The announcement was made today during MSBA's General Assembly in Jackson. "Mississippi is proud to see Lockheed Martin's Meridian-built C-130J Super Hercules named MSBA's Coolest Thing Made in Mississippi," said Governor Tate Reeves. "This vital aircraft supports more than 500 Mississippi jobs across our state, building on a 57-year heritage in Meridian. We are proud of the key role Lockheed Martin continues to play in Mississippi's support of the U.S. Armed Forces and our allies." The Mississippi Makers Challenge celebrates the manufacturers and makers across the state whose innovation, craftsmanship and investment help strengthen Mississippi's economy and workforce. In addition to Lockheed Martin, the 2026 final four included Cathead Distillery, CITEArmored, and Toyota. MSBA also recognized all of the companies that participated in this year's competition for showcasing the impact of manufacturing across Mississippi. |
| General Atomics announces another expansion that will add 125 jobs | |
 | For the second time this year, General Atomics has announced that it's expanding its operations in Shannon, this time adding 125 jobs. In the latest expansion -- the company's 15th -- General Atomics is investing $87 million to build a 200,000-square-foot manufacturing facility that will expand the production capability of the advanced weapons systems. That includes the Vektrex, a maneuvering 155mm precision-guided munition designed to extend the range and effectiveness of artillery forces and other precision-strike programs. The project is expected to be completed in 2028. The Shannon facility, located in the Tupelo Lee Industrial Park South, is a Manufacturing Center of Excellence for General Atomics' Electromagnetic Systems Group, which supports defense, government and national security customers. Gov. Tate Reeves said the investment and jobs was further proof that the state "is not just part of America's defense industrial base, we're essential to it. The technologies that keep America strong are being built right here in Mississippi." |
| Mayo Clinic Laboratories establishes operations in Southaven with $30 million investment | |
| Medical testing company Mayo Clinic Laboratories is establishing operations in Southaven, with plans to create 234 new jobs. The more than $30 million investment will support diagnostic testing and laboratory services for hospitals, clinicians, and healthcare systems to provide patients with accurate, timely results. According to the Mayo Clinic, the company chose Southaven largely because of its location and availability, which will allow it to build a facility that can become operational quickly. "Companies like Mayo Clinic Laboratories need more than a good location; they need the ability to get up and running without protracted decision-making," Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Bill Cork said. "Mississippi continues to deliver that advantage, and MDA is committed to helping companies turn investment decisions into operating facilities that create high-quality jobs and strengthen critical industries." Based in Rochester, Minn., Mayo Clinic is the largest, not-for-profit medical group practice in the world with the goal of improving overall health through research and clinical practice. |
| Meet Deere's JD, an AI Assistant Aimed at Helping Farmers -- and Its Sales | |
 | Deere is making a bet that artificial intelligence can help farmers make better decisions -- and eventually revive sliding sales of farm equipment. The Illinois-based equipment maker is rolling out a conversational AI assistant in the vein of ChatGPT or Anthropic's Claude. It is meant to provide quick answers to queries about the best time to plant or harvest crops and other business decisions, backed up with years of data from a farmer's own fields. The debut of the chatbot, known as JD, comes as Deere invests billions of dollars into smart farm equipment infused with AI-enabled software. A key selling point for that equipment is that the software is able to capture loads of information that the company says can help farmers increase crop production and lower their costs. But a slumping farm economy in recent years has dragged down farmers' spending on equipment and automation software, which typically comes with annual user fees. Deere had been aiming to generate 10% of its annual revenue from software subscriptions by 2030, but last year left the time to reach 10% open-ended. Deere executives hope farmers will realize the benefits of more automation after using the AI assistant, then be inclined to purchase additional software for their harvesters, crop sprayers, planters and other equipment. Deere is offering farmers access to JD free of charge. |
| Rep. Vince Mangold Throws Hat in Agriculture Commissioner Race | |
| Mississippi House Rep. Vince Mangold, the vice chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, is putting his hat in the race to be the state's next commissioner of agriculture and commerce, he announced on Sept. 4. "He wants to help prepare the next generation of Mississippi farmers to take over the family operation, promote Mississippi agriculture nationally and globally, support local growers, and increase our capacity to provide food security to Mississippians," a Sept. 4 press release from Mangold says. "Mangold has also pledged to oppose foreign adversaries, including China, from purchasing Mississippi farmland, and to ensure strong enforcement of the state's food labeling and food inspection laws." The representative has served House District 43 since 2016 when he defeated 32-year incumbent Democrat and House Minority Leader Bobby Moak. The district includes Franklin, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Lincoln and Pike counties. A self-employed poultry and cattle farmer in Brookhaven, Mississippi, Mangold previously worked as a professional in the lumber industry for 24 years. The representative holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and an associate's degree from Copiah-Lincoln Community College. |
| Historic Shift: Three Women Now Serve Concurrently on Mississippi's Highest Court | |
 | Justices Amanda Jones Tollison, Jennifer Branning, and Celeste Embrey Wilson have taken their seats on the Mississippi Supreme Court. Their arrival marks a landmark moment in state history, as three women serve together on the nine member tribunal for the first time. The milestone reflects broader demographic shifts in legal education, where women represent more than 50% of students at both Mississippi College School of Law and the University of Mississippi School of Law. Tollison, an Amite County native who has practiced law for about 30 years, said the court's current makeup mirrors the state's legal profession and general population. Tollison noted that attorneys and judges are expected to maintain high ethical standards and treat others with respect, adding that she aims to bring honor to the court. For women entering the field, she said her career trajectory demonstrates that professional paths are not always predetermined. Tollison said she never envisioned serving as a Supreme Court justice, but instead sought leadership and service opportunities within her community and profession. "I got a lot of help along the way from people that I've practiced law with, people that mentored me and people that I worked with," Tollison said. |
| Senate Commerce may mark up AI bills this month amid furor over safety, Cruz says | |
 | The Senate Commerce Committee could take up artificial intelligence regulation after the chamber returns to Washington next week, Sen. Ted Cruz said. "We need substantially more regulation when it comes to AI," the Texas Republican, who chairs the committee overseeing the fast-evolving technology, said in a Tuesday night interview for POLITICO's "The Conversation" with Dasha Burns. Cruz's remarks come as catastrophic risks from AI are in the spotlight this week following a viral social media post from a former Anthropic researcher. The post -- which Cruz said he read and called "scary as hell" -- cautioned that the leading AI companies have been "gambling with our lives," prompting fresh calls to action from lawmakers in Washington. Cruz, citing a conversation he had with Elon Musk in which the trillionaire entrepreneur predicted the chance that AI could "destroy humanity" was in 10-20% in the next 10 years, said he's taking the risk of AI seriously. "It's deeply concerning." The senator said the measures his committee would consider include a fresh bill from him, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to address AI uses that create biological and nuclear threats. |
| Republicans make 'crazed' Democrats the focus of their first midterm convention | |
 | Joe Biden was the target of a few jabs. So was Kamala Harris. Mentions of Nancy Pelosi drew loud boos. But Republicans gathered in Dallas for a first-of-its-kind party convention eight weeks before the midterm elections mostly signaled they were ready to move on from the old guard of Democratic boogeymen. Speakers at the American Airlines Center on Wednesday sprinkled their speeches with attacks on a new crop of progressive Democrats, including Senate nominees Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, James Talarico of Texas and Angie Nixon of Florida. President Donald Trump, in his keynote address, invoked the specter of communism, asserting that the Democratic establishment has been "overthrown and replaced by crazed lunatics and radicals." Even Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, estranged from his own party, struck a similar chord in a surprise video message introducing fellow Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick, a Republican. "I'm always going to reject the extremes in socialism and that anti-American way of life,'' he said in the video, filmed in front of a steel mill. (Despite rumors that he is going to switch parties, Fetterman said he remains a "commonsense Democrat.") |
| Trump Offers $5,000 'Dividend' to Every American Adult if Republicans Win Midterms | |
| President Donald Trump promised to pay every American adult $5,000 if Republicans keep their majorities in Congress in November's midterms. "Here is my promise," Trump said Wednesday, "if the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, both of them -- because of our tremendous economic success, like in history, we've never had anything like what's happening, but because of our tremendous strength and success economically -- I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000." "That alone should win the midterms," Trump said, speaking at the party's midterm convention in Dallas. He added the only condition on the payment, which he dubbed the "Trump dividend," is that Americans must spend that stimulus in the United States. There are about 245 million adult citizens in America, meaning Trump's promise would cost more than $1.2 trillion. Trump did not specify when the payments would arrive or detail how the program would be funded. He has previously teased a stimulus payment from tariff money. |
| UM College Democrats petition to 'DeFlock Ox' reaches over 600 signatures | |
 | Students at the University of Mississippi are pushing back against the use of Flock Safety surveillance technology around Oxford. The automated license plate readers (ALPRs) use artificial intelligence to log license plate numbers and vehicle characteristics. Critics of ALPRs, however, believe the cameras amount to warrantless mass surveillance. Oxford Police Department public information officer Breck Jones said Flock's technology is a vital tool in solving crime. OPD confirmed that 16 cameras are deployed in the city of Oxford as part of its contract with Flock Safety. "Technology, including Flock, has been an instrumental tool in solving cases in Oxford that include a sexual assault case and a burglary case where approximately over $150,000 worth of jewelry was stolen by a group from another state who were passing through," Jones said. The UM College Democrats launched a petition on Aug. 26 asking Oxford's Board of Aldermen and Mayor Robyn Tannehill to "DeFlock Ox," or cancel the city's contract with Flock Safety. So far, the petition has gained over 600 signatures. The Daily Mississippian asked dozens of students at the University of Mississippi for their opinions on ALPR use. The vast majority of students polled were opposed to ALPR use or indifferent. |
| UM study peers into molecular roots of eye health, disease | |
| Researchers at the University of Mississippi are working to map the molecular makeup of the eye's outer wall to better understand why some people may be more vulnerable to conditions such as nearsightedness and glaucoma. The National Science Foundation recently awarded an Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research fellowship to Yi Hua, assistant professor of biomedical engineering. The fellowship will allow Hua and Baudrul Mohammad Shahjalal, an Ole Miss doctoral student in biomedical engineering, to study the inner workings of the outer eye. "Many people think of the sclera as simply the white covering of the eye, but it's actually a very important structural tissue," Shahjalal said. "In our research, we are combining biology, chemistry, biochemistry, imaging techniques and biomedical engineering to understand what the sclera is actually made of and how those molecular components affect its mechanical behavior. "This mechanical behavior is very important because it's related to diseases like myopia and glaucoma." |
| New healthcare center opens at Holmes Community College | |
 | A new healthcare center opened on the Goodman campus of Holmes Community College. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on September 9, 2026. The new center was made possible thanks to a collaboration between Holmes Community College and G.A. Carmichael Family Health. The center will provide accessible healthcare services to both students and the surrounding community. "We cannot begin to tell you how important it is to have this facility on a college campus and the reassurance that those parents and loved ones have when they notice this facility, and they're dropping their child off from many miles away, sometimes from many states over," said Dr. Jim Haffey, Holmes Community College President. |
| UPSKILL Mississippi grant supports in-demand career training at MCC | |
 | Adults interested in training for several high-demand careers at Meridian Community College may now qualify for new state financial aid through the UPSKILL Mississippi Grant. UPSKILL Mississippi is known as Upgrading Priority Skills for Key Industry Learning and Labor. At MCC, eligible students may receive assistance while enrolled in Diesel Mechanic Technology, Industrial Maintenance Technology and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) programs. The new grant, launched by AccelerateMS and the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid, is designed for Mississippi adults age 24 and older who want to earn a certificate or associate degree that can lead to an in-demand career. UPSKILL Mississippi can cover eligible tuition and fees that remain after other grants and gift aid are applied. Students who receive the grant also will receive a $500 annual stipend for books and materials. "UPSKILL Mississippi could be a great help for adults who want to come back to school and train for a better job," said Dr. Lara Collum, MCC vice president for workforce solutions and dean of nursing. |
| U. of Alabama AI club kicks off year with President Mohler | |
| The University of Alabama Artificial Intelligence Club had its first official meeting of the year on Tuesday, hosting University President Peter J. Mohler as the guest speaker. Mohler emphasized the importance of acting now and putting AI infrastructure in place for innovation to take place. "There is a very moment of time, and it's going to be a very short moment in time, where you all are going to be looked at as leaders of this new revolution of AI," Mohler said. "This is not a world that just lives in engineering anymore. This is something that's going to be across every one of our disciplines." This mindset led President Mohler to create initiatives to build infrastructure for AI. These include a new school for data science, a free course for students called AI Experience and a potential innovation space on the Strip. "We need to make sure we're all aligned on some of these things, so we can begin to innovate, develop and create future careers," Mohler said. "I hope this is going to be a place to have big chunks of very strong metadata to allow you the bandwidth at zero cost to be able to bring disciplines together." |
| Alabama community college enrollment nears 100,000 for-credit students | |
| Alabama's community colleges are on track to enroll over 100,000 students in for-credit courses this fall despite barriers, according to data presented to the system's board of trustees Wednesday morning. Neil Scott, vice chancellor for student success for the Alabama Community College System (ACCS), said there are 99,083 students enrolled in for-credit courses for the Fall 2026 semester as of Tuesday, a 1.9% increase over the final Fall 2025 headcount. "We still have time to register more students, so I'm really crossing my fingers for 100,000," he said. ACCS Chancellor Jimmy Baker said in an interview after the meeting that high enrollment proves the quality of a community college education. "There was a time when the community college system was not viewed as being quality, and I think that's old stories," Baker said. "We've got good management across the system that is giving people a good buy for their work, and they know that. That's the genesis for increasing enrollment -- it's worth going to pay your money to get an education, or training." |
| LSU's Cultural Centers: Open Doors, New Direction | |
| LSU is moving several cultural centers services under Student Affairs and Campus Life while keeping the buildings open. LSU says the centers will remain available to student organizations across campus for meetings, programs and activities. Meg Sunstrom, LSU's chief communications officer, said the decision was not to close the centers but to make the spaces available to all students. The university also says students will continue to receive support and resources through Student Affairs and Campus Life. But the changes have raised concerns among student leaders. Ayana Lockley, president of the LSU NAACP and statewide vice president of the NAACP, said the African American Cultural Center provides more than services. She said it gives Black students a place to connect with others who understand their experiences. "The needs of Black students are different than the needs of other students," Lockley said. |
| U. of Florida drops sharply in FIRE's national free speech rankings | |
 | The University of Florida received a "D-" grade from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression's 2027 College Free Speech Rankings. The university ranked last among public universities in the state. UF ranked No. 119 overall by FIRE, down from 45th last year and received an overall score of 60.6 for its "speech climate," down 4.5 points from last year. FIRE surveyed roughly 63,000 students from 262 colleges and universities nationwide to understand their perceptions of and experiences with free speech on campus. Overall, the average score among institutions was 61.3 (D-). More than 120 schools received an "F" grade while just 24 schools received a "C" grade or higher. UF's grades for disruptive conduct (C+), openness (C-), and self-censorship (D), increased from 2026 grades while its grade for administrative support (F) decreased. The university's grades for political tolerance (F) and comfort expressing ideas remained the same. According to the report, 38% of UF students surveyed said they have self-censored on campus at least once or twice a month. FIRE cited five free-speech-related controversies at UF that affected its overall score. The most recent involved the deactivation of the University of Florida College Republicans in March after a photo surfaced online showing a member making a Nazi salute. |
| U. of Tennessee enrolls largest class with a big emphasis on retention | |
| Strong retention rates and growing demand from applicants have helped the University of Tennessee at Knoxville build its largest class yet. Since classes began Aug. 17, UT has enrolled 41,287 students across its on-campus and online programs. The finalized tally, announced Sept. 9, includes 7,205 first-year students in the Class of 2030, the largest freshman class in university history. Those first-year students come from 94 of Tennessee's 95 counties, 46 states and Washington, D.C., and 26 countries. As enrollment grows, administrators have prioritized recruiting students from Tennessee. Sixty percent of first-year students are from the Volunteer State. UT's enrollment increase is partially due to administrators making the retention rate a universitywide priority, driven by the Division of Student Success under Vice Provost Amber Williams. UT broke a record again this year with 93.1% of first-year students returning for their sophomore year. "When you truly believe in students and back that belief with authentic, intentional support, they do not simply persist, they thrive," Williams said in a news release. "These historic milestones are a direct reflection of our student scholars' courage and the dedication of our faculty and staff." |
| U. of South Carolina celebrates 225th anniversary in 2026 | |
| Dec. 19 marks 225 years since the founding of South Carolina's flagship university. "But we're not going to wait to start celebrating," University of South Carolina President Michael Amiridis told attendees of the annual State of the University address Wednesday. The Carolina Band played as attendees enjoyed slices of birthday cake on the historic Horseshoe. Amiridis went on to say the university was part of "an experiment which changed forever our state and our country." Before the waning years of the 1700s, colleges in the United States were private, often religious, institutions. In 1795, the University of North Carolina became the first public university in the country to hold classes. The University of Georgia opened for students six years later in 1801. And the Palmetto State established South Carolina College, now USC, on December 19, 1801. The first classes took place in 1805. "Even today, when our public universities excel, so does the entire country," Amiridis said. Amiridis went on to boast USC's growing enrollment and record fundraising. He also touted hiring at the university under his leadership -- 140 new tenure and tenure-track positions, a 12% increase. |
| Is This How Colleges Woo Back Students? | |
 | Most colleges aren't set up to educate this country's fastest-growing group of potential enrollees: the 40 million adults with some college but no degree. The time-bound, traditional semester system is designed to educate students en masse, but it also discards far too many of them, says Barbara Bichelmeyer, a professor of education at the University of Kansas, who recently retired as provost. To get them to come back, it might be time to think differently. "Maybe," she says, "it's less wasteful to redesign the educational system so that we're not throwing a bunch of people away." When Bichelmeyer became provost in 2020, she started a major experiment at the university, putting structures in place to create four small master's programs that adhere to the principles of competency-based education, an approach that allows students to move through the curriculum as they demonstrate their mastery of skills and concepts. Under a program called Jayhawk Flex, KU started enrolling students in two of those master's programs last month, after a complex and time-consuming process. Administrators are hoping more programs will follow -- that is, if they can persuade high-enrollment programs to participate and streamline their processes. Advocates for competency-based education, or CBE, say KU's move may represent a breakthrough moment. |
| Home From College, 2 Weeks Later | |
 | Last month, Daii'yaHnna Fleming posted a video of her move-in day at Southern University in Louisiana. As a bleary-eyed rising freshman, she lugged a half-dozen candy-hued suitcases on her trip from Las Vegas to Baton Rouge. After arriving, she began to settle into her new life on campus, stocking up on school supplies and setting up a side business doing makeup from her dorm room. Then the trouble began. The ample walking across campus aggravated her health issues, and Fleming didn't feel safe commuting to her job near campus. One night, she decided to join friends for an off-campus party. "I had never really been to a party, and I really just did not like it at all," Fleming, 17, said. "I got really fed up with everything." On the way back to her dorm, Fleming texted her mother and told her she was coming home for good. She had been in college for two weeks. In a TikTok video about her decision to switch to her university's online program, Fleming panned over her dorm room. "I'm not gonna force myself to be uncomfortable and unsafe, 'cause randos think I should be," she wrote in the caption, adding, "I don't care about the college experience. I just want my degree." In the thousands of comments underneath her post, as well as under similar viral videos of other students moving out or dropping out and sharing it online, a firestorm of debate has been playing out: Are Gen Z students too unwilling to face discomfort, to the point of missing out on a formative experience? Or are older generations valorizing struggle? |
| Want to Succeed in an AI World? Study Anthropology | |
| A computer-science degree is no longer a golden ticket. Stanford and MIT graduates are doing just fine, but a stampede of students into this major over the last two decades produced more coders than companies need. Artificial intelligence makes the oversupply even worse. What's the alternative? Get really good at the stuff machines are lousy at. For current and prospective college students, and their parents, this might mean avoiding college majors that made sense in a pre-AI world, like computer science, or that were created in response to AI mania. For the rest of us, thinking about what you'd study if you were in college today is a way to identify skills worth developing for the future. And that doesn't mean focusing on AI itself. "It's too narrow," says Peter Miscovich, an executive managing director at commercial-real-estate giant JLL who advises some of the firm's biggest tenants on future-of-work strategies. While it is trendy for companies to create chief AI officer positions, he predicts every C-suite job will ultimately require AI savvy and specialized roles will become outdated. Likewise, an AI-specific degree could seem antiquated in a decade. "It's sort of like saying you majored in Excel," Miscovich says. Instead, it might be time to go back to some of the classic areas of study. |
| Harvard College's Dean: 'Everyone Is Using AI All the Time for Everything' | |
| As the dean of Harvard College, David J. Deming believes one of his responsibilities is to help shape the college's response to generative AI. How should teaching change to ensure that students' work is their own? What is the purpose of college when a free tool can provide personalized, expert knowledge in seconds? In recent days, Deming has laid out some initial responses to those questions in his Substack, Forked Lightning, in his convocation address to freshmen, and in an email to all undergraduates. And he's gotten pushback. In particular, some professors and students were disturbed when he stated that there should be "acceptance, or even encouragement" of AI in writing done outside of the classroom. That this message came weeks after the college removed its Writing Center as a standalone unit, combining it with another academic support center, was not lost on critics. In The Atlantic, Tyler Austin Harper wrote that it raised the question of how seriously Harvard takes the skill of writing without AI, and what that signals to the rest of higher education. The Chronicle spoke with Deming on Tuesday. |
| How Colleges Responded to DOD's Foreign Partnerships Order | |
 | The Trump administration's decision to expand the number of foreign academic and research institutions that are considered off-limits for research partnerships has ended at least one study abroad program and triggered reviews at more than two dozen universities. The Department of Defense can't use "any funds for fundamental research that involves collaboration" with the entities included on what's known as the Section 1286 list, which identifies institutions "confirmed to be engaging in activities that threaten U.S. national security interests," according to the agency. That ban also extends to colleges that receive federal funding, according to DOD, and failure to comply could threaten that money. After updating the Section 1286 list in July and adding several major research universities in China, DOD told 30 colleges to review their partnerships with institutions on the list and terminate any "problematic" relationships. Currently, 130 academic and research institutions located in China, Iran and Russia are off-limits for collaboration. Inside Higher Ed reached out to all 30 U.S. institutions to learn more about what they told the department; nine responded and only a few of those shared their letters to DOD. The responses indicate that while the department's directive focused on research activities, other types of academic partnerships with institutions in China could face more scrutiny. |
| Mississippi Fixed Its Schools. Here's How Other States Can Too. | |
| Rachel Canter, the Director of Education Policy for the Reinventing America's Schools project at the Progressive Policy Institute and the founder of Mississippi First, an advocate for education initiatives in Mississippi, writes in The Wall Street Journal: For the past year, my phone hasn't stopped ringing from callers wanting to learn more about how Mississippi improved its public schools. Frustrated by sagging reading and math scores, educators, advocates and lawmakers across the country are curious about reforms that transformed Mississippi from a national punchline into a leader in reading and math proficiency -- policies I spent much of my career championing. Democrats, however, don't often ask me how to replicate Mississippi's success; they ask if it's possible at all, given the power of teachers' unions in their home states. As one audience member skeptically asked me at a recent panel discussion: "You've done your work in a red state. Do you really think blue states can do this?" My answer is unequivocally yes, even if blue-state politics may make Mississippi-style reforms harder to pass. If helping kids to read and do math at grade level is the goal, the evidence shows that what we've been doing in schools across the country for the last 12 or so years hasn't worked. C |
| 2027 College Free Speech Rankings: Kirk murder adds another difficult topic to dismal climate for student expression | |
| The assassination of Charlie Kirk generated a wave of censorship at America's colleges over the past year, further contributing to a climate in which too many students fear expressing themselves on campus. Encouragingly, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression's seventh annual College Free Speech Rankings found the percentage of students who said it was acceptable to shout down a speaker, block entry to a campus speech, or use violence to stop a campus speech declined slightly from last year's record highs. "At a tumultuous time for higher education, we are seeing some progress in campus free speech policies and indications that students may be less willing to tolerate shoutdowns and violence on campus compared to recent years," said FIRE President and CEO Greg Lukianoff. "But the overall state of free speech on campus is grim. Too many college administrators wield their power to cancel controversial speakers, cave to government or student calls for censorship, and limit academic freedom. This report emphasizes the need for colleges to embrace their constitutional obligations wholeheartedly." For the third time, the University of Chicago has claimed the top spot in the rankings. |
| Senator Cochran was right on timber | |
| Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann writes: There has been significant recent conversation about Canadian tariffs on many products, more specifically timber. This matters to Mississippi because timber is one of our state's most important agricultural and economic commodities. Over 80% of the timber in Mississippi is privately owned. In 2003, Senator Thad Cochran warned: "Canada subsidizes its lumber mills by subsidizing the cost of stumpage price for pine timber, and those mills are dumping lumber in our domestic market." The issue remains the same today. Most of the timber in Canada is owned by their government. The various provinces set the price at the stump. Most are significantly lower than the price paid here to private landowners. The United States sets a countervailing tariff on Canadian timber. The additional charge varies by species from 14.52% to 16.15%. This is how much the U.S. Department of Commerce says is the difference in the Canadian provinces giving a lower stumpage cost compared to our private Mississippi sales. |
SPORTS
| State's defense valuing improvement, preparation ahead of Minnesota | |
| The job is off to a good start, but there's work to be done. Mississippi State's first game with Zach Arnett back at defensive coordinator was solid. The Bulldogs allowed just 13 points, 278 total yards and kept Louisiana-Monroe 3 for 16 on third downs. The Warhawks came into the game rushing the ball 59.5% of the time over the last two years, but MSU held them to 138 yards on the ground. Of the 10 highest-rated Bulldogs against the run by Pro Football Focus, three of them were safeties, including Rice transfer Marcus Williams. "Credit to our defensive line, credit to our coaches calling the right plays. We rely on them, they rely on us, and the same thing is going to happen. Not just Minnesota, but every game," Williams said. "When they do their job up front, we're able to go out, drop in the back end, and vice versa." However, when the defense looked back at the tape from Saturday's game, it saw a handful of things that needed to be worked on. |
| Mississippi State's trip to Minnesota is a Vikings reunion years in the making | |
| Nearly 1,000 miles of roadway separates the Gophers football team and its Saturday opponent, the Mississippi State Bulldogs. But the visitors from Starkville are not all strangers. The trip north serves as a homecoming for a group of them. Vikings fans surely will recognize their names. Three former Vikings offensive linemen and the sons of two other former Vikings players are now part of the Bulldogs program. Phil Loadholt coaches the offensive line. Jon Cooper is the run game coordinator and oversees tight ends. Brandon Fusco is an offensive line analyst. Edge rusher Amaree Williams, a Florida State transfer, is the son of former running back Moe Williams. Freshman tight end Luke Hutchinson is the son of Hall of Fame guard Steve Hutchinson. "It's a small world," Loadholt said by phone. "Everybody has that connection to Minnesota." The most famous connection between the two programs traces farther back. Legendary coach Murray Warmath left his post at Mississippi State after the 1953 season to become Gophers coach. The current Bulldogs contingent with Vikings ties was something of a domino effect. |
| Week 2: Gopher football looks for momentum against Mississippi State | |
| The University of Minnesota football team is looking to keep its eight-game home winning streak alive when it plays Mississippi State University this upcoming Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Huntington Bank Stadium. This will be the first time a South Eastern Conference team has faced the Gophers at home since a 1959 win against Vanderbilt and will also be the first time Minnesota and Mississippi State have ever faced off. The game will mark the Gophers' second home game following Thursday's 59-7 win over Eastern Illinois. Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck said that he was appreciative of Minnesotan fans at a press conference on Monday. He hopes the matchup against Mississippi State will not disappoint. "This is what the fans want to see, these types of matchups," Fleck said. The Gophers had two punt return touchdowns in their game against Eastern Illinois and will look to continue playing all-around football against an explosive Mississippi State University offense. "They might be one of the faster teams in the country, and the quarterback makes it look so easy," Fleck said. "And then we have to talk about their run game. They got big offensive linemen. They got really good backs, who break tackles, who do a really good job with vision, and then just keep it moving." |
| Mississippi State baseball playing Little Rock in fall scrimmage at Dudy Noble Field | |
 | Mississippi State baseball will host Little Rock in a fall exhibition game at Dudy Noble Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Oct. 30. Tickets are required to attend the exhibition, except for students who have the all-sport pass. The tickets can be purchased now for premium season-ticket holders on Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. for remaining season-ticket holders and on Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. for the general public. The Bulldogs also announced the dates for their fall intrasquad scrimmages as Sept. 18, 20, 25 and 27 and Oct. 2, 4, 16, 23 and 25. They are all open to the public. The start times will be announced later. Little Rock won the Hattiesburg Regional last season but came up short of the College World Series in the Troy Super Regional. The Trojans' coach, Chris Curry, played catcher at Mississippi State in 1999 before being a ninth-round pick in the MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs. MSU hasn't played the Trojans since 2019 in a 15-4 midweek win at Dudy Noble Field. |
| SEC not expected to vote on LSU's membership this week, AP source says | |
 | The Southeastern Conference is no longer expected to vote on whether to expel LSU from the league on Thursday, a person familiar with the matter said Wednesday evening. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Thursday's meeting -- to be held by video conference -- is not open to the public and because the SEC has not released a statement on the matter since a federal court filing on Tuesday highlighted the league's intent to vote on LSU's membership. The dispute between the conference and LSU stems largely from first-year Tigers coach Lane Kiffin's now-abandoned bid to field two players who had signed NFL contracts as undrafted rookies this past offseason. A hearing scheduled Wednesday in a federal lawsuit the SEC filed against LSU was postponed by a judge in Birmingham, Alabama. Meanwhile, LSU President Wade Rousse sent a one-page letter, obtained by the AP, to SEC commissioner Greg Sankey stating that the league's claims in its lawsuit against LSU are now moot because Kiffin had complied with a conference ban on rostering players who had previously signed contracts with NFL teams. |
| Is LSU vs. SEC feud cooling? Lawsuit hearing postponed, president says roster issue 'moot' | |
| The preliminary hearing in the SEC's lawsuit against LSU was postponed Wednesday afternoon, amid signs that the two sides were de-escalating their fight over the eligibility of two players who signed NFL contracts. The SEC had scheduled a vote for Thursday on whether to kick LSU out of the conference, but that vote is no longer expected to happen. LSU president Wade Rousse sent SEC commissioner Greg Sankey a letter, dated Wednesday, to "clear up the allegations against LSU." The document, obtained through a public records request, said two key issues in the dispute between the conference and officials from one of its charter members are moot. First, Rousse said the Tigers declined to add the one-time NFL players, Dae'Quan Wright or Zxavian Harris, to their roster and instead filled the final two spots with other players. The move, Rousse wrote, meant LSU's roster was "locked for the season" and in compliance with SEC rules. Second, Rousse said LSU would not "challenge, disrupt or seek to cancel or postpone" Thursday's meeting of SEC presidents/chancellors. Tension remains inside the conference over the situation, specifically the perception that LSU coach Lane Kiffin was orchestrating the player lawsuits and was not being stopped by LSU's administration. |
| As Federal Athletics Reform Stalls, SEC Flexes on LSU | |
| The Louisiana State University Tigers stormed to a blowout win on the football field in week one, only to lose days later to the Southeastern Conference in a fight over player eligibility. The high-stakes fight pitted college presidents who lead the conference against each other as members sought to enforce the conference's rules and accused LSU of losing control over its football coach. As colleges grapple with shifting and uncertain rules, the fight is the latest example of how conferences are aiming to assert their power to govern athletics. The SEC said Tuesday it was planning to vote this week on whether to expel LSU for violating conference rules, which explicitly prohibits athletes from returning to college sports after playing in professional leagues. But in the face of mounting scrutiny, LSU blinked. LSU football coach Lane Kiffin ultimately didn't add Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris to the 105-man roster Tuesday after leaving spots open last week. In a message to Inside Higher Ed, LSU President Wade Rousse pressed the need for college athletics reform. (The same statement was released last week.) |
| NCAA Conferences Show Authority, Power as SEC Threatens to Oust LSU | |
| As Congress weighs whether to grant the NCAA a limited antitrust exception to bring more order to the chaos of college sports, conferences have intriguingly become willing to litigate against their own members as a means of bringing order. ... It's almost as if college sports can obtain the order it seeks through conference, rather than NCAA, actions. It's also as if the college sports world has taken a closer read of Justice Neil Gorsuch's majority opinion in NCAA v. Alston (2021). While Alston is remembered most for the NCAA losing 9–0 and for Justice Brett Kavanaugh's concurring opinion, in which he blasted amateurism, history could show the most important passage was Gorsuch comparing how antitrust law applies differently to the NCAA and to conferences. "Individual conferences," Gorsuch wrote, "remain free to reimpose every single enjoined restraint tomorrow -- or more restrictive ones still." ... The remark came in the context of Gorsuch's reasoning that the NCAA and its members' agreement not to pay athletes for academic-related expenses constituted illegal price-fixing under antitrust law. ... But when a conference and its members set rules related to eligibility, Alston suggests they can do so with much more latitude. |
| CSC clears $227M+ in NIL deals in July, August in major increase | |
| The College Sports Commission cleared more than $227 million worth of name, image and likeness deals in the two-month period ending Aug. 31, nearly doubling the value of all the deals cleared over its first year of existence. Much of the increase in the numbers revealed Wednesday can be attributed to a streamlined process with the commission's NIL Go platform that players and schools use to submit deals, along with more personnel to evaluate deals. The agency now has 29 full-time employees, with 12 devoted full-time to NIL Go. One of the CSC's key functions is evaluating NIL contracts between players and "associated entities" -- people or companies that have relationships with the schools -- to make sure the deals are for a legitimate purpose and at fair market value. Of the $227 million in deals, $188.6 million were with associated entities. The rest, which do not go under as much scrutiny, were between players and outside sponsors, or "non-associated entities." |
| Finebaum reveals he didn't run for Senate because he was told Disney is 'woke' | |
 | Paul Finebaum's reason for deciding against running for the Alabama U.S. Senate seat currently held by Tommy Tuberville is simple. "The reason I didn't run ... is that I was being told what to say," Finebaum said on the "College Football Unfiltered" podcast. "The political pros -- and these weren't, like, local yokels; these were all Washington, D.C. people who had run presidential campaigns -- they were telling me, 'This is how you win. This is what you say.' "I work at ESPN, which is owned by Disney. And the No. 1 thing they told me you have to do is say, 'Disney is a terrible organization. It's woke.'" The 71-year-old analyst, whose contract runs through 2027, has no intention of running for office moving forward. "I understand the intoxicating part -- and it is -- but I just would never be comfortable in a position where I have to do what somebody tells me to do," Finebaum said. "I have a taste for what I went through last year. I just don't think it will be as an elected official." |
| Across the US, 'Friday night lights' provide a sense of community -- and, for some, a way out | |
| The phone calls, all asking the same question, started coming long before the lights at "The Pit" flickered on for the first time this fall. "When will the senior citizen passes be available?" Aliquippa High athletic director Jennifer Damico's office heard more than once as the countdown to the latest season of Quips football inched forward. At the school perched atop a hill about 30 minutes northwest of downtown Pittsburgh, the passes have been a longstanding tradition -- a way for the community's past to connect with its present. Amid an ever-changing landscape, when a constant distraction sits in the palm of your hand, and the culture wars seem specifically designed to divide far more than they're designed to unite, those Friday nights and everything they represent endure. Not just in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, but Alaska and Alabama and everywhere in between. And not just on the football field, but the basketball courts, the baseball and softball diamonds and all the rest. In a country in which nearly a third of the population tunes in to the Super Bowl, the confluence between sports and community may be felt most acutely in far smaller venues that carry far bigger personal stakes. Even amid increased competition from youth travel leagues, prep sports are thriving. The NFHS's annual survey for the 2025-26 academic year estimated there were over 8.4 million participants in high school sports, a 25% jump since the 20th century became the 21st. |
The Office of Public Affairs provides the Daily News Digest as a general information resource for Mississippi State University stakeholders.
Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.
