| Tuesday, June 23, 2026 |
| New Starkville High School being constructed on Mississippi State campus | |
 | The Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District and Mississippi State University have partnered in the construction of a new Starkville High School. Notably, the project is the first of its kind in the nation, housing all 9th through 12th grade high school students from a single district on a college campus. Dr. Mark Keenum, the President of Mississippi State University, said in a statement that by working together, they are creating new and exciting opportunities for students along every step of their educational journey. "The new Starkville High School will be a true asset and resource for not only our community, but a model for innovative teaching, learning, discovery and career and technical education for school districts around the state and across the country," Keenum said. The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees approved the proposed exterior design of the new Starkville High School in June 18. IHL approval is required for buildings constructed on public university campuses. |
| SOCSD launches new website to share details of High School construction | |
| On Monday, Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District launched a new website focused on sharing information about construction of the new Starkville High School. Centered on "Building for a new era of Excellence," the web presence, which is available at www.starkvillesd. com/construction, is part of the district's effort to provide community members and district families with current information about the progress of construction, programming to be offered at the new school, and details about the district's partnership with Mississippi State University. "It's a new era for the district and our partnership with MSU as we are starting to see visible progress on the construction of the new Starkville High School," said SOCSD Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee. "It's a space worthy of the excellent work our students and faculty are accomplishing every day, and we hope it will be a showpiece that the community can be proud of. Beyond that, we truly believe it will impact educational opportunities in Oktibbeha County for generations of students, opening up new learning experiences." |
| MSU scientists help verify origin of cotton's domestication | |
 | Sources from an MSU press release say that cotton is the world's leading source of natural textile fiber, but much of its genetic history remains a mystery. Mississippi State scientists are part of an international team investigating when and where cotton was first domesticated. Their findings, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, weave together a clearer picture of cotton's genomic past while offering insight to help improve the crop's future. Professor Dan Peterson, head of MSU's Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition and Health Promotion and a Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station scientist, said the team confirmed a longstanding hypothesis that the Northwestern Yucatán Peninsula was the center of domestication of Gossypium hirsutum, known as upland cotton. Peterson noted wild specimens of the species hold valuable reservoirs of traits that could improve the crop today. |
| Student podcast project tackles issues related to climate change | |
 | Malorie Miles, a seventh-grader at The Partnership Middle School, remembers watching from her front door as her neighborhood experienced flash flooding in 2022. The rainfall from the storm over several hours crept its way from the street and pooled around her front yard. For the last four years, Miles has sought answers to the science behind that flash flooding, and only recently got the chance to seriously learn about it earlier this school year as part of a special project. "I wanted to understand why floods occur and why they last," Miles said. "Because I can understand the rain coming down, and (why) it (floods) for the first few minutes, but then after the rain's gone, I was really interested to learn why doesn't the water just quickly drain away?" This spring, alongside roughly 27 classmates, Miles asked National Weather Service scientists questions as part of a collaboration project with the "Orbit: Science for kids on the move!" podcast about extreme weather events and their impact in Starkville. The podcasting effort is part of the Sowing Environmental Multilingualism, Integrating Learning, Linguistics and Action in Science project, which is co-led by Mississippi State University Assistant Professor of English Lourdes Cardozo-Gaibasso. |
| More Than $80k Approved for Catfish Research and Promotion | |
| The Arkansas catfish industry is getting a boost. The Arkansas Catfish Promotion Board recently approved more than $80,000 in funding for research and promotion projects set to support growth and market development in the sector. The board received six proposals requesting more than $154,000 in funding. Of those, three promotion projects totaling more than $50,000 and one research project totaling more than $29,000 were approved, including: A more than $29,000 project of Mississippi State University seeks to determine environmental factors that enable the proliferation of Aphanocapsa, a bacterium that can lead to fish mortality, and evaluate current monitoring and treatment strategies to help Arkansas producers better predict and manage harmful blooms. |
| Local graduates awarded Frank Crump Jr. scholarships | |
| Two Warren County graduates are headed to Mississippi State University this fall with help from the Frank Crump Jr. Educational Foundation, which recently announced Ae'Ryl Jones and Landon Lumpkin as recipients of its annual Next Generation Scholarship. Jones, a graduate of River City Early College, and Lumpkin, a Warren Central High School graduate, were selected based on their academic achievement, leadership and commitment to community service. Jones will enter Mississippi State as an elite scholar after earning both her high school diploma and an associate degree in general studies from Hinds Community College while attending River City Early College. She plans to major in civil engineering with a concentration in construction engineering. Lumpkin, a three-sport student-athlete who competed in football, basketball and track at Warren Central, plans to major in kinesiology. He hopes to become a physical therapist and remain connected to the world of sports while helping others improve their physical health. |
| Annie Kate White crowned Miss Neshoba County Fair 2026 | |
| Annie Kate White, 18, was crowned Miss Neshoba County Fair 2026 Monday night at the Grandstand at the Neshoba County Fair. She is the daughter of William and Leigh Ann White. She is a member of First Methodist Church and will be a freshman at Mississippi State University this fall. She also received top score in the Interview portion. |
| Huntington encourages customers to contact bank with issues during transition | |
 | The conversion of Cadence Bank accounts to Huntington Bank hasn't gone without a few hiccups, but bank officials claim the process has gone well overall. For several weeks, Huntington, which acquired Cadence in a $7.1 billion merger, has been informing customers of the conversation. Cadence to Huntington systems conversion and account transition officially happened over the weekend, and Cadence accounts officially moved onto the Huntington system on Monday. For the most part the conversion wasn't a problem, but some customers said they were unable to access their accounts or couldn't open the app. A bank representative acknowledged there were a "few pockets of issues," but nothing was atypical. "This morning for less than an hour, there was an instance for a very brief period of time where our mobile app and our retail online platforms were down," the representative said Monday afternoon. Bank customers are encouraged to call the bank if they gave issues or questions about their accounts. |
| In Memoriam: An 'honorable man': Coleman leaves legacy of civility, service | |
| David Owen has a phrase for what Lee Coleman was long before he ever donned a judge's robe: a "classic, fine gentleman lawyer." Owen, longtime friend to Coleman, said he saw it firsthand for decades, from watching Coleman work to later serving as his colleague and eventually as the "unofficial campaign manager" who helped talk him into running for circuit judge. "Back when Lee and I got into the law business, there was still a shred of honorability about it," Owen told The Dispatch. "He was just an extremely honorable man." Retired 16th Circuit Judge Lee Coleman, of West Point, died May 27. He was 76. Coleman served three terms as circuit judge, representing Clay, Lowndes, Noxubee and Oktibbeha counties. Jim Davidson, retired judge for the 14th Chancery District, said Coleman's even-keeled demeanor set him apart both in and out of the courtroom. "He was one of those people that you could always depend on to be thoughtful about things," Davidson said. "He wouldn't make wild and crazy statements or fly off the handle. Davidson said he will remember most what a "loyal friend" Coleman was. "Even though you might have different opinions, different viewpoints (or) be on different sides of an issue, that was never a personal thing with him," Davidson said. "He respected your position. Even though he might not agree with it, he respected it." |
| Nissan celebrates 1 millionth Frontier truck made in Canton | |
 | Nissan marked a major milestone at its Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant. The company celebrated the one-millionth Frontier truck assembled in Mississippi. After launching U.S. production in Smyrna, Tennessee in 1998, Frontier assembly moved to Canton in 2012. Today, Frontier is powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine assembled at Nissan's Decherd Powertrain Plant in Tennessee. "This milestone reflects the skill of our Canton team and the strength of the community behind them," said Victor Taylor, division vice president, U.S. Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management and Production Engineering. "Canton's precision, pride and consistency are in every truck that rolls off the line." In May 2026, Nissan officials said Frontier retail sales were up 24% year-over-year, with 6,773 units sold, the model's best May since 2010. |
| Why beef prices keep climbing: There's a 'perfect storm' of low supply and high demand | |
| In less than two weeks, millions upon millions of Americans fire up the grill to cook up some burgers for the Fourth of July -- unless they've decided the beef for those burgers is just too expensive. The price of a pound of ground beef is up almost 13% compared to May of last year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The cost has more than doubled over the past 15 years. The USDA predicts beef prices will go up another 10% in 2026 -- much faster than the rate of inflation. High demand and low supply makes for a perfect storm, said Jamie Luke, a professor agriculture, food and resource economics at Michigan State University. "Right now we have a historically low number of beef cows in the country," she said. And that's just the supply side. "Personally, I think the bigger story in beef prices is the consumer demand side," said Brian Coffey, a professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University. "Protein is kind of all the rage now, and specifically consumers have kind of gone back to red meat as a source of protein," he said. |
| Neshoba County Fair expected to draw 2027 election speculation | |
| Mississippi's next statewide election is still a year away, but at the Neshoba County Fair, the talk is already turning to 2027. While the official speaking schedule is limited, organizers and strategists say there will still be plenty of politics on the grounds. "This year is what I call a calm before the storm year... the storm will be '27," said Hayes Dent, president of Hayes Dent Public Strategies. Dent said most Mississippians aren't focused on the maneuvering yet, but insiders are watching closely for hints about who could jump into higher office. "There's probably less than 1,000 people really focused on the palace intrigue," Dent said. The intrigue comes as rumors swirl around who will or won't run for higher office. "The fair has typically not been a place where people have come out and said, 'Hey, I'm going to do this, or I'm going to do that.' But it could be a great opportunity for the people who are rumored to be going to be a candidate," Dent said. |
| PERS needs additional funding 'more in line with actuarial recommendations,' executive director tells lawmakers | |
| The executive director of the Public Employees' Retirement System told lawmakers in May that PERS needs additional funding, in some manner, more in line with actuarial recommendations. Ray Higgins' comments came upon review of the latest report from the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review, or PEER, looking at the financial soundness of the state retirement system. "As noted in the report, the actuarially determined contribution (ADC) was last calculated at 25.98% of payroll, which the PERS Board recommended to the legislature" Higgins told the lawmakers on the PEER committee. "Any assistance you all can provide in reiterating the importance of significant and/or recurring funding for PERS with your committee would be greatly appreciated." The PERS actuary recommended the 25.98% ADC for Fiscal 2025, but the Legislature mandated the employer contribution rate at 18.40% for Fiscal Year 2026. Lawmakers mandated a 0.5% increase over a five-year period, which will bring the employer contribution rate to 19.90% in Fiscal year 2029. The employee contribution rate is 9%. As a result, PEER notes in the report that it is possible that the PERS plan will require additional funding in future periods if the actuary opines that a higher ADC is required. |
| Mississippi Board of Mental Health taps new leadership | |
| The Mississippi Board of Mental Health appointed Teresa Mosley and Dr. Sara Gleason as its new chair and vice chair, respectively. They will serve in the posts for the upcoming fiscal year, starting July 1. Mosley, who was previously vice chair, is the lead psychometrist at the Mississippi College Dyslexia Education and Evaluation Center and owns TRM Educational Consulting. She represents Mississippi's 4th Congressional District on the board. Gleason is a professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior and assistant vice chancellor for clinical affairs at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She is the board's psychiatrist representative. They were named to the positions by fellow board members during last week's meeting. The nine-member board governs the state Department of Mental Health. At the same meeting, the board was also informed that Mississippi was one of 10 states selected for the 2026 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Medicaid Demonstration Program. |
| Federal judge blocks bans on SNAP use for soda | |
 | A federal judge has blocked bans on the usage of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for soda enacted by the Trump administration. "Congress defined what 'food' is supposed to be, and it did not authorize the agency to amend or waive the definition it enacted. It did not authorize the agency to cut types of food out of SNAP entirely," U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson wrote in a Monday filing, referencing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). According to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia filing, five states, including Iowa, Nebraska, West Virginia, Colorado and Tennessee, "submitted requests to the USDA to conduct pilot projects" between April and August 2025 attempting to "waive the federal definition of 'food,'" removing certain items from that definition including soft drinks and soda. Represented by the National Center for Law and Economic Justice, a nonprofit focused on advancing justice for low-income families, five SNAP recipients from those five states had sued the USDA for implementing its waiver restriction pilot projects. |
| Senate Republicans exclude Democrats' food aid demand from farm bill | |
 | Senate Republicans' farm bill proposal rejects Democrats' demands to delay a planned shift of some food aid costs to states, according to three people familiar with the plans -- jeopardizing hopes of winning bipartisan support for the package. Democrats say they will oppose a farm bill that doesn't push back a requirement that will soon force some states to pay for some Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, a provision included in the domestic policy megalaw Republicans passed last year. Senate Agriculture Chair John Boozman (R-Ark.) gave Senate staff and industry representatives a private preview of his farm bill text Monday afternoon ahead of a planned public release of the discussion draft at 2 p.m. Tuesday, according to the people, all of whom were granted anonymity to discuss the not-yet-public plans. Boozman will need some Democratic support to guarantee the bill can clear the 60-vote threshold on the Senate floor. |
| Senate passes a bipartisan housing bill aimed at increasing supply and lowering prices | |
 | The Senate passed a bipartisan housing bill on Monday that aims to reduce federal regulations and expand local control, one of the most sweeping efforts in recent decades to increase supply and bring down prices. The bill, which passed 85-5 and now heads to the House, has been the focus of intense negotiations in recent weeks as lawmakers in both parties try to address housing costs in an election year. The final version of the legislation bans corporate investors from buying single-family homes but doesn't include a Senate provision that would have required investors to sell newly constructed homes within seven years. The measure was the result of years of work to "lower costs, expand housing supply, cut red tape, protect taxpayers, and help more Americans achieve the dream of homeownership," said Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., who worked with Democrats to get the bill passed. Republicans and Democrats have embraced the bill as a way to show they are addressing the nation's affordability crisis, driven in part by rising home prices due to a shortage of affordable housing. |
| Bipartisan changes made to kids' internet safety bill | |
 | Bipartisan kids' internet safety legislation is one step closer to reality as key House members announced an agreement including privacy and data broker provisions and indicated they hope to bring the bill to a suspension vote on the House floor. House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., and ranking member Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., said Monday they'd come to a deal on legislation that advanced out of the committee in March. The revised bill would incorporate data privacy protections for children and teens and only preempt conflicting state laws, responding to Democratic concerns. On the release of the bill text, Guthrie and Pallone praised the bipartisan nature of the revised package, and Pallone said he looks "forward to working with Chairman Guthrie to bring this package to the House floor for a vote soon." Bringing the bill to the floor under suspension of the rules would require two-thirds of those voting to pass, meaning it would need significant bipartisan support. In a joint statement announcing the agreement, Guthrie and Pallone said they "have now found common ground on policies to significantly improve the digital environment for kids." |
| Trump Seeks to Boost Quantum Computing With New Executive Orders | |
 | President Trump accelerated his efforts to boost the burgeoning quantum-computing industry, signing a pair of executive orders aimed at speeding the development of advanced quantum computers and mitigating the security threats they present. One of the orders the president signed Monday directs federal agencies, including the Energy Department, to work with the private sector and academics to deploy a quantum computer powerful enough to conduct scientific research by 2028. Such benchmarks are seen as crucial to showing that the technology has real-world applications. Quantum computers are capable of solving problems much faster than traditional supercomputers, making them a growing priority for countries around the world. Trump signed a second executive order directing agencies and government security experts to prepare for quantum systems that can evade standard encryption more quickly than previously anticipated. The goal is to bolster security systems across the government and private sector so that advanced quantum hackers can't take down critical infrastructure. The orders coincide with billions of dollars in funding for quantum companies. |
| Iran casts doubt on nuclear inspections Vance said would happen | |
 | Iranian officials said they have no plans to allow international inspections of their country's damaged nuclear facilities, just a day after Vice President JD Vance said Iran had agreed to allow such inspections, which would restore a safeguard from President Barack Obama's deal with Tehran that President Donald Trump threw out. On Tuesday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said that there was no plan for the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect Iran's nuclear facilities damaged by the war and that officials had not met with the director general of the nuclear watchdog. Iran was already subject to regular inspections under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and agreed to more intensive monitoring under the Obama nuclear deal that Trump frequently condemned. After Trump terminated that agreement in 2018, Iran blocked IAEA access to some sites, while some inspections continued. Ali Bahreini, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday that discussion of Iranian nuclear activities is set for the next stage of talks. |
| As Republican Party looks to future without Trump in office, Utah could be a road map | |
 | As the Republican Party nationally begins to grapple with what it looks like after President Trump leaves office, Utah could provide a road map. A solidly Republican state, the last time Utah voters backed a Democrat for president was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. Despite its conservative roots, Utah has always had a complicated relationship with Trump. Utahns gave him the smallest margin of victory out of any Republican state in 2016 -- less than 50% of the vote. While Trump increased his support among Utahns in 2020 and 2024, he never exceeded 60%. Republican candidates vying for Congress this primary election cycle are steadfast conservatives, but they aren't using Trump's name on the campaign trail. That is likely intentional, according to Chris Karpowitz, a political science professor at Brigham Young University, as campaigning on Trump and his policies might not appeal to Utah voters in the same way it would in other red states. Utahns are both fiscally and socially conservative. But they have historically been turned off by Trump's approach to issues, such as immigration. Some of Trump's distasteful comments about Islam and other faiths have also repelled voters in a state that is heavily associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was founded on religious freedom. |
| The Generational Clash Pitting Democrats Against Democrats Across the U.S. | |
| Two years after former President Joe Biden's exit from the 2024 campaign accelerated a Democratic reckoning over aging leadership, a generational battle is playing out in the party's primaries, putting incumbents on the defensive against a younger crop of candidates to their left. The younger challengers -- many of whom espouse far-left politics---are looking to ride an anti-incumbent wave in this November's elections. The 2026 primaries mark the first election cycle since Biden's departure from the 2024 election after a halting debate performance and questions about his capabilities as an octogenarian commander in chief. The issue remains potent as President Trump turned 80 this month, putting him on pace to break Biden's record as the oldest-ever president in office. Congress, meanwhile, has seen a record number of retirements, and House Democrats have dealt with the deaths of four members since March 2025, underscoring what activists say is a need for new blood. "People are really sick and tired of the status quo, and they don't just want a new message from the Democratic Party, they want new messengers," said David Hogg, president of Leaders We Deserve, a political-action committee focused on electing younger progressive members to Congress and statehouses. "They want people who have actually paid rent in the 21st century, they want people who have paid child care in the past 10 years," Hogg said. |
| Ella Langley brings the 'Dandelion Tour' to SJB Pavilion | |
 | Ella Langley will continue her Dandelion Tour at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion on September 17. Presale signup is available at ellalangley.com, and the public ticket sale will begin this Friday, June 26 at 10 a.m. The rising country artist will be joined by special guests Kameron Marlowe and Lavi Kaye Booth. Langley has teased the second leg of her tour over the past week. Different venues have released postcards of her lyrics, signed "EL" in the top right corner. The Ole Miss Athletics Instagram account posted a "Greetings From Oxford, Mississippi" postcard from Langley on Saturday, June 20. She reached new heights with her April 2026 album "Dandelion." Langley set the record for most awards won in a single year by a single artist at the Academy of Country Music Awards on May 17, winning Female Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for her track "Choosin' Texas." This single has spent 10 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The concert will be held two days before the highly anticipated Ole Miss Football game against LSU at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. |
| Programs in physical therapy, nursing to expand in Oxford | |
| The University of Mississippi Medical Center is bringing physical therapy education to north Mississippi, adding a Doctor of Physical Therapy program in Oxford to meet growing demand for licensed physical therapists across the state. "Expanding opportunities for our physical therapy students makes our program stronger on both campuses," said Dr. LouAnn Woodward, UMMC vice chancellor for health affairs. "We're addressing the high demand for skilled physical therapists in Mississippi as part of training the next generation of health care professionals in our state." The School of Health Related Professions will begin offering the physical therapy program in Oxford in May 2028. Students who meet admission criteria will be eligible to apply in summer 2027 for one of 35 slots, adding to the 50 available at the Medical Center in Jackson. |
| U. of Florida bypasses System Board of Governors delay, names Bell interim president | |
 | The University of Florida's Board of Trustees voted unanimously June 22 to appoint Dr. Stuart Bell as interim president, effectively sidestepping a delay in his leadership after Board of Governors Chair Alan Levine indefinitely postponed Bell's confirmation vote over governance concerns. Bell, the former president of the University of Alabama, will begin July 1 under a contact running through June 30, 2027, at an annual salary of $2 million. If the BOG approves Bell as the university's permanent leader, that contract -- which could pay him up to $3 million annually -- would supersede the interim agreement. In a letter to State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues last week, Levine said he would not allow Bell's confirmation to be placed on the BOG's June 24-25 agenda until governance issues at UF are resolved. The board oversees Florida's State University System. |
| Reese Hall closes as U. of Tennessee's last all-female residence hall | |
| After housing University of Tennessee students for 60 years, Reese Hall will close its doors this summer as the last standing all-female residence hall. Opened in 1966, Reese Hall was the last occupied residence building in the Presidential Court Complex after last year's closure of the joint North and South Carrick halls in 2025. It housed over 500 female students annually in traditional suite-style rooms. The residence hall will be replaced by the newly constructed Torchbearer Hall, a co-ed residence that will hold 1,000 freshman students beginning this fall, reflecting the university's growing admissions rate. The replacement will mark the end of single-gender housing spaces at UT. Although Reese lacked some of the modern amenities found in newer residence halls, former resident Jessenia Serrano said it provided a comforting home away from home environment for first-year students. Serrano said that even Reese's less glamorous qualities became memorable parts of her experience. "I will remember the cockroaches, mold and ladybugs on my bed, but it also made for funny stories and memories," Serrano said. |
| Congress presses U. of Oklahoma to repatriate Indigenous remains | |
| The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is pressing 15 universities and museums to repatriate Indigenous remains and items. The University of Oklahoma is one of them. U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, vice chair of the committee, sent a series of letters to institutions on June 8 asking for status updates in ongoing efforts to comply with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. NAGPRA, which requires entities receiving federal funding to repatriate Indigenous remains to their corresponding parties, was first approved by Congress in 1990. In a letter sent to OU President Joseph Harroz Jr., Schatz asked for updates about the number of remains repatriated and the number requiring repatriation. Schatz wrote the university previously reported it intended to publish Notices of Intent to Repatriate 2,090 ancestral remains and 15,738 funerary items. A spokesperson for OU said the university has received Schatz's letter and will respond in a timely manner. |
| Safety ambassadors begin patrolling downtown to monitor Columbia streets at night | |
 | A team of safety ambassadors is now on patrol in downtown Columbia to monitor the streets at night. Block by Block Ambassadors, a team of seven, will be on duty from 4:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Their job is to boost safety, intervene in disputes and help anyone who needs assistance, from business customers to visitors to those who are homeless. Funded by The District, the city of Columbia and the University of Missouri, the pro-safety program started June 11 in response to increased concerns about downtown safety in the wake of a fatal shooting last year. Using GPS systems, the ambassadors follow specific walking routes, engaging with the community along the way. During their patrols, they can provide directions and an escort service, de-escalate dangerous situations and report concerns to law enforcement. They are also able to give homeless people water or Gatorade and point them in the direction of a shelter and rehabilitation center. |
| Advertising, training fairs, free tuition: How one state is trying to get more men into college | |
| Maggie Bacon is seeking men. On a recent Friday, she attached flyers about an upcoming education and training fair to more than 500 pizza boxes, one of the ways she's tried to persuade men in this northern Michigan town to enroll in college, a certificate program or even just a single course. "On a Friday night when somebody wants to watch a basketball game or some other sporting event, they're probably gonna order pizza," said Bacon. "Part of that target was those working-age adult men." Bacon runs BEST Benzie County, a local group that works to support education from pre-K to college, part of a statewide network committed to building a college-going culture. Michigan, like many other states, says it has a shortage of skilled workers, a gap that risks hurting its economy. Only 51.6 percent of working-age adults over 25 have a degree or other training beyond high school, state data shows, the lowest of any Midwestern state. The number of men in particular who are going to college has been falling steadily, despite evidence that people with postsecondary credentials tend to earn more than their peers with only a high school diploma and are more likely to be employed. |
| Bian named head of School of Industrial Engineering and Management | |
| Dr. Linkan Bian has been named professor and head of the School of Industrial Engineering and Management in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University. For Bian, the opportunity to lead IEM is about more than a position; it's about possibility. "This is a school with a deep history and a strong foundation -- but also real opportunity to shape what comes next," he said. Bian brings a national perspective and a proven record of leadership in advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence and systems engineering. He currently serves as a program director and advanced manufacturing cluster lead at the National Science Foundation, where he helps guide research priorities and innovation initiatives across the country. His academic journey spans the globe, from earning his bachelor's degree in applied mathematics from Peking University in Beijing to his Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering at Georgia Tech to building a distinguished career at Mississippi State University, where he held an endowed professorship and earned recognition for both research and teaching excellence. |
| The Medical School Boom | |
 | While the national physician shortage persists, there's no shortage of new medical schools trying to train more doctors to help close the gap. So far this year, at least six new medical schools have announced plans to launch degree programs, including the University of Georgia School of Medicine, the University of Missouri School of Medicine's new Springfield campus and the Lincoln Memorial University–DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine's new campus in Orange Park, Fla. Earlier this month, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia announced plans to open the first four-year medical program in neighboring Delaware, which is among the handful of states without a medical school. Between 2000 and 2025, 60 new medical schools opened in the United States. As of earlier this year, 210 medical schools were operating across the country, according to the recent data from the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM). Some of that growth has come from the proliferation of doctor of osteopathic medicine degree programs, which take a different curricular approach than the doctor of medicine degree programs but still produce licensed physicians. |
| Colleges are accepting transfer credits from online platforms that aren't schools | |
| An increasingly popular way to earn college credits doesn't involve college. Online learning platforms are offering a wide range of courses that are typically cheaper and faster than traditional college classes -- giving students a head start toward an undergraduate degree, a Washington Post analysis found. Some of the courses can be completed in a matter of hours, while others typically take weeks. The platforms aren't schools, but more than 100 U.S. colleges and universities have agreed to give students credit for taking the companies' classes, following recommendations from an influential advocacy group, the American Council on Education. That has helped some students complete a degree that normally takes at least four years in as little as a few months. Other students say they have shaved months or years off the journey to their degrees, potentially saving them thousands of dollars in tuition. |
| Exclusive: NSF slashes research programs to support new tech initiative, insiders say | |
| The National Science Foundation (NSF) is trimming this year's budgets for hundreds of its traditional basic science programs by roughly 20% to 30% even though its overall budget is down just 3%, Science has learned. NSF has not publicly explained the drastic cuts. But sources within and outside the agency, who did not want to be named, say they suspect the goal is to free up funds for a new $1.5 billion initiative, launched last month, meant to turn NSF-funded discoveries into new products and industries. Last month, when NSF announced plans to give perhaps a half-dozen "X-Labs" as much as $300 million each over 6 years, it did not explain where the money would come from. Rumors have circulated for months that NSF was withholding $1 billion or more of the $8.1 billion Congress approved earlier this year for its eight research directorates. An internal memo obtained by Science documents, for the first time, the extent of those cuts in some fields. NSF declined comment. Meanwhile the X-Labs program, managed by NSF's newest directorate, called Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP), is scaling up fast. |
| Duration-of-Status Rule Change Clears White House Review | |
| The White House's Office of Management and Budget has finished its review of a rule that would end duration of status, a long-standing regulation that allows international students to stay in the U.S. until they finish their degree. The Department of Homeland Security can finalize the change any day now. Last summer, DHS proposed replacing duration of status with new policy that would only allow those individuals to stay in the country for four years before they must request an extension. It also placed limitations on students' ability to change majors and institutions. It's unclear what changes, if any, the department made it the final rule in response to the public's feedback on the proposal. Several commenters argued that ending duration of status would further discourage international students -- whose numbers are already declining -- from studying in the U.S. International education leaders have criticized DHS's plans, noting that a significant number of students are in programs designed take longer than four years, including almost all Ph.D. programs and some undergraduate programs. It would also be burdensome on physicians completing their residencies on J-1 visas. On the institutional side, colleges would also likely have to hire staff to help students file requests for extensions. |
SPORTS
| Reese Representing Bulldogs At MLB Draft Combine | |
| Mississippi State's Ace Reese is one of 334 prospects invited to participate in the MLB Draft Combine this week at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Reese is rated by MLB.com as the No. 21 prospect in this year's draft and a projected first round pick. The junior third baseman became the third player in program history to hit 20-plus home runs in back-to-back seasons, joining Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro. Reese was the only player on the team to start all 62 games this spring batting .336 with 23 doubles, 24 homers and 74 RBIs. He led the Southeastern Conference in doubles with that total tying for the eighth-most in a single season in MSU history. His home run total in 2026 ranks fourth all-time in the school's annals and his 45 career homers in Maroon and White matches Tommy Raffo (1987-90) for ninth all-time at State. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder from Canton, Texas is among the 194 college players and 140 high athletes to receive an invite to the MLB Draft Combine, which gets underway on Tuesday morning and continues through the rest of the week. |
| Who is Mississippi State football's QB in 2026? | |
 | Mississippi State football has a new starting quarterback for 2026. Kamario Taylor, a sophomore from Noxubee County, will be entering his first season as the full-time starter. Blake Shapen was the Bulldogs' starter in 2025, but Taylor played in almost every game, and started the Egg Bowl and the Duke's Mayo Bowl. Shapen was in his final year of eligibility. Taylor made two starts in 2025 but played in 11 total games. He threw for 629 yards, five touchdowns and one interception with a 55.8% completion percentage. He also rushed for 458 yards and eight touchdowns. Taylor is from Macon and went to Noxubee County High School, about 30 minutes from Starkville. Taylor's younger brother, Jayytee, joined Mississippi State this season as a freshman athlete. He was a three-star in the 2026 recruiting class. Mississippi State's backup for Taylor has not been determined. |
| Simmons signs record-breaking deal with Titans | |
| MSU Football legend Jeffery Simmons hit a big payday on Friday. Simmons became the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history, signing a three-year, $35.3 million per year contract with the Tennessee Titans. Simmons is headed into his seventh year with the Titans. He's a four-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro selection. Simmons set a career-high 11 sacks last season at 28 years old. "Tennessee has become a second home for me," Simmons said in a press release from the Titans. "From day one, this organization believed in me, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue to pour into this franchise and community. I want to thank God, my family, my teammates, Ms. Amy and the entire Titans organization for believing in me. My job isn't finished. I believe in this locker room and this staff, and I'm focused on helping this team get back to competing for championships." |
| Thrower highlights track and field freshmen at USATF U20 championships | |
| Mississippi State track and field freshman Jayden Thrower shined on the national stage on Friday. Thrower, who holds the State freshman record for triple jump, recorded a personal best 15.85 meter mark in the triple jump at the USA Track and Field U20 championships in Eugene, Ore., ending his day in the podium with a third-place finish. Thrower was one of three Bulldog freshmen to compete in the U20 championships over the weekend. De'Kayla Simpson, who along with Thrower holds a State freshman record in the 400 meter, finished fifth in the 400m final with a 52.00 time. Simpson's time in the finals bested her mark in the qualifying round, a 52.88 which placed her second in the heat. Camryn Merryman finished sixth in the 800 meter with a 2:05.12 time. It was an improvement from her 2:06.88 time in the prelims. |
| Oklahoma rolls past Tar Heels 13-2 for 1st national championship since 1994 and SEC's 7th in a row | |
| The way its regular season unfolded, a national championship for Oklahoma would have seemed impossible. The way the postseason unfolded, well, there was no stopping the Sooners. OU completed the improbable run to its first national championship since 1994 with a 13-2 victory over North Carolina in the winner-take-all Game 3 of the College World Series finals Monday night, a performance that featured the prodigious offensive production and clutch pitching the Sooners rode through the NCAA Tournament. "I think we knew the talent was always in the room," said Jaxon Willits, named the CWS most outstanding player. "We got hot at the right time, and now we're national champions." The Sooners (43-23) won the Southeastern Conference's seventh straight title. |
| AD Jeremiah Donati has message for Under Armour ahead of South Carolina's Nike rollout | |
 | The South Carolina athletics department is eagerly anticipating its switch from Under Armour to Nike apparel for all of its sports teams. The change happens July 1, and USC Athletic Director Jeremiah Donati talked recently about the switch and also the gratitude for Maryland-based Under Armour, which has been a partner with Gamecock athletics for the past 19 seasons. "I want to thank Under Armour for its incredible partnership, a long-standing partnership," Donati said at Friday's USC Board of Trustees meeting. "They have been involved in a lot of huge iconic Gamecock moments, and I want to thank them for their longstanding partnership. Their CEO Kevin Plank made an effort to come to many different Gamecock events. But very excited about moving to July 1 and the transition to Nike. Our team has worked extremely hard on our go-to market strategy. Our student-athletes, our coaches, our staff and fans are really excited about this." Nike's deal with South Carolina is a 10-year partnership that guarantees, among other things, South Carolina receiving $70 million in product and $5 million in cash, $2.5 million in supplemental product and 15% of net sales on all co-branded South Carolina-Nike gear. |
| ESPN's 'SportsCenter' stalwart Linda Cohn is retiring | |
 | Linda Cohn, an ESPN veteran who has anchored more episodes of "SportsCenter" than anyone in history, announced her retirement Monday. A Los Angeles resident since 2018, Cohn, 66, will make her final ESPN appearance Friday. After starting her career in radio and local TV, Cohn joined ESPN's "SportsCenter" in 1992 when women hosts on sports programming was still a rarity. In a statement, she acknowledged her trailblazer status. "What I'm most proud of is that my career lasted long enough for me to see little girls grow up watching 'SportsCenter,' enter this business, and succeed in it," she said. "If my journey helped make that path a little easier for them, then that's the achievement I'll cherish most." Cohn moved to Los Angeles in 2018. She regularly anchored the late-night edition of "SportsCenter," which originated from the city until last year. |
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