| Monday, October 12, 2026 |
| Court on the Road: Appellate court coming to MSU | |
 | A ballroom in The Mill at Mississippi State University Conference Center will become a courtroom in November. On Nov. 12, a three-judge panel from the Mississippi Court of Appeals will come to MSU as part of its Court on the Road series to hear oral arguments for and against an appeal by Brandon Landfair, a Holmes County man. "Court on the Road offers a unique learning experience for students with an interest in law, government, journalism and a variety of other fields," Beverly Pettigrew Kraft, public information officer for the court, wrote in a press release. Court on the Road started in 2005 and hears three cases every fall and spring, making stops at MSU and University of Mississippi nearly every year, Kraft told the Dispatch. In both 2019 and 2024, the series stopped at Mississippi University for Women, and this year it will hear a case at Rust College. Students and the public are invited to attend the oral arguments at 11 a.m. in the Cleveland Gallery and Pines Conference Room at The Mill. Those wishing to attend are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes in advance. |
| MSU Famous Maroon Band honored with national Sudler Trophy | |
 | Mississippi State University's famous maroon band is the winner of the 2026 Sudler Trophy. The trophy is a national award given every 2 years to the band that displays the highest representation of musical standards, considering performance as well as the history and traditions of a band. MSU Director of Bands Elva Kaye Lance said that the band was honored by the achievement. "We're very humble to be in the conversation with the storied band programs around the country," said Lance. "And certainly, it was really a great opportunity for us to recognize those who had gone before us in our band program, who had served as members of the band, or who had served in leadership positions in the band as well." The band got the award back in December, but the big presentation came at halftime of the September 26th matchup against Missouri at Davis Wade Stadum. "The process is rather extensive, so you have to be nominated by directors around the country," said Lance. |
| High school, community college students invited to MSU's Music Discovery Day | |
 | Mississippi State's Department of Music is hosting its annual Music Discovery Day for high school juniors, seniors and community college students Nov. 9. The event takes place 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Music Building, located at 124 Hardy Road. Registration -- free for attendees and one guest -- is available online. Attendees will have opportunities to visit with faculty members and current students. In addition to learning about the department's academic programs, scholarships and career opportunities, participants can observe music classes and attend faculty and student performances. High school seniors and community college students also may audition for a music scholarship during the event. For more about Music Discovery Day, email Assistant Professor Jenna Klein at jmk734@msstate.edu. |
| USDA Awards First Research Facilities Act Funds to 34 APLU Member Institutions | |
| The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Oct. 9 announced it awarded the first Research Facilities Program grants to universities to address deferred maintenance at agricultural research facilities, a longstanding advocacy priority for the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. Of the 36 institutions to receive USDA funding, 34 of them are APLU member institutions. "We applaud the United States Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture for making its first awards as part of the Research Facilities Act Program, said APLU President Waded Cruzado. The awards come following a June meeting with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, Cruzado, and more than two dozen APLU member presidents and chancellors. The initial tranche of Research Facilities Act grants were awarded to 34 APLU member institutions, including Mississippi State University. |
| Hazard Lecture Series returns for 35th year; Susannah Ural named featured speaker | |
| The annual Hazard Lecture Series is returning for its 35th year, with Susannah Ural, professor of Civil War studies at Mississippi State University, director of the Civil War and Reconstruction Governors of Mississippi Project, and Frank and Virginia Williams Chair for Abraham Lincoln, serving as this year's featured speaker. The theme for this year's talk is "Voyage from the Past." The author of numerous publications, Ural's writing usually ties back to the experiences of soldiers in war and peace, focusing on their individual humanity. Ural will present "The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln," an all-encompassing look at the final days and death of the nation's 16th president, just six days after the Civil War ended. Ural, author of several publications, including "Don't Hurry Me Down to Hades," said she hopes the lecture will spark fresh curiosity about the Civil War among students and other guests. "There are a host of misconceptions about the Lincoln assassination that I'll enjoy discussing with Heritage Academy students," Ural said. "In the process, I hope I'll inspire them to launch their own studies into the past to separate myth from memory." Ural also wants students to know there are multiple career paths available to those passionate about history and the humanities. |
| Starkville Library to host Mississippi artist Wyatt Waters | |
| Mississippi watercolorist and author Wyatt Waters will share stories and paintings from his travels across the American South and France during a presentation at noon Thursday at the Starkville Public Library. Sponsored by the Friends of the Starkville Library, the free event will begin with a reception at 11:30 a.m., followed by Waters' presentation, "The Art of the Journey." Guests will have an opportunity to meet the artist and have copies of his newest book, "The Watercolor Road Natchez," and his limited-edition 2027 "Painting of the Month Calendar" signed and personalized. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. Known for painting exclusively on location, Waters has built a career around capturing the character of the places he visits. His work takes him across Mississippi and the South, as well as to destinations abroad, where architecture, landscapes, neighborhoods and everyday encounters become subjects for his watercolor paintings. Waters discovered watercolor while attending Mississippi College and developed a distinctive style rooted in direct observation and plein air painting, the practice of creating art outdoors. |
| Starkville Christmas Parade to honor longtime community leaders as grand marshals | |
| Starkville's annual Christmas Parade will return to Main Street at 6 p.m. on Nov. 30, with longtime community leaders Armando A. de la Cruz and Ruth M. de la Cruz serving as grand marshals. Presented by Reed's and organized by the Starkville Main Street Association, this year's parade will feature the theme "Holly Jolly Christmas," celebrating the holiday season and the people who help make Starkville a vibrant place to live. The de la Cruzes were selected in recognition of their decades of service to Starkville through education, faith, the arts and community organizations. The couple are members of First United Methodist Church, where they established the church's International Thanksgiving Dinner and supported local and international mission efforts. They also helped establish several community institutions and events, including the Cotton District Arts Festival, MSU International Fiesta, Multicultural Lions Club and Starkville-MSU Symphony Association. Local organizations and community groups are encouraged to participate in the parade. |
| The data center dilemma | |
| Data centers are talking to the Golden Triangle Development LINK every day. After Meryl Fisackerly shared this simple, but true, statement at a Columbus Exchange Club meeting in August, the CEO of the region's economic development arm caught hell for it. "I got threatening emails (after it was reported)," Fisackerly told The Dispatch Wednesday at her office near Golden Triangle Regional Airport. "... I've got people telling me they're going to show up at my doorstep, and I've got three kids. I don't need somebody egging my house or burning a cross in my yard because I'm working a data center. That's the situation that unfortunately ... the LINK has gotten into or the communities have gotten into." But Fisackerly insists the LINK is not recruiting or marketing to "data centers" -- which can range from small crypto-mining spaces to hyper-scale centers used for cloud storage or artificial intelligence. It is vetting data centers "like any other industry." "It's a normal economic development job in an environment where data center developers are now one of the many types of industrial developments and prospects that we're seeing," she said. |
| Hospital administrators pleased with the work of Pafford EMS thus far | |
 | Local hospital administrators told the Meridian City Council Tuesday morning that they are pleased with the work of Pafford Emergency Medical Services so far and urged the council not to change course on the contract the city has with Pafford. Ochsner Rush Health Chief Executive Officer Larkin Kennedy and Baptist Anderson CEO John Anderson spoke before the council regarding the contract with Pafford, which was originally approved in July. Larkin said in the first few weeks of the contract, which began in September, the communication has been improved. Larkin said the professionalism of Pafford staff has been noticeably different and that his hospital is actually getting up to date patient information prior to admission. He said hospital staff have also been impressed with the communication from Pafford. Larkin noted that turnaround times have been cut in half, which means patients are waiting less and getting care faster. He said it has been noticeably better in the two to three weeks since Pafford took over EMS services for the city from Metro Ambulance Service. |
| Mississippi coast quickly returns to normal after Hurricane Isaias makes landfall | |
 | After Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, on Friday night, Mississippi's coast has been fairly serene. Some roads were impassable on Friday night, but had been cleared by Saturday morning. Much of the coast was back to normal around the same time. "Shelter was depopulated at 8 am this morning," Harrison County emergency management public information officer Jeff Clark told MPB News via text on Saturday. "One tree on road in Biloxi, but no reported major damage. No expectations for anything more than maybe minimal damage, if that. All roads drivable." He said their board would end the emergency declaration by Monday. Coastal flood advisories were in effect for parts of the weekend in Harrison County. But, by Saturday around noon, all advisories and warnings had been cleared. Further west, in Jackson County, emergency management officials reported some minor damage. Hancock County emergency management officials also reported minimal damage, with director Holly Bilbo telling MPB News that clean up was completed by Saturday morning. While Mississippi avoided major damage, areas along the Alabama coast and Florida panhandle are still cleaning up from the storm. At least two deaths resulted in those states from the storm. |
| Judge: Lawsuit against ABC liquor warehouse operator can proceed | |
| A federal judge has rejected a request from the operator of Mississippi's Alcoholic Beverage Control warehouse to dismiss a lawsuit brought against it on behalf of Mississippi businesses. Uno Mas, an Oxford restaurant, filed a class action lawsuit against Iowa-based Ruan Transport Corporation over the debacle at the ABC warehouse earlier this year when a software change led to long delivery delays and liquor shortages at Mississippi restaurants, casinos, bars and stores. The restaurant said the delays resulted in lost revenue and harmed businesses, and that Ruan kept fees for deliveries it failed to make. When Ruan asked the judge to dismiss the case it argued that its contract was with the Department of Revenue, not Uno Mas and other businesses that receive products from the warehouse. However, Ruan's contract with DOR requires the company to "guarantee next workday delivery" to businesses buying alcohol. The judge found that even though Uno Mas did not sign the contract, it was intended to benefit from the contract and can sue Ruan over a potential breach. The ABC warehouse operations not only impact Mississippi businesses, but also state revenue. The ABC division collected $108 million last year, about 1.5% of the state's total annual tax revenue. |
| Cyberattack disrupts Madison County website and almost 70 others in Mississippi | |
| A cyberattack on U.S. Next, the website host for Madison County and 68 other Mississippi government websites, has caused an outage. In a Facebook post, Madison County officials confirmed the website outage and attributed it to the cyberattack. Other affected counties include Warren, Hinds and Clarke. Retired FBI special agent Richard Kolko said the attack appears to be a ransomware incident. "These groups of cybercriminals based overseas find a way into the computer system. They put malware, they get in there and lock down the data, and then they demand a ransom to release the data," Kolko said. Kolko explained that ransomware attacks have become more frequent in recent years, with government offices, academic institutions, and hospitals being common targets. "They can get your name, your address, your number, possibly your Social Security and date of birth. These are all the elements needed to do identity theft," Kolko said. County officials stated that no data has been compromised in this attack. However, Kolko advised residents to take proactive steps to protect their personal information. |
| In the agricultural heart of the country, it's a tale of two farm economies | |
| It was the best of farm economies, it was the worst of farm economies. In fact, a Dickens reference is right there in the title of a recent Kansas City Fed report: A Tale of Two Farm Economies. The report takes a look at the K.C. Fed district -- that includes Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Wyoming, plus parts of Missouri and New Mexico; all places with economies tied to cattle or crops or both. What it found was pretty much a K-shaped farm economy. Right now, in most of the country, no matter what you grow, profits are bleak. Crop prices are low, fertilizer prices are high. Don't even mention diesel prices, red diesel notwithstanding. But as far as ag states go, Oklahoma is actually doing alright. The reason for that is simple: cows. Cattle are selling at historic high prices, because the national herd is smaller than it's been since the 1950s. But there's still a lot of cattle in Oklahoma. "As far as beef cows, we're number two behind Texas," said Derrell Peel, an ag economics professor at Oklahoma State University. Meanwhile in the rest of farming America, crop demand is lagging, said Nick Levendofsky, executive director of the Kansas Farmers Union. |
| House Speaker expects special session in November | |
 | Mississippi House Speaker Jason White said he doesn't expect any major pieces of legislation to pass during the 2027 session since it's an election year, but he still sees some opportunity to take on some issues. "We're trying to look forward and see where we can go," said White, a Republican from West who was first elected to the state legislature in 2011 and was named House Speaker in 2024. "Considering it's an election year coming, you know my members who don't have an opponent when qualifying time is over in February, they'll be willing to vote on any bill we want to vote on. But those that get an opponent, it'll be hard pressed to get them to vote on much of anything." White did tout that six select committees were created, and the most talked about topics they tackled was school consolidation, judicial operations and specialty schools. Another hot topic issue, legislative redistricting, will be addressed at a special session he expects Gov. Tate Reeves to convene in November. Addressing property taxes is another issue White said the legislature is trying to wrap its arms around. |
| Former Gov. Haley Barbour reflects on Katrina lessons, political landscape and governor's race | |
 | Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour was in Biloxi for a hurricane preparedness summit. Barbour discussed lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina and shared his outlook on the upcoming midterm elections. Barbour said history shows the party that wins the White House often loses seats in Congress in the following midterm election. He added that Republican majorities in the House and Senate are in the single digits. Barbour said only three times in the last 100 years has the party that won the White House gained seats in the following midterm election. On the economy as a factor in the midterms, Barbour said races will vary by location. Barbour said he expects a large field of candidates for president after Trump, including some connected to the Trump administration and others who are not. He named the former governor of Virginia and the governor of Tennessee as potential candidates, along with the Vice President and Secretary of State. "You have to go back to 2012 to have a really competitive race for the nomination," he said. |
| Obama cuts ad in Mississippi Senate race | |
| Former President Barack Obama has cut an ad for Mississippi Senate candidate Scott Colom, the latest sign of Democrats putting real effort behind boosting their candidate in the deep red state as they eye a potential upset next month. The Colom campaign will run the 30-second spot on digital and radio statewide in Mississippi as part of a seven-figure media buy in Mississippi, according to details shared first with Semafor. In the ad, Obama tells voters: "Mississippi, it's time for a change." "You need to send Scott Colom to the US Senate," Obama continues in the ad. "Scott made his community safer, prosecuting violent crimes as a district attorney and fighting corruption." Colom is running against Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, a conservative GOP senator who blocked Colom's nomination to a federal judgeship under then-President Joe Biden. Colom currently serves as a district attorney in Mississippi. The race to defeat Hyde-Smith is not a must-win for Democrats to retake the Senate and Colom remains an underdog in deep red Mississippi. But national Democrats have been eying the race for months due to the state's large Black population, and Obama's ad is a clear effort to juice turnout. |
| Trump Casts Himself as Columbus's Protector in Pitch to Italian Americans | |
 | With fuel prices surging and the war with Iran dragging on, President Trump's popularity has slipped among nearly every demographic group. So on Friday -- three days before Columbus Day and less than four weeks before the midterm elections -- he made his pitch to Italian Americans. "As you know, the radical left communists hate Columbus and they want to abolish Columbus Day," Mr. Trump told a group of several hundred Italian Americans he had gathered in the East Room of the White House. "These lunatics that are running," he continued, "they're all against Christopher Columbus. But I'll tell you what, we're going to be here almost two-and-a-half years. He's going to be so protected, like nobody's ever been protected before." Columbus has not, in fact, been a notable issue on the campaign trail. But Mr. Trump sought to inject the Genoese explorer into the current political moment. He stood on a stage beside two large black presentation boards displaying images of white marble statues of Columbus, whose voyages, beginning in 1492, opened the Americas to European colonization. Mr. Trump has had one statue installed on the White House grounds and plans to put another in the Rose Garden. |
| Russia Pounds Ukrainian Energy Despite Trump's Ceasefire Announcement | |
 | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian strikes had hit energy infrastructure across his country hours after President Trump declared an energy ceasefire between the warring sides. The Russian attacks -- including on gas infrastructure, a power plant and a substation -- come as the U.S. heaps pressure on Ukraine to stop striking Russian oil refineries, and after Trump moved to allow Russia to export diesel to the U.S. in a bid to drive down American prices at the pump. "Last night, Russian oil refineries were not burning. But at midnight, a Russian jet-powered Shahed struck a gas-production facility in Ukraine," Zelensky said in an address to the Warsaw Security Forum on Monday. "And there was also a Russian strike on an ordinary gas station, involving several drones." Ukraine has long maintained that it would be prepared to halt drone and missile strikes on Russian oil facilities if Moscow stops its bombing campaign against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which has already caused widespread power cuts this fall. Zelensky reiterated that pledge Monday, adding that European and other leaders support that approach. |
| Plan for public military execution sparks bipartisan backlash | |
 | Lawmakers in both parties are blasting the Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's plan to livestream the execution of the man convicted of carrying out the 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood. "I absolutely support the sentence of death, but live-streaming executions is what jihadists do. America is better than that," Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., a member of the House Armed Services Committee, posted on social media Friday morning. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, similarly said in a statement that the planned livestream is "disturbing and makes a mockery of our legal system." "We are a democratic country and should take the rule of law seriously, not turn it into a spectacle," Smith said. Earlier this week, the Pentagon announced that President Donald Trump had approved the execution by firing squad of former Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who was convicted in 2013 and sentenced to death for the shooting that killed 13 people and injured 32 others. On Thursday, Hegseth said in an interview that the execution would be public, with the Pentagon later adding that it would be livestreamed. "Hasan should face the death penalty, but making his execution public and streaming it? Beyond disgusting," Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who is retiring from the Senate and has recently said voting to confirm Hegseth is his biggest regret as a senator, posted on social media. "Public executions are what oppressive dictatorships like Iran and Afghanistan do. It should not be happening in America." |
| Rep. Ilhan Omar's home searched by federal agents, report says | |
| Federal agents searched Rep. Ilhan Omar's Washington, D.C., home, according to the Associated Press and Fox News. Homeland Security Investigations agents conducted the search, according to the reports. The Department of Justice said in a statement that the raid was " part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation," but provided no further details. Fox News reported that the raid was connected to an investigation into the lawmaker's immigration paperwork In November 2024, Omar was re-elected to a fourth term representing Minnesota's 5th Congressional District, which includes Minneapolis and some surrounding suburbs. Omar has frequently clashed with the Trump administration. President Trump has singled out Omar with repeated attacks. |
| Mississippi college board extends commissioner's contract and boosts his pay | |
| Al Rankins Jr. will continue leading Mississippi's public university system for another four years under a new contract approved by the state's college board. The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees in August unanimously approved increasing Rankins' annual salary by about 5% to $463,050. His last contract was approved by trustees October 2023, IHL spokesman John Sewell said. The contract took effect Sept. 1 and ends Aug. 31, 2030. IHL Board President Steve Cunningham said in an emailed statement that the trustees completed a formal performance evaluation of Rankins before voting to extend his contract. They did not publicly discuss the matter. Sewell declined to answer questions from Mississippi Today about whether trustees conducted a salary comparison with higher education leaders in other states. IHL policy (PDF) requires trustees to determine the commissioner's pay annually. The policy also requires the commissioner to provide regional and national information about executive compensation to help the board make salary decisions. |
| The W Galleries to host faculty exhibition, artist talks and Welty symposium reception | |
| The W Galleries at Mississippi University for Women will celebrate the visual arts and literary community throughout October with a faculty art exhibition, an unconventional series of gallery talks and a reception connecting students with visiting authors. The Biennial Faculty Exhibition, now on view in Summer Hall, features work by faculty members in the university's Department of Art and Design. The exhibition showcases a range of artistic approaches, from mixed-media works and three-dimensional prints to ceramic pottery and design. Featured works include mixed-media pieces by Alex Stelioes-Wills, pop culture-inspired three-dimensional prints by Shawn Dickey, crystalline-glaze pottery by Ian Childers and Caycie Trotter's "Oddfolk" designer toy branding campaign, which includes 3D-printed toys. The exhibition will feature a series of gallery talks at 12:30 p.m. Thursday. In a departure from the traditional artist talk, faculty members will discuss the work of their colleagues rather than their own creations, offering visitors a fresh perspective on the art and the ideas behind it. |
| Jackson State announces new homecoming parade route due to campus construction | |
| Jackson State University has announced a new route for its 2026 homecoming parade because of ongoing campus construction projects. The parade is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, at 8 a.m. as part of the university's weeklong homecoming celebration, themed "Thee Greatest Show." University officials said the revised route is intended to ensure the safety of participants and spectators while preserving the tradition of the annual event. Jackson State's homecoming festivities run from Oct. 10-17, beginning with the Tiger Day of Service on Oct. 10. The official homecoming kickoff and health fair are scheduled for Oct. 12. Other activities include the coronation of Mr. and Miss JSU and the Royal Court, alumni and student events, entertainment and community celebrations. The festivities will also feature a homecoming football game between Jackson State and Southwestern Athletic Conference rival Florida A&M University. |
| Hattiesburg High School Choir gearing up for joint concert with Alcorn State | |
 | The Hattiesburg High School Choir is teaming up with the Alcorn State Concert Choir for a joint concert on Oct. 13. Hattiesburg Public School District director of choral activities Gary McCullum said this will give local Alcorn alumni a chance to hear familiar sounds from the campus, and the students will have the opportunity to work with singers and vocalists at a collegiate level. As students graduate high school, McCullum wants them to know they can continue singing at various places. "Choral Arts changed my life completely," McCullum said. "Being a member of a choir, it showed me things that I never thought were even real or possible. Since I became a music educator, the one thing I have always aspired to do is connect our youth with the endless possibilities of the world that surrounds them." |
| U. of Alabama president connects with students at 'Mornings with Mohler' | |
| "Mornings with Mohler" gave students the chance to meet University President Peter J. Mohler Thursday morning at the Student Center Lawn. The event, hosted by University Programs, featured music, games and free coffee and dirty sodas from The Coffee Nook, a mobile beverage shop. Mohler mingled with students and event attendees throughout the morning. "We take intentional time to just make sure that we have a safe space for all students to be able to come here and meet Dr. Mohler in a little bit of a more informal space, so they're able to see his personality and just feel like they're able to interact with him in the most genuine way possible," said Emma Ford, a logistics team member with University Programs. Vice President for Student Life Steven Hood and Big Al were in attendance along with Mohler. Students said they think events like these are a lively way to start the morning and build community on campus. |
| Louisiana borrowers to face biggest 'tax bomb' from student loan forgiveness | |
| Some Louisianians could see their tax bills triple -- the biggest increase in the country -- following the expiration of a law that kept forgiven student loan debt from being treated as income, according to a new report. Student loan debtholders in Louisiana and the rest of the South are expected to be the hardest hit because they tend to have larger balances and lower incomes, according to the analysis from Protect Borrowers, an advocacy group that studies the impact of various types of debt. Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Kentucky and South Carolina also rank in the top 10 for states that will see the largest income tax increases. For Louisiana, the average student loan borrower can expect an additional tax cost of $7,668 from cancelled debt for tax year 2026. That's roughly $300 more than the rate in Mississippi and nearly $800 than Arkansas. "This tax bomb will force millions of working-class families, who have been diligently making payments for two decades or more, to trade their student loan debt for debt to the IRS," said Jennifer Zhang, author of the Protect Borrowers report. |
| LSU being named a Distinguished Military College expands Corps of Cadets opportunities | |
| Through America's Corps of Cadets, LSU has been selected as one of the nation's Distinguished Military Colleges, giving the university the Honor School status and its Corps of Cadets program more opportunities to grow. This designation will give LSU Corps of Cadets more ability to establish minor programs, leading to potential commission into governmental departments for students, according to retired Corps of Cadets Commandant and Colonel Joseph Musacchia. "One of those is the U.S. Coast Guard. Another one is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration," Musacchia said. "They can receive commissions in that organization, which actually falls under a completely different department." He said that LSU was previously a Distinguished Military College in the 1920s but has gone semi-dormant since Corps of Cadets participation became voluntary in 1969. Additionally, LSU has been involved with the U.S. military since 1860, according to an LSU press release. Musacchia also said students in these selected colleges that are also in Corps of Cadets organizations are given more consideration over other students when competing for active duty slots. Musacchia specified that this is what "Honor School" meant in the memorandum. |
| RELLIS data center getting repurposed with new ownership | |
| A bankrupt data center under construction on the Texas A&M RELLIS campus has new ownership and a new purpose. The Austin-based and Aggie-owned ThisWay Global Inc. (TWG) purchased RELLIS Campus Data and Research Center LLC out of bankruptcy for $40 million on Sept. 30. Angela Hood, founder and executive chair of TWG, announced that the facility will become the Research and AI Compute Center (RACC) and will provide research-based compute resources for RELLIS and Texas A&M University. "It will no longer be called a data center because it really isn't," Hood said. "It's an innovation and training center. And I think it's important for us to explain to people what the difference is between those two things. Our objective is to deliver outcomes: what research is delivered, what mission is solved, what vision can be created because of these buildings." RACC is intended to make advanced artificial intelligence and high-performance computing capacity available to eligible research, public-sector and industry users. Hood explained that the facility is different than what people think of when it comes to data centers. |
| University research reactor selected for international research project | |
 | Ahead of its 60th anniversary, the University of Missouri Research Reactor was chosen to help conduct nuclear experiments for an international project. The reactor will contribute to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, which seeks to build the largest machine to create nuclear fusion, via an agreement with Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. Other nations involved with ITER include China, the European Union, India, Japan, South Korea and Russia. John Brockman, associate director for research and education at the reactor, estimates Mizzou's reactor was chosen over 26 other university research reactors for the position. "There's only a handful (of reactors) that can do the sorts of things that MURR can do," he said. Nuclear fusion is a form of renewable energy created by fusing and releasing the energy of hydrogen isotopes. Compared to nuclear fission, which requires uranium, nuclear fusion creates less waste and produces more energy. |
| 'Obsolete' Emergency Phones Illuminate Campus Sexual Assault Myths | |
 | When Billyjoe Contreras was touring colleges with his daughter two years ago, he said they felt reassured by the big, blue emergency-phone light posts dotting the University of Connecticut's campus. "The tour guides took pride in the fact that at every blue light you could see the next blue light," Contreras told Inside Higher Ed. "Young girls have to walk on campus late at night, and following the blue lights makes them feel secure ... Those poles are the walls protecting our campus." But that sense of safety crumbled last month when UConn became the latest university to decommission many of its emergency phones. "With the widespread adoption of cell phones in recent decades, the low volume of calls on the 1990s-era blue light phone kiosk system shows the community does not use or need it for its original purposes, and that it has become obsolete," Stephanie Reitz, a university spokesperson, wrote in an email to Inside Higher Ed. "Supporting the largely dormant program and the costs associated with it is no longer practical or a good use of resources." That reasoning is cold comfort to Contreras, who said he's especially troubled by the recent high-profile report of a rape at Cornell University, which allegedly took place at a fraternity house. |
| 'A Different World' Returns to a Changed Black College Landscape | |
| When "A Different World" debuted in 1987, the world looked very different. The HIV epidemic was raging across the U.S., Ronald Reagan was in his second term and there was no World Wide Web. A spinoff of "The Cosby Show" that ran until 1993, the series broke ground as one of television's first glimpses into the realities of young Black identity. Students navigated race, politics, relationships and the growing pains of young adulthood at a historically Black college. During the show's six-year run, enrollment in Historically Black colleges and universities rose roughly 25%, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Nearly 40 years later, as some HBCUs experience an enrollment boost, a new Netflix show captures a very different era. Deborah Wayne (Maleah Joi Moon), the daughter of the original characters, returns to the fictional Hillman College as a freshman in 2026. The reboot, which has been renewed for a second season, offers a window into how the Black college experience has evolved over the decades, including university funding cuts, a rise in hate crimes, an immigration crackdown and recent anti-Diversity, Equity and Inclusion legislation. Some things haven't changed: Hillman College remains a place for students to find community and figure out their purpose as they face a new set of challenges. |
| Americans may have soured on college, but the data show they're still going | |
| Americans are turning against higher education. At least, that's what many of them say. Only 31 percent of Americans now consider a college education "very important," according to a Gallup poll conducted in August and released this month. That's a record low and a stunning decline from 70 percent in 2013. The shift isn't confined to groups that have historically been skeptical of higher education. Even women, Democrats, Black and Hispanic Americans and college graduates themselves -- people who traditionally placed a greater importance on college -- have also registered double-digit declines in their approval of higher education in recent years. But here's the reality: American behavior hasn't changed nearly as much as American opinion. College enrollment has remained remarkably steady. Americans may be increasingly critical of higher education without being ready to give up on it. People can believe that college is too expensive, too political, overrated or no longer worth what it costs -- and still believe that a college degree is the best bet for themselves or their own children. |
| Why Are Some Colleges Choosing to Reduce Their Enrollments? | |
 | The narrative around student headcount can often feel black and white. More students are a reason to celebrate. Declines spell cause for concern. So when a college takes actions that shrink its student body -- even temporarily -- it's worth asking why. The University of Memphis denied admission this fall to some 260 applicants it would've likely admitted historically after it raised the bar for minimum SAT/ACT scores and GPAs. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, meanwhile, withdrew nearly 200 students between August and September who had no payments or financial aid posted to their account for the fall semester -- a once-rare practice it now intends to continue. The colleges' choices signal a shift from a topline focus on short-term headcount to prioritizing enrollment practices that foster student retention and assure steady, dependable revenue. "Schools are paying attention to the fact that who you recruit impacts who you're going to retain," said Jody Gordon, a senior managing consultant at the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, or AACRAO. And nowadays, she said, they "can't afford to slip on retention." |
SPORTS
| 'The best is yet to come': Sanfrisco Magee shining in third year with MSU | |
| Sanfrisco Magee lined up along the Mississippi State sideline. Anthony Evans III motioned to the opposite side of the formation, leaving Magee alone on an island with Missouri cornerback Sione Laulea. MSU needed a score. The Bulldogs opened the game up 14-0, but the Tigers were rolling and had MSU without the lead for much of the second half. It was tied at 24 when Magee lined up out wide. Magee was in the infancy of his third year at MSU, the first in which he made a true impact on the Bulldogs' offense. The former McComb High School star saw action in just nine games his first two seasons, not making much of a mark. This season was the best chance for Magee to break out, but Anthony Evans III was returning, and the Bulldogs added Zion Ragins and Marquis Johnson through the transfer portal. He'd have to work for his playing time. He had, and against the Tigers, he was having a day. |
| Jacob Parker reveals what's different for him, Mississippi State baseball in 2027 | Exclusive | |
 | Jacob Parker remembers his first at-bat with Mississippi State baseball well, and not necessarily for a good reason. It was during the fourth game of the season when the freshman from Purvis stepped into the batter's box for the first time at Dudy Noble Field during a midweek game against Troy. The Bulldogs had already raced out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, but Paker was overwhelmed with nervousness. He lined out to third base and went 0-for-4 in the game. Not an encouraging first game for the highly ranked recruit. It wasn't until March when Parker became a regular starter for Mississippi State. Then, he emerged as one of the team's top hitters and a freshman All-American who broke the program record for home runs by a freshman (18). "I think it was more of just getting at-bats, getting the nerves down and not being so, I mean, this crowd, it will do it to you," Parker told the Clarion Ledger during fall practice. "I remember my first at-bat I was super, super nervous. My heart was beating out of my chest. I think just getting the at-bats in and finally settling in was a big part of it." |
| Soccer: Bulldogs Down Texas A&M, Stay Unbeaten In League Play | |
| Mississippi State defeated Texas A&M, 2-1, on Friday night to remain unbeaten in SEC play and pass the double-digit points threshold in the conference standings. State (8-1-4, 2-0-4 SEC) is now tied for fifth in the league and just two points out of a first-round bye in November's SEC Tournament with four matches remaining. Two of MSU's four matches left are head-to-head with teams ahead of it in the standings and the other two are against teams that would not currently qualify for the conference tournament. Coming off of three straight scoreless ties, momentum swung in State's favor early. In the 17th minute Hailey Johnson appeared to have scored, but the goal was waved off for offsides. It would not matter, however, as the Bulldogs scored twice in the next 10 minutes. The Bulldogs return to the pitch on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. CT when they host Oklahoma. That match will air on SEC Network+. |
| Volleyball: Bulldogs Sweep The Gamecocks | |
| Mississippi State sweeps the South Carolina Gamecocks to extend the Bulldogs win streak at home. The Bulldogs were down 12-7 to start the first set before coming back to win, 25-21. State kept the drive going in set two keeping the Gamecocks under 15 and winning, 25-14. The final set started with the Bulldogs falling behind 6-1, but a kill from Lindey Mangelson gave them back the momentum. State ultimately won the set 25-19, sweeping the Gamecocks and remaining undefeated at The Griss. Bernadita Aguilar led the team with 11 kills hitting .500 on the day. Mangelson and Paloma Routaboul picked up 10 kills each with Noella Obi and Gha'Naye Whitfield-Moss grabbing eight a piece. Whitfield-Moss led the team in hitting percentage hitting .583. The Bulldogs will be back on the road this week as they head to Missouri to face off the Tigers on Wednesday. First serve is set for 6 p.m. and you can watch the match live on SEC Network. |
| CFP, ESPN to continue rights negotiations on 24-team playoff | |
| The College Football Playoff on Saturday said it would "continue to have ongoing discussions with ESPN" regarding the media rights for a potential 24-team playoff after a 30-day exclusive negotiating window ended Friday. Sources told ESPN that the discussions were likely to continue into next week as the network would have time to consider a financial offer before the event moved to the open market. "We continue to have ongoing discussions with ESPN regarding media rights connected to potential Playoff expansion to 24 teams," the CFP stated. "The dialogue throughout the window has been constructive, and we will carry these conversations forward with ESPN as we determine the path ahead." In late September, CFP leaders met at Big Ten headquarters in Rosemont, Illinois, where the idea of a 24-team field originated in February. If the group moves forward with the 24-team format, which could start as soon as the 2027 season, the Power 4 conference championship games will be eliminated. Unraveling the contracts for those conference championship games and determining their value has been a part of the negotiations, as sources have indicated to ESPN that they are collectively valued around $200 million. |
| GOP looks for midterm enthusiasm boost from pro sports stars | |
 | Staring down a midterm Election Day that is looking increasingly bleak for Republicans, GOP candidates and President Trump are turning to major names in sports for a jolt of energy and publicity. Several current and former pro athletes in recent weeks have stumped for Republicans on the campaign trail or introduced GOP hopefuls to crowds at rallies in states like Texas and New York. It comes as Trump has been at the center of a major blending between sports and party politics in recent months. The president has sought to capitalize on support from star athletes like New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart and 64-year-old former major league pitcher Roger Clemens as he rallies for GOP candidates across the country. Several former athletes or sports figures are separately showing up on political tickets as GOP candidates, all of them backing Trump. Former New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira is running for U.S. House in Texas's 21st Congressional District. Former NFL kicker Jay Feely is running for U.S. House in Arizona's 1st Congressional District, and former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya is running for U.S. Senate in Minnesota. Trump over the past year repeatedly has tapped into American sports culture in a bid to shore up support with his base, particularly in Southern states and among younger, male voters. All of them have pledged support for the president while seeking to win their races. |
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