| Monday, June 15, 2026 |
| Pope Leo defends migrants while saying they should reconsider their journeys | |
 | Pope Leo XIV closed his seven-day trip to Spain with appeals for nations to uphold the dignity of migrants --- but also for migrants to integrate and reconsider the "siren songs" of traffickers promising "easy paradises" in the West. By coming to Spain's Canary Islands off the coast of Africa, surrounded by waters where thousands of migrants have died in route to Europe, Leo plunged himself into the thick of an explosive debate that has roiled many countries and, at times, set off violence. Speaking Thursday at the port of Arguineguín -- the so-called "dock of shame" where migrants were crammed by the hundreds into fetid shelters in 2020 -- Leo warned Europe, which is in the midst of a new migration crackdown, that it "cannot claim to uphold human dignity while growing accustomed to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic becoming unmarked graves." Some critics, particularly in the United States, have accused the 70-year-old Chicago-born Leo as "woke" on migration, and the political right on both sides of the Atlantic has taken aim at the Catholic Church he leads for its support of undocumented migrants. But in Spain, Leo balanced calls for dignity and aid with a fuller position that his critics often ignore, and that won some praise from anti-migrant nationalists: He echoed his earlier statements that countries have a "right" to protect their borders. |
SPORTS
| Brian Bille Appointed General Manager Of Learfield's Mississippi State Bulldog Sports Properties | |
 | Learfield, the exclusive multimedia rights holder of Mississippi State Athletics, has announced Brian Bille as the General Manager of its locally based team, Mississippi State Bulldog Sports Properties. "Brian joins us at a pivotal moment for college athletics," said Zac Selmon, Director of Athletics at Mississippi State. "As we experience rapid transformation in our industry, our multimedia rights partnership is critical to continue and maximize the momentum in Starkville. Our strategic partnership allows us to continue to grow revenue, serve our student-athletes and deliver real value for the brands that invest in Mississippi State. Brian has done exactly that at every stop, and his experience and energy make him well-positioned to help us advance what we're building here." As General Manager of Learfield's MSU Bulldog Sports Properties, Bille will lead all components of the multimedia rights agreement, working closely with Mississippi State Athletics leadership to drive sponsorship growth and unlock new revenue opportunities for the athletic department and enhance brand engagement for Bulldog student-athletes. |
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.
