| Friday, June 26, 2026 |
| Farmweek signs off after 49-year run | |
 | Sources from an MSU press release say, during its 49-year run, Farmweek has been produced by the Mississippi State University Extension Service, but Artis Ford always considered it to belong to the people of Mississippi. "For the people who we featured on the show," said Ford, who co-hosted the weekly agricultural television news show for 32 of those years, "we always felt that we wanted to do the best job we could because chances are this is going to be their one time to really be in the spotlight. The June 24 taping marked the end of the road for the statewide program. The series finale airs June 27 and 29 on Mississippi Public Broadcasting, where each of its nearly 2,500 episodes has aired since the show's debut in 1977, and June 30 on RFD-TV. Tributes from longtime viewers poured in once Farmweek's sign-off became public knowledge. "As a longtime Farmweek fan, I am proud that it has been a valuable resource for Mississippi's farmers, ranchers and rural communities for five decades," said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. "I salute the many talented people who have contributed to its remarkable success." |
| Life is a stage: At 45, Summer Scholars is still building its own next cast of creators | |
 | Fights over stolen hamsters, chemistry accidents that lead to a zombie apocalypse and other shenanigans intended to dismantle a college music festival can be found at the Summer Scholars on Stage performances this weekend at McComas Hall. Now in its 45th year, Summer Scholars on Stage is a theater camp at Mississippi State University that provides rising eighth-graders through 2026 high school graduates with the opportunity to create an original musical. "The overarching theme (of the musical this year) is that by working together, we can accomplish a lot more than (we could) working separately," Camp Director Stephen Cunetto said Thursday. The show is split into three acts and centers around a war between two college fraternities, pulling inspiration from "Romeo and Juliet," Cunetto said. Campers will hit the stage at 7 p.m. today and 1 p.m. Saturday in McComas Hall to perform "Face the Music (Fest)" at no cost to attendees. The program welcomed 55 campers this year from across the South and as far north as Michigan, Cunetto said, with some students having parents who are alumni of the camp. |
| PANTA graduates at MSU-Meridian celebrate achievements with MSU alumnus, scholarship supporter Freeman | |
 | Recipients of the Bebe Freeman PANTA Teacher's Assistant Annual Scholarships will return to their elementary schools this fall as the program's latest graduates from Mississippi State University. They marked their achievement with a recent sendoff from one of their biggest supporters. Harry Freeman of Memphis, Tennessee, provides the scholarship in memory of his late wife Bebe. A 1966 MSU alumnus, he hosted a recent breakfast celebrating spring graduates from MSU-Meridian's Professional Advancement Network for Teachers and Administrators, or PANTA, initiative. MSU President Mark E. Keenum also attended to applaud the graduates' commitment to their schools, students and communities. The scholarships help students completing their education degrees while working full-time as teacher assistants, said Kim Hall, professor and associate dean of the MSU-Meridian Division of Education. "We're finding that PANTA students are staying in their districts because they are committed to their communities," Hall said. "Through this scholarship, Mr. Freeman has created opportunities for aspiring educators to complete their degrees and ultimately make a difference in the lives of students across our state." |
| Mississippi has record number of farmers markets, but ag commissioner warns food supply at risk | |
 | Mississippi has reached a record high of 79 farmers markets -- nearly one for each of its 82 counties. But Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson says while that milestone is worth celebrating, the state must take bigger steps to protect and strengthen its food supply. Before delivering his annual stump speech at the Neshoba County Fair on Thursday, Gipson appeared on Mornings with Richard Cross to discuss Mississippi's largest industry. He said the state is producing plenty of crops, but argued that too much of what Mississippi grows leaves the state and country for processing and distribution, increasing reliance on foreign countries throughout the food supply chain. He said Mississippi is "blessed" with abundant water sources, including rainfall, underground aquifers, and reservoirs. While the state does experience periods of drought, Gipson argued water availability is not what's holding Mississippi agriculture back. Instead, he blamed a lack of action from lawmakers and other state leaders. "We're letting it slip away," Gipson said. "I've been talking about this to the legislature. I've talked about this to our other leaders, and they have ignored it. In some cases, they have actively opposed my efforts." |
| Neshoba County Fair traditions keep families coming back year after year | |
| The Neshoba County Fair is drawing crowds again this year, with many families returning for more than the rides and food. For some the fair is about tradition, a yearly commitment families plan around. Behind the rides and concessions, rows of cabins reflect generations of family history at the fairgrounds. Bet Deweese said her family's cabin has expanded over the decades from a one-story structure into a space that can now sleep 27 people. "This is when everybody in our family gets together once a year," Deweese said. "Sometimes Christmas happens sometimes it doesn't. Easter you know weddings whatever --- the fair happens, everybody makes it happen and they get here somehow some way." Many cabins sit empty most of the year and come to life in the weeks leading up to the fair. For the Deweese family, the tradition has also meant spending more than $200,000 over the past three years to renovate and maintain their cabin, Horton reported. The family uses the space for one week each year during the fair. |
| Reeves says elections have consequences, who Mississippi elects as its next governor matters | |
| Governor Tate Reeves (R) took the stage on Founders Square Thursday to implore the crowd at the Neshoba County Fair to vet the candidates who will be running to succeed him next year because "elections have consequences." He said conservative policymaking and implementation is working to make the Magnolia State better. Reeves, who is term limited, has just over a year left in office. While he says he and his staff are not slowing down, the governor voiced concern about who will be Mississippi's next chief executive. "The most immediate, and the most obvious, thing that's next for Mississippi is a round of state elections. What happens during next year's statewide elections will have a massive impact on the future of this state that we all love," Reeves said. "Now, I know what some folks are thinking, 'Governor, surely it can't be that serious.' Well, let me tell you -- it really is that serious." Governor Reeves urged voters to look beyond slick television ads, campaign slogans, or "who can nail their sign highest on a pole," a common display at the Neshoba County Fair. |
| 'It can be lost': Reeves contends progress will stop if wrong governor is elected in 2027 | |
| Gov. Tate Reeves is term-limited, and he is well aware of the looming 2027 statewide elections that are approaching. During his time at the stump at the Neshoba County Fair on Thursday, the Republican governor articulated his ideal candidate to succeed him as the state's top elected official. While refraining from endorsing one of the two candidates already in the 2027 gubernatorial race -- Ag Commissioner Andy Gipson and former House Speaker Philip Gunn -- or any prospective office seeker, Reeves stressed that, in his opinion, his successor would best benefit Mississippi if he or she picked up the proverbial torch and continued following the path of conservative governance outlined over the past six-plus years. Specifically, Reeves emphasized that his successor should follow his lead on economic development, tax policy, education reforms, and healthcare, and do so without allowing outside influences to stymie what he believes to be a tremendous record of progress. "But here's an unfortunate truth, and it's mighty important. Our unprecedented momentum is not guaranteed/ It can be lost, and it can be lost quickly," he continued. "Because the truth is the next governor can make a whole lot of bad choices. And he or she could do so very, very quickly." |
| Neshoba County Fair: Gov. Reeves says redistricting session likely, urges voters to pick his successor wisely | |
| Gov. Tate Reeves said on Thursday that he will likely call lawmakers into a special legislative session soon to redraw the state legislative districts, but he didn't offer a specific timeline. Speaking to reporters in the muddy Founders Square at the Neshoba County Fair, Reeves said he believes lawmakers will eventually redraw congressional, judicial and legislative districts, but he expects lawmakers to take up legislative redistricting in a special session before January. "I've spent a lot of time giving serious consideration to it," Reeves said. "I expect it to happen. I'm not going to tell you a date today because I don't know a date today." The governor also said he's considering adding other topics to a special session agenda, mainly reforms to the state's youth court system, because lawmakers mistakenly let the laws creating Mississippi's youth courts expire earlier this year. Reeves is closing out his second term as governor, and term limits prevent him from running for reelection. The governor said he hopes voters next year will choose a conservative to succeed him in office and continue the state's economic and education gains in recent years. |
| Governor likely to call special session to redistrict legislative seats later this year | |
| With the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Callais v. Louisiana, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (R) is considering the right time to call a special session for lawmakers to take up legislative redistricting ahead of the start of qualifying for next year's elections. "I've been giving serious consideration on calling a special session on redistricting since one minute after Callais decision came out," Reeves told reported at the Neshoba County Fair Thursday. He said the map that the current legislators ran under, specifically those that forced special elections last year, "no longer have any validity." The NAACP challenged the prior legislative district maps on behalf of 14 individuals who claimed black voting strength was being diluted in certain areas of the state. A federal three-judge panel ordered mid-term legislative redistricting be done to allow for higher black voting age populations in North Mississippi, namely DeSoto County, along with Pine Belt senate and house districts. A total of 15 special elections followed in November 2025. Those elections resulted in Republicans losing their supermajority in the state Senate. |
| Hosemann harps on education, outlines redistricting agenda at Neshoba County Fair | |
| During his annual stump speech at the Neshoba County Fair, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann spent much of his more than 15 minutes behind the podium highlighting education policy while also offering a few noteworthy comments on congressional redistricting. On education, the Republican touted legislative accomplishments from the most recent session aimed at improving classroom outcomes and supporting those responsible for educating Mississippi's K-12 and college students. Hosemann also said Mississippi must be proactive in meeting the needs of students with disabilities. "Mississippi State University and Ole Miss have fantastic programs to teach these kids and how to be successful in their lives. We need to support those [programs]. We need regional centers for schools that can't cover their own people," Hosemann said, further highlighting the work being done at Mississippi State. "We have one of the best places in the country at Mississippi State, training up to 50 of these teachers every year in a master's [program] to come out and work with these kids. Under our programs, they get a scholarship if they stay in Mississippi. That has changed the paradigm." |
| Mississippi House not 'scared' of conversations on 'sacred' issues, Speaker White tells Neshoba fairgoers | |
| Speaker Jason White (R) took the stage at the Neshoba County Fair on Thursday with the goal of focusing on the good things happening in Mississippi as a result of conservative policymaking, many of which originated in the House of Representatives, he said. "I wanted to focus today on some positivity," White told Magnolia Tribune. "Yeah, some next steps about where we're going on everything from property tax issues, redistricting, and education freedom. We're going to continue to bang those drums." But White said he does not want the successes Mississippi is experiencing to be lost as voters turn their attention to next year's statewide elections. "A lot of politicians are going to tell everybody how the sky's falling if you don't elect them and man, I'm afraid they're going to paint a bad picture," the Speaker said. "I want to paint a positive picture because we're enjoying so much success on some many fronts." While White said there is still work to do on healthcare and other areas, he believes Mississippi's economic growth, corporate investments, education gains, the improvements in quality of life, and the state's low cost of living is worth celebrating. "So, I wanted to just stop for a minute that yes, voting is important, elections next year will be extremely important, but let's keep the main thing the main thing, and that is these things that we've been able to advance these last few years, let's keep that momentum," White said. "Let's not get so caught up in the next election that we don't focus on what's real and what's going to last when all of this is over." |
| Mississippi politicians gather at Neshoba County Fair to pitch their vision to voters | |
 | For more than one hundred years the fair has drawn politicians from across Mississippi to Founders Square. These speeches serve as a vital barometer for campaign messaging and legislative goals. This year's opening day featured intense discussions on public safety and education along with healthcare and economic development. State Treasurer David McRae announced that he will seek a third term. He highlighted the return of nearly 200 million dollars to Mississippians through the unclaimed property program and investment gains generated during his tenure. After his speech McRae noted that the Neshoba County Fair remains one of the best opportunities for elected officials to connect with voters. "You talk politics. You kind of hear the rumor mill, especially with next year, with the elections and everything," McRae said. "I'm excited to be running a third term as state treasurer because I feel that there is so much left to do." For many attendees the social tradition of the fair is just as important as the political one. Pippa Jackson has attended the fair since she was a child. She noted that the speeches remain a defining part of the weeklong event. "I've been going to the political speeches every year because this is one of the major speaking places for anyone running for anything in Mississippi," Jackson said. "It's a good place for them to share their messages." |
| Pair of state leaders use Neshoba County Fair speeches to jockey for higher office | |
| The Neshoba County Fair is notorious for horse racing, with ESPN making a special trip to Mississippi last year to highlight the festivities. This year, the jockeying transcended horse racing, maneuvering into the world of politics, where two elected officials used one of the state's most prominent political stumps to vouch for higher office. With statewide elections scheduled for 2027, Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson and Secretary of State Michael Watson -- Republican officials with guaranteed speaking slots at the annual fair due to their representation of the entire state -- looked to get ahead of the game. No stranger to openly discussing his religious views, Gipson held up a Bible during his Neshoba County Fair speech, stating that Mississippi and the U.S. alike would greatly benefit from turning to Christianity. And Gipson made it clear that, as governor, he would lean on his Christian faith to make tough decisions facing the state. Watson, also a former state lawmaker, is rounding out his second term as secretary of state, an office he believes he is leaving better than he found it. His sights are now set on the lieutenant governor's seat, with Hosemann serving his final term as the state's second-in-command. |
| Mississippi Democrats plot 2027 strategy amid Republican chatter | |
| Mississippi Democrats say they are actively preparing for 2027 statewide races despite the early focus on Republican candidates at the Neshoba County Fair, but they are not yet ready to publicly announce their slate. Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Cheikh Taylor said the party is working to develop strong candidates while building the infrastructure to support them. He acknowledged that financial resources are limited and must be allocated strategically. "We know that inside the state of Mississippi is only about $5 million as far as resources kind of go around," Taylor said. "So, you want to pick your racehorse and you want to pick them well, and you want to make sure that these things are prioritized." The party's timeline is complicated by current congressional races, including Democrat Scott Colom's challenge to incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and a full slate of Democratic candidates in U.S. House races. They want voters to know that election is the first focus at hand. Dr. Glenn J. Antizzo, a political science professor at Mississippi Christian University, said Mississippi Democrats face a familiar obstacle: statewide name recognition. "Brandon Presley, Jim Hood, and Mike Espy... Those are the only three statewide well-known Democrats," Antizzo said. "Everybody else is going to have to have an uphill climb in introducing themselves." Antizzo also noted that Mississippi Democrats struggle to distance themselves from the national party, which he said is more liberal than the state's voters. |
| Federal AI security center measure advanced by House Science | |
 | A measure that would put into law a key federal office focused on artificial intelligence advanced Thursday out of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, as part of a slate of AI-focused and data center bills. The committee advanced the bills on a bipartisan basis, but put off potential changes regarding funding levels for the Center on AI Standards and Innovation within the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology. The center was previously known as the AI Safety Institute under the Biden administration. The committee voted unanimously in favor of the bill that would codify the center, which would see its name changed to the Center for AI Security and Innovation, according to the bill text. In his opening remarks, Chairman Brian Babin, R-Texas, acknowledged the question of funding. The bipartisan-backed bill, by Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., would authorize $20 million per year for the center for fiscal years 2027 through 2032. Babin said he supported increasing that level. For fiscal 2026, Congress appropriated up to $10 million for the center. "We should, however, ensure that we authorize CAISI in a manner that does not undermine future progress on the bill," Babin said. "And I commit to working with the sponsors to ensure that we get that number right going forward." |
| Trump Issues Order to Reduce Pesticides in Food as Kennedy Allies Fume | |
 | President Trump, facing a backlash from supporters of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for allying himself with the chemical industry, issued an executive order on Thursday aimed at reducing pesticides in the food supply and studying the health risks they pose. The order does not involve new federal funding, and does not call for new regulations or legislation. Critics contended that it did little to meaningfully address the consequences of pesticide use. Two White House officials, speaking anonymously to preview the order before it was announced, said it was timed to coincide with a dinner Mr. Trump was hosting for farmers. Titled "Advancing Regenerative Agriculture and Strengthening American Farm Resilience," the president's action amplifies an earlier order, issued in February, that committed $1 billion to invest in farm modernization and "regenerative," or pesticide-free, agriculture. But the timing was unfortunate for the president. Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration and the maker of the weedkiller Roundup in a case brought by a patient who said the pesticide's key ingredient, glyphosate, caused his cancer. |
| Nursing homes, factory owners and immigrants brace for fallout from Supreme Court ruling | |
 | Immigrants began making plans to sell or rent their homes, secure bank accounts and figure out thorny issues like child custody arrangements. Business owners started calculating how many days they can continue to employ workers whose legal status is set to expire. And nursing home leaders warned they would have fewer beds to offer if health aides are forced to leave the country. Panic rippled through communities from Florida to Ohio and beyond in the hours after the Supreme Court cleared the Trump administration Thursday to strip humanitarian protections from Haitians and Syrians -- and potentially all 1.3 million immigrants from over a dozen countries who had been previously shielded from deportation. Attorneys said Haitians and Syrians could lose work permits in little more than a month, but the deadline remained unclear because lower court judges must issue orders to implement the decision. Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, told reporters Thursday that Haitians and others with temporary protected status should be detained and deported once they lose the benefit. Some of those immigrants have lived in the United States for decades and said they feared being sent back to conflict-ridden homelands that they barely know and whose languages some do not speak. |
| MUW earns second consecutive 100% Praxis pass rate for speech-language pathologists | |
| For the second consecutive year, 100% of Mississippi University for Women's Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology degree recipients passed the required national certification exam, the Praxis. The achievement is expected to help meet a growing need for people with these skills, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates that by 2034 the need for these professionals will expand by 15%, or about 28,000 additional job openings. A master's in the field is required to open a private practice, but those with the degree can also find careers in education and medical settings such as hospitals and clinics. "A 100% pass rate, especially two years consecutively, is difficult to achieve. It is truly a testament to the dedication of our students and faculty. Our SLP program's contribution to healthcare in our state is unmatched," said Dr. Brandy Larmon, dean of the Vandergriff College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Dr. Hunter Manasco, Chair of MUW's Department of Speech-Language Pathology, said that faculty working with students to achieve proficiency before taking the test is the reason the institution has achieved the 100% passing rate for two consecutive years. |
| Birmingham couple donates $10 million to Alabama university for rural healthcare | |
 | The University of Alabama at Birmingham is using a multimillion dollar gift to tackle health disparities in rural Alabama. Mike and Gillian Goodrich, both raised in Birmingham, recently donated $10 million to establish the Goodrich Rural Innovation in Training program at the Heersink School of Medicine. "For a number of years, Gillian and I have been concerned about access to quality healthcare in rural Alabama," Mike Goodrich said in a UAB news release. "Small-town hospitals are closing or reducing services to local citizens." The GRIT program "will underwrite educational scholarships, provide programmatic support to new rural residency training programs and strengthen rural clinic capacity where training will occur," UAB said. Alabama has one of the most significant shortages of primary care physicians in the country, according to Dr. Irfan Asif, chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine and associate dean of primary care and rural health. |
| Florida Universities Consider Banning Undocumented Students | |
 | The Florida Board of Governors this week took a step toward barring undocumented students from admission to the state system's 12 public universities. A proposed rule, discussed Thursday by the board's academic affairs committee, would block these students from enrolling, unless institutions already admitted "all academically qualified applicants," starting in the 2027–28 academic year. The committee adopted a version of the proposal, but the rule still needs approval from the full Board of Governors. The rule would be a blow to thousands of noncitizen students in the state. An estimated 8,000 undocumented students graduate from high school in Florida annually, and over 49,000 undocumented students are enrolled in Florida colleges, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal. While current students wouldn't be affected, new students would be blocked form enrolling if they're "present in the United States unlawfully," according to the current proposal. The committee lightly tweaked the proposal's language to clarify students studying online at Florida universities from other countries would be permitted to do so. Otherwise, the issue prompted little debate among board members. The public has 14 days to comment on the proposal. The next regular board meeting is in September. |
| The 'living room of campus' is about to change: U. of South Carolina OKs makeover of student union | |
 | A long-discussed reimagining of the University of South Carolina's beloved, but overstretched student union is beginning to take shape after the board of trustees last week voted to move forward with plans to expand and renovate the Russell House. While nothing is set in stone, the current plan calls for replacing the building's aging west wing and the nearby Thomson Building, located across from the Bull Street parking garage, to create a larger ballroom, more space for student organizations and additional dining capacity in what is currently one of the smallest student unions in the Southeastern Conference. The entire project, which is estimated to cost $250 million, could take up to five years to complete. It will be funded by state institution bonds, which are secured by a pledge of tuition fee revenues. To finance the bonds, the USC board recently approved a $150 per semester student union expansion fee, as part of its 2026-27 budget. Rex Tolliver, USC's vice president of student affairs, said the Russell House expansion and renovation has been on the minds of students for as long as he's been at the university. |
| Mizzou eliminates executive vice chancellor role for health affairs | |
 | Richard Barohn is resigning from his position as executive vice chancellor for health affairs and MU School of Medicine dean, according to a statement from University of Missouri System President Mun Choi. Mizzou announced Barohn's departure from the role after a Board of Curators executive session Thursday morning. The elimination of the executive vice chancellor role follows MU Health Care's organizational operational workforce redesign announcement. Last week, MU Health Care said it laid off 74 employees and plans to close its Quick Care locations in August. Starting Sept. 1, MU School of Medicine's executive vice dean Ross Zafonte will step into the position of interim dean. An executive committee that manages clinical integrations, patient outcomes and financial performance will replace the executive vice chancellor role. Choi, MU Health Care CEO Ric Ransom, interim Dean Ross Zafonte and Executive Vice President of Finance & Operations Ryan Rapp are the members of the committee. |
| Johns Hopkins lays off over 100 employees due to federal cuts | |
| The Johns Hopkins University is laying off roughly 110 employees across multiple schools and offices as it endures historic federal funding challenges. The layoffs this week impact the university's Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Carey Business School and the central administration, university spokesperson Doug Donovan said. "As our federal research portfolio shrinks the infrastructure around it must change in parallel," he wrote in a statement. Last year, the university initiated a hiring freeze, eliminated vacant positions and reduced discretionary spending to control costs, Donovan said. But those efforts weren't enough to prevent another round of layoffs. This is just the latest financial blow facing the research university, which has historically received the most federal funding of any higher education institution since 1979. Since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, the university has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding. Earlier this month, Hopkins announced it was increasing its in-house research awards by nearly $50 million and cutting administrative costs as it faced a "debilitating" lag in federal funding. To fund the new endeavor, the university pledged to spend 10% less on its central administration and nearly 20% less on construction and renovation over five years. |
| Dear Colleague Letter Asks Colleges to End Affinity Housing | |
| The Trump administration is urging colleges and universities to end affinity and multicultural housing, calling the voluntary, minority student–focused living arrangements "neo-segregation" and claiming they violate the Fair Housing Act. Legal experts say the move is an attempt to scare institutions into pre-emptive compliance with guidance that will almost certainly fail if challenged in court. The Department of Housing and Urban Development on Tuesday circulated a Dear Colleague letter from Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Craig Trainor, in which he wrote that affinity housing is a "disturbing trend" and that HUD "will no longer tolerate the unlawful racial discrimination in university housing that has gone on for far too long in this Nation's educational institutions." In addition to standard dorm living, many colleges offer thematic housing that gives students the opportunity to live, work and learn alongside peers with similar interests or identities. For example, some institutions offer honors houses, language houses or cultural houses. In most cases, students apply for spots in these residences and living in one is optional. |
| Judge Tosses Education Department's 'Professional' Degree Definition, Likely Aiding Student Borrowers | |
| A federal judge has tossed out the Education Department's rule that strictly limited graduate students' access to higher federal student loan borrowing limits, a victory for universities, health-advocacy groups and others who argued the policy could stop students from earning advanced nursing degrees and pursuing other crucial professions. The ruling, released late Wednesday night, centers on the definition of "professional" degree in Congress's One Big Beautiful Bill Act and how the department narrowed that definition when it issued its rule implementing the law. Judge Beryl A. Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia called the department's approach "misguided." "Congress could not have been clearer as to the meaning of 'professional degree,'" Howell wrote, saying ED had diverged from that meaning. The lawsuits regarding the rule aren't over -- Howell technically stayed the rule "pending final resolution of this litigation" -- and ED didn't provide interviews Thursday on how it would respond to the decision. It's unclear now which programs ED will deem professional and thus eligible for higher loan borrowing caps. The loan limits take effect July 1. |
| Democrats grapple uncomfortably with World Cup success | |
 | The triumph of the World Cup's first two weeks -- boosting the U.S.'s global reputation with sold-out stadiums and few logistical complications -- has forced Democrats who had criticized President Donald Trump's role in preparations to grudgingly reconsider. "I think that there was a little bit of like liberal wishcasting that this would maybe be a disaster to sort of stick it to Trump," said Rob Flaherty, the digital Democratic strategist and soccer fan who attended the U.S. group-stage match with Australia. "It hasn't yet been." Before the tournament, attitudes about the World Cup were polarizing, like so much else, along partisan lines, with Democrats confronting FIFA and the Trump administration over high ticket prices, shortfalls in public funding, and the government's posture to foreign visitors. As the tournament approached, local officials in areas hosting matches, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, turned from critics to cheerleaders. Now a prominent congressional Democrat is going even farther: praising the U.S.'s handling of tournament logistics -- if not giving the Trump administration explicit credit by name. This week, Rep. Brendan Boyle, a Philadelphia Democrat active in foreign-policy issues, called it a "remarkable success" and vowed to "do everything I can to get the World Cup back here as soon as possible" in an X post. In an interview with POLITICO Thursday, Boyle said, "this has been a great moment, actually devoid of politics, and I think it would be best to keep politics out of it." |
SPORTS
| College Sports Commission wins key ruling in winning oversight of certain multimedia rights deals | |
 | A federal magistrate ruled Thursday that multimedia rights companies that represent athletic departments can continue to be subject to the same rules governing millions in third party name-image-likeness payments to players that are reshaping college sports. Northern District of California Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins, who was appointed to hear disputes related to the landmark House settlement, denied a request to rule that MMRs and third-party brand sponsors should not fall under the same reviews by the College Sports Commission as do collective and booster deals. "This ruling affirms that the CSC has been correctly applying the language of the settlement as written," commission CEO Bryan Seeley said in a statement. "Our enforcement of the rules has been, and will continue to be, fact-based and consistent with the settlement that plaintiffs' lawyers negotiated and was agreed to by all parties." Plaintiffs attorney Jeffrey Kessler argued that boosters and booster collectives, which have in some cases been replaced by MMRs as the key NIL negotiators, should be deemed associated entities but not the MMRs themselves. The magistrate disagreed, siding with the NCAA and power conferences named as defendants. |
| NCAA, CSC Score Key Win in Associated Entities Spat | |
| Validating the NCAA's interpretation of House settlement language, U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins on Thursday ruled that multimedia rights companies and third-party brand sponsors can be classified as "associated entities" within the meaning of the agreement. The ruling by Cousins, the judge who acts as the House settlement administrator, denied a motion made by class counsel Steve Berman and Jeffrey Kessler. In a text message to Sportico, Berman said the plaintiffs would appeal the ruling to U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken. The appeal, Berman added, will be filed within 14 days. Berman and Kessler contend the settlement doesn't contemplate MMRs, including Learfield, Playfly Sports and JMI Sports, and that third-party brand sponsors, including banks, apparel companies, airlines and car dealerships, can count as associated entities. There's no debate "associated entities" includes traditional boosters of athletic programs, but its inclusion of other entities that help both athletes and schools is a tension point. The logic of excluding MMRs and third-party brand sponsors is that their relationship with NIL deals is presumably to generate profit for themselves. That is a standard business objective: make money. |
| Is Louisiana giving too much to college football? Some lawmakers are starting to wonder | |
 | As Louisiana pours millions into making LSU a football juggernaut, some state lawmakers have started to raise concerns that the state is too often putting football ahead of other priorities. The debate comes after a legislative session during which the Louisiana House killed a bill that would have given more money to early childhood education programs; instead, college sports programs will get that money. A second bill exacerbated tensions by shielding from the public details of how state universities spend funds generated by athletics programs, including how they divide the money among different sports and top athletes. "I don't know if I'd call it a sacred cow. But it pretty much is a sacred cow," state Sen. Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton, said of college football. "You can't touch it. You can't lessen what we put into it." But some lawmakers note that college football is an economic boon to the state. State Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge, who is also the PA announcer at Tiger Stadium, said strong athletics programs help generate visitors to the state who in turn spend money at local businesses. |
| Michigan president sounds off after Dusty May leaves for NBA | |
 | Dusty May said it "wasn't an easy decision" to leave Michigan basketball for the Dallas Mavericks. According to his former boss, U-M interim president Domenico Grasso, the current landscape of college sports played a role in May's decision to leave for the pro ranks. "Our current system is in dire need of clarity and equitable reform," Grasso said at a June 25 regents meeting, according to the Detroit Free Press. "Coach May told me that among his reasons for leaving were uncertainties and pressures involving the transfer portal and NIL support for student-athletes. He and I agree that the future of college sports is headed in the wrong direction." While Grasso said the proposed Protect College Sports Act working its way through Congress could provide "greater stability, clearer national standards and more consistent rules" to college athletics, he also said it has "deeply concerning provisions." "Rather than looking to conferences such as the Big Ten as models of athletic and academic excellence, it imposes restrictions that disproportionately affect the institution," he said. "Among the most troubling provisions are targeted limits on conference expansion and realignment, as well as harmful restrictions on student athletes' ability to benefit from additional NIL opportunities. These measures will reduce universities and conferences' flexibility to adapt to changing conditions for student innovative opportunities." |
| MLB's draft overhaul would limit choices for teen players -- and be a boon for colleges | |
| James Clark is a young man with enticing options on his baseball horizon. The promising 18-year-old shortstop was taking infield practice Tuesday during the MLB draft combine at Chase Field, fluidly handling ground balls before firing to first base. It's one of many reasons the California native has a chance to be selected in the first round of next month's draft. But if he decides he's not ready to start his professional baseball career, he's committed to play college ball at Duke, which has a successful baseball program and an elite academic reputation. "It's going to be a difficult decision," Clark said. "But it's a good one to have." If MLB gets it's way, it's a decision that future baseball prospects won't get to make. Owners recently proposed banning high school players from signing with major league teams, raising the age for international amateurs and slashing the money spent on signing bonuses in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. College baseball has grown rapidly in recent years for many reasons, including that NCAA programs can now offer 34 scholarships instead of the old cap of 11.7. There's also some NIL money available at the top programs, though it's usually not like the high-dollar deals for their football or basketball counterparts. |
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