| Thursday, July 23, 2026 |
| SIP Manufacturing coming to the Sip with $100 million investment | |
 | The Mississippi Development Authority announced Wednesday that SIP Manufacturing is establishing operations in Southaven, investing more than $100 million and creating 187 jobs in the North Mississippi region. Governor Tate Reeves welcomed the announcement, saying, "Every new job is an opportunity for a Mississippi family to build a better future, and SIP Manufacturing's $100 million investment will create nearly 200 of those opportunities in DeSoto County." "We've stayed focused on helping companies grow and giving Mississippians new pathways to good careers," Reeves added. "I'm glad SIP Manufacturing has chosen to grow in Mississippi and become part of our state's historic success." SIP Manufacturing is a third-party beverage co-packer. The company supports customers from product development through shipment and specializes in aluminum canning, PET bottle and aluminum bottle packaging. They also produce a variety of beverages, including flavored waters, energy drinks and hard seltzers. |
| Hyde-Smith joins Defense Subcommittee on Senate Appropriations Committee | |
| U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced Wednesday that Mississippi U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) will join the join the Defense subcommittee. Hyde-Smith already served on the Senate Appropriations Committee. She will retain her chairmanship of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, as well as her memberships on the subcommittees on: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; Homeland Security; and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. The updated appointments on the committee come following the death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) on July 11. His sister, Darline Graham (R), is now serving in the seat by appointment until a special election is held. |
| GOP senators criticize Trump plan to sell access to Truth Social posts | |
 | GOP senators at odds with President Trump are slamming the plan floated by his social media company to sell faster access to the president's market-moving online posts to wealthy trading firms, which could give them a crucial edge in the financial markets. Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the parent company of Truth Social, announced last week it would launch "Truth API" -- a direct data feed that would give investment firms "real-time access to posts from the highest-ranking Truth Social accounts." Business-focused media outlets including Reuters and CNBC reported that executives at Truth Social discussed charging Wall Street traders and investment firms as much as $100,000 a month for faster access to the president's posts. "I think that's wrong. It's a form of buying access," said Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who lost his primary to a Trump-backed candidate earlier this year. He said families "struggling to make ends meet" would wonder, "Why would you reward those who are already doing well when we should do more for those who are struggling?'" |
| US is ready to help end the 'senseless war' in Ukraine but no quick deal ahead, Rubio says | |
 | U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that the Trump administration is poised to help end the "senseless war" in Ukraine but acknowledged there is no quick path to a deal, saying diplomacy will require sustained effort and new ideas. Rubio, who held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, said Moscow and Kyiv should have the incentive to end a "very bloody war" that has devastated both sides. Rubio alluded to how U.S.-mediated talks have stalled, calling them "unsuccessful or at least unfruitful" in the past but insisted that President Donald Trump was committed to the work "if conditions and factors have changed to make that possible." "That's been the challenge -- an end that both sides can accept. And we've tried and we'll continue to try to see if we can, you know, find a middle ground that brings this about. And we're prepared to play that role if the opportunity presents itself," Rubio told reporters. |
| Ole Miss, Southern Miss work to help school meals meet new nutrition standards | |
| Pizza, pastries and parfaits are staples in many school cafeterias. But new research from the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi suggests some of students' favorite meals may contain more sodium and sugar than schools will be allowed to serve under updated federal nutrition standards. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will require schools across the United States to reduce sodium and added sugars in meals by fall 2027. A new study published in Nutrition Reviews aimed to identify which popular menu items are highest in sodium and sugar, giving school officials a starting point for creating healthier menus. "School meals are designed to meet nutrition standards, and for many children, they are among the most balanced meals they eat," said Aleshia Hall-Campbell, executive director of the Institute of Child Nutrition at Ole Miss. "But because students may eat school breakfast and lunch many times each week, the nutrition quality of those meals matters. Reducing added sugars and sodium is not about blaming school meals. It is about using school meals as an opportunity to support children's health while still serving foods students enjoy." The researchers aimed to create healthier versions of students' preferred meals that adhere to updated guidelines for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, said Ruaa Al Juboori, assistant professor of public health and data analytics statistician. |
| UMMC to take over Greenwood Leflore Hospital Aug. 1 | |
| Nearly four years after negotiations collapsed over a potential takeover of the long-struggling Greenwood Leflore Hospital by the University of Mississippi Medical Center, the state's only academic medical center is set to assume operations of the Delta hospital on Aug. 1. A federal bankruptcy judge on July 16 approved a plan for the donation of the 25-bed public hospital, which is owned by the city of Greenwood and Leflore County, to UMMC. At a Tuesday Greenwood City Council meeting, Gary Marchand, the hospital's former interim CEO who became a consultant for the hospital's board, called this the "last hurdle" to completing the transfer. "As I speak here today, the university is on our campus," Marchand said. "They're making sure the IT -- their clinical information systems -- are up and running, the connectivity works, etc. We're ready to switch over." |
| Donation of Greenwood Leflore Hospital to UMMC now official | |
| A hospital that was in danger of closing can now officially be donated to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, ensuring the residents in Greenwood and Leflore County will have continued access to care nearby. Even though the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees approved a motion to accept the donation of the Greenwood Leflore Hospital to UMMC, there was a bankruptcy matter that first had to be cleared up before it became official. That matter was decided in the United States Bankruptcy Court on July 16. The facility will now be renamed UMMC Greenwood. "Based on the order of the bankruptcy court, the University of Mississippi Medical Center will assume operation of Greenwood Leflore Hospital, effective August 1," Dr. Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for health affairs told Magnolia Tribune. During IHL's June monthly meeting where the donation was approved, it was noted that the facility is expected to serve as a learning center for doctors who plan to practice in healthcare facilities in small communities. |
| Jackson State University earns A+ rating for teacher preparation and literacy | |
| Jackson State University has earned an A+ rating from the National Council on Teacher Quality for excelling in the science of reading and elementary teacher preparation. Through the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (K-6) degree program in the College of Education and Human Development, JSU meets standards set by literacy experts for coverage of the most effective methods of reading instruction. "This recognition by the NCTQ is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our faculty in the elementary education program. Their commitment extends beyond preparing pre-service teachers through evidence-based reading instruction," said Tony Latiker, Ed.D., dean and associate professor in the College of Education and Human Development. "Our faculty are leading Mississippi's efforts to improve literacy outcomes for all learners through participating in and conducting professional development and evaluating reading instruction." |
| Peter J. Mohler marks one year as U. of Alabama president | |
| Peter Mohler, UA president, and Steven Hood, vice president for student life, pose for a picture in the photo booth at University Programs' Mornings with Mohler event on Jan. 14, 2026. Tuesday officially marked the first full year of Peter J. Mohler's term as president of The University of Alabama. Mohler was appointed by the UA System Board of Trustees on June 16, 2025, and officially began his term on July 21, 2025. Mohler's presidency, despite beginning with an email to students encouraging them to engage with their community and listen, has been fraught with controversy, particularly the shutdown of student magazines, his AI-heavy "Future Ready Flagship" program and the silent shuttering of race- and gender-based programs. The Future-Ready Flagship includes a new AI data center set to cost $100 million. While the data center isn’t directly geared towards students, the University said it was aimed at ensuring “the University and its students are at the forefront of the AI wave.” The UA AI Experience will officially launch this fall, with the data center, the School of Data Science and the AI course all falling under Mohler’s apparent passion project. |
| With help from the Haslams, U. of Tennessee breaks another record | |
 | The University of Tennessee at Knoxville posted another record-breaking year for fundraising, boosted by the largest single donation in its history. The UT System's record-breaking total of $654 million raised for fiscal year 2025-26 is more than what President Randy Boyd forecasted in June, and it includes a record-breaking $581 million given to the flagship university in Knoxville. The money raised for the Knoxville campus is about $153 million more than last fiscal year's fundraising total. More than a fifth of the money raised came from Dee and Jimmy Haslam pledging a record-breaking $130 million investment, which will be put toward the Haslam College of Business and helping UT in its mission of hiring world-class faculty. More than 12,000 donor-supported scholarships were awarded to students, according to UT, thanks to the contributions of more than 70,300 donors. As the UT System aims to raise $4 billion by 2030, it's also plans to enroll 85,000 students by that time. This figure includes 17,000 fully online students across the five state campuses. The Knoxville campus expects to enroll upwards of 42,600 students for the fall 2026 semester, including fully online students. |
| Mounds of excitement: U. of Tennessee's composting program showcases responsible circular systems | |
| When a student grabs a quick to-go meal on campus and tosses the leftovers into the trash, the lifecycle of the food and packaging is disregarded. Tennesseans generate 7.8 billion tons of waste a year, and with landfills filling up, there is a heightened concern surrounding how garbage is managed. As the public grows wary of where their waste ends up, circular systems have become a great topic of discussion. While recycling gets plenty of time in the sustainability limelight, a more organic approach is often overlooked. Composting is the process of converting organic matter, like produce or landscaping waste, into nutrient-rich soil-like material used for fertilization purposes. Over the past few years, UT has invested into sustainable initiatives, especially in the realm of green packaging. One company with Tennessee roots is leading the way in bio-based food packaging. Located in Vonore, Tennessee, Genera is a company founded by former UT professor Kelly Tiller that manufactures carbon-negative compostable food packaging created from grass fibers. The University of Tennessee's Compost Facility composts over 2 million pounds of food waste, animal waste and landscaping debris annually. The finished compost is then utilized to grow plants on campus, creating a circular system. |
| Judge denies motion to block a federal judge from starting as U. of Kentucky dean | |
| A federal judge denied a motion to temporarily prevent a federal judge from starting as the next dean of the University of Kentucky College of Law. Last week, professor Ramsi Woodcock filed a lawsuit against the incoming dean, Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, as well as UK President Eli Capilouto, Provost Robert DiPaola and the university. Among Woodcock's requests were asking the court to block Van Tatenhove from becoming dean of the law school and preventing UK administrators from appointing or reappointing a dean over the objection of a majority of faculty. UK announced Van Tatenhove, who was appointed to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush, as the next dean of the college earlier this year, but the choice has been met with criticism. UK spokesperson Jay Blanton previously said Van Tatenhove was to start as the law dean on Monday. "We are pleased that Dean Van Tatenhove is here at UK and excited about the outstanding leadership he will provide for the Rosenberg College of Law," Blanton said Wednesday. |
| The Researchers Who Want Dads-to-Be to Stop Drinking | |
| Pretty much everyone knows that women aren't supposed to have alcohol while they're pregnant. Even just a drink a day, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists warns, can cause lifelong problems with a baby's coordination, behavior, and learning. Not all mothers-to-be follow this advice, of course, but the official guidance is clear: "There is no safe amount or type of alcohol use during pregnancy." Male drinking and its potential negative effects on a fetus have gotten considerably less attention. The ACOG does not have the same alcohol-related recommendations for men on its website, and doctors do not generally bring up the topic in prenatal appointments. A few years ago, however, Kara Thomas, then a graduate student at Texas A&M University's veterinary school, suggested an experiment that would explore whether a father-to-be's alcohol consumption could also pose risks. She wanted to see whether alcohol used by a male mouse before impregnating a female mouse might change the facial features of the resulting fetus. The student's professor, Michael Golding, was initially against the idea. |
| U. of Missouri plans for commercial development are progressing | |
 | University of Missouri officials are accepting proposals from commercial developers to build new structures on campus, particularly near its sporting venues. A successful request for information process that began last fall has encouraged Mizzou to move forward with direct conversations with developers that have expressed interest, according to a new release issued Friday. Travis Zimpfer, deputy spokesperson for Mizzou, said the university is focused on the possibility of creating student housing, hotels and restaurants that will form a year-round commercial hub for Columbia. A Request for Information, which allowed firms to submit proposals for development, was issued by Mizzou last October. A few universities across the nations have embarked on similar ventures. According to the Orlando Business Journal, the University of Central Florida identified more than 60 acres of land that it intends to use to privately develop student housing and retail establishments with hopes that it stimulates the local economy in the long term. In partnership with a private firm, the University of Tennessee is constructing a new parking garage and an entertainment district. Tennessee officials said they anticipate millions of dollars in annual revenue from the endeavor. |
| Students Using AI to Write Financial Aid Appeals | |
 | Since the launch of ChatGPT and other generative artificial intelligence platforms in late 2022, students have adopted the tools to facilitate the admissions process, from researching colleges to writing admissions essays. Now, financial aid officers are seeing students and families use AI in a new way: to try to get more financial aid. Every institution of higher ed is required by law to allow admitted students to request changes to their financial aid package due to changes in their life circumstances, such as a parent losing a job; these requests are called "professional judgment" appeals and usually involve reaching out to the financial aid office, explaining the change in circumstances and providing some documentation. But financial aid administrators say they've begun to receive appeals that appear to be written by AI, based on the generic language they use and the vagueness of the requests. |
| Hegseth turns to U. of North Carolina, Virginia Tech after cutting Ivy League ties | |
| The Defense Department has selected the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Virginia Tech to host a revamped fellowship program for senior military officers -- the first universities approved after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth severed partnerships with top universities. The two universities will participate in the new Senior Service College Fellowship, a 10-month professional military education program that serves as an alternative to traditional war colleges. Additional university partners will be announced at a later date, according to the department. The announcement follows an earlier move from Hegseth, barring military officers from attending graduate programs at several elite universities including Harvard, Brown, Princeton and Yale, Hegseth, who graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Kennedy School, argued that the universities had become "woke breeding grounds of toxic indoctrination." |
| A Call to Meet the Moment at NACUBO | |
| Keep calm and budget on. That was the message that emerged from the 2026 National Association of College and University Business Officers annual meeting earlier this week, which comes amid the flurry of federal policy changes the Trump administration has advanced over the last 18 months. While many of those changes -- which some critics described as a federal assault on higher education -- will affect institutional bottom lines, speakers urged attendees to act based on reality, not political rhetoric. "Now, things may change, and things may happen, but they don't change until there is a new law or a new regulation. Please don't react to what you see on X or TikTok or Instagram or Truth Social," Liz Clark, vice president for policy and research at NACUBO, said in a session. "Please remember to react to what is actually in the Federal Register or enacted into law." Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, described the expansion of Pell Grants to short-term workforce programs and the new earnings test as likely positives. But he cast the restrictions on student borrowing as a "big negative" that will likely force institutions to make hard choices, including possibly pulling back on some graduate programs. |
| Opinion | Data Centers Are a Financial Risk for Mississippi | |
| Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson writes: Unlike some politicians, I know how to read financial statements. In fact, I spent an entire career reviewing financial statements for investment risks, from the viewpoint of a reasonable investor. Last weekend, I reviewed a major AI player's financial statements for its AI segment, showing it lost $6.4 billion dollars in that segment in 2025 alone. The major losses AI companies like these are experiencing stem from their huge data center construction costs, with no significant "return on investment." In other words, there's been no profitability up to this point. Most AI companies are financing these data centers with enormous amounts of debt. To fund the debt, many companies are entering into data or compute contracts with related companies -- companies they hold significant interest in. Closed loop valuations and circular financing arrangements allow the bubble to continue to grow. Thus, a growing concern is in this so-called "AI race" to build so many data centers. Will there be a nationwide or global financial crash in the aftermath? In such a scenario, only a couple major players may be left standing. |
SPORTS
| State 1878 Announces 2026 Farm Bureau Diamond Dawg Classic | |
| As announced by State 1878 on Wednesday, Dudy Noble Field will host the 2026 Farm Bureau Diamond Dawg Classic presented by State 1878 on November 6. This year's event once again features Team Thunder vs. Team Lightning with Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro serving as general managers for their respective teams. Mitch Moreland will manage Team Thunder, and Jake Mangum has been named the Team Captain. In the other dugout, Jonathan Papelbon will manage Team Lightning with Tanner Allen serving as Team Captain. The 2025 event showcased 51 Diamond Dawg alums who played in front of 10,172 fans. Team Lightning defeated Team Thunder in a swing off with Hunter Renfroe besting Moreland. Tickets will go on sale for the 2026 Farm Bureau Diamond Dawg Classic presented by State 1878 on Monday, July 27. Complete rosters and more information will be released at a later date. |
| Former MSU football star Glen Collins 'so honored' to be going into the Miss. Sports Hall of Fame | |
| It was Halloween 1980. A Friday. Mississippi State's football team arrived in Jackson mid-afternoon for its game the next day against legendary coach Bear Bryant and his undefeated and top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. Glen Collins, born and raised in Jackson and one of the nation's top defensive tackles, had phoned his 20-year-old fiancé, Kathy Brinston, several times but couldn't get an answer. He figured she was probably busy finishing up schoolwork at Jackson State, where she was a sophomore. As day turned to night and trick or treaters were out and about, Collins' fellow defensive lineman and close friend, Tyrone Keys from Jackson, received a phone call. Brinston, who lived with her parents, had been killed. Shot in the head by a 15-year-old male who lived near Brinston. She was found by her mother that afternoon. Police said it happened around 11 a.m. during a robbery of the Brinstons' home. "I immediately went to Coach (Emory) Bellard," Keys recalled. "We talked about who should tell Glen." Keys knew her, grew up near her. Before they could decide, an aunt phoned Collins with the news. "I heard the scream when he ran out of his hotel room," Keys said. "I'll never forget that scream." ... A year and a half after the tragedy, Collins was selected in the first round of the NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Before that, Collins had been an All-American at MSU, sacked quarterbacks 26 times and made 205 tackles while battling through injuries. In 2013, he was named an SEC Legend. On Aug. 1, Collins will be inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. |
| Ole Miss coach Pete Golding has moved on, calls Lane Kiffin 'the ex' who's always going to come up | |
| Unearthed at Ole Miss after an offseason filled with tales of betrayal, unkept promises and watching college football's ugly underbelly tearing at the fabric of an institution came this surprise from the new coach there, Pete Golding: "I have no ill will toward Coach Kiffin," Golding said Wednesday at SEC Media Days. Golding was the up-and-coming defensive coordinator who was asked to pick up the pieces when his old boss, Lane Kiffin, abruptly left for LSU for a seven-year, $91 million deal just as the Rebels were about to embark on their first trip to the College Football Playoff last season. "It's the ex, right? There's always going to be the history," said Golding, who is married with three children. "Do you have an ex? Are you married? Well, if you do get married and you have an ex that your wife knows about, like, she doesn't ever end; she's never dead. She's always going to get brought up, and so that's kind of where it is right now. That's always going to be there a little bit, which is fun to a certain degree." Fun, indeed. |
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