Thursday, March 1, 2018   
 
Mississippi State Celebrates Its 140th Birthday
Mississippi State University celebrated its 140th birthday on Wednesday. Alumni, students, faculty and staff came out to the campus party hosted by the MSU Alumni Association that was presented by Renasant Bank. "Anytime we can get together and celebrate our university is a special day and then the anniversary of the founding of our university on the birthday, 140 years, you know, 1878, it's just something that's really neat and so we get together with other Bulldogs and we eat cake, and MSU ice cream to celebrate," says MSU Alumni Association Executive Director Jeff Davis. The celebration also marked the start of the annual online philanthropy event known as Hail State Giving Days.
 
Anti-abortion activist and pro-choice physician now set to speak at MSU
Mississippi State University will host a national anti-abortion speaker on campus Tuesday in response to protests over the MSU Gender Studies Program sponsoring a speech by a nationally known pro-choice Christian physician. Dr. Willie Parker, who practices at the state's lone abortion clinic in Jackson, will be speaking Thursday at Mississippi State University on the Christian case for choice. Neither speech is being paid with taxpayer dollars, according to a statement the university released Wednesday. In the statement, MSU President Mark Keenum said: "In keeping with the university's efforts to provide students with viewpoints on all sides of the compelling issues of the day, we are supporting the efforts of MSU Students for Life and Catholic Campus Ministry to present a program that gives our campus community a national speaker from the pro-life position on Tuesday, March 6, in the same venue that Thursday's program will be held."
 
EdR Begins Construction on 656-Bed College View Development at Mississippi State
EdR, one of the nation's largest developers, owners and managers of high-quality collegiate housing communities, announced that construction has begun on the College View mixed-use development on the campus of Mississippi State University. Plans call for construction of a multi-phased development that includes 656 residential beds for upperclassmen in Phase I, with delivery in the fall of 2019. College View will also feature 46,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, recreational amenities, an outdoor entertainment zone, a 7,000-square-foot day care center, and parking. "We believe that our partnership with EdR will help us meet the needs of our students, and College View will also become a destination for members of the community, alumni and other visitors to Starkville and Mississippi State," said MSU president Mark E. Keenum.
 
Rose-growing class Monday at MSU North Mississippi Research and Extension Center
The Mississippi State University Extension Service will offer a free class on "Growing Beautiful Roses" on Monday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Verona. Lee Pryor Caldwell and Merrell Rogers will talk about how they successfully grow roses in Northeast Mississippi and how you can, too. Pre-registration is not required.
 
Mississippi Center for Innovation and Technology Transfer still in progress
Once completed, the Mississippi Center for Innovation and Technology Transfer will "change Vicksburg forever" Tim Cantwell said while speaking to the Vicksburg Kiwanis Club Tuesday. The transfer center is slated to be built in the Mississippi Hardware building, which Cantwell purchased in Dec. 2016. The plan for the building is for it to serve as a center where private businesses can work with researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center to bring products being designed to market. The plan will also be to locate ERDC's existing graduate institute in the center, incorporate portions of the Vicksburg Warren School District's career academies and hopefully attract undergraduate programs, Cantwell said.
 
Local school officials: Training key if new law arms teachers, staff
A controversial Mississippi House bill that would allow conceal carry permit holders to take firearms on public property now comes with an amendment that may allow teachers and other school employees to be armed in the classrooms. House Bill 1083's amendment, known as the Mississippi School Safety Act, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday. The amendment would allow school boards to work with law enforcement and school administration to establish a school safety program wherein designated school employees carry concealed weapons for school safety. The amendment -- which would apply to public and private schools, community colleges and four-year universities -- lists several requirements including that employees must have at least 12 hours training approved by the Department of Public Safety in how to handle firearms and that the school must document the members of the safety program as they are designated.
 
Will a Mississippi school funding rewrite short special education?
An analysis by the Clarion Ledger raises questions about whether roughly 35,000 special education students in more than 100 school districts will see fewer funds directed toward their schools under House Bill 957. Special education advocates are worried that up to millions in decreased funding could be devastating for the state, which in recent years has ranked 49th in the nation for its graduation rate for students with disabilities and where many school systems struggle to provide appropriate supports for struggling learners. "Any decrease in funding is unacceptable," said Jeremy Eisler, an attorney with the Mississippi Center for Justice who often represents families in disputes over special education services. "It's not adequate as it stands.
 
Legislation that could impact AG Jim Hood lawsuit against Entergy passes House
Legislation that Attorney General Jim Hood maintains could negatively impact his potentially $1 billion lawsuit against Entergy passed the House Wednesday by an 89-27 margin. The bill will go back to the Senate where members can accept the bill as passed by the House and send it to the governor or invite negotiations. Democrats tried unsuccessfully to remove language from the bill that Hood has said could negatively impact his lawsuit to recoup for ratepayers funds he says they have been overcharged. As the House passed the bill Wednesday, there were numerous Entergy employees and representatives in the Capitol.
 
Medicaid's second-in-command resigns
Chief Financial Officer Margaret King has announced plans to leave Medicaid in April, the latest in a series of changes at the state agency following the sudden resignation of then-director David Dzielak in December. On Friday, King notified interim Medicaid director Drew Snyder that she would retire. King has been with the agency since 1991 and has served as CFO since 2010. "Over the last 26 years, Margaret has played a key role in shaping the Mississippi Division of Medicaid into what is today," Snyder said in an email Tuesday. "I appreciate her willingness to stay on for the next few weeks to ensure a seamless transition, and I wish her all the best in her future endeavors." But, according to several people in the health care community, what Medicaid is today is an agency in need of a major overhaul. And as the agency's second-in-command for nearly eight years, King bears much of that responsibility, they said.
 
Mississippi 'Go Cup' Bill Heads to Governor's Desk
The Mississippi Legislature is passing an expansion of the year-old "go cup" law. The House Wednesday gave final approval to Senate Bill 2588, by a vote of 88-28, sending it to Gov. Phil Bryant for his approval or veto. The bill would allow any city or county to set up such a zone without legislative approval, unlike current law, which requires legislative approval for each. The law allows patrons in certain districts to leave a restaurant or bar with an open container of alcohol. However, if customers leave the confines of the broader "leisure and recreation district" with their drink, however, they are subject to a fine.
 
Challenge Announced Against Mississippi's Sen. Roger Wicker
A tea party-backed state lawmaker who came close to unseating one of Mississippi's U.S. senators during a bitter 2014 race announced Wednesday that he will challenge the state's other U.S. senator, Roger Wicker. Conservative Republican Chris McDaniel had hinted at the decision for days and made the announcement at an afternoon rally in his hometown of Ellisville. He said he looked forward to going up against Wicker in the GOP primary on June 5, accusing the senator of being beholden to Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other national Republican leaders who don't have Mississippi's interests foremost in their minds. "They think they're so sophisticated, they can't even balance a budget," McDaniel told about 200 supporters gathered at a junior college auditorium.
 
Chris McDaniel announces Republican primary challenge against Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi
Insurgent conservative Chris McDaniel announced Wednesday that he will challenge Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), opening a new front in the Republican Party's internal battle between the hard right and its governing wing. "I want to be clear about something: If I'm elected, I'm not going up to beg. I'm going up to fight," McDaniel said at an afternoon rally in his hometown of Ellisville. Republicans are defending a 51-to-49 Senate majority in the midterm elections, and McDaniel's far-right views have spurred nervousness among some in the party who believe a primary win by him could open the door for a Democratic upset, even in a ruby red state.
 
Chris McDaniel announces run against Roger Wicker in GOP primary
State Sen. Chris McDaniel on Wednesday announced he's challenging incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker in this year's GOP primary. "Some fights are worth having," McDaniel said. "I can't think of a better place to begin a fight like that than here in Mississippi." Among his plans if he's elected, McDaniel said one of his first bills to introduce would be to establish term limits for Congress. He also reiterated he would not support DACA in any way and could focus on a balanced federal budget. During his speech, McDaniel called out Wicker's politics during his time in office, claiming he is one of the most liberal senators. Trump on Tuesday evening tweeted an endorsement of Wicker. Both Wicker and McDaniel support Trump, and are expected to battle for conservative Trump-supporting voters in one of the reddest states in the nation.
 
It's on: Chris McDaniel will challenge Roger Wicker
Chris McDaniel, star of one of the most dramatic primaries in Mississippi history, announced Wednesday that he's ready for a second act: taking on U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker. "Donald Trump told us he wanted to drain the swamp, and I'm going to go there to drain the swamp," McDaniel said. The audience rose to its feet with applause as an aide placed a Chris McDaniel for U.S. Senate sign on the podium. His supporters have egged him on for months and a political action committee has announced it has raised $1 million for his Senate run. His Hamlet-like delay in making his intentions known -- he had missed several promised deadlines stretching to last fall to make his intentions known -- only added to the drama.
 
Gulf Coast Democratic legislator Baria enters Senate race
State Rep. David Baria of Bay St. Louis, the House Democratic leader, announced Wednesday he is running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Roger Wicker, a Tupelo Republican. Baria made the announcement within hours Wednesday of state Sen. Chris McDaniel holding an event at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville to announce he was challenging Wicker in the Republican primary. The party primaries will be in June and the general election is in November.
 
Democrats David Baria, Sela Ward's husband running for U.S. Senate
Democrats now have a primary for U.S. Senate. State Rep. David Baria and Howard Sherman, husband of famed actress Sela Ward, qualified to run for the seat currently held by Republican Roger Wicker. "I want to give voters a true choice, and I plan to spend the campaign listening to voters and working hard to earn their trust," Baria said in a statement. "I appreciate all of the encouragement and support that I have gotten during the time leading up to this decision." Sherman, who lives in Meridian, could not be reached for comment. The low-key announcements from Baria and Sherman come the same day McDaniel held a rally at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville to announce his candidacy.
 
State Rep. David Baria: Democrat from the Coast is taking on Roger Wicker and Chris McDaniel
Democratic state Rep. David Baria will run for the Senate. "I appreciate all of the encouragement and support that I have gotten during the time leading up to this decision," he said in a statement. "I want to give voters a true choice, and I plan to spend the campaign listening to voters and working hard to earn their trust." Brandon Jones, his partner in the Baria-Jones law firm, said Baria, the leader of House Democrats in Jackson, qualified with the Democratic Party this afternoon. If no other Democrats qualify, Baria will face either U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker or state Sen. Chris McDaniel GOP race in the November general election.
 
Mississippi Dem launches Senate bid against Wicker
Mississippi state House minority leader Democrat David Baria launched a long-shot bid for his state's Senate seat on Wednesday, hours after Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) also drew a primary challenger. Baria's Wednesday announcement, which was first reported by Mississippi Today, gives Democrats a candidate with some profile in a deep-red state they aren't expected to win. "I want to give voters a true choice, and I plan to spend the campaign listening to voters and working hard to earn their trust," Baria said in a statement. Democrats face long odds winning any statewide office in Mississippi. Aside from a Democratic attorney general, Republicans hold every other top office in the state. But Baria's announcement puts a Democratic candidate with political experience in the race, offering Democrats a chance to pick up the seat in case of a massive Democratic wave.
 
Democrat David Baria enters Senate race in Mississippi
Republicans have two candidates running against each other for Senate in Mississippi. Now Democrats have one to face whoever emerges. David Baria, the state house minority leader, qualified for the ballot on Wednesday, after submitting the necessary paperwork. The day after Doug Jones won in Alabama in December, the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) pledged to have a candidate in every race. Mississippi had been the only remaining hole for Democrats. There has been some talk locally and in Washington about other Democrats potentially jumping in, but they're running out of time: The filing deadline is Thursday. Baria said he missed a call from Van Hollen, and so far has not heard from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). The DSCC did not comment on Baria's entry into the race.
 
Actress Sela Ward's husband running for Senate
Actress Sela Ward's husband is running as a Democrat for a U.S. Senate seat in Mississippi. Howard Sherman is a businessman. He and Ward, who is a Meridian native, own property in Lauderdale County. State Rep. David Baria of Bay St. Louis is also running in the Democratic primary for Senate. State party chairman Bobby Moak says both candidates filed qualifying papers Wednesday. The Senate seat has been held for a decade by Republican Roger Wicker, who is seeking re-election and is endorsed by President Donald Trump.
 
Trump Stuns Lawmakers With Seeming Embrace of Gun Control
President Trump stunned Republicans on live television Wednesday by embracing gun control and urging a group of lawmakers at the White House to resurrect gun safety legislation that has been opposed for years by the powerful National Rifle Association and the vast majority of his party. In a remarkable meeting, the president veered wildly from the N.R.A. playbook in front of giddy Democrats and stone-faced Republicans. He called for comprehensive gun control legislation that would expand background checks to weapons purchased at gun shows and on the internet, keep guns from mentally ill people, secure schools and restrict gun sales for some young adults. He even suggested a conversation on an assault weapons ban. "It would be so beautiful to have one bill that everyone could support," Mr. Trump said as Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California and a longtime advocate of gun control, sat smiling to his left.
 
Details of ex-railroad chief's side hustle revealed
The former top federal railroad regulator's side gig as a public relations consultant for a Mississippi sheriff was more extensive than previously revealed, records obtained by POLITICO show. Heath Hall apparently returned reporters' phone calls, fielded a complaint about a bad link on a jail website and weighed in on coverage of a dog-fighting arrest during the nearly seven months he was the de facto head of the Federal Railroad Administration, according to emails provided by the government of Madison County, Miss. He also communicated with county officials about his firm's PR work and regularly submitted invoices for its services -- sending one such email just hours after a fatal Amtrak crash in Washington state. Hall has not responded to POLITICO's requests to discuss his tenure as acting administrator at the FRA, a $1.7 billion-a-year agency that lacked a permanent leader for more than a year while dealing with a rising trend of rail-related deaths.
 
Putin claims Russia has nuclear arsenal capable of avoiding missile defenses
Russia has developed nuclear weapons that can avoid missile-defense systems and plans to bolster its arsenal with nuclear-powered cruise missiles capable of hitting any point in the world, President Vladimir Putin claimed Thursday in his annual state of the nation address. He warned that Moscow would mobilize an immediate response to any nuclear attack on it or its allies -- adopting Cold War-style overtones that appeared to ramp up Russia's posturing against the West. Putin's speech --- which began with a rundown of domestic projects -- was capped by a harsh rendering of East-West tensions and boasts about purported major advances in Russia's arsenal, such as a nuclear-powered cruise missile that could strike anywhere.
 
Pedestrian Fatalities Remain At 25-Year High For Second Year In A Row
After two years of marked increases, the number of pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. is holding steady with nearly 6,000 pedestrians killed in 2017, according to estimates from the Governors Highway Safety Association. That's a 25-year high, GHSA says. While the rise "appears to be tapering off," the group said, the "continuation of pedestrian fatalities at virtually the same pace ... raises continued concerns about the nation's alarming pedestrian death toll." The high rate of pedestrian deaths comes as deaths from other types of traffic fatalities are dropping. The group notes that improvements in vehicle safety make crashes safer for people inside cars --- but just as deadly for pedestrians. Pedestrian deaths rose by 27 percent from 2007 to 2016, while other types of traffic deaths dropped by 14 percent, GHSA reports. As a result, pedestrian deaths make up a growing proportion of overall motor vehicle fatalities.
 
Ole Miss UPD chief candidate open forum interviews begin today
The Division of Student Affairs is holding open forum interviews on campus for UPD's next police chief, beginning today. The final stages of the Division of Student Affairs' search for the next UPD police chief begins with Terence Calloway. The interview process continues with sessions for Jackie Allan Gilbert on March 7, Ray Hawkins on March 8, and Stephanie Hill on March 9. Vice chancellor for student affairs Brandi Hephner LaBanc said it's not uncommon to hold interviews of this kind on campus. "It's actually pretty common protocol that we have an open forum and really in this case because our police chief works a lot with extra law enforcement and other agencies," Hephner LaBanc said. Former UPD Chief of Police Tim Potts announced his resignation in January and has since returned to his home state of Indiana.
 
Ole Miss students attend Walk of Champions event to support survivors of Florida school shooting
Despite the rain Tuesday night, University of Mississippi students and faculty gathered to show support for the survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in an event deemed the "Walk of Champions." Among those present at the walk was Alexa Johnson, a senior integrated marketing communications major, who graduated from MSD in 2014. Johnson organized the walk to bring awareness of the recent event that has affected the members of the Parkland community. She chose Feb. 27 to host the walk; one day before the students of MSDHS came back to school since the attack. n order to host the event on campus, Johnson needed a group to act as a sponsor. Will Norton Jr., dean of the Meek School of Journalism and New Media, agreed to co-sponsor the event.
 
Southern Miss participates in Recycle Mania
Students at the University of Southern Mississippi will be participating in Recycle Mania again this year. Recycle Mania is an eight week national recycling competition where the school's goal is to reach 100,000 of recyclable waste. "This year we are trying to recycle 100,000 pounds, last year we were able to get up to 78,000," said Melissa Olsen of the USM Office of Sustainability. "But this year we've done a lot of programming and events throughout the competition to try to get people more aware and engaged in recycling." The competition will have supporting events such as Recycle at the Pete, Dorm Storm, Spring Cleaning and even a Recycling Olympics competition.
 
Shooting at Mississippi university leaves 1 injured
A shooting at a Mississippi university has left one person injured. Mississippi Valley State University tells The Greenwood Commonwealth that the shooting happened before 7 p.m. Tuesday near a campus recreation center on the 2,400-student Itta Bena campus. University spokeswoman Brittany Davis-Green says campus police are investigating but had made no arrests as of Wednesday morning. She says the unnamed shooting victim, whose injuries are not life threatening, is not a student. It's unclear whether others involved in the dispute that led to the shooting are students. She says students and non-students use the recreation center.
 
Artificial intelligence, migratory birds topics of talks by visiting scientists at Auburn
Two renowned environmental scientists will visit Auburn University in March, one to discuss how artificial intelligence technologies will influence outdoor careers and daily life, and the other to explain how weather events influence migratory birds' wintering ground. The talks, part of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences' Weaver Lecture Series, are open to the public. Paul Bolstad, professor of ecosystem ecology and geographic information science in the Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, will speak at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Peter Marra, a conservation scientist and the director of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C., will speak at 3 p.m. March 20. His talk, "Studying birds in the context of the annual cycle: Carry-over effects and seasonal interactions," will cover the impacts of weather events on wintering ground for several species as important consequences for breeding and survival.
 
LSU announces zero-tolerance policy for hazing, but six arrested in Gruver case still enrolled
From now on, LSU students who are caught hazing will be expelled and the involved fraternities or other student organizations will be kicked off campus, a policy change that LSU President F. King Alexander pledged Wednesday would be enforced with "no exceptions." Alexander made the announcement as he accepted a list of 28 action items put forth by a task force responding to last fall's death of fraternity pledge Max Gruver. Alexander also made some last-minute additions, a move that came after Gruver's parents offered a scathing rebuke of the group's recommendations, characterizing them as meaningless and criticizing LSU for putting fraternity tradition over student safety. "No more gray areas -- hazing means expulsion or removal from campus," Alexander wrote in an open letter about LSU's promise to examine its dangerous fraternity culture. Meanwhile, as LSU touted the new zero-tolerance policy, six students who were arrested for hazing Gruver last September in the Phi Delta Theta house were still currently enrolled at LSU as of Wednesday.
 
LSU honors university's first black police officer
Nearly 50 years ago, Hassell Berry Jr. was hired as LSU's first African American police officer. Today, his son Reggie Berry is a lieutenant for the department. LSU released a video Tuesday honoring Hassell Berry's legacy. The university hired him June 11, 1968, and he went on to serve at LSU for more than 15 years. Reggie Berry said his father understood that it takes a special type of person to be a university police officer. Berry told LSU he was proud to continue his father's legacy through community policing, which he stressed was important because they deal with students during their first time away from home. Berry's mother, Gloria Berry, said the university became an extended member of their family "because Hassell made it that way."
 
President Jere Morehead: UGA running out of research space
Research space has become scarce at the University of Georgia, according to UGA President Jere Morehead. "We're literally out of space," Morehead said Wednesday in his annual talk at the Rotary Club of Athens. "It's a good problem to have," he said, explaining it's another indicator of UGA's success in building up its research presence. Research grants are up more than 30 percent over the past four years, "but that means you've got to have 30 percent more space," Morehead said. With $458 million in research and development expenditures in the 2017 fiscal year, UGA came in at No. 54 in the last National Science Foundation rankings, he said. That's up from a No. 61 ranking the year before. A big driver has been the university's fast-growing College of Engineering, which now has more than 2,000 majors, he said.
 
Tennessee System Renews Call for Post-Tenure Review, and Faculty See a Threat
Professors at the University of Tennessee's Knoxville campus are wary of a systemwide proposal that calls for tenured faculty members to go through post-tenure review -- a process that many faculty see as punitive and a tool to potentially strip them of tenure. "What this amounts to is the end of tenure at this university," Monica Black, an associate professor of history and president of the campus's chapter of the American Association of University Professors, told the Knoxville News Sentinel. Faculty members at the Knoxville campus met on Tuesday night to discuss the proposed change. When institutions began implementing post-tenure review in the 1990s, the hope was that it would rid departments of "deadwood" by periodically taking stock of professors' teaching, research, and service to gauge their productivity. It's an evaluation tool that has long been viewed as ripe for abuse by administrators eager to get rid of tenured faculty.
 
U. of Tennessee faculty: Administrative proposal would essentially eliminate tenure
Faculty at the University of Tennessee are concerned about proposed changes to the post-tenure review process that they say will essentially eliminate tenure. The proposal handed down from system administration specifically puts in place provisions for peer reviews of tenured faculty at least every six years and reviews of all faculty in under-performing departments. The proposal will be considered by the UT board of trustees at the end of March, but was sent to the UT Knoxville Faculty Senate earlier this month by system administration. UT President Joe DiPietro said the proposal is not intended as a means of eliminating tenure, but only as a way of improving accountability and making sure all faculty are performing at top levels. About 40 faculty members gathered at Strong Hall Tuesday night to discuss the proposal and plans to fight it.
 
Kentucky pension reform: Hundreds of teachers, public workers protest
"Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey, hey, goodbye." That was the blunt political message hundreds of teachers and public workers sang Wednesday to lawmakers who plan to support a proposed overhaul of Kentucky's ailing public pension systems. They filled four hearing rooms and many of the hallways in the Capitol Annex as the Senate State and Local Government Committee discussed but did not vote on Senate Bill 1. Paula Adams, who taught school for 38 years in Middlesboro before retiring, held a sign that read, "Reducing COLAs and Health Benefits is Elder Abuse." Adams said she started teaching for less than $6,000 a year and always expected the state "to keep its word" on her pension.
 
Texas A&M explores living learning community for those on autism spectrum
The Texas A&M campus could soon have a living learning community available for both students on the autism spectrum and those who are interested in autism spectrum disorders. Texas A&M Director of Disability Services Kristie Orr said the community would need to reach 10-15 members, but no more than 30, for the department to implement it starting in the upcoming fall semester. She said if the living learning community lacks the necessary interest, it will have to be put on hold until more students have been registered to participate. Orr said she and her colleagues hope the potential community will give students both on and off the autism spectrum the opportunity to interact with people of different life experiences than their own.
 
Budget issues force U. of Missouri faculty cuts
An unknown number of the University of Missouri's 846 non-tenured faculty received letters Wednesday saying they would not be offered a contract for the coming academic year, according to a notice sent to the campus by interim Provost Jim Spain. Another decline in enrollment in the fall and uncertain state funding mean the university must cut payroll, Spain wrote. "These are always very difficult decisions, and I ask for your help in respecting our colleagues who are receiving notices today," Spain wrote. "We are grateful for their service to MU, and we regret the difficulties these decisions will create for these individuals and their families." The university was unable on Wednesday afternoon to provide figures on the number of faculty who would not be retained.
 
Amid Fear of Foreign Influence, Colleges' Confucius Institutes Face Renewed Skepticism
As Americans and their policy makers focus on Russian interference in the 2016 election and broader efforts to stoke discord in American society, China's relationship with the nation's colleges and universities is drawing renewed attention as well. Teaching centers on the language and history of China, funded by Beijing and known as Confucius Institutes, last received heightened scrutiny in 2014. At the time, a number of American universities chose to end their arrangements with the Chinese government out of concern about academic freedom and censorship on their campuses. The relationships between more than 100 American colleges and China also drew a rebuke from the American Association of University Professors. The growing economic and geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China, a rising global power, is likely to be another source of the renewed scrutiny of Confucius Institutes in recent years.
 
Leaders see bright spots and room for improvement in federal support for HBCUs
Presidents for Historically Black Colleges and Universities returned to Washington for their second annual conference on Capitol Hill Tuesday, unable to cite more than a few measurable victories in the year since Congressional Republicans and the new Trump White House promised to promote and support the institutions. There have been bright spots --- for instance, the restoration of year-round Pell Grants, which provides tuition assistance for low- and middle-income students. Recently, the White House worked with congressional lawmakers to forgive millions of dollars borrowed from the federal government to rebuild HBCU campuses after damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and ordered 31 government agencies that regularly interact with HBCUs to develop annual plans to "strengthen the capacity" of those schools.
 
Legislators have left state Board of Ed out of MAEP rewrite process
The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal's Bobby Harrison writes: "Since Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and Speaker Philip Gunn announced in October 2016 they were using state funds to hire New Jersey-based EdBuild as consultants on rewriting the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, there have been seven public meetings where the proposed new school funding formula was discussed. One of those seven, by the way, was when it was approved earlier this session by the full House chamber. There is a real possibility that the Senate could approve the formula in the coming days, and the House would concur in the minor changes to the bill and send it straight to Gov. Phil Bryant. That would be it. End of story. The contrast between the way the Adequate Education Program was passed in 1997 and the method being used to attempt to pass the new proposal is stark."


SPORTS
 
Bulldogs wait on SEC Tournament opponent
Coach Vic Schaefer doesn't know which team his Mississippi State Bulldogs play in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Friday. What he does know is that it's going to be a very good team that's going to already have a win under its belt in what is considered the best women's conference tournament in the nation. That's why the Bulldogs are taking what's being presented to them in Nashville, Tennessee, this week very seriously. Alabama and Kentucky play at noon Thursday in the second round for the right to take on top-seeded MSU at the same time on Friday.
 
Mississippi State women earn league-best eight awards from coaches
Tuesday turned into another day to celebrate the Mississippi State women's basketball's 2017-18. But it didn't take long for MSU coach Vic Schaefer to offer words of caution because he and the Bulldogs have plenty left to accomplish. On Tuesday morning, the Southeastern Conference coaches named Schaefer the SEC Coach of the Year for guiding No. 2 MSU to a 30-0 regular season (16-0 mark in league play). On Monday, The Associated Press named Schaefer its SEC Coach of the Year. The title is MSU's first SEC regular-season championship, and the first undefeated regular season by a conference team since 1997-98. Schaefer also was named SEC Coach of the Year in 2014-15. MSU received a double bye for finishing as one of the top four seeds for the SEC tournament. It will face the winner of the game Thursday between No. 8 seed Alabama and No. 9 seed Kentucky at noon Friday (SEC Network) at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
 
Mississippi State's Victoria Vivians a finalist for nation's top shooting guard
Mississippi State's Victoria Vivians is one of five finalists for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top shooting guard. A first team All-SEC selection, Vivians ranks third in the conference averaging 19.7 points and is shooting a career-best 49.7 percent from the field, 39.8 percent from 3-point range and 82.9 percent from the free throw line. The senior from Carthage has scored in double figures in 29 of the Bulldogs 30 wins this season and has 2,326 career points.
 
Mississippi State women in elite company
Mississippi sports columnist Rick Cleveland writes: "The news: Mississippi State's remarkable basketball women finished the regular season a perfect 30-0 heading into the Southeastern Conference Tournament this week in Nashville. The view: A year after playing in the national championship game, Vic Schaefer's Bulldogs have entered rare territory in the history of Mississippi college sports. We must wait to see where it all ends, but the Bulldogs already moved into the first sentence of any discussion of all-time Mississippi sports achievements. They have joined elite company..."
 
Cohen addresses future of Bulldog baseball in wake of Cannizaro resignation
It has been more than a week now since Andy Cannizaro resigned his position as Mississippi State head baseball coach due to what he termed "poor decisions" in a university release. Questions still remain on the specifics as to exactly what led to Cannizaro's resignation, however at the same time, there are also questions regarding the future of Mississippi State baseball as a whole. On Wednesday, MSU director of athletics John Cohen granted an interview request with the Starkville Daily News to address the future of Bulldog baseball. As has been the case since last week, Cohen did not discuss the Cannizaro situation, but did give insight into his plans moving forward.
 
John Cohen talks future of Mississippi State baseball
There is a strong chance that Mississippi State's next head baseball coach will have significant head coaching experience after Andy Cannizaro resigned last week only one weekend into his second season, John Cohen told the Clarion Ledger. Cohen spoke on Wednesday exclusively to the Clarion Ledger, but would not answer the questions about Cannizaro's resignation that the news organization requested responses to on Tuesday. Instead, Cohen answered only questions about the future of the coaching job. Cannizaro replaced Cohen -- the first-time head coach was Cohen's first hire as athletic director in November 2016. Sources said there was an extramarital affair with an employee in the athletic department, which ESPN also reported, that led to Cannizaro's departure but Cohen would not comment on the topic.
 
McNeese State pulls away from Bulldogs for midweek win
A pair of home runs hurt the cause as No. 21 Mississippi State dropped a 6-3 decision to McNeese State, Wednesday night at Joe Miller Park. The Cowboys (2-6) made the most of five extra-base hits. A double created a 2-0 lead for the hosts. McNeese took the lead on a two-run home run. The next score came after a triple and steal of home. Another home run represented an insurance score for the Cowboys. "We were unable to get the key base hit with runners in scoring position," MSU head coach Gary Henderson said. "On the mound, it was a tough start but Keegan (James) really pitched well in relief and gave us a chance." The Diamond Dawgs will return to Houston to prepare for the Shriner's College Classic which will be played at Minute Maid Park. MSU will take on UL-Lafayette, Houston and Sam Houston State on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
 
Mama's 'tough love' kept Mississippi State's Abdul Ado motivated
Mississippi State's Abdul Ado is a self-proclaimed "mama's kid" although it has been nearly six years since Ado has seen his mother, Salome, in person. It was his mother who encouraged Ado to turn down professional basketball contracts in Barcelona and Madrid and leave his native Nigeria to come to America and get an education. So at the age of 16, Ado left his mother and two siblings and moved nearly 6,000 miles away to Chattanooga, Tennessee. "The first thing I noticed was that it was really cold," Ado said. "The weather, the food and the language barrier were different. People thought I spoke fast but it was the opposite because I thought they were speaking too fast." Ado arrived in America determined to make the most of the chance he has been afforded.
 
Takeaways from Bob Shoop's first Mississippi State press conference
Bob Shoop jokingly said that the half-mile between Mississippi State's football complex and Davis Wade Stadium was about the same distance from his family's home growing up in Pittsburgh to where Joe Moorhead lived. In reality, the distance was a bit longer than that, but the point is well-taken. They are both Yinzers-turned-Bulldogs. They didn't know one another well back then, though; Shoop is seven years older than Moorhead and was therefore friendlier with Moorhead's older brother. The ties don't stop there, and the connections are a major reason why Shoop is Moorhead's first defensive coordinator at Mississippi State.
 
Top U. of Florida athletics executive leaving for North Carolina-Charlotte post
Florida is losing another member of its ultra-successful athletic department. Mike Hill, the executive associate athletic director for external affairs at UF, has accepted the job of athletic director at North Carolina-Charlotte. "He did a phenomenal job at Florida," said Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin. "We benefited from him being at Florida and Charlotte gets the benefit now. We'll get someone good, but he won't have the institutional experience of Mike." Hill had been working with the University Athletic Association for 25 years. "It's a perfect fit professionally and personally," Hill said in a release.
 
Work slated to start Monday to remove image of Butch Jones from Neyland Stadium video board
Butch Jones soon will no longer loom over Neyland Stadium. Weather permitting, work is scheduled to begin Monday to have Jones' image removed from the back of the stadium's video board, UT athletic department spokesman Tom Satkowiak confirmed Wednesday. He added that the project might not be completed Monday. Tennessee fired Jones on Nov. 12. Jones' image, along with those of former Tennessee coach Gen. Robert Neyland and former Vols defensive end Reggie White, are on the back of the stadium's video board. The images are visible from outside the stadium. Those images have been on the video board since Oct. 2, 2014.
 
Why U. of South Carolina needs the Army for a $1 million athletics deal
The University of South Carolina needs the U.S. Army to keep its teams on the field. USC is asking lawmakers to renew its lease with the Department of the Army on a Bluff Road field the Gamecocks use for sports practice, student intramural sports and other athletic activities. The university's current lease is up at the end of April. USC will need lawmakers approval to extend the lease another five years, at a cost of $215,000 a year, or roughly $1.1 million. Money for the lease will come from the $210-a-year activity fee charged USC students. The college has a waiting list for student teams to use the fields, which cover 5.7 acres.
 
Aggie Athletics raises 2018 football season ticket prices
Aggie Athletics is announcing higher season ticket prices ahead of Jimbo Fisher's inaugural year as head coach. The ticket prices are being raised for the first time in five years, according to the department. They claim the increase is to continue meeting "the challenge of providing support for our student-athletes at a level that enables them to excel in competition while having an exceptional experience at A&M." In a release sent Tuesday, the department announced a new section of tickets available to fans. The "Touchdown View Section" will allow fans the opportunity to get season tickets for as low as $300. The seats are located in the upper rows of the North and South end zones.
 
One-and-done should be done, says Purdue president
As startling allegations of widespread corruption have rattled the college basketball world in recent months, ideas have abounded about how the National Collegiate Athletic Association could fix the system. Purdue University's president, Mitch Daniels, joined that chorus recently, writing a letter that was unusually critical for the president of an NCAA Division I institution, few of whom criticize the association's practices (except, perhaps, when their own institutions are affected by a policy or a ruling). But Daniels's focus in his Washington Post essay on the issue of "one-and-done" -- by which talented players play college basketball for a single season before going professional -- has drawn its own criticism, with athletics experts saying the phenomenon isn't the root of the issues with big-time men's basketball, but merely a symptom.



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