Tuesday, March 6, 2018   
 
Transit Services looks at growth, new changes
Mississippi State University Parking and Transit Services is taking a look at its continued growth and changes for the coming new year. During the last Starkville Board of Aldermen meeting, representatives from MSU Parking and Transit services provided an update on their usage and modifications to their current bus routes. Director of MSU's Parking and Transit Services Jeremiah Dumas said since 2014, there has been more than 2.8 million total riders utilizing the transit services. "We're getting to a point now to where a lot of our people are not accessing education. They're accessing jobs, retail or shopping," Dumas said. "Which tells us our ridership is shifting." Dumas said he noticed the shift and need of resident usage when Transit Services closed their routes between Christmas and New Year's, when Mississippi State University was not in session.
 
Urban Bush Women visit Meridian, MSU Riley Center
The famous dance group Urban Bush Women is in Meridian for a series of performances. The group from Brooklyn performed at the Boys and Girls Club of East Mississippi Monday afternoon. The group weaves together contemporary dance and music with African history, culture, and spiritual traditions. Organizers of the two-day dance residency say this is a fantastic opportunity for the children in the community. "They'll talk about themselves and about what they will do and then they'll do some demonstrations of the show that they're going to perform tomorrow night," said Charlotte Tabereaux, Education Director of the MSU Riley Center. The group will perform at the MSU Riley Center Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.
 
Teacher shortage in Mississippi
There's a teacher shortage in Mississippi, and the problem is bigger than many people might realize. According the Mississippi Department of Education from 2007 to 2017 there was a 92% decrease in the number of people who applied for a teacher's license in the state. During that time that number dropped from 7,620 applicants to 603. Dr. Jeffrey Leffler is an Assistant Professor for Elementary Education at MSU-Meridian. He is also the Director of Graduate Studies for the school's Division of Education. To address the shortage and attract quality teachers, both the Meridian Public School District and MSU-Meridian have put in place special programs.
 
Construction begins on Cotton District mixed-use development
Vista, a mixed-use development, will be built in the Cotton District on the lot located across the street from Bulldog Burger. "Demolition is done and the property is getting ready for a mixed-use development," Community Development Director Buddy Sanders said. "There will be one mixed-use building on the front of University Drive with the first floor being commercial space, and the next three stories being apartments." Sanders said the other three buildings in the development will be apartments, with a parking deck in the southern-most building. Sanders said IMS Developments, based out of Tuscaloosa, purchased the lot with the gas station and the lot behind it in December.
 
Cochran steps down, speculation follows
Thad Cochran, who was first elected to the United States Senate in 1978, announced Monday he will step down on April 1. Rumors have circulated for months that Cochran would be stepping down. He has served as Appropriations chairman of the Senate since his re-election in 2014. He is expected to return to his home in Oxford after the current appropriations cycle is complete before April 1. State Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, who served as Cochran's state political director in 1980, called him "one of the all-time greats who saw the big picture. He knew how to govern, and he knew Mississippi...He knew his state was a poor state that needed the federal government." Cochran, was born in Pontotoc and lived in Tippah County where his parents were teachers at Blue Mountain College before his family moved to central Mississippi. Paul "Buzzy" Mize, of Tupelo who worked on the Cochran campaign in 1978 and remains close to the senator, called him "a senator's senator" who was underappreciated "because he did not seek out the publicity. He just sought out the work."
 
Sen. Thad Cochran will retire April 1
U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran announced Monday he is resigning effective April 1 because of health reasons, ending one of the longest and most storied political careers in Mississippi history. For many years Cochran drew accolades in Washington for working across the aisle to get difficult measures passed, and back home for "bringing home the bacon" to Mississippi -- for projects including federal programs and aid for farmers, buildings and programs at universities, funding for local governments and federal contracts at Pascagoula's shipyard and military installations. Mississippi author and journalist Curtis Wilkie wrote recently of Cochran: "During four decades in Washington, Thad has tended to pay attention to his interests in Mississippi and to leave national politics to others. He embraced the Reagan years, even as the Republican Party grew into a formidable power in his state. But he never tried to be a kingmaker."
 
Cochran to resign from Senate next month
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) on Monday said he plans to resign from the Senate next month due to health issues. His exit puts a key committee gavel up for grabs and will likely trigger a fierce intraparty fight back in his home state to succeed him. Cochran, 80, in a statement said his health was an "ongoing challenge" and he wanted to step down with enough time to ensure a "smooth transition" to his successor. "Thad knows there's a big difference between making a fuss and making a difference. And the people of Mississippi -- and our whole nation -- have benefited from his steady determination to do the latter," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a statement. Cochran's resignation also opens up the influential Appropriations Committee gavel, responsible for crafting government funding legislation.
 
Cochran resigns effective April 1
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) will resign from the Senate on April 1, his office announced Monday, triggering a second Senate election in Mississippi this fall and reshaping the leadership of one of Congress' most powerful committees. Mississippi GOP Gov. Phil Bryant will select Cochran's replacement, who will hold the seat until the special election. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has urged Bryant to appoint himself, according to a person familiar with the discussions. But late Monday, Republicans said they doubt Bryant will do so, and they are fretting about how to keep conservative state Sen. Chris McDaniel, a former Cochran challenger, out of the Senate. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) is next in line to take over the top appropriations post. He said on Monday evening he will seek the chairmanship and hopes he is not challenged, a safe bet according to Republican aides.
 
Mississippi's Thad Cochran Resigning From Senate in April
Senate Appropriations Chairman Thad Cochran announced Monday he will resign from the chamber effective April 1, giving way to a special election in November. Appropriations Vice Chairman Patrick J. Leahy said he was "devastated" by Cochran's announcement. "I assumed we would serve out our time together here," the Vermont Democrat said. "We've been like brothers when we traveled. We've never once had a partisan word between us. And he has always, always, always kept his word. And I wish to heck some other senators around here would learn to do that." Following Cochran's announcement, Alabama Republican Richard C. Shelby told Roll Call he had just spoken with the senator and his wife, Kay. "Cochran's been a good friend of mine, 32 years in the Senate," Shelby said. "I wish him well." He said he was well aware of the work that awaits for fiscal 2019, following Cochran's departure. Whether Shelby will keep leading the Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Subcommittee remains to be determined.
 
Mississippi's Thad Cochran to resign from Senate after four-decade congressional career
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) will resign from the Senate on April 1, he announced Monday, ending a four-decade congressional career and triggering a fall election that could carve new divisions in the Republican Party and put the GOP Senate majority at greater risk. First elected to the Senate in 1978 after a stint in the House, Cochran is one of the longest-serving members of Congress in history. Beyond shaking up the Senate, Cochran's exit will affect the battle for the Senate majority. It gives Republicans another seat to defend at a moment of great uncertainty about the midterms. Cochran's resignation marks another step in the passing from a more genteel, bipartisan climate in the Senate, especially on the Appropriations Committee, to an era of partisan frenzy.
 
Thad Cochran is out; who will jump in the Senate race to replace him?
The race for U.S. Senate just got another jolt. Thad Cochran, R-Miss, the senior senator from Mississippi and the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, on Monday announced his intention to resign from the U.S. Senate effective April 1. That decision could draw candidates from the race against Sen. Roger Wicker. Wicker's main primary challenger, Chris McDaniel, has said he would consider leaving the June 5 GOP primary to run for what would essentially be an open seat. Monday, though, he said he just wanted to wish Cochran the best in his retirement. "Sen. Cochran's a legend," he said. "He and I may disagree on things politically but he has my respect." He said he watching the news unfold and trying to determine his course of action. Rep. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, the House minority leader and a candidate in the crowded Democratic Primary for Wicker's seat, sounded like he's staying put.
 
Sen. Thad Cochran will retire April 1; governor to name interim successor
U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, who has battled several health ailments in recent weeks, will resign April 1, his office announced on Monday. "I regret my health has become an ongoing challenge," Cochran said in a release. Gov. Phil Bryant, who will select Cochran's immediate successor, tweeted: "Today, one of Mississippi's greatest public servants shared with me his plans to retire. @SenThadCochran's service ushered in an era of unprecedented influence for our state and will benefit generations to come." The announcement, while not unexpected given Cochran's health issues, caught many by surprise with its timing. "I'm at peace because Sen. Cochran's at peace," said his chief of staff, Brad White. "He called me over to his house about two hours ago. We sat down with his wife. He was engaged and asking questions and we talked about timelines. He made his decision, and we rolled it out."
 
Meridian area leaders note Cochran's work for region
State and local leaders said Monday they would miss Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., just hours after he announced he would leave the U.S. Senate on April 1 because of health reasons. Among his many noteworthy accomplishments was his service as a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, where he worked to "ensure that the U.S. Armed Forces remain the best trained and equipped in the world, including support for the Navy's shipbuilding programs and the military bases and installations in Mississippi." Mississippi House Speaker Pro Tem Greg Snowden reflected on those accomplishments. "He's been a great senator as far as I'm concerned," Snowden said. "We had a lot that Sen. Cochran has helped us with... He was always one to stand strong for the Meridian Naval Air Station. ...I think he's provided leadership in a genteel and dignified way that I think many people still appreciate. People always respected him and there's a lot to say for that."
 
This Mississippi political year 'takes the cake'
It's about as wild as it can get politically in Mississippi. Both U.S. Senate seats will be up for election on a single November night, and a nasty primary is sure to develop before then. Oh, and there's also an open U.S. House seat up for grabs. "I've lived a lot of Mississippi political history, and I've studied it for as long as I can remember," said former U.S. Sen. Trent Lott. "This one takes the cake." When asked if he had seen anything like this in his lifetime, longtime Republican political operative Clarke Reed said: "No, not in my time. It never happens here. I hope we get the right Republican running for the open seat." "It's a jumbled up deal," said Marty Wiseman, political historian and former executive director of the John C. Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University. "There have been some crazy stuff. Back when we lost a congressional seat when you had Ronnie Shows running against Chip Pickering. Two incumbents running against each other. I'm going to have to sit down and give it some thought."
 
Mike Espy announces run for Thad Cochran Senate seat
Former U.S. Rep. Mike Espy on Monday announced his "strong intention to run" for the U.S. Senate seat Thad Cochran announced he'll leave April 1. "I just learned of the pending resignation of Sen. Cochran -- a person I admire and respect, and who has done so much for Mississippi over his tenure," Espy, now a private attorney, said in a written statement. "However, now that he has announced his pending resignation I would like to declare my strong intention to run for the United States Senate (for the Cochran seat)." Espy said that since he left Washington, he has "witnessed with dismay the continuing dysfunction." "I have proven that I can work with everyone as long as the goal is a better Mississippi," Espy said.
 
Concerns arise following proposed weight limit tolerance for farming vehicles and tractor trailers
Some central Mississippi elected officials are uncertain about a Senate bill currently in the Mississippi Legislature. Senate Bill 2418 proposed an increase in the allotted axle weight limits for farming vehicles and other vehicles used at state ports. Clinton Mayor Phil Fisher shared his concerns about the bill Monday afternoon and how it could affect local infrastructure. Fisher said the current harvest permit variance is 5 percent and abides by the weight limits set my the National Bridge Design Code. However, he feels if the weight limit is increased to 10 percent as SB 2418 proposed, the condition of bridges in local communities will deteriorate. Jim Richards, president and CEO of KLLM Transport Services said his company is also opposed to the proposed weight limits. "As you know, our infrastructure is in tough enough shape as it is," Richards said.
 
Bill would end archaic 'vagrants, tramps' law
It's illegal in Mississippi to be homeless, and those who are can be jailed. But a bill is on the way to the governor that would remove penalties from archaic Mississippi laws, which refer to the homeless as "vagrants" and "tramps." Rep. Dana Criswell, R-Olive Branch, filed House Bill 668 to remove the language. "This is a good step to take," said House Judiciary B Chairman Andy Gipson, R-Braxton, who handled the bill on the House floor. "They don't need to be put in prison for not having a home," Gipson said, though he added that no one is charged or prosecuted any longer under such terms. He said someone might have been prosecuted for sleeping in a park back in the 1940s.
 
Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs no longer a Democrat
Mayor George Flaggs Jr. is leaving the Democratic Party. "As of March 20, I'm going to declare myself to the clerk of the city and the Secretary of State that I'll be considered an independent," he said Monday. "What that will allow me to do is be more effective in representing Democrats and Republicans in the future, and if I determine to run for re-election, I'll only have to run in the general election and I won't have to run in the primaries any more. Politics is flexible, and you have to be ahead of the curve," Flaggs said. "And you want to be successful, and I have every intention of representing Vicksburg in the way I can be the most effective." Flaggs has indicated an interest in possibly running for lieutenant governor and mentioned at one time in February he has been asked by some people to seek a third term as mayor.
 
'It's almost nasty': Dems seek crackdown on sleeping in the Capitol
A bloc of House Democrats is calling for an ethics investigation into the widespread practice of lawmakers sleeping in their offices, arguing it's an abuse of taxpayer funds. More than two dozen members of the Congressional Black Caucus signed on to a letter obtained by POLITICO to Ethics Committee Chairwoman Susan Brooks (R-Ind.) and ranking member Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) asking for a probe into the "legality and propriety" of such conduct by members of Congress. "There's something unsanitary about bringing people to your office who are talking about public policy where you spent the night, and that's unhealthy, unsanitary -- and some people would say it's almost nasty," said Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee. The practice reaches the highest levels of Congress. Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) are among the dozens of members who sleep in their offices overnight.
 
North Korea Is Willing to Discuss Giving Up Nuclear Weapons, South Says
North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, has told South Korean envoys that his country is willing to begin negotiations with the United States on abandoning its nuclear weapons and that it would suspend all nuclear and missile tests while it is engaged in such talks, South Korean officials said on Tuesday. During the envoys' two-day visit to Pyongyang, the North's capital, which ended on Tuesday, the two Koreas also agreed to hold a summit meeting between Mr. Kim and President Moon Jae-in of South Korea on the countries' border in late April, Mr. Moon's office said in a statement. On Twitter, President Trump welcomed what he called "possible progress" with the North, though he said it could also be "false hope." He said, "For the first time in many years, a serious effort is being made by all parties concerned."
 
State treasurer warns of possible insolvency for older contracts under MPACT
State Treasurer Lynn Fitch says older contracts under Mississippi's prepaid college tuition program will be insolvent by 2026 unless the Legislature puts more money into the program. Fitch is referring to the Legacy Program, which covers those enrolled in MPACT, Mississippi's Prepaid Affordable College Tuition program, no later than 2012. According to Fitch, the Legacy Program is only funded at 69.4 percent with a $135.4 million liability. She says the MPACT board has made a fifth request for an infusion of cash to prop up the program, but no money has been provided.
 
'The Hate U Give' author Angie Thomas to speak at Southern Miss
How she employs the written word to inform action for social justice will be among the topics author Angie Thomas discusses in her talk, "The Hate U Give: Finding Your Activism," during Tuesday's University Forum at the University of Southern Mississippi. Presented by the Southern Miss Honors College, this program will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Bennett Auditorium on the Hattiesburg campus. Admission is free. The Jackson native's first book and New York Times bestseller, "The Hate U Give," is young adult novel that is inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and violent encounters between African-Americans and police. Thomas' lecture is also the inaugural Sam Barefield Lecture at Southern Miss, which was established in honor of the former director of USM's Wesley Foundation, who was active in human rights and social justice issues.
 
Why Aren't As Many Black Students Choosing HBCUs?
Deveon Treadway is two years from graduating with a bachelor's degree in English from Mississippi Valley State University, one of the seven historically black colleges and universities in the state. Treadway is a native of Chicago, and the first male in his family to complete high school and pursue college. He says, attending an HBCU was his way out. "I lost my own brother to gun violence, gang violence in Chicago. So I knew that I wanted to be as far away from there as possible so that I could really develop myself. I wanted to go somewhere where I could really change something around me," said Treadway. Just twenty-five years ago, almost half of black college students in Mississippi attended HBCU's. That number fell to 28 percent, in the most recent year all data categories were available. Nekkita Beans, is a senior social work major at the University of Mississippi. She is also the president of the black student union. Beans says she considered a historically black school, but scholarships weren't as competitive.
 
Bell, Montague join Holmes Community College staff
Amber Bell of Kosciusko and Cade Montague of McAdams have recently joined the Holmes Community College family. Bell is the new Smart-Start Navigator at the Attala Center in Kosciusko and Montague is an academic fieldwork coordinator and instructor for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Technology (OTA) program on the Ridgeland Campus.
 
U. of West Alabama plans for new dorm due to enrollment growth
The University of West Alabama in Livingston needs a new 242-bed dorm to cope with enrollment growth. UWA plans to seek a federal loan to finance the $12.6 million dormitory, which will be named after Terry Bunn Sr., a longtime member of the board of trustees. The UWA board of trustees on Monday authorized planning to begin for an application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to finance the dorm project and allocated up to $45,000 for environmental and feasibility studies required for application process. UWA is anticipating about 500 new students on campus in the fall, exceeding its capacity for freshman dorm space on campus and forcing the university to place students in aging Selden Hall. The university anticipates on-campus enrollment will grow beyond on-campus bed capacity by 2019.
 
White Student Union speech at Auburn prompts backlash from faculty, students
Auburn University officials will be meeting with student groups over concerns following an Honors College event that included the president of the White Student Union. The Feb. 26 event included the screening of a documentary on skinheads and white supremacists along with a presentation by the president of the WSU, an Auburn student who uses the alias "Wyatt Mann." Mann was originally set to appear in person at the event but opted instead to deliver his message via Skype audio, concealing his identity. Mann continued to speak until a student who had entered the room walked to the front and closed the laptop, ending the call, according to online reports. The meeting drew the attention of a group of faculty, staff and students, who sent a letter to Auburn President Steven Leath and Provost Bill Hardgrave expressing their concerns.
 
New events space, living quarters part of $16.9M Auburn University project
A $16.9 million project transforming the area in and around the Auburn University president's house is nearing completion, according to associate vice president for facilities management Dan King. The university recently unveiled a new events center that incorporates about 85 percent of the 27,000-square-foot project. The project includes renovating the previous president's home into office, meeting and event space, as well as construction of new living quarters for future presidents. "The president's home was built in 1938 and had grown into an event venue used more than 160 days of the year for a variety of activities, from university functions to development activities with private supporters, business and industry partners," King explained. The previous facility was used extensively as part of the just-completed "Because This is Auburn" campaign that ended Dec. 31 and raised more than $1 billion for the university, he added. The new event space is expected to play an even larger role in the school's fundraising efforts.
 
U. of Florida student dropped off, raped, after calling Uber, police say
A University of Florida student who requested an Uber ride but who may have gotten into a wrong car was reportedly raped by several men early Friday morning. The woman told police she was driven to a spot on U.S. 441 and let out by the driver, said Gainesville Police detective Matt Goeckel. A short time later several men drove up in a car, got her inside, drove north on U.S. 441 and raped her. Goeckel said it does not appear that the car she initially got in was dispatched by Uber. "We don't know for sure if this guy posed as an Uber or she just thought she was getting into an Uber and wasn't paying attention," Goeckel said. "She called an Uber, but we don't think the car that she got into was the actual Uber that she called."
 
At Texas A&M, NATO commander says organization must keep evolving with 'complex world'
As NATO works to adjust to an ever-changing and interconnected world, Supreme Allied Command Transformation Cmdr. Gen. Denis Mercier said the international military alliance is evaluating ways it must change to be effective into the future. The Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs Lecture Series at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M hosted the French native for an hour-long lecture at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library on Monday to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing NATO. Mercier has served as commander of NATO's Supreme Allied Command Transformation since 2015 after holding several positions in the French Air Force, including as commandant of the French Air Force Academy in Salon-de-Provence. "We have shifted from what I call the complicated world to a complex one," Mercier said.
 
Enrollment losses, state cuts put U. of Missouri in $60M budget hole
The University of Missouri faces a $60 million budget shortfall on the Columbia campus under a worst-case scenario for state support and enrollment, Chancellor Alexander Cartwright said Monday at a campus faculty meeting. The meeting, called to discuss a report recommending MU close 27 graduate programs, also included discussion of the financial straits the university faces in the coming year. The university has already cut an undisclosed number of non-tenured faculty to save money in the coming year and cutting programs is an important part of balancing the budget to protect the rest of the institution, he said. "Across the board cuts will not help this institution move forward," Cartwright said. "What will happen is we will weaken already weakened infrastructure, and I hope this doesn't happen but I could see us struggle for years to come."
 
Former Missouri Provost Stokes prepares to lead U. of New Mexico
For the first time in the 129-year history of the University of New Mexico, a female president is preparing to take the helm. Named to the top spot in November, Garnett Stokes is scheduled to be introduced to campus Monday. Stokes, 61, accepted a five-year contract with a salary of $400,000 and comes to New Mexico from MU, where she was provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. She takes over as the University of New Mexico and other New Mexico colleges grapple with funding shortages and enrollments that have generally trended downward. In addition, the university has faced criticism for its professor salaries and not doing enough to help some struggling programs like the journalism program. The University of New Mexico also faces accusations of financial mismanagement in its athletics department.
 
Study finds 'strikingly high' rates of depression and anxiety among grad students
Several studies suggest that graduate students are at greater risk for mental health issues than those in the general population. This is largely due to social isolation, the often abstract nature of the work and feelings of inadequacy -- not to mention the slim tenure-track job market. But a new study in Nature Biotechnology warns, in no uncertain terms, of a mental health "crisis" in graduate education. "Our results show that graduate students are more than six times as likely to experience depression and anxiety as compared to the general population," the study says, urging action on the part of institutions. "It is only with strong and validated interventions that academia will be able to provide help for those who are traveling through the bioscience workforce pipeline." The paper is based on a survey including clinically validated scales for anxiety and depression, deployed to students via email and social media.
 
Fistfights, arrests erupt at Michigan State before Richard Spencer takes stage
Multiple people were arrested and fights broke out ahead of white nationalist Richard Spencer's speech Monday at Michigan State University. Hours before the speech, several hundred protesters -- some wearing masks -- marched toward the venue where the event was being held amid a heavy police presence, with officers wearing riot gear. Shortly after 4 p.m., fights and arrests broke out at the tense scene, as a small group of Spencer supporters showed up and protesters tried to drive them back. Bottles and rocks were thrown. Amid the chaos, Spencer's speech was pushed back from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Then, just a few minutes before the new start time, protesters effectively sealed off the venue. A few Spencer supporters turned around instead of trying to get in. Earlier, about 20 or so Spencer supporters tried to walk directly through the crowd to get to the Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education. The two sides screamed obscenities at each other.
 
Stanford students challenge Apple on iPhone addiction
Few universities have closer ties to Silicon Valley and more love for technology than Stanford University. Walk around its beautiful campus and it's hard to find a student who isn't using or carrying a smartphone. But students there -- computer science majors, no less -- have started a protest movement urging Apple to help its customers put down their phones. The student group, called Stanford Students Against Addictive Devices, recently held demonstrations outside Apple's headquarters and its Palo Alto, Calif., store to draw attention to the issue of smartphone addiction. The students held signs such as "Honk! If you're addicted to your iPhone." Led by four computer science majors, the group said they were inspired to act after taking a mandatory course in ethical issues in computer science.
 
Cochran's well-timed exit triggers high drama
Longtime Mississippi journalist Charlie Mitchell writes: "The April departure from the U.S. Senate of the man who broke the Democratic Party's lock on federal offices from Mississippi opens the door to a doozy of a summer and fall. When Thad Cochran was first elected to the U.S. House 45 years ago, he was a lonely dude. He was the lone Republican in the delegation. As he leaves, there's only one Democrat, District 2 U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson. High drama now impends for the state GOP. ...Mississippi has been sent two Republicans to the Senate since 1988 and likely will well into the future, but at least picking them has become more interesting."


SPORTS
 
Mississippi State debuts new Dudy Noble Field tonight
Tonight, Mississippi State will unveil the crown jewel of college baseball. The 21st-ranked Bulldogs step foot on the newly renovated Dudy Noble Field for the first time as they take on New Mexico State for a two-game midweek homestand with each contest starting at 6:30 p.m. "My overall impression is that it'll be the best facility in the country," said MSU interim head coach Gary Henderson. "We're really proud of it. We're fortunate to be at a place where people care enough that we get to play in that type of a stadium." Tupelo based JESCO, Inc., started on the $55 million project last summer on July 19 following the final baseball camp and have worked seven days a week in order to have the stadium ready for tonight's first pitch. "It's been above our expectations," said JESCO construction-engineering division manager Steven Staub. "We've only missed six days of work since we first started and met our first Phase I deadline. That was our milestone, so we're happy."
 
Mississippi State baseball ushers in new era at new Dudy Noble
Gary Henderson learned a great deal about the Mississippi State baseball team in its 11-game road stint to start the season, the final eight of which he served as interim head coach. He's still learning about the pitching staff. The starting roles throughout the beginning of the season have remained consistent, but that doesn't mean MSU has settled in as it finally opens the new Dudy Noble Field at 6:30 p.m. today (SEC Network+) against New Mexico State. Despite the fact that Henderson's knowledge of the pitching staff is deeper than that of his position players since he was the team's pitching coach before being elevated to interim head coach, he is still learning what to do with those players. "The roles of the pitching staff are constantly in flux -- they change all year and that's every year, that they change," Henderson said.
 
Mississippi State set for home opener at new Dudy Noble Field
It's not Christmas in Starkville, but for Mississippi State baseball fans, today might be close. Finally, it's time to open up the newly-renovated Dudy Noble Field. MSU (6-5) begins a two-game series with New Mexico State (8-4) with games at 6:30 p.m. both Tuesday and Wednesday and it'll be the first time the doors of Dudy Noble have opened since construction began on the facility at the end of last season. Mississippi State interim head coach Gary Henderson and his Bulldogs are ready to take the field with their new home surroundings. "My overall impression is it'll be the best facility in the country and we're really proud of it," Henderson said. "We're fortunate to be at a place where people care enough that we get to play in that type of a stadium." Construction on Dudy Noble Field won't be complete until a year from now, but MSU is scheduled to play 23 home games this season, starting with today's affair.
 
10 thoughts on Mississippi State baseball after its long road trip
After Andy Cannizaro's resignation, Gary Henderson's promotion to interim coach, a 12-day road trip and three wins in the Shiner's College Classic at Minute Maid Park, Mississippi State's baseball team is back in Starkville. Phew. Yeah, a lot has happened. And the Bulldogs haven't even played a home game yet. That will happen at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday when Mississippi State (6-5) hosts New Mexico State (8-4) at the new Dudy Noble Field. Here are 10 thoughts on the Bulldogs after an interesting two weeks to start the season.
 
Mississippi State duo sweeps state awards
Vic Schaefer's message to Victoria Vivians more than four years ago was that if she would come play basketball at Mississippi State, the wins would follow. Turns out the awards did, too. Vivians won the Gillom Trophy for an unprecedented fourth straight season on Monday after leading No. 4 Mississippi State to a 32-1 record heading into the NCAA Tournament later this month. The Gillom Trophy is given to Mississippi's top women's college basketball player. Mississippi State's Quinndary Weatherspoon won the Howell Trophy, which is given to the state's top men's player. The sweep for the Bulldogs was no surprise considering the school combined for five of the six finalists between the two awards.
 
Mississippi State's Victoria Vivians wins fourth, final Gillom Trophy
Victoria Vivians is going to have to find some additional space in her living room. The Mississippi State senior better make sure that space above the fireplace is fortified. Vivians will have to pick a sturdy spot because she made history Monday afternoon by becoming the first four-time recipient of the Gillom Trophy, which is given annually to the best women's college basketball player in the state of Mississippi. Vivians received the award in a ceremony at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. She was a finalist with MSU teammates Blair Schaefer and Teaira McCowan. "I didn't know," Vivians said when asked if she knew she was going to receive the award. "I mean, fingers crossed when you have Blair Schaefer and Teaira McCowan, you've got a double-double and a get-down-and-dirty (kind of player) and all I am doing is scoring. C'mon now. They are doing all of the hard work. I am just very grateful because they put me in position to get the award four times in a row."
 
Season starts over for No. 4 Bulldogs
The Dispatch's Adam Minichino writes: " No, Starkville, the sky didn't come crashing down Monday. As much as it might have felt like that was the case, the Mississippi State women's basketball team isn't going to pack away the balls for 2017-18. In fact, as much as MSU coach Vic Schaefer would like to protest, a loss Sunday might be just what the Southeastern Conference regular-season champions need. There is no denying suffering a 62-51 loss to South Carolina in the championship game of the SEC tournament is 1,000 percent better than a loss anytime after March 16, when the NCAA tournament begins first-round play. ...MSU will regroup. Seniors Schaefer, Victoria Vivians, Roshunda Johnson, and Morgan William want to be remembered for more than just winning the program's first SEC regular-season title and being the winningest class in school history. They want the ultimate prize."
 
All in the family: Q edges Nick for Howell Trophy
Quinndary and Nick Weatherspoon competed against and pushed each other from as early as they can remember. Whether it was in baseball, basketball, football, racing, or pretty much everything, the Weatherspoon brothers brought out the best in each other. On Monday, Nick received a piece of added motivation to compete even harder against his brother after Quinndary was named the winner of the Howell Trophy, which is given annually to the best men's college basketball player in the state of Mississippi. "It is a compliment for us to get recognized and it is great for our family," Quinndary said. "Knowing how we grew up and where we came from, we used to do this in the back yard in the dirt. Now we're doing it on the collegiate level, I think it is great." MSU coach Ben Howland praised the parents of Quinndary and Nick, Sharon and Tommie Weatherspoon, for the way they have raised their sons.
 
Mississippi State's Quinndary Weatherspoon takes home Howell Trophy
Mississippi State's Quinndary Weatherspoon didn't have the offseason to get better, following wrist surgery. But he did anyway, winning the C Spire Howell Trophy on Monday as the best men's college basketball player in the state of Mississippi. "The biggest thing is he's become a much better playmaker and making plays for others," Ben Howland said. "The ability to create points for other people." Howland said the surgery (which Weatherspoon held off until after last season) forced Weatherspoon to not be able to participate in any sort of contact drill throughout the summer. Still, Weatherspoon is averaging a team-best 14.7 points as a junior on 49.5 percent shooting from the field. He's also at 5.9 rebounds, has nearly doubled his assist rate from last season and has 45 steals in 31 games for the Bulldogs (21-11, 9-9 SEC).
 
Mississippi State's Ben Howland talks SEC Tournament
Mississippi State's Ben Howland joined the rest of the league's coaches on the SEC men's basketball teleconference on Monday to discuss the Bulldogs' upcoming trip to the SEC Tournament in St. Louis against LSU on Thursday.
 
TAF's Rick Perry: On upcoming and on-going projects at LSU, including PMAC
LSU has spent the past two decades catching up to its Southeastern Conference brethren in a facilities arms race that has swept through college athletics. The improvements are sprinkled throughout campus: renovations to the exterior of Tiger Stadium, the new Alex Box Stadium, a separate gymnastics facility, a practice gym for basketball and a new indoor tennis building. The university is not slowing down, said Rick Perry, president and chief operating officer of the Tiger Athletic Foundation, the private, nonprofit fundraising arm for athletics that oversees these facilities projects. "I think we've made great strides in a lot of areas over the last few years. We had fallen behind," Perry said in an interview last week. "With tough times in the state in the 1980s, overall it had fallen behind. Back in the 60s and 70s, we were right there with anyone, but it did start to lag behind. The last 20 years, we've been really catching up in a lot of areas."
 
UGA to add a director of football compliance
Georgia is hiring for a new position in its athletic department: director of football compliance. In an ad posted to the university's online employment listings, the job is described this way: "This position is responsible for developing, directing, implementing and maintaining a comprehensive compliance program in the sport of football that will ensure the institution's adherence to Southeastern Conference and NCAA regulations." Georgia brought aboard Will Lawler from the SEC office in January as executive associate athletic director for compliance. That came after compliance director Jim Booz left for a high-level athletic administrative position at Virginia to serve under new athletic director Carla Williams, who left as Georgia's deputy athletic director. Besides the director of football compliance position, Georgia is also hiring for a director of athletic compliance since Sarah Hebberd is leaving for a position with the NCAA.
 
Why did Davenport, Fulmer say crane was needed to remove Jones image?
So what happened to the crane? Tennessee officials had said a crane was the hangup in removing the image of former football coach Butch Jones from the video board on the south end of Neyland Stadium. The image of Jones was removed on Monday, nearly four months after he was fired on Nov. 12. It took three workers from a local company on a swing stage suspended from the top of the video board to get the job done. Jones' image, on the left of the video board, was removed in the morning and former defensive star Al Wilson was installed in the afternoon. No crane was needed. Tennessee Chancellor Beverly Davenport responded on Twitter to anxious fans on Jan. 2 to "Please hang on. A crane has been ordered." UT athletic director Phillip Fulmer talked about a crane need to complete the job when he spoke to the Big Orange TipOff Club on Feb. 14.
 
James Pitaro, a Disney Digital Veteran, Is Named ESPN President
The Walt Disney Company has picked James Pitaro, the chairman of its consumer products and interactive division, to be the next president of ESPN. He replaces John Skipper in what is perhaps the most powerful post in sports media. "Jimmy forged his career at the intersection of technology, sports and media, and his vast experience and keen perspective will be invaluable in taking ESPN into the future," Robert A. Iger, the chairman and chief executive of Disney, said Monday in a statement announcing Pitaro's appointment. ESPN, the country's leading national sports network, has been without a permanent president since December, when Skipper, who had led the company since 2012, suddenly resigned, citing a substance addiction. The network is facing a number of challenges as consumers continue the trend of cord-cutting, jeopardizing the traditional business model for pay television companies.



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