| Wednesday, August 29, 2018 |
| Mississippi lawmakers approve bill to create a state lottery | |
 | The Mississippi House reversed itself Tuesday and passed a bill to create a state lottery in the Bible Belt state where churches have long opposed it. The vote came during a special session, less than 24 hours after the House originally voted to kill the bill that the state's Republican governor promises to sign into law. There was no debate Tuesday as a few representatives changed their votes from no to yes. Mississippi is one of six states without a lottery, and Gov. Phil Bryant had been pushing lawmakers for more than a year to create one. Supporters estimate a lottery could generate tens of millions of dollars annually, and Bryant says he wants the money to help pay for repair to crumbling highways and bridges. "This is a historic day in Mississippi," Bryant said on Twitter. "Mississippi lawmakers rose to the occasion." |
| Majority of Northeast Mississippi lawmakers opposed lottery | |
 | A lottery is coming to Mississippi but without widespread support from the legislative delegation from the state's northeast corner. A majority of the region's senators and representatives voted against the creation of a state lottery, the revenue from which will be earmarked for highway and bridge spending over the next 10 years, up to $80 million annually. Sen. Chad McMahan, R-Guntown, opposed the lottery but expected the measure to pass, as it ultimately did after some maneuvering in the House. "I think it's a very poor source to fund a highway program," McMahan said. "But other people wanted it." Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, has long supported a lottery but likewise doesn't expect it to produce revenue sufficient to banish all budgetary woes. He chalked up his vote in favor of the lottery to his belief that there's strong statewide support for it. |
| Mississippi will have a lottery after House do-over vote | |
 | In a do-over vote, the state House narrowly passed a lottery bill on Tuesday that it had killed on Monday night. The measure passed 58-54 in a bipartisan vote with no debate. It now goes to the governor, who is expected to sign it into law. Officials said the Mississippi lottery could be up and running within about a year. The House on Monday night had killed the lottery measure on a bipartisan vote of 54 for it, 60 against. Gov. Phil Bryant and his staff worked Monday night and Tuesday morning to flip votes from no to yes. Up to $80 million a year from lottery proceeds will go toward working on state roads and bridges or to match federal infrastructure funding for 10 years. Any revenue above $80 million a year would go to public education, the Education Enhancement Fund. |
| Inside Gov. Phil Bryant's crusade to save his lottery proposal | |
 | Just hours after the House stunned the Capitol on Monday night by rejecting Gov. Phil Bryant's special session lottery proposal, at least six state representatives sat around a big table at Caet, a wine bar and restaurant in Jackson's Fondren neighborhood. Earlier in the evening, the lottery legislation had gone down in flames in part because Democrats wanted more of the proceeds to go towards education. The legislators -- both Republicans and Democrats -- at Caet were among the 60 House members who had rejected the lottery proposal earlier that evening, jeopardizing Bryant's plan that offered a lottery as a key piece of his $200 million special session for road and bridge funding. The objective of the Jackson restaurant meeting was for governor's staff to flip some of Monday's no votes to the yes column. |
| State lottery bill could bring scratch-offs to Oxford | |
 | On Tuesday, the Mississippi House of Representatives passed a lottery bill after initially voting against it on Monday. The bill will now be sent to the governor, who has already indicated his support for the bill. If signed into law, this bill would allow for gas stations and other approved vendors across the state, including those in Oxford, to sell lottery tickets. State Rep. Jay Hughes, of Oxford, said he voted in favor of the lottery bill because he believes "individuals should have the freedom to spend their own money without the government making decisions for them." Ray Rupani has owned Four Corners Chevron just off the Square for eight years and said he is excited about the potential of a state lottery. He said he would sell lottery tickets under whatever laws the state requires. "If the state of Mississippi starts carrying it, I would carry the lottery also," Rupani said. "That would bring a lot of new customers, bring opportunities, bring revenues and all of that." |
| Senate easily passes BP bill bringing 75 percent of money to Coast | |
 | The Mississippi Senate, by a wide margin, passed a bill that leaders said would bring 75 percent of the $750 million paid by BP for economic damages caused by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster to the Coast. "We are one step closer to getting the vast majority of the BP Settlement spent on the Gulf Coast, where the vast majority of the damage occurred," Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves said in a emailed statement after the 42-8 vote. Sen. Tommy Gollot's bill, which goes to the House on Wednesday for its consideration, would create a Gulf Coast Restoration Fund that would receive 75 percent of future payments. That money would be administered by Mississippi Development Authority, acting on advice from an advisory board that would vet specific projects that would be pitched via a website. Three members of the board and its chairman would be appointed by Gov. Phil Bryant and two each by Reeves and House Speaker Philip Gunn. |
| Senate passes BP settlement spending, 'Christmas tree' of pet projects | |
| Now that lawmakers have passed a state lottery and infrastructure spending package, Gov. Phil Bryant wants them to agree on a plan to spend the state's $750 million BP oil disaster settlement, which will be paid in installments through 2033. The Senate on Tuesday night voted 42-8 to pass a plan that includes earmarking 75 percent of future state BP oil disaster settlement payments for projects in the southernmost six counties. The House is expected to take it up Wednesday. The measure also includes a "Christmas tree" list of $111 million in special projects statewide from money lawmakers voted to borrow earlier in the week plus money left in the bank from the state's first BP payment in 2016. This is bringing debate between inland lawmakers and those on the Coast on how -- more importantly where -- to spend the settlement from the 2010 Gulf oil disaster. |
| Senate opts to provide bulk of $700M BP money to Coast, setting up a showdown in the House | |
| The Gulf Coast will receive 75 percent of the $700 million BP settlement funds earmarked to the state for economic damages under legislation passed 42-8 late Tuesday night by the Senate. The other 25 percent would be disbursed by the Legislature to the other 76 counties. Late Tuesday Gov. Phil Bryant expanded the agenda for the ongoing special session to include the BP settlement funds, as he said he would do, after the Legislature passed bills estimated to generate about $200 million annually for the deteriorating infrastructure system on both the state and local levels. The $700 million is part of a $2.4 billion settlement Attorney General Jim Hood and others negotiated with BP after the 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig and ensuing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The bulk of the $2.4 billion outside of the money to the state for economic damages is going for environmental restoration projects on the Coast. |
| Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann promotes the vote in Meridian | |
 | In one room, there were juniors not quite old enough to vote, while in another room, seniors who could cast a ballot in November sat patiently, listening to Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann. Hosemann visited Meridian High School on Tuesday on his statewide "Promote the Vote" tour, encouraging young people to head to the polls. "Everyone that runs the state is hired by you," Hosemann said, reminding students of their civic responsibility. Starting on Oct. 1, students in Mississippi schools will be able to vote in a mock election for U.S. Senate and House seats. The ballots will close on October 26. Hosemann said the mock election will get young people into the habit of voting, because their ballots will be the same as the actual ballots used by their parents. He also hopes the process will open up a dialogue between teenagers and their parents. |
| Aiming for Alabama-like Victory, Mike Espy Opens 'Modern' Campaign Headquarters | |
| Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Espy announced what he called "the most modern headquarters that I think any Democrat has had in Mississippi's history" at a ceremony for the opening of his new Jackson campaign office Saturday, Aug. 25. Leaders from across the state joined Espy at the new headquarters, along with a crowd of about 200 supporters as the campaign estimated. Espy is running in the special election for the U.S. Senate seat Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith now holds. Gov. Phil Bryant appointed her after former Sen. Thad Cochran retired in March. The headquarters includes several rooms that serve as dedicated call centers with enough seats for dozens of volunteers to phonebank. Earlier this month, Espy told the Jackson Free Press that, unlike the shoestring budgets Democratic Senate candidates have run in recent cycles, he's running a "national campaign" and intends to win. |
| GOP exhales after Martha McSally romp in Arizona's U.S. Senate primary | |
 | Republicans got their woman for a must-win Senate seat. President Donald Trump got his man in Florida, his second-home state. And Democrats chose another historic nominee in a stunning upset. The final multi-state primary night of the 2018 midterms concluded with a bang as Rep. Martha McSally locked down the GOP nomination for Senate in Arizona, turning aside two controversial candidates who would have threatened the party's ability to hold the seat of retiring Sen. Jeff Flake. McSally's relatively easy victory over Kelli Ward and Joe Arpaio was widely expected, but it's still welcome news for Republicans in a Senate race crucial to the party's hopes to protect or expand its majority in the chamber. Ward and Arpaio have been brushed aside, and it appears likely Chris McDaniel -- the controversial Mississippi politician -- will suffer a similar fate in this fall's special election there. |
| USM professor: John McCain remembered for ability to 'cross the aisle' | |
 | Tributes continue for the late Sen. John McCain. Many were delivered on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday. Meanwhile, one University of Southern Mississippi professor is remembering McCain for his military service and his lawmaking abilities. Andrew Wiest is a distinguished professor of history and founding director of the Dale Center for the Study of War and Society at USM. He said McCain was not afraid to reach across the aisle to get important legislation passed. "He was unafraid to have Democratic friends. He was unafraid to buck his party when he felt like it needed to be bucked," said Wiest. "McCain was a throwback. He was more like a World War II-era politician than a post-Vietnam-era politician, and as such, he was able to take part in the passage of massive amounts of legislation, because he was able to cross the aisle." |
| Higher Ed Commissioner Al Rankins Visits Mississippi Valley State University | |
 | On a late Friday morning at Mississippi Valley State University, audience members are speaking to Al Rankins, the commissioner of higher education for the Institutions of Higher Learning. This Delta conversation is just one stop on his tour of all Mississippi's public universities. Rankins said listening allows him to lead. "I believe in meeting people where they are, and in order for me to be an effective leader of our system, I need to hear from and meet with the individuals who serve every day within our system," he said. Concerns range from funding to quality of education. The room is full of students and staff as well as community members like Lula Moore, a former Valley student and educator from Greenwood. "I pray that we can save our programs in teacher education and expand program offerings," she said. "MVSU graduates are very concerned about the state and status of this university. This is where we started from. it provided us with the foundation that we have -- our first degree." |
| Trademark bullies? Many big colleges fiercely protect brands | |
| ever get between a university and its trademarks. That's the lesson dozens of people learn every year when they unwittingly provoke the wrath of big universities and the lawyers they hire to protect their mascots, slogans and logos. Records gathered by The Associated Press show that some major universities send their lawyers after even slight perceived threats to their brands, sending flurries of letters threatening legal action or trying to block new trademarks deemed too close to their own. Schools say they're only defending themselves from merchandise counterfeiters and others looking to exploit their brands for personal gain. But some legal experts say it often amounts to trademark bullying, a term used when bigger institutions use aggressive tactics to overpower their opponents in seemingly frivolous disputes. And according to some lawyers, it appears to be getting more common. |
| UGA student allegedly attacked by 5 men while walking in Athens, police say | |
| A University of Georgia sophomore was allegedly attacked by five men in downtown Athens early Saturday, police confirmed. Brendan Kenney, of Canton, was in Athens Regional Medical Center when he told Athens police he was walking home on Martin Luther King Parkway near Fifth Street around 2 or 3 a.m., the incident report obtained by AJC.com said. He told police he was attacked by five men who came out of nowhere, and all he remembers is waking up after being beat up, the report said. Kenney said he couldn't remember anything specific about his alleged attackers. The only item he was missing was one of his shoes, the report said. |
| U. of Missouri to expand tobacco ban | |
 | The University of Missouri will ban the possession and use of all tobacco products on the Columbia campus, expanding a ban on smoking and the use of e-cigarettes in place since 2013. The policy was developed over the past year by the Tobacco Free Mizzou Committee, whose work was funded by a $20,000 grant from the American Cancer Society. The policy will be enforced gently, members of the committee said during a news conference Monday, but repeat offenders could face university discipline. "Having it all comprehensive really makes all the gray areas kind of go away," said Sloan Esley, a junior studying biological science. "It is very straightforward, very easy to read." The policy was approved by university administrators in June and announced today by Chancellor Alexander Cartwright. |
| Illinois' new in-state tuition deal not a concern for U. of Missouri | |
 | The University of Missouri's top financial aid administrator doesn't think a new University of Illinois tuition affordability program will hurt enrollment on the Columbia campus. The university in Urbana-Champaign announced Monday it will cover the tuition and campus fees for in-state students whose family income is less than the state's median, $61,000. The Illinois Commitment will commence in fall 2019, according to the announcement. "We want students to make a choice that is an academic fit, a strong personal fit, and a good financial fit," Nick Prewett, MU executive director of student financial aid, wrote in an email. "While we want students to make that decision on their own, we do not believe there is much of an overlap between the Illinois Commitment and students from Illinois that ultimately choose Mizzou." After Missouri, Illinois was the biggest feeder state for MU last year. |
| The Trump administration's renewed interest in prison education | |
 | One year into an experiment allowing colleges to award Pell Grants to incarcerated students, Trump administration officials look to be even more invested in the program. The question within the Department of Education is not whether the Second Chance Pell program should continue but how to evaluate the results at more than 60 participating institutions as momentum has gathered in Congress behind a possible repeal of the ban on federal aid for incarcerated college students. The Obama administration launched the Second Chance program in 2015 using its experimental sites authority, which allows the Education Department to circumvent federal statute on a limited basis to evaluate potential policy changes. Republicans criticized the project at the time, focusing largely on the legal authority of the administration to offer the grants. But support for prison education fits broader rhetoric from the Trump administration about reforming the criminal justice system, a cause championed by presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner in particular. |
| The perils and pitfalls of higher ed social media management | |
| As floodwaters from Hurricane Matthew surged through Flagler College's campus in 2016, Holly Hill, director of web and new media services for the Florida institution, realized she had a problem. Thousands of students, faculty and staff were turning to social media for information and help. But Hill and the one other colleague responsible for manning the college's social media accounts couldn't keep up. Less than a year later, another hurricane hit Flagler. But this time, Hill was ready. She'd established a Social Media Emergency Response Team and had trained a group of staff involved in communications to be on call to respond to emergencies. Thinking ahead and on your feet is just one of many responsibilities of a college social media manager. In addition to promoting and protecting the reputation of an institution, live-tweeting events such as commencements, and remaining vigilant for threats both online and on campus, they are increasingly expected to play a customer service role -- handling wide-ranging inquiries, directing people to information, responding to complaints and much more -- and to do so efficiently, accurately and quickly. |
| Disaster-Stricken Colleges Will Get $63 Million in Aid From the Education Department | |
 | The U.S. Department of Education will give $63 million in aid to 47 institutions of higher education affected by recent natural disasters, including Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, according to a news release issued on Tuesday. The department will distribute a total of $100 million until 2022, according to the release. This year the department allocated funds by evaluating damage and recovery costs at the various institutions hit by natural disasters. Portions of the money can directly help students at risk of homelessness or displacement, but campus construction and repair projects also qualify. |
| Teaching public more science likely won't boost support for funding, but sparking curiosity might | |
| After 19 months without a director, the Trump administration recently tapped meteorologist Kelvin Droegemeier to lead the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy. Perhaps surprisingly, given the administration's previous efforts to slash funding for government-backed research, Droegemeier is a strong supporter of increased federal science funding. Most Americans agree with him. About eight in 10 Americans say that the government ought to provide some amount of financial support for scientific research done in federal labs and at universities. The amount of support the government ought to provide, however, is a more contentious question. Few Americans think that the government should cut science funding, but less than half see a need to increase it. |
| Washington and Lee rejects plan to move events out of Lee Chapel | |
| Washington and Lee University has for years debated how to reconcile its history with its desire to be seen as an inclusive institution. W&L is named for two slaveholders, one of whom was a Confederate hero and whose identity is honored all over the campus. After last year's deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va. -- organized on the premise of protesting the planned removal of a Lee statue in the city -- Washington and Lee appointed a panel of faculty and staff members, students and alumni to consider questions of its history and how that history is presented on campus. On Tuesday, President William C. Dudley announced his response (and that of the board) to the recommendations. The university's name and team name will remain. And while Dudley said some changes would be made to Lee Chapel, he said key events would continue to be held there. And he didn't comment at all on the proposals for the portraits. |
| John McCain's Mississippi connections were strong, complex and at times jarring | |
| Syndicated columnist Sid Salter writes: The late Arizona Republican U.S. Sen. John McCain had more than a passing connection with Mississippi despite being best known here for his 2008 presidential debate appearance with then-Illinois Democratic U.S. Sen. Barack Obama at Ole Miss and for famously sparring with former U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran on Capitol Hill over the fortunes of Mississippi farm-raised catfish producers. ...I disagreed with McCain's stance on Mississippi catfish and other issues. Still do. But utterly foolish questions of McCain's personal courage, patriotism, and service -- from anyone, no matter the office they hold -- are reprehensible and without merit. McCain deserved the nation's respect, thanks, and admiration for his courage. |
SPORTS
| Mississippi State expecting big plays from backups | |
| Mississippi State released its depth chart Monday afternoon. Some positions have clear starters who will take the bulk of reps. Other positions still have ongoing battles to see who will do so. And the Bulldogs are deep enough to allow for backups to make meaningful contributions at positions where starters are locked in. |
| Timing right for opening FCS opponent | |
| The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal's Logan Lowery writes: Mississippi State opens the Joe Moorhead era on Saturday against FCS opponent Stephen F. Austin. That's the old Division I-AA, for those of you not up to date on the system the NCAA implemented a few years ago. Facing a non-FBS foe may not exactly get the blood pumping -- but hey, it's football and folks are excited opening weekend is almost here. Although Stephen F. Austin was already on the Bulldogs' schedule long before Moorhead was ever hired, this game makes a lot of sense for MSU in Week 1. The Bulldogs are breaking in a new offensive and defensive playbook and this game gives them an opportunity to work through any kinks that might still be lingering after a spring and fall camp of installation. |
| Mississippi State-Clemson basketball matchup finalized | |
 | The Mississippi State men's basketball team's matchup versus Clemson at the 2018 Never Forget Tribute Classic has been set for a 3 p.m. CT tipoff on Dec. 8 and will televised nationally by ESPN2, tournament organizers announced Tuesday. The Bulldogs are slated to face one of the nation's toughest non-conference schedules in 2018-19. MSU will square off against nine postseason teams who finished among the top three of their respective conference standings a season ago. Clemson secured a 25-10 overall record and tied for third place in the ACC standings last season. The Tigers are slated to return four starters from last season's squad that knocked off New Mexico State and Auburn en route to the program's first NCAA Sweet 16 trip since 1996-97. |
| SEC to institute TV timeout clock for 2018 season | |
 | The SEC will implement a TV timeout countdown clock in all 14 conference stadiums for the 2018 season, the league announced Tuesday. According to a release issued by the SEC, the display will be operated by the TV timeout coordinator or "red hat." When the clock reaches zero, the game officials will mark the ball ready for play. Once the TV timeout expires, both teams will then be required to be ready on the field. The television production crew will also be required to be back from its commercial break. "The use of a visible timeout countdown clock will provide fans in particular an opportunity to know when a game will re-start after a television timeout and hopefully give some definition to the perceived delays in a game," SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said. |
| Alabama's Reign Causes SEC Foes to Lose Patience in Coaches | |
| The decade-long chase to catch Alabama has caused patience to wear thin across the rest of the Southeastern Conference. As Nick Saban and Alabama chase their sixth national title in 10 seasons , five of the SEC's other 13 programs have new coaches. It represents the league's highest turnover since 1946, when the SEC had six new coaches. The new faces this year include Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher, Mississippi State's Joe Moorhead, Arkansas' Chad Morris, Florida's Dan Mullen and Tennessee's Jeremy Pruitt. Mississippi's Matt Luke was an interim coach last year but was hired on a permanent basis after the season. "At this point in time, Alabama is the gold standard," Ole Miss athletic director Ross Bjork said. "Florida was the gold standard a few years back. Tennessee won a national championship 20 years ago. Things are going to go in cycles. Alabama's cycle has lasted longer than most, but I think you make your decisions for what you need, not just because one program has this or that." |
| Georgia hopes concession changes improve fan experience, adds terminals for feedback | |
 | If the wait time to snag a bite to eat during a Georgia football game leaves you more upset than a coach when his team has a costly penalty, you can now vent immediately. The school is adding HappyOrNot terminals in Sanford Stadium on the 100 level to provide instant feedback for fans to express their thumbs up or down voice on concessions and restrooms by tapping a button on a screen. The units were already used at baseball's Foley Field this season and it could be expanded for home football games in the 200, 300 and 600 levels, according to Josh Brooks, the school's deputy athletic director for operations. "We had pretty good scores for baseball," he said. "Now, you don't get 92,000 for baseball that you would in Sanford Stadium. So it's going to be interesting to see how the scores correlate to Sanford." |
| LSU's Joe Alleva says fans will like 'outstanding' QB Joe Burrow, renovations coming for PMAC | |
 | Joe Alleva thinks people are "going to be pleased" with the LSU offense, the athletic director said at the New Orleans Quarterback Club luncheon on Tuesday. "I think Joe Burrow is going to be an outstanding quarterback," said Alleva, who played quarterback at Lehigh University in 1975. "But I'll tell you this, Myles Brennan is not far behind. Myles has got a rocket for an arm. Joe runs a little bit better." Alleva said "there's no doubt in my mind" LSU would have a good defense and he praised head coach Ed Orgeron, who is entering his second full season, for filling the holes in the depth chart -- particularly the defensive line. Alleva spoke on the nearly $30 million renovation at the football operations building, saying the addition of a new training room, offices, locker room, players lounge and cafeteria "will be a great addition to our campus. Alleva also said LSU is looking to add a weight room and club seating in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. |
| LSU could put more spaces for beer sales inside Tiger Stadium | |
 | LSU will keep looking for spaces to sell beer inside Tiger Stadium. One new area will open for the first time Sept. 8 when the Tigers play their first home game. This ground-level bar located beyond the south end zone will include large-screen televisions and alcohol sales. LSU athletic director Joe Alleva spoke Tuesday at the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation Quarterback Club Luncheon and said more spaces for bars could be created in the coming years. "We'll see as we go forward," Alleva said. "We may create more of those spots around Tiger Stadium." The Southeastern Conference does not allow alcohol sales in general seating areas, so for LSU to sell alcohol in other areas of the stadium, it will need to set aside other spaces similar to the one that will open beyond the south end zone this season. |
| Vanderbilt football player Zaire Jones suspended after assault charge | |
 | A Vanderbilt football player has been suspended indefinitely from the team after a reported assault on an off-duty police officer last week, according to information from the university and police records. Zaire Jones, a 20-year-old sophomore from Meridian, Miss., is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with an Aug. 23 incident in Nashville, court records show. Jones, who attended Meridian High School, played in 11 of 12 games for Vanderbilt last season, including one start versus South Carolina. He finished with 11 tackles and one forced fumble, and he was the front-runner for a starting spot in preseason camp this season. |
| Jackson State-USM football: a history lesson | |
| Mississippi sports columnist Rick Cleveland writes: Jackson State and Southern Miss will play one another in football for only the third time ever Saturday in Hattiesburg. While there is no Las Vegas betting line, USM surely would be a heavy favorite. Those of us who were there will not forget the first time the two teams met nearly 31 years ago on Halloween, Oct. 31, 1987. Brett Favre, just turned 18 was the USM quarterback. W.C. Gorden, the most successful coach in Jackson State football history, was in his prime. Jim Carmody, Big Nasty to USM fans, was in what was to be his final season in Hattiesburg. Ronald Reagan was president. Bill Allain was the Mississippi governor, although three days later citizens would go to the polls to elect Ray Mabus. Michael Jackson's "Bad" was No. 1 on the music charts. And college football's landscape was so much different in Mississippi. JSU was a Southwestern Conference powerhouse, eager to test itself against one of the state's Big Three. |
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