Wednesday, January 16, 2019   
 
Starkville/MSU Symphony to celebrate MLK Day in Saturday concert
The Starkville/MSU Symphony will present its Our America concert Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Hall on the campus of Mississippi State University. The concert will feature a selection of new and historic works by American composers, including the "Afro-American Symphony." Admission is free and open to the public. During this fourth installment in the Symphony's landmark 50th season, the Our America program includes a prelude to the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a performance of the historic "Afro-American Symphony" composed by Mississippi native William Grant Still. In addition to the "Afro-American Symphony," Saturday's Our America concert will also include a performance of "Candide Overture" by legendary American composer Leonard Bernstein. The Symphony Orchestra will round out the program with "Americana Folk Suite" composed by Symphony conductor Barry Kopetz.
 
Starkville planning two pedestrian infrastructure projects
The city of Starkville is moving through the early stages of two infrastructure projects that should further the city's ongoing efforts to improve pedestrian accessibility options. On Tuesday, the city accepted $588,000 in federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds, administered through the Mississippi Department of Transportation, for a multi-use path. The proposed path will run from the intersection of Highway 12 and Spring Street onto Mississippi State University's campus. The multi-use path, according to maps in the meeting's e-packet online, will begin near the Hampton Inn on the south side of the intersection and continue along the south side of Highway 12. It will break away from the highway near Twelve Lane on MSU's campus until it intersects with Bully Boulevard, then turn to run along Old Bully Boulevard until it reaches the amphitheater. City Engineer Edward Kemp said the city applied for the project in December.
 
SOCSD to launch career prep tracks at high school
The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District is preparing to launch academic houses in the hopes of better preparing its high school students for career paths of their choosing. SOCSD Superintendent Eddie Peasant, both at Monday's Starkville Rotary Club meeting and the same day's school board meeting, spoke about the district's goals with the academic houses. They'll launch in the fall for the beginning of the 2019-20 school year. The district has three houses: Technology, Engineering, Construction; Health and Human Services; and Communication, Arts and Business. "We plan to create a high school where all of our students feel supported and prepared for a successful future," Peasant said. Peasant and Starkville High School Principal Sean McDonnall noted that though the houses will offer different focuses to help prepare students for various career paths, they will all meet the same standards the Mississippi Department of Education requires for earning a high school diploma.
 
Airbus Helicopters unveils potential area expansion
At the Airbus Helicopters facility in Columbus, company officials announced they would expand its connected services and its delivery and training services in 2019 and reiterated the importance of a contract with the U.S. Navy to produce the H135 training helicopter in Mississippi. The Industrial Center of Excellence facility in the Golden Triangle region builds H125 commercial helicopters, mostly for law enforcement; the UH-72A Lakota light utility helicopter for the U.S. Army; and customizable helicopters for commercial clients. But the Columbus-based facility is probably most known for producing the Lakotas for the Army. The facility typically builds two Lakotas per month, and since opening in 2003, 437 Lakotas have been built. More than 1,300 aircraft have come from the Mississippi facility to date.
 
Local Airbus plant shows operations to European guests
Steffen Weyer visited America for the first time Tuesday afternoon, receiving his visa just last Thursday. Weyer, a journalist in Germany for dpa-AFX, toured the Columbus Airbus facility as a part of the North American Airbus Tour. He was one of more than 30 European journalists and Airbus representatives worldwide who visited the facility. "It's interesting to see how they're built here and how they're organized," Weyer said. Weyer said the Airbus facility in Hamburg, Germany largely produces airplanes, whereas the Columbus facility produces helicopters. He added he had no idea how large the facility or impact the Columbus Airbus branch was for the community. "It is a very small city, but it seems that a company like Airbus comes here offers education and possibilities for people to stay here," Weyer said. "I see that there is a effect when you see the employees talk about it. It seems that there's something positive for the region but I don't know the region."
 
Coast casinos have best year since recession, best December ever with sports betting
Mississippi Coast casinos had their best December in 26 years, after legalized sports betting allowed Saints fans across the Gulf Coast to bet on their team this year. The 12 casinos had a combined $106.4 million in gross casino revenue in December, a 7.5 percent increase over December 2017. The only other time the Coast casinos topped $100 million in December was in 2007 --- before the national recession and when South Mississippi was booming with construction after Hurricane Katrina. That December's revenue was $103 million. The boost in revenue began Aug. 1, when Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi and Gold Strike in Tunica took the first legal sports bets in the state. In the next five months, fans placed $157.6 million in wagers at Mississippi's 23 sports books, for an average of $31.5 million a month. In December, during the last weeks of the NFL regular season, fans bet $40.9 million.
 
Teacher pay raise possible in legislative session
Among the issues lawmakers and constituents will likely see in this year's Mississippi State Legislative Session are some with the potential to affect education in the Golden Triangle and across the state. The SDN caught up with Sen. Angela Turner-Ford, a Democrat from West Point, and Representatives Rob Roberson, R-Starkville, Gary Chism, R-Columbus, and Cheikh Taylor, D-Starkville, to discuss any education issues that might be taken up during the session. All four legislators said there was a high likelihood of a teacher pay raise bill during the session. Mississippi gubernatorial candidate and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and other high-ranking Mississippi Republicans have mentioned the possibility of a pay raise. All four legislators said they would support such a bill, should one come up. "We've looked at some of the bills," Roberson said. "I don't know how they're going to be structured, but I do know that there is a lot of support. As a matter of fact, I haven't heard of anybody that doesn't support the teacher pay raise right now."
 
Gov. Phil Bryant pushes teacher pay, school safety in State of State
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant used his final State of the State speech Tuesday to look back on his two terms and to offer proposals for his final year in office. Bryant, a Republican, asked lawmakers to enact a teacher pay raise and to approve a school safety program. He mentioned concerns about active shooters in U.S. schools, but did not offer specific details about how he would like to prevent or respond to such situations. "Our schools, which once were a haven of security, have become a place of potential violence," Bryant said. "To help protect our students and those who teach them, I will ask you to pass a comprehensive plan to keep our school children safe. The recommendations come from a yearlong study for effective results." He asked lawmakers to put more money into the foster care system, which has been under federal court scrutiny for years. He also asked them to approve programs designed to reduce the rate of people who return to prison after serving time.
 
Gov. Phil Bryant gives final State-of-the-State Address
Gov. Phil Bryant gave his eighth and final State-of-the-State Address to a joint session of lawmakers Tuesday night. Much of the term-limited Republican's speech focused on Mississippi's economy and educational system. Bryant reflected on positive changes during his eight years in office, including an unemployment rate that's fallen by half and a high school graduation rate that's climbed from 75 percent to 83 percent. Bryant also called for a teacher pay raise, a school safety bill and more criminal justice reform. Rep. Steve Holland, D-Tupelo, said Bryant has been a successful governor. Bryant delivered on what he promised, Holland said, meaning cutting taxes and passing conservative social policies --- largely without stirring controversy. "It's been a pretty solid affront on social justice and equality," said Holland, who's served more than decades in the Legislature. "I don't think he's been terribly offensive as governor. Some governors are offensive. He's been fairly vanilla."
 
Phil Bryant bullish on teacher pay raises, jobs, and health care economy in final State of the State
In his final State of the State address, Republican Gov. Phil Bryant reminded Mississippi of the progress he believes the state has made during his administration while Democrats say the governor picked up the mantle of issues they've supported all along. While Bryant speeches in previous years have seen attacks on the media and criticism of naysayers, this year's address featured a mostly positive tone from Bryant, who touted gains Mississippi has made in education, health care, recruiting industry and economic and workforce development. A great deal of Bryant's 40 minute speech centered on education. Despite the governor championing improved revenue collections, House Minority Leader Rep. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, said in the Democratic response: "We will still struggle to fund education and basic services as the enormous tax cuts passed for out-of-state corporations in 2016 begin to suck cash out of the budget this year."
 
Lawmakers have mixed reactions to the Governor's State of the State Speech
Republican Senator Briggs Hopson of Warren County confirms a teacher pay raise is on the agenda, but the question is how much of a pay raise can Mississippi afford? "Obviously we have to see where our revenue picture is first and right now it looks pretty good but you know you have to balance that with other needs in the state but it is certainly something I think we will be taking a look at," said Briggs Hopson. Republican Senator Buck Clarke of Washington County chairs the appropriations committee. He says other big ticket items could take millions of dollars out of the general fund. So, he believes the formula to increasing salaries should favor employees most in need. "Our people at the lower end of the pay scale a lot of times don't get the initial pay raises," said Clarke. Democratic Representative Alyce Clarke of Hinds County says she sides with the governor and his charge to pass and fund the Mississippi Safe School Act. She says it should focus on beefing up security on campus.
 
Mississippi House: Power cooperatives could offer internet
With rural residents facing few choices for high speed internet, Mississippi lawmakers pushed ahead Tuesday with a measure that would allow the state's electric cooperatives to offer the service. The House voted 115-3 to approve House Bill 366 , sending it to the Senate for more debate. The measure would allow Mississippi's 25 electric cooperatives to form subsidiaries to offer broadband internet service. They're currently prohibited from doing so by law. Supporters said the bill would provide an opportunity for the state's many rural residents to fully participate in an economy and society that assumes people have good digital access, although they warned it would take time for service to become widespread.
 
Longtime Mississippi lawmaker Ed Perry, known for 'Whiskey Speech,' fiery oratory, dies
Longtime former lawmaker and House Clerk Ed Perry of Oxford died Tuesday night, state Democratic Party leaders confirmed. Perry, 76, was a force in state government and served in the House from 1968 to 1999. He was longtime chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee and of the Judiciary A Committee and also served on the Joint Legislative Budget Committee during a period where the state general fund budget grew from $970 million to $1.6 billion. Perry was named House clerk in 2000, and served there through the mid 2000s. Perry was a strong proponent of increased funding for the state's colleges and universities and helped revamp the state budget process to its modern format after a separation of powers case. Perry, an attorney, was known as a powerful orator in the Legislature. He also was also known for his colorful rendition of former lawmaker N.S. "Soggy" Sweat's 1952 "Whiskey Speech." Sweat gave a speech that appeared to be both for and against continued alcohol prohibition that drew national attention. Perry would regale lawmakers annually with his rendition.
 
Judge Roberts to present portrait to Supreme Court
Circuit Court Judge James L. Roberts Jr. of Pontotoc will present his portrait to the Mississippi Supreme Court Friday morning in Jackson. The ceremony is scheduled to began at 11 a.m. on Jan. 18 at the Supreme Court Courthouse in Jackson. Roberts served for six and one-half years on the Mississippi Supreme Court. He was elected to the Supreme Court in 1992 and served until March 1999. "Looking back, I enjoyed it," Roberts said. "I'm very proud of having served on the state Supreme Court. I'm pleased to have my portrait there." Roberts said that he wanted to present the portrait to the Supreme Court before Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. the last of Roberts' former colleagues still serving on the high court, retires on Jan. 31.
 
Carlton Reeves, federal judge known for civil-rights rulings, assigned racial profiling lawsuit
U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves, who has handled a number of high-profile civil-rights cases on abortion access, religious freedom and same-sex marriage, will now oversee a race-discrimination lawsuit against a Mississippi sheriff's office. The case, in which plaintiffs allege Madison County sheriff's deputies routinely target African Americans for traffic stops, was reassigned to Reeves, an Obama appointee, following the retirement of Senior U.S. District Judge William H. Barbour Jr. The American Civil Liberties Union filed the suit in 2017, alleging that the sheriff's department targeted black communities with tactics such as checkpoints, roadblocks and warrantless home searches. The ACLU claims that black citizens are nearly five times more likely to be arrested than white people in Madison County, although the county's population is only 38 percent black.
 
Barr fields questions on Mueller probe, independence from Trump at confirmation hearing
William P. Barr, President Trump's nominee to be the next attorney general, appeared Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee for confirmation. Barr, a former attorney general, deputy attorney general and head of the department's Office of Legal Counsel, unquestionably has the experience for the post. But he faced tough questioning about how he would remain independent from a president who attacks the department constantly, and how he will treat special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's investigation into Russian election interference. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), the Senate Judiciary Committee's ranking Democrat, had said she would seek to be "reassured" that Barr will treat Mueller fairly, while Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) had said that Barr already has intimated he "is committed to allowing Mr. Mueller to finish." Barr has raised questions about Mueller's probe publicly and to Justice Department leaders.
 
As the Government Shutdown Drags on, Security Risks Intensify
The current federal government shutdown, the longest in United States history, is in its fourth week, with no clear path to resolution. With 800,000 federal employees on full or partial leave as a result, cybersecurity experts raised an early alarm about how the shutdown would impact US cybersecurity. Those early concerns have since compounded, and evolved into a mounting crisis. Most intelligence and law enforcement work is continuing during the shutdown, because the Department of Defense already has its funding established for 2019. And a large number of critical federal employees outside of DoD are being asked to report to work uncompensated until they can receive backpay. But crucially, from a cybersecurity perspective, organizations within the Department of Homeland Security -- including the new Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency launched in November -- are operating with a skeleton crew.
 
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey names former Congressman Jo Bonner chief of staff
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced a major change on her staff on the second day of her new term. Former Congressman Jo Bonner will replace Steve Pelham as Ivey's chief of staff. Bonner had joined the administration as a senior adviser on Dec. 1. Pelham will leave to become the vice president for economic development and chief of staff for Auburn University President Steven Leath. Pelham has been Ivey's chief of staff since she became lieutenant governor in 2011. Bonner represented Alabama's 1st Congressional District in southwest Alabama from 2003 to 2013. He resigned from Congress in 2013 to take a job as vice chancellor of government relations and economic development for the University of Alabama System in 2013. "Jo brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our administration, and I know we aren't going to miss a step as my cabinet, staff and I work, every day, to honor the support and confidence the people of Alabama gave us last November," Ivey said in the press release.
 
Judge Throws Out Alabama Law That Protects Confederate Monuments
For more than a century, a 52-foot obelisk has stood in the center of Birmingham, Ala., a monument to Confederate soldiers and sailors who fought in the Civil War. In 2017, amid a national reckoning on racial violence and Confederate symbolism, the city's mayor decided the monument should be covered up. Tall plywood walls were installed around its base, obscuring inscriptions on the pedestal. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall sued the city, citing a state law passed earlier that year prohibiting the removal, relocation or alteration of historical monuments in place for more than 40 years. But on Monday an Alabama judge rejected his arguments and overturned the law. In a statement provided to NPR, Marshall's office said it still believes the law is constitutional and that it will appeal the ruling. The Alabama decision comes as another high-profile Confederate statue is being decided. On Tuesday, the remnants of the "Silent Sam" Confederate statue at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill were hauled away and put in storage; it had been damaged by protesters in August.
 
In Era of News Deserts, No Easy Fix for Local News Struggles
The local news industry hasn't been the subject of much good news itself, lately. Newspaper circulation is down sharply, and so is employment in the newspaper industry. Financial cutbacks have led to the shutdown of nearly 1,800 daily and weekly newspapers since 2004. Two developments this week brought the issue into further focus. Facebook, whose success has contributed to the news business' decline, announced Tuesday it would invest $300 million over three years in news initiatives with an emphasis in local coverage. More ominously, the hedge fund-backed Digital First Media, known for sharp cost-cutting strategies, bid to buy Gannett Co., the publisher of USA Today and several daily newspapers across the country. The statistics are numbing: U.S. weekday newspaper circulation is down from 122 million to 73 million in 15 years. The number of working newspaper journalists has been cut in half since 2004. Nearly 1,800 daily and weekly newspapers have been lost in the same period, down to a little more than 7,000. The tally is compiled Penelope Muse Abernathy, a journalism professor at the University of North Carolina, whose study of the topic has given rise to new terminology: news deserts.
 
EMCC's Center for Manufacturing Technology Excellence 2.0 nears completion
The final phase of construction on East Mississippi Community College's Center for Manufacturing Technology Excellence 2.0 is under way and construction crews have shifted their focus from infrastructure and framing to flooring, lighting and other finish work. "A dream that began in December 2013 is coming to fruition," EMCC Workforce and Community Services Vice President Dr. Raj Shaunak said. "Hopefully the CMTE 2.0 shall be ready for occupancy and we will be teaching students there in the fall of 2019. Our staff has been working diligently to ensure the transition to the new facility is smooth." A coalition of partners that included EMCC and local, state and federal officials worked for three years to secure funding, nail down a site location and hammer out program details for the $42-million facility dubbed the "Communiversity," which will house EMCC Workforce Division programs in advanced manufacturing. The Appalachian Regional Commission provided more than $10 million for the project. Other funding partners include the Mississippi Legislature and Clay, Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties. The Golden Triangle Development LINK has also been instrumental in the project.
 
MGCCC to hold groundbreaking ceremony for new facilities at Perkinston Campus
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the new residence hall and student union on the Perkinston Campus on Wednesday, January 23 at 1 p.m. The ceremony will be held behind Harrison Hall near Gregory War Memorial Chapel. The 57,331-square-foot residence hall will include 103 rooms with lobbies on each floor, study rooms and many other amenities. The 24,717-square-foot student union will include a banquet hall, lobby with a covered porch area and a dining area. The new dining facility includes seating for 600. The new facilities are expected to be completed in late 2019.
 
Auburn University fills two senior administrative roles
Auburn University announced Tuesday that it has filled two senior administrator positions, with the new members of the Auburn Family scheduled to step into their new roles later in the spring semester. Steve Pelham, a 1979 graduate of Auburn, will serve as chief of staff and vice president for economic development starting Feb. 1. Pelham is chief of staff for Gov. Kay Ivey, herself an Auburn alumna, where he manages the governor's legislative agenda, budget and staff. Pelham joined Ivey's staff after her election to lieutenant governor in 2011. With his move to the Plains, Pelham will be replaced in Ivey's administration by former Congressman Jo Bonner. Joffery Gaymon is scheduled to take the reins as vice president for enrollment on March 4. A graduate of Georgia College and State University as well as Northeastern University, Gaymon has held enrollment positions at the University of West Florida and the University of South Carolina, Beaufort.
 
U. of Florida liberal arts interest on rise
For University of Florida senior Olivia Allen, the decision to pursue her first liberal arts major was a personal choice. From a young age, Allen was curious about understanding the motivations of people, so she chose psychology. "I always knew that I wanted to do some sort of counseling," Allen said. As a sophomore, an introductory UF forensic anthropology class called "Skeleton Keys" sparked a second interest. Allen spent the spring semester in Ethiopia, doing field work, which led her to choose anthropology as a second major. As liberal arts colleges throughout the country are struggling to sustain enrollment, the UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has found ways to adapt through study abroad and undergraduate research programs. From 2006 to 2014, enrollment at UF CLAS declined by more than 2,000 students, from 14,432 to 12,177. Since 2014, however, enrollment has steadily increased, with 13,690 students now pursuing 38 majors. "We do about 35 percent of the undergraduate degrees of the university," UF CLAS Dean David Richardson said. "We like to think of ourselves as a microcosm, in a way, of the entire undergraduate population."
 
U. of Tennessee frat member apologized to rape accuser via texts, records show
The 20-year-old member of Phi Gamma Delta accused of drugging and raping two female University of Tennessee students at the fraternity house apologized to one of the women in text messages, according to an affidavit in support of a search warrant. "I'm sorry," one message said. "I (messed) up and will stay out of ur life now and again I'm really sorry," another read. On Tuesday, the fraternity, also known as Fiji, agreed to sanctions after the university concluded its investigation following reports that two women were raped at the house the night of Nov. 29 by someone they knew. The accused -- whom the News Sentinel is not identifying because he has not been charged with a crime -- was suspended from Phi Gamma Delta and moved out of the house, according to fraternity president Logan Sizemore. When asked if the suspect was currently enrolled at UT and whether any punishment was meted out for him or other students, Tyra Haag, director of media relations for UT, responded: "As for questions regarding the accused student, federal law prohibits the university from discussing disciplinary investigations or outcomes involving individual students."
 
U. of Arkansas' Pryor Center Names William Schwab Executive Director
The David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History at the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences has named William Schwab as its new executive director. Todd Shields, dean of Fulbright College, said in a news release that Schwab's new role is part of the Pryor Center's push to more clearly define job descriptions and duties in order to better focus on and accelerate the center's public outreach efforts. In his new role, Schwab will manage the day-to-day operations of the Pryor Center, including strategic planning and budgeting, coordination of fundraising efforts with Fulbright College, supervision of the center's staff, serving as a main liaison between the center and the college and continuation of his role to help the center expand upon its mission of education, research and outreach.
 
Texas A&M veterinarians to treat Houston police dog battling bone cancer
T-Rex has worked as a Houston police K-9 since 2015, and it's been a career full of accomplishment and excitement. He's helped catch more than 100 criminal suspects and done explosives detection work at major events such as the 2017 Super Bowl and World Series baseball games. But after his handler noticed he was moving a little slower, doctors found bone cancer. Then, on his last patrol call last month, he injured himself cornering a suspected burglar during a foot chase. It hasn't been an easy road lately for T-Rex, but on Friday, he'll head to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, where he'll lose a leg but get an extension on life."These dogs are like your children," said T-Rex's handler, Officer Paul Foster. "You spend every day with your dog, and you worry about them hurting themselves." "The good news is that the cancer is a lot slower in spreading than other types [of bone cancer]," Foster noted.
 
Heavy snow damages almost a third of U. of Missouri's trees
Nearly a third of the University of Missouri's trees were damaged by the heavy snow accumulation from the weekend's winter storm, Gary Ward, MU vice chancellor for operations, said in a statement Monday. MU's Campus Facilities, the department responsible for maintaining nearly 30 miles of sidewalks, 15 miles of streets and 75 parking lots, has had staff working around-the-clock to clear as much of the debris as possible before more winter weather hits this weekend, said MU spokeswoman Liz McCune. "About one-third of Mizzou's 6,000 trees have some damage, from a few small branches to large limbs or portions of trees," McCune said. A few of the trees, including the one in front of Lefevre Hall on University Avenue, may have to be completely removed because of the extent of their damage. McCune said Campus Facilities is unsure of when all damaged limbs will be removed because they are also busy trying to prepare for the next storm.
 
If History Is Any Guide, End of Federal Shutdown Won't Bring Quick Relief for College Researchers
Neal F. Lane didn't mince words when he spoke at the 1996 American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting, in Baltimore. On the heels of a 21-day government shutdown, then the longest in U.S. history, the National Science Foundation's director was reeling. Funds for many continuing grants had run out. He expected funding gaps for renewals and delays in funding new awards. New programs could be pushed back significantly -- perhaps six months to a year --- or canceled. The shutdown, he said, had "demoralized our work force and destroyed any efficient timetable for our already pressured work." More than 20 years later, a stalemate between lawmakers and President Trump has drawn the current partial shutdown to a new record length, 25 days. It has major implications for research. The longer federal agencies stay dark, one provost told The Chronicle last week, the more grant applications will pile up, delaying groundbreaking science and cutting off the work that early-career scientists can do before they go up for tenure. What will happen when government operations restart? History indicates that the road to normality will not be easy.
 
Online learning fails to deliver, finds report aimed at discouraging politicians from deregulating
Online education has not lived up to its potential, according to a new report, which said fully online course work contributes to socioeconomic and racial achievement gaps while failing to be more affordable than traditional courses. The report aims to make a research-driven case discouraging federal policy makers from pulling back on consumer protections in the name of educational innovation. Spiros Protopsaltis, an associate professor and director of the Center for Education Policy and Evaluation at George Mason University, co-wrote the report with Sandy Baum, a fellow at the Urban Institute and professor emerita of economics at Skidmore College. Protopsaltis is a former aide in the Obama administration's Education Department and to Senate Democrats. Baum advised Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. "Online education has failed to reduce costs and improve outcomes for students," they wrote. "Faculty, academic leaders, the public and employers continue to perceive online degrees less favorably than traditional degrees."
 
UNC board moves to accept Carol Folt's resignation this month, earlier than expected
Carol Folt on Tuesday morning tried to separate her decision to remove the remnants of the toppled Silent Sam Confederate monument from her choice to step down as chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill after graduation. Hours later, the UNC system's Board of Governors eliminated any slim chance that would happen, taking action some saw as telling Folt not to let the door hit her on the way out -- and possibly cementing her as a martyr in the eyes of groups unhappy with what they believe is an increasingly activist board. The Board of Governors accepted Folt's resignation during a closed emergency meeting Tuesday afternoon, specifying a date months earlier than the chancellor had intended to leave. The board accepted the resignation effective Jan. 31, whereas Folt had said she planned to step down after commencement, scheduled for May. "She resigned, we accepted it," said Harry Smith, Board of Governors chair, during a question-and-answer session with reporters, the audio of which was provided to Inside Higher Ed. "We just felt it was better to compress the timeline and then work more toward a healing process."
 
Ending Ban on Pell Grants for Prisoners Is Said to Yield 'Cascade' of Benefits
For 25 years, almost no pathway has existed for incarcerated Americans to receive Pell Grants, the most widely used form of financial aid for low-income students. Reopening that pathway, a new report says, would allow hundreds of thousands of people to take college courses, creating "a cascade of economic benefits." The report, published on Wednesday by the Georgetown Law School's Center on Poverty and Inequality and the Vera Institute of Justice, describes a domino effect: With access to Pell Grants, it says, more incarcerated people could afford to take college classes while in prison. When they are released, they'd be less likely to reoffend and more likely to look for work. Businesses would have a larger pool of potential job applicants, the report says, and more former prisoners would get better-paying jobs. Prisoners have been excluded from the federal Pell Grant program since 1994, when President Bill Clinton signed a sweeping crime bill that, among other things, enacted the ban. Before then, college courses in prison were relatively common. With Clinton's signature, funding for those programs dried up. Meanwhile, the prison population ballooned.
 
Book preserves state's reaction to integration order
Syndicated columnist Sid Salter writes: School desegregation in Mississippi was a tough, messy and often a very dangerous business. None knew those truths better than the white and black Mississippi school superintendents, principals, classroom teachers, coaches and students who were charged a half-century ago with catching the judicial hot potato known as Alexander v. Holmes County Board of Education. ... Few Mississippi school districts produced more intrigue in ultimately achieving integration than the Yazoo City School District, led in 1969 by legendary Mississippi school administrator and coach Harold "Hardwood" Kelly. ... Too many of the stories of Mississippi educators from that era have passed away. But through the efforts of Mississippi State University Professor James "Jim" Adams and his wife, University of Alabama Professor Natalie Adams, many of those first-person accounts of public school integration in Mississippi are being preserved -- like those of "Hardwood" Kelly.


SPORTS
 
Q Weatherspoon pushes No. 24 Mississippi State past Florida
Quinndary Weatherspoon felt like something had been missing in his last few games. As one of the leaders on the Mississippi State men's basketball team, Weatherspoon's concerns played a role in MSU dropping its first two Southeastern Conference games. With a potential third-straight league setback staring the Bulldogs in the face, Weatherspoon found the precision and accuracy that had been missing. Weatherspoon scored on a layup and converted the three-point play with 3.6 seconds remaining Tuesday night to lead No. 24 MSU to a 71-68 victory against Florida in a SEC game before a crowd of 7,501 at Humphrey Coliseum. MSU will take on Vanderbilt at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (SEC Network) in Nashville, Tennessee. Four of the team's next five SEC games will be on the road. But with Weatherspoon on call, MSU has the confidence to stay back on track. "I just do whatever to help my team win," Weatherspoon said.
 
Quinndary Weatherspoon hits another winner for Mississippi State
No. 24 Mississippi State finally earned its first Southeastern Conference victory. But it certainly wasn't easy. Just as it had been in both of the Bulldogs' two league losses, Tuesday night's game went down to the wire. Quinndary Weatherspoon drove the length of the court for a contested layup with 3.6 seconds left and was fouled. Weatherspoon's free throw gave MSU a 71-68 lead that stood to send the 7,501 in attendance home happy. "I just do whatever I can to help my team win," Weatherspoon said. "It doesn't really matter what time of the game it is – the first five minutes or the last few seconds -- I'm going to do whatever it is I need to do." It was the latest shot in a storied history of game-winners for Weatherspoon, who has now hit five in his collegiate career. "It's unbelievable," said MSU coach Ben Howland. "He just seems to have that rare, rare ability to make that play to finish."
 
'It's unbelievable': Bulldogs bounce back with Weatherspoon's game-winner
Quinndary Weatherspoon had the ball in his hands with the game on the line against Ole Miss last week. He chucked up a long three, and Mississippi State eventually lost by four. Weatherspoon said he thought his team trailed by three against the Rebels, but it only trailed by two. He would have tried to drive to the rim if he knew the correct score, but there's nothing he could do about that when Mississippi State and Florida were tied at 68 with less than 10 seconds left Tuesday night. This time Weatherspoon didn't do any second-guessing. He drove to the bucket and scored, plus a foul, with 3.5 seconds left. His three-point play was the game-winner in the No. 24 Bulldogs' 71-68 win over the Gators at Humphrey Coliseum.
 
Weatherspoon's late heroics help Mississippi State win close game
Mississippi State's basketball season was starting to teeter. After the Bulldogs had already dropped the first two games of its Southeastern Conference schedule, they were tied with Florida with just seconds to play on Tuesday night. With an 0-3 league start staring it right in the face, MSU found a way. Quinndary Weatherspoon's layup and ensuing free throw with just 4 seconds left lifted No. 24 State to a thrilling 71-68 victory. It was an uplifting win for State after dropping SEC contests to South Carolina and Ole Miss last week. "This is good," Weatherspoon said. "It just gives us our confidence back so we can get back on the right track and try to run off a couple (wins) in a row like we did when we took our first loss (in non-conference play)."
 
Florida again stumbles late, falls at No. 24 Mississippi State
In need of a key bucket, No. 24 Mississippi State went to old reliable --- Quinndary Weatherspoon in crunch time. Weatherspoon converted a three-point play with 3.4 seconds left to lift the Bulldogs over Florida 71-68 on Tuesday night. It was the sixth time in his career that Weatherspoon sank the winning shot. He drove the lane and was fouled by Kevarrius Hayes while dropping in the winning layup. Weatherspoon finished with nine points. "We were supposed to get the ball in, and then me and Lamar (Peters) go back and forth with it," Weatherspoon said. "Lamar broke off the play and got out of the way, and that left me an open lane. I thought it went good, and it gets our confidence back to get back on the right track." Peters scored all 16 of his points in the first half, and Tyson Carter added 12 for Mississippi State (13-3, 1-2 Southeastern Conference). "That was obviously a huge win over a very good team that is very well-coached," Mississippi State coach Ben Howland said. "I was very proud of our guys, and I thought we kept our composure so much better in this game than we did last Saturday (against Ole Miss). And Q (Weatherspoon) just seems to have that rare, rare ability to make that play."
 
Ben Howland pleased with Bulldogs balance, 3-point defense
Ben Howland had plenty of teaching points to take from the Mississippi State men's basketball team's first two Southeastern Conference losses. No. 24 MSU improved in two of the areas -- 3-point defense and shot selection -- on Tuesday night to avoid falling to 0-3 in the league. With eight players in the scoring column, including three in double figures, No. 24 MSU used its depth to earn a 71-68 victory against Florida before a crowd of 7,501 at Humphrey Coliseum. "I thought our defense was better because they force you to be patient offensively because they're playing that one-two-two, kind of soft zone, to make you use time," Howland said. The Bulldogs improved in all areas, from Quinndary Weatherspoon's attention to detail to drive for a two instead of a 3-pointer to performances that did not show up on the floor.
 
Growing confidence helps Mississippi State's Jessika Carter settle down
Jessika Carter reminds herself to slow down whenever she feels the need to do something quickly. When you're a freshman adjusting to the life in the Division I fast lane, there can be a gap between reminding yourself to do something and then executing. Seventeen games into her freshman season, Carter is showing the confidence and comfort level to slow down. On Monday against Auburn, Carter had one of the best games of her young career, as she scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds in the No. 7 Mississippi State women's basketball team's 85-59 victory against Auburn in a Southeastern Conference game at Auburn Arena. "I feel a lot more confident. The last few days in practice we have been working on being more patient with your post moves," Carter said. "I have gotten more confident and slowed down a lot more." No. 7 MSU (16-1, 4-0 SEC) will look to Carter to supply key minutes off the bench at 6 p.m. Thursday (ESPN) when it plays host to No. 15 South Carolina (12-4, 4-0) at Humphrey Coliseum.
 
Teaira McCowan earns eighth career SEC weekly honor
Mississippi State's Teaira McCowan has been named the SEC Player of the Week for the third time this season after averaging 20.0 points and 15.5 rebounds against Georgia and Auburn. The Brenham, Texas, native has now been recognized by the conference office eight times in her career, including a freshman of the week selection in 2015-16. Her eighth award surpasses Victoria Vivians (2015-17) and LaToya Thomas (2000-03) for the most in MSU history. McCowan recorded her 52nd career double-double on Thursday night against Georgia with 18 points and 21 rebounds. She was dominant on the offensive glass, picking up 13 offensive rebounds that she turned into 14 second-chance points. McCowan also blocked two shots and recorded a steal. The Bulldogs return to Humphrey Coliseum on Thursday night to host No. 21/20 South Carolina. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.
 
Teaira McCowan claims another SEC weekly award
Mississippi State's Teaira McCowan has yet again been named the SEC Player of the Week. It is the eighth time in her career and third time this season that the Bulldogs' senior center has been bestowed the honor by the league office. She has now been named SEC Player of the Week more than any other MSU player, surpassing LaToya Thomas and Victoria Vivians. McCowan averaged 20 points and 15.5 rebounds in MSU's wins over Georgia and Auburn. She collected her 52nd and 53rd career double-doubles in those contests.
 
Sanderson Championship scores a winner with a new date
The Sanderson Farms Championship is on a roll. The championship played at the Country Club of Jackson will have a new date this year, Sept. 19-22, thus avoiding conflict with the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions held in China. That means the Sanderson tourney will be able to recruit top players who otherwise could be committed to the tournament in China. The PGA Tour recently pulled the plug on a potential event on the same weekend in San Francisco that would have been hosted by Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors star, according to the Associated Press. The San Francisco event did not have a director and there were concerns that work on the Lake Merced Golf Club might not be completed in time, AP reported. With the avoidance of a scheduling conflict with the tourney in China, the Sanderson Farms Championship will offer 500 FedExCup points to the winner for the first time. The tournament will also have a record purse, jumping from $4.4 million to $6.6 million, with $1.188 million going to the winner.
 
Sanderson Farms Championship: no more second fiddle for state's PGA Tour event
Mississippi sports columnist Rick Cleveland writes: You likely have seen Mississippi's big golf news today: The Sanderson Farms Championship, long the state's premier golf tournament played annually at Country Club of Jackson, is switching dates and stepping up in status on the PGA Tour. The 2019 Sanderson Farms Championship will be played Sept. 16-22 and the total purse zooms from $4.4 million to $6.6 million. But the money is not the big deal. The big deal is this: Mississippi's lone tournament on the PGA Tour will now be what tour officials refer to as an "unencumbered' event. That means there is no other PGA Tour tournament played on those days. The Sanderson Farms Championship has its own, stand-alone dates. There's no competition. That is huge. The winner of the Sanderson Farms Championship automatically will receive an invitation to play in The Masters. That is huge.
 
South Carolina stays red hot, blows by LSU on the road for eighth win in a row
Dawn Staley seems to have found her starting lineup. After cycling through six different groups in the early portion of the season, South Carolina women's basketball cruised on the road Sunday, downing LSU 76-53. The victory, USC's eighth in a row, was led by the starting quintet of junior guard Tyasha Harris, redshirt senior guard Bianca Cuevas-Moore, redshirt junior guard Te'a Cooper, junior forward Mikiah Herbert Harrigan and redshirt senior forward Alexis Jennings, who were starting their second consecutive game together. Those five simply overwhelmed the Lady Tigers early, and the Gamecocks (12-4, 4-0 SEC) coasted from there to maintain their spot atop the SEC standings. "When we play fast, we're really good," Staley told the SEC Network of the first quarter. "When we're sharing the ball and the ball is touching everybody, we're a hard team to guard." The Gamecocks travel to Starkville for a showdown with No. 7 Mississippi State on Thursday. USC and MSU are the only teams in the SEC still unbeaten in conference play.
 
Super Bowl planners: Shutdown brings 'uncharted territory'
A day after travelers waited nearly 90 minutes in snail-speed security lines at the world's busiest airport, Atlanta's mayor is concerned about the waits that could result when the city hosts the 2019 Super Bowl. The ongoing partial government shutdown is "uncharted territory" amid planning for one of the world's biggest sporting events, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said Tuesday. "Obviously, we are in uncharted territory with the shutdown that's gone on this long, and we are preparing as best we can from our vantage point," Bottoms said. The mayor and others at a Tuesday news conference said two years of planning have them well-prepared to protect the public. But the government shutdown is a wild card that arose relatively late in that planning process.
 
New Orleans leaders fire back after Atlanta mayor's Saints trash talk
Let's just say a couple of feisty New Orleans City Council members weren't willing to take the Atlanta mayor's snide remarks about the New Orleans Saints sitting down. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms got in the first zinger last week, when she was asked what teams she hoped would make it the Super Bowl, to be played in Atlanta on Feb. 3. "Just anybody other than the Saints," Bottoms said. "I know there's going to be a bounty on my head for saying that, but if it can't be the Falcons then, hey, as long as it's not the Saints then I'm happy." On Tuesday, New Orleans City Councilman Jay Banks rushed to the defense of his home team, implying that the mayor is just sore because the Falcons blew a 25-point lead and lost to the New England Patriots in the 2017 Super Bowl. "I'm sorry she feels that way. We would welcome them here," Banks said. "At the end of the day they shouldn't be mad at us that they suck. It's not our fault that they choked."



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