Thursday, March 14, 2019   
 
Vicksburg native Richard Rula honored as MSU National Alumnus of the Year
For five decades, Richard Rula has bled maroon and white. Now, the Vicksburg native holds the honor as Mississippi State University's National Alumnus of the Year. Rula was recognized as the university's top alumnus during campus ceremonies in Starkville where he was honored during the MSU Alumni Awards banquet. Rula and his wife Sherry, also a Vicksburg native, have a deep connection to the River City. The couple, who have been married for 47 years, are graduates of H.V. Cooper High School. Her father, former mayor John D. Holland, is credited for attracting the Miss Mississippi Pageant to Vicksburg in 1958 after first being elected in 1957. He remained mayor until 1968. "I come back all the time," Sherry Rula said. "We still go back and Richard has jobs there." She said her husband was very surprised about being chosen by MSU as the national alumnus of the year when he got the call in December. At Mississippi State, Rula's cornerstone contribution is helping make possible a new 70,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility under construction to house the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; classrooms and offices; teaching, research and chemistry labs; and high bay areas for the Bagley College. In his honor, the facility will be known as the Richard A. Rula Engineering and Science Complex.
 
Starkville sales tax bill
A new bill that would create an additional 1-percent sales tax at restaurants in Columbus seems to be in limbo in legislative committees. A similar bill for a 1-percent tax in Starkville is moving through the state Legislature after easily passing the House last week. Representatives approved House Bill 1565, which authorizes a new 1-percent tax on Starkville's restaurants and hotels/motels on a 100-5 vote last week. The bill was transferred to the Senate on Tuesday. The city requested the bill from the Legislature to generate funds to "construct, finance, operate, equip, lease and maintain new sports tournament and recreational facilities and improve existing sports and recreational facilities." Rep. Rob Roberson (R-Starkville), one of the bill's authors, said it will now go to the Senate's Local and Private Committee. Sen. Angela Turner-Ford said she's also not expecting any difficulty for the bill in the Senate.
 
Accused fraternity house burglar arrested in Canton
A man accused of stealing an assortment of items from a Mississippi State University fraternity house was arrested Monday and returned to Starkville. Denarious Deshawn Evans, 18, was arrested in Canton, and returned to Starkville where he faces three counts of burglary of a dwelling. According to his indictment, Evans entered the Sigma Alpha Epsilon House and attempted to steal property of three individuals in the dwelling. He was released from Oktibbeha County Jail Tuesday, after posting a bail of $10,000 per charge or $30,000. MSU Police Chief Vance Rice said the event took place during the MSU football game against the University of Florida on Sept. 29, 2018. Rice said residents of the fraternity house noticed Evans' presence and immediately called MSUPD, who initially arrested him. Evans was indicted by a grand jury on Jan. 10, but did not show up to court, putting a warrant out for his arrest.
 
Prospective aquaculture farm discussed for area
A prospective aquaculture farm could generate a boost in jobs and economic growth in the Miss-Lou community by producing and distributing high-value ocean fish in Natchez. Plans for a facility that would include an integrated fish hatchery, grow out and distribution site for seafood markets were recently discussed during an Economic Development Council meeting with Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell and several business leaders in Natchez and Adams County. Chandler Russ, the Executive Director of Natchez Inc., said he agreed to not disclose the owner's identity and location for the facility until an official announcement can be made. "We're still in high-level discussions and negotiations with this client," Russ said, "and due to a non-disclosure agreement we cannot comment on an ongoing economic development prospect."
 
How to fix 'brain drain' in Mississippi? Millennials leaving, growth slow
As CEO of the largest bank headquartered in Mississippi, John Hairston spends a great deal of time studying the Coast economy. What he sees worries him. Other Gulf regions outpace the Mississippi Coast in terms of income growth and other indicators of economic vitality. Hairston is CEO of Hancock Whitney Bank and immediate past chairman of the Gulf Coast Business Council, which is hiring a third-party expert who will catalog the Coast's strengths and weaknesses, then present a plan for growth. The plan would focus on quality of life as well as the economy, for Harrison, Hancock and Jackson counties, a central region lacking regional direction. The effort is driven not only by the Coast's weak economic performance but also by the well-documented "brain drain" Mississippi is experiencing. Census data shows the state is not only losing population but also a prized resource -- millennials, young people born between 1981 and 1996. Brain drain appears to be slower on the Coast, but the sense among community leaders is that too many college graduates are choosing to settle elsewhere and too few are migrating here.
 
Mississippi using Gulf oil and gas money on six projects
Mississippi will spend more than $23 million in Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act money on six projects, Gov. Phil Bryant announced on Wednesday. In 2006, Congress passed GOMESA, to share federal Gulf oil and gas production revenue with Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and local coastal governments. Bryant said the latest disbursement and projects will help "protect and enhance our beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast."
 
Ag commissioner says meat labeling law will help consumers
Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson says a new law just signed by Governor Phil Bryant should protect you when you shop for meat. Gipson was in Laurel Wednesday to speak to Jones County Republican Women. On Tuesday, Bryant signed into law Senate Bill 2922, prohibiting animal cultures, plants and insects from being labeled as meat. Gipson said the law was needed because of what he calls "fake meat" products. "The Governor signed it into law yesterday to require truth in labeling standards for meat, so consumers in Mississippi, in Jones County, in Laurel, can know that they're buying real meat, versus lab-grown, cell-cultured meat in a petri dish," Gipson said.
 
Proposed legislation would revive expired film incentives
There's not the same movie magic in Mississippi's backyard that there has been in recent years. "People are calling me saying, 'Why can't we have some more movies?'" explained Sen. Lydia Chassanoil. The answer is that Mississippi allowed the tax rebates for the out-of-state productions to expire in 2017. This 2015 PEER report revealed a lower return on investment than what some lawmakers were comfortable supporting. "They only looked at the only raw dollar amount and they showed that there was about 49 or 50 cent return on every dollar we were spending," said Sen. Joey Fillingane. But some in the movie business are telling lawmakers that they threw in the towel too soon. "Certain industries take time to mature and grow, so obviously there may be some up front investments that have to be made by the state and they pay back over a longer period of time," Fillingane continued.
 
State Senate candidate Bubby Johnston encourages community involvement
Erle E. "Bubby" Johnston III said he expected to spend his retirement playing golf, riding boats, attending concerts and volunteering. But spending time at ClarkCo State Park with AmeriCorps volunteers prompted him to think bigger. "I have the time, the energy and the passion to help make a better Mississippi," Johnston said Wednesday in his campaign announcement for District 33 of the State Senate. Johnston will face Jeff Tate in the Republican primary on Aug. 6. The winner will succeed long-serving Sen. Videt Carmichael. After 28 years at East Central Community College, where he oversaw the public relations department, Johnston retired to Clarke County to his wife, Janet's, hometown of Quitman. Before his career at East Central, Johnston worked for his family-owned paper, the Scott County Times, learning the ins and outs of a small business.
 
Ronnie Crudup Jr. Wins Special Election for South Jackson House Seat
Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn called Ronnie Crudup, Jr. Tuesday evening to congratulate him on his victory after voters in south Jackson elected the local activist to fill a vacated seat in the House of Representatives. Within hours, Crudup sat in the Republican speaker's front-row seat on the House floor this morning, already wearing the pin House members customarily wear. "Today, we are privileged to have with us Ronnie Crudup Jr., who won that election yesterday on the first go-round," Gunn said Wednesday morning. "Congratulations, we're glad to have you here." Crudup won 63 percent of the vote in Hinds County's House District 71 race, defeating opponents Edelia J. Carthan and Stephanie Skipper. Former Democratic Rep. Adrienne Wooten vacated the seat after she won a circuit-judge position last year. Crudup said he expects to be sworn in Monday.
 
Rep. Steven Palazzo appointed to Naval Academy Board of Visitors
Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Mississippi, was selected to serve on the Board of Visitors of the United States Naval Academy. The Board of Visitors' duty is to inquire into matters related to academy such as the state of morale and discipline, the curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs and academic methods. "I am honored to receive this important appointment that allows me to further invest myself in the institution that is molding our military leaders of tomorrow," Palazzo said. "The students coming through the academy are learning to lead our nation in combat, and it is a privilege to have a direct hand in this chapter of their life. I am thankful for the House Leadership's trust in my ability to serve on the Board of Visitors and I look forward to contributing to such a distinguished institution." The board consists of six members appointed by the president, three appointed by the vice president, four appointed by the speaker of the House, one designated by the Senate Armed Services Committee and one designated by the House Armed Services Committtee. Palazzo is one of two House Republicans selected to serve on the board.
 
Wicker concerned by Trump's declaration of emergency at border
Sen. Roger Wicker has concerns about President Donald Trump's attempt to secure border wall construction funds through a declaration of emergency. In a statement released Monday, the Republican Wicker said he supports efforts by Trump to build barriers along the U.S./Mexico border. He fears, however, that a declaration of emergency could undermine the oversight authority of Congress and expand presidential authority past constitutional limits. "I commend the President for his efforts to secure our nation's border quickly," Wicker said. "However, I have serious reservations as to what the Emergency Declaration might do to the Constitutional principle of checks and balances." Wicker also pointed to fears that future presidents could abuse the ability to push contested policy goals by using emergency declarations. Wicker's statement did not explicitly say whether or not he will vote to block Trump's emergency declaration. When asked by the Daily Journal, the senator's office would not clarify how Wicker plans to vote.
 
'Extraordinary': GOP heads for unprecedented clash with Trump
President Donald Trump invited some Senate Republicans to the White House on Wednesday afternoon for a two-hour conversation about trade. But the president couldn't quite get the looming GOP rebuke of his national emergency declaration off his mind. "He would like for us to vote against the [resolution]. But he understands and respects that senators may have different opinions," said Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), who has yet to announce his position but has repeatedly griped about the president's end run around Congress. After more than two years of keeping his veto pen capped, Trump is going to have to put it to use --- twice --- courtesy of Republicans. In a remarkable bit of timing, the Senate will hold two votes this week placing GOP senators at odds with the president on foreign and domestic policy, likely forcing the first vetoes of his presidency.
 
Belhaven U. offers 'safe haven' for students caught up in Argosy's abrupt closure
When Belhaven University President Dr. Roger Parrott learned that Argosy University permanently shut down about 20 of its nationwide campuses, he took to Facebook to send "a short message of hope" to the students who only received a 48 hour notice that classes would not be in session on Monday or any day after. "There's schools across America that close, but usually there's some advance warning," Parrott told Mississippi Today. Belhaven will waive application fees for Argosy students from now through April 30. Students who transfer their credits to Belhaven will be awarded a $500 scholarship towards their first class. If approved, Argosy students may also transfer a maximum of two-thirds of their program hours toward a graduate program.
 
East Central Community College gives back with service projects
East Central Community College Dr. Billy Stewart spent a busy Friday afternoon in the Neshoba County Library, working to categorize books from a special collection. No, Dr. Stewart was not moonlighting. He has plenty to do as ECCC president, a job he has held for seven years. Dr. Stewart and around 100 of ECCC's students, staff and faculty were giving their time across the junior college's district through community service projects. "This is something I have wanted to do for a while," Stewart said. "Our goal is to make this an annual thing. "One of the things we adopted as part of our Strategic Plan was community partnerships. We basically said we were going to make a commitment to our communities that support us. One of the ways, a small way, is to try come into the community and do some service projects. We call it ECCC -- East Central Cares about our Communities." "We have a lot of people," Dr. Stewart said. "This could grow to where we would have 500 to 600 people working on projects."
 
U. of Florida students examine school ties to slavery
A handful of University of Florida students have spent this semester scouring through 90-year-old documents, census records and other archives. All to find out, whether UF had ties to slavery -- and if it did, what kind. The independent study research project has raised some interesting findings. As a modern land-grant institution, UF dates back to 1905, long after slavery ended. But its forerunner institution, the Ocala-based East Florida Seminary, was founded in 1853 and had board members who owned slaves. "People who contributed to the school essentially were slaveholders," said UF junior history major Morgan Peltier, one of the researchers on the project. UF junior Gabby Paul said she came up with the idea to pursue the research project after doing a report in one of UF history professor Jon Sensbach's classes. The 20-page report centered on ties to slavery in northern institutions such as Harvard University and the University of Virginia.
 
College cheating scandal: UT system to discuss how to safeguard against bribery scheme
Leaders of the University of Tennessee system will discuss how to safeguard against a bribery scheme aimed at sneaking unqualified students from wealthy families into competitive colleges. University of Tennessee system interim President Randy Boyd said the scheme will be a topic during a four-hour meeting on Wednesday with chancellors. "Are we doing everything we can?" Boyd said. "And can we learn from other people's unfortunate situation?" None of the University of Tennessee system's schools were mentioned in court documents and Boyd said the issue isn't one that he has "heard anything about" at UT's schools. "I've seen the headline, but I've not spent a lot of time thinking about," he said. "Anytime you cheat to accomplish anything, that is wrong. From what I have read there is retribution."
 
U. of South Carolina has twice as many ranked grad programs as Clemson, per U.S. News and World Report
The University of South Carolina has more top-tanked graduate programs than every other college in the state combined, according to newly released rankings from U.S. News and World Report. Of USC's 53 top-rated programs, the program receiving the highest honor of No. 1 in the nation was the school's International Business program, according to the rankings, which were released Tuesday. That prestigious program also ranks 15th in the world, according to a 2018 survey from SportBusiness. USC's other top-10 ranked programs included Social Psychology (No. 4) and School Library Media (No. 5), "More than 6,200 graduate students from more than 60 countries come to South Carolina to join a community of engaged scholars focused on attaining the knowledge to make a positive difference in their chosen fields," Cheryl Addy, vice provost and dean of the Graduate School, said in a press release. "We're proud of our programs and the pivotal role they play in helping students achieve success."
 
Missouri non-tenured faculty to have greater job security
Long-term faculty who teach at the University of Missouri without receiving tenure will have stronger job protections under a new rule issued Monday by UM System President Mun Choi. Non-tenured faculty at the four campuses who have been employed for two to five years will receive six months' notice that their contract will not be renewed and those with more than five years will receive one year's notice, the rule states. "This policy has been widely discussed and vetted with the University of Missouri Intercampus Faculty Council as well as the UM provosts, and general officers," Choi wrote in a memo to the four campus chancellors. The new rule addresses concerns raised by non-tenured faculty as the university made significant cuts from 2016 through 2018. On the Columbia campus, non-tenured faculty had asked for two-year contracts for non-tenured faculty on campus at least three years and a three-year contract for faculty with the rank of full professor.
 
Advocates for students with learning disabilities fear impact of admissions scandal
One part of the scandal that has rocked the world of college admissions this week is the alleged faking of learning disabilities. Wealthy parents would coach their children into getting diagnosed as having a disability, qualifying for extra time or other accommodations when taking the SAT or ACT. Authorities have charged that this made it easier to cheat on the exams, sometimes by having answers changed, in testing centers controlled by those involved in the alleged scheme. Those who advocate for students with learning disabilities say the scandal has the potential to undercut progress they have been making in gaining acceptance of the idea that learning disabilities are real and that some people with them need accommodations in testing situations. "We are very concerned with how this scandal may impact students with disabilities on or transitioning to college campuses," said Kristie Orr, director of disability services at Texas A&M University and president of AHEAD: The Association on Higher Education and Disability. Orr said that the systems in place by testing agencies are sound and were bypassed in the scandal by bribery, not because the process was flawed.


SPORTS
 
Bulldogs begin SEC Tournament tonight
Ben Howland enjoys the Christmas season and everything that it entails. However, nothing gets Howland's heart pumping and brings a smile to his face quite like the madness of March. In his fourth year as Mississippi State's head coach, Howland finally has his Bulldogs primed for a postseason run in the NCAA Tournament, it's first in a decade. "This is my favorite time of the year and when you're participating, it's pretty special," said Howland. "Especially with all the work these guys have put in. It's fun right now. Our guys are playing good and I'm excited for them." But before they can turn their full attention towards the Big Dance, the Bulldogs must travel to Nashville to participate in the SEC Tournament. MSU enters the SEC Tournament as the No. 6 seed and will play tonight at approximately 8:30 p.m. on the SEC Network against No. 11 seed Texas A&M (14-17), a 69-52 winner in Wednesday's late game against No. 14 seed Vanderbilt.
 
What Mississippi State can gain with a strong showing in the SEC Tournament
In college basketball, March is a time for upsets. It's a time for teams who everyone thought didn't stand a chance to beat their opponent, to shock the naysayers in dramatic fashion. As sixth-seeded Mississippi State (22-9, 10-8 SEC) enters this week's SEC Tournament at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, the Bulldogs are caught between both sides of that narrative. The Dogs by no means want to fall victim to a Cinderella story when they play 11th-seeded Texas A&M (13-17, 6-12 SEC) in their first game of the conference tournament Thursday night at approximately 8:30 p.m. The Commodores and Aggies played late Wednesday night to earn the right to face Mississippi State. The Dogs do, however, want to play spoiler in the next round, where they would square off with third-seeded Tennessee (27-4, 15-3 SEC). Head coach Ben Howland said he isn't looking far enough ahead to think about an upset over the Volunteers, but some of his players are. "It would be great, but I would never discuss it," Howland said.
 
Savion Flagg leads Texas A&M men's basketball team past Vanderbilt to open SEC tournament
The Texas A&M men's basketball team enjoyed the taste of victory at the Southeastern Conference tournament after leaving empty-handed each of their past two trips. Savion Flagg scored 17 of his career-high 29 points in the first half, and 11th-seeded A&M beat Vanderbilt 69-52 on Wednesday night in the opening round of the tournament to keep coach Billy Kennedy around for at least another game. Last year, the Aggies lost on a buzzer-beater to Alabama and Vanderbilt the year before that. Even though Flagg and Chandler are both sophomores, they're the only Aggies to play in this tournament before and they knew how long it had been. A&M (14-17) snapped a two-game skid in a struggling season that has put Kennedy's tenure at risk after eight seasons and 151 wins. The Aggies will play No. 6 seed Mississippi State in the second round Thursday night.
 
Mississippi State's Weatherspoon, Perry collect All-SEC honors
Mississippi State's Quinndary Weatherspoon and Reggie Perry captured All-SEC accolades announced Tuesday by the league office. Weatherspoon came away with All-SEC first-team honors, whereas Perry secured an All-SEC Freshman Team selection. Weatherspoon also was named to the Associated Press' five-person All-SEC first team and earned a spot on the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-District IV Team. For Weatherspoon, it marked the first time that a Mississippi State player notched All-SEC first-team honors since Dee Bost and Arnett Moultrie during the 2011-12 season. He is the 13th player in program history to tuck three All-SEC selections during his career, most recently Bost from 2010-12.
 
Mississippi State baseball steams into SEC play after runaway rout of Grambling
Mississippi State had its final tune-up before SEC play begins this weekend, and the No. 5 Bulldogs had no problems with Grambling State in a 18-1 win at Dudy Noble Field on Wednesday night. A lot went right for State, including when senior center-fielder Jake Mangum became the fifth Bulldog in school history to reach 300 career hits with a single in the sixth. Mangum helped State reach its highest run total of the season. Here's how the Dogs got there.
 
Was Joe Alleva surprised by boos, signs? 'I didn't expect to be greeted with cheers'
When LSU athletic director Joe Alleva walked up the aisle to take his seat in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center for the men's basketball game with Vanderbilt last Saturday, he wasn't expecting a warm reception from the sellout crowd. On the night No. 9 LSU clinched the outright Southeastern Conference regular-season title, Alleva was showered with boos and derisive chants directed at him and signs that called for his firing a day after Tigers head coach Will Wade was suspended indefinitely by the university. "Well, I didn't expect to be greeted with cheers," Alleva said Wednesday. "I expected that." Wade was sidelined Friday after declining to meet with LSU President F. King Alexander and Alleva to address comments he made on a secretly-recorded FBI phone call with convicted recruiting middleman Christian Dawkins. Speaking on a teleconference with The Advocate editorial board from Nashville, Tennessee, where he was attending meetings in advance of the SEC tournament that begins Wednesday night, Alleva said he knew what was going to happen when he walked into the building.
 
Missouri hosts prospective eSports athletes on campus
The eight gamers spun spaghetti around forks, chomped on cheeseburgers and cut through chicken breasts. Some wore hoodies. Others, collared shirts. All were sitting and eating in a spacious private room at The Restaurants at Southwest on the MU campus for the same reason: Missouri's eSports program. It was 11:30 a.m., and the gamers and their families -- who had traveled from St. Louis, Jefferson City, Houston, Virginia and Kansas -- had already been on campus for hours. Earlier in the day, they had weaved through MizzouRec, where current students were running on treadmills like you'd expect with spring break coming up so soon. Then, they walked through Brooks Residence Hall, where they glanced over lounges and dorm rooms and such. The tours led them inside a building, past a photo collage of Missouri football and baseball legends and into this private room, where they sat and ate in preparation for the day's centerpiece: the signing of papers. Kevin Reape, Missouri's eSports coach, stood at the front of the room and addressed the team. "I think we're going to do eSports at a level it has never been done before," Reape said.
 
College scam: Vanderbilt's high academic standard blocked bribes, FBI says
Vanderbilt University's high academic standards for student athletes prevented the school from becoming a target in a bribery scheme aimed at sneaking unqualified students from wealthy families into elite colleges, according to a court document. Federal prosecutors on Tuesday charged 33 affluent parents -- including actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin -- nine college athletics coaches, and others in the elaborate conspiracy. Prosecutors said some of the parents paid coaches "enormous sums" to get their children into competitive schools by faking their athletic credentials. But a key witness and co-conspirator said Vanderbilt's requirements for incoming football players were too stringent to "hide" a student with low grades, according to an affidavit submitted by an FBI agent in the case. At Vanderbilt, the "lowest" football players have a 3.4 GPA and "have to be big time players," the affidavit stated, quoting the witness. "Can't hide (a student) there."
 
In Bribery Scheme, Coaches Sold Their 'Admissions Slots' to Nonathletes. Wait, Coaches Influence Admissions
One day in August 2015, Gordon Ernst got an email. "I have been really successful this summer playing tennis around the country," wrote a prospective applicant to Georgetown University. "I am looking forward to having a chance to be part of the Georgetown tennis team and make a positive contribution to your team's success." Ernst, then the university's women's tennis coach, forwarded the email to an admissions officer with the comment: "Potential spot." The applicant played tennis, but not well enough to make Georgetown's team. And Ernst had no intention of putting her on it. Instead, they and the student's parents were part of an elaborate bribery scheme, described on Tuesday by federal prosecutors, whose sordid details and scope have brought elite-college admissions under national scrutiny. Like people across the country, athletics administrators have been eagerly following news of the case. Karen Peters, senior associate athletics director at the University of Portland, spent some of Tuesday night reading the coverage. She said she was shocked.



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