| Monday, May 6, 2019 |
| Maj. Gen. Durr Boyles encourages Mississippi State grads to contribute to success of others | |
 | Maj. Gen. Janson D. "Durr" Boyles, Adjutant General of Mississippi's National Guard, gave Mississippi State spring graduates practical leadership advice during three commencement ceremonies Thursday and Friday. Boyles recalled how the world was undergoing change during the post-Vietnam War era when he completed his own MSU bachelor's degree and was commissioned into military service 37 years ago. MSU President Mark E. Keenum congratulated graduates and said one reason a Mississippi State degree has wonderful value is because MSU grads are well known for their outstanding work ethic. "I promise you this, Bulldogs -- armed with your degree, living your life with integrity, making the most of your God-given skills, doing the very best at anything you ever set out to achieve by working hard, setting a great example for others, and being kind and considerate to all people -- there's nothing you can't achieve that you set your mind to. There's nothing this world can bring your way that you won't be prepared for," Keenum said. |
| Meehan education major repeats as an MSU-Meridian outstanding graduate | |
 | Rachel Laird, recognized in 2017 as a Stephen D. Lee Scholar for completing her undergraduate degree at Mississippi State with a perfect 4.0 grade point average, again will be honored for attaining the same achievement as a graduate student. The Meehan resident was recognized at MSU-Meridian's commencement ceremony Thursday as the Division of Education's Outstanding Graduate Student. A Riley Scholar and member of Phi Theta Kappa during her undergraduate days at MSU-Meridian, Laird also was named the division's Outstanding Undergraduate Student two years ago. Surprised to receive the recognition once again, Laird said she felt many of her classmates were more deserving of the award. "While I'm truly honored, I can't help but think of others who deserve this far more than I do -- friends of mine who have completed this degree while working full-time in a classroom or taking care of their families. They amaze me," she said. |
| Pontotoc native and MSU grad lands coveted Japanese teaching spot | |
 | As she graduates this week from Mississippi State with a bachelor's degree in foreign language, university senior Tennelle A. Venson also is preparing to embark on a new adventure made possible by the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program for U.S. citizens. This August, the Pontotoc native will take her passion for language and culture to Japan, where she will work as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT). ALTs are primarily assigned to local boards of education or elementary, junior high or high schools and carry out their duties under the guidance of language teachers' consultants or Japanese teachers of English. Throughout the application process, she received support from Amie Russell, an instructor in the MSU College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures; Tommy Anderson, the college's interim assistant dean for undergraduate academic affairs; and Fumiko Joo, CMLL assistant professor of Asian Studies. |
| MSU Fulbright Scholar to gain understanding of human differences in Germany | |
| It pays to learn about the ideas of young and bright Mississippians entering the workforce or seeking further education, because it could be a peek through the keyhole into the future of the Magnolia State. But not all Mississippians who live, work and learn here are native to the state. Graduating senior Rachel Booth left a rural east Texas town called Lindale to attend Mississippi State University and study psychology. Booth was chosen as a Fulbright Scholar last month and will spend 10 months in Germany studying cognitive psychology and conducting research at a university. This marks the third year an MSU student has named a Fulbright finalist. "I'm really excited for the cultural exchange aspect, I'm excited to represent Mississippi State and the United States while I am over there and I am excited to learn from the German people," Booth said. Booth said the trip is also an opportunity to learn how a place with such a tumultuous past has changed. |
| At six months, smallest calf born alive making progress at MSU's College of Veterinary Medicine | |
 | It's been about six months since the bull known as "Lil Bill" arrived at Mississippi State's College of Veterinary Medicine as quite possibly the smallest calf ever born alive. With a birth weight of just 7 pounds, 14 ounces -- smaller than the average human baby and 1/8th the weight of a normal calf -- nobody knows quite what to make of him. That's true for the team of MSU veterinarians and vet school students who have cared for the tiny bull since his arrival. It might be even true for Lil Bill, himself. "He's made a lot of progress," said Dr. Gretchen Grissett, the College's bovine expert and primary veterinarian in charge of Lil Bill's care. "He's weaned now. He's learned to moo, although he doesn't moo a lot. He interacts with the other calves. (Lil Bill) doesn't know what to make of the other calves. They don't know what to make of Lil Bill. Since his arrival, Lil Bill has been a sensation. |
| Mississippi State honored for commitments to campus well-being | |
| Mississippi State University is passionate about improving the lives of Magnolia State students and residents, and this ongoing commitment recently was honored by the Partnership for a Healthier America. In 2015, MSU began a three-year effort with PHA to implement expanded nutrition, physical activity and wellness programming on campus. Since then, the university has fulfilled all 23 health and wellness guidelines developed by PHA in collaboration with some of the nation's leading nutrition, physical activity and campus wellness experts. This month, MSU was honored as a completing PHA partner at the organization's annual summit in Chicago. Taylor VanDyk, registered dietician and health and wellness educator for MSU's Department of Health Promotion and Wellness, accepted the recognition on the university's behalf. |
| Mississippi State students talk recovery at Tupelo schools | |
| The road to recovery can be a difficult one that could take years or a lifetime to complete, but whether that journey starts at 14 or 50 years old, it is easier when the journey has purpose. A group of Mississippi State University students visited Tupelo Middle School and High School Friday morning to raise awareness about recovery and share information about resources available to the students when they attend college. "We want to bring awareness to recovery, and reach out to students prior to them going to college, so they know what is available to them at most colleges, it is something I didn't know about going into college and it might have made things different if I did," junior Hannah Ellis said. The students are part of Mississippi State University's Collegiate Recovery Community. They participate in recovery nights where they share their stories with people from local treatment centers and they also visit an outpatient center in a Columbus hospital to try to make a difference in the lives of people struggling with addiction. |
| Registration open for Mississippi State freshman, transfer student orientation | |
| Mississippi State students who will be new freshmen or transfers in the fall are encouraged to register now for a summer orientation session. While several June sessions are full, freshman sessions still are available on June 24-25, June 27-28 and July 8. Transfer sessions are offered May 20, June 12 and June 26. A combined freshman and transfer session will be offered August 16. To register, visit orientation.msstate.edu. "Orientation is an exciting event for incoming students and their guests to explore our beautiful campus, discover their new college town and learn even more about academic programs, housing, account services and student life," said Kylie Forrester, director of MSU's Office of Orientation and Events. "We can't wait to welcome new students into the Bulldog family." |
| Next generation manufacturing challenges heads to Meridian | |
| Project MFG announces the launch of the Next Generation Manufacturing Challenge to address the number one crisis facing the US manufacturing industry -- a critical shortage of skilled workers. American companies are expected to be short 2.4 million skilled workers over the next 10 years, unless the industry is able to attract young people to replace an aging workforce in which 2.7 million manufacturing professionals are preparing to retire. The Meridian event takes center stage on May 10 and 11 at the Riley Workforce Development Center on the campus of the Meridian Community College. "Mississippi State University welcomes the opportunity to participate as a coordinating partner and alongside Meridian Community College in the launch of this exciting new initiative. We look forward to working with other partners in the coming months and with Mississippi's Community Colleges to grow and sustain these events for future generations of Mississippi technical students," said Randy Jones, director of Mississippi State University Institute for Systems Engineering Research. |
| Oktibbeha Master Gardeners put final touches on plants to sell | |
| Months of meticulous pampering of an extensive variety of edible and ornamental plants will soon pay off for the 50-plus members of the Oktibbeha County Master Gardeners whose mission is to foster education and improvement of horticultural practices. The plants will be available for purchase during the annual plant sale which raises funds for scholarships in horticulture at Mississippi State University. The sale opens May 11 and will run three consecutive Saturdays -- May 11, 18, 25 -- from 7:30-10:30 a.m. It is conducted in cooperation with the weekly Community Market located at the intersection of Lampkin and Russell Streets in downtown Starkville. "This project involves practically every master gardener in one way or another," said Jim McKell who spends hours each week preparing for the sale. "We have regular assignments each week for members to report to our greenhouse on Old Highway 82. Their duties include planting, watering, repotting and fertilizing the plants to produce the healthiest and most robust plants for the public." |
| How a young man moved from the wrong side of history | |
 | The distinguished judicial career of U.S. District Judge William Alsup has included many important decisions, including his 2018 order that the Trump administration, which wanted to stop processing DACA renewal applications, continue with that practice. But his new memoir, "Won Over: Reflections of a Federal Judge on His Journey from Jim Crow Mississippi," focuses on the part of his life that preceded "distinguished." The challenge of those years, as he puts it, was "moving the needle ... from the wrong side of history to the right." He is almost 74 now, and "I hope I have a lot of years left in me, but I have reached the point in life where I wanted to put this down on paper." He planned the book at first for his family, then for the library at his undergraduate alma mater, Mississippi State University, then the federal court library. |
| John Michael VanHorn qualifies for Ward 5 race | |
| A second candidate has filed paperwork to run in a May 30 special election to fill former Ward 5 Alderman Patrick Miller's seat. John Michael VanHorn qualified Thursday afternoon with the Starkville city clerk's office. VanHorn is Mississippi State University's associate director of fraternity and sorority life. He ran for the Ward 4 seat in 2009 and lost to then-incumbent Richard Corey. Ten years later, VanHorn says he's got more life experience than when he ran as a 21-year-old and is ready to take another shot. Hamp Beatty, who works with MSU's Center for Government and Community Development, has also qualified for the Ward 5 election. Candidates can qualify through May 8. |
| Bill Waller Jr. hears teacher concerns in Southaven | |
 | As state education officials and legislative leaders try to determine what went wrong when it was discovered not all state public school teachers and others were not part of a $1,500 pay raise for next year passed in this year's lawmaking session, a candidate for governor came to DeSoto County this week to hear their concerns and solutions to improving the plight of Mississippi's teachers. Bill Waller Jr., the former state Supreme Court Chief Justice who is running against Hernando Republican state Rep. Robert Foster and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves for the party's nomination for governor in the August primary, held a town hall with educators at the Lost Pizza Co. in Southaven Wednesday afternoon. About 20 people, made up of primarily DeSoto County teachers, came to hear Waller address education issues as they explained their situation. Much of what was talked about involved their heavy workload for what they consider is still not at a cost-of-living wage. |
| Infrastructure, education dominate discussion in legislative luncheon | |
| Infrastructure and education appeared to be key areas of concern for members of the Columbus Lowndes Chamber of Commerce during Friday's legislative forum at Lion Hills Center. For the third year in a row, Mississippi legislators answered questions from chamber members about the work done in the legislative session -- questions which ranged from issues such as the "brain drain" of college graduates leaving Mississippi and the state lottery, which was passed in a special session in August, to legislation passed to aid military families in the state and the bond funds that were awarded to local projects. But the first question -- what are the best options to address the state's aging and, in some cases, crumbling road and bridges -- set the tone. The topic was raised several times throughout the 1 1/2-hour event. |
| Mississippi Women Could Benefit Most from Lift on SNAP Ban | |
| Mississippi women stand to gain the most now that the U.S. government will no longer be able to bar state residents with felony drug convictions from receiving federal food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Congress passed the ban in a 1996 welfare reform bill but offered states the option to opt out. The Mississippi Legislature opted out of those prohibitions in March, leaving them in place in just one state, South Carolina. West Virginia opted out of the ban earlier this year. The ban included the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, program. The prohibitions disproportionately affect low,-income women and people of color, said Madeline Morcelle, a staff attorney at the Mississippi Center for Justice who focuses on food security issues. Women lead men when it comes to disqualifying felony drug convictions. On top of that, she said, women, especially single mothers, are most likely to experience hunger. As the Legislature debated Mississippi's new Criminal Justice Reform Act earlier this year, Republican state Sen. Sally Doty pushed her colleagues to include a lift on the ban---which did not include violent felons. |
| U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith renews support for livestock haulers legislation | |
 | U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) has renewed her support for legislation to ease federal hours of service (HOS) and electronic logging device (ELD) regulations imposed on haulers of livestock and insects. Hyde-Smith is an original cosponsor of the Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act (S.1255), which was reintroduced by Senator Ben Sasse (R-Neb.). Hyde-Smith cosponsored identical legislation last year. "Livestock haulers need flexibility from the strict federal regulations that mandate when to initiate electronic monitoring and when to take a rest. As a cattle farmer, I know the problems that can arise from long stops where the livestock are exposed to bad weather and other factors," Hyde-Smith said. "This legislation responsibly addresses highway safety concerns, as well as the specific needs of livestock haulers." |
| Staff exodus leads to upheaval at governor's association | |
 | A steady drumbeat of staff departures at the National Governors Association (NGA) raised red flags among the group's top leaders, setting off a two-month standoff that ended recently with the ouster of the group's executive director. In a series of phone calls between governors over the past few weeks, they discussed with growing alarm a culture of opacity at the Washington-based NGA, which has had an annual budget of about $15 million in recent years, according to federal tax filings. On April 26, the entire executive committee of nine governors held a conference call and decided to force out Scott Pattison, who held the top job for nearly four years. The NGA's chairman and vice chair --- Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D) and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), respectively -- addressed the remaining staffers on Thursday to soothe frayed nerves. That both governors would take time out of their day to involve themselves in the NGA is unusual for an organization in which governors typically play a hands-off role. |
| Trump Administration Moves To Roll Back Offshore Drilling Safety Regulations | |
 | The Trump Administration is rolling back some of the Obama-era safety regulations for offshore drilling that were meant to prevent a repeat of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion, the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history. The change pertains to rules aimed at keeping offshore oil and gas wells from "blowing out" -- a sudden and uncontrollable release of crude oil. In its summary of the rule changes, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement says the "revisions modify regulations pertaining to offshore oil and gas drilling, completions, workovers, and decommissioning ... to ensure safety and environmental protection, while correcting errors and reducing certain unnecessary regulatory burdens imposed under the existing regulations." The rule will be published in the Federal Register next week. The move comes just after the ninth anniversary of the Deepwater disaster, in which 11 workers were killed and 4 million barrels of oil flowed into the Gulf of Mexico over 87 days. |
| Civilization Is Accelerating Extinction and Altering the Natural World at a Pace 'Unprecedented in Human History' | |
 | Humans are transforming Earth's natural landscapes so dramatically that as many as one million plant and animal species are now at risk of extinction, posing a dire threat to ecosystems that people all over the world depend on for their survival, a sweeping new United Nations assessment has concluded. The 1,500-page report, compiled by hundreds of international experts and based on thousands of scientific studies, is the most exhaustive look yet at the decline in biodiversity across the globe and the dangers that creates for human civilization. A summary of its findings, which was approved by representatives from the United States and 131 other countries, was released Monday in Paris. The full report is set to be published this year. Its conclusions are stark. |
| Alzheimer's: Most expensive disease in America could bankrupt Medicare | |
 | She had researched Alzheimer's disease and its effects on the brain for years, but it wasn't until her own mother's memory began to slip that Dr. Eva Feldman, a University of Michigan neurologist, truly grasped how devastating the disease is. Margherita Feldman was 88 when she moved in June 2017 to the memory care unit of an assisted living home. And although her memory loss wasn't as acute as some of the other residents, it's when the cruelty of the disease -- now the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States -- and the scope of America's Alzheimer's crisis became clear to her daughter. In her work, but also while visiting with her mom, Feldman considered the enormity of the Alzheimer's problem: About 5.8 million Americans now have the disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association. That number will climb to at least 13.8 million by 2050, a 138% rise, and as many as 1 in 3 people who live to be 85 in the United States will die with Alzheimer's disease. "We are really in an epidemic," Feldman said. |
| Eating more rice may protect against obesity, international study suggests | |
| According to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 39.8% of Americans are now obese. Compare that figure to Japan, where the World Health Organization notes only 4.3% of the population is obese. While there are a multitude of factors at play, one group of scientists is suggesting rice consumption may play a role in the stark differences. In fact, according to a new international study presented at the 2019 European Congress on Obesity, obesity levels are "substantially lower" in countries where rice consumption is high (150 grams per day) compared to countries with lower average rice intake (14g per day). Using data from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, Japanese researchers studied rice consumption in the diets of 136 countries with populations exceeding 1 million. Rice products included in the study: white rice, brown rice and rice flour. |
| Entire New Orleans Times-Picayune staff laid off in sale | |
| A competitor that purchased The New Orleans Times-Picayune laid off the newspaper's entire staff. The New York Post reported Friday that a total of 161 workers lost their jobs, including 65 reporters and editors, citing a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notice filed with the Louisiana Workforce Commission. The owners of The New Orleans Advocate, John and Dathel Georges, purchased The Times-Picayune from Advance Local. Advance Local is part of the same corporation that owns Conde Nast. The Advocate will publish a daily paper using the names of both brands beginning in June and will merge their websites under NOLA.com. |
| Student advocacy offices at UM merge to support the accused and survivors of sexual assault | |
 | The university Office of Leadership and Advocacy, which among other services, offers case management teams for students who have experienced sexual assault, is being dissolved into two other offices on campus: The Ole Miss Student Union and UMatter. This change comes after two lawsuits were filed against the university by two former students who said they were discriminated against for being male during their sexual misconduct hearings. Rebels Against Sexual Assault President Colleen Fay said the Office of Leadership and Advocacy is merging with the Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Office, which explicitly provides support for survivors of sexual violence, under the joint title UMatter. "UMatter will consist of three case managers that will handle student advocacy, sexual assault response and violence intervention and prevention," associate director of university communications Rod Guajardo said in a statement. These modifications come five months after United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos proposed changes to how universities handle sexual misconduct. |
| Jackson State University Reduces Out-of-State Fees | |
| Jackson State University recently announced that it will reduce its out-of-state fees to $500 per semester starting in fall 2019, with the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning approving the change. Warren B. Johnson, associate vice president and dean of enrollment management at JSU, said in a release that the university's flat fee, which is separate from tuition, is now $1,000 total for the spring and fall semesters each year. The previous out-of-state fee was $5,614 per semester, or $11,228 per year, and also required students to apply for a possible fee waiver. Johnson also stated that JSU will eliminate the application and waiver process, and automatically assess the reduced fee for all out-of-state incoming and returning graduate and undergraduate students beginning in fall 2019. |
| Students, families celebrate during JSU's 2019 undergraduate commencement | |
| More than 900 undergraduates received degrees Saturday from Jackson State University during commencement. Jelicia Smith received an Industrial Technology degree. She said, "I'm a little emotional. If I cry, I'm cutting onions. This is what we've all been waiting for, but our families are proud. Just a great feeling." "It's been a really long journey, and I'm just ready to get to the end. Start my new job. Start my new chapter in my life," said Ena Keys who received a degree in Meteorology. JSU moved the ceremony from Veterans Memorial Stadium to its Athletics Center because of the rain. The change of venue didn't put a damper on how graduates feel about getting to this moment. "Going straight out of high school I'm so proud of not only myself. I thank God for getting me here," said Justin Bonds who received a Meteorology Degree. |
| Delta State University students share their culture | |
| Delta State University recently offered students a chance to expand their cultural horizons with an event called Culture on the Quad. International students spoke about their home countries and the experiences they have had since moving to the United States. A panel of four students answered questions about what they missed most about their home, what they like most and least about the United States and common misconceptions about their native country. "I feel like a lot of people have the misconception that we live back in the stone ages," said Reuben K. Alawode of Nigeria. "But we have technology and everything that every other country has," he explained. After the students spoke, guests had a chance to try food from around the world prepared by DSU staff and students. |
| Area school boards ask MDE to send GTECHS scores to home districts | |
| Area school board presidents are fighting for their districts to receive test scores from Golden Triangle Early College High School's students. GTECHS, located at East Mississippi Community College's Mayhew campus and which allows students the opportunity to take college classes during their high school career, accepts students from Lowndes County, Columbus Municipal, Noxubee County, West Point Consolidated and Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated school districts. However, it is considered part of LCSD, which also receives Mississippi Adequate Education Program funding to support the school. That means LCSD gets credit for all GTECHS students' test scores, including state end-of-year benchmark testing and college entry exams such as the ACT and SAT -- scores which factor into Mississippi Department of Education's accountability rating of school districts, which are released on an A-F scale each fall. |
| Millsaps College to drop several majors due to downsizing | |
| Millsaps College announced Friday that several majors will be discontinued due to low enrollment. Millsaps sent an email to faculty and students that sparked protest from students. Millsaps spokesman John Sewell said, "We are having to compete with larger but less responsive big schools, and part of what we have to do is adjust into that climate.. and that requires, sadly, some very difficult decisions for us." In addition, Millsaps said these cuts are not the only reductions. Sixteen voluntary retirements and resignations of faculty will help to cut costs at the college. College officials said these changes will not take effect until the fall of 2020. |
| Baptist pastor and Jackson mayor salute Belhaven graduates | |
 | A global Baptist figure and the mayor of Jackson are saluting graduates of Belhaven University. Broadcaster, pastor and speaker Billy Kim spoke to students receiving bachelor's degrees this weekend in Jackson. Kim founded a 17,000-member Baptist church in South Korea after studying in the United States and was noted as the translator for Billy Graham in 1973 when Graham preached before one million people in Seoul. Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, elected in 2017, addressed graduate, adult and online degree recipients on Saturday afternoon. |
| Stacey Abrams keeps presidential possibility alive in Tougaloo commencement speech | |
| Sun streamed through the clouds and Spanish moss swayed in trees on the campus of Tougaloo College, where 55 years ago this summer, busloads of young people gathered for Freedom Summer. It might have been a picture-perfect setting for the long-awaited announcement of a different kind of movement. But Stacey Abrams, a rising political star whose unsuccessful bid for the Georgia governor's office propelled her into the national spotlight and onto numerous shortlists for higher office, stopped short of making such an announcement in her commencement speech for the historically black college's 150th anniversary. She also left the possibility of a national campaign wide open as she addressed more than 100 graduating seniors at her parents' alma mater, near Jackson. |
| East Central Community College holds ceremony for 90th graduating class | |
 | East Central Community College in Decatur held a commencement ceremony for its 90th graduating class Friday at the Neshoba County Coliseum. Loved ones filled the coliseum to cheer on the 2019 class. President Billy Stewart says this class of graduates is among the largest to earn a degree or certificate from ECCC. He also offered the graduates some personal words of wisdom. "I want to encourage you to follow His plan in your life. Not someone else's plan, not even your own. Follow His plan, I can testify, it is worth it," said Stewart. |
| New dorm at Copiah-Lincoln Community College named for Ronnie Nettles | |
 | Ronnie Nettles' children said their dad -- the former president of Copiah-Lincoln Community College -- tried to downplay the magnitude of the event held in his honor Thursday -- the dedication of a building bearing his name. "He was very casual about it, but it's a big deal," said 25-year-old daughter Jordan, of Ridgeland. Nettles' legacy will live on at the Wesson campus as college officials dedicated the new Ronald E. Nettles Residence Hall, the college's new women's honors residence hall. Former Co-Lin Presidents Billy B. Thames and Howell C. Garner, Board of Trustees Chairman Tommy Sasser, and current Co-Lin President Jane G. Hulon spoke to the crowd. The 22,169-square-foot, two-story residence hall has 28 double bedrooms, enough room for 56 students, study areas, laundry facilities, an apartment for the residence hall supervisor, and an elevator. Each room has a private bath, single beds, armoire, desk, chair and internet and cable access. |
| Co-Lin Community College's Natchez VP resigns | |
 | The leader of the Natchez campus of Copiah-Lincoln Community College said she is ready for the next chapter in her career. After more than 12 years of leading the campus, Vice-President Teresa Busby has resigned. The Co-Lin Board of Trustees accepted Busby's resignation during the board's regular meeting Thursday. "It is time for a change," Busby said. "I have been doing this for a long time." Co-Lin President Jane Hulon said she thanks Busby for her leadership of the Natchez campus. Hulon said the Natchez campus is unique in that it not only prepares students for success but also is a leader in community economic development issues and workforce training. Finding a leader for such a unique campus, Hulon said, will take careful consideration. Board member and Natchez businessman Melton King said the school "has big shoes to fill." |
| First black student earns honorary doctorate from U. of Alabama | |
 | Moments before she was to receive her latest recognition at the University of Alabama on Friday, Autherine Lucy Foster reflected on how her story and the Capstone's have intertwined for the past 60 years. "I sat down last night, and when I thought about it, I was crying. The tears were just rolling down my eyes because it is so different and so unique for me to be able to come to such a university as this. That is a wonderful campus out there," Foster said. Foster received an honorary doctorate of humane letters on Friday during the first of UA's five spring 2019 commencement ceremonies this weekend. It was the latest recognition for the 89-year-old, who was the first black student to attend the university. She enrolled in 1956 after a federal court order allowed her into the then all-white school. She attended classes for three days before the UA board of trustees and administration chose to suspend her enrollment following violent protests and threats against her. She was rushed away from campus and the mobs who hounded her brief time there. |
| U. of Alabama researchers win grants to find new ways to communicate weather alerts | |
| Understanding how weather alerts work and the varying levels of impact they have on different populations provides a challenge for meteorologists and municipalities alike. What is the most effective medium for their given constituency? And how do they reach less-represented, vulnerable populations? These are the kinds of questions researchers are asking at the University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences, and now they have secured the funding to find the answers. Dr. Darrin Griffin of the Department of Communication Studies is one such researcher. In collaboration with UA's Dr. Jason Senkbeil, from the College of Arts and Sciences, and Mississippi State University's Dr. Kathy Sherman-Morris, Griffin's team received a grant of more than $250,000 from NOAA to conduct research on the accessibility and comprehension of tornado warnings among deaf, blind and deaf-blind populations in the Southeast. |
| U. of Florida holds new commencement format to mixed reviews | |
 | The second iteration of a single University of Florida commencement ceremony in which students listen to speakers, yell "Go Gators" a lot and leave as graduates -- but without diplomas -- happened on a sweaty Saturday morning and got some mixed results. Even within families. Take the Speizmans from Boca Raton -- grad Marlee, mom and dad Stephanie and David, and twins Ben and Sam, who are set to be in the UF class of 2023. "I'm kind of upset about it. People are really upset about it. The weather, it's Gainesville -- they call (the stadium) the Swamp for a reason," Stephanie said. "All of our South Florida friends who have grads in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are really upset -- it's not intimate. I hope by the time the twins graduate they have it sorted out." David, on the other hand, was fine with the stadium event. "I'm her husband, and I'm very happy with it," he said. UF switched its graduation ceremonies with fall commencement after last spring's event stirred allegations of racism. |
| Effort underway to keep discarded student goods out of landfill | |
 | The University of Georgia is hoping to break records with year-end recycling goals aimed at keeping still-usable items out of the landfill. Thousands of UGA students are packing up and moving out during the next several days. Most, if not all, are going to leave a little something behind. "Our goal for this year's move-out is to have our residents be able to easily donate their items from their residence halls," said Christy Tweedy, UGA Housing Sustainability Coordinator. "We bring local nonprofits onto our campus in order to collect the donations." Tweedy says there are a wide range of recyclable items they want to make sure don't make it into dumpsters. "They can donate items that are in good shape like futons, microwaves, mini-fridges, books, clothing, clean bedding, unopened food items, unopened hygiene items," she said. "We can take opened cleaning products, we also take mattress toppers and towels." |
| U. of Georgia Math Professor Faces Sexual-Misconduct Accusations From at Least 8 Women | |
 | Two years ago, inspired by the #MeToo movement and troubled by recollections of a groping incident during her undergraduate years, Laura Anderson wrote a letter to the president of the University of Georgia. One of Georgia's longtime mathematics professors, she wrote, had used a massage as a pretext to touch her sexually back in the late 1980s, she asserted. She was an undergraduate math student at the California Institute of Technology, and he was a postdoc who had offered to help her study, she wrote. "I haven't seen him in many years, and I have no idea whether he realizes how egregious his behavior was, whether he has reformed, or whether he continues to behave similarly," wrote Anderson, who is now an associate professor of math at Binghamton University, part of the State University of New York. The university placed Kazez on paid administrative leave in March and banned him from teaching and from appearing on the campus while it investigates complaints of sexual harassment, groping, and assault brought by at least eight women, including current and former students and one faculty member. |
| U. of Tennessee professor settles lawsuit with conservative group that accused him of plagiarism | |
 | A University of Tennessee journalism professor and the conservative advocacy group that accused him of plagiarism in a report the group paid him $115,000 to write reached a confidential settlement Wednesday. Professor Stuart Brotman was not working at the university when the alleged plagiarism occurred, and UT has taken no action him because it was a "business dispute," not an academic one, according to a letter included in the lawsuit filed by the State Government Leadership Foundation. Attorney James Friauf said Brotman denies the plagiarism allegation, but agreed to settle the lawsuit "to avoid the continued expense and uncertainty of trial." The terms of the settlement were not made public. The foundation was seeking repayment of the $115,000 the group paid Brotman to write in 2015. |
| 'I want to open doors:' U. of Kentucky graduate with Down Syndrome breaks another barrier | |
 | At 30, Megan McCormick has been in the spotlight more than most people. In 2013, she became the first student with Down Syndrome to graduate from Bluegrass Community and Technical College with an associate degree in education. Two years ago, she made headlines when she returned to work part-time as a para-educator at Mill Creek Elementary, the same elementary school she attended. On Sunday, she will reach another huge milestone, graduating with a bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky. She is believed to be the first person with Down Syndrome to graduate from UK, although complete records have not been kept. And yet to McCormick, 30, all of these achievements, all the things people told her she couldn't do, are just steps in her lifelong quest to show the world that someone with "varying abilities," as she describes it, could get an education that leads to a full-time job working with kids like her. Read more here: https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article229841179.html#storylink=cpy |
| 'The 13th Man' documentary to tell story of 1999 Texas A&M bonfire collapse | |
 | Documentary filmmaker Charlie Minn is in the Bryan-College Station area this week filming for his upcoming documentary, The 13th Man: On November 18, 1999, a College in Texas Changed Forever. "This documentary about the bonfire tragedy is intended to honor and represent all the innocent victims," he said. On Thursday, Minn met with bonfire survivor John Comstock, who was an A&M freshman when "the Aggie Bonfire collapsed around and on top of me," in his words. Now 38, Comstock was 19 years old in the early morning hours of Nov. 18, 1999. He nearly died multiple times after being pulled out of the debris and is often referred to as "The 13th Man," as he was the last survivor to be pulled from the collapsed structure. He later had an unused press release announcing his death framed. "After communicating with John for the last three or four years, and I saw that this was the 20-year anniversary, I said I better get in there now and do it," Minn said. |
| U. of Missouri looks for surge in freshman enrollment | |
 | The University of Missouri recorded a 20 percent increase in the number of incoming freshmen who have paid their deposits for the fall compared to 2018, an indicator of another surge in new students. Through Wednesday, MU reported in a news release, 5,460 students had paid their enrollment deposit. That is 913 more than the deposits through May 1, 2018, and 16.2 percent more than the actual opening day enrollment in August. Students can continue to enroll through the summer, so the numbers could change between now and August. The increase is, however, unlikely to be enough to maintain current enrollment levels. The university enrolled fewer than 30,000 students last fall for the first time since fall 2007. "I think it's great news," said Kim Humphrey, MU vice provost for enrollment management, in a phone interview. "It's getting back to normal. We're doing a lot of good things and prospective students are taking notice of that." |
| Protesters, preachers face off at U. of Missouri | |
| Overlapping chants rose from Speaker's Circle: "Gay rights are human rights" from a group of more than a dozen, and "Gays are gonna go to hell" from a man with a megaphone. The shouting soon changed to "It's OK to be gay" versus "It's wicked to be gay." Both sides traded barbs frequently during the four-and-a-half-hour confrontation between two street preachers decrying homosexuality and more than a dozen protesters, mostly students, Friday afternoon in the University of Missouri's well-known free speech hub. Daniel Rusk and Jeff Mullen, who go by "Brother Daniel" and "Saint Jeff", preached the same anti-gay message Thursday afternoon and put up a tall banner that said "Homo sex is sin." The preachers' "openly oppressive and discriminatory language" could be interpreted as inciting violence against the LGBTQ community, said Ethan Miller, an MU freshman who helped organize Friday's protest. |
| Another Big Move Hits Higher-Ed Publishing, as Wiley Buys Knewton | |
| Another big publisher in higher ed is making a strategic move. John Wiley & Sons announced on Monday that it was buying the assets of Knewton, an 11-year-old company that has at times been held up as the poster child for ed-tech overhype. Knewton was initially known for its adaptive-learning tools designed to work with content from commercial publishers, but more recently it has shifted focus toward its platform that incorporates open educational resources, or OER. The move came on the heels of last week's merger announcement from Cengage and McGraw-Hill. The purchase price for Knewton was not disclosed. Over the course of its history, it has attracted more than $180 million in venture-capital funding but often struggled to establish its value in the fledgling adaptive-learning marketplace. Two years ago, one of its biggest partners and investors, Pearson, decided to phase out its use of Knewton's adaptive-learning technology. |
| Old-school letters can set job seekers apart | |
| Angela Farmer, an assistant clinical professor in Mississippi State University's Shackouls Honors College, writes: Welcome to 2019. It is an era composed of a citizenry which communicates almost exclusively using social media and digital interfaces. From sharing good news on social sites, to responding to group posts, to advertising, to looking for a job, to actually sending a thank-you letter, almost all the communication is shared independent of personified evidence of the individual. Therefore, the time is perfect for those soon-to-be graduates to set themselves apart from the masses who share similar training, skills, education and experiences. One way to do that is quite simple. By returning to what some may consider old-school ways, today's graduates have an excellent opportunity to stand out. |
| State population trends make healthcare issue big | |
 | Syndicated columnist Bill Crawford of Meridian writes: Reckon conservatives will listen when two conservative, pro-capitalism columnists say healthcare is a big issue in Mississippi? Both Wyatt Emmerich and Sid Salter have conservative views and come from the owner side of newspapers where capitalism prevails. Both recently wrote powerful columns about the need to address healthcare issues in Mississippi. Emmerich wrote about Medicaid expansion and pointed to a Millsaps College poll that showed "'making healthcare more accessible and affordable' is the third most important issue to Mississippi voters, after fixing the roads and teacher pay raises." Salter wrote about his own healthcare challenges in a column entitled "Paying for public health care remains federal, state governments' most vexing challenge." He noted that "Aging Baby Boomers like me are going to significantly swell the ranks of the uninsured and underinsured over the next 20 years." Both the swelling and the vexing are with us already. |
| Favored Reeves so far focused on Hood, national Democrats, not his Republican foes | |
| Bobby Harrison writes for Mississippi Today: Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, as he runs for governor this year, spends a great deal of time tweeting and talking about national Democrats and his presumed November general election opponent -- Jim Hood -- and not about his party primary foes. When Reeves begins to direct his political disdain on former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr., a late entry into this year's gubernatorial election, or Rep. Robert Foster of DeSoto County, that will be a telltale sign that Reeves believes one or both of them is a threat in the Republican Party primary. Both Waller and Foster appear to be active on the campaign trail, but thus far Reeves has focused on Hood and trying to link him to what he calls liberal national Democrats. |
SPORTS
| 'It's huge': Mississippi State dramatically seals series win over Texas A&M | |
 | Justin Foscue watched his 13th home run of the season sail over the left field fence at Blue Bell Park on Saturday afternoon. Texas A&M fans sat in silence while he trotted around the bases. They saw the series slipping away from their Aggies. Foscue's solo shot put Mississippi State ahead 4-1 in the seventh and final inning in the second game of a double header. With the way MSU senior pitcher Peyton Plumlee was mowing down the Texas A&M batting order, it felt at the time that the run would be nothing more than extra insurance. Even Foscue himself thought so. He said as he went around the bags and looked at the scoreboard just to the right of where his homer landed, he felt the game was in hand. "Three runs is enough," Foscue said. It almost wasn't. |
| Bulldogs split doubleheader, clinch weekend series | |
| After dropping Saturday's first game 1-0, No.6 Mississippi State took the series finale 4-3 to win its third SEC road series of the season at No. 14 Texas A&M. "It is huge for our (postseason) resume and what we are trying to do," said MSU coach Chris Lemonis. "The first game was a tough one, we just faced a really good arm, but we bounced back and played really well in the second one. This is a really good team that we played today." Senior Peyton Plumlee (4-3) was solid for the third-straight start against a ranked opponent in the series finale, working six innings and allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out one and didn't issue a walk to pick up his second-straight win over a top-15 opponent. MSU (38-10, 15-9 SEC) got RBIs from sophomore Justin Foscue and Tanner Allen, along with senior Jake Mangum. Foscue added his 13th home run in the seventh, a solo shot to left field, which would account for the game-winning run. |
| Texas A&M splits Saturday doubleheader, drops SEC series to Mississippi State | |
| In the days leading up to No. 17 Texas A&M baseball's weekend series with No. 7 Mississippi State, the Aggie coaching staff sat down to prepare for the matchup just like they had a hundred times prior. Guided by head coach Rob Childress, the staff worked through a scouting report and developed pitching and hitting plans to combat one of the most complete programs the country has to offer. However, there was one factor that separated this meeting from all the rest. Childress' three assistants knew that on Saturday, it would be their show to run. For the first time since Childress' daughter, Hannah, was born, the head coach was absent from the dugout while his team took the field. The Aggies split a pair of seven-inning games, a 1-0 win and a 4-3 loss in the double header, while Childress was in Lincoln, Nebraska, watching that same daughter graduate from the University of Nebraska. |
| 'E-THAN': Small shines in Mississippi State's road win over Texas A&M | |
| "E-THAN!" Bang, bang, bang, bang. "E-THAN!" Bang, bang, bang, bang. Texas A&M fans in Section 203 at Blue Bell park wouldn't let Mississippi State red-shirt junior pitcher Ethan Small work in silence during the No. 7 Bulldogs' 4-0 victory over No. 17 Texas A&M on Friday evening. Small's stuff rivaled that of a golfer in a groove during the entirety of his outing. A prolific three-point shooter on a hot-streak. A hockey goaltender who won't let anything get behind him. Every out Small recorded only made them louder. They were at their noisiest when Small allowed Aggie batters to reach base for the first time all day. He had a perfect game through 6.1 innings. Then he hit a batter and walked the next one. Sensing an opportunity to erase Mississippi State's two-run lead, Section 203 reached its peak decibel output. Their chants were intensified. Their banging of the bleachers was more brutal. Small heard the heckling, and the Aggie dugout soon heard Small. After he recorded the final out of the seventh inning, a swinging strikeout of pinch hitter Chandler Morris, Small turned looked to his right and yelled "Let's go!" in the Aggies' direction. |
| My favorite Diamond Dog to cover | |
| The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal's Logan Lowery writes: Before the season started, I went to lunch with Mississippi State's new sports information director for baseball, Greg Campbell. During our conversation over a blue plate special at Restaurant Tyler, Campbell asked me which baseball player has been my favorite to cover at MSU. I paused for a moment to ponder his question. After all, I've had the privilege to cover so many great Diamond Dogs since my first game in 2005. Rea, Rooker, Renfroe, Easley, Frazier, Moreland, Stratton -- the list of names could go on and on. But the guy I chose isn't a player from the past. It's the Bulldogs' current center fielder and lead-off man Jake Mangum. |
| Bulldogs wait out the rain (twice) to score Round 2 victory | |
| Raindrops were falling Saturday afternoon at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre in Starkville. So, instead of tennis being played, Mississippi State's tennis players were huddled in a circle on the court one-touching a soccer ball in the air among them. "That was on their own, figuring that out," said MSU coach Matt Roberts, who was happy that the Bulldogs found a way to keep active during the second of two rain delays Saturday. Not long afterward, Trevor Foshey's shout echoed around the venue as he polished off a victory on Court 3 at 1:48 p.m.. He had needed just one winning shot against South Alabama's Maxime Lapraille when the second rain delay hit. A minute after that, Borges finished off his 6-3, 6-3 win against Sacha Modica at No. 1 singles. And one minute later, Florian Boska ended the day when he delivered the match-clinching shot against Louis Delcour, completing a 6-3, 6-2 victory and sending the Bulldogs to the Super Regional portion of the NCAA Men's Tennis Championships. The Bulldogs will be back home next week, hosting TCU in the Super Regional at 1 p.m. next Saturday. A win sends them to the elite eight. |
| Mississippi State tennis sweeps South Alabama; will host NCAA Super Regional | |
 | Not even two weather delays were enough to keep No. 7 Mississippi State men's tennis out of the win column on Saturday in their NCAA second round match, as the Bulldogs weathered the storm to capture a 4-0 win against South Alabama at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. It was the Bulldogs' 14th-consecutive victory. MSU (24-3) relied on momentum from a strong doubles point to take all six first sets in singles before rain briefly halted play on two occasions midway through the second sets. Mere minutes after play resumed the second time, State closed out three straight wins to oust the Jaguars (19-7) for the second year in a row in the second round. With the win, the Bulldogs advance to the NCAA Round of 16 for the second year in a row and the third time in four seasons. It also marks the program's 14th Round of 16 showing all-time. As a top-8 seed, State will be a host in next weekend's new Super Regional format, taking on the winner of the match between No. 27 Arizona State and ninth-ranked and 10th-seeded TCU, which is being played at 4 p.m. CT Saturday in Fort Worth. |
| State Splits Doubleheader; Clinches Series Win at No. 7/9 Florida | |
| Closing the regular-season with a second consecutive Southeastern Conference series win, Mississippi State softball (32-20, 9-15 SEC) spilt Saturday's doubleheader against No. 7/9 Florida (40-15, 12-12 SEC) at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Freshman leftie Grace Fagan blanked the Gators over 6.2 innings before Florida used a two-out rally in the seventh to cut into State's lead, but sophomore Emily Williams shut the door with her fifth save of the season to clinch the series with a 4-2 win the doubleheader opener. Florida starved off the series sweep, plating two runs in the fifth, as the Gators blanked the Bulldogs, 2-0, in the final game of the regular season. With State's 4-2 victory over the Gators in game one of Saturday's doubleheader, the Bulldogs clinched their first series victory over Florida since 2004. The series win was just the second in program history for State in Gainesville. The first road series victory for the Bulldogs was in 2003. It's the first time that Mississippi State has won back-to-back SEC series since 2017. |
| UF salvages softball series with Mississippi State by winning nightcap | |
| Mississippi State played spoiler on Senior Day for the No. 7 Florida softball team, winning the program's first series against UF since 2004. MSU (32-20, 9-15 SEC) took the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, 4-2, holding off a late rally at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. The Gators (40-15, 12-12) won the series finale, 2-0. Florida finished the regular season with a 3-5 record in SEC series. Three of those five losses came at home, including the last two series against Alabama and MSU. "I'm glad we got to 40 wins," UF coach Tim Walton said. "We're .500 in a tough league. Now we just have to move forward. My message to the team is, 'This coach doesn't need to tell you what to do. You need to figure out what you need to do individually and collectively.' And I left it at that." Up next for the Gators is the SEC Tournament from Wednesday-Saturday in College Station, Texas. |
| State Travels To Oklahoma For Ninth NCAA Regional Appearance | |
| or the fourth time under head coach Ginger Brown-Lemm, the Mississippi State women's golf team will compete in the NCAA regionals. The Bulldogs were selected to travel to Norman, Oklahoma, to compete against 17 other teams including No. 2 Texas, No. 7 Wake Forest, No. 10 Florida, No. 15 Arizona State, No. 18 Oklahoma, and No. 24 TCU. The regional will be played through three days beginning Monday at the par 72, 6,407-yard Jimmie Austin Golf Club. Six teams and three individuals will advance to the NCAA Championship at the Blessings Golf Course in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Brown-Lemm is familiar with the site after her 2013 squad placed third in the Norman regional and advanced to the NCAA Championship. "It feels great coming back to Norman and Jimmie Austin Golf Course," said Brown-Lemm. The Bulldogs will tee off at 8:20 a.m. CT with Clara Moyano off No. 10. Live stats for all three rounds can be found at GolfStat.com. Follow along with the Bulldogs on social media @HailStateWG. |
| Starkville's Jay McCurdy wins Coca-Cola Classic 10k | |
| Jay McCurdy's Saturday at the Coca-Cola Classic 10k didn't get off to the best start. He ran -- and won -- with a right hand that was scuffed up after a fall. "I tripped getting out of my car the morning," he said. "Did something similar last year." McCurdy had no problems keeping his footing after the race began, winning in 33:39 -- a little slower than his second-place time last year. The 34-year-old McCurdy, who teaches turf care at Mississippi State, said he welcomed the weather -- and street paving that was done on part of the course since last year. "This was great weather," he said. "Sometimes at 8:30 a.m., it can be starting to get warm. The new paving on the back side of the course was nice, really covered up some rough spots I saw last year. That part was really fast." |
| LSU loses in extra innings as Tigers drop home series to Ole Miss for first time since 1982 | |
 | After the back-to-back-to-back home runs, the furious ninth-inning comeback and the possibility that LSU might atone for its errors on Sunday afternoon, Devin Fontenot walked off the field with his head low. The sophomore pitcher had allowed four runs in the 10th inning, and LSU lost 19-15 at Alex Box Stadium. Ole Miss won a series in Baton Rouge for the first time since 1982. LSU (30-18, 14-10 Southeastern Conference) dropped to fourth in the SEC Western Division. Ole Miss (32-17, 15-9) jumped LSU in the standings. "That was a tough one," shortstop Josh Smith said. "We could have won it in the bottom of the ninth. We didn't. There's always more you could do." The Tigers had needed to win this one, coach Paul Mainieri had said the night before. LSU and Ole Miss entered the game tied for third in the SEC Western Division. The winner took an edge on hosting an NCAA regional. |
| Georgia plans to name football field after Vince Dooley | |
| The field where Vince Dooley walked the sidelines for 25 seasons during a career in which he won more games than any Georgia football coach should soon bear his name. Vince Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium will become the official home of the Bulldogs, pending approval by the University of Georgia and the University System Board of Regents. Dooley got the word Thursday morning, not long before the university made the announcement. Athletic director Greg McGarity had called and texted that he wanted to come by Dooley's home on Milledge Circle for some "advice." Dooley said that wasn't unusual, but he soon suspected this wasn't a regular visit. Dooley was out in the garden when UGA President Jere Morehead joined them. They went into the kitchen and shared with him the news. |
| Tennessee Vols' Big Orange Caravan of coaches, Phillip Fulmer shelved for mascot tour | |
| Tennessee's coaches and athletic director Phillip Fulmer won't tour the state and interact with fans this summer, as is customary. Instead, the Big Orange Caravan is being shelved, the athletic department announced Thursday. In its place, Tennessee's mascot will tour the state with members of the spirit squad from late May through August. The tour is dubbed the "Summer of Smokey." This does not signal a permanent end to the Big Orange Caravan, according to UT, but the Smokey tour will replace the caravan in some years. "When we initially discussed a temporary departure from our traditional Big Orange Caravan, my main concern was ensuring that our summer tour maintains its impact as a meaningful way to show our appreciation for our fans," Fulmer said in a news release. "Our team has put a lot of thought and effort into the Summer of Smokey, and we believe it will allow us to reach more fans in more areas all throughout the state of Tennessee. We're all excited about this new concept that will carry the Volunteer spirit statewide all summer long." |
| Lauren Spencer resigns as women's tennis coach at Auburn | |
 | Lauren Spencer has resigned as Auburn women's tennis coach, Auburn Director of Athletics Allen Greene announced Friday. "Auburn is grateful to Lauren for her eight years of dedicated service to the Auburn women's tennis program, its student-athletes and the Auburn Family," Greene said. "Auburn values her contributions to the program and wishes her the very best in her future endeavors." In eight seasons as Auburn's head coach, Spencer compiled a 143-92 record. Her 143 victories are the most in program history. "I appreciate the opportunity to serve Auburn University as the head women's tennis coach for eight years," Spencer said. "I value the program, its student-athletes, and the opportunity to be part of the Auburn Family. I look forward to carrying these experiences forward as I pursue future opportunities." |
| NCAA ends ban, paves way for Las Vegas to host title events | |
| Las Vegas took one step closer Friday to landing major college postseason events such as the Final Four men's basketball tournament and the College Football Playoff National Championship. The NCAA announced it will now permit states that have legal sports wagering to host championship events, a policy change that seemed inevitable since last year's Supreme Court decision that allowed sports betting to go beyond Nevada. That means Las Vegas can begin bidding for these events later this year and could see major sporting championships and regional events here within five years. That will add to the sports cache that already has seen the area add the NFL Raiders, the NHL Golden Knights, the WNBA Aces, a new Triple-A baseball ballpark and other events like the NFL draft. In March, the NCAA policy was effectively rendered moot when Mississippi State University hosted NCAA women's basketball tournament games. Mississippi began allowing sports betting last summer. |
| DISQUALIFIED: Inside the Historic Decision That Shocked the Kentucky Derby | |
| They stood ankle deep in mud on the most famous racetrack in the world and they stood in the infield grass and they stood next to the little piles of manure in the long tunnel that separates the saddling paddock from the bowl inside Churchill Downs, beneath its ancient twin spires. They were thoroughbred horse trainers, they were jockeys, they were owners. It was dusk on the first Saturday in May, and a veil of grey twilight hung over the track and over the moment. Misty droplets of rain fell intermittently. The Kentucky Derby had been run for the 145th time and it had finished, and yet the outcome remained undecided. Minutes ticked past: Five, ten, fifteen, twenty. Forever, and then longer. On the giant infield screens, a single word was illuminated just brighter than the rest, or so it seemed: UNOFFICIAL. They would wait and then wait some more and when it was finished they would all stand at the intersection of history and shock. |
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