| Thursday, February 20, 2025 |
| U.S. Dept. of Education warns schools, universities to end racial preferences or risk losing federal funds | |
 | Mississippi educational leaders are among those digesting a letter sent by the U.S. Department of Education on Friday notifying them that they must cease using race preferences and stereotypes as a factor in their admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, sanctions, discipline, and beyond. The letter was sent to those educational institutions receiving federal funds and applies to all preschool, elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educational institutions, as well as state educational agencies, that receive financial assistance. Mississippi State University issued a statement on the letter Wednesday, saying they will be assessing their compliance in light of the new interpretations over the next few days. "As we always do, we will include leadership from across our campus community throughout this process. While some changes and adjustments will be required, our people -- our students, faculty and staff -- will remain our top priority as we work together through any needed changes and adjustments required by these new federal directives," the university stated. |
| 20th peanut growers meet showcases drone technology | |
 | Peanut growers across Mississippi gathered in Hattiesburg Wednesday, to check out the latest agricultural products and services. It was all part of the 20th annual meeting, a trade show for the Mississippi Peanut Growers Association. Growers met with several product vendors and learned about how drones are being more frequently used for applications of herbicides, fertilizers and other products. "These (drones) are relatively smaller in terms of the payload they can carry and the amount of time they can fly, so not a replacement for conventional application methods, but a very great additional tool," said Madison Dixon, Mississippi State University's Agricultural Autonomy Institute associate director. The association's president said drones have made major leaps forward in just a few years' time. "They're getting (drones) where they can stay up longer," said Malcolm Broome, Mississippi Peanut Growers Association executive director. "The battery used to run down pretty quick, but they've got some now that will put out a good amount before they have to come back and reload and repower." |
| Lauderdale County 4-H honored with Commissioner of Agriculture's Award | |
 | Photo: Members of the 4-H Forestry Team in Lauderdale County received the Commissioner of Agriculture's Award during the 4-H Legislative Day Appreciation Reception on Feb. 5 in Jackson. The team won its second national championship in three years in July 2024 at the National 4-H Forestry Invitational. Those participating in the recognition were, from left, AT&T Mississippi Director of External Affairs Michael Walker, Mississippi State University Extension Service 4-H Agents Meribeth Boland and Tia Thompson, 4-H members Joy Kitchens and John Clayton Kitchens, MSU Extension Service Director Angus Catchot and 4-H Foundation Advisory Board Members Gene Martin and Harry Dendy. |
| National 4-H judging team members honored at legislative day | |
 | Photo: Members of the National 4-H Avian Bowl Team in Union County were recognized during the 4-H Legislative Day Appreciation Reception on Feb. 5 in Jackson, Mississippi. Those participating in the recognition were, from left, Mississippi State University Extension Service 4-H Agent Lucy Hudspeth, 4-H member Levi Thompson, AT&T Mississippi Director of External Affairs Michael Walker, 4-H members Maddie Willard, Mae Garrett and Lily Voyles, MSU Extension Service Director Angus Catchot, 4-H Foundation Advisory Board Members Gene Martin and Harry Dendy and MSU Extension Service 4-H Agent Gina Wills. Union County's Consumer Judging Team, Dairy Judging Team and Roundup Horse Bowl Team were also recognized. |
| 2 area students named Stephen D. Lee Scholars at Mississippi State | |
 | Photos: Twenty-six recent fall semester graduates of Mississippi State University have been recognized as Stephen D. Lee Scholars for achieving a cumulative 4.0 grade point average during their college careers. The following local students attained this honor: James Gardner, of Brookhaven, who studied Mechanical Engineering, earned the Bachelor of Science from MSU's Bagley College of Engineering. Nathan Holifield, of McComb, who studied Information Tech Services, earned the Bachelor of Science from MSU's College of Education. President Mark E. Keenum presented chrome cowbells to the Stephen D. Lee Scholars. |
| Starkville pulls firefighter reservists amid staffing shortages | |
 | Starkville's fire department is bolstering its ranks by rehiring lapsed personnel as reservists, hoping to improve training and faltering recruitment efforts. The city announced its reserve team in a Wednesday press release, highlighting the experience of its returning members and the department's hope the addition will "foster a culture of mentorship." They are, however, full-service firefighters, helping bring the department up to near full capacity as it struggles to retain staff. "For over 20 years this was my life, and I loved my job and the people I worked with," said Todd Palmer, one of the returning firefighters. "They did a lot for me and my family. When they asked if I would come back and help it was an easy choice. If I could help them in any way, it would be my honor to come back." The program has hired back five former firefighters in Palmer, Roosevelt Harris, Wade Jones, Nicholas Pearson and Chase Taylor. Interim Fire Chief DeWayne Davis said they're a mix of firefighters that retired or simply switched careers, and confirmed that they would not be part of any special classes for recruits -- they're there to respond to fires, not just man facilities or conduct training. "We are still having trouble finding new hires," he said. "The entire country is suffering in firefighter retention. People apply and work here for a little while, but then find out it's not something they want to do for a career and depart from service." |
| Hurricane Katrina photo exhibit at Two Mississippi Museums tells stories 20 years later | |
 | Almost any Mississippian who has lived in the state for at least the past two decades will have stories about Hurricane Katrina. August this year will mark 20 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Mississippi Gulf Coast and took lives and homes becoming one the five deadliest hurricanes in United States history. Mississippi alone saw 238 deaths. In recognition of the event's 20th anniversary, the Two Mississippi Museums will host a months-long photo exhibit title "Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi Remembers," which will feature photographs by Melody Golding capturing the hurricane's toll on the state's coast. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History curatorial staff developed the exhibit which will open on March 8 and run through Nov. 7. Golding is a Vicksburg native who photographed Hurricane Katrina and its effects on the Mississippi Coast. Her work, including a book title "Katrina: Mississippi Women Remember," is well-known throughout the South and beyond. The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History Archives Center displays Golding's documentary exhibit following the events of the hurricane. MDAH and the Two Mississippi Museums are also plan to host several events and panel discussions to accompany the exhibit. The exact schedule is still being fleshed out, but Morris said one panel will be a conversation between Golding and Katie Blount, the MDAH director who was working in archives and history during the hurricane. |
| 2025 Mississippi Book Festival set for September 13, promising 'unforgettable literary experience' | |
| The Mississippi Book Festival has announced it will once again be set up on the grounds of the state capitol in Jackson with this year's edition set for Saturday, Sept. 13. The annual literary lawn party, now heading into its eleventh year, has become one of the most popular book events in the Southeast with the 2024 Mississippi Book Festival uniting over 37,000 readers. Each year, authors from all walks of life flock to the Magnolia State to share their stories with attendees. "We are excited to announce that the 2025 Mississippi Book Festival will be held on September 13 at the Mississippi State Capitol," a social media announcement reads. "Join us for a day filled with inspiring authors, engaging panels, and an unforgettable literary experience." Ellen Daniels, executive director of the Mississippi Book Festival, acknowledged before last year's event the tremendous level of growth the festival has experienced since its inception. From the 2015 launch alongside best-selling Mississippi author John Grisham to overcoming the crux of the COVID-19 pandemic with virtual-only events in 2020 and 2021, the festival has reached record attendance numbers over the past three years. |
| Rockwool investing $100M, adds 30 jobs at Byhalia facility | |
| Rockwool is investing more than $100 million to expand its operations in the Chickasaw Trails Industrial Park. The project, which includes the addition of a new production line that will manufacture products with the company's proprietary water repellency and corrosion-resistant technologies, named WR-Tech and CR-Tech, respectively, will create approximately 30 new jobs. Rockwool is the world's leading manufacturer of environmentally friendly stone wool insulation and has been operating in North America for over 35 years. The company's Marshall County facility, which sits on a 115-acre site, has been in operation since 2014 and produces a range of residential, commercial, industrial and roofing stone wool insulation. The expansion will help meet demand in the South, Rockwool said. The new production line is scheduled to become operational in 2027. "Rockwool thoughtfully selected Marshall County as the home of our first U.S. manufacturing site, and for over a decade, we've been proud to contribute to the local economy and support our neighbors," said Rockwell North America President Rory Moss. The Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive, or MFLEX, program. |
| Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann 'feeling fine' after collapsing on Mississippi Senate floor | |
| Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann says he's "feeling fine" after he collapsed on the floor of the Mississippi Senate on Wednesday. Hosemann released a statement Wednesday afternoon saying "Thank you all for the kind words and prayers. I was dehydrated and am feeling fine now. I am grateful for Mississippi's phenomenal medical professionals and am ready to go back to work tomorrow. Lesson learned: Stay hydrated." A livestream from the Senate showed Hosemann standing at a podium and then falling over and to the ground. Several people ran to help Hosemann and someone could be heard calling for a nurse. Sen. Walter Michel, who said he knows CPR, rushed to check on Hosemann at the podium to see if he was conscious. Sen. John Horhn said Hosemann got up and walked to his office. Less than an hour later, Hosemann was seen walking out of the State Capitol. "He was in good spirits when he left," said Sen. Josh Harkins. "He walked out of here on his own. He's a tough cookie." |
| NAACP to Mississippi Lawmakers: Expand Medicaid, Promote Education Equity, Stop Attacks on Diversity | |
| Mississippi House Rep. Zakiya Summers, a Democrat representing Hinds County, warned of "a true effort to roll back everything that we have accomplished since the Civil Rights Movement and even further than that" while speaking on the steps of the Mississippi Capitol earlier this month. She was there with NAACP members for a rally as part of the organization's annual Advocacy Day on Feb. 6, where members of the civil rights organization meet lawmakers to lobby for policies related to Black communities. Education equity, Medicaid expansion and efforts to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs were among the issues on the mind of Mississippi NAACP leaders as they rallied this year. "Now is not the time to sit silent. Now is the time to organize and mobilize and let people know that elections have consequences," Summers said. Khalilah Karriem, the president of Jackson State University's NAACP student chapter, said that the group gathered on Feb. 6 as "not just students, leaders, or advocates, but as protectors of the truth, justice, and the future of our communities." As the Feb. 6 rally drew to a close, Karriem's father, Mississippi House Rep. Kabir Karriem, D-Columbus, stepped to the podium, urging the members to continue to engage with lawmakers throughout the months-long legislative session. |
| Auditor Shad White using state-funded attorney to defend himself in Brett Favre defamation lawsuit | |
| State Auditor Shad White, a Republican who has criticized wasteful spending in state government, is using a taxpayer-funded attorney to defend himself in a personal defamation lawsuit brought by NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre. Court records show that James Bobo, an Office of the State Auditor attorney, has filed numerous legal briefs on behalf of White in the litigation where Favre is suing the statewide official in his individual capacity -- not in his official capacity as Mississippi's state auditor. Favre alleges that White defamed him in media appearances, which he claims are duties outside the scope of White's official duties. Specifically, the athlete is suing the statewide official for accusing Favre of "stealing taxpayer funds" and knowingly misusing funds "designed to serve poor folks." White has denied the accusations, unsuccessfully asked a judge to dismiss the complaint and said his remarks about Favre to the media were truthful. "Brett Favre's lawyers do not get to unilaterally say that his lawsuit is not related to the office," Walters said. "They do not have that power. Auditor White is being sued over statements he made in his official capacity about an audit the office conducted." However, Hinds County Circuit Judge Debra Gibbs, who is overseeing the case, determined in June that Favre is not suing White in his official capacity. Despite Gibbs' ruling that the state was not a party to the lawsuit, White has continued to use an agency attorney in the litigation, even over matters related to his book, "Mississippi Swindle," which sparked outcry and debate among some state officials. |
| A Mississippi judge ordered a newspaper to remove an editorial. Press advocates are outraged | |
 | A Mississippi judge ordered a newspaper to remove an editorial criticizing the mayor and city leaders after the officials sued, sparking complaints from press advocates that it violates the First Amendment. Chancery Judge Crystal Wise Martin issued the restraining order against the Clarksdale Press Register on Tuesday in connection with a Feb. 8 editorial titled "Secrecy, Deception Erode Public Trust." The piece criticized the city for not sending the newspaper notice about a meeting the City Council held regarding a proposed tax on alcohol, marijuana and tobacco. "I think it's dangerous that a judge would issue a temporary restraining order without a hearing," said Wyatt Emmerich, president of the paper's parent company, Emmerich Newspapers. "We'll fight it and see where it goes." The city's lawsuit called the editorial libelous and said it "chilled and hindered" the city's efforts to lobby for the tax with state legislators. "This is a rather astounding order and we feel it is egregious and chilling," said Layne Bruce, executive director of the Mississippi Press Association. "It clearly runs afoul of the First Amendment and we fully support the Press Register's right to report and offer commentary on the business of Clarksdale's city government." |
| GOP hawks bristle at Trump's anti-Ukraine tirade | |
 | Republican supporters of Ukraine were left scrambling after President Donald Trump ratcheted up his criticism of Kyiv and wartime President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a stunning rebuke of the U.S. ally. GOP lawmakers Wednesday distanced themselves from Trump's condemnation of Ukraine, which included labeling Zelenskyy a "Dictator without Elections" and blaming Kyiv for the war, which began when Russia invaded the country in 2022. Trump, in a social media post that included a range of misleading statements, claimed that the U.S. was duped into spending billions to help Ukraine defend itself. "Putin started this war. Putin committed war crimes. Putin is the dictator who murdered his opponents. The EU nations have contributed more to Ukraine. Zelensky polls over 50%," Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a GOP Ukraine supporter, posted on social media, tackling several arguments made by Trump over the past day without naming the president. "Ukraine wants to be part of the West, Putin hates the West. I don't accept George Orwell's doublethink." The rift has erupted as the Trump administration seeks peace talks to end the nearly three-year-long war that Russia started. Despite a widening gap between the White House and the GOP's defense wing over Russia, many Republicans weren't ready to break completely with Trump. |
| Trump's Attack on Zelensky Signals New World Order Taking Shape | |
 | President Trump has dramatically shifted the direction of U.S. foreign policy in four short weeks, making the U.S. a less reliable ally and retreating from global commitments in ways that stand to fundamentally reshape America's relationship with the world. No one expected Trump to handle global affairs like his predecessors. But few expected him to move so rapidly to reorient U.S. foreign policy away from the course it has charted since 1945. Since the end of World War II, the American-led system of alliances has bolstered U.S. power, most foreign policy experts say. By vowing to defend allies in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, the U.S. more than any other country took on the role of global guarantor of free trade and stability, a mission that included countering first the Soviet Union and, more recently, China. Trump has a different take: Allies take more than they give. Instead of relying on the U.S. military and its nuclear umbrella for their security, other countries should spend more on their militaries while providing economic incentives to stay in America's good graces. Trump's is a far more transactional, win-lose vision of foreign policy. |
| House GOP group wants to pump brakes on big spending cuts | |
 | A group of House Republicans raised alarms Wednesday about the minimum $1.5 trillion in spending cuts required by the chamber's budget resolution, as House leadership tries to shore up support for a floor vote on the measure when the chamber returns next week. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, co-chair of his party's Congressional Hispanic Conference, led a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., highlighting the damage cuts to programs including Medicaid, Pell Grants and food stamps would have on their constituents and others around the country. "Hispanic Americans played a decisive role in securing a Republican majority in 2025, having helped flip key districts, delivered historic gains in border communities, and put their faith in our party to fight for them," the GOP lawmakers wrote. "That trust wasn't given -- it was earned." The letter was signed by seven other Republicans -- including five eligible to vote on the House floor -- and including some likely to face tough races in 2026. They took issue with the $880 billion in cuts required from the Energy and Commerce Committee with jurisdiction over Medicaid; the $330 billion required from the Education and Workforce Committee with jurisdiction over Pell Grants and other education assistance; and the $230 billion required from the Agriculture Committee with jurisdiction over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, previously known as food stamps. |
| White House will celebrate Black History Month as some government agencies skip after anti-DEI order | |
| The Trump administration will celebrate Black History Month at the White House on Thursday, preserving a tradition at the same time that President Donald Trump's executive order ending the federal government's diversity, equity and inclusion programs has disrupted its observance elsewhere. The ceremony comes as Trump has called DEI programs "discrimination" and pushed to eradicate diversity programs from the government, directed that DEI workers eventually be laid off and exerted similar pressure on the private sector to shift to an exclusive focus on merit. Joining Trump at the East Room event will be Black political figures and activists who have been his vocal supporters. The guests, according to a White House official, include Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina; Republican Rep. John James of Michigan; prison reform advocate Alice Johnson, whom he pardoned in 2020; Alveda King, a niece of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.; and Herschel Walker, the football legend who is Trump's choice as U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas. Other guests will include figures from sports and entertainment, including former ESPN host Sage Steele; former NFL player Jack Brewer; and rap stars Kodak Black, Lil Boosie and Rod Wave, according to the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. |
| Federal layoffs spark concerns over nation's food safety | |
| The rapid and widespread reductions in the federal workforce are ongoing, and some have experts worried about what the layoffs and firings will mean for the nation's food safety. This week, the head of the Food and Drug Administration's food safety division resigned saying, according to multiple reports, that the cuts will damage the FDA's ability to safeguard our food supply. We still don't know the full extent of layoffs at the FDA, which oversees the safety of most of our food supply, but they are widespread, noted Darin Detwiler, a food safety expert and consultant teaching at Northeastern University. "These are technical experts, nutrition experts," he said. "Their jobs are extremely important in terms of outbreak response and disease investigation." Frontline food inspectors and investigators have been laid off or fired; some because they were newer employees on probation. "This is going to result in slower recalls, weaker enforcement and -- quite honestly -- a rollback of public health protections," said Detwiler. The USDA, which handles some aspect of food safety nationally, said in a statement that the agency is "committed to preserving essential safety positions and will ensure that critical services remain uninterrupted." But many experts and former food safety officials are unconvinced. |
| Clean Energy Was Lifting Manufacturing. Now Investment Is in Jeopardy. | |
 | American manufacturing has been in the doldrums for years, battered by high borrowing costs and a strong dollar, which makes exports less competitive. But there has been a bright spot: billions of dollars flowing into factory construction, signifying that a potential rebound in production and employment is around the corner. The flood of investment has been driven by two major categories of subsidies provided under the Biden administration. One offered incentives for the construction of several enormous semiconductor plants set to begin operation in the coming years. The other supercharged the production of equipment needed for renewable energy deployment. This second category is in jeopardy as the Trump administration and the Republican-led Congress seek to roll back support for low-carbon energy, including battery-powered vehicles, wind power and solar fields. Some manufacturers are teetering on the edge. Cummins, for example, received a grant to add an electric vehicle production line to its facility in Columbus, Indiana, and state subsidies for a battery cell manufacturing plant in Mississippi, which is under construction. A Cummins spokeswoman would not say whether the company was committed to following through. "It's difficult for companies like ours to plan amid shifting possibilities," said the spokeswoman, Melinda Koski. "However, we remain focused on our long-term goals and are continuing to assess the path forward for our investments." |
| 'Let us do our jobs': Mississippi universities growing weary of Trump's crusade on diversity | |
| Faculty, staff and administrators at Mississippi's colleges and universities are growing increasingly weary of the Trump Administration's crusade against diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education. The far-reaching memos, directives and executive orders, issued at a rapid pace in the first month of Donald Trump's presidency, have roiled campuses across the country and in Mississippi. As one professor put it: "Can you please just let us do our jobs?" It's unlikely the chaos and confusion will end anytime soon. Last week, the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights issued a sweeping memo declaring virtually all race-based programming and admissions policies illegal. This applies to all aspects of student, academic and campus life, including admissions, hiring, financial aid, campus cultural centers, housing and graduation ceremonies. In Mississippi, universities do not use race-conscious admissions standards, the result of a historic settlement to desegregate the state's higher education system. But many of the universities have offered scholarships for underrepresented students and sponsored multicultural student organizations. Black student unions have existed for decades in Mississippi. These clubs are often funded through student fees, not state appropriations. Still, it remains to be seen how the directive will affect higher education in Mississippi. |
| City Council approves resolution for MSMS to remain at MUW | |
 | The Columbus City Council is making its support for the Mississippi School for Math and Science official. At a meeting on February 18, the council approved a resolution, introduced by Ward 5 Councilman Stephen Jones, declaring the city's support for keeping MSMS on the Mississippi University for Women campus. The resolution also encourages the state Department of Education and the Mississippi Legislature to properly fund MSMS. The Department of Education issued a Request for Proposals to house the school to MUW and Mississippi State. From there, they will make a recommendation to the Legislature about MSMS's future. Mayor Keith Gaskin plans to deliver the city's resolution to the Department of Education, lawmakers, the Governor, and Lieutenant Governor. |
| ASB runs the numbers on student housing insecurity | |
 | The University of Mississippi Associated Student Body Senate conducted a survey in fall 2023 assessing student housing experiences both on and off campus. The anonymous survey found that 24.5% of 731 respondents have faced some form of housing insecurity during their time at the university. For this report, ASB defined housing insecurity as "the limited or uncertain availability, access to, or inability to acquire safe, stable, adequate and affordable housing." The same definition was used in a fall 2020 study conducted by The Housing Insecurity Lab in partnership with LOU-HOME, Inc. The most common reason cited for housing insecurity was difficulty with the "leasing season" at 25.5% of respondents. Leasing season is defined as the two-and-a-half week period between the end of most leases at the end of July and the beginning of new leases in mid-August. Other reasons cited by respondents include high price of rent, issues with the university's department of housing, roommate issues, safety concerns and a lack of available housing. Off-campus students struggle with rental costs, lease comprehension and housing availability, with 67.8% of off-campus undergraduates surveyed finding it difficult to secure housing within their budget. The struggle to find housing is especially difficult for international and graduate students, according to the survey. |
| Eaglepalooza returns for first time since 2019 | |
 | The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and the City of Hattiesburg announced the return of Eaglepalooza to downtown Hattiesburg for the first time since 2019. This highly anticipated free live music event will take place on Friday, March 28 at 7:00 p.m., marking an exciting start to HUBFEST weekend. "Eaglepalooza has always been a cornerstone of the Southern Miss spirit," said Southern Miss President Dr. Joe Paul. "Bringing this event back underscores our commitment to fostering a vibrant student life experience both on campus and throughout our community." Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Briston Maroney is set to headline the evening. Vendors for this year's event include Smokin Charlie, Under Dogs, Southern Beverage and Coca-Cola. |
| Trump moves on education coming fast, but schools waiting for official guidance | |
 | President Trump's education initiatives are coming on fast, but school officials say changes in the classroom will happen at a much slower pace. While officials say the past few weeks have been a whirlwind of education news, from Title IX changes to Department of Education funding cuts, K-12 schools are waiting for more specific guidance on what has to change and ensuring they don't act too quickly one way or another. The more cautious approach also might help avoid community panic. "I'm not gonna lie. It is a lot," said Kenny Rodrequez, superintendent of the Grandview C-4 School District in Missouri. "Every administration change, it is a lot, it typically is a lot of changes and a lot of things. This just seems to have sped everything up [...] there's a lot more things coming out in a shorter period of time than what we've maybe been used to in the past. " "I will say it's not necessarily too overwhelming as of yet just because lot of the things that have been said aren't necessarily law yet, or are not necessarily things that can 100 percent be put into motion, but a lot of it is fear," added Rodrequez, who has been in school administration for 20 years and a superintendent for 9. The pipeline from Trump's desk to classroom changes is not a straight shot as districts do not tend to make any changes until guidance comes from their state Department of Education that is then reviewed by school boards and superintendents. |
| This Law Professor's Job Has Become a Legal Drama | |
 | In a Jan. 14 lecture, Ken Levy, Holt B. Harrison Distinguished Professor of Law at Louisiana State University, dropped f-bombs against then–president-elect Donald Trump and Louisiana governor Jeff Landry and told students who like Trump that they need his "political commentary." Some students found the apparent attempt at political humor funny, according to an audio recording of the class obtained by Inside Higher Ed from a student who supports Levy. But at least one student in the administration of criminal justice class who subsequently complained, according to LSU, wasn't amused -- and neither were the university and the governor. An LSU spokesperson said the institution "took immediate action to remove Professor Levy from the classroom after complaints about the professor's remarks." In the month since that lecture, state district court judges have twice ruled that Levy should return to the classroom, only for a state appeals court to twice overrule that. The back-and-forth nature of the case has attracted attention in Louisiana and in law circles, including via headlines such as "The LSU Law School Professor Free Speech Hot Potato Saga Continues." |
| Tennessee leaders raise alarm that NIH spending cap will hamstring medical research | |
 | Tennessee's top education and hospital leaders have signed a joint letter imploring the state's federal elected officials to reverse a policy that could "drastically reduce support" for medical advances in the Volunteer State, including cancer clinical trials and research into Alzheimer's and childhood diseases. Education and medical leaders are worried because of the assumption that research is somehow standard across all disciplines. The array of research happening across UT System campuses alone ranges from robots helping with Alzheimer's disease care to the pursuit of "a unified program towards cancer treatment" through the UT Health Science Center. The letter, obtained by Knox News, says slashing indirect cost rates "will reduce research, limit clinical trials, close labs, cut jobs for established and early-career researchers, limit training opportunities for future scientists and risk America's leadership in biomedical science" by allowing China to become the world's biomedical research leader. Under the 15% rate cap, leaders say their Tennessee institutions won't be able to cover the full cost of conducting research, especially considering they already "invest hundreds of millions annually to cover research costs not fully funded by federal grants." |
| U. of Florida engineering program celebrates 30 years of solving problems with products | |
 | Andrew MacIntosh had a food problem. A big one. An assistant professor for the University of Florida's Food Science and Human Nutrition Department (FSHND), he needed a large food evaporator as an in-service teaching tool. But the one in his lab was old, small and not up to the task. So, he turned to engineering students in the experiential-learning program Integrated Product and Process Design (IPPD) in the Department of Engineering Education (EEd). In two semesters starting in 2022, MacIntosh, team coach Philip Jackson and those students built -- under cost and with advanced features -- a pitch-perfect evaporator that remains in service today in his lab. The following year, MacIntosh needed an advanced food desiccator for preserving moisture-sensitive items in the lab. He again turned to IPPD, where he partnered with engineering students to build the perfect machine cheaper and more advanced than anything on the market. UF's growing IPPD program has been solving industry problems for 30 years -- two semesters at a time. As the program celebrates three decades this year, it is enjoying substantial growth, success and tall orders from industry sponsors seeking solutions. "IPPD is all about bringing industry into the classroom," said Edward Latorre-Navarro, IPPD director and associate engineer with EEd. |
| Kentucky lawmakers seek to weaken tenure, restrict DEI | |
| A pair of Kentucky bills introduced this month by Republican lawmakers could weaken tenure and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, dramatically reshaping higher education in the state. One proposal, HB 424, would impose "performance and productivity" reviews on faculty and presidents at public colleges and limit employment contracts to four years at those institutions. The bill cleared the House's higher education committee on Tuesday. Another bill, HB 4, would prohibit public colleges from using any funds for DEI efforts. If passed, the state's public colleges would be required to cut all DEI positions and offices by the end of June. College leaders in Kentucky have been bracing for legislative changes that would overhaul the higher education landscape, as Republican lawmakers have sought to remodel the sector. The University of Kentucky dissolved its DEI center in August, with President Eli Capilouto citing anticipated efforts from lawmakers to restrict diversity efforts. "Kentucky legislators have made clear to me in our conversations that they are exploring these issues again as they prepare for the 2025 legislative session," he said at the time. "If we are to be a campus for everyone, we must demonstrate to ourselves and to those who support and invest in us our commitment to the idea that everyone belongs -- both in what we say and in what we do." |
| UT System names Jim Davis as UT-Austin's interim president | |
| In a surprise move Wednesday, the University of Texas System's leadership has named Jim Davis, the University of Texas at Austin's chief operating officer, as the interim president of the flagship university. Davis will begin serving in the new role immediately. The move ended UT-Austin president Jay Hartzell's tenure a few months earlier than originally anticipated. Hartzell had said he planned to leave the university at the end of the academic year to become the next president of Southern Methodist University, a smaller, prestigious private research university in Dallas. In a letter to the campus community, Hartzell said he would help with the transition and return to the faculty until May 31. "Jim has been a fantastic strategic partner and counselor, and a key part of our leadership team since before I became President," Hartzell wrote. "Given his history as the son of a UT professor, a graduate of UT, and now a senior executive, it is no surprise that he approaches all decisions with the best interests of the University in mind." Pauline Strong, president of the American Association of University Professors' UT-Austin chapter, said that the school's faculty hope for a collaborative relationship with Davis and "will be extremely interested in his views on current challenges to higher education in the areas of research funding, academic freedom, shared governance, and tenure." |
| David Boren, a former Oklahoma governor and veteran US senator and university president, dies at 83 | |
| Former Oklahoma Gov. David Boren, who became one of the nation's youngest governors in the 1970s at age 33 and later helped shape national intelligence as a U.S. senator, has died. He was 83. Boren, who went on to serve as president of the University of Oklahoma after retiring from politics, died early Thursday at his home near Newcastle, said Bob Burke, a longtime family friend. He said Boren's death was the result of complications from diabetes. The son of a Democratic congressman, Boren quickly followed in his father's footsteps into elected office and oversaw a dramatic downsizing of government in Oklahoma, where over decades in legislative corridors and university offices he became one of the state's most influential figures. His son, Dan Boren, also served four terms as an Oklahoma congressman. In 2019, David Boren cut ties with the university he had led for 24 years amid a probe into allegations that he had sexually harassed male subordinates. Boren denied wrongdoing and the allegations never resulted in charges or civil litigation. Boren served in the U.S. Senate between 1979 and 1994 and was the longest-serving chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He became president of Oklahoma's largest public university after leaving the Senate and held the position until stepping down in 2018. The allegations against Boren tarnished his reputation and led him to withdraw from public life. |
| New U. of Missouri grant aims to help the well-being of children and the people who care for them | |
 | A new grant will help promote young children's healthy social-emotional development and well-being as well as the well-being of the professionals that serve them. Laine Young-Walker, director of the University of Missouri's Center for Child Well-Being, will receive a $2 million grant from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to launch an Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Initiative Program. The statewide program will provide a multi-tiered system of support for child care directors and professionals who are caring for children with challenging behavior. Goals include promoting positive social-emotional development, reducing persistent challenging behavior and preventing and reducing expulsion or suspension from child care programs. "The goal is to prevent suspensions, expulsions and more of a culturally responsive practice at these sites and to provide some trauma-informed care," said Young-Walker, the grant's principle investigator and chair of the MU Department of Psychiatry. |
| Roger Mandigo, Who Made Chicken Nuggets and the McRib Possible, Dies at 85 | |
| Many people want their meat to come in shapes and sizes that fit neatly into a bun. Roger Mandigo made a career out of obliging them. Mandigo, who died on Jan. 24 at the age of 85, was a University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor known for his expertise in restructured meat, produced by making odd bits of flesh adhere into convenient shapes with palate-pleasing textures. It is the technology behind such menu items as chicken nuggets, the McRib at McDonald's, deli ham and skinless bratwurst. Mandigo (pronounced MAN-di-go) didn't invent the McRib or those other items, but colleagues say he led research in UNL's meat-science department that made them possible. That work involved improving methods of adding ingredients, such as salt and water, and pummeling meat (often inside a tumbler that spins like a clothes dryer) to make sticky proteins come to the surface. He also found ways to reduce the amount of salt needed for this process. His gruff manner could intimidate students at first, but many grew to revere him. Scott Eilert, now senior director of responsible sourcing at Cargill, recalls going to Mandigo's office for a final chat after completing his doctorate in meat science. Eilert expected the usual gush of praise given to graduates. Instead, Mandigo told him he needed to work on his professional decorum if he was to succeed in his career. Though the advice stung, Eilert said, it "was exactly what I needed to hear." |
| McMahon's Title IX Comments Cause Confusion, Concerns | |
| Sexual violence prevention groups say that recent comments from Linda McMahon about Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 muddied the waters over how President Donald Trump and his administration plan to address sexual harassment on college campuses. At her confirmation hearing last week, McMahon reiterated that Title IX should protect students from assault, but she didn't seem familiar with the nuances of the regulations that Trump put in place during his first administration, which are now in effect after a federal judge tossed out the Biden administration's revised Title IX rule. The nominee said that colleges are "obligated" to respond to reports of sexual misconduct that occurs off campus. But under Trump's 2020 rule, colleges aren't responsible for sexual assault or harassment that takes place in study abroad programs or in private, off-campus settings. She also noted that sexual harassment and assault should be prohibited "in any case." But the Trump policy says harassment must be both severe and pervasive in order to be prohibited under Title IX. In the last decade, Title IX has become one of the most high-profile political fights waged by the department, with guidance and regulations changing with each administration since former president Barack Obama's first term. |
| What College Leaders Are Saying About Trump's Directive on Race and DEI | |
 | Five days after the Education Department sent out a bombshell letter on race and diversity, college leaders are still contending with which, if any, policies and programs need to be altered, and what to tell their communities in the meantime. The "Dear Colleague" letter issued on Friday by the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) told colleges they have two weeks to stop using race -- specifically, making decisions or operating programs based on race -- in all "aspects of student, academic, and campus life." Otherwise, institutions risk federal funding cuts. "Everyone is worried and/or panicked," said Melissa Carleton, who chairs the higher-education team at the law firm Bricker Graydon. But Carleton encouraged college leaders to "take a deep breath." Rebecca Joseph, another Bricker Graydon lawyer who specializes in civil rights and DEI compliance, said colleges should focus on "taking inventory" of the programs and practices that might be subject to scrutiny, such as affinity-based mentorship programs, thematic housing options, or race-conscious scholarships. Colleges should ensure that the purpose and selection standards for such programs are conveyed clearly and implemented consistently. Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, warned colleges against removing diversity programs before fully understanding whether they violate the law. The letter is a signal of "unprecedented" overreach of government into higher education, she added. |
SPORTS
| Why Mississippi State wasn't fined by the SEC for storming court after Texas A&M win | |
 | Mississippi State basketball pulled off one of its biggest wins of the 2024-25 season Tuesday with an upset against Texas A&M at Humphrey Coliseum. The No. 23 Bulldogs (19-7, 7-6 SEC) trailed the No. 7 Aggies (20-6, 9-4) by one point at halftime but began the second half on a 14-3 run. They never conceded the lead in a 70-54 win. The win was MSU's fifth against a ranked opponent, its most in program history in the regular season. Afterward, Mississippi State fans stormed the court to celebrate the win. However, the school will not be fined by the SEC. As the final buzzer sounded, fans did not immediately storm the court. They waited until Texas A&M and the officials left the floor. The SEC told the Clarion Ledger that's why no fine will be assessed to MSU. In many court-storming cases, fans rush the floor right at the final buzzer when teams are still on the court, which constitutes a fine. MSU coach Chris Jans appeared on "The Paul Finebaum Show" on Wednesday and was asked about the court storming. "I'm not sure how that was coordinated," he said. "I was a little surprised to be honest with you. I was still on the court at the time and had no idea that was about to happen, and so I thought that was time for me to exit the arena and get back in the locker room. But as I look back, I'm grateful that it happened, happy that administration allowed it to happen, and from the sounds of it, like you said, they did it the right way. Just really cool that they were able to celebrate with our players and to be on the court after the game, and hopefully we'll have some more of those in the future." |
| Bernardini's three-hit, four-RBI day carries No. 17 Mississippi State over Samford | |
| In her first two seasons at Mississippi State, Morgan Bernardini never started a game and had two hits -- both singles -- in 13 total at-bats. But she has become an impact bat since taking over as the Bulldogs' starting left fielder in this, her junior season. Bernardini had her seven-game hitting streak snapped Sunday against Georgia Tech, but she rebounded in a big way in Tuesday's 6-1 win over Samford. She singled and scored a run in the second inning, hit an RBI double in the third and capped her career day with a three-run home run in the fifth, the first long ball of her collegiate career. "It's just so satisfying to see a player like her be rewarded," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "She's one of those young women who does everything right. She works hard. She's a great teammate. She's put in the time, and she's learned and gotten better and better, year after year. To see that paying off for someone who's gone about it in the right way is just really special." The Bulldogs head to Madison, Ala., this weekend for the Rocket City Softball Showcase at Toyota Field, home of Minor League Baseball's Rocket City Trash Pandas. MSU will play Jacksonville State on Friday, Louisiana Tech and North Alabama on Saturday and Miami-Ohio on Sunday. "We know every game is important, especially when it comes to postseason and seeding," Ricketts said. "We have to be locked in and ready to play Mississippi State softball no matter who's in the other dugout. Whether it's a ranked team, a midweek, it doesn't matter for us. That's something we're really working hard on for this season." |
| College baseball future may see greater imbalance in competition, high school prospects squeezed out | |
| The Division I baseball season is less than a week old, and coaches already are planning for 2026 when it's all but certain scholarship limits will be removed, rosters downsized and players will have opportunities to make more money. They expect the fallout to be fewer opportunities for high school recruits at the top level of the sport, especially if the NCAA adopts a proposal that would extend eligibility from four to five years. They also predict a greater imbalance in competition. All is contingent on a federal judge approving the settlement of antitrust allegations against the NCAA and the nation's biggest conferences. A hearing is set for April 7 and changes would go into effect July 1, a few days after the baseball season. The framework for baseball would cap rosters at 34 with no scholarship limit for schools that opt in to the revenue-sharing model tied to the so-called House settlement. Currently there's a 40-man limit during the season and a maximum of 11.7 scholarships that can be spread among up to 32 players. Auburn athletic director John Cohen, previously head coach at Mississippi State and Kentucky, doubted the new rules would shake up college baseball's power structure. Only about half of the more than 300 Division I programs currently award 11.7 scholarships, and many of the ones that do could at least double that number next year. Programs that don't award 11.7 now still might struggle to offer that many going forward. |
| Georgia baseball set to debut new-look Foley Field in home opener | |
 | From the playing surface to the grandstands to the location of the home dugout, it will be a new-look Foley Field for Georgia baseball's home opener on Friday. A lot has changed since the No. 9 Bulldogs last played in their own ballpark in the NCAA Super Regionals last June. Construction workers this week were still wrapping up the $45 million renovation to the 59-year old venue that now has a capacity of 3,633. "You have a vision for what you want to build," Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks said, "and the space looked really tight and small. It was hard to appreciate it in drawings. Getting to see it in real life, up close and in person, it's remarkable. I gave (UGA athletic staff members) Matt Brachowski and Tanner Stines a hard time saying they really underpromised and overdelivered on this one because it really kind of blew my mind of how much space they were able to create there." Georgia has added high-tech pitching labs and a hitting tunnel, a new weight room, coaches' offices and a team lounge. "It's going to make for a better experience for our fans, out student-athletes and it's already gotten rave review (from players)," Brooks said. "They are so fired up to be training there." |
| SEC, Big Ten discussing new formats for football championship weekend | |
| The SEC is talking about "re-imagining" its football championship weekend into a series of play-in games to the College Football Playoff. That includes the somewhat radical possibility of the eighth-place team getting a chance to earn a bid by knocking out the top seed. The idea of play-in games has been floated since last fall, as part of a proposal where the SEC and Big Ten would get four guaranteed bids to an expanded 14-team Playoff field. The most-discussed proposal has been to have the two top seeds meet in the SEC Championship Game as usual, both teams ensured a Playoff bid but playing for a bye, and two play-in games, matching the No. 3 and No. 6 seeds and No. 4 and No. 5 seeds. But the SEC has discussed a more radical idea: four play-in games, matching No. 1 and No. 8, No. 4 and No. 5, No. 2 and No. 7 and No. 3 and No. 6. "It's one of the ideas on the table," Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin said Wednesday as he left New Orleans, where SEC and Big Ten athletic directors met to discuss several issues. This isn't the only idea, and there doesn't yet appear a consensus. But it shows how far the conference is going to rethink championship weekend. "We'll see what happens," Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said when asked if that format was in play. |
| SEC's Greg Sankey, Big Ten's Tony Petitti agree CFP seeding needs change | |
| Following a joint meeting between athletic directors representing their respective conferences on Wednesday, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said they agreed that the way teams are seeded in the 12-team College Football Playoff should change this fall. While the voices of the two wealthiest and most powerful conferences certainly carry weight, any changes for the 2025 season have to be unanimously agreed upon by the 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua. "I'm prepared to vote for seeding change, but it has to be unanimous," Sankey said. A popular suggestion to change the seeding for this fall -- which Petitti said he favored -- has been to use the selection committee's ranking for the seeding while still making room for the five highest-ranked conference champions. In that model, the committee's top four teams would earn the top four seeds and first-round byes, regardless of whether they were conference champions. That would also open the door for Notre Dame, which can't win a conference title as an independent, to earn a first-round bye as a top-four seed. The joint meeting between the Big Ten and SEC came less than a week before both Petitti and Sankey will meet in Dallas with their fellow FBS commissioners and Bevacqua to begin a thorough review of the inaugural 12-team playoff. |
| SEC, Big Ten to push for seeding changes to 2025 College Football Playoff | |
| On the 23rd floor of the luxurious Windsor Court hotel, guests can view a near 360-degree panorama of this fine city -- the chocolate river that winds through it, the century-old buildings of the French Quarter and the towering oaks that line the famous St. Charles Avenue. Inside a room there Wednesday, atop this city and, perhaps, atop college athletics, leaders of the SEC and Big Ten gathered to explore some of the most significant issues in the industry. They emerged with few decisions made except for one: They want to see a seeding change in the 2025 College Football Playoff. The two leagues will push playoff executives to alter the seeding of the upcoming postseason, aligning the seeds based directly on the selection committee's rankings. Such a move would eliminate the rule that grants first-round byes and the top four seeds to the four highest-ranked conference champions. They'll have a fight on their hands to make the change. Any change to the 2025 playoff requires unanimity from the 10 FBS leagues and Notre Dame as it is the last year of the original television contract with ESPN. Why would the Big 12, ACC and many of the Group of Five commissioners -- the main benefactors of the rule --- vote for such a move? They wouldn't. Some of them have hinted as much in comments to Yahoo Sports last month. |
| SEC ADs, coaches 're-thinking' position on 9-game conference schedule | |
| SEC athletics directors and coaches discussed the potential of a nine-game conference schedule during meetings this week, commissioner Greg Sankey confirmed. Although no decision was made, some in the room are "re-thinking" their position on the move. The SEC considered a nine-game conference schedule last season, but held off as Texas and Oklahoma entered the league. College Football Playoff expansion also played a role in the decision to wait, Sankey said during last year's spring meetings, and the expectation was conversations would start again this year. As officials from the SEC met with their Big Ten counterparts this week, a nine-game slate appears to be back on the table. Sankey pointed out there's "a lot of interest" in such a move as the college football landscape continues to evolve. The 2024 season marked the first of the 12-team College Football Playoff after a decade with a four-team format. Ahead of the new-look bracket, Sankey spoke with Paul Finebaum about how the revamped model would impact future scheduling conversations with both SEC members, as well as ESPN and ABC -- the league's media partners. |
| HBCU commissioners reach out to Congress for help as legislation threatens their programs | |
 | Just a few years after sports at historically Black schools were thriving, many now are merely surviving. HBCUs are seeking help before things get worse. The commissioners of four major historically Black conferences have sent a letter to the Congressional Black Caucus requesting a meeting and voicing concerns that the growing push to make athletes school employees could potentially destroy their athletic programs if it continues. Anthony Holloman, commissioner of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) said Yvette Clark, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, has responded with an offer to meet with the commissioners later this month. The SIAC, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) cover 48 Division I and Division II HBCU programs and roughly 15,000 athletes. The commissioners worry their schools will need to make massive cuts if forced to put athletes on their payrolls. Athletes would have to pay taxes on their incomes and scholarships and the schools would be taxed for employing them. That would make college less affordable for students and come at significant cost to a group of schools that do not generate significant athletic revenue. |
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