| Thursday, July 9, 2026 |
| More than memories: Susan Seal's podcast preserves mothers' legacies | |
 | For Susan Seal, the stories mothers leave behind aren't measured in jewelry, money or family heirlooms. They're found in resilience passed from one generation to the next, familiar phrases that slip into conversations years later and lessons that continue shaping daughters long after their mothers are gone. These lessons and stories inspired Seal to create A Daughter's Inheritance, a podcast that explores the complicated, deeply personal relationships between mothers and daughters through conversations with women whose mothers have died. Seal was first encouraged by a friend to write a book about her mother. Instead she turned to a format she already knew and understood well. As the inaugural dean of the College of Professional and Continuing Studies at Mississippi State University she has already co-hosted a higher education podcast through the school. She decided a podcast would allow people to share their stories in their own words. The name of the podcast, A Daughter's Inheritance, highlights the fact that daughter's inherit much more than just possessions from their mothers. |
| Google Chrome extension developed by MSU doctoral student supports researchers globally | |
 | An online research tool developed by a Mississippi State College of Education doctoral student is helping researchers across the world manage their references, generating more than 1,000 installs in less than 90 days. Timothy Okunoye, an instructional systems and workforce development student from Ada, Osun State, Nigeria, created NotebookLM to Zotero, a free Google Chrome extension that saves researchers' time by automating the tedious process of migrating research documents, citations and AI-generated insights. Okunoye developed the tool as a response to what he described as a "real-world pain point" in the AI-integrated research workflow. "My goal is to make research workflows smoother and more accessible for everyone, whether you are an experienced researcher or a student just getting started," Okunoye said. "As an excellence-oriented and research-inclined institution, MSU inspires me to create solutions for the real world. This innovation wouldn't have been possible without the hands-on learning ecosystem that MSU promotes." |
| Watermelons, blueberries devastated by summer rain | |
| While some areas of Mississippi are still experiencing drought, recent double-digit rainfall in southern portions of the state devastated fruit and vegetable crops. Watermelons and blueberries are primarily grown in the southern half of the state, and growers there have seen high yield losses. "Some watermelon growers say they lost as much as 90% of their crop," said Heath Steede, Mississippi State University Extension Service agent in George County. "Others say their losses fall somewhere between 60% and 90%." Both Steede and Eric Stafne, Extension fruit and nut specialist based in Poplarville at the South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station, said they have received at least 30 inches of rain during mid-May to mid-June. Some areas have gotten even more. Farmers are losing even the remaining percent of melons that were harvested. |
| Business Brief: Community Bank names Gregory business development officer | |
 | Community Bank has welcomed Bart Gregory as business development officer, a role in which he will focus on connecting customers with financial solutions and reinforcing the bank's commitment to local communities. Gregory brings more than two decades of relationship-building, fundraising and community engagement experience to the role. Most recently, Gregory served as assistant athletic director for the Mississippi State University Bulldog Club where he managed a large portfolio of donor relationships and played a key role in the organization's record-breaking fundraising efforts. "I'm honored to join Community Bank and continue serving the Starkville community," Gregory said. |
| McGee named finalist for superintendent job in Alabama | |
| With dirt work well underway for a new $100 million-plus Starkville High School, a new job could be on the horizon for Superintendent Tony McGee. McGee has been named a finalist for the superintendent job at Baldwin County Public Schools in Alabama, Communications Coordinator Chasity Riddick told The Dispatch. The potential move comes as Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District presses forward on the new high school's construction, a project set to be funded by up to $127 million in bonds that will require a tax increase to pay back. SOCSD Board President Sumner Davis expects the high school project to continue without interruption even if McGee is offered the job in Southwest Alabama. If for whatever reason Dr. McGee were to move on to another position, the project moves on," Davis told The Dispatch on Wednesday. "There are multiple people in the district that are working on this project, and the continuity will be seamless. The project is not contingent upon Dr. McGee being our superintendent. ... The mechanisms are in place, and the process is moving forward." |
| Mary Means Business: Heritage Chophouse coming to Starkville | |
| A new upscale restaurant is on the horizon for Starkville foodies. Heritage Chophouse, a steak and seafood concept, is moving in right next to Georgia Blue at 211 S. Jackson St., Suite 2. The new restaurant is part of the Culinary Innovations Group, the hospitality company behind Starkville's Bluto's and Taste. "Heritage Chophouse is our take on the classic American steakhouse," said Mark. H. Brezinski, CIG CEO. "We want it to feel refined and special, but still warm and comfortable. The focus will be on exceptional steaks, chops, seafood and classic steakhouse dishes, along with a strong bar and wine program." Construction is already underway and CIG is actively searching for employees to help build Heritage Chophouse. |
| Oktibbeha supes on the hook for OCH IRS penalty | |
| Oktibbeha County is on the hook to pay OCH Regional Medical Center's tax penalty bill issued by the Internal Revenue Service in 2022. The county received notice of the bill June 22, and the board of supervisors learned about it during executive session at Monday's meeting. The board resolved to pay the bill regardless of the amount, though it is still trying to determine what that is. "If you read this letter trying to figure out how much they're asking for, me and a lawyer couldn't read it and figure it out," County Administrator Wayne Carpenter told The Dispatch on Monday. "... I don't know how much we owe, I'm going to be honest, but my estimation is in the range of $250,000." Board Attorney Rob Roberson told The Dispatch on Tuesday he estimates the bill could be anywhere from $219,000 to more than $400,000. The IRS bill is an example of the "unforeseen liabilities" the county is responsible for following the sale of the hospital and will be paid out of the remaining profits set aside to cover these liabilities, Carpenter said. |
| Report: Mississippi enjoys fourth consecutive year of positive interstate migration | |
| Research by StorageCafe shows Mississippi recorded its fourth consecutive year of positive interstate migration, adding nearly 8,800 net new residents in 2024, with net gains increasing 68% year over year. These newcomers are not just passing through the Magnolia State; they are putting down roots, according to the report's author Maria Gatea, Senior Real Estate Editor and Research Writer. Her research shows that 54% of the newcomers to Mississippi purchase a home within their first year in the state, a strong signal of long-term commitment. That percentage of newcomers buying a home when moving to Mississippi is "one of the highest homeownership rates among inbound movers nationwide." "Access to homeownership appears to be a key driver of the move," Gatea writes in her overview of Mississippi's positive migration trend. "The bulk of Mississippi's incoming migration originates from nearby Southern states where real estate markets are significantly more expensive, making homeownership harder to achieve." The report lists Alabama, Texas, and Louisiana as the top three states losing residents to Mississippi, and all three have considerably higher home prices on average. |
| C Spire Foundation Announces Leadership Transition | |
| The C Spire Foundation and Hu Meena, Chairman, Telapex, Inc., the parent company of C Spire, today announced Jim Richmond as Executive Director of the C Spire Foundation, succeeding Beth Creekmore Pickering, who is stepping down from the role after more than 20 years of leadership. Richmond, who most recently served as Vice President of Corporate Communications and Community Affairs at C Spire, will lead the Foundation's strategy, operations, and community engagement efforts while working closely with the Board of Directors to advance its mission and impact across the region. Since 1997, C Spire has invested millions of dollars in academic scholarships supporting students at public universities throughout Mississippi. The Foundation played a prominent role in advancing computer science education in Mississippi through coding challenges, academies, accelerated degree programs, scholarships, and teacher development initiatives. |
| Hosemann says Mississippi shouldn't roll the dice on mobile sports betting | |
| Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann is not a fan of mobile sports betting -- and he made that stance quite clear this week. Hosemann took to social media on Tuesday to outline exactly why he's opposed to the concept of Mississippians placing wagers from their personal devices outside of the four walls of a casino, arguing that it ups the odds of addiction and suicide while harming the state's existing gaming industry. "Mobile sports betting wouldn't create a single job for Mississippians and comes with a social cost that is of increasing concern," Hosemann wrote. "The Senate should continue to reject this harmful legislation." This stance likely pits Hosemann against fellow Republican House Speaker Jason White, who has been an ardent supporter of legalizing mobile sports betting. Since taking over as speaker in 2024, legalization has been one of White's top priorities. It's an issue that he's pressed repeatedly to no avail, with Hosemann's strong dissent seemingly proving why the initiative has been squashed numerous times. |
| Mississippi brings in $176.7 million above revenue estimate for FY 2026 | |
| The Legislative Budget Office's June revenue report shows that Mississippi ended the 2026 Fiscal Year in the black, bringing in $176.7 million, or 2.34% more in taxes than estimated. Notably, the year-to-date collections were $87.6 million, or 1.15% above the prior year's collections. The 2026 Fiscal Year total revenue estimate was $7.552 billion. It was revised down by $75 million, from $7.627 billion, last November prior to the start of the 2026 legislative session. LBO's report released on Monday also showed that June's revenue collections were slightly below the monthly estimate, coming in at $381,227, or 0.05% under estimate. June general fund collections were $10.7 million, or 1.32% above the prior year's actual collections. Also coming in ahead of the same month, prior year collections were individual and corporate income tax collections for the month of June. |
| Which political party is raising the most money in Mississippi? | |
 | You have to spend money to win elections, and before you can spend money, you have to have it. Thus, the key to winning the upcoming federal elections in Mississippi and a slew of statewide elections next year may lie with the political party toting the most cash. Monthly reports filed with the Federal Election Commission paint a picture of how much money political parties receive over that span and the amount that they are spending. In April 2026, based on reports covering that month, Mississippi's Democratic Party outraised its Republican counterpart handily. The bulk of the Democratic Party money came from high-dollar donations from national party-affiliated organizations, including in the immediate aftermath of Gov. Tate Reeves openly weighing a redistricting special session. A month later, as discussions on redistricting have faded from the news cycle and politicians have introduced other issues, has the Democratic Party maintained its fundraising momentum? |
| Americans keep leaving the workforce. Experts can't agree on the cause | |
 | Whether it was caregiving responsibilities, feeling discouraged after a long stretch of unemployment or the realization they're sitting on a pile of money, many Americans have left the workforce entirely. Over the past year, about 1 million workers have thrown in the towel. In June alone, 720,000 people left the workforce, the Labor Department estimated. The labor force participation rate, or the percentage of those 16 and older who are working or looking for work, fell to 61.5% in June, marking the lowest reading since March 2021. Excluding the lows seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, it represents the lowest rate in five decades. Experts are split on what is driving the departures. What is clear is that a sustained decline in the workforce could slow U.S. economic growth. "Economic growth is a combination of the economy generating more for each hour that workers are at the job and more workers working more hours," said Bill Adams, Comerica Bank's chief U.S. economist. "The first half of that -- productivity --is still growing at a good pace in the U.S., but the second half -- bringing more workers into the economy -- is not contributing as much to growth as it has in the past." |
| Fed Officials Flagged Risks That Would Warrant Higher Rates | |
 | Federal Reserve officials broadly agreed at their meeting last month that they would need to raise interest rates if inflation stays elevated this year. They also agreed that they could stay on hold if price pressures fade soon, according to minutes of that meeting released Wednesday. Which of those paths they take depends on something they haven't resolved: whether the forces pushing up prices will last. The minutes showed how they are increasingly focused on a source of inflation that barely figured in their debates a few months ago: the boom in artificial-intelligence investment. It was one of the forces, along with the war in the Middle East and tariffs, that could keep prices elevated and tip the Fed toward a rate increase, according to the written account. Fed officials voted unanimously at their June 16-17 meeting to hold their benchmark rate in a range of 3.5% to 3.75%, where it has stood since December. They pruned any hints of future policy changes from their policy statement. Still, investors read last month's meeting, the first under Chairman Kevin Warsh, as a step toward higher rates because of interest-rate projections showing a larger contingent anticipating hikes. The minutes, released with a three-week lag, showed rising concern over the outlook for inflation. |
| Trump yelled at NATO leaders in public. In private, it was a different story. | |
 | President Donald Trump spent his first hours at the NATO summit publicly bashing the alliance and reciting a list of grievances that had allies fearing the worst. Then he went behind closed doors and changed his tune. The president was far more positive on Wednesday, when he gave a final 30-minute speech which left out his desire to annex Greenland or criticize Spain, his latest European punching bag, according to four people, who were granted anonymity to relay details of the private meeting. While there was some criticism, there were also plenty of compliments. "We want to remain with you," Trump said, according to a second participant in the meeting. The shift was a notable about-face for a president who has threatened repeatedly to leave the alliance --- and came after European leaders heaped praise on Trump for helping ensure allies boosted their defense spending. But those in attendance weren't clear what specifically changed his stance. The turnaround also underscores why European leaders remain on tenterhooks around the president, who relishes his own unpredictability. |
| U.S. intensifies strikes on Iran's coast along Strait of Hormuz | |
 | U.S. forces hit 90 targets overnight mostly along Iran's coastline with the Strait of Hormuz, stepping up a renewed bombing campaign after President Donald Trump said he thought a tentative truce agreement was "over." Iran, in turn, fired drones and missiles at U.S. military targets in the Persian Gulf region and in Jordan, marking the second day of tit-for-tat strikes. The renewed military action -- after huge crowds in Tehran vowed revenge against America during elaborate funeral rites this week for their assassinated supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and after Trump called Iran's leaders "scum" -- signaled that the war is far from winding down. The strikes in recent days -- the first round of which hit 80 targets, according to the U.S. military, and the new barrage of 90 overnight -- followed attacks by Iran on ships passing through the strait. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones at U.S. military sites located in partner countries in the Persian Gulf region, including Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar. |
| Platner, accused of sexual assault, suspends Senate campaign | |
 | Maine Democrat Graham Platner suspended his campaign for Senate on Wednesday night, a move that allows the state party to select an alternate candidate to face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a marquee matchup this fall. Platner's announcement that he would drop out of the race comes two days after he denied a Politico report that he had sexually assaulted a woman he once dated. "We believe that for the movement to continue, it can't be me," Platner said in an 11-minute video posted to social media. "And for that reason, we are suspending campaign operations." Platner reiterated that the accusations against him are false. But he said that the political system had taken away the structure needed to run a viable Senate campaign. Platner's announcement caps a swift rise and fall for the oysterman and military veteran who launched an outsider Senate bid last August and went on to win the Democratic nomination to challenge Collins, who is seeking a sixth term. Maine is seen as a must-win state for Senate Democrats this year in their difficult quest to take control of the chamber. But Collins, the only Senate Republican to represent a state Kamala Harris carried in 2024, has a long history of beating back Democratic challengers in the blue-leaning state. |
| Mississippi Colleges Leverage New Workforce Pell Program to Close Skills Gap | |
 | Mississippi's community colleges are transforming the state's economic landscape by aggressively expanding short-term workforce training under the newly minted Workforce Pell Grant program. This federal shift unlocks financial aid for intensive, career-focused tracks that once forced students to pay out of pocket, effectively dismantling the financial barrier between workers and high-demand industries. The program extends traditional Pell Grant eligibility to training modules that lead directly to employment in critical sectors. As colleges statewide apply to qualify their curricula, officials say the transition is a strategic strike against persistent workforce shortages. Ginger Robbins, Hinds Community College vice president of workforce development and governmental affairs, said the grant provides a vital lifeline for students unable to commit to four-year degrees. "This really creates a very clear pathway for students," Robbins said. "We will not be offering programs that are eligible for Workforce Pell that don't provide an opportunity for a student to go directly to work. So it benefits the student and it benefits that employer who's looking for a highly qualified employee." |
| Ole Miss alumnus, Oxford native creates endowment for engineering students | |
| For Rob Whorton, supporting the University of Mississippi is not just about giving back; it is about paying forward opportunities that shaped his lifetime and honoring his father, who taught him the value of education. The retired Atlanta resident speaks with gratitude about the generous private support that opened doors for him. That same gratitude inspired Whorton to give $50,000 provide the same sort of opportunities for future students through the Billy Bob Whorton Memorial Scholarship Endowment in the School of Engineering. The endowment honors Whorton's father who -- though having only one year of college education himself -- encouraged his children to pursue college degrees. Whorton's sister, Susanne Campbell, earned a bachelor's degree from the UM School of Education in 1974. "My dad believed that education was the key to our success," Whorton said. The 1986 Ole Miss geology graduate wants to support Mississippi students who demonstrate talent and potential but may lack the financial means to pursue higher education. |
| USM's cybersecurity program recognized by Forbes | |
| The University of Southern Mississippi's School of Computing Sciences and Computer Engineering has earned national recognition from Forbes Advisor. Forbes named USM's online Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity program one of the nation's top online bachelor's degree programs in cybersecurity. In its 2026 rankings, Forbes Advisor selected Southern Miss as its "Best Military Students" editorial pick. The publication highlighted the university's scholarships, tuition assistance, military education credit options and campus resources for military-affiliated students. It also noted Southern Miss' affordable online tuition, equal tuition rates for in-state and out-of-state students and flexible tuition model for full-time online learners. |
| UC reconsidering SAT return after faculty complaints over math skills | |
 | The debate over whether the University of California should restore the SAT in admissions, expected to surface next week before regents, is emerging as one of its most closely watched and consequential issues as leaders assess how the nation's premier public university decides who gets a coveted seat. There are early signs that views may have changed in the six years since the governing board unanimously voted to eliminate SAT and ACT requirements. One of the most significant: Former UC President Janet Napolitano, who was at UC's helm at the time, says a hard reassessment is much needed after a faculty outcry that students are severely deficient in math skills. A standardized test score "shouldn't be a sole factor" in determining access to UC, Napolitano said, but a renewed look at admissions could conclude it should be "a factor." She and others spoke to the high stakes of the decision amid a supercharged political climate in which the Trump administration has opened multiple investigations into UC admission practices for alleged racial discrimination. "It's been a six-year experiment, and it now needs to be revisited," Napolitano said in an interview with The Times. |
| Are 'Divisive Concepts' Laws on the Ropes? | |
 | A federal appeals court on Tuesday dealt what might be the most significant judicial setback yet to Republican-led efforts to regulate teaching at public colleges. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled that Florida's "Stop WOKE Act" violates the First Amendment by prohibiting professors from expressing certain views about race, gender, and other contested topics. The 2-1 opinion from the three-judge panel is likely to reverberate far beyond Florida. In one of the strongest appellate endorsements of academic freedom in recent memory, the court held that states may not use their authority over public universities to suppress disfavored viewpoints or impose ideological conformity in the classroom. The decision comes as Republican-led legislatures look to Florida as a blueprint for remaking higher education. States including Alabama, North Carolina, and Texas have adopted or proposed restrictions on classroom instruction about race, sex, and identity alongside broader efforts to dismantle diversity programs and expand state oversight of public universities. |
| College Associations Say Expanded List of Professional Degrees Is 'Incomplete' | |
 | More than a week after the Department of Education expanded the list of degree programs eligible for higher loan limits after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act took effect on July 1, several trade associations and legal experts say the latest expansion is not enough. The expanded list followed a federal district court order that temporarily stayed the department's more narrow definition. Now ED has deemed 29 programs professional, up from 11 -- including health-care fields like nursing and physician assistantship (both of which had trade associations that sued the department over its definition). Other degrees for careers in education, social work, accounting and architecture still did not make the cut. Advocates representing those programs say that while the judge gave the department authority to write the updated list, the court order also laid out clear instructions for how it should be done. And from their perspective, ED didn't follow those directions. But the trade associations aren't giving up without a fight and hope to use legislation or further litigation to ensure their students can get access to the $50,000 annual limit for professional programs, rather than the $20,500 limit for all other graduate degrees. |
| Under a new federal rule, colleges must leave grads better off or lose financial aid | |
 | This month, the U.S. Department of Education began rolling out a new accountability test that most colleges and universities will soon have to pass. The test itself is simple: If an undergraduate program's graduates don't earn more than workers who never went to college, that program could be cut off from federal student loans. The same goes for any graduate program whose graduates earn less than someone with only a bachelor's degree. "If a program cannot show that it leaves its graduates financially better off than if they had never enrolled, it should not be underwritten by federal taxpayers," said Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent in a recent statement. But this new test, known as "do no harm," raises some thorny questions about the purpose of college. Like: Is it just about making more money? Some advocates for postsecondary arts education think not. "Earnings is only a small piece of that puzzle," said Lee Ann Scotto Adams, executive director of the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP), a nonprofit that studies the careers of arts graduates. |
SPORTS
| Two State Players In Action at 2026 NBA Summer League | |
| The Mississippi State men's basketball program will be represented by Cameron Matthews and RJ Melendez in the 2026 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion from July 9-19. Matthews will suit up for the Charlotte Hornets, while Melendez will continue to see action with the San Antonio Spurs. Melendez posted 4.3 points and 3.0 blocks per game over his three appearances at the NBA Summer League California Classic from July 3-6. Both players suited up in the NBA G-League last season. Matthews provided 12.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game with Rio Grande Valley Vipers followed by Melendez's 11.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game with the Mexico City Capitanes. All 30 NBA franchises will play at least five games which begin with four matchups on-tap from July 9-16. |
| NIL clearinghouse has rejected $90M in deals | |
| The costs associated with collegiate sports continue to rise, along with the scrutiny on NIL agreements. The College Sports Commission's clearinghouse has rejected nearly $90 million in NIL deals since its inception a year ago, according to the group's NIL data report released Wednesday. But NIL Go, which is operated by Deloitte as the assessment arm of all independent NIL deals over $600, has also approved $355 million in NIL agreements since it launched June 11, 2025. A chunk of those deals was addressed recently. During the 61-day period from May 1 through June 30 this year, the CSC rejected NIL deals worth $34 million and cleared NIL deals worth $113 million, per the report. The average deal the CSC approved during those 61 days was worth $14,792, and the average deal the CSC rejected over the same period was valued at $51,593. Only two deals are in arbitration, per the report. In its report, the CSC said it has made a final ruling on nearly 90 NIL deals per day over the last year. The report follows months of contention with schools and their leadership over proper NIL deals. |
| Yahoo Sports launches college fantasy football leagues featuring Power Four players and Notre Dame | |
 | How about Texas quarterback Arch Manning paired with Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith on the same college football roster. While at it, add Michigan tailback Jordan Marshall, too. No transfer portal needed, either. Just some savvy drafting by a college fantasy football team owner. Yahoo Sports is expanding more into college fantasy football this season by launching leagues that feature players from Power Four conferences along with Notre Dame. "This will be an interesting opportunity to really develop fandom not just of the sport, but also the players and the schools," Ryan Spoon, president of Yahoo Media Group, said in an interview before Thursday's launch of the leagues. "The content ... is now available to make a really robust, awesome experience." There have been sites with college fantasy football leagues before. This takes it even more mainstream in this era of name, image and likeness. Yahoo is coming off a season in which it set all-time highs for most fantasy football users and teams. One thing Brody Ruihley, a professor of sport leadership and management at Miami University (Ohio), cautioned was to keep in mind these are college students, first and foremost. This is just fun and games. NFL players have reported being contacted by fantasy football owners through social media in all sorts of ways. |
| Is Big 12's $20M Monster Jersey Patch Deal Too Cheap? | |
| The Big 12's expanded partnership with Monster Energy, announced Tuesday, was heralded as the first of its kind in college sports. But it has also drawn criticism from multiple industry sources who believed the deal may have both undervalued the conference and could create issues for school-specific assets in the future. The deal, which has three main components, would rake in $20 million per year for schools, offering around $1 million per school, Front Office Sports confirmed. First, all Big 12 football and men's and women's basketball teams and fields/courts will include the co-branded patches (considered the first conference-wide jersey patch deal since the NCAA began allowing such partnerships). Second, the Big 12 football and men's and women's basketball regular seasons will be referred to as "Monster Energy Big 12 Football" and "Monster Energy Big 12 Basketball," respectively. Finally, the deal requires Monster to include Big 12 assets in its marketing in more than 100 countries where it advertises, offering intangible exposure for the league. One industry source, however, called it "objectively a terrible deal," saying Big 12 schools were worth much more than the $1 million (or potentially less) the schools would be getting from the annual payout. Another said the value of school-specific jersey patch deals made with schools of the caliber of the Big 12 was worth multiple millions of dollars per year. |
| Virginia senators weigh in on Protect College Sports Act | |
| Virginia's senators weighed in Tuesday on the Protect College Sports Act, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Washington Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell that has advanced to the Senate Commerce Committee. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., discussed the PCSA during a visit to the Eastern Mennonite University campus in Harrisonburg as part of a wider conversation on higher education. If passed as currently written, the Protect College Sports Act would codify laws governing name, image and likeness payments and provide the NCAA with a limited antitrust exemption. The bill also aims to slow the frequency of athlete transfers by allowing one free transfer without penalty while requiring athletes to sit out one year for each additional transfer. The legislation also would provide protections for athletes, including guarantees for scholarships and medical care. Among its most contentious provisions is one that would allow multiple conferences to pool their media rights while effectively shutting down conference realignment. The senator, former governor and 2016 vice presidential nominee said addressing the challenges of schools with different needs is one of the toughest aspects of trying to solve college sports' biggest issues at the federal level. |
| NCAA sends letter of inquiry to Cincinnati about Brendan Sorsby, according to reports | |
| The NCAA wants to know what the University of Cincinnati knew about former quarterback Brendan Sorsby and his gambling issues during his two seasons with the program. According to reports by multiple media outlets, the NCAA has sent an official letter of inquiry to the school regarding Sorsby, who was ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA in April after he placed thousands of impermissible sports bets over the past four years. Sorsby spent two seasons each at Indiana and Cincinnati before transferring to reigning Big 12 champion Texas Tech in January, and his ineligibility ruling touched off an unprecedented legal battle that Sorsby ultimately dropped. While Sorsby won't play and plans to enter next year's NFL draft, coach Joey McGuire said this week that he still expects the quarterback to make occasional trips to Lubbock and will have access to the school's athletic facilities. Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield, who was Sorsby's coach during his two seasons with the Bearcats, declined to comment on reports about the letter of inquiry at Wednesday's Big 12 Media Days in Frisco, Texas. |
The Office of Public Affairs provides the Daily News Digest as a general information resource for Mississippi State University stakeholders.
Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.
