| Monday, August 10, 2026 |
| MSU-Meridian graduates second Master of Science in Nursing cohort | |
 | According to an MSU press release, Healthcare in the Magnolia State gains 35 advanced professionals Thursday [Aug. 6] with the graduation of Mississippi State's second Master of Science in Nursing cohort. The MSN pinning and graduation ceremony at the MSU-Meridian Riley Campus celebrated the culmination of the rigorous 12-month, direct-entry program for the group, bringing the total number of nursing graduates from MSU's program to 69. The MSU School of Nursing was granted national accreditation last year following review by the Collegiate Nursing Education board of commissioners, and its inaugural MSN cohort of 34 graduated in August 2025. MSU President Mark E. Keenum commended the MSU-Meridian students and their families for their dedication, commitment and perseverance through the intensive degree program that offers a pathway to practice as a registered nurse for those with a previous college degree in a non-nursing field. |
| MSU-Meridian graduates second Master of Science in Nursing cohort | |
 | Healthcare in the Magnolia State gains 35 advanced professionals Thursday [Aug. 6] with the graduation of Mississippi State's second Master of Science in Nursing cohort. The MSN pinning and graduation ceremony at the MSU-Meridian Riley Campus celebrated the culmination of the rigorous 12-month, direct-entry program for the group, bringing the total number of nursing graduates from MSU's program to 69. The MSU School of Nursing was granted national accreditation last year following review by the Collegiate Nursing Education board of commissioners, and its inaugural MSN cohort of 34 graduated in August 2025. Dean of Nursing Mary Stewart said students in the program, which leads to practice-ready graduation and preparedness for the NCLEX exam, are supported by an extremely experienced team of nursing faculty assembled to guide them through the rigorous program. "Brilliant, bold and unafraid to disrupt, these faculty members are grounded in academic excellence and driven by compassion for patients. They are indeed creating new opportunities in healthcare and education." |
| Residents encouraged to 'Think Big, Start Small' at Business After Hours | |
 | Lauderdale County community leaders were encouraged to continue efforts to grow the area's cultural identity at a Business After Hours event Tuesday organized by the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation. Hosted at Soulé Steam Museum, the event provided an opportunity for networking, as well as a presentation by Stennis Institute Project Director Chance McDavid. McDavid, who also serves as president of the Mississippi Main Street board, has a wealth of knowledge about community development, strategic planning, civic engagement and more. "For 20 years plus, I have worked under the belief of asset-based community development. In other words, looking at what communities have as opposed to what they don't have," he said. "And it's very, very important to realize that the people, their knowledge, skills and abilities, and the resources they bring to the table are the very things that build community, and that's where we start." McDavid encouraged local leaders to "think big and start small," by leveraging the assets already present in the community and making small but impactful changes. Starting could be something as simple as adding a bench along a walkway or installing planters to break up a monotonous stretch of wall. |
| Southwire investing $256 million in Starkville expansion | |
| Southwire, a wire and cable manufacturer, is expanding its operations in Starkville with an investment of more than $256 million, according to the Mississippi Development Authority. The expansion is said to be creating 128 jobs. Ganesh Ramaswamy, Southwire's President and CEO, said the expansion represents another meaningful step in Southwire's long-term strategy to modernize our operations, strengthen our manufacturing footprint and continue delivering exceptional service to our customers. "Starkville has been an important part of Southwire's story for decades, and this investment reflects our confidence in the team, the community and the opportunities ahead as we continue building for the future," Ramaswamy said. Southwire is one of North America's largest wire and cable producers and serves a range of electrical infrastructure markets. The company was founded in 1950. The Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive, or MFLEX, program, while the city of Starkville and Oktibbeha County are also assisting with the project. |
| Police calls drive crackdown on nuisance properties | |
 | Two properties have led aldermen to eye an ordinance that would allow the city to impose high fines, suspend or revoke rental and business licenses for properties labeled a chronic nuisance. Police Chief Mark Ballard said SPD received 286 calls to one of the two properties between Jan. 1 and July 31, a call volume that he called disproportionate compared to other area apartment complexes and a significant drain for the department. "When you talk about call ratio, I'll even add to this that you can take either one of our two biggest problem areas, and they dwarf the apartment calls from all the others combined," Ballard told The Dispatch. "That's how heavy of a toll that we are looking at in draining police resources. ...The police department isn't built to be quasi property management, and that's what we are seeing in a couple of these properties throughout the city." Ballard confirmed one of the properties is Brookville Garden Apartments complex on Everglade Avenue. Brookville Garden, owned by Madison-based Golden Triangle Company, was the subject of four public hearings for code violations during Tuesday night's board of aldermen meeting, leading the board to discuss the property as a prime example of why the city needs a chronic nuisance ordinance. |
| Residents on hunt to find new housing after given notice | |
| Tenants in Chateau Maroon, a senior apartment complex in Starkville, have been notified that they have 11 months to find a new place to call home. However, many in Starkville are running into a growing issue. Brandi Herrington of Starkville Strong says they've received an influx of calls to help find new homes, but they're running into a recurring problem: affordable housing in Starkville. "They gave them 11 months. But even with 11 months, that's not a lot of time when there's not a lot of housing available here to place them in, affordable housing. I don't think the sale caused a housing crisis; it just revealed it for us." She says, like many people, Starkville Strong learned of the sale online. It has caused an ongoing discussion in many of the Starkville groups. There is available housing in Starkville, and there are projects in the works to provide more. But the key issue is affordability. |
| Season tickets available for Starkville Community Theatre's 49th season | |
| Comedy, drama, classic literature and an inspiring true story will take the stage during Starkville Community Theatre's upcoming 49th season. Season tickets are now available for the 2026-27 season, featuring five productions. "Season ticket subscribers play an important role in helping us prepare for and support an entire year of live theatre," said Stephen Cunetto, treasurer of the Starkville Community Theatre board of directors. "In return, subscribers receive a convenient and affordable way to enjoy every production while choosing the dates and seats that work best for them." The season opens in September with "Iliad, Odyssey, and All of Greek Mythology in 99 Minutes or Less," a fast-moving comedy that condenses centuries of Greek mythology into an evening of theatrical chaos and laughter. "We are thrilled to share a season that offers such a wide variety of stories and theatrical experiences," said Jessica Jolly, president of the SCT Board of Directors. "Community support makes it possible for Starkville Community Theatre to continue producing quality live theatre, and we are grateful for every patron, volunteer, donor and season ticket holder who helps make that possible." |
| Daughter joins veterinary practice, works closely with her dad | |
 | When Edie Thomas and her older sister, Maggie, were little girls, they would often accompany their veterinarian dad to Tupelo Small Animal Hospital on weekends and holidays to check on furry patients or boarders. "We played hospital," Edie Thomas said, laughing. "My sister always was the person working the desk up front; I was always the client or the veterinarian. Once I told Maggie I'd brought my dog in and he was missing a leg. And she very calmly said, 'We'll get that taken care of right away,' as if it was an easy fix, finding that missing leg." The only part of the playing that was not pretend was the three-legged dog, a stray rehabbing at the clinic that later became the first dog Thomas called her own. Glenn Thomas, who started the clinic alongside recently retired veterinarian Stephen King, smiled at the memory. "They were about 6 and 4 then," he said. "I'd be working back in the back but listening to them play." For the past seven weeks, since June 15, Dr. Edie Thomas, 27, has been back at Tupelo Small Animal Hospital, no longer pretending but practicing veterinary medicine alongside her dad. Joining the clinic staff and working with her dad was not something she's always known she'd do. But neither was attending veterinarian school. Edie Thomas was a junior at Mississippi State University when she made the decision to study veterinary medicine. |
| A Chicken Glut Is Dragging Down Meatpackers -- and Lowering Your Grocery Bill | |
 | Poultry companies are producing more chicken than consumers can buy, depressing wholesale prices and squeezing their profits. The dynamic sets up potential inflation relief for shoppers and restaurants looking to pare down their costs for protein. Suppliers such as Tyson Foods, Pilgrim's Pride and Wayne-Sanderson Farms have been ramping up offerings of boneless chicken breasts, wings and thighs over the past year to meet what was expected to be an onslaught of consumer demand. More Americans were expected to spurn pricier steaks and burgers in favor of cheaper chicken sandwiches and tenders. Beef demand hasn't cooled. Bigger chicken breeds and flocks not being decimated by disease over the summer have led to a glut in an industry that slaughters more than nine billion birds a year. Large volume buyers, and ultimately consumers, are likely beneficiaries from falling prices. Retail prices for boneless chicken breasts were down about 1.4% in June from a year prior, according to the Labor Department. Restaurants are also adding more chicken items to their menus to have cheaper protein options for their patrons, according to industry officials. |
| House lawmakers consider school consolidation as Mississippi public education enrollment declines | |
| The drop in birth rate is playing a part in Mississippi's declining K-12 enrollment numbers, and it has lawmakers considering the need to consolidate schools as well as school districts in areas across the Magnolia State. To that end, Speaker Jason White (R) appointed members of the House of Representatives to a select committee tasked with holding hearings while out of session to gather information as they consider the best path forward. The most recent hearing of the Select Committee on Consolidation for the House of Representatives was held Thursday. As part of the discussion, lawmakers heard presentations from three Mississippi school district superintendents have experience with consolidating districts. John Eillison (former superintendent for the Chickasaw County School District), Leake County School District Superintendent Will Russell, and Dr. Theresa Jackson (former Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District Superintendent) all told the legislators that the process is not easy, but some positive impacts can be seen in the years following consolidation. "All three of them said it's a tough business," Select Committee Chair State Rep. Rob Roberson (R) said. Roberson also serves as the chairman of the House Education Committee. |
| Mississippi native Marsha Blackburn wins GOP nomination for Tennessee governor | |
| Mississippi native Marsha Blackburn has clinched the Republican ticket for Tennessee's governor. Blackburn, a sitting U.S. senator, ousted primary challengers U.S. Rep. John Rose and Tennessee State Rep. Monty Fritts on Thursday. She will face Democratic challenger Jerri Green, a Memphis city council woman, in the Nov. 3 general election. It's the first time in Tennessee history that either major political party has nominated a female candidate for governor. While Blackburn does not hail from Tennessee, she has spent more than five decades in the Volunteer State. Blackburn was born in Laurel. She graduated from Northeast Jones High School and spent her college years at Mississippi State University on a 4-H scholarship. |
| Republicans punt budget for reconciliation package into the fall | |
 | Senate Republicans abandoned plans Friday night to try to take up a budget resolution for a third reconciliation package, bowing to the reality that they lacked enough votes for it. The decision to scrap a planned procedural vote on the budget came after a late-night meeting in Majority Leader John Thune's office with key senators and a phone call with President Donald Trump. Trump had urged the Senate for weeks not to leave town for the August recess before making headway on a reconciliation package that would pump up defense spending and impose elements of the so-called SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo ID at the polls. But Senate Budget Chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said Trump agreed to give the reconciliation effort more time to shore up support. "There was a concern whether or not we could actually pass the budget resolution tonight," Johnson told reporters after the meeting. "Then we had a discussion with the president. He agrees. Don't take the vote tonight, and just work diligently through August and September to do an actually ... better reconciliation bill." |
| Hegseth can't persuade Republicans to back his big budget | |
 | In the year and a half since Pete Hegseth squeaked through his Senate confirmation, congressional Republicans have handed the Pentagon chief big wins -- and defended some of his most controversial moves. But now that GOP unity is splintering under the weight of President Donald Trump's party-line push for the biggest defense budget in modern history. Senators left town last week for their summer break no closer to enacting the crown jewel of Hegseth's agenda, a $1.5 trillion defense budget that would stamp Trump's mark across the military, from new battleships to a Golden Dome missile defense shield. Hegseth hasn't persuaded Republicans to steamroll Democrats and advance the record-breaking plan, despite regularly trekking to the Hill in recent weeks and hobnobbing with lawmakers. Instead, an increasingly vocal group of GOP lawmakers argue the administration hasn't explained why Republicans should burn valuable political capital in pursuit of Trump's vision -- especially with the midterms just months away. |
| Trump goes unmentioned but not ignored as Clinton, Bush and Obama step up as essayists on presidents | |
 | When George W. Bush wrote an essay this year about another president named George, he avoided mentioning the one named Donald. So did Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. The three ex-presidents joined a roster of historians and authors in contributing to the In Pursuit project, a 250th-anniversary series that had each writer produce an essay about a president or first lady. Though the project was explicitly designed to transcend today's politics, some of its essays nevertheless reflect anxieties that are flaring in the era of President Donald Trump over the use of power, the health of the democracy and the integrity of the presidency. The project is being curated by Colleen Shogan, the U.S. archivist who was fired without explanation by Trump last year. She instructed contributors not to be partisan or ideological. "Everybody took those instructions and that guidance very seriously," she told The Associated Press. The goal was for all Americans to "feel welcome to be able to read these lessons and essays and learn something from them." Trump and Biden were judged too fresh to be appraised by history, a call that may have also set aside passions of the moment. Without naming Trump, Bush's essay is difficult to read without thinking of Trump's reluctance to cede power after his 2020 election defeat and his musings about a third term in defiance of the Constitution's two-term limit. |
| The 'Jury Duty' Scam That Cost This Family $25,000 | |
| Americans are awash in scams: phony UPS texts, AI-generated voices of loved ones in trouble, spoofed emails tricking city governments. People reported losing $3.5 billion to impostor scams in 2025, nearly triple 2020's level, the Federal Trade Commission said in a June report. Some swindles originate overseas, run by sophisticated criminal syndicates. "Some of them have HR departments and performance reviews," said Ben Bernstein, a cybersecurity expert at Huntress. But increasingly, they come from closer to home. In January, the Justice Department announced the conviction of two Georgia inmates who ran scams on stolen cellphones from behind bars. The jury-duty shakedown has surged in the Tampa area. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office alone has received 44 reports of the scam so far this year, up from 25 for all of last year, said Sgt. Andrew Miller, head of the economic-crimes unit. Authorities warn that they won't call you to threaten arrest or demand money over missed jury duty, yet tricksters convince many. As hard as it might be to imagine, so-called "panic scams" can work by triggering stress responses that shift victims into fight-or-flight, impairing rational thought, according to cybersecurity experts. The perpetrators leverage claimed authority and apply tremendous pressure. |
| FAITH scholarship funding scare fuels push for state lawmakers to step up | |
| My'Kayla Gaines Cochnauer was delivering DoorDash orders Wednesday when a text from her adoptive mother ended days of uncertainty over how she would pay for her first semester at Mississippi State University. The message shared a screenshot of an email telling the 18-year-old from Natchez that her Fostering Access and Inspiring True Hope, or FAITH, Scholarship had been restored -- a week after the state Office of Student Financial Aid told applicants the awards would not be funded. Her family had been scrambling to figure out how to cover roughly $5,000 in college costs before she was supposed to move into her dorm and begin studying psychology in mid-August. "I am really happy that I and other kids can now go to college without having to worry about work or where my next dollars will come from," Cochnauer said. "But I wonder why it took all this media attention to fix this problem?" Cochnauer is among 170 former foster youths whose scholarships will now be covered for their first semester of college after the Woodward Hines Education Foundation pledged $800,000 to help fill a funding gap in the state aid program. The foundation is also soliciting donations to help cover the scholarships.. |
| Inside Tad Pad demolition: Timeline, campus impact, what's replacing Ole Miss arena | |
 | An iconic Ole Miss athletics building is set to be demolished, but don't expect a dramatic implosion. Work has begun to tear down the CM Tad Smith Coliseum, known as the Tad Pad. It was the home of Ole Miss men's and women's basketball beginning in 1966. The teams used the 8,000-seat arena until 2016, when the Sandy and John Black Pavilion was completed. Because there were no immediate plans for the land, there was not a rush to remove the building. Chad Hunter, director of facilities planning at Ole Miss, explained how the process will work to the Clarion Ledger. Work began July 16 and is expected to be completed by Oct. 19. Coastal Development and Construction is carrying out the project for $938,500. Disassembly of the dome began the week of Aug. 3. The dome will be carefully taken apart, while the concrete structure will be removed with heavy equipment and hauled away by truck. The fall semester at Ole Miss begins Aug. 24, so demolition work will overlap with the return of students. The project is not expected to impact students beyond taking up some parking. The road and a handful of parking spaces immediately surrounding the building will be closed, with a few additional spaces blocked for truck access. |
| Defense tech company chooses Gulfport as autonomous ship testing site | |
| Saronic, a defense technology company specializing in autonomous maritime systems, has expanded its operations to Mississippi, establishing a site at the Port of Gulfport to test and commission its Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel, Marauder. On Sunday, the company announced the expansion at an event at the Port of Gulfport attended by U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, representatives from Gov. Tate Reeves, Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell's offices, along with leaders from the port and the University of Southern Mississippi. The Gulfport site will support testing and commissioning of Marauder, a 180-foot autonomous vessel, as Saronic scales production and moves the ships from manufacturing to final delivery to defense and commercial customers. During the announcement, Saronic officials touted Mississippi's recent investment in infrastructure and research aimed at supporting the development of uncrewed maritime systems. |
| Jackson State Tigers kick off welcome week by feeding the capital city | |
| Before the first lecture. Before the first exam. Before the first real taste of college life --- Jackson State University students were already at work, feeding their city. Hundreds of cars lined up for blocks outside Blackburn Middle School Thursday as JSU launched its bi-annual Crop Drop. Students -- new and returning -- distributed up to 10,000 pounds of sweet potatoes, watermelon and other fresh produce to Jackson families, completely free of charge. The event falls during National Farmers Market Week, a nationwide celebration spotlighting the people who grow America's food. For more than 10 years, the Crop Drop has anchored JSU's annual Welcome Week --- introducing freshmen to the university's identity as a service-based institution from day one. Zaria Miller, a graduate student and Community Planner in JSU's Office of Community Engagement, said the event reflects who JSU is. "Jackson State cares about our community," Miller explained. "We are a service-based institution and we come together all the time and we want y'all to know that we are here." |
| Louisiana law mandates new college and career dashboard | |
| A new Louisiana law aims to give students more information about their education and career options before they choose a college degree. Senate Bill 305 requires the Louisiana Board of Regents, Louisiana Works and other state agencies to develop a public online dashboard that connects college degree programs with career and workforce information. State leaders say the dashboard is designed to help students and families better understand what careers are available before selecting a major. "The goal is to help students understand what careers are available," Louisiana Board of Regents Chair Misti Cordell said. The dashboard will allow users to compare degree programs with career outcomes and workforce opportunities across the state. According to the Board of Regents, the goal is to better align higher education with Louisiana's workforce needs while giving students more transparency about their options. |
| Colleges must now comply with South Carolina bathroom law | |
 | For the first time this fall, public colleges in South Carolina will be required to take reasonable steps to ensure that all restrooms and changing facilities afford users privacy from members of the opposite sex. Supporters of this "common sense" measure, which the governor signed into law earlier this year, said its passage was necessary to protect the dignity and safety of women and girls. The law's critics, who argued it stigmatized transgender people and encouraged the harassment of gender non-conforming individuals, called it a "solution in search of a problem." During debate on the legislation, they frequently raised the question of enforcement. What "reasonable steps" would schools be expected to take to comply with the law? Would a simple sign suffice? Or would schools be required to post security guards outside public restrooms to perform genital checks? This past week, the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education provided an answer. The agency, which is tasked with enforcing the Student Physical Privacy Act, said it would leave those decisions up to schools themselves. |
| Texas Could Shortchange New Funding Model Champions | |
 | An ambitious performance-based funding model for community colleges in Texas outperformed all expectations in its first three years. Student success metrics at Texas community colleges skyrocketed with credential attainment and dual-enrollment rates surpassing the state's projections. But now, the program is suffering from its own success. Three years ago, Texas celebrated the launch of the new funding model, which was widely applauded by state policymakers and community college leaders for its careful design to reward colleges for improving student outcomes aligned with state priorities. But the state didn't appropriate enough funding to pay for the gains, thrusting colleges into financial uncertainty. Forty-two of the state's 50 community college districts could face funding reductions for fiscal year 2027, according to calculations by the state. For some, that would mean multimillion-dollar shortfalls. |
| A.I. Agents Are Taking Entire Online Courses for Cheating Students | |
 | Artificial intelligence threatens to undermine online education, a growing business for colleges and universities, as professors struggle to counter a groundswell of tech-enabled cheating. In physical classrooms, many educators have shifted to oral presentations and handwritten exams to try to prevent misuse of an unregulated technology. But those strategies can be harder to execute online, where more than half of American college students took at least one class last year, up from about a third in 2019. In many online courses, whether at community colleges or globally renowned universities, students may never meet with their professors or their peers, even over video. Those classes are self-paced with prerecorded lectures, also known as asynchronous. Assignments and tests are submitted digitally. While some universities are completely online, an increasing number of brick-and-mortar schools are expanding their online offerings. Sometimes students can earn full degrees online. In other cases, they take individual classes. Artificial intelligence threatens to undermine online education, a growing business for colleges and universities, as professors struggle to counter a groundswell of tech-enabled cheating. |
| Elite colleges are returning to the SAT and ACT. Will others follow? | |
| All eight Ivy League institutions have either moved away from COVID-era test-optional policies or plan to do so now that Columbia University has announced it will reinstate standardized testing requirements for undergraduate applicants in August 2027. Other top-ranked institutions, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Johns Hopkins University, already returned to requiring SAT or ACT scores following the pandemic. The Trump administration, meanwhile, has taken a firm position in favor of standardized test requirements for college admissions. In sweeping guidance released in February 2025 -- which has since been struck down in court -- the U.S. Department of Education's then-Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor warned colleges against using proxies for race, writing that it would be unlawful, "for an educational institution to eliminate standardized testing to achieve a desired racial balance or to increase racial diversity." For now, it has been mostly top-ranked universities -- including some major public institutions -- that are returning to SAT and ACT requirements. But it remains to be seen whether the Trump administration's position will spur more colleges to follow the Ivy League's lead. |
| Trump announces $180 million to boost mining education | |
 | President Trump on Friday announced more than $180 million in grants to boost educational and trade programs for the mining industry, part of a bid to increase critical mineral production. Mr. Trump unveiled the plans at a roundtable at the State Department with educational leaders from universities like the Colorado School of Mines, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. CBS News was first to report on the educational grant programs early Friday. The Department of Energy is launching a $100 million grant program aimed at expanding the mining and critical mineral workforce by dramatically increasing the number of people with degrees in those areas over the next two years. The program is expected to financially support scholarships and other programs, an official said. Universities, community colleges, trade schools, industry groups and other partners will be eligible to apply. The military is also offering more than $80 million in additional funding to three universities. The Colorado School of Mines is expected to get $32.7 million for a tech development hub, the South Dakota School of Mines will get $25 million to set up workforce development programs, and Johns Hopkins University will get $23.6 million for a recycling-focused program. |
| College Leaders Play Down Their Involvement in 'Compact 2.0' | |
 | The Department of Education's Monday letter outlining principles for "every postsecondary institution" in the country was a bombshell for two reasons. One: The Trump administration was asking college presidents to sign onto its overarching vision for the sector. Two: Several prominent higher-ed leaders were reported to have helped draft it. The Association of American Universities was reportedly the primary partner. The group had "offer[ed] higher ed up for political repression on a silver platter," Dominique J. Baker, an associate professor of education policy at the University of Delaware, wrote on social media. Douglas A. Girod, chancellor of the University of Kansas, was supposed to have been another major player. The very idea caused "great consternation to the KU faculty," said Ronald M. Barrett-Gonzalez, a professor of aerospace engineering there. The national American Association of University Professors put out a statement calling the reported roles of the AAU and four university presidents, including Girod, "an unconscionable dereliction of duty." And so, in the days following publication of the letter, some of the leaders named as having worked on drafts have sought to play down their parts. At the same time, they generally said that their institutions would answer the questions the letter asks them to. |
| The Heritage Foundation releases sweeping model bill to overhaul higher ed | |
| The Heritage Foundation, a powerful conservative think tank, released a model bill Tuesday designed to help state lawmakers "codify the principles" of the higher education compact proposed by the Trump administration last year. Like the compact, the extensive legislative proposal seeks to require colleges to maintain institutional neutrality and ban scholarships that give advantages to applicants based on race. However, the model legislation significantly differs and often goes further than the Trump administration's compact. It would also restrict how institutions handle student visa issues, increase state influence over faculty hiring, and potentially put colleges on the hook for federal debt held by some students who don't graduate within eight years. The model legislation is something of a conservative wishlist, outlining restrictions and requirements for colleges that would dramatically reshape higher education. Model legislation from conservative think tanks has significantly influenced state higher education policy in recent years. |
| Trump administration takes aim at website listing diversity scholarships | |
 | The Trump administration plans to revamp a federally funded career website that lists hundreds of college scholarships for women and students of color to align it with the president's mission to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs, according to interviews and a public notice. The website, called CareerOneStop, includes a tool that lets people narrow their search for scholarships to certain criteria, including race and sex. In addition, dozens of other scholarships listed on the site are reserved for people with disabilities or those who identify as LGBTQ+. Scholarships on the site appear to be funded largely by an array of private groups, including foundations, associations, fraternities, unions and other organizations. The listings present something of a contradiction for the administration, which has touted its intent to eliminate diversity efforts in higher education, while continuing to advertise diversity scholarships on a website it funds and oversees. |
| State Aid Shortfalls Are Common. Can They Be Addressed? | |
| Some students at private colleges in Washington State recently received an unpleasant surprise: Legislators had cut by a third the Washington College Grant, a state award they counted on to cover a big chunk of their tuition costs, starting this fall. A legislative push to boost the grant failed to get off the ground, leaving students -- and their institutions -- on the hook for thousands of dollars. Jack Kashork, a current Gonzaga University student who lobbied for the funding to be restored, told The Spokesman Review that the Washington College Grant was what allowed him to attend the university; he said he "can't count the number of friends" who owed their educations to it and other state aid programs. Washington isn't the only state struggling to fulfill its financial aid promises. Just this year, California, Minnesota, Mississippi and South Carolina have also faced various shortfalls or cuts to their financial aid systems. And in all but South Carolina, the shortfalls meant tens of thousands of students saw or will see their awards unexpectedly reduced. While most states do not experience yearly shortfalls, they can be hugely disruptive when they occur, raising the question of whether more should be done to avoid them or if they're just an inevitable part of the way state-level aid operates in the U.S. |
SPORTS
| 'Last ride': Canon Boone still a stabilizing force on new-look offensive line | |
| Canon Boone wasn't sure if he'd snap another ball in college. He exhausted his fifth year of eligibility last year after redshirtting his true freshman season. Boone dealt with injuries throughout his career, playing in just 15 games through his redshirt sophomore and junior seasons. Boone battled through the hardships his first four years, and broke through in 2025 starting all 13 games at center. He filed for a medical hardship waiver with hopes of a sixth year in the offseason. The NCAA granted his wish in January, and Boone is back as the rock of MSU's offensive line. "When I got the news back, I was super excited," Boone said. "Super excited to come back and work. (I'm) ready to get going." Boone will be the only player on the offensive line who played every game for MSU last season. The Bulldogs are projected to start two transfers, LJ Prudhomme and DJ Chester, along with returners Blake Steen and Jakheem Shumpert-Perkins, who played in just three games combined last season. Chester and Prudhomme, who are no strangers to the SEC coming from LSU and Arkansas respectively, earned praise from Boone. |
| Why Anthony Evans III is determined to break Brenen Thompson's MSU receiving record | |
| Brenen Thompson broke Mississippi State football's single-season record for receiving yards in 2025. Anthony Evans III wants to do even better -- to beat Thompson's mark of 1,054 yards. The two of them formed the Bulldogs' prolific receiving duo last season, with Evans posting 831 receiving yards. But with Thompson off to the NFL -- a fourth-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers -- Evans will be the focus of opposing defenses for the first time in his career. "I feel like that doesn't really affect me," Evans said after MSU's practice on Aug. 8. "It's just catch the ball that comes to me and take every advantage of every opportunity. I plan on, like I said, setting the record this year at Mississippi State. Just going forward with that, it's going to be a blessing to see." The 2025 season was a breakout one for Evans, who transferred after two seasons at Georgia, where he totaled 88 yards in 2024 and 35 yards the year before. At MSU, he started all 13 games and had 67 receptions, 10 more than Thompson and third most in the SEC, with four touchdowns. His season included breaking three tackles on one play to score the game-winning touchdown against Arkansas for coach Jeff Lebby's first SEC win. |
| AT&T deploys new wireless network at Mississippi State's Davis Wade Stadium | |
| AT&T has completed deployment of a new distributed antenna system at Mississippi State University's Davis Wade Stadium, a project the company says is intended to improve wireless connectivity for fans, students, staff and visitors during high-attendance events. The system, led and owned by AT&T as a neutral-host network, uses Airspan's Mobileaccess 6000 Digital platform to provide cellular coverage throughout the more than 60,000-seat stadium. Neutralhost networks are designed to support service for multiple wireless carriers through shared infrastructure. The distributed antenna system uses strategically placed antennas to expand wireless coverage and increase network capacity during periods of heavy demand, including Southeastern Conference football games and other large events. "When you have tens of thousands of people in one place, you need infrastructure that can keep up," Michael Walker, AT&T'S vice president of external and legislative affairs for Mississippi, said in a statement. He said the upgraded network is intended to improve the fan experience, support stadium operations and help visitors remain connected during large gatherings. |
| College sports bill stays stuck in Senate, but gets spot on the September calendar | |
| The Protect College Sports Act failed to reach a vote during an all-night, pre-recess session in the Senate that ended early Saturday, though the bill did gain a spot on next month's calendar after the chamber comes back from its summer break. The measure has been touted as one that would put guardrails around an escalating spending spree in college sports as the industry struggles to adapt to a new model in which teams can pay players. "College sports is something that needs to be fixed, they have a good solution," said Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. "We got it teed up for next month." The bill has been on a roller coaster since it was introduced in late May but quickly failed to gain support of the two biggest conferences: the Big Ten and SEC. Those conferences signed on and saved it from near death late last month after a flurry of negotiations. But as quickly as it was revived, it faced a reality check in the Senate, where lawmakers from SEC states, including Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., were among its biggest skeptics. |
| Senate punts on Protect College Sports Act vote until September; what's next? | |
| The Protect College Sports Act couldn't beat the clock. And now uncertainty lingers around the bill's future. The U.S. Senate adjourned for its annual five-week August recess early in the morning on Saturday without voting on legislation that intends to regulate college athletics, stiff-arming the bill for more crucial matters and kicking any possible vote to September -- a move that troubles supporters. While the legislation may take top priority once the Senate returns on Sept. 14, such a long break places the act in an uncomfortable position, making it susceptible to an increased onslaught of criticism from lawmakers, special interest groups and other entities. For instance, as the bill inched toward a vote on the Senate floor this week, a wave of detractors emerged to disrupt the path. The Congressional Black Caucus released a statement slamming the bill on Thursday; more than a dozen Republican senators filed objections or amendments to the legislation; several labor unions sent a joint letter in opposition; and the Whip's vote count wasn't as high as originally expected. Coupled with the public criticism was a logjam of agenda items before the Senate this week that took precedence over college sports. Bills to fund the government, implement sanctions against Russia and balance the budget, as well as administrative nominations, shoved the act aside. The result was a drama-filled Friday on Capitol Hill ending with no vote on the bill. |
| Senate Doesn't Vote on College Sports Bill Before Recess | |
| At the first hearing for the Protect College Sports Act in June, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) acknowledged the strange nature of his alliance with Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), his co-sponsor on the bill. He and Cantwell, Cruz said, probably couldn't have agreed on the color of the sky before walking into the Hart Building that morning, let alone most issues of substance. But college sports, Cruz explained, is a unifier, a way for Democrats and Republicans to come together, hold hands, agree just enough for the sake of the great American traditions of mascot pushups and watching Penn State blow the big game. College sports, however, are never just about college sports. For more than five years now, ever since lobbying picked up in the name, image and likeness (NIL) era, that's been especially true in Congress, most recently with the Senate not holding a full vote on the Protect College Sports Act (PCSA) before the August recess. While the Senate expects to pick up the bill in September, not voting this week only tightened the window to pass the bipartisan legislation before the midterms this fall. And in the past few days alone, there were multiple examples of why legislating college sports is complicated, to say the least, and ripe for odd factions forming. |
| Ted Cruz's college sports bill left in limbo as U.S. Senate takes August recess | |
| U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's bill that would place sweeping new regulations on college sports failed to reach the floor this week before the Senate gaveled out for recess, imperiling its chances to become law this year as the midterm elections approach. The measure, coined the Protect College Sports Act, had gained a sudden burst of momentum with support from the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten, after spending weeks in limbo. It advanced out of the Senate Commerce Committee, which Cruz chairs, in Before the chamber was scheduled to adjourn Friday, President Donald Trump urged senators to stay until they get through a pile-up of his legislative priorities, including the college sports bill. But the bill never came up on the floor before the chamber gaveled out at 3:56 a.m. Senators could still pass the bill after their scheduled return to Capitol Hill after Labor Day. The Protect College Sports Act needs a minimum of 60 votes to clear the Senate floor and advance to the House. The two chambers would then need to agree on any changes made in the lower chamber before the bill could head to Trump's desk. The president has signaled repeated support for the measure. |
| NCAA and Wisne Athletes Debate Meaning of 4 Words in Injunction | |
| The fallout from a federal judge granting a nationwide injunction that extends the eligibility of players who began in collegiate sports in the 2022–2023 season and who finished college this past spring is growing, as the NCAA and the plaintiff athletes escalate their battle over what exactly U.S. District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney ordered last Friday. In a brief filed Thursday, the NCAA insists a dozen players led by former -- and perhaps future -- Northern Colorado basketball player Brock Wisne have wrongly interpreted Sweeney's injunction to "massively" broaden what it actually does. The NCAA stresses that Sweeney has clarified her order did not "enjoin the operation of the transfer rules" or other eligibility-related rules outside how the NCAA interprets its new age-based eligibility rule that allows for up to five years of eligibility. But there's debate over another statement Sweeney made as part of her intended clarification. The judge, whom President Joe Biden nominated to the bench in 2021, wrote the NCAA is enjoined from prohibiting the players in the class "from competing in a fifth season of collegiate athletics under the rule (as defined in the preliminary injunction order) or any NCAA bylaw." What does "or any NCAA bylaw" mean? |
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