| Thursday, September 18, 2025 |
| MSU's Buys begins 2-year term as chair of National Board of Public Health Examiners | |
 | Mississippi State University Associate Vice Provost for Health Sciences David Buys is lending his expertise to a nationally renowned organization setting the standards for public health professionals in America. In addition to his leadership roles including MSU-Meridian's interim head of campus, Buys is serving a two-year term as the chair of the National Board of Public Health Examiners' Board of Directors. Established in 2005, the independent NBPHE issues certifications to professionals who demonstrate the required knowledge and skills relevant to the public health profession. Specifically, the organization has issued more than 14,000 Certified in Public Health credentials and is exploring additional certifications that bolster the public health workforce. "It is a privilege to step into this role at a pivotal time for public health. NBPHE's work to uphold rigorous standards through certification strengthens not only our profession, but also the health and security of the communities we serve," Buys said. "As we continue to recover from the pandemic and confront ongoing workforce challenges, credentialing provides a foundation of trust, excellence and resilience our field urgently needs." |
| Bulldog athletes join Sept. 24 launch of MSU humanities series on mind-body connection | |
 | The Mississippi State University Institute for the Humanities kicks off its 2025-2026 lecture series with "The Great Balancing Act: Student-Athletes at Mississippi State," a roundtable discussion scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Duff Center Auditorium. Free and open to the public, the event will feature MSU Athletic Director Zac Selmon, several Bulldog student-athletes and Institute Director Morgan Robinson as they explore how academic and athletic commitments shape one another. The theme of this year's lecture series is "The Mind-Body Connection: How Movement Makes Us Human," and Robinson, associate professor of history, said it will "highlight movement as a central part of the human experience, from the philosophy of thinking while we walk and the cognitive effects of physical activity to the role of sports in society." |
| Food safety, animal welfare are top priorities for MSU Extension and Cal-Maine | |
 | As the director of food safety and animal welfare at Cal-Maine Foods, Dr. Ryn Laster can attest to the vitality of the educational services and support the Mississippi State University Extension Service provides for poultry farmers across the state. She is a client herself. The four-time MSU graduate and three-time chairperson of the board of the Mississippi Poultry Association has been based at Cal-Maine's corporate office in Ridgeland in Madison County for more than 25 years. During that time, she says, Cal-Maine has relied on MSU Extension to troubleshoot issues requiring outside observers or to receive help researching a poultry-related problem. Raised in a farming family, Laster finished a bachelor's degree in English from MSU in 1991. She entered law school but realized law wasn't her calling. She went on to earn her bachelor's and master's degrees in poultry science and food science from MSU in the 1990s. "I wanted to do something positive for Mississippi and for agriculture, and I started looking at career paths. The MSU Department of Poultry Science had a 100% job placement rate for graduating seniors, and after meeting the people in that department, I knew it was where I wanted to be," she emphasizes. "Those people became my second family, and they still are today." |
| Mary Means Business: Pickleball bar coming to Starkville | |
 | Five Starkville entrepreneurs are betting big on the sport that's sweeping the nation one court at a time. Wesley Ferguson, Brad Jones, Brian Lesley, Sean Owen and Gregg Jones have partnered to start PKL ROW, an indoor pickleball facility set to open by spring. The facility will be located on Airport Road near AutoZone and feature 12 indoor courts, a bar with beer, seltzers, sodas and more and a community-focused atmosphere designed for players of all ages. Ferguson said each of the partners lives a very active lifestyle and all came together behind Brad's vision for an indoor, year-round pickleball facility. "We all love Starkville. It's home to us," Ferguson said. "... But, it all goes back to pickleball growing so fast, and it checks every box for Starkville." But PKL ROW is designed to be more than just a place to play. Ferguson said plans include an outdoor patio area dubbed The Hangar, where guests can sip drinks, gather with friends and watch planes take off and land at nearby Bryan Field. |
| Supes mull using some OCH proceeds for pet projects | |
| With OCH Regional Medical Center's $55 million sale to Baptist Memorial Health Care set to close by the end of the month, supervisors are considering ways to spend proceeds from the sale. During the board's regular meeting on Monday, District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer pitched his idea to split $15 million in proceeds evenly between the five districts with the remainder going into an endowment. "The reason being, I think we are all well aware of the needs here in Oktibbeha County," Trainer told the board. "First of all, we don't have enough -- I don't care how many proceeds we get -- to address all the needs we have. But the bottom line of it is, we'll be able to do something that, in my opinion, will be very substantial." Trainer said the plan would allow each supervisor to address the needs they see as most pressing in their districts. |
| Entergy Mississippi CEO Fisackerly answers questions on data centers and electricity rates | |
| Three multibillion-dollar data centers are being built in Mississippi. People are concerned about pollution and electric bill increases that have been seen in data center hot spots around the country. Entergy is providing power to two of the centers, Amazon Web Services in Madison County and AVAIO in Rankin County. Haley Fisackerly, the CEO of Entergy Mississippi, sat down for an interview with Mississippi Today to address some of these concerns. The interview was conducted Sept. 9 and has been edited for clarity and length. Mississippi Today: The main question we've been getting is about electricity rates. Are people's electricity rates going to go up because of the data centers? You've said they won't, but in other states they really have. Can you explain? Haley Fisackerly: I appreciate the question because it actually is going to have an opposite effect on our customers. Growth is important because if you can improve your sales or your customer base, you have a greater base to spread your costs. Our dilemma about a decade ago was that Mississippi was not growing. Our sister companies in Texas and Louisiana have seen significant growth. We recognized that we weren't growing, the cost of services were driving up and we needed to invest heavily to improve reliability. |
| Why hasn't National Guard been called to Jackson when Mississippi troops have gone to DC? | |
 | President Donald Trump's announcement to send National Guard troops to Memphis put his crime crackdown within three hours of Jackson -- days after the White House branded Mississippi's capital a Democratic failure. Although the exact timeline remains unclear, National Guard troops are expected to arrive in Memphis soon under a memorandum Trump signed on Sept. 15. At the same time, Republican Gov. Tate Reeves has recently defended why he sent Mississippi Guard troops to Washington, D.C., but not to Jackson. Federalizing troops has become a centerpiece of Trump's second term -- a strategy he's used in Democratic-led cities and now, for the first time, in a Republican state. Reeves has backed him in Washington while insisting Mississippi can handle its own capital differently. |
| GOP shows division on Kennedy during Monarez appearance | |
 | Senate Republicans split on Wednesday over whether the Trump administration was justified in pressuring former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez to adhere strictly to its agenda. Several GOP lawmakers questioned Monarez's loyalty to the president while moderates openly worried the Trump administration is degrading trust in public health. Monarez, who was fired 29 days into the job, told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. required staff to sign off on any CDC policy changes and that Kennedy plans to change the childhood immunization schedule later this month, whether or not the scientific data supports it. The hearing precedes the first meeting of Kennedy's newly redesigned vaccine advisory committee, which meets Thursday. |
| Federal Reserve shows unexpected unity, independence as it weathers Trump's attacks | |
 | The Federal Reserve's nearly unanimous decision Wednesday to reduce its key interest rate was seen by many observers as a quiet show of unity and independence amid President Donald Trump's relentless pressure for steeper cuts and his unprecedented effort to fire a top Fed official. Many Fed-watchers expected a contentious two-day meeting this week, with the economy's future uncertain and a Trump appointee hastily added to the board just hours before the meeting began. The White House has also floated several members of the Fed's governing board as potential replacements for the current chair, Jerome Powell, when his term ends in May, creating incentives for those officials to push for the deep rate cuts Trump has demanded. Some economists expected as many as three dissenting votes among the 12 voting members of the rate-setting committee, which would be the most in five years and somewhat unusual for a consensus-driven organization. Instead, just one official dissented from the Fed's decision to reduce its rate by a quarter-point: Stephen Miran, who was nominated by Trump to an empty seat and hurriedly approved by the Senate late Monday, just hours before the two-day meeting began. |
| U.S. Leading Indicators Continue to Show Weakening Economy | |
 | The U.S. economy faces a slowing economy amid growing concerns about the labor market, headwinds from tariffs and a weak manufacturing sector, according to a basket of economic indicators. The Leading Economic Index, or LEI, published Thursday by research group The Conference Board, fell 0.5% to 98.4 in August, its largest decline since April, after a 0.1% increase in July. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal expected a 0.2% drop. "Overall, the LEI suggests that economic activity will continue to slow," said Justyna Zabinska-La Monica, senior manager for business cycle indicators at The Conference Board. Alongside persistently weak manufacturing new orders and consumer expectation indicators, labor-market developments also weighed on the index, she said. While The Conference Board isn't currently forecast a recession, it expects a slowdown in economic growth to 1.6% in 2025, from 2.8% last year. The LEI fell by 2.8% over the six months between February and August, the report said. |
| Bondi in hot water over hate speech comments | |
 | Attorney General Pam Bondi is under scrutiny over her comments about cracking down on certain rhetoric in the wake of the killing of Charlie Kirk, marking the latest controversy of her own making. Bondi and other Justice Department officials have had to clean up the attorney general's comments from earlier in the week, when she said the agency would target those using hate speech, something that is generally protected by the First Amendment. Bondi raised eyebrows when she said Monday that the administration would "go after you if you are targeting anyone with hate speech." The attorney general separately threatened to prosecute Office Depot over an employee's refusal to print posters for a vigil honoring Kirk. Bondi's comments about hate speech drew pushback from prominent conservatives including Megyn Kelly, Erick Erickson, Matt Walsh and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who noted hate speech is generally protected under the First Amendment. The Wall Street Journal editorial board admonished Bondi over her hate speech comments in an editorial published late Tuesday. The editorial, titled, "Pam Bondi Needs a Free Speech Tutorial," also criticized the attorney general's tenure more broadly. |
| Jeffries condemns Kimmel shutdown, demands FCC chair 'resign immediately' | |
 | Congressional Democratic leaders called for Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr to resign "immediately" in a statement Thursday morning, after Disney indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show. In a joint statement, signed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark (Mass.), Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (Calif.) and other Democratic leaders, the group said Carr had engaged in "the corrupt abuse of power" by "forcing" ABC to "bend the knee" to President Donald Trump in canceling Kimmel's show. "House Democrats will make sure the American people learn the truth, even if that requires the relentless unleashing of congressional subpoena power," they said in the statement. The fiery rebuke comes after Carr threatened ABC and its local affiliates -- which carry Kimmel's show -- on Wednesday suggesting that the FCC could punish stations if they didn't act against Kimmel. "These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead," Carr said on conservative commentator Benny Johnson's podcast. |
| GOP threatens clamp down on social media after Charlie Kirk suspect allegedly confessed on Discord | |
 | Just before Tyler Robinson turned himself in for the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, authorities say he appeared to leave a trail of incriminating messages on the online gaming platform Discord. At first, his messages were playful. When a friend on a group chat noticed his likeness to the skinny white man in the grainy photos released by the FBI of the Utah Valley University shooting suspect -- asking Robinson "wya," an abbreviation of "where you at?" -- Robinson was quick to joke: "My doppelganger is trying to get me in trouble." But in a later Discord chat, Robinson appeared to confess. "Hey guys, I have bad news for you all," Robinson said just before he went to a police station the next day to surrender: "It was me at UVU yesterday." Discord, the gaming messaging platform used by more than 200 million people, now finds itself at the center of the Charlie Kirk murder investigation and a roiling, heavily politicized national discussion about the internet's role in fermenting violent extremism. Some lawmakers are threatening to impose more aggressive regulations and oversight on social media platforms. |
| Foreign powers use Charlie Kirk's death to spread disinformation | |
 | The assassination of Charlie Kirk has been divisive online, and some officials believe foreign governments are trying to make things worse. "We have bots from Russia, China all over the world that are trying to instill misinformation and encourage violence," warned Utah Gov. Spencer Cox in a press conference following the shooting last week. But experts who monitor foreign disinformation campaigns say the picture is more nuanced. While it's true that foreign-paid influencers are discussing the shooting, and state-run media outlets are spinning events to fit their narratives -- there's not much evidence those messages are reaching Americans, said Darren Linvill, co-director of the Media Forensics Hub at Clemson University. The toxic discourse around Kirk's shooting is primarily home-grown: "I wish it were the Russians," he said. "It's not the Russians, it's us." "When a single conversation takes up all the oxygen in the room, and everyone on social media is talking about it, the foreign influence can't really break through," he said. But even if they're not making headway, state-run influence campaigns are still talking about Kirk's death, added McKenzie Sadeghi, an editor at NewsGuard, a media and misinformation watchdog. She said state-controlled media in Russia, China and Iran have mentioned Kirk's assassination more than 6,000 times. |
| No Foul Play Suspected in Death of Delta State U. Student Found Hanging, Officials Say | |
 | The body of a Delta State University student was found hanging from a tree Monday morning, sparking outrage and fueling speculation across social media that the 21-year-old freshman had been lynched. At a press conference on Wednesday, Delta State University's president and local police said they had no evidence to suspect foul play in Demartravion (Trey) Reed's death. "The loss of Trey Reed has been, and continues to be, devastating for the Delta State community," Daniel J. Ennis, Delta State's president, said at the news conference. "I want to begin by acknowledging that the manner of how Trey was discovered has stirred many emotions in this community and many emotions around the state and the nation. While the preliminary report of the Bolivar County Coroner's Office indicates no evidence of foul play, we recognize that this is not only about facts, it's about emotions and it's about feelings." The president acknowledged how the country's history of racial violence would shape some people's perception of Reed's death. |
| Black Student Found Hanging From Tree at Delta State Spurs National Response | |
 | Delta State University has been rocked by the discovery of a Black student's body hanging from a tree in the middle of campus on Monday. Demartravion "Trey" Reed was a 21-year-old student at the Mississippi institution. Recalling a long, painful history of lynchings, his death has spurred an outpouring of grief and anger across the country. The Bolivar County Coroner's Office said on Monday that a preliminary examination of Reed's body showed no evidence of foul play, including "any lacerations, contusions, compound fractures, broken bones or injuries consistent with an assault." But Reed's family members are calling for their own investigation, including an independent autopsy, and have demanded access to video footage that might reveal more details of his death. "From the beginning, the family has been seeking transparency in this investigation," Vanessa J. Jones, an attorney representing the family, told Inside Higher Ed. "Especially after a tragic incident like this occurs, and you're dealing with a state that has a past history which includes a painful history of racial violence ... transparency is paramount." The Reed family's distrust in the handling of the student's death was deepened when officials allowed his mother to view her son's body from the neck up only, Jones said. At a press conference Wednesday, Delta State University president Daniel J. Ennis said Reed's loss was "devastating" and "the manner of how Trey was discovered has stirred many emotions in this community and many emotions around the state and the nation." |
| Chief says investigators have videos of Black student hanging from tree at Delta State University | |
| Videos of a Black student found hanging in a tree at Delta State University early this week have been turned over to investigators, the campus police chief said Wednesday, but the chief did not say what the videos show. Chief Michael Peeler said he could not answer several questions about the investigation into the death of 21-year-old Demartravion "Trey" Reed of Grenada, Mississippi. The tragedy swiftly captured the scrutiny of the state and the nation, with some speculating that this was another example of Mississippi's racist history of lynching of Black people. However, the chief stood by his earlier statements that there appeared to be no foul play. Peeler said he was the second officer from the Delta State Police Department on the scene after Reed was found, and he saw the body. Bolivar County Coroner Randolph "Rudy" Seals Jr. said Monday that Reed had no broken bones and did not appear to have been assaulted. Mississippi's Chief Medical Examiner Staci Turner was conducting an autopsy of Reed's body, and preliminary results should be released within two days, Peeler said Wednesday. Delta State President Dan Ennis recognized that this case touched a nerve, and he defended the school from accusations of racism. |
| 'Light shines in the darkness': Vigil held on MSU campus for late Delta State student | |
| Students gathered on the Drill Field Tuesday night for a vigil honoring Demartravion "Trey" Reed, a 21-year-old Delta State University student who was found hanging from a tree on DSU's campus on Sept. 15. His death remains under investigation; however, questions about Reed's death have sparked anger on social media, and his family is calling for transparency in the investigation. The vigil, organized by a sophomore biological sciences major Amari Webber, drew a crowd of more than 100 students who prayed, read scripture and lit up their phone flashlights in Reed's memory. Attendees read from 2 Corinthians 6:3-13 before Webber addressed the crowd. Toward the end of the vigil, Webber reminded the crowd of campus resources, including the university counseling center and the MSU Police Department's safety number. She also encouraged students to share photos and videos from the vigil so Reed's memory could be carried forward. |
| Conservative Students Find Way Forward After Charlie Kirk's Death | |
 | Before Turning Point USA Founder and CEO Charlie Kirk was killed at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, he was scheduled to appear on the University of Mississippi campus for "The American Comeback Tour" on Oct. 29. According to Ole Miss TPUSA and Kirk's wife, Erika, the tour stop at UM will proceed on the scheduled date at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion, but the featured speaker has not been announced. Ole Miss TPUSA President and junior public policy leadership major Lesley Lachman did not share information about the Oct. 29 event's featured speaker, but she offered her enthusiasm about what is in store. "We are really excited for the future of Turning Point Ole Miss," Lachman said to The Daily Mississippian. "We have a lot (planned). I think that the (national organization has) provided extraordinary support, as well as social media influencers, social media presences reaching out to us directly. I think that's been overwhelming, and we're just trying to sort it the way it is. But we definitely do see a huge speaker in the future." In the wake of Kirk's death, UM conservative student organizations have hosted gatherings to honor him and decide their next steps. On Tuesday evening, students gathered in Student Union Room 323 for the first official Ole Miss TPUSA meeting of the academic year. |
| Pops in the Park returns to Southern Miss | |
 | Partners for the Arts (PFTA) and The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) School of Music announced the return of their popular fall celebration, Pops in the Park. The event will be held on October 7, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Spirit Park on the Southern Miss Hattiesburg campus. Pops in the Park will feature the Southern Miss Symphonic Winds, with an opening performance by the USM Jazztet, as well as special guests and surprises throughout the evening. The public is invited to bring picnic baskets, blankets and chairs to enjoy this family tradition. Admission is free, with a VIP experience available for PFTA members. "I am excited to bring this fun evening of music to our community," said Dr. Travis Higa. "We have a great program planned and look forward to seeing some familiar and new faces on stage and in the audience." Proceeds from Pops in the Park provide support for the university's arts programs and students. PFTA secures scholarships, mentoring opportunities for students, and the creation and production of art at USM. |
| Jackson State University, JPS announce new dual enrollment program | |
| Jackson State University and Jackson Public Schools together announced a dual enrollment/credit program on Wednesday. The two local entities tailored the partnership towards JPS juniors and seniors. Through this partnership, eligible students will have the opportunity to earn transferable college credits while still in high school and ultimately reduce the time to earn a college degree. "Jackson State was the best opportunity for me," Jim Hill High School senior Laila Williams said. "I've been on this campus multiple times, and it just feels like home." "Jackson Public Schools and JSU... we go together," JPS Superintendent Dr. Errick Greene said. "It is a marriage that has been in place for years. We share staff members and many of our team members attended JSU, and many of the folks at JSU attended Jackson Public Schools." |
| MCC enrollment numbers outpacing statewide average | |
| Preliminary numbers show that more students are choosing Meridian Community College this fall, with the College's enrollment and credit hours on the upswing -- outpacing the statewide average. According to the Mississippi Community College Board's 10-Day Enrollment Report, MCC posted a 7.1% increase in student headcount and a 6% increase in credit hours compared to Fall 2024. Mississippi's 15 community colleges together reported a 5.3% rise in headcount and a 5.4% increase in credit hours. MCC ranked fourth among the state's community colleges in both categories. "These numbers are positive, but they are not final yet," said MCC President Tom Huebner, noting that the College's Term II classes, which begin in October, will be included in the final totals. Huebner credited the work of MCC's faculty and staff for helping the College reach more students. Last fall, MCC reported a 7.3% increase in headcount and a 7.2% rise in credit hours, which was the second-highest percentage growth in credit hours among Mississippi's community colleges. |
| Auburn University fires employees over 'hurtful, insensitive' social media posts after Charlie Kirk murder | |
 | Auburn University has fired some employees for making social media posts that were "hurtful, insensitive and completely at odds with Auburn's values," President Christopher Roberts said in a post on X. Roberts did not name the employees or say how many were fired. Roberts did not say the specific subject matter of the social media posts that led to the terminations but said "actions that endorse, glorify or trivialize violence undermine" the responsibility of employees at the university to "foster a civil, respectful, and supportive campus environment." The news comes as educators across the nation find themselves facing disciplinary action over posts about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville called on the University of Alabama to fire professor who called the murder 'right on right violence.' U.S. Sen. Katie Britt has said those who 'celebrate' Kirk's assassination 'should be fired.' |
| Interim President Matt Lee lays out ambitious goals for LSU | |
 | LSU Interim President Matt Lee on Wednesday touted a litany of milestones he says the school has reached this year: It enrolled its largest-ever freshman class, grew its research enterprise to over $500 million, invested millions in capital projects -- and secured a No. 3 national ranking for its beloved football team. But for Lee, who laid out an ambitious vision for LSU during a State of the University address that was streamed on YouTube, those successes aren't enough. Lee, who took LSU's top position in June following the surprise departure of former President William Tate IV, wants to keep pushing up enrollment rates, bring the university's research portfolio to as much as $900 million and double the number of LSU doctoral students. "This is a moment of drive. This is a moment of vision," Lee said. "LSU is growing its impact -- and we call it 'winning' for Louisiana." To move LSU's group of eight institutions forward, Lee said, the university will focus on five key subject areas: coastal restoration, defense and cybersecurity, agriculture, biomedical and health sciences, and coastal resilience. |
| Across universities, one threat: How schools alerted students during swatting incidents this fall | |
| Just two weeks into UTK's fall semester, Knoxville Police Department received a phone call detailing an active gunman in Hodges Library. University of Tennessee Police Department as well as KPD responded to the scene within minutes. No threat was found and no injuries were reported, making UTK just one more university to be attacked in a wave of active threat hoaxes across the United States. UTK students did not receive any alerts. The university has faced criticism from students and faculty alike for the lack of communication. UTPD maintains they understood the threat to be a hoax the entire time. "As part of our process, we also follow the Clery Act," Ryan Moore, Public Information Officer of UTPD, said. After universities across the nation experienced swatting calls this fall, The Daily Beacon reached out to multiple colleges affected and met with fellow newsroom leaders. This piece is a collaborative effort between school newspapers from The University of Tennessee Knoxville, Northern Arizona University, West Virginia University, the University of Georgia and Harding University. |
| Texas Governor Targets Students Who Allegedly Mocked Kirk's Death | |
| Top Republican politicians have fueled the ongoing national repression of higher ed employees and others who have allegedly made offensive statements about last week's shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. But Texas governor Greg Abbott has taken the campaign to another level: going after individual students. Abbott, who has more than 1.4 million followers on X, used that social media website to call for Texas State University to expel a student who appeared to mime Kirk's shooting at a vigil for Kirk. Shortly after, university president Kelly Damphousse announced that a student in a "disturbing" video "is no longer a student at TXST." The university didn't provide an interview or answer Inside Higher Ed's written questions Wednesday about whether the student was expelled or disenrolled for another reason or whether Abbott pressured the university in any way beyond his post. The governor appoints Texas university board members, who are then confirmed by the state Senate. In another post on X, Abbott applauded Texas Tech University for allegedly expelling and arresting a student. |
| Students and professors defend Texas A&M President Mark Welsh amid calls for his ousting | |
| Top faculty members and student leaders issued letters of support for Texas A&M University President Mark A. Welsh III on Wednesday as several Republican lawmakers have called for his firing. The letters come after more than a week of turmoil at Texas A&M, after a video of a student confronting a professor over gender identity material being taught in a children's literature class went viral online. They also come ahead of a university system regents' meeting in which they are set to discuss personnel matters. Welsh, who initially supported the professor in the video, fired her on Sept. 9. The day before, he had revoked administrative positions from the department head of the English department, which oversaw the class, and the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Multiple Republican lawmakers have called on the Texas A&M University System regents to fire Welsh over his handling of the matter. The letters of support come a day before a special meeting of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. The regents will meet at 4 p.m. to discuss several personnel matters, including the appointment of the president of Texas A&M International University and the appointment of the sole finalist for president at Texas A&M University-Victoria. The regents' meeting agenda does not mention discussing Welsh or his employment directly. |
| Columbia for Christ revival sweeps through Mizzou campus | |
 | On Wednesday evening, hundreds of University of Missouri students, campus ministry groups and local churches gathered together at Traditions Plaza with one main focus -- uniting as believers to celebrate the goodness of God. "We wanted to see unity in the body of Christians in Columbia because we know that's God's purpose for his people," Tony Voeller, event volunteer, said. "We are also trying to reach nonbelievers and people who haven't been exposed to the gospel." What started as vision from a professor in the Trulaske College of Business, the Columbia for Christ revival was eventually brought to life by key organizer Matheus Gueds. In the opening act of the event, Gueds shared with the crowd how the nation has witnessed a number of revivals on college campuses within the past two years. He said a movement at Asbury University in Kentucky took place in February 2023, followed by a similar revival breaking out at Auburn later that year. In September 2024, the Ohio State University witnessed it, and eventually Purdue University joined the ranks in 2025. |
| UVa launches second search for provost after first attempt comes up short | |
| The University of Virginia has launched a second search for a new provost after its first shot came up short. The university announced a 14-member search committee in February, a month before Ian Baucom left Grounds to take the helm of Middlebury College in Vermont. "UVA embarked on a provost search earlier this year but was not successful in filling the position," according to a university statement issued last week. Brie Gertler, previously deputy provost, remains interim provost in the meantime. Details regarding the first search for Baucom's replacement have not been made public, and UVa spokeswoman Bethanie Glover would not say when it was called off when The Daily Progress inquired. Baucom was among a series of high-level departures that have rocked the university this year, including UVa Health CEO Dr. Craig Kent, UVa Medical School Dean Dr. Melina Kibbe and UVa Medical Center CEO Wendy Horton. Since the search for Baucom's replacement commenced, UVa President Jim Ryan resigned under pressure from the Trump administration over his failure to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion practices, despite direct orders from President Donald Trump and UVa's governing Board of Visitors to do so. Some faculty expressed concern that the search for a new president might hamper the search for a new provost. |
| With Charlie Kirk's Killing, a New Chapter of the Campus Speech Wars Has Begun | |
| Facing blowback for employees' social-media posts about Charlie Kirk's assassination, Clemson University issued a statement asserting that the institution stands "firmly" on the free-speech protections enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. The next sentence, however, suggested that the university did not quite grasp what those protections are. The right to speak freely, it says, does not apply to rhetoric that "incites harm" or "undermines the dignity of others." That's wrong on both counts, according to Thomas Berry, director of constitutional studies at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank. Even so, conservatives argued that the posts made about Kirk, who was an influential right-wing commentator and founder of Turning Point USA, by two Clemson faculty members and a staff member were so egregious, they should be fired. (One of the posts says, "In a world full of Charlie Kirks ... be a Tyler Robinson" --- the person charged with Kirk's murder.) "Your First Amendment rights do not include a right to a job!" Tim Scott, a Republican U.S. senator from South Carolina, posted on X. Clemson seemed to agree. All three were terminated. Since last week, colleges have faced immense pressure to fire professors who celebrated Kirk's death, suggested he had it coming, or criticized his legacy. |
SPORTS
| Brenen Thompson's mom recalls Mississippi State hero's speed at young age: 'I'm not going to chase him' | |
| Brenen Thompson was 6 years old when his mother, Bonnie, signed him up for flag football in Texas. Bonnie placed a bet with her son before one game. She would pay him $5 for each touchdown he scored and $1 for each flag he grabbed. Bonnie needed to make a trip to the ATM afterward. She didn't have the cash on hand to give her son the $65 he was owed and hasn't bet against his athleticism since then. "That's probably the first time I really realized that he may have a special gift," Bonnie Thompson told The Clarion Ledger. Everyone who's seen Brenen Thompson play football talks about his speed -- from his high school in Spearman, Texas, to Mississippi State, his third college team. Thompson is blazing fast, a large reason why he was a four-star prospect in high school. After stints at Texas and Oklahoma, the senior’s speed is finally turning into production with the Bulldogs (3-0). Not only did Thompson catch the 58-yard game-winning touchdown against Arizona State, but he has the fourth-most receiving yards in the SEC before MSU’s game vs Northern Illinois (1-1) at Davis Wade Stadium on Sept. 20 (3:15 p.m., SEC Network). |
| What to watch for: Mississippi State vs. Northern Illinois | |
| Mississippi State is looking to go 4-0 and finish its nonconference schedule unbeaten this Saturday against Northern Illinois. It's a matchup that the Bulldogs can't look past or risk joining the boneyard in DeKalb. The Huskies program has a reputation for being seasoned road warriors over the past decade, and in 2024 produced a 16-14 upset of No. 5 Notre Dame in South Bend. The game on Saturday even takes place on the anniversary of NIU's 19-16 upset of Alabama in 2003. Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lebby is more than aware of that program's DNA, and his team expects fierce resistance from the visitors on Saturday. The Bulldogs and Huskies have never met on the gridiron. |
| Mississippi State football legend D.D. Lewis passes at age 79 | |
| A Mississippi State football legend has passed away. Dwight Douglas Lewis, better known as "D.D.," died at the age of 79 on Tuesday, just one month before his 80th birthday. The former linebacker was a three-year letterman with the Bulldogs and named to the All-SEC team twice (1966 and 1967) and awarded SEC Defensive Player of the Year during his All-American campaign in 1967. Lewis was selected with the 159th overall pick in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys in 1968. He went on to play 13 seasons in the league, all with the Cowboys. Representing the Star, he appeared in five different Super Bowls and became the second Bulldog to ever win the big game after coming out victorious in 1972. He then followed it with his second ring at Super Bowl XII in 1978. Lewis became just the second Bulldog player to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame after earning the induction in 2001, joining Jackie Parker in the Hall in Atlanta. He is also a member of the Mississippi State University Ring of Honor after being inducted in 2011. |
| Soccer: Meeting Between 2024 SEC Champions Awaits Bulldogs In Austin | |
| Mississippi State, the defending SEC regular season champion, will travel to Austin, Texas, on Thursday night to face Texas, the defending SEC Tournament champion, at 7 p.m. CT. The match will air on ESPNU and it is the 15th time in the history of the conference that two teams that won conference titles in the previous season will meet head-to-head the following year. The regular-season champion holds a 10-3-1 edge in such meetings all-time. The Bulldogs are coming off an impressive SEC opening weekend, downing No. 1 Tennessee, 3-2, in comeback fashion last week. For her efforts in scoring or assisting on all three goals, Ally Perry was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week, and MSU climbed from receiving votes to No. 12 in the United Soccer Coaches poll on Tuesday. Somewhat under the radar, Adia Symmonds has been a key player of late, recording multiple points in three straight matches. She had two assists against Tennessee. Symmonds is one of 15 newcomers on a Bulldog squad that has seen freshmen or transfers account for eight of its 17 goals. Meanwhile, Texas also brought in 10 newcomers this year, and all but two of its goals have been scored by freshmen and sophomores. |
| Bulldogs stay perfect with final nonconference win | |
| Mississippi State volleyball extended its winning streak to 10 games on Tuesday with a 3-1 victory over South Alabama in its final nonconference game of the season. The 10-0 start is the program's best start to a season since 2000, and the best so far under head coach Julie Darty Dennis. The Bulldogs took the first set 25-16, but got into a battle in the second set. The Jaguars forced a sudden-death match and pulled away to win 29-27 and even the match. The third set was back and forth again until the Bulldogs pulled away to retake the lead with a 25-21 set win. The Jaguars kept it close in the fourth set, but it was the final set as MSU won 25-22. Lindsey Mangelson had another big game for the Bulldogs, recording 21 kills, 13 digs and 22 points in the match for her fourth consecutive double-double. Bernardita Aguilar picked up her first career double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs. The Bulldogs have a little more than a week to prepare for their first Southeastern Conference match of the season against Florida in Gainesville next week. |
| NCAA eliminates spring transfer portal window for football | |
| College football is officially moving to a single offseason transfer portal window, the NCAA announced Wednesday. The Division I Administrative Committee voted to approve a legislative change that eliminates the spring transfer window but did not sign off on establishing Jan. 2-11 as the lone portal window for FBS and FCS players. In response to feedback from student-athletes, the FBS and FCS oversight committees will discuss modifying the dates and length of the proposed January window. The Administrative Committee will consider those adjustments when it meets in October. FBS head coaches advocated for a January portal window at the AFCA convention in January, and both oversight committees voted to support changing the transfer windows earlier this month. The reform will bring major changes to the timing and duration of the offseason transfer period in college football. The initial proposal would require college football players to wait until Jan. 2 -- the day after the completion of the College Football Playoff quarterfinals -- to enter their names in the NCAA transfer portal database and be contacted by prospective schools. Graduate transfers were previously allowed to enter the portal early but now must also wait until the January window. |
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