| Friday, September 18, 2026 |
| Cantwell, Wicker, Hickenlooper & Hyde-Smith Introduce Bill to Codify NOAA's Cooperative Institutes | |
 | U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), a senior member of the Commerce Committee, John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) have introduced the bipartisan Cooperative Institute Act of 2026 to codify the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) long-standing Cooperative Institute (CI) program in statute, ensuring the agency maintains its nationwide network of academic research partnerships. "For coastal states like Mississippi, maritime research is crucial to our economy and security. The findings support our fisheries and mitigate the devastating impacts of perilous hurricanes," said Sen. Wicker. "This legislation would bolster partnerships between NOAA and outstanding academic institutions, such as Mississippi State and the University of Southern Mississippi. Their collaboration has borne great fruit for the Magnolia State and beyond." "The Cooperative Institute Act will create greater certainty for NOAA and the wonderful universities, like Mississippi State and Southern Miss, in understanding, protecting, and harnessing our natural resources," said Sen. Hyde-Smith. |
| Hyde-Smith, Colleagues Promote Bill to Codify NOAA Cooperative Research Program Involving Mississippi Schools | |
| U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) Thursday joined colleagues in promoting bipartisan legislation they introduced to ensure the future of a long-standing National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) program that involves Mississippi universities in academic research partnerships. Hyde-Smith is an original cosponsor of the Cooperative Institute Act of 2026 (S.5332), which would codify the NOAA Cooperative Institutes program that involves a nationwide network of universities that support the NOAA mission. The bill was introduced by U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), with Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) as an additional cosponsor. "The Cooperative Institute Act will create greater certainty for NOAA and the wonderful universities, like Mississippi State and Southern Miss, in understanding, protecting, and harnessing our natural resources," Hyde-Smith said. "We want to ensure that the Northern Gulf Institute and the Cooperative Institute for Fostering Aquaculture Research and Markets, which benefit Coastal Mississippi, can continue to benefit our nation and grow to meet future challenges and opportunities. This bipartisan legislation is national in scope, which should help generate broad support in Congress." |
| Precision Over Expansion: Inside the Cattle Rebuild | |
| The latest State of the Beef Industry insights reveal a rare paradox for U.S. cattle producers: Historic profitability and strong demand are clashing with persistent drought, labor shortages and rising biosecurity threats. Across interviews with producers, economists and industry stakeholders, a clear theme emerges: The future belongs to those who pair resilient herds and deep customer awareness with robust data and deliberate succession plans. "What shape herd expansion takes is the biggest factor to watch," says Josh Maples, Mississippi State University associate professor and assistant Extension director. "Additionally, strong beef demand will be key, and what happens in grain markets will be a major driver. Cattle markets have benefited from ample corn supplies and relatively affordable feed in recent years." The future of the beef industry will be heavily influenced by forces beyond any ranch gate -- trade flows, border policy and regulation. |
| 9 Considerations When Developing a Cattle Vaccination Protocol | |
| The first question when developing a vaccination protocol may not be, "Which vaccine should I use?" Instead, Dr. Amelia Woolums, endowed professor at Mississippi State University, suggests starting with a more basic question: What is happening on this operation? Understanding the production system, cattle populations, disease history and timing of disease risk provides the foundation for deciding what vaccination can contribute. From there, veterinarians can weigh the evidence, risks, timing and practicality of the available options. Here are nine considerations to work through when developing or reviewing a cattle vaccination protocol. Past disease problems can provide important clues when developing a vaccination protocol. A disease that is not currently causing problems may still represent a future risk. Woolums describes disease patterns as capable of waxing and waning as exposure and herd immunity change. |
| Clarke named CEO of Delta Council | |
| Delta Council announced Thursday the appointment of Carlisle Clarke as the organization's new Chief Executive Officer, becoming only the fourth CEO in Delta Council's distinguished history. Clarke joins Delta Council after serving as Vice President at Van Scoyoc Associates, a multi-client lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. He joined the firm in 2019 following a 12-year career on Capitol Hill. Clarke was formerly the Majority Clerk of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Related Agencies, a position with jurisdiction over more than $140 billion in annual spending. In this role, Clarke managed all funding and administrative oversight of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including disaster supplemental appropriations. Earlier in his career, Clarke worked in the personal office of U.S. Senator Thad Cochran. Additionally, Clarke is one of the few experts that served on both the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee and the Agriculture Committee. Clarke began his staff career on the Senate Agriculture Committee in 2007, working for U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) on the 2008 Farm Bill. |
| Delta Council names Hollandale native Carlisle Clarke new CEO | |
| Hollandale native Carlisle Clarke has been named CEO of Delta Council. The organization announced Clarke's new title on Thursday. He is the fourth CEO in Delta Council's 90-plus year history and joins the organization after serving as vice president at Van Scoyoc Associates, a multi-client lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. He joined the firm in 2019 following a 12-year career on Capitol Hill. "Carlisle Clarke is an outstanding selection to be the next leader of Delta Council. Raised in Hollandale, Carlisle knows the Delta's people, the challenges, and the opportunities," U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) said. "Congratulations to Carlisle Clarke, who will do an excellent job leading the Delta Council," U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said. "I look forward to working with Carlisle and the rest of the Council to advance the interests of the great Mississippi Delta." Delta Council officials believe Clarke is fit for the CEO position due to his understanding of both the challenges and opportunities presented in agriculture and rural development. Clarke served on the Presidential Transition Team in 2016, helping to craft policy priorities for the USDA ahead of President Donald Trump's first four-year stint in the White House. |
| Gov. Reeves signs agreement to strengthen Mississippi forests | |
| Gov. Tate Reeves has signed a shared stewardship agreement to strengthen Mississippi's forests. Headed by the Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC), the Shared Stewardship Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) brings together the State of Mississippi with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The MOU will allow for state and federal agencies to coordinate forest management, align resources, and support locally driven priorities across the Magnolia State. By working across the ownership boundaries between the three agencies, Mississippi's forests will be made more resilient while also strengthening the surrounding rural economies to ensure long-term sustainability of forest resources. As highlighted by Reeves, the forestry industry in Mississippi is a major economic driver that supports over 84,000 jobs statewide and contributes to the economy. |
| Hattiesburg voters pack hearing to oppose redistricting plans | |
| Hattiesburg is one of the most crucial areas in Mississippi's redistricting fight this year, and dozens of its voters packed a room on Thursday night to say they're opposed to it. Only a handful of the many people who addressed the Joint House and Senate Redistricting Committee said that they support efforts altering congressional and state legislative districts. The vast majority said they're against it because they believe it would waste taxpayer dollars and diminish Black voting power. "I ask you don't disenfranchise the citizens that voted for you," Deanna Douglas said. "Listen to us and please don't do this." Thursday's hearing was the sixth in a slate of eight public hearings the committee is holding across the state. Hattiesburg will be a crucial area in redistricting and would likely determine whether the Republican Party can achieve a two-thirds supermajority in the Senate. |
| State Rep. Mangold wants to be the voice of ag as Mississippi's next Agriculture Commissioner | |
| State Representative Vince Mangold recently announced that he would be running to be Mississippi's next Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner. The three-term Republican lawmaker enters the open seat race seeking to succeed Commissioner Andy Gipson (R) who is running for governor in the 2027 election cycle. "I've really enjoyed what I've done," Mangold said of his time in the state House. "I hate to really give it up because I have enjoyed it." Yet, he believes now is the time to run to ensure someone with an agriculture background continues to oversee the Department of Agriculture and Commerce. "Several of us [lawmakers] were talking and we just felt like we needed somebody with an [agriculture] background in that spot," Mangold said. "I don't know if I drew the short straw or what just exactly, but I felt led that if nobody else was going to do it, it needed to be me. So, I'm going to try to be that voice." "Ag in Mississippi is the number one industry sitting at about $9.5 billion," he said. "First and foremost, I want to make sure that we maintain that strength and grow it if we can." He said farmers are dealing with a lot right now. |
| 2 Mississippi lawmakers honored for efforts in passing biomarker testing bill | |
| A pair of Mississippi lawmakers have been recognized for moving legislation advancing healthcare for cancer patients across the finish line. Rep. Sam Creekmore, R-New Albany, and Sen. Walter Michel, R-Ridgeland, received the National Distinguished Advocacy Award for their advocacy for Jill's Law this past legislative session. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network presented the award. Jill's Law, which was signed into law by Gov. Tate Reeves in March, mandates that insurers regulated by the Mississippi Insurance Department, including Medicaid and the State and School Employees Health Insurance Plan, provide coverage for biomarker testing when used for the diagnosis, treatment, appropriate management, or ongoing monitoring of a patient's cancer. Jill's Law was named in honor of the late wife of state Rep. Casey Eure, R-Saucier. Before her passing, Jill Eure notably used biomarker testing following her cancer diagnosis. |
| Hyde-Smith, Colom continue website war, mocking each other in Senate race | |
| Scott Colom has a question for Mississippi voters: Where's Cindy? According to his campaign's new website, not at any town halls. Republican Sen. Cindy-Hyde Smith's latest website, ColomForSenate.com, named to look like it belongs to her Democratic opponent Colom, calls him a "transgender defender" among many other digs. The two campaigns are going tit-for-tat with websites. Colom unveiled a new site on Thursday, whereiscindyhydesmith.com, to criticize the senator for not meeting with enough voters to answer questions before the November election. Colom's new site comes after Hyde-Smith's campaign launched a spoof website last week, a page whose address might look like it belongs to his campaign, but designed to brand him a "liberal," "transgender defender," and "Biden's pick" for office. |
| Mississippi midterms: In traditionally red 3rd District, Guest faces political newcomer farmer from Shubuta | |
| Four-term incumbent Republican Rep. Michael Guest faces a challenge from a Democratic farmer from Shubuta and a Libertarian real estate investor from Meridian for the 3rd District congressional seat in central Mississippi. The challengers are coming at Guest from the left and right with criticism of Guest's support of, and lack of pushback against, Trump administration policies. Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District covers central portions of the state, such as the GOP stronghold of Rankin County, and stretches from the Louisiana border in the west to rural Alabama border towns in the east. Democrats are leading in many congressional race polls across the country, and are favored to reclaim a majority in the House. But the 3rd District in Mississippi has been a GOP stronghold. Yet, if Republicans are to stand a chance at retaining their razor-thin majority in the chamber, defending territory in areas like Mississippi's 3rd District is critical. |
| Senators from both parties voice criticism about Pentagon briefing on US defense strategy | |
 | Tensions are mounting between the Pentagon and Congress over the flow of information to lawmakers about the U.S. military's priorities, with both Democrats and Republicans accusing a Defense Department leader of being frustratingly opaque. Some senators from both parties say they were left deeply unsettled Thursday after the Pentagon's top policy adviser, Defense Undersecretary Elbridge Colby, failed to provide an expected update on the Trump administration's National Defense Strategy at a classified briefing. The lawmakers also say they were unsatisfied with Colby's answers to questions ranging from inquiries about the Iran war to growing concerns that President Donald Trump could deploy troops to polling places during November's midterm congressional elections. Colby acknowledged that discussions about deploying the National Guard were taking place. "It was not what we had expected," said Sen. Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican on the committee. "Let's just put it that way," he said. "They owe us a report, and we did not get the report." Asked if he was satisfied with the briefing, Sen. Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican who is chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he would not be answering questions about the classified session. "You understand," he said. |
| Inside House Democrats' Push to Kick Old People Out of Leadership | |
| Insurgent House Democrats are opening a new front in the generational war roiling the party, pushing to put term limits on committee leadership roles. When the lawmakers return to Washington after the midterms, some Democrats plan to bring up a proposal in their caucus organizational meetings that would limit how many years leaders remain in top committee stops, according to multiple House Democrats familiar with the plans. The new discussion around term limits comes at a time when the Democratic base is calling for new faces in the party and multiple incumbents have lost primaries to younger, more progressive candidates. Unlike Democrats, Republicans impose a strict six-year limit on lawmakers serving as chairs or as ranking members when their party is in the minority. The issue is especially touchy for Congressional Black Caucus members who have historically supported seniority rules. ...Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, who has been the top Democrat in the House Homeland Security Committee since its inception in 2005, told The Sun, "I got to be chair based on my seniority on the committee." "If you ask Bennie Thompson, I support seniority and the current rule. But I will say if you want to debate it and put it to a vote, officer. Fine. That doesn't mean I'll change my vote," Thompson added. |
| Senate Republicans rebuff Trump's attacks on Supreme Court, Federal Reserve | |
 | Republican senators are siding with conservative members of the Supreme Court who came under withering attack from President Trump this week after ruling against Trump's plan to have the U.S. Postal Service screen mail-in ballots to guard against non-citizens voting. Republican senators say the Supreme Court made the right decision to reject the plan to rework mail-in balloting processes across the United States only a few weeks before Election Day and rebuffed Trump's angry denunciations of the justices he appointed -- including Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Republican senators recoiled at Trump's broadside, calling the sharp attacks unwarranted and unfair. "The president is entitled to his opinion but I don't agree with him," said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Judiciary Committee, when asked about Trump's bullying claim. "I know every one of the justices. I think they do their very best to call it like they see it and that's their job," he said. Trump's sharp criticisms of the Federal Reserve Wednesday are also making some Republicans uncomfortable. Trump criticized the central bank after it raised interest rates. But Republican senators said the Fed members only followed their mandate to keep inflation in check. |
| Trump 'confident' Republicans will pass next farm bill vote | |
| President Trump on Thursday expressed optimism that this year's farm bill will be approved by the Senate after it narrowly cleared a key hurdle the day before. On Wednesday, the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced the "Farm Bill 2.0" with a 12-11 vote along party lines. The legislation will require some Democratic support to reach the required 60-vote threshold to pass in the upper chamber of Congress. Democrats on the Senate Agriculture Committee blocked the legislation from advancing to a floor vote last month, citing concerns that it does not adequately deal with changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) returned to the committee on Wednesday to cast the deciding vote on this measure after his long absence from Congress following his hospitalization in June. On Thursday, the president said he wanted to "totally ensure" the farming and ranching communities "that they will be extremely happy with the end result" in this farm bill fight. |
| Scientists hope deeper-rooted soybeans can withstand climate extremes and store more carbon | |
| Research scientist Ashish Rajurkar kneels in the dirt, lifting a large clod of soil tangled around a soybean plant. He knocks away pieces of earth from the plant's roots, which slope straight down instead of out to the side like typical soybean plants. Researchers hope roots like these could help crops withstand some effects of climate change while also drawing more carbon from the atmosphere and storing it underground. Carbon dioxide released by burning fossil fuels traps heat in the atmosphere, driving human-caused climate change. For years, scientists have explored ways to remove some of that carbon from the atmosphere, including through direct air capture, changes to ocean chemistry so seawater can absorb more carbon, and reforestation. Now, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies are testing whether deeper root systems could become another tool. But scientists still need to show how much additional carbon those roots can store under real farming conditions, how long the carbon would remain underground and whether the crops can maintain yields. An $18 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund will help Salk researchers test those questions in the field. |
| Mississippi college board sets spring goal to name MUW's next president | |
| The state college board plans to name the next president of the Mississippi University for Women by early spring 2027. The board of trustees for the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning announced the plans Thursday. The board also formed a committee of six trustees to oversee the national president search with support from a search firm that has not yet been selected. Steve Cunningham, IHL board president, said he chose the search committee members in part because of their proximity to MUW, their familiarity with the university and ties to Columbus and the surrounding region. Once selected, the search firm will help develop a timeline and candidate profile incorporating feedback gathered from MUW stakeholders during previous listening sessions, he said. The board aims to keep stakeholders updated throughout the process, Cunningham said. A group of MUW alumni and Columbus residents asked trustees to disclose a timeline and details about how the board will conduct the leadership search. Some people have also suggested names of leaders they want IHL trustees to consider to lead the university. |
| UM Chancellor Glenn Boyce defends firing employee over social media post | |
| In a Wednesday court filing, University of Mississippi Chancellor Glenn Boyce continued to defend his firing of former university employee Lauren Stokes over a social media post she made following the death of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. This is the latest legal development in Stokes' First Amendment lawsuit that she filed against Boyce in October in response to her firing. U.S. District Judge Glen Davidson dismissed the lawsuit in March on the grounds that Stokes' failed to make a plausible First Amendment violation claim. Following the dismissal, Stokes filed an appeal in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that Davidson had improperly dismissed her lawsuit. In his response, Boyce argues that Stokes' complaint fails to allege a violation, that the chancellor is entitled to qualified immunity and the district court was correct in its dismissal of the lawsuit. "She failed to plausibly allege that her interest in speaking on social media outweighed the University's interest in promoting efficiency in the workplace." Boyce's filing states. Boyce argues that the attention drawn to the university and the "disruption to the University's operations" only stopped after Stokes was fired and he, as chancellor, issued an apology statement. |
| No ransom was paid in response to February cyberattack on U. of Mississippi Medical Center, officials say | |
| A ransom payment was not made in connection with a cyberattack that disrupted systems at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, according to multiple officials. UMMC vice chancellor of health affairs Dr. LouAnn Woodward told SuperTalk Mississippi's Richard Cross that the state of Mississippi did not compensate hackers following the Feb. 19 cyberattack. State Sen. Nicole Akins Boyd, who chairs the Universities and Colleges Committee, corroborated Woodward's assertion. The two were adamant that the hackers had not been paid after State Auditor Shad White said his office would look into the incident and notify the public if the government had paid a ransom. "The taxpayers, you and I, who put that money up, we will know," White said on Mornings with Richard Cross. "We may never know the exact mechanism that the hackers used to get in -- for good reason. But we will ultimately know what that dollar amount was." The auditor's office plans to reach out to the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL), which was also the subject of a cyberattack, regarding the state's response to the attacks. The attack on the IHL affected the agency's student financial aid office. IHL officials said individual universities were not impacted. |
| Mississippians visit Washington D.C., seeking federal investments in cancer research | |
 | Cancer advocates from Mississippi traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to push for federal support for expanded cancer research and clinical trial access, underscoring the state's ongoing struggle to provide comprehensive treatment options. Cancer research options are limited in Mississippi, making it harder for Mississippians to access and participate in clinical trials. The state currently lacks a National Cancer Institute designated cancer center and the University of Mississippi Medical Center is seeking to build a research center on its campus in Jackson. Hospital leaders have requested more than 250 million dollars from the state legislature to make that happen, but construction could take several years. Advocates say federal policy could help bridge the cap through the proposed Clinical Trials Modernization Act. Christina Wright is a volunteer with the American Cancer Society in Mississippi said the legislation could ease the financial burden on patients who must travel long distances for treatment.[GS1] "Imagine you're a person that's gotten diagnosed with cancer and you have gone through and eliminated all the current treatment, and there was a clinical trial in California, but you didn't have the money to travel there," said Wright. "This could help with that." |
| USM coastal entrepreneurship scholarship extended through 2031 | |
| The University of Southern Mississippi's Coastal Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Scholarship has received a five-year grant extension, allowing students to continue pursuing an accelerated degree program combining engineering, business and entrepreneurship through February 2031. The scholarship covers all tuition and fees for the Master of Business Administration and is designed to support Mississippi's growing Blue Economy and the development of ocean science, engineering and maritime technology along the Gulf Coast. The scholarship was established in 2019 as one of 15 restoration projects funded through the RESTORE Act following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Funding was distributed by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Department of Treasury as part of the state's restoration efforts. |
| Big Chicken coming to Jackson State University | |
| Jackson State University will welcome Big Chicken to its Legacy Food Court Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and free food samples. The restaurant, founded by basketball icon Shaquille O'Neal, will offer chicken sandwiches, tenders, wings, salads, signature sides and hand-crafted milkshakes at the university. The ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Sept. 18, at the JSU Student Center's Legacy Food Court. Students and guests can receive free samples of select dishes until noon or while supplies last. JSU President Denise Jones Gregory and representatives from JSU's Auxiliary Enterprises and Big Chicken are scheduled to participate in the ceremony. |
| U. of Alabama trustees advance plans for $88 million South Campus recreation center | |
| The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees approved the first stage of planning for a new $88 million South Campus Student Recreation Center near Tutwiler Hall at its annual meeting Thursday. The proposed project, located around 802 Paul W. Bryant Dr., would include the demolition of Barnwell Hall and construction of a new recreation center. The facility is expected to serve approximately 10,000 students living in the South Campus area, including those in Julia Tutwiler Hall, sorority houses and nearby off-campus housing. UA's two existing recreation facilities are the Student Recreation Center on Peter Bryce Blvd. and the Robert E. Witt Student Activity Center near Presidential Village. Both are approximately a mile and a half from the proposed South Campus facility. The project's total budget of $88 million would be funded by $68 million in future general revenue bonds and $20 million in institutional reserves. Braeden Bentley, a freshman majoring in news media, said she was surprised by the proposed $88 million budget. "I think that's a lot of money," Bentley said. "I think that's kind of insane for a rec center." |
| New Louisiana security council puts foreign researchers under microscope | |
| Faculty at Louisiana universities from certain countries will soon have to seek state permission to do their research under a new, far-reaching law that dramatically increases surveillance of researchers. Act 505 by Sen. Adam Bass, R-Shreveport, created the Higher Education Research Security Council, which met for the first time this week. Bass sold the legislation as an extra layer of security to prevent Chinese spies from stealing research conducted at Louisiana universities. But the law goes much further, creating a new framework that subjects research faculty from China, Cuba, Iran and Russia to an unprecedented level of scrutiny. American faculty will also be subject to review when they want to work with researchers from those countries. Bass' legislation was crafted with the help of the nonprofit policy group State Armor, which founder Michael Lucci said works with state and local governments "to defend and develop resilience against the Chinese Communist Party" when he appeared before a state Senate committee in March. Texas and Louisiana so far are the only states that have set up research security councils, though the proposal has been made in other states. The increased scrutiny has raised concerns from faculty, who consider foreign collaborators vital to the research conducted at Louisiana universities, particularly in the sciences. |
| Beshear makes two new appointments to U. of Kentucky Board of Trustees | |
| Gov. Andy Beshear this week appointed Lexington businessman Joseph Palumbo and retired Circuit Judge Phillip Patton to fill vacancies on the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees. The appointments come at a critical time for Kentucky's flagship state university in the wake of Beshear' social media post last spring saying he was losing confidence in the leadership of UK President Eli Capilouto. In an executive order filed with the Kentucky Secretary of State on Monday, Beshear appointed Palumbo to a six-year term on the board, replacing long-time trustee Ron Geoghegan, whose term expired on June 30. In the same order, Beshear appointed Patton to fill the remainder of the term of another longtime trustee, Claude 'Skip' Berry, who passed away in July. Patton's term on the board will expire June 30, 2027. Kentucky Lantern reported earlier this year that Beshear has appointed many of his largest campaign donors to the UK board. Lantern reported that the 18 persons Beshear has appointed to the board since becoming governor in 2019 have -- with members of their immediate families -- given more than $1.94 million to his campaigns and other political causes. |
| UT Austin Axes Several Ethnic, Gender Studies Majors | |
 | The University of Texas at Austin will eliminate four majors -- African and African diaspora studies; Mexican American and Latina/o studies; women's and gender studies; and race, indigeneity and migration -- as the university continues to overhaul its undergraduate curriculum and whittle down its ethnic and gender studies programs. Faculty members in the newly consolidated Social and Culture Analysis Department, which housed those majors, say they received no explanation as to why they are being cut, but some consider the move part of an ongoing effort to gradually gut the department and censor students' learning. Danielle Clealand, interim chair of the SCA department, told faculty members on Tuesday that the provost's office "rejected our proposal to keep our majors," according to an email shared with Inside Higher Ed. Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts Dan Brinks suggested the department instead create an "ethnic studies major with tracks or a SCA major with tracks," Clealand wrote. The urban studies and American studies majors, which also fall under the SCA umbrella, will remain, though faculty are confused as to whether American studies is accepting new students at this time. |
| New U. of Texas students can't apply to ethnic, gender studies majors | |
| For weeks, the University of Texas' provost, College of Liberal Arts dean and faculty have considered proposals to decide what majors should remain in the newly formed Social and Cultural Analysis Department. But as students apply for admission to UT for fall 2027, the option to apply as an ethnic or gender studies student is already missing. As of Wednesday evening, students cannot select Mexican American and Latina/o Studies; African and African Diaspora Studies; Women's, Sexualities and Gender Studies; or American Studies as their first or second major of choice when they apply to the university. No final cuts or changes to the majors have been publicly announced. The university formed the new social analysis department after eliminating ethnic and gender studies departments in the wake of political pressure to curb education unpopular among conservatives. UT spokesperson Mike Rosen said Thursday that American Studies and Urban Studies will be allowed to continue, but did not respond to questions about why they were left off the application. The provost appeared to be consulting faculty from the College of Liberal Arts and Social and Cultural Analysis Department on the future of the programs as recently as this week. |
| Pete Hegseth to visit Texas technology hubs, address Texas A&M cadets | |
| Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will travel to Austin and College Station on Friday as part of his "Arsenal of Freedom" and "Send Me" outreach tours, according to a Defense Department announcement. In Austin, Hegseth is scheduled to visit tech incubator Capital Factory and defense manufacturer Saronic Technologies to meet with corporate leadership and speak with workers. He will also administer the oath of enlistment to incoming military recruits at the Austin Armed Forces Reserve Center. Hegseth will then travel to College Station to tour the Veterans Resource Center and address the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets. During his visit, he is slated to attend the Texas A&M football game against the University of Kentucky, where the university plans to recognize prisoners of war and service members missing in action. |
| Researchers Accuse NIH of Viewpoint Discrimination in New Class Action Lawsuit | |
| Andrea Rosso, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh, has spent four years studying whether structural racism can lead to increased rates of dementia among African Americans. But in August, the National Institutes of Health canceled her nearly $10 million grant in its final year, even though Rosso had offered to revise the research terms to avoid including references to "racial disparities" and "structural racism" to pre-emptively align with NIH priorities under President Donald Trump. Now, she and 16 other researchers are suing the NIH, accusing the agency of violating their First Amendment rights. "Plaintiffs recognize that the government may set funding priorities and decide among competing proposals consistent with the First Amendment," the lawsuit states. "What the First Amendment does not allow is the government's use of its funding power to target or silence the expression of disfavored viewpoints within the biomedical research community." The class action lawsuit, filed Wednesday, argues that the National Institutes of Health has illegally created "an ideological litmus test for NIH-funded research," in part because agency policy now requires that grants be screened for hundreds of keywords and phrases -- such as "diverse individual" and "fossil fuel" -- as a way to identify research that doesn't align with the president's ideology. |
| Congress Crawls Toward Higher-Ed AI Regulation | |
 | U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, an Oregon Democrat, will introduce a bill next week to regulate artificial intelligence in education. The bill will focus on work-force readiness, student-data privacy, and responsible use of AI in the classroom at federally funded colleges and schools. The Artificial Intelligence Education and Workforce Readiness Act will look to mandate AI risk assessment and create new grants for training, credentialing, research on AI's impact on education, and equitable AI access across the sector, according to details that Bonamici's office shared with The Chronicle. At a Thursday event on Capitol Hill, Bonamici said the legislation will emphasize "student-centered solutions for ethical and responsible use of AI in higher education." She was accompanied by U.S. Sen. Andy Kim, a New Jersey Democrat, who said it is "Congress's responsibility" to regulate the rapidly developing technology, in higher ed and beyond. "I know the Senate doesn't exactly have a reputation of getting ahead of the curve, especially on technology, but that's not going to cut it this time," Kim said. Higher education's response to artificial intelligence has been uneven. |
| Technology has posed threats before. AI can be managed, too, historian says | |
 | This week, democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon headlined an event in Washington where they and others urged Congress and the White House to regulate artificial intelligence companies that have been warning their products could escape boundaries and cause widespread harm. Senator Sanders, an independent from Vermont, and Mr. Bannon, a right-wing commentator, represent a broad spectrum of people calling for a slowdown in AI development amid growing public concern about the technology's capabilities. A Politico poll released Sept. 16 found that nearly 2 in 3 Americans believe there is a risk that AI will destroy humanity. Historian Margaret O'Mara says she understands where they are coming from, but has a request for those who fear a doomsday scenario: Look to history. By examining how America met challenges with other potentially threatening technologies, Dr. O'Mara believes we might be able to figure out how to find a balance between AI innovation and safety. |
SPORTS
| Bulldogs want to set world record for cowbells next week at Missouri game | |
| Mississippi State University is asking Bulldogs attending next week's football game to make some noise, and potentially history, when the team hosts Missouri on Sept. 26. MSU Bulldogs will help set a new world record for most cowbells ringing simultaneously during the event. The SEC home opener also is the university's annual "white out" game. Tickets are on sale now at hailstate.com. To establish the world record, volunteers in bright green MSU T-shirts will officially count cowbells as participants enter the stadium. Organizers ask that fans be diligent to ensure all cowbells are counted upon entry. |
| Slay Named MSU's 2026 SEC Football Legend | |
| Former standout cornerback Darius Slay, whose lockdown coverage and game-changing instincts made him a household name in Starkville, has been named Mississippi State's 2026 SEC Football Legend. A native of Brunswick, Georgia, Slay arrived at Mississippi State after playing his first two collegiate seasons at Itawamba Community College. He quickly cemented himself as a cornerstone of the Bulldog defense across the 2011 and 2012 seasons. In his breakout senior campaign, Slay earned All-SEC honors and was named an honorable mention All-American. He led the Southeastern Conference and tied for ninth nationally with five interceptions, totaling 40 tackles and six pass breakups. Slay delivered several unforgettable moments in Maroon and White, most notably a dazzling 72-yard interception return for a touchdown against Georgia in 2011. Following his collegiate career, Slay was selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, launching an exceptional 13-year professional career characterized by rare longevity at one of football's most demanding positions. |
| Soccer: State Prepares For SEC Home Opener On Friday | |
| Mississippi State will host Florida for its SEC home opener on Friday with kickoff set for 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. State enters Friday's matchup riding the momentum of a SEC opening victory against rival Ole Miss, starting the year 1-0-0 in league play for the fifth season in a row. Now MSU will look to win its fifth consecutive SEC home opener on Friday night. Florida was the team's league opener at home in 2021, the last time MSU did not win its first SEC home match of the year. Friday night marks the first time the two teams have met in back-to-back years since they did so every year from 2003-16. Students in attendance can claim free pit viper sunglasses while supplies last. Free Chick-fil-A cookies will also be available to the first 150 fans through the gates. Fans are encouraged to wear black for the team's annual Black Out match. |
| Men's Tennis Set To Host SEC StarkVegas Showdown | |
| Mississippi State will play host to three SEC opponents this weekend in the first ever SEC StarkVegas Showdown. Familiar SEC foes Alabama, Auburn and Vanderbilt will make the trip down to Starkville this weekend for a fall tournament hosted by the Bulldogs. Matches will take place from September 18-20. Four Bulldogs will take the court for the Showdown, Jacopo Borsoi, Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes, Segundo Goity Zapico and Luigi Valletta. Borsoi, Goity Zapico and Valletta will all make their first appearance in the maroon and white, while Ferrer Guimaraes is the lone returner competing for the Bulldogs. Ferrer Guimaraes enters his fourth season as a Bulldog, bringing a 49-32 career record and comes into the Showdown off a quarterfinals run in the Milwaukee Tennis Classic. |
| Volleyball: Bulldogs Win To Start The Ragin' Cajuns Classic | |
| The Bulldogs start off the Ragin' Cajuns Classic with a sweep over the host team, Louisiana. Lindsey Mangelson picked up her 500th career kill in set two to become the fastest bulldog to reach 500 career kills. The closest someone has been was Evie Grace Singleton's mark of 39 matches that she set in 2016, her second season at MSU. Mangelson had eight kills on the night and scored the bulldogs 10 points. Bernardita Aguilar led the Bulldogs with 14 kills and a .438 kill percentage. Paloma Routaboul picked up eight kills followed by Ava Anderson's season high 7. The Bulldogs were a force at the net picking up a combined 8.5 total blocks. McKenna Yates had a team leading 15 digs with Mangelson picking up 12 and Cayley Hanson collecting 11. Hanson and Mangelson also had 3 and 2 aces, respectfully. |
| Ole Miss welcomes back a villain by preparing for the worst: 'Afraid it's going to get ugly' | |
 | The foundation of William Faulkner's storytelling centers around an antagonist's inability to stray too far from the place they once lived. So here -- in the town where Faulkner's prose has taught the masses about the beautiful, tangled complications of life in the American South -- is where an all-too-fitting present-day manifestation takes place this weekend in front of an amped-up crowd of over 64,000. A villain returning to a place they once called home. Sound familiar? It's been nearly a year since Lane Kiffin ditched a program he built into a championship contender, leaving Ole Miss and Oxford for LSU and Baton Rouge. The move again thrust him into the center of controversy. To many, he's one of the brightest minds in college football; to many others, a scoundrel who fled the easygoing life in this whimsical college town for a job at the school everyone here despises. Former Oxford mayor Richard Howorth, who now owns and runs a local independent bookstore, said the circumstances in which Kiffin bounced to Baton Rouge were "just scummy." "We've just barely finished processing him leaving here," Howorth said, "and now we've got to process his coming back here." "I'm afraid it's gonna get ugly. I hope we beat him," said Daniel Locke, who graduated from Ole Miss in 2020. "But I'm afraid of what stupid things people are gonna do. The student section is gonna be nuts." |
| Conference realignment rules softened in revised Protect College Sports Act | |
| The Protect College Sports Act's updated text, released Thursday night, softened the language around conference realignment, making it easier for programs to move from one power conference to another, as TV contracts among the power conferences are set to expire in the early 2030s. Most of the bill's text from early August remained, but the most noticeable tweak made public Thursday concerned conference expansion and realignment, which was initially designed to effectively freeze membership. The update weakened the text and now includes a six-year expiration window for schools in the power conferences to move freely without a waiting period. The U.S. Senate voted 77-22 on Thursday to move the Protect College Sports Act toward debate and possible final passage next week. The bill still faces hurdles if it passes through the Senate next week, most notably midterm elections. Growing doubt now suggests the bill won't be considered on the House floor before November. The major sections in the updated text remained, including the $22.5 million retention fund for schools, to be combined with its revenue-sharing cap, set at $21.6 million for the 2026-27 academic year. But there were some important tweaks elsewhere, including the section on conference realignment that the power conferences pushed back on this summer. |
| College sports bill inches ahead in the Senate even as Congress punts other issues | |
| Congress has struggled to pass major legislation this year, putting off debates on annual spending, defense, cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence. But in its final weeks in session as the midterm elections approach, the Senate can agree on doing one thing -- addressing college sports. The Senate voted twice this week to move forward on legislation to overhaul the rules and financing around college sports. It's an effort to put guardrails around skyrocketing spending, prevent constant legal battles and restore order to what the bill's supporters say is "chaos" in athletic programs. More than 70 senators are already backing the bill, which would still have to pass the House. Final votes could come as soon as next week. Still, some Senate critics say it's far from the most urgent matter in front of Congress -- and question why senators aren't focused on what they say are more pressing issues before the midterm elections. Florida Sen. Rick Scott, a Republican who opposes the sports bill, said Congress should be primarily dealing with affordability issues before lawmakers leave town to campaign. The college sports bill, Scott said, goes "way too far inserting the federal government into collegiate athletics" and could create new problems. |
| Before the final midterm whistle, Senate spends time on sports | |
 | The last thing the Senate does before the midterms could be a bill on college athletics. It's been on the to-do list for a while, but as senators think about their closing message ahead of the election, not everyone is sure it's the best call. Many Republicans blame Democrats for not playing ball on anything else, pointing to the sweeping cryptocurrency package that went down earlier this week or a blocked attempt Thursday aimed at addressing voter anger over data centers. But others say their party should be doing more to address issues like affordability and, more recently, the rising threat of artificial intelligence. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said Thursday, "I think we're going to make the football coaches happy and then go home. That's what my prediction is. I'm not saying that I'm happy with that. I'm actually not." "I've said since we passed the One Big Beautiful Bill that we ought to be doing something to address the cost of living. We haven't," he added. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said it "would certainly be an interesting choice" if the Senate left town after dealing with the college sports bill without addressing affordability. "I mean, right now, the crisis is nobody can afford their gas, and farmers can't afford to run any of their machinery," he told reporters. |
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