| Friday, July 10, 2026 |
| Google Chrome extension developed by doctoral student supports researchers globally | |
 | An online research tool developed by a Mississippi State College of Education doctoral student is helping researchers across the world manage their references, generating more than 1,000 installs in less than 90 days. Timothy Okunoye, an instructional systems and workforce development student from Ada, Osun State, Nigeria, created NotebookLM to Zotero, a free Google Chrome extension that saves researchers' time by automating the tedious process of migrating research documents, citations and AI-generated insights. Okunoye developed the tool as a response to what he described as a "real-world pain point" in the AI-integrated research workflow. "Researchers often express frustration with moving citations from AI-powered research tools into a reference manager and refer to it as a time-consuming process, often resulting in incomplete or missing reference details," Okunoye said. "Few open-source solutions bridge AI research environments with standard reference managers, leaving a critical workflow gap for the global academic community. I built this tool to bridge the gap between AI-powered insights and professional bibliography management so researchers can focus on what actually matters in their research workflow." |
| Business Brief: Visit Starkville's Paige Hunt elected as president of Mississippi Tourism Association | |
 | The Mississippi Tourism Association has named Paige Hunt as president, a role in which she will work to strengthen tourism and economic development across the state. She serves as director of tourism for the Golden Triangle Development Partnership, working to develop and implement programs to further the vision for tourism in Starkville. Hunt previously worked as senior bureau manager for tourism communications at the Mississippi Development Authority and director of sales and visitor services at Visit Hattiesburg. "Tourism is Mississippi's front porch to the world -- inviting visitors to experience the rich history, culture, music, and food that define our state's unique story," Hunt said in a MTA press release. |
| Starkville Utilities schedules power outage for Saturday morning | |
| On Saturday morning, there will be a scheduled electricity outage in Starkville planned to run from 6 a.m. to noon. The outage will impact residents living on Apple and Curry streets along with those north of Highway 182 on Dr. Douglas L. Conner Drive and some residents of North Jackson Street. The impacted residents should receive door hangers, according to a Starkville Utilities Facebook post. "We appreciate your patience and understanding as we complete these important infrastructure improvements to strengthen the reliability of Starkville's electric system," the post reads. The outage will allow Starkville Utilities workers to update electrical conductors associated with the Highway 182 revitalization project, which has been underway since the fall 2024. Utility infrastructure updates, like this one, are one of the goals of the project, which is expected to conclude in 2027. For residents looking for a place to cool off during the outage, the board room in City Hall will be open beginning at 8 a.m. until the outage ends. |
| Possumtown Book Fest looks to build on record attendance | |
| From The Watergate Scandal to The Pentagon Papers, investigative journalism has served as a watchdog that keeps power structures in check and educates citizens about corruption and inequality. Wright Thompson, author of "The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi," spent four years combing through court files and land records to prove that what was known about the murder of Emmett Till was only scratching the surface. In 2025, Possumtown Book Fest, an event hosted by Friendly City Books Community Connection, gave Columbus residents the opportunity to ask Thompson about his research's findings face-to-face. "Hearing him talk and seeing all of these people that came out to see him, I felt like that was a big, 'Oh, I feel like I'm part of this community' (moment)," said Rachael Damms, volunteer at the festival. The event drew 1,200 attendees in 2025, and thanks to a grant from the Lowndes Community Foundation, organizers were able to add more speakers and more space for attendees for this year's festivities, Friendly City Books Owner Emily Liner said. The third annual Possumtown Book Fest, which will host 24 local authors and more than 15 visiting authors, will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Columbus Arts Council's Rosenzweig Arts Center. |
| Gresham House completes Molpus Woodlands Group acquisition | |
 | Gresham House, the specialist alternative asset manager, has completed its acquisition of a majority interest in Mississippi-based Molpus Woodlands Group following receipt of all required regulatory approvals, officials announced on July 1. The transaction creates one of the world's largest timberland investment managers, with approximately $8bn (£6bn+) in forestry assets under management (AUM). The integration of Molpus Woodlands Group into Gresham House brings together two established forestry investment businesses with operations across the UK, Ireland, US, Australia and New Zealand, managing more than 2.2mn acres. Now that the transaction has completed, Molpus Woodlands Group's leadership team -- Terrell Winstead, Michael Cooper, George Dahduh, Tyler Rosamond, Chad McElvany and Ashley Harris -- have joined the Gresham House Global Executive Management Team and Investment Committees for the enlarged forestry platform. The team will continue to lead operations in the US, maintaining day-to-day management, investment processes and client service while contributing their deep regional expertise to the combined business. |
| State revenue up. Heat can hurt the economy. Rocket explodes in test: Mississippi Marketplace | |
| Total revenue collected by the state increased by around $87.59 million, or 1%, for FY 2026. The state fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30 of the following calendar year. Sales tax collections, the largest source of state revenue, were down by $11.91 million or 0.42% year over year. The Individual income tax, which is slowly being phased out, was the second-largest contributor to state revenue, bringing in $2.28 billion, up 0.01%. The largest gains came from corporate income taxes and use taxes. Corporate income tax revenue increased by $57.44 million, or 7.81%, and use tax collections increased by $51.87 million or 11.79%. However, combined they bring in a little over half of the revenue collected from individual income taxes. Overall, state collections were $176.72 million, or 2.34%, over the revenue estimate. The revenue estimate is set by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee based on recommendations from state financial experts. The estimate is used as a starting point to set the state's annual budget. |
| State Health Officer warns Mississippi Board of Health about declining kindergartener vaccination rates | |
| Declining vaccination rates and other health related statistics in Mississippi were major topics of discussion recently by members of the state's Board of Health. And while the State Health Officer is concerned about the potential for a measles outbreak, he is not sounding the alarm just yet. Dr. Daniel Edney expressed concern that Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination rates for children entering kindergarten continue to fall in some parts of the state. However, the State Health Officer told the Board of Health during Wednesday's meeting community immunity is holding. "But we still have strong community immunity levels statewide, and even these counties where the kindergarten rate has dropped, the overall childhood vaccination rates are still above the 95% threshold," Edney explained. With vaccination rates dropping below that threshold in certain areas, preparations are being made. "We have counties as low as, you know, George County that's below 92%, and the further below 95% we go then the higher the risk," Edney said. "And measles will be the most sensitive indicator of occurrence of vaccine preventable illness." Delta-region counties continue to have the highest vaccination rates. |
| Lt. Governor Hosemann urges Mississippi Senate to reject future mobile sports betting legislation, calling it 'harmful legislation' | |
| Mobile sports betting is big business, but Mississippi lawmakers, particularly in the state Senate, have been reluctant to jump on the bandwagon. If Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann (R) has his way, that opposition will continue when legislators return to the Capitol in January. This week, Hosemann took to social media to express his displeasure with mobile sports betting, writing on X that online mobile sports betting "increases the risk of gambling-related harm and addiction compared with traditional in-person betting," citing roughly 1 in 5 people with problem gambler disorder attempt suicide. The Lt. Governor went on to say that mobile sports betting could undermine the billions of dollars invested in brick-and-mortar gaming facilities across Mississippi, "increase opportunities for misconduct and illegal actions involving athletes, and raise serious questions about whether the resulting tax revenue would even be sufficient to offset the associated social and economic costs." Speaker Jason White (R) told Magnolia Tribune Thursday that while he does not wake up every morning thinking about how to pass mobile sports betting, there is a simple truth that must understood: "Sports betting is already perfectly legal in Mississippi, and our casino operators already have sports betting on property." The Speaker did not know what prompted Hosemann's comments this week, saying he had no interest in a disagreement with the Lt. Governor concerning mobile sports betting. However, White did point out that "most every casino operator in Mississippi supports mobile sports betting." |
| New campaign finance laws expected after Jackson bribery scandal ends | |
 | One of the issues referenced time and again during the Jackson bribery scandal was found in former Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba's campaign finance reports. Or lack thereof. Jackson's former top dog in local politics became implicated in the scandal in 2024, when federal agents said that they gave him five $10,000 bribes disguised as campaign contributions. But when attention turned to Lumumba's fundraising records, they weren't there. At the time, Lumumba was three years behind on submitting campaign finance reports, with his last coming in 2021. He told reporters at the time that that was "not uncustomary" for his campaign. Mississippi campaign finance laws are nebulous in areas. Although candidates have to submit their financial reports every year, the penalties for not doing so are unclear, and Lumumba went unpunished. Recent guilty pleas from the former mayor and others largely concluding the bribery scandal again spurred Secretary of State Michael Watson to pursue legislation reforming the state's campaign finance laws. |
| Mississippi child sex abuse now punishable by death penalty | |
| Mississippi's most severe criminal punishment now applies to the most severe crimes against children, under a new state law that took effect July 1. Senate Bill 2821 creates a charge called Capital Sexual Battery, which is punishable by the death penalty. The law applies only to cases occurring on or after July 1. Under the new law, sexual battery against a child under the age of 12 or an attempt to commit such an act that injures the child's sexual organs, makes a defendant eligible for the death penalty. The bill also updates state law to ensure life-without-parole sentences under this act are not parole-eligible. Sen. Jeremy England, who co-authored the bill, said the law is intended to send a clear message. "If you commit a crime of this nature, we're going to put you up for the death penalty in Mississippi," England said. England said the push to apply capital punishment to these crimes reflects how seriously the state views them. Co-author Sen. Daniel Sparks said support for the measure crosses party lines. |
| DPS commissioner: 'No indication' race played a role in death of Nolan Wells | |
| Mississippi's public safety commissioner said there is "no indication" at this time that race played a role in the death of Ocean Springs teenager Nolan Wells as investigators continue working to determine how Wells disappeared and was later found dead after partying with friends on Horn Island. Wells visited the barrier island, about 10 miles offshore from his hometown, with friends on July 4. He did not return to the mainland and was reported missing by his mother that night. A multiagency search of the island ended on the morning of July 6 when Wells' body was discovered by a park ranger. Since his death, social media has been filled with theories and allegations, particularly after law enforcement released the last known photo of Wells showing the Black teen with a group of white friends. A video that has not been verified or publicly released by law enforcement has also circulated, purportedly showing an altercation on the island, which was crowded with holiday boaters when Wells disappeared. Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell provided an update on the investigation during Wednesday's episode of Mornings with Richard Cross. During the interview, Tindell addressed the social media speculation, urging people to stop spreading rumors because they could hamper the investigation into Wells' death. |
| Democrats fear chances of winning Senate may be slipping away | |
 | Democrats' chances of taking back control of the Senate have suffered with recent developments in Maine and Michigan, complicating their chances of winning the two critical battlegrounds. The implosion of Graham Platner's campaign in Maine has left Democrats scrambling for an opponent to challenge GOP incumbent Sen. Susan Collins less than four months out from Election Day. While some Democratic strategists think the party is better off with Platner out of the race, the spectacular collapse of his campaign and the lack of consensus within the party over who should take his place creates unnecessary political headwinds for the party. Some experts say Democrats are less likely to win back the majority because of the chaos in Maine. "In general, it's not good news for the Democrats. Not good news that so many prominent Democrats endorsed the dropout and not such good news -- probably -- about how they're going to respond to news in the next few days. It's just bad news for the party," said Steven S. Smith, a professor of political science at Arizona State University who follows the Senate. Democrats would need a net pickup of four Senate seats in November to recapture the Senate majority. |
| 'The new animal at the zoo': John Kennedy is suddenly everywhere | |
 | In the halls of Congress, Sen. John Kennedy has long been known as the master of the excruciatingly folksy one-liner. His profile off Capitol Hill, however, has recently exploded -- thanks to an increasing tempo of Fox News hits, a bestselling book and a growing TikTok following. The 74-year-old Louisianan is putting his burgeoning notoriety to work for his Senate Republican colleagues, criss-crossing the country for a series of surprisingly successful events where he's dropping his trademark bons mots, fielding questions about a future presidential bid and discussing "Margaret" -- the exercise machine sitting in his carport that is named after Margaret Thatcher and is a guest star in his viral videos. "When I go into a state and headline a fundraiser for one of my colleagues, it seems to attract people," Kennedy said in an interview. "I think I'm like the new animal in the zoo. They don't know what it is, but they like to poke to see what will happen." His appearances on Fox News have earned him fans among Republican voters well beyond the borders of his home state. But his notoriety spread further after publishing "How to Test Negative for Stupid: And Why Washington Never Will," which spent months on The New York Times bestseller list. |
| Trump Says He Won't Sign Housing Bill, in Protest Over Stalled Voting Measure | |
 | President Trump said on Friday that he would not sign a major bipartisan housing bill, a decision he framed as a protest against Senate Republicans for failing to pass a voting restriction bill that does not have enough support to clear the Senate. "I will not sign the Housing Bill, which has been fully approved by Congress and sent to the White House, in PROTEST over the fact that the United States Senate is not capable of passing THE SAVE AMERICA ACT," Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. Mr. Trump's decision appears to be symbolic. The measure, the first major legislative effort to address the nation's housing crisis in more than three decades, will become law at midnight even without his signature unless he vetoes it, which he did not say he would do. But Mr. Trump's pronouncement reflects the growing rift between the president and Senate Republicans as he continues to push for a voter identification bill that has stalled because it does not have enough support to advance. The housing measure adjusts a host of federal regulations to make it easier and cheaper to build housing. That approach won broad support from economists and policy experts, and the bill passed Congress last month with overwhelming bipartisan support, an increasingly rare accomplishment in a starkly polarized legislature. |
| Trump fires members of bipartisan elections commission | |
 | President Donald Trump dismantled a long-standing bipartisan elections board Thursday, four months before a midterm contest that will determine which party controls Congress. Trump dismissed members of the Elections Assistance Commission less than two weeks after the Supreme Court gave the president broad leeway to reshape boards that were designed to be independent. Congress created the panel to strengthen and secure elections in response to the challenges of the 2000 contest and structured it so no more than two of its four members belong to the same political party. Trump's actions weaken the commission, which is responsible for maintaining the federal voter registration form and certifying electronic voting equipment. New appointees would need to be confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate. The move is the latest in Trump's broad effort to exert authority over elections as he falsely claims the 2020 election was stolen from him. Trump has spent years casting doubts on elections and pushed to limit the use of mail ballots and voting machines. |
| Iran Hatched Fresh Plot to Kill Trump, Israel Told U.S. | |
 | Israel shared new intelligence with the U.S. that it said indicated a fresh Iranian plan to kill President Trump, people familiar with the matter said, a finding that would mark an escalation in the war between Washington and Iran. Iran for years has vowed openly to retaliate against Trump for the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, who was a top general in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in the president's first term. The Israeli Embassy in Washington declined to comment. Iran's Mission to the United Nations didn't respond to a request for comment. The White House referred The Wall Street Journal to comments the president made on Wednesday. Trump on Wednesday alluded to threats to his life when speaking to reporters in Ankara, Turkey. Iranian mourners at the funeral for slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei chanted for Trump's death, with mourners unveiling a banner that read "We Will Kill Trump." |
| As the country turns 250, retired judges hit the road to defend judicial independence | |
 | On Friday, a group of retired judges will step off a tour bus in a ritzy Michigan suburb after three days of barnstorming through corn fields, cities and coal towns in Ohio and Pennsylvania. They carry with them a message. In courthouses and public squares, they have marked the nation's 250th anniversary with a dire warning: The rule of law in America is in grave danger. They will deliver a similar message at a library in Grosse Pointe just outside Detroit -- the last stop on an extraordinary tour to defend judicial independence and bolster trust in courts. Americans' confidence in the court system and democracy has dipped in recent years. The country is more polarized, and President Donald Trump has repeatedly cast doubt on the fairness of the judicial system. Some judges on the tour said in phone interviews this week that the United States was at a precipice. "Looking back in history, we have teetered," former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Michael Donnelly said. "This is a moment where we can decide to reinstill those beliefs that we are a country of laws and not of men." |
| New cancer biology and therapeutics PhD program approved at UMMC | |
| The researchers who may change the way cancer is detected and treated in the future are being trained today at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The new cancer biology and therapeutics program, approved by the Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees as the newest graduate degree program within the UMMC School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences, aims to train the next generation of cancer scientists, said Dr. Sydney Murphy, dean of the school. "This is the first cancer-focused graduate program in Mississippi," Murphy said. "This new doctoral program will help build a stronger workforce of trained scientists who will make seminal discoveries to improve evidence-based cancer care in Mississippi and beyond." The program is one of 10 doctoral programs in the School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences at UMMC, which produces about 25 PhD graduates in a variety of biomedical fields each year. The cancer biology and therapeutics program began in 2025 as a track within the Cell and Molecular Biology graduate program, with two students recruited for the 2025-2026 academic year. |
| No internet, no screen time? FCC weighs cutting subsidy that lowers school internet bills | |
 | A program that helps connect schools and libraries to the internet at discounted rates is under review by the Federal Communications Commission. Educators and advocates are bracing for the funding to shrink or be eliminated. The so-called E-Rate program, created in the 90s, has considerable bipartisan support. The agency's recent focus on the program has left educators including David Thurston on edge. Thurston oversees technology for the 33 school districts nested inside California's San Bernardino County. The area covers more than 20,000 square miles of southern California: "We have mountain regions, far-flung desert regions, and then our urban and suburban areas. We're a really diverse county," Thurston says. The county already built the infrastructure to get internet access from the edge of Los Angeles all the way to the state's eastern border, but the spending doesn't end once the fiber optic cables are installed. Internet access bills come monthly. "There's no doing without," he says. School districts "are gonna have to pick up the costs." For San Bernardino districts, that's tens of thousands of dollars every month. "Those are ongoing, essentially, utility costs," he says. "That's what E-Rate pays for." The Project 2025 blueprint singled out federal broadband policy as a target for cutting agency spending. Current FCC Chairman Brendan Carr helped write that chapter of the document, compiled by the conservative Heritage Foundation, which was meant to guide the second Trump administration. |
| Cause of fire that killed 2 U. of Alabama fraternity brothers revealed | |
 | The investigation into the fatal fire that killed two University of Alabama students is ongoing, but state authorities have released a preliminary cause. The Alabama State Fire Marshal's Office told AL.com Thursday the fire was accidental and sparked by discarded fireworks. Investigators said the fireworks retained enough heat to ignite combustible materials on the ATV they were carried on. The fire then spread from the parked ATV to the home. Killed in the blaze at a south Alabama hunting camp were UA fraternity brothers Mark "McNeil" Mostellar Jr., 21, and James "Walter" Hensley II, 19. Mostellar and Hensley were among four friends spending the night at the property when the fire erupted. Two of the friends were able to escape the blaze and were taken to the hospital. Both Mobile men were business majors and members of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity at UA. |
| LSU axes finance leader, former DEI staff | |
| LSU has fired its chief financial officer, the vice president in charge of handling sex-based discrimination complaints and its former diversity, equity and inclusion staff in what campus leaders say are cost-reducing layoffs. Twenty five employees were let go last week, and LSU President Wade Rousse said the savings will be redirected to hire new faculty and fund research. The layoffs will save LSU approximately $3.7 million, according to an analysis of state employee salaries, obtained in public records, and LSU's reported benefit rates. The layoffs include CFO Tommy Smith, who was paid $390,000 a year. He has held the position for a year, and his duties will move for now to LSU System CFO Brandi Roberts, spokeswoman Meg Sunstrom said. Todd Manuel, former vice president of LSU's Office of Engagement, Civil Rights and Title IX, was also terminated. He received an annual salary of $329,824. The layoffs also included a major purge of the university's marketing and communications department, with 16 writers, video producers and photographers terminated. |
| How Louisiana colleges will spend millions in the state budget | |
| Louisiana's colleges and universities are bringing home hundreds of millions for construction projects and other key priorities in the state budget, including more than $50 million for a new STEM complex at Southern University. The state budget for fiscal year 2026-27, which started July 1, includes approximately $571 million in construction funding for higher education and around $101 million for research, campus security and other special projects. Baseline funding for the state's four higher education systems remained largely the same as in the previous years, but each got at least a little one-time money in the three main budget bills. The state construction budget, detailed in House Bill 2, provides allocations for each state university system. Projects in the LSU System are slated to receive $170 million, down from $196 million last fiscal year. In addition to about $38 million for the first phase of construction of its library, which should begin this calendar year, the LSU main campus will also receive $21 million for a military and security sciences center. LSU Health New Orleans will also receive $20 million for a dental simulation facility, and LSU Alexandria will receive $19 million for a health services center. |
| Next in Florida's war on 'woke': Becoming its own higher ed watchdog | |
| The standoff was one of the most heated of the Civil Rights Movement. It was 1962, and Black student James Meredith sued to gain admission to the segregated University of Mississippi and won. White students rioted on campus against his admission, leaving two dead in the process. The state's Governor Ross Barnett, a Democrat, was convicted of contempt of court for personally blocking Meredith's registration. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, called Meredith a one of the "real heroes" of the South, a true "pioneer" for what he endured in the melee. At the time, few outside the Black community in the South stood up for Meredith. Except for one group. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACSCOC, was the accreditor for the universities and colleges across much of the South, including Mississippi. As the accreditor for Ole Miss, SACSCOC decided whether or not the school met the standards to receive federal funding. One of the standards, according to the accreditor: That schools be free from "undue political interference." In a broadside at a meeting in Miami, SACSCOC declared that if Gov. Barnett did not stop interfering in the administration of the university, all colleges and universities in Mississippi could lose accreditation. And with it, access to federal funding. Students -- white students -- flew into a panic. With no federal funding, their school could shut down. The 1962 incident is emblematic of the historical importance of independent accreditation agencies in the U.S. Associations like SACSCOC are independent of the government, and yet they have long played an important role in maintaining the mission and integrity of higher education. |
| U. of Tennessee has new scholars, studies and shorter degrees | |
 | As temperatures rise during summer break, so do the degrees offered by the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, which has approved the first steps in offering new pathways for students to earn degrees faster. The university also shared which students received a Fulbright U.S. Student Grant, one of the most prestigious scholarships available. Nine UT alums will travel abroad for the 2026-2027 academic year to conduct research or teach English after receiving Fulbright awards. Among newly approved capital project plans, the two biggest priorities for the Knoxville campus are the Interdisciplinary Applied Health Sciences Building and the Civics Education and Interdisciplinary Classroom Building. Other projects to look out for include a flexible laboratory and a Media and Public Speaking Center. UT also is working to implement a new civic and constitutional thought bachelor's degree by the fall 2026 semester and a new industrial design bachelor's degree by fall 2027 for Knoxville campus students, pending state approvals. |
| Georgia Chancellor and former Gov. Sonny Perdue reflects on upcoming retirement and higher ed in the state | |
| University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue said he's not planning to pursue further public office after his retirement from the role at the end of the year, ending a long career spanning around four decades in various public offices, including two terms as Georgia governor and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in President Donald Trump's first term. He announced his retirement in April and recently told WABE he has asked the USG Board of Regents to keep him on until the end of 2026. After that, he plans to spend time with family. "People ask me about retiring. I'm not sure I use that word actually because I'm blessed with great health. My wife and I are, and it's her turn. I'm reporting to a new boss on January 1. Her name's Mary Perdue," Sonny Perdue said. Perdue said he realized the value of education as a young boy, since his mother was an English teacher. "My mother was an English teacher for 42 years, and I tell people I still get PTSD over dangling participles, but nonetheless, she embedded in me the need for education," he said. "It was not if, but where and what -- where will you study and what will you study in that regard." |
| The Red & Black and U. of Georgia receive $1 million joint donation to support the advancement of student journalism | |
| The Red & Black and University of Georgia have received a total of $1 million to support the advancement of excellence in journalism for University of Georgia students. This gift was divided equally among the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication and The Red & Black Publishing Company, the nonprofit independent UGA student-led news organization. The $500,000 contribution made to The Red & Black will be used as initial capital to fundraise and establish the organization's endowment fund. The fund will be dedicated to the advancement of excellence in journalism training for our students and funding our publishing programs. The gift was made in memory of Celestia "Lessie" Smithgall, a 1933 Grady College graduate and alumna of The Red & Black. After college, Smithgall took a job as a copywriter at radio station WGST. While at WGST, Smithgall met her husband, Charles Smithgall II. Lessie Smithgall was a champion for local news, as she and her husband went on to co-found the Gainesville Daily Times in 1947. In a 2019 article from The Red & Black written on her 108th birthday, Lessie reflected upon her life and the newspaper industry, which spanned World War II, the Cold War and the technology revolution. Smithgall said at the time that she believed print journalism would be around for years to come because "you want to know what your neighbor is doing." |
| U. of Georgia provost named Clemson's new president | |
| Clemson University's governing board on Thursday selected University of Georgia provost Benjamin Ayers as the college's 16th president. Ayers' selection to lead the 30,000-student university came four days after the previously chosen candidate, Kevin Guskiewicz, unexpectedly opted to remain president at Michigan State University. Ayers, who is 60 years old, will replace former President Jim Clements, who abruptly retired in December after 12 years on the job. Ayers has been provost at the University of Georgia for one year. Before that, he spent more than a decade as dean of the college's business school. He's credited with growing the business school's endowment from $90 million to nearly $300 million, which funded faculty and scholarships for students. The Clemson board also selected the Georgia provost over two Clemson deans who had been among three finalists in the initial search. Clemson's six month-search for a new president began Dec. 18, 2025, with the school paying Dallas-based firm Funk Associates $200,000 to conduct it. |
| UGA loses top academic leader as Ben Ayers takes Clemson job | |
 | Ben Ayers, who has been with the University of Georgia since 1996, was named on Thursday as the new president of Clemson University in South Carolina. UGA President Jere Morehead on Thursday released a statement informing faculty and staff that Ayers, who was serving as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, had accepted Clemson's offer. "While I am thrilled for Provost Ayers to receive this well-deserved opportunity, I am saddened to see a dear friend and outstanding leader depart our great institution." As UGA's chief academic officer, Ayers oversaw its 20 schools and colleges, as well as instruction, research, public service outreach, and information technologies, according to Clemson. In May, Clemson announced that Kevin Guskiewicz, president of Michigan State University, would become its new president. But Guskiewicz subsequently changed his mind. However, just days ago on July 6, he informed Clemson he was staying at Michigan State. Morehead announced that he will name an interim officer for Ayers' position "in the coming days, followed by the launch of a national search for a permanent replacement in the coming weeks." |
| A Bombshell Lawsuit Points to an 'Extraordinary System of Censorship' at Texas Tech | |
 | Professors at Texas Tech University can no longer teach "factual information about race," discuss the persecution of gay and bisexual men during the Holocaust, or assign texts like Plato's Republic because of system policies limiting instruction on race, sex, gender, and sexual orientation, a new federal lawsuit alleges. Contesting what it called an "extraordinary system of censorship in higher education," the American Association of University Professors sued the Texas Tech University system on Wednesday in federal court. The lawsuit asks the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas to block two memoranda issued by Chancellor Brandon Creighton that created a sweeping review process for classroom instruction across the system's five universities. Texas Tech, meanwhile, "is confident its policies are lawful, constitutionally sound, and fully compliant with state and federal law," a system spokesperson said in a statement to The Chronicle. "Our commitment to academic integrity and the First Amendment rights of our students and faculty will not be distracted by lawsuits." Wednesday's 84-page complaint purports to offer one of the clearest pictures yet of how Texas Tech's new curricular-review process has operated behind closed doors. |
| States Need Better Adult Learner Strategies | |
 | As institutions nationwide face enrollment declines and demographic pressures, they are increasingly looking to re-enroll adults who started college but never finished -- not only to fill their coffers but also to bolster state workforce pipelines. More than 43 million Americans have earned some college credit but never completed a degree or credential, representing a significant pool of potential students. New research from ReUp Education, an organization that helps college stop-outs re-enroll and complete their degrees, finds that most states still rely on fragmented, short-term initiatives rather than coordinated statewide strategies to bring those learners back. To help states assess and strengthen those efforts, the report introduces an Adult Learner Engagement Index that allows policymakers to evaluate their strategies and identify opportunities to improve adult learner engagement. Kimberly Walker, vice president of government strategy at ReUp and the report's author, said states that have been most successful at bringing adult learners back to college and supporting them through completion tend to centralize their efforts and coordinate multiple strategies rather than rely on isolated initiatives. |
| Colleges Juice Application Numbers by Letting Students Write Fewer Essays | |
| A select group of colleges is making it easier to apply -- but probably harder to get in. Top schools including Tulane University, Washington University in St. Louis and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are reducing the number of essays applicants have to submit. Colleges say that they are trying to ease students' stress, and that artificial intelligence has made it harder to tell whether students are actually doing the writing. The moves will likely increase applications, potentially making admissions more cutthroat, college counselors say. Texas Christian University experienced a roughly 14% jump in applications after removing two of its supplemental essays last year. Schools are "trying to become more competitive," said Caroline Koppelman, founder of an admissions firm. For students deciding where to apply, an extra essay "can be the straw that breaks the camel's back a little bit, or at least the straw that makes you not apply to that school." A lower admissions rate improves schools' rankings and "protects their prestige," said Christopher Rim, chief executive of admissions firm Command Education. "A lot of that is really artificial." |
| Colleges Weigh Limiting Graduate Loans Amid Cap Litigation | |
| After a federal judge halted the Department of Education's definition of "professional" programs, the department said it stood by its original definition -- which included just 11 degrees. But following the court order, the agency released a new list of 29 programs that will be considered "professional" while litigation continues. The department, which appears to be planning to fight the order, stressed that the list was temporary and encouraged universities to limit their lending to students whose programs don't fall under the original, narrower definition. Institutions have long wanted the ability to limit lending in order to protect their students from overborrowing, but for as long as federal loans have existed, they haven't been permitted to. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act changed that last summer, allowing institutions to set their own lending limits for the first time ever. Now, ED is encouraging institutions to use that lever. The department's argument is that, if the court order is reversed, anyone who borrowed up to the professional program limit whose program was then redefined as graduate would be in a difficult situation. But it’s not such a straightforward decision, said Karen McCarthy, vice president of public policy and federal relations for the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. |
| Bipartisan Senate duo wants to help students get federal aid for learning outside college | |
| Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) are pairing up on a new bill that would pave a way for students to use financial aid to pay for prior learning assessments, a category of tests that grant college credit for learning outside a college setting, such as in a job. Those tests usually cost money. The senators' bill, the Credit for Prior Learning Act, would allow students to use up to $2,000 in federal financial aid to pay test fees. It was introduced at the end of June. "The point of federal aid is to help hardworking and deserving American students overcome financial barriers to further their education -- it's common sense that they should be able to use that aid towards fees associated with credit for prior learning," Sheehy said in a statement. Klobuchar, who has sponsored a few other bipartisan bills in her Senate career related to nontraditional skills training, said the latest legislation is an effort to expand access to degrees for more workers. |
SPORTS
| Football: Kelley Jones Living In The Moment | |
| Pull up a chair, open up your favorite search engine or AI chatbot and ask it about Kelley Jones' latest NFL Draft projections. You won't have to research long to see the general consensus on the star Mississippi State cornerback. Not only is he on the cusp of going from State to Sundays, he's on a path that could very well make him the next Bulldog football player to be taken in the draft's first round, joining the likes of Jeffery Simmons, Emmanuel Forbes, Charles Cross, Montez Sweat, Fletcher Cox, Eric Moulds and so many more. Greatness is well within reach for Jones, and with a productive 2026 season, he'd solidify himself as a young man that'll hear his name called early when NFL franchises gather next April. Some folks might be shaken with so much riding on the months ahead. They'd be distracted by the hope and the hype. Well, that's other folks. That's certainly not Kelley Jones. "I'm just keeping God first and being thankful for the situation that he's blessed me to be in," Jones said. "I'm not worrying about the draft. I'm not stressing about the little things. I'm so glad to be at Mississippi State. All that other talk is heartwarming and special, but I don't worry about any of that. I'm here right now and taking it day by day, staying calm and staying level." |
| Simmons football campers get jump on the weekend with shopping spree | |
| There were 20 very happy local youth striding up and down the aisles of Academy Sports + Outdoors in Starkville with their shopping carts on Thursday. Before attending the Jeffery Simmons Football Camp the next two days at the Starkville Sportsplex, they were invited by Simmons for a shopping spree and received a $500 gift card to purchase football gear, apparel and accessories. Academy Sports + Outdoors provided $250 to the cause for each camper and Simmons matched it. The gift card recipients were selected at random. "The reason why you do it is to see all of the reaction videos," Simmons said. "I told the kids before we got started is when you see that, it makes you appreciate it even more to be in the position I am today and be able to do these type of things. To be able to partner with Academy, I couldn't do it by myself and it's great to build these type of relationships off the football field to continue to put a smile on these kids faces." The shopping spree sets the stage for the Simmons Football Camp today and Saturday at the Starkville Sportsplex. The free youth football camp is open to children of all skill levels aged 7-18. |
| Catcher fighting cancer says Ole Miss baseball pulled offer | |
| High school catcher Brett Harris, who has been battling cancer for three years, said Ole Miss baseball pulled his scholarship offer even though he was committed to the Rebels for four years. Harris, who plays for Western Dubuque High School in Iowa, committed to Ole Miss in 2022 after his older brother, Calvin Harris, won a national championship with the Rebels as a catcher. Brett Harris has been battling cancer since he was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2023. In October 2025, scans showed the tumor had spread to two additional areas. He received radiation treatments over the winter and is playing his senior season of baseball. Harris told USA TODAY Sports that Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco called him on June 28 and told him his scholarship offer was being rescinded. "It didn't hit me fully, because I was like, 'There's no way,'" Harris said. "A month and a half before (going to college), what's a kid supposed to do? You're not giving a kid much of a chance after four years of being loyal to you ... You're not giving him much of a chance to go out and find a new school." Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter said July 9 the university did not have an official comment. |
| U. of Kentucky will pay Mitch Barnhart more than $3 million as part of retirement settlement | |
 | The University of Kentucky will pay longtime athletics director Mitch Barnhart $3.2 million as part of a settlement agreement after he walked away from a plan to transition to a university administration position amid public criticism. "The agreement executed with Mr. Barnhart will be paid for with private funds, raised by President Capilouto," UK spokesman Jay Blanton said in a statement. "It reflects Mitch's long tenure as athletics director and is consistent with other step-down provisions at similar institutions. "It is $1.6 million less that what was negotiated in Mr. Barnhart's 2023 provision and more than $700,000 less than the most recent contract amendment. It also eliminates additional benefits such as tickets and courtesy vehicles." According to a contract amendment released by UK on Thursday, Barnhart will now be classified as a part-time employee of the university reporting directly to the president. He will be tasked with fundraising and "any other duties as assigned." Barnhart will be paid a $40,000 annual salary for that work and continue to be eligible for insurance benefits. He will be paid annual compensation of $760,000 on Jan. 1 2027, 2028 and 2029. His final severance payment will be $780,000 on Dec 31, 2029. |
| LSU to host top donors for summit at governor's mansion on funding its athletics programs | |
 | Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and LSU President Wade Rousse plan to host the top 40 donors to LSU sports at the Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge for a presentation on the financial future of the university's athletics department, a university spokesperson said Thursday. The gathering will be held the first week of August, and the two leaders will unveil "a first look at an alternative revenue generating opportunity for LSU athletics that is first of its kind nationally and could quite possibly change the future of college sports in America," according to the event invitation. Tiger Athletic Foundation President and CEO Matt Borman sent the invite to donors Thursday. "College athletics is at financial crossroads, and we're feeling it every day at LSU," Borman wrote. "As someone who has contributed generously to our athletic programs to keep them operational, you know how unsustainable the budget of the athletic department looks and how hard TAF has worked with our donors to assist." The meeting comes as college sports programs engage in a fundraising arms race to attract top players through name, image and likeness deals and revenue sharing. |
| Ohio judge grants preliminary injunction for men's, women's hoops players suing NCAA for eligibility | |
| An Ohio judge has granted a preliminary injunction for 24 men's and women's college basketball players suing the NCAA for eligibility, claiming the new age-based model unfairly shuts them out of further competition. Judge Christopher Wagner said Thursday the NCAA eligibility rules have been applied to 2022 high school graduates in an arbitrary and capricious manner, adding the plaintiffs would suffer "irreparable injury" without an injunction. "We hope the NCAA reconsiders its position and allows all other similarly situated athletes from the high school class of 2022 to compete for remaining roster spots in all sports," attorney Ryan Downton said. Wagner's ruling allows the athletes in the lawsuit an opportunity to enter the transfer portal. He scheduled a conference for Aug. 4 to prepare for a trial. "While we will seek to overturn this ruling, it is now apparent that Congress must act swiftly to restore stability, uniformity, and fair competition in college athletics," the NCAA said in a statement. The Protect College Sports Act has moved forward with Senate committee approval in June. However, the Big Ten and Southeastern conferences oppose the bill designed to stabilize college sports and are seeking revisions. |
| This Nation Breaks Every Rule of U.S. Youth Sports -- and Built a World Cup Monster | |
| When a group of boys from a small town on the coast of Norway began playing for the same youth soccer club, there was no way of knowing where any of them would end up in 20 years. The club was free and open to everyone. The teams cared more about having fun than winning -- and barely kept score. Inside a small dome where they could practice year-round, through Scandinavian winters and darkness, the kids of Bryne FK played without pressure. Their volunteer coaches preached a simple philosophy: "As many as possible, for as long as possible, and as good as possible." In other words, the least American way possible. But unlike the American method of raising soccer talent, this one actually worked. Of the 40 boys on that club team, 35 kept playing from childhood through adulthood. Six turned pro. Five were selected for youth national teams. And one grew up to be the most intimidating soccer player in the entire world. When Norway stares down England on Saturday with the hopes of rowing into the World Cup semifinals for the first time, the smallest country left in the tournament will be led by a humongous goal machine named Erling Haaland. |
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