| Friday, January 17, 2025 |
| Mississippi State updates times for May 15 graduation ceremonies | |
 | Mississippi State University (MSU) is updating its times for spring graduation for the two ceremonies on Thursday, May 15. According to MSU officials, the update accommodates a monthly meeting that day of the board of trustees of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL). The full graduation week schedule, including new times for Thursday, May 15, is as follows: Tuesday, May 13, 11:30 a.m. -- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Humphrey Coliseum, 4 p.m. -- Doctoral Hooding, Lee Hall. Wednesday, May 14, 11 a.m. -- MSU-Meridian, Riley Center, Meridian. Thursday, May 15, 1:30 p.m. -- College of Arts & Sciences, Humphrey Coliseum, 6:30 p.m. -- ACCESS; College of Agriculture & Life Sciences; College of Education, Humphrey Coliseum. Friday, May 16, 9:30 a.m. -- College of Architecture, Art & Design; College of Business, Humphrey Coliseum, 3:30 p.m. -- Academic Affairs; Bagley College of Engineering; College of Forest Resources; College of Professional and Continuing Studies; College of Veterinary Medicine, Humphrey Coliseum. |
| Baptist, North Mississippi interested in acquiring OCH | |
 | OCH Regional Medical Center is for sale, and Baptist Memorial Health Care and North Mississippi Health Services both intend to take a shot at it. Supervisors approved a request for proposals Monday and published that RFP online Wednesday afternoon, indicating what the county wants from a potential buyer. The RFP includes "minimum requirements" for buyers, like having more than $750 million in annual operating revenue for the last three fiscal years and maintaining the OCH Emergency Department's status as a Level III Trauma Center or greater. The proposal also asks bidders how they would collaborate with Mississippi State University, retain employees for at least some time frame, commit to charity care and to capital improvement. Buyers must also provide a "strategic vision" for OCH within its overall system and community. OCH Board of Trustees Chair Linda Breazeale said the hospital board submitted priorities to the supervisors during the RFP development process, many of which made it into the final RFP. Mississippi State University and the Greater Starkville Development Partnership also submitted letters to supervisors that were used in the RFP's development. District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer said the supervisors kept all three parties in mind as they were building the RFP. |
| Marches, service projects planned for MLK Day celebrations | |
| As the nation prepares Monday to honor Martin Luther King Jr., cities across the region are making sure his legacy lives on through celebrations, marches and community service projects. The Oktibbeha County Branch of the NAACP will host its annual Unity March on Monday. Prior to the march, there will be a worship service beginning at 10 a.m. at Mt. Peiler Missionary Baptist Church. Rev. LeRoy Davenport will deliver a message. Rev. Ronnie Tucker, president of the branch, said the service aims to remind people of the importance of coming together. "Recognizing that we're all a part of the body of Christ and working together for the advancement of mankind and lifting up each other rather than pushing each other down," he said. Later at 2 p.m., the walk will start at Unity Park and go east on Main Street. It will conclude by 4 p.m. at Fire Station Park. Tucker said the point of the march is to remember King's legacy and how marches during the Civil Rights Movement brought people together to show everyone is important. But it also serves a second purpose, he said. "Particularly in this climate of divisiveness that we're seeing in our nation, (the goal) is to let the people know here in Oktibbeha County, we are unified. We're willing to come together and show that. We want to continue to not only show that in walking together but continuing to work together throughout every day." |
| Officials warn of 'dangerous cold weather' across state next week | |
 | The entirety of Mississippi will be blanketed in winter weather warnings in the coming days as forecasters are projecting frigid temperatures to cover the state. A cold front blasted the northern part of the state last week, but a bout of wintry weather expected to freeze the Magnolia State from Sunday through Wednesday is projected to be more severe. "The National Weather Service is forecasting multiple days of freezing temperatures and dangerously low wind chill," Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) officials said in social media post Thursday. "Now is the time to prepare." MEMA detailed the following threats during the span: Long duration of cold temperatures below freezing. Dangerously low wind child readings. Increased potential of impactful snow and ice accumulations. Danger to exposed pipes. Threat of frostbite and hypothermia with prolonged outdoor exposure. |
| Corps clears the way for pre-construction engineering to begin on Yazoo Pumps project | |
| Design work is expected to get underway soon on a project to bring flood relief to residents of the Mississippi Delta. On Friday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that Major General Kimberly Peeples had signed the record of decision for the 2024 Yazoo Backwater Study Area Water Management Plan. Peeples is the commander of the Mississippi Valley Division of the Corps. The decision to sign off means work on the long-anticipated flood control project can begin moving forward. "This record of decision reflects our shared commitment to serving the Yazoo Backwater community and to finding solutions to a longstanding issue that has affected our Mississippi Delta communities for decades," said Col. Jeremiah Gipson, commander of the Corps' Vicksburg District. "I'm incredibly proud of what we've accomplished together, and this marks an important step forward as we continue to address this challenge and work toward lasting solutions." The project will include the installation of high-volume pumps at the Steele Bayou Water Construction Structure to manage water levels during crop seasons. Additionally, nonstructural features will be added to address flood impacts on properties, including voluntary buyouts for owners in affected areas, as well as floodproofing of structures that could be impacted. |
| Trump wants to cut taxes. So do governors and lawmakers in some states | |
 | President-elect Donald Trump has proposed trillions of dollars of tax cuts for individuals and businesses. In some states, governors and lawmakers are seeking to cut millions more. The movement for more tax cuts comes after most states already have slashed income, sales or property taxes in recent years, and it's pressing ahead even though state revenue growth has been slowing or stagnating. As Congress considers Trump's tax-cutting agenda, state legislatures that are currently getting underway will be weighing whether -- or how much -- they can afford to reduce their own taxes while still funding core government functions such as schools, prisons, roads and social services. As in previous years, more states are again considering tax cuts rather than tax increases in 2025. "Overall, states are experiencing tighter budget conditions," said Brian Sigritz, director of state fiscal studies at the National Association of State Budget Officers. But, he added, "I think there's still an appetite amongst many legislators and governors that still you ought to provide tax relief." In Mississippi's Republican-led House, legislation would gradually eliminate the income tax, reduce the sales tax on groceries and partially offset that by raising local sales taxes and gas taxes. |
| House passes income tax cut after nearly 2-hour debate. Will Senate pass it next? | |
 | The Mississippi House of Representatives passed a $1.1 billion tax cut bill on Thursday after nearly two hours of debate, sending it on to the Senate where leadership is considering a starkly different approach, and thus is unlikely to pass the House version. House leadership after the vote said there really isn't much room for compromise, but there is hope that because Senate leadership wants to cut taxes, both sides can hopefully come to an agreement. "I'm encouraged by the fact that that (Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann) is talking about cutting taxes, I think that's a good place to start, as opposed to somebody who wouldn't," House Speaker Jason White,R-West, said. "Now maybe we'll figure out the best way to get there in this process." House Bill No. 1, dubbed the Build Up Mississippi Act, passed with 88 votes. Of them, at least nine were Democrats and two were independents. There were 24 no votes, consisting only of Democrats. "It's bipartisan to some extent. And you saw a lot of people, maybe they didn't vote yes, they didn't vote no, either," White told reporters after the vote. After 2016 when the state passed several tax cuts, revenue shortfalls ensued, causing former Gov. Phil Bryant to make emergency budget cuts several times. Numerous county Mississippi State Department of Health County offices closed and state grant matches for federally funded infrastructure projects were put at risk. |
| Mississippi House passes 'Build Up Mississippi Act' | |
| The Mississippi House overwhelmingly passed the massive $1.1 billion tax reform bill authored by House Ways and Means Chairman Trey Lamar (R) Thursday afternoon by a bipartisan vote of 88 to 24. While House Minority Leader Robert Johnson (D) and other Democrats claimed the bill could lead the state into fiscal instability, Rep. Lamar defended the Republican-led legislation, calling the 'Build Up Mississippi Act' "the most transformational piece of legislation the state of Mississippi has ever seen." Governor Tate Reeves (R) has voiced support for eliminating the income tax for years and has called HB 1 a "serious effort." Reeves, who said the House delivered for Mississippi taxpayers, touted the legislation as giving Mississippi a competitive advantage among surrounding states. He noted that the bill would cut the income tax bracket from 4 percent to 3 percent in 2027, a year after the current income tax cut from 2022 is fully phased-in, while fully eliminating the state income tax in 10 years. Speaker Jason White (R) expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support his members have received from cities, county officials, statewide elected officials, and the Mississippi business community in what he described as "a comprehensive tax reform package designed to uplift Mississippians, support our infrastructure and PERS system, and empower local governments." "By phasing out the state income tax and significantly reducing sales tax on groceries, we alleviate the financial strain on Mississippians and create an environment ripe for robust economic growth," Speaker White said. |
| Mississippi Income Tax Elimination Plan Passes House, Includes New Gas Tax and Grocery Tax Cut | |
| Mississippi could gradually eliminate the state income tax and reduce taxes on groceries over the next decade while adding a gas tax under a bill the Mississippi House passed on Thursday. House Bill 1, the "Build Up Mississippi Act," would lower taxes by $2.2 billion and add another $1.1 billion in taxes to make up for lost revenue at the city and county levels. The bill's author, Rep. Trey Lamar, R-Senatobia, said the state would not see any revenue losses under the plan, pointing to the $700 million surplus the state currently has. He said the additional gas tax would bring an estimated $300 to $400 million annually for the Department of Transportation and a new city sales tax would add $600 million to city budgets. Mississippi also has a "$250 million stabilization fund that can only be accessed during the course of this plan, if needed," he added "Revenue ... does not generally go backwards," Lamar said on the House floor on Thursday. Rep. Omeria Scott, D-Laurel, told the Mississippi Free Press that the Legislature should not assume its funding and budget will look the same by 2036, when the income tax would be fully phased out. She noted that the federal government has given billions to Mississippi since 2020 through COVID-19 stimulus checks, the American Rescue Plan Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that likely would not be available again in the future. "We've had a lot of federal help that has changed what our budget looks like historically," she said on Thursday. |
| House passes $1.1 billion income tax elimination-gas and sales tax increase plan in bipartisan vote | |
| A bill that phases out the state income tax, cuts the state grocery tax and raises sales taxes and gasoline taxes passed the House of Representatives with a bipartisan vote on Thursday. House Bill 1 -- authored by Republican Rep. Trey Lamar of Senatobia and other House leaders -- passed 88-24 with only Democratic House members voting against it. It now goes to the Senate for consideration. Nine House Democrats joined with the GOP majority to support the plan, and seven Democrats voted "present," meaning they did not vote yes or no. "A lot of my Republicans were speaking as one as a caucus that this is important to them and to their constituents," House Speaker Jason White told reporters after the bill passed. "I think it's a good, strong vote for us and it'll be a strong position for me as speaker to advocate for its passage and advancement on the other (Senate) end of the building." The legislation also adds a new 5% tax on gasoline sales, which would go toward the Mississippi Department of Transportation's budget for road and bridge infrastructure. The tax is expected to generate $400 million a year. Willie Simmons, a Democrat who is the central district transportation commissioner, and Brad White, executive director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation, in a joint statement thanked House leadership for having substantive discussions about infrastructure funding, though they didn't specifically endorse the legislation. |
| Secretary of State outlines his 2025 legislative agenda | |
| Secretary of State Michael Watson is unveiling his 2025 legislative priorities. And campaign finance reform is at the top of the list. His office received the funding from the online campaign finance reporting system. He's asking lawmakers to require every state, county, and municipal candidate to file their reports electronically. That system would be searchable. Watson is also requesting clear enforcement and penalties for those who fail to follow the reporting laws. "In my opinion, [this] is incredibly needed," said Watson. "You know, again, this, this Jackson issue is a perfect example of why people should be able to go...Who's giving to them? What are they doing with this? You know, do they even report the money when it comes out? I think it's really important for all of us." Watson is also hoping for legislation that would require potential voters to provide proof of residency when they initially register. A recent cross-check with Alabama found 8,000 names that were double-registered in both states. He says this would clear up some issues on the front end and not open the door to any fraud. Also under the campaign finance umbrella, Watson wants the state to prohibit foreign nationals from spending money on ballot measures. And he'd like there to be a system for campaign finance complaints to be made and investigated. |
| Bill requiring schools to hold 'time of reflection' allowing student-led prayer introduced in Mississippi | |
| A bill opening the door for prayer in public schools has been introduced in Mississippi. Oscar Denton, D-Vicksburg, authored House Bill 488 to require local public school boards to designate a period of reflection at the beginning of each school day, during which voluntary student-initiated prayer can be conducted. Currently, this is optional in Mississippi. Passage of Denton's bill would require schools to allow audible student-led prayer and even moments of silence during the designated time of reflection. The text describes one's First Amendment rights, highlighting prayer as constitutionally protected free speech within the classroom. Schools and educators would not be allowed to turn this time into an endorsement of a particular religion and teachers would not be allowed to lead a prayer. However, the bill's text does not prohibit educators from joining students in prayer during the time of reflection. |
| Proposed bill looks to regulate vaping industry | |
 | In 2024, 1.63 million students nationwide admitted to using e-cigarettes according to the CDC. With a vape in the hands of many minors illegally, Representative Joseph Tubb and other state lawmakers look to reel in what they call an unregulated industry. "I mean the whole industry right now is kind of the Wild, Wild West," said Tubb. Tubb says a new bill being proposed this legislative session will not only limit teens' access to vapes but also punish those that sell to them. "It's going to allow the state to monitor the vaping industry a lot more," said Tubb. "And it's a great start. It's probably not everything that we need right now, but it's a great start." Underage vaping is something Lamar County School District leaders say they've seen in epidemic proportions. "A lot of them don't really understand that it you have to be 21 years old or older to be able to legally purchase or have a vape," said LCSD Superintendent Dr. Steven Hampton. "It's not just Lamar County, that' s what I need people to see. Every Superintendent that I talked to, when you bring up vaping, they are seeing an increase. In this in this area, but all across the state in the nation." If approved, Tubb says the bill would require a license to sell vaping devices. |
| Governor orders flags flown at full height during Trump inauguration | |
 | Republican Gov. Tate Reeves has ordered the U.S. and state flags in Mississippi be flown at full height on Monday during the inauguration of President Donald Trump. "This is a historic day for America, and Mississippi looks forward to celebrating it," Reeves said in a press release on Thursday. "Our state is excited for Donald J. Trump to be sworn in as president, and we look forward to supporting his America First agenda. Mississippi is ready to help Make America Great Again!" The flags have been at half-staff for the mourning period for former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away in December. The official mourning period for Carter will conclude and flags are supposed to return to full height toward the end of January. Reeves said the flags will return to half-staff on Tuesday and return to full height on Jan. 28, 30 days after Carter's death. Eight other states, including Iowa, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Nebraska and Alabama have ordered flags at full staff during Trump's inauguration. In addition to the state buildings, the U.S. Capitol will have its flags at full-staff during the inauguration, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, announced on Tuesday. Reeves had previously ordered the state flag to be flown at half-staff in honor of the Mississippians who died in the New Orleans terror attack. |
| Sen. Hyde-Smith renews bid to trigger bank formation in rural areas | |
 | U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and U.S. Rep. Andy Barr on Thursday reignited their effort to increase the approval for new banks to provide financial and banking services in rural and other underserved areas. Hyde-Smith and Barr introduced the Promoting New Bank Formation Act, legislation that would ease federal restrictions on bank and capital availability in Mississippi, Kentucky, and other rural states. "The availability of local capital and basic banking services is necessary to sustain and grow economic vitality, more so in rural communities. This legislation creates a pathway to chartering new banks for rural areas that continue to lose community banking options. I believe it is necessary because regulations intended to police big banking institutions are killing small town banking, which makes it harder to live and thrive in rural America," Hyde-Smith said. The Mississippi Bankers Association, Independent Community Bankers Association, and American Bankers Association endorse the Hyde-Smith/Barr legislation. "Locally chartered and headquartered banks are critical to the economic growth and success of their communities. No one understands the economic needs of a community better than local bankers. Unfortunately, the country has experienced a wave of bank consolidation that has gone on for more than a decade, negatively impacting rural communities," said Gordon Fellows, MBA president and CEO. |
| Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban-or-sale law slated to start Sunday | |
 | The Supreme Court on Friday refused to block a federal law that would effectively ban TikTok in the United States as early as this weekend if the wildly popular video-sharing app does not divest from Chinese ownership. The unanimous decision was a major blow for TikTok, injecting deep uncertainty into the app's future with the deadline for divestiture just two days away. President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to use his power to "save" the app, will be sworn into office a day later. No U.S. law has ever shut down a popular social media platform before, let alone one with more than 170 million users in the United States who rely on the app for news, entertainment and self-expression. Trump had asked the Supreme Court to delay implementation of the law to give him an opportunity to act once he returns to the White House. With the court declining that option and no sale of the app seemingly imminent, the ban is now poised to take effect on the eve of Trump's inauguration. The justices said the U.S. government was justified in singling out TikTok and its China-based parent company, ByteDance, writing that the app's "scale and susceptibility to foreign adversary control, together with the vast swaths of sensitive data the platform collects, justify differential treatment." |
| Jeff Landry urges quick approval for Trump nominee Kristi Noem as Mardi Gras nears | |
 | Gov. Jeff Landry says the delay in confirming Kristi Noem as head of Homeland Security throws a wrinkle into security precautions for the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras. Both events have been given the highest level of security: a Level One Special Event Assessment Rating, or SEAR-1, which means numerous federal resources like bomb-sniffing dogs, cybersecurity checks, air patrols, and tactical response teams will be involved. Federal agencies are already in the city setting up a security blanket, so everyone will be safe at both events, Landry said. But not having the person in charge in place makes coordination and funding more difficult. "The game is on the line and we don't know who the starting quarterback is going to be," Landry said. "I'm being selfish here for the state of Louisiana. Right now, she's the most important person to me." Landry spoke Wednesday after Noem's hearing, the first step in the confirmation process, was postponed because not all the necessary paperwork had been finished. Her hearing is now set for Friday morning, said U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs. Still, assuming Noem clears the GOP-majority panel as expected, a vote on confirmation is still at least a week away. The Super Bowl is scheduled for Feb. 9 in the New Orleans Caesars Superdome and festivities will begin a few days before. Mardi Gras this year is March 4. But, of course, festivities will become more frequent all over the New Orleans area in the two to three weeks before. |
| Bessent warns of 'devastating' consequences if tax cuts lapse | |
 | Taxes and tariffs took center stage Thursday at the Senate Finance Committee's confirmation hearing for President-elect Donald Trump's intended Treasury secretary nominee, Scott Bessent. Republicans and Democrats sparred over who would benefit most from extending more than $4 trillion in tax cuts enacted during the first Trump administration. Bessent warned of "devastating" consequences if they are allowed to expire at the end of the year. The hearing is the opening salvo in a debate about the fiscal health of the country that is likely to dominate this year, as Republicans pursue extending the tax cuts using the filibuster-proof budget reconciliation process, offsetting some of the cost with spending cuts. The two parties have long debated the impact of the 2017 law, and old arguments are resurfacing as the GOP pursues a party-line extension of expiring provisions. Bessent also fielded questions on his stance on the tariffs Trump has vowed to impose from Democrats and at least one skeptical Republican. Ranking member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., also made reference to an investigation by the committee's Democratic staff into Bessent's tax returns, but other Democrats largely stuck to policy questions. |
| Trump's Swearing-In Ceremony May Be Moved Inside | |
 | President-elect Donald Trump's swearing-in ceremony and inaugural address may be moved inside the U.S. Capitol due to the freezing cold temperatures expected in Washington on Monday, according to people familiar with the discussions. The potential move creates last-minute logistical issues for the massive event, which is expected to attract tens of thousands of people to the National Mall. The inauguration could be one of the coldest since Ronald Reagan's in 1985, when the swearing-in ceremony was moved indoors. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures are expected to hover around 20 degrees Fahrenheit around noon with 8-degree wind chills. |
| Brutal cold and punishing winds predicted for Inauguration Day in D.C. | |
| The Washington region should brace for dangerously cold weather on Monday when Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 47th president. Temperatures will not get much above 20 degrees, and, factoring in howling winds, it will feel like the single digits. Trump's inauguration is poised to be the most frigid since President Ronald Reagan's in 1985, when it was so cold that the swearing-in ceremony was moved inside. It will be even colder than it was during Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009 when the high temperature was 30 degrees, the low 19 and wind chills were in the teens. The wintry conditions threaten to be about as harsh as they get in the D.C. area. The ground may be covered in fresh snow from a storm on Sunday. Trump's upcoming inauguration -- while frigid -- will not be as cold as Reagan's on Jan. 21, 1985, which was the coldest on record. The temperature in D.C. that morning dropped to minus-4 degrees (a record for the date), and climbed to only 7 degrees at noon. It was so cold that it forced Reagan to take the oath of office indoors, and the inaugural parade was canceled. |
| Biden got an Oval Office letter from Trump and may leave one in the desk himself. It'd be a first | AP News | |
| Ronald Reagan probably didn't realize he was starting a tradition when he wrote a note congratulating his successor and left it in the Oval Office desk drawer after two terms as president. He did that for George H.W. Bush, his successor and vice president of eight years. Bush did the same for Bill Clinton, who left a note for Bush's son, George W. The younger Bush left behind written words for Barack Obama, who later put pen to paper for Donald Trump. Trump curiously continued this rite of presidential passage by writing a letter to Joe Biden, even as he opted out of other traditions, like attending Biden's inauguration. History and politics now have intertwined to put President Biden in the unique position of writing a letter -- if he so chooses -- to Trump, his successor and the predecessor who left a note for him. "This will mark the first time that a president who has received a letter from an outgoing president may well be writing a letter to the same person who's the incoming president," said Mark Updegrove, president and CEO of the LBJ Foundation. Reagan was inspired to write to George H.W. Bush, who had become a friend during their eight-year partnership, Updegrove said. He chose a sheet of whimsical stationery illustrated by the cartoonist Sandra Boynton with an elephant -- also the Republican Party mascot -- surrounded by turkeys and the phrase, "Don't let the turkeys get you down." |
| Biden shortens sentences for nearly 2,500 people, setting a record | |
 | President Biden announced on Friday that he is commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of non-violent drug crimes who are serving far longer sentences than they would receive today. "With this action, I have now issued more individual pardons and commutations than any president in U.S. history," Biden said in a statement, hinting there may be more to come before he leaves office on Monday. "I am proud of my record on clemency and will continue to review additional commutations and pardons," he said. Last month, Biden commuted the death sentences of 37 federal prisoners to life in prison without parole. He also commuted 1,500 prison sentences and pardoned 39 people in what the White House called the largest act of clemency in a single day in modern presidential history. Crack cocaine offenses historically had significantly harsher prison sentences than those for powder cocaine -- a difference that disproportionately affected Black men. A bill to address the issue died in the Senate. Biden drew criticism last month for his decision to issue a blanket pardon to his son Hunter, who was convicted of federal gun charges. Hunter Biden also pleaded guilty to a federal tax offense. |
| Biden declares the ERA the law of the land -- but it likely will not matter | |
 | President Joe Biden on Friday declared that the Equal Rights Amendment is the law of the land, attempting to ratify a 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in a last-ditch effort to protect women's reproductive rights. But Biden's assertion may amount to little more than an expression of his opinion, with the White House acknowledging that it has no immediate force of law -- and the National Archives telling POLITICO it has no plans to formally add it to the Constitution. The move, which states that Biden personally believes the ERA has cleared all the hurdles to ratification, would be unlikely to carry weight unless courts agree with him, a hurdle even White House officials conceded as they made the announcement. But the National Archives, which is responsible for publishing amendments to the Constitution, immediately indicated it had no plans to follow Biden's lead. U.S. Archivist Colleen Shogan has previously said that the ERA's eligibility has expired, and could not be added now unless Congress acts. Congress, under control of Republicans, is unlikely to do so. The declaration is likely to win praise from advocates who have long pushed for the ERA's recognition. But the move, coming just three days before Biden leaves office, raised questions about why a president who the White House said has long harbored this opinion did not act sooner. |
| Kamala Harris made history as vice president. The rest didn't go as planned | |
| With Donald Trump's return to the White House only days away, Kamala Harris ' staff packed into her ceremonial office to watch her sign the desk, a tradition performed by her predecessors for decades. Her husband, Doug Emhoff, stood behind her to take a photo as she wielded her Sharpie marker. "It is not my nature to go quietly into the night," Harris said Thursday. "So don't worry about that." But what is next for her? "I'll keep you posted," she said. Harris hasn't made any plans for after leaving office Monday, apart from flying home to California. It will be the first time since 2004, when she became San Francisco's district attorney, that she hasn't held elected office. There's talk that she'll write a book and speculation that she could run for governor or maybe president again. At 60 years old, Harris is still young in a political world where the last two presidents have set records as the oldest ever elected. Harris' term was both ordinary and extraordinary. Like many of her predecessors, she spent her time tending to a portfolio of issues -- migration, abortion rights and maternal health among them -- and representing the country overseas. Sometimes she struggled to distinguish herself, a common challenge in a job that comes with little constitutional responsibility. But Harris also made history as the first woman, Black person or person of South Asian descent to serve as vice president. And last year, Harris was thrust into an unprecedented situation when President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid and endorsed her as his successor. |
| Employers are having trouble finding workers with the right skills | |
| It's one of my favorite times of the economic year: The Federal Reserve's Beige Book just came out. It's a big report, published eight times a year, that compiles anecdotal information from business leaders and economists, providing a qualitative snapshot from the Fed's 12 regional districts. Several of those districts, including San Francisco, Dallas and Richmond, Virginia, said employers are having a tough time finding skilled workers or worry about filling skilled jobs in the future. Yet we've been hearing for months about workers feeling stuck in their jobs, unable to find open positions. So that's confusing. It is possible to have both of those problems at once. Josh Hirt, senior U.S. economist at Vanguard, said that's what happens when skills are mismatched. And one new development is making the problem worse. "AI would rise to us as a pretty leading cause where you're getting some pretty rapid change," he said. Meaning the skills workers have aren't necessarily the skills employers are looking for. Babson College professor Tom Davenport, who focuses on artificial intelligence, said that's true -- especially in the tech sector. "Employers need to get much more serious about training people to use AI effectively and to build AI," he said. Solving that mismatch will take time. |
| MUW provides high school seniors a jumpstart in nursing | |
 | Mississippi University for Women is giving high school seniors interested in nursing a jump start to the program. Through the Freshman Early Acceptance or FEA program, high school seniors can secure early admission into MUW's Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. This is the first year MUW is offering this. To apply, you must be a first-time freshman with a declared major in BSN, have a 24 ACT score, and a GPA of 3.5. Students must also have all prerequisite course credits at MUW or up to 15 hours of dual enrollment or AP credits. Chair of the BSN program Maria Scott said the nursing program is competitive, and the FEA program allows high achieving high school seniors more opportunities to secure a spot. Scott said it also allows faculty to follow up and work with those students early on in their journey. “I think the biggest thing is we have so many seniors out there and here lately, we’ve had younger students come into our program that have finished so much coursework and have expressed an interest in health care. I think so many of them are starting as freshmen and they know what they want to do." |
| Visit Oxford unveils ambitious three-year strategic plan | |
| Neville Bhada, founder and CEO of Applied Strategies and Principles, presented Visit Oxford's new Strategic Plan on Thursday, outlining a visionary roadmap for the next three years. The plan, developed through a collaborative and data-driven process, aims to enhance Oxford's appeal as a destination while addressing community needs and emerging trends in the tourism industry. The team engaged 30 stakeholders through surveys, conducted 12 interviews with key figures like the mayor and Ole Miss representatives, and hosted four focused forums to gather industry-specific insights. The plan includes the development of an innovative Welcome Center designed to reimagine visitor experiences. Features could include digital kiosks, mobile visitor services, and directional signage to improve accessibility. With events like the Double Decker Arts Festival contributing significantly to Oxford's economy, the plan suggests holding discussions on the feasibility of rescheduling the festival to less congested months. "With graduation, baseball games, sports tournaments, corporate business all in town at the same time, stakeholders were unified in their desire for this event to move from April to another less busy time period," he said. The plan also addresses several challenges, including the need for improved communication with Ole Miss. |
| Southern Miss, Mississippi College collaborate for accelerated law degree program | |
| Aspiring attorneys earning an education at the University of Southern Mississippi can now access an accelerated law school pathway through a new partnership with Mississippi College. A recent memorandum of understanding between the public university out of Hattiesburg and the private college's law school in Jackson allows Southern Miss students to earn both their bachelor's degree and Juris Doctorate (JD) in six years of study -- decreasing the total length of undergraduate studies plus law school by one full year. Students who have completed three-fourths of the coursework required for a bachelor's degree from Southern Miss will be eligible for admission to Mississippi College School of Law. "USM has always been one of MC Law's top feeder schools, and some of our most successful alums are Golden Eagles," Mississippi College Law Dean John Anderson said. "I am confident that the cost savings and convenience of this 3+3 partnership will only enhance the strong relationship between the two schools to the advantage of many future Mississippi lawyers." |
| Millsaps College fires professor over email blasting Trump. Professor: It's 'censorship' | |
| Millsaps College fired politics and religion professor James Bowley this week over an email he sent to students the day after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election. According to Bowley, the day after Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the election, the 22-year tenured professor emailed the three students taking the class "Abortion and Religion" that he was canceling the Wednesday class to "mourn and process this racist fascist country." Later that week, Bowley received an email that stated he was being placed on administrative leave for using his "Millsaps email account to share personal opinions with [his] students." The firing comes days before Trump is scheduled to be inaugurated for his second term. The organization Foundation for Individual Rights has taken up Bowley's cause. FIRE released a lengthy blog on Wednesday that said, among many other things that "the college simply fabricated a policy violation so it could punish a professor for his speech." As part of Millsaps' statement, it said, "The Fire article is riddled with inaccuracies." Bowley said he still holds out hope that Millsaps will rescind its decision, and that he believes the decision by the Methodist-based Jackson liberal arts school of 601 students is a poor one. |
| Professor Says College Fired Him for Telling 3 Students U.S. Is Fascist After Election | |
 | After Donald Trump was elected president in 2016, some faculty canceled classes to allow themselves and students time to process a result that shocked the media and academe. Campus responses to Trump's re-election in November seemed more muted. But at Millsaps College, a private Mississippi institution of roughly 600 students, James Bowley said he canceled his Abortion and Religions class meeting the day after the election. Bowley, a tenured religious studies professor, told Inside Higher Ed the class had only three students, and he knew they were upset about Trump's re-election. He said he sent them an email with the subject line "no class today" and one line of text: "need time to mourn and process this racist fascist country." For what he wrote in that email, Bowley said, the college swiftly barred him from campus and, on Tuesday, fired him -- ending his more than 22 years of employment. David Wood, the Faculty Council president, told Inside Higher Ed he doesn't exactly know why Bowley was fired, but he doesn't think he should have been. Wood said he's disappointed in the college administration and "the extreme nature of the punishment." But he also said he's disappointed in Bowley. "This is partly on him as well," Wood said. |
| Meridian Community College set to launch several campus projects | |
 | It's a perfect time to be a Meridian Community College (MCC) student, as many projects and renovations are happening on campus. MCC is getting a new softball facility, which is set to open ahead of schedule, in the first week of February. Eight new tennis courts will launch shortly after, doubling the amount of courts the school used to have. A transportation alternatives project with MDOT is bringing a new sidewalk that will complete the campus loop. "(We are) just trying to bring things into this century, make them look good for our students, and make them functioning for our students. And, of course we've done a lot of upgrades with our technology over the last couple of years. It just seems like we've always got something positive happening," said Dr. Thomas Huebner, President of MCC. MCC is currently renovating their theatre, as well. |
| New positions introduced in MCC' College Communications department | |
| Meridian Community College is expanding its College Communications Department by introducing two new positions: Director of Video and Sports Information and Lead Media Specialist. Matt Milner, who has served as MCC's Media Specialist since 2018, is now director of video and sports information. This position combines Milner's expertise in video production with his passion for sports, a field he has wanted to pursue since entering the community college system over a decade ago. In his new role, Milner will oversee video production, live streaming, and sports information, helping MCC stay competitive in a media-driven world. Milner, a native of New York who recently earned his master's degree in integrated marketing communications from the University of West Alabama, holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Mississippi and an associate degree from Itawamba Community College. Joining Milner in the department is Hunter Heath, a 2012 MCC graduate who steps into the role of lead media specialist. He brings a diverse film, television, and freelance media production background to the position. Heath, who earned a bachelor's degree in communication from Mississippi State University, sees his return to MCC as a full-circle moment. |
| FFA National Officers Visit Newton County | |
| Officers of the National FFA Organization visited the Newton County Career and Technical Center today for a leadership workshop as part of the National Officers Experience Week. National officers go into schools across the United States and lead workshop groups challenging students in different life skills. FFA helps students prepare for their future by focusing on success in the classroom, in real-world applications and projects, and in their local FFA chapter. National Western Region Vice President Abigale Jacobsen said these conferences help students focus on what matters most in their success. "Here today during our time in Mississippi we have the opportunity to encounter thousands of students, whether it's through keynote speeches or leadership workshops," said Jacobsen. "It's our first time piloting these workshops, we've spent the past couple of months pouring over and making sure their messages are relevant and authentic to who we are as people but also messages that students in today's world are looking and potentially needing to hear." Katie Wyatt, Vice President of Newton County's local FFA chapter, said her time in FFA has helped her become a better leader. |
| Students Feel 'Spammed' by 'Overload' of University Emails | |
| Students feel that they receive "too many emails" from their universities, and they find their institution's communications "inconsistent, inauthentic and rather annoying," according to researchers. A new paper says that an "overload" of emails sent from universities to students means important emails are getting "buried" and that students simply disengage from their inboxes. The article, based on interviews with students, senior academics and professional staff who typically distribute emails, found that students were more likely to read emails sent by course tutors, whereas they were likely to ignore mass emails sent from unknown senders. "Students spoke positively about the messages that related to modules they were studying but were critical of the 'dear student' mass communications, which most described as 'irrelevant' and some described as 'spam'," says the paper published in Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher Education. It found students were "remarkably consistent" when filtering their emails, explaining, "They read all the emails relating to their modules, then prioritized the rest using the name of the generator and the subject line. Messages from teaching staff were welcomed, but students rarely read messages from unknown generators, messages sent to all students or newsletters." |
| 'An alarming overreach': Florida professors sue over DeSantis-signed DEI restrictions | |
 | A group of Florida professors filed a federal lawsuit Thursday in an attempt to block a 2023 law banning funding for public college and university diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. It "represents an alarming overreach of government control, threatening the very foundation of free expression in Florida's public universities," said Jerry Edwards, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, in a statement. That organization and law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher are representing the professors, who hail from Florida State University, the University of Florida and Florida International University. They're suing the boards of trustees of their respective employers as well as the State University System Board of Governors, whose representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The law also specifically prohibits "general education core courses" from containing such teachings, and adds that these courses "may not distort significant historical events or include a curriculum that teaches identity politics." And it outlaws university spending on any programs that "promote or engage in political or social activism." "The vague and overly broad language of (the law) forces educators to self-censor, depriving students of a comprehensive education," said Sharon Austin, the lead plaintiff and a UF tenured political science, in a statement. "This lawsuit is about preserving the right to learn and teach without political interference." |
| What could this legislative session mean for Texas' colleges and universities? | |
| When we talk about education and the Legislature, the focus often falls on K-12 schools. But higher education is also a huge topic that often comes up under the Pink Dome, and this session is expected to include several bills related to colleges and universities. In Texas, more than 200 higher education-related bills alone have been introduced during the pre-filing period ahead of the 89th session. Lily Kepner, who covers higher education for the Austin American-Statesman, said several of these bills relate to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Also called DEI, such initiatives were a big topic of conversation during the last session. Among the bills that have already been filed, Kepner said, is one that would block diversity requirements from external sources, such as institutions that accredit university programs, from interfering with state law. "We've also seen laws to give the Board of Regents more power over who leads departments -- that was a bill drafted by Sen. Mayes Middleton, who's the vice chair of the Texas Subcommittee on Higher Education," Kepner said. However, Kepner said that she does not expect DEI to be the main focus when it comes to legislation on higher education this session. She expects other issues will also come up, including affordability, free speech on campus, and admissions practices. |
| The buzz is back: Students return to town | |
 | As the start of the spring semester for the University of Missouri nears, thousands of students will return from winter break to Columbia. The sidewalks become more crowded, open parking more elusive and the city a bit livelier. Friday marks the first day of move-ins for most student housing, though some students were allowed an early move-in this week. In the fall, it was announced that MU plans to admit 6,243 freshmen for the 2024-2025 school year, which marks an 18% increase from 2023 enrollment. Some on campus have complained of overcrowding, whether it be campus amenities or housing. MU's spring semester begins Tuesday. |
| W.Va. Governor's DEI Ban Anti-Democratic, Censorious, Opponents Say | |
 | Colleges across West Virginia were scrambling this week to react to an executive order by Gov. Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, ending all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at state-run institutions. The DEI order, both sweeping and sudden, bans public colleges from using state money for programs, offices, or staff positions that grant preferential treatment based on a person's race, color, sex, ethnicity, or national origin. Also banned: diversity training, the use of diversity statements in hiring, "loyalty oaths," and requiring people to disclose their preferred pronouns. The order said it was "in the interest of the citizens of West Virginia that the state government treat them as equals under the law" rather than giving some people preferential or discriminatory treatment. Advocates of diversity programs say colleges have an obligation to actively fight discrimination on campus and to support groups of students who disproportionately struggle to acclimate to and graduate from predominantly white institutions. The order prompted an immediate rebuke from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), which said that, as written, it violates the First Amendment by unconstitutionally censuring teaching and classroom discussions. Faculty members have the right, FIRE said, to discuss "pedagogically-relevant material" even if it offends students, colleagues, the public, or lawmakers. |
| California Colleges Confront Loss as L.A. Burns | |
| The past week has been a blur for Fred Farina, the California Institute of Technology's chief innovation officer, who lost his home in the fires still tearing through Los Angeles. "Things turned on a dime. One evening we were sitting in our living room and within 10 minutes we had to evacuate," said Farina, who lived in Altadena, one of the neighborhoods hardest hit by the Eaton fire. "The loss of everything you have is hard to deal with." Farina is one of hundreds of faculty, staff and students from colleges and universities across Los Angeles who have been displaced by the wildfires. While most institutions were spared burn damage to their physical plants, many spent the last week entrenched in immediate recovery efforts. Numerous colleges are raising money to help students and staff secure housing and other basic needs. But beyond efforts to meet their communities' most pressing needs, colleges in Los Angeles are also figuring out how to move forward and get through a semester already scarred by more than one of the most destructive fires in California history. The priority emerging for most college leaders is moving forward with flexibility and compassion. |
| Montana State President To Take Top Job at APLU | |
| The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities named Montana State University president Waded Cruzado as its next president, according to a Thursday news release. Cruzado, who has served as chair of APLU's Board of Directors since 2021, will formally step into the top job at APLU on July 1. Cruzado has led Montana State University since 2010, and last August that she would retire in June 2025. She replaces outgoing president Mark Becker, who has led APLU since 2022. "Throughout my life, the history and the impact of land-grant universities and public higher education have provided me, and countless students and families, with inspiration and a call to action. I've seen firsthand the life-changing opportunity our public universities provide to their students, their communities, the country, and the world," Cruzado said in the news release. Cruzado, who was a first-generation college student, is a native of Puerto Rico. Gary May, chancellor of the University of California, Davis, who led the search committee that hired Cruzado, described her as "an exceptional leader who brings deep experience in successfully leading a public and land-grant university to impressive new heights." May also noted her familiarity with the organization given her time as chair of APLU's Board of Directors. |
| Biden's education grades: F on FAFSA, an incomplete on student loan forgiveness | |
| The Biden-era U.S. Education Department, under Secretary Miguel Cardona, endured more than its fair share of crises over the past four years. Some were beyond the department's control (COVID-19), while others were the result of its own decisions (the troubled rollout of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA). How well did the department handle those challenges? NPR spoke with more than a dozen educators, researchers, advocates and policy experts, including two former U.S. secretaries of education, to find out how they would grade Biden's Education Department. The results varied depending on the politics of the evaluator, with conservatives being harsher in their assessments. But there was some agreement: for example, that Biden's greatest success was in guiding schools out of the COVID-19 era. Most observers also agreed that, when it comes to education overall, Biden will most likely be remembered for a pair of high-profile failures: the FAFSA rollout and his unkept promise to provide broad student loan forgiveness. Of the 14 experts NPR consulted for this wholly unscientific poll, the Biden administration got no A's, a bunch of B's, two hedgie B-/C+'s, two C's, two D's, two F's and one "incomplete" for work left unfinished. That averages out to be... pretty average, a C. |
| HBCU Leaders Prepare for 'Delicate Dance' Under Trump | |
| Mississippi Valley State University, a historically Black institution, proudly announced last month that its marching band was invited to perform at Donald Trump's upcoming inauguration. The university's president, Jerryl Briggs, described the invitation as a chance to "showcase our legacy" and "celebrate our culture." A GoFundMe campaign was started in hopes of raising enough money for the Mean Green Marching Machine Band to make its debut on the national stage. Then the fighting started. Social media exploded with reactions to the move from within and outside of HBCU campus communities, with alumni coming down on both sides of the issue. Some condemned the university for participating in the celebration while others argued the band should embrace its moment in the spotlight. (The band is doing that, heading to the inauguration on Monday.) The controversy speaks to a tension HBCU leaders face ahead of a second Trump administration, with Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress. On the one hand, they want to foster positive relationships with the powers that be and take advantage of whatever opportunities the new administration can offer their students and institutions. On the other hand, they're serving communities with deep misgivings about the incoming president. "It is sometimes a delicate dance," said Walter Kimbrough, interim president of Talladega College and the former president of Philander Smith College and Dillard University. |
| What Trump 2.0 means for science: the likely winners and losers | |
| As Donald Trump prepares for his second term as president of the United States, two starkly different outlooks are emerging among scientists and engineers. Some technology companies, space enthusiasts, artificial intelligence (AI) developers and others expect favourable policies for their fields in the coming years, and are hugely excited about the possibilities for exploration and innovation. Yet, for countless other scientists and academics -- including those who work on climate, Earth sciences and biomedicine -- there is concern that important research will be cut, deprioritized or vilified. During his first stint in the White House, in 2017–21, Trump promoted unproven treatments for COVID-19 and denied the risks of climate change. He also undermined scientists at his own agencies and repeatedly sought to slash funding for science, although Congress shielded federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from the most drastic cuts. Researchers say that for areas such as environmental science and infectious diseases, the next four years could be even more damaging. Still, some parts of the US research and development (R&D) landscape could see a relatively bright future under the next administration. Policy experts point to human space exploration and technologies that are of strategic importance to the United States as areas that could benefit from the Trump White House and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and Senate. |
| An Expert in Grand Strategy Thinks Trump Is on to Something | |
| Our inbound president Donald Trump generates torrents of diplomatic angst with statements about Canada being America's "51st state," the national security logic of buying Greenland from allied Denmark, and snatching back the Panama Canal to counter China's growing economic footprint throughout our hemisphere. Where is all this expansionist energy coming from? How did Trump's America First isolationism suddenly morph into an Americas First mergers and acquisition (M&A) strategy? Let's be clear on who Trump is: The man does not come with a vision of his own making but with a stunningly effective capacity to sense fear within the ranks and weaponize it for political mobilization. Americans are scared and angry right now, feeling deeply uncertain about the nation's trajectory and globalization's increasingly fierce competitive landscape. We want someone strong and confident to tell us how we can be great again without assuming undue global responsibilities and a return to Boomer-esque Cold War-standoffs with both China and Russia. A tough needle to thread alright, but Trump's instincts are correct, and he's uniquely suited for the task. Three key trends animate the globe right now: (a) an East-West decoupling dynamic, (b) a re-regionalization imperative along North-South lines that brings "near-shoring" production close to home markets, and (c) a growing superpower clash animating all these "races" -- namely, adapting to climate change, winning the energy transition, achieving AI supremacy, etc. |
| House plan to eliminate income tax paints big vision, leaves big questions for Senate | |
| The Magnolia Tribune's Russ Latino writes: The year is 2037. Mississippi has succeeded in eliminating its income tax and reducing the sales tax it charges on groceries, while providing considerable additional funding for education, roads and bridges and the public employees retirement system. It's been done while making counties and cities whole, nay, increasing revenue to both. That's the big vision painted by HB 1, which passed out of the Mississippi House Thursday, 88-24, a bill which House Speaker Jason White has said is their top priority and Gov. Tate Reeves, who's long supported income tax elimination, calls a serious effort. Senators will now grapple with equally big questions over cost, timing, and impact of bill. It was then-Lt. Governor Reeves in 2016 who kicked off the party with the Taxpayer Pay Raise Act, a bill which eliminated Mississippi's 3 percent bracket on the first $5,000 in taxable income. Reeves and former House Speaker Philip Gunn made another push toward income tax elimination in both 2021 and 2022, though each had their own ideas on how to accomplish the idea. The Senate, led by Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann, was not ready to commit to the whole enchilada. The end result was the compromise Tax Freedom Act. The law created the largest tax exemption among states that tax income and will yield a 4 percent flat tax when the phase-in completes next year. It is currently the largest tax cut in Mississippi history. |
SPORTS
| Hubbard adjusting to becoming the focal point of opponents' game plans | |
| Josh Hubbard's spectacular freshman season came without the burden of expectations. As a sophomore, Mississippi State's small but springy guard is sneaking up on nobody. On the surface, Hubbard's numbers make it look like he is experiencing the dreaded "sophomore slump." Over his last three games, Hubbard is 6-for-26 from 3-point range, and he was trying to force the issue at times last Saturday against Kentucky with the Bulldogs chasing the game late. He is double-teamed nearly every time he gets the ball now that defenses know how lethal he can be from anywhere on the floor. "People still circle his name in red pen every single time," MSU head coach Chris Jans said. "He's getting the best defenders in a league full of high-level athletes and defenders and coaches and game planning. With more and more games under his belt, people understand where sweet spots are and (are) trying to make it as difficult as they can on him." But looking just a bit deeper, Hubbard has expanded his game and is more than just an elite 3-point shooter. Although he is still not a true point guard even at 5 feet, 11 inches, Hubbard's assist numbers have nearly doubled from last season to this one. His relatively small size makes it difficult for defenders to take the ball from him, and he leads the Southeastern Conference and is fourth nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio. |
| Head coach Chris Jans talks Ole Miss, Josh Hubbard and 3 point defense | |
| There's a lot of history between Mississippi State and Ole Miss on the basketball hardwood. But on Saturday there will be more history made in this rivalry. For the first time ever, both teams meet as Top 25 teams. State (14-3 overall, 2-2 in the SEC) is ranked No. 15 nationally by the Associated Press while Ole Miss (15-2, 4-0) is ranked No. 21. On Thursday, head coach Chris Jans discussed the matchup with the Rebels among other topics: Q: How important is home-court advantage in this rivalry? Jans: My experience in this particular rivalry is that it is a big advantage, just like it is in other rivalries I have been involved in. But our crowd was amazing last time we played (at home) last Saturday. We had a chance and obviously, we didn't get it done. I would imagine we will have a similar or better environment considering how both teams are doing and given that Ole Miss is coming in with an undefeated SEC record. We will need every person and everybody we can get to create that buzz we are looking for. |
| Baseball: Tickets For The 2025 Hancock Whitney Classic On Sale Now | |
| Tickets are now on sale for Mississippi State's pair of games at Keesler Federal Park in 2025. The Diamond Dawgs will participate in the 2025 Hancock Whitney Classic and will take on Old Dominion on Tuesday, March 11 and Nicholls on Wednesday, March 12. The Bulldogs take on the Monarchs at 6 p.m. on Tuesday night before playing the final game on Wednesday at 5 p.m. against Nicholls. Gate will open 60 minutes prior to first pitch on both nights. Tickets are available to purchase through the Keesler Federal Park Box Office and Ticketmaster. You can purchase tickets during the Keesler Federal Park Box Office during regular hours, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hospitality area reservations can be made through the Shuckers by calling (228) 233-3465. Suites are also available for the game through the Biloxi Shuckers Sales Department. "Mississippi State fans are some of the most passionate in college baseball and partnering with Hancock Whitney to continue these games is an honor," Shuckers General Manager Hunter Reed said. "We're excited to welcome the Bulldogs and their fans back for another year and showcase our ballpark to fans of Old Dominion and Nicholls. It will truly be a special series at our ballpark." "We are excited to continue our midweek games in Biloxi for the 2025 season," Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Lemonis said. "It's important to play across our state so our fans on the Coast can see us play." |
| Men's Tennis: No. 11 MSU Hosts Mocs For Friday Doubleheader | |
| After shutting out Samford in its season debut last Sunday, No. 11 Mississippi State is hungry for more success. The Bulldogs will play a doubleheader against Chattanooga on Friday at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., and they look to continue the winning momentum versus the Mocs. The series between MSU and Chattanooga is tied 1-1 with the Bulldogs holding a 1-0 edge in Starkville, having won 7-0 at home against the Mocs last season. Dusan Milanovic, Benito Sanchez Martinez, Radomir Tomic, Marshall Landry and Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes all contributed to State's shutout last season. Friday marks Mississippi State's first doubleheader of the year. Since 1969, the Bulldogs have built an impressive 73-15 record in doubleheader matchups. Martinez Serrano clinched State's opening win against Samford on Sunday, his first as a Bulldog. The Samford match was also special for Michal Novansky, who earned his first dual-match singles win since March 26, 2023. Offseason surgery kept Novansky regulated to playing only doubles last year, where he went 8-6 including six SEC wins. Friday marks Chattanooga's first matches of the season. The Mocs had an overall record of 10-15 went 1-10 on the road last season. |
| Track & Field: State Splits Team For Season Opener | |
| Mississippi State track and field will open its season split between the Vanderbilt Invitational and the Samford Invite, followed by the Samford Open, all of which are being contested this weekend. "I understand that the coaches and fans are eagerly anticipating our team's performance this weekend, but the athletes are undoubtedly the most excited," said head coach Cris Woods. "It's crucial that we seize the opportunities presented to us this weekend! We eagerly anticipate the arrival of our newcomers in Maroon and White and our returning athletes who will pick up where we left off last year having our largest-ever contingent at the Outdoor NCAA championships. We are more than ready to begin our 2025 campaign!" The Vanderbilt Invitational will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, in the Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility on Jan. 17-18. The Bulldogs will be one of five SEC teams competing at the meet. Competition for the Bulldogs will begin at 1:30 p.m. with the men's weight throw in the field and 6:50 p.m. on the track for the distance medley relay. The Vanderbilt Invitational will be available to stream on the SEC Network. Live results for the meet can be found here. The other half of the team will cross state lines into Birmingham, Alabama, to compete at the Samford Invite and then the Samford Open. Both meets will be contested in the Birmingham CrossPlex. The meets will be the first appearance of any Bulldog on the track or in the field this season. |
| Women's Basketball: State Drops Contest Against No. 15 Tennessee | |
| Mississippi State was unable to make a second-half comeback against No. 15 Tennessee Lady Volunteers, as they fell 73-86. The Bulldogs saw the Lady Volunteers shoot 53.3 from behind the arc in the first half. Heading into the half, the Bulldogs trailed by nine after Tennessee finished the half on a 6-0 run. State outscored the Lady Volunteers in the third quarter 22-21 but could not hold that momentum in the fourth. Jerkaila Jordan led the Bulldogs in scoring, with 17 points, which is the 15th time this season she has scored 10+ points. Debreasha Powe and Destiny McPhaul also scored in double figures with Powe scoring 16 and McPhaul scoring 11. Powe tied her season high with 4 three-point field goals made, while McPhaul gathered a career-high 7 assists. Madina Okot brought in eleven rebounds in the contest, with nine of them coming in the first half. The Bulldogs will be back in action at Humphrey Coliseum against the Ole Miss Rebels on Sunday. The game is set for a 2 p.m. tip on the SEC Network. |
| Senate resolution honors Jackson State football ahead of championship parade | |
| Mississippi's lawmakers paid homage to the hometown college football champions of its capital city, the Jackson State Tigers, with a resolution passed through the Senate this week ahead of a parade and other festivities Friday evening. The title-winning Tigers were commemorated via Senate Continuing Resolution 507 after they defeated South Carolina State on December 14, 2024, clinching the program's first Celebration Bowl victory since the annual game began in 2015. The postseason game sets the SWAC and MEAC champions against each other, serving as the de facto national championship for Historically Black Colleges and Universities who opt out of the FCS playoffs. Sen. Sollie Norwood, D-Jackson, authored the resolution alongside Sen. Hillman Frazier, D-Jackson, Sen. Derrick Simmons, D-Greenville, Sen. David Blount, D-Jackson, Sen. Joseph Thomas, D-Yazoo City, Sen. Bradford Blackmon, D-Canton, Sen. John Horhn, D-Jackson, and Sen. Jeremy England, R-Vancleave. The Championship Parade will start rolling at 6 p.m. beginning on State Street, proceeding along Capitol Street, West Street, and lopping back via Pascagoula Stree |
| JPD and city gear up to provide a safe JSU HBCU Championship Parade | |
| Jackson State University ended its football season winning the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, and Friday that celebration comes to the Capital City. Law enforcement and the city are gearing up to welcome thousands to the Tiger's victory party. Thursday morning the City of Jackson began delivering barricades that will be erected downtown in preparation for Jackson State University's National Football Championship parade. Hundreds of barriers will line the streets and block off traffic during the festivities. In November, the JSU Tigers won the National HBCU Football Championship, with the city planning a January celebration. "All of us will be on deck ready for suspicious activity," said Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade. The city's top cop attended the game in Atlanta and has been working for weeks with local law enforcement to provide increased security. "We know what happened in New Orleans, and it's just two and a half hours down the road," said Wade. "I am committed to make sure this is a safe event. I've lost count of how many preparation meetings we've had." Activities start at City Hall at four o'clock. At 5 p.m. a pep rally takes place at the Welcome to Jackson mural. At six the parade begins at State Street. Capitol Police, Hinds County S.O., Homeland Security, and other law officers will be patrolling. |
| Mississippi community college honors assistant coach who died in crash | |
| The Holmes Community College family in Goodman came together to memorialize Coach Brooke Walker during Thursday night's basketball game. Walker, an assistant women's basketball coach at the college, died on Sunday during a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 55 in Madison County. Shades of purple could be seen among the crowd on Thursday, along with purple ribbons worn in Walker's honor. She was known as Coach B. and was recognized right before the basketball game. "There's all kinds of tragedies that happen in our lives, and probably the most influential people that we get in their lives. If you're an athlete, it's your parents and your coaches, and they spend 20-25 hours a week with them all the way for the next four, 36 weeks during the school year. So, it becomes such a family. And so when you lose somebody like that in a tragedy, it's very hard on those girls and the coach. And obviously, without a doubt her family, because she's only 26 years old, and there's never a good time to lose somebody in a car accident. But being that she was so young, it is extremely tragic, and we're going to miss her. There's no doubt about it. She was a light," said Andy Wood, the director of Athletics for Holmes Community College and vice president of the Goodman Campus. |
| New Dawn Staley contract takes South Carolina coach over $4 million a year | |
 | Dawn Staley is now the highest-paid women's basketball coach in the country. South Carolina's Board of Trustees approved new contract extension for Staley on Friday that will pay her $4 million a season. Staley's new annual salary marks raise from the $3.2 million she was making this season. And she'll receive an immediate one-time bonus of $500,000. The new deal runs through April 15, 2030 and jumps to $5 million annually and $5.25 million in the 2028-29 and 2029-30 seasons, respectively. The contract extension comes nine months after Staley led the Gamecocks to the program's first undefeated season and a national championship win, the third title of her career. South Carolina is 457-107 during Staley's 17 years seasons at the helm of the program and 126-4 in the last four seasons alone. Her original contract paid her $650,000 a year when she was hired back in 2008. Staley's new salary puts her ahead of UConn's Geno Auriemma, who signed a signed a five-year, $18.7 million extension in June after earning $3.1 million in 2023-24, and LSU's Kim Mulkey, who signed a 10-year, $36 million dollar extension in 2023 that made her the sports' highest-paid coach at the time. |
| Title IX memo throws wrench in plans for schools to pay NIL money directly to athletes | |
| Plans for colleges to pay athletes directly for their name, image and likeness deals would run afoul of Title IX, the Department of Education said in guidance issued Thursday that adds more confusion to the shifting landscape in college sports. The nine-page memo from the department's Office for Civil Rights said NIL money that goes to athletes should be treated the same as athletic financial aid -- i.e., scholarships. It's a position that, if it remains in place after President-elect Donald Trump takes office, could upend plans that many schools are making for next school year. Under terms of the House settlement, a game-changing legal agreement that's expected to be approved this spring, universities will be able to pay athletes directly under a revenue-sharing plan that would see the biggest schools distribute around $20.5 million each to athletes. NCAA board chair Linda Livingstone said the association doesn't give guidance to schools about Title IX compliance. "We're going to have to get back to our schools and see what the implications are," said Livingstone, who is the president at Baylor. Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman, who serves as the chair of the NCAA Division I Council, said "the world has changed over and over again just in the last six months." |
| Dept. of Education says Title IX applies to payments to athletes | |
| The plans that many major college athletic departments are making for how they will distribute new direct payments to their athletes would violate Title IX law, according to a memo published by the U.S. Department of Education on Thursday. The memo provides some long-awaited guidance about how gender equity laws will apply to a new era of college sports that is on track to begin this summer. It's not clear if the Department of Education will interpret Title IX law the same way when incoming President Donald Trump's administration installs new officials in the near future. While the Department of Education has the authority to punish schools for failing to meet Title IX requirements, historically all cases regarding how the law applies to college sports have come from athletes who sue their school and allege unequal treatment. There are multiple pending Title IX lawsuits related to NIL compensation from third parties. The memo published during the final two days of this department's time in power could provide some fodder for future potential lawsuits if any athletes sue their school over the way future direct payments are made to athletes. |
| New Title IX guidance from President Biden's administration threatens to upend school rev-share plans in college sports | |
| As the NCAA Board of Governors entered the third hour of its meeting Thursday night, the phones of college sports leaders within the gathering began buzzing. Texts. Emails. Calls. While some of college sports' most powerful executives met here to end this week's annual NCAA convention, the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights released some jaw-dropping news that stands, if upheld, to completely alter the way many schools plan to pay their athletes in the future revenue-sharing world of college sports. The department issued long-awaited guidance related to Title IX: Revenue-sharing payments from schools to athletes must be "proportionately" distributed to men and women athletes, or institutions risk violating Title IX, the 53-year-old federal law requiring universities receiving federal funding to provide equal benefits to women and men athletes. "Way to drop a bomb, huh?" whispered one college leader emerging from the meeting room. In the final days of President Joe Biden's administration, the Department of Education's nine-page guidance released Thursday serves as an 11th-hour salvo at the plans of many power conference schools to distribute a majority of their revenue-share pool -- 80% plus -- to football and men's basketball teams. However, the document is not a regulation but only guidance. Even more significant is the impending change in the presidential administration, as a Democrat leader is replaced by a Republican, a major shift that has far-reaching and sweeping impacts for the future of college athletics. |
| Ted Cruz speaks out on new Title IX guidance, predicts Donald Trump will rescind | |
| Texas Senator Ted Cruz, the upcoming chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, ripped into the Department of Education's recent memo clairifying that all future revenue-sharing between schools and student-athletes will be viewed as "financial assistance" and thus subject to Title IX rules. "This is a great idea if (President Joe) Biden's intent is to kill both men's and women's college sports," Cruz wrote in a statement shared by Yahoo! Sports' Ross Dellenger. "Mandating so-called equal pay when not all sports generate equal revenue will force some colleges out of athletics altogether. Everyone wants to be paid like Michael Jordan, but that's not the way the world works. I predict this scheme will die on January 20th." January 20 is Inauguration Day, when President-elect Donald Trump will take office with the support of a Republican-led House of Representatives and Senate. As the top ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Cruz will have the position and political clout to direct legislation that could impact the future of college sports, especially as it's related to name, image and likeness (NIL) and future revenue-sharing. |
| As CFP leaders meet Sunday to discuss changes, seeding is in the crosshairs and 2026 looms | |
 | The first 12-team College Football Playoff was always going to be a test run of sorts. With ten games down and one to go, it has been -- lopsided early-round results aside -- a success, but it is also still a work in progress. The CFP's board of managers, which is made up of 10 FBS conference commissioners and Notre Dame's athletic director, will meet for the first time since the new format went live on Sunday in Atlanta, the site of Monday's national championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame. CFP executive director Rich Clark described this meeting, which is scheduled for about 90 minutes with just the management committee and another 90 with the presidential oversight committee, as a first step toward determining what the commissioners' priorities are when it comes to possible changes to format. Yes, the CFP could make adjustments after just one season, though probably not the biggest potential changes, such as the number of teams in the field. "What this is going to be is putting the things on the table that we want to talk about when we actually can sit down and have the long discussion about these things," Clark told The Athletic. As SEC commissioner Greg Sankey put it, "It's a 90-minute meeting where I would lower your expectations about outcomes." |
| The Ohio State vs. Notre Dame National Title Game Has Michigan Fans Hoping for a Meteor | |
| On Monday night in Atlanta, a nightmare scenario will play out for University of Michigan football fans. Either their archrival, Ohio State University, or the team they hate nearly as much, Notre Dame, will be crowned as champions of the College Football Playoff. "I basically view this game as a twisted inversion of Sophie's choice," said Raj Vashi, a lawyer living in Singapore who has two degrees from Michigan. "I don't want either team to win, let alone feel any sense or modicum of joy." The existential despair dredged up by this national championship pairing is strong enough to make some Wolverines fans wish for a third outcome. "Most people would probably prefer a meteor," said Ben Freedman, a die-hard fan raised by two Michigan professors in Ann Arbor. Alternative outcomes he's seen suggested online include infinite overtimes or mass toilet malfunction at the stadium. Such are the dynamics of college football, where it's arguably as important for your team to win than it is for your rival to lose -- ideally in the most heartbreaking fashion imaginable. Though Freedman is unhappy about the matchup, he still plans to watch. It will take some effort---he is a graduate student in Japan where sports bars that air American college sports are few. "Hooters is the only bar that shows football in Tokyo," he said. |
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