| Monday, August 17, 2026 |
| Sweet Potato Field Day showcases farmer-MSU researcher alliance | |
 | According to an press release, Mississippi's leading sweet potato producers and the state's leading sweet potato researchers celebrated the official state vegetable Thursday [Aug. 13] with Mississippi State University's annual Sweet Potato Field Day. The Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and MSU Extension Service event showcased the latest scientific work as part of an ongoing partnership between MSU researchers and farmers to further optimize the commodity, which has seen steady production and consumer demand increases over the past two decades. "Mississippi-grown sweet potatoes are a nutritional powerhouse and dinnertime tradition on tables across our great state and well beyond," said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. "We are very proud to support the farmers growing this high-quality commodity through innovative research, diagnostic resources, industry collaboration and consumer education." |
| Sweet Potato Field Day showcases farmer-MSU researcher alliance | |
 | Mississippi's leading sweet potato producers and the state's leading sweet potato researchers celebrated the official state vegetable Thursday with Mississippi State University's annual Sweet Potato Field Day. The Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and MSU Extension Service event showcased the latest scientific work as part of an ongoing partnership between MSU researchers and farmers to further optimize the commodity, which has seen steady production and consumer demand increases over the past two decades. MSU Extension Sweet Potato Specialist Lorin Harvey, also a university MAFES scientist, said the close connection and working relationship with producers helps facilitate impactful projects that make a difference at the individual farm and statewide commodity levels."Close relationships with producers drive the research ---Vwe have a tight-knit relationship and open-door policy with our stakeholders, and we visit every sweet potato farm in the state at least twice a year," Harvey said. |
| It's no secret Connecticut has a bear problem. Why the state is spending $400K to $500K in grants to count them | |
| As it would for the typical U.S. Census taker, the work of counting bears in the woods starts with a clipboard and a blank piece of paper. Armed with this equipment -- along with bear spray and, perhaps more importantly, tick repellent -- a team of researchers has been fanning out to hundreds of survey stations set up across western Connecticut this summer to collect data on the area's resident population of black bears. Their goal is to conduct the first scientific survey of the state's bear population in over a decade. The project is a collaboration between the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Carnivore and Population Ecology Lab at Mississippi State University, which has conducted similar population surveys of black bears for several other state wildlife agencies. Instead of trying to locate bears in the wild, the survey relies on hair samples collected in barbed wire traps, which can be used to identify individual bears based on their DNA. "It's basically forensics, right," said Dana Morin, the principal investigator at the Mississippi State lab, who holds a Ph.D. in wildlife conservation. |
| How many bears are in Connecticut? To find out, Mississippi researchers lend a hand | |
 | As it would for the typical U.S. Census taker, the work of counting bears in the woods starts with a clipboard and a blank piece of paper. Armed with this equipment -- along with bear spray and, perhaps more importantly, tick repellent -- a team of researchers has been fanning out to hundreds of survey stations set up across western Connecticut this summer to collect data on the area's resident population of black bears. Their goal is to conduct the first scientific survey of the state's bear population in over a decade. The project is a collaboration between the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Carnivore and Population Ecology Lab at Mississippi State University, which has conducted similar population surveys of black bears for several other state wildlife agencies. Instead of trying to locate bears in the wild, the survey relies on hair samples collected in barbed wire traps, which can be used to identify individual bears based on their DNA. Researchers will later come up with a population estimate based on how many different bears they identified and how often those bears showed up in the samples across different geographic areas. "It's basically forensics, right," said Dana Morin, the principal investigator at the Mississippi State lab, who holds a Ph.D. in wildlife conservation. "It's the same idea as identifying somebody from saliva or something like that." |
| National Honey Bee Day highlights vital role of pollinators | |
| Aug. 15 is National Honey Bee Day, a day dedicated to recognizing the important role honeybees play in pollination, agriculture and ecosystems. Honeybees may be small, but their work has a significant impact on the environment and food supply. As bees move from flower to flower collecting nectar and pollen, they transfer pollen between plants, helping many crops produce fruits and seeds. The extreme summer heat can be particularly challenging for honeybee colonies. Denny Evans of Delta Bee Farms said he has noticed more bees gathering outside their hives during the hottest parts of the day. "They will actually, um, what we call bearding. They will gather on the outside of the hive, and it basically is removing some of the bodies from the house so that the body heat will get out and it help bring the temperature down inside," Evans said. Mississippi is home to honeybees as well as numerous native bee species and other pollinators. Those insects depend on flowering plants for nectar and pollen. People can help by making their yards and gardens more pollinator-friendly. Mississippi State University says honeybees are particularly attracted to flowers in shades of white, blue and violet. |
| Oktibbeha supes eye new alcohol sale cut-off | |
 | The board of supervisors are eyeing a new ordinance that would create a cut-off time for alcohol sales in Oktibbeha County's resort areas and "prevent another situation like Cowbells" Sport Grill, Board Attorney Rob Roberson told The Dispatch. The proposed ordinance would limit alcohol sales to between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. in resort areas, the designation needed to sell alcohol in the otherwise dry county. Bars open later put strain on the sheriff's office and increase of DUIs and fights, Roberson said. "Cowbells was a headache," Roberson told The Dispatch. "And we learned from Cowbells we didn't want to create places that stayed open until 3 o'clock. ...We just don't want there to be another cowbell situation going on in the county that creates problems for the sheriff department and all the citizens of our community." The board is revisiting the ordinance now both to dissuade any late-night businesses from opening and since the county finally has a new restaurant, The Ranch on Poor House Road, Roberson told The Dispatch. The Ranch opened earlier this summer and does not stay open past 11 p.m. |
| Coalition recommends scientist, alumna for W presidency | |
| If a recently formed local coalition of Mississippi University for Women alumni, former city leaders and advocates had its way, Dr. Doris Taylor would be the university's next president. In a letter hand-delivered Friday to the board of Institutions for Higher Learning, the Citizens Coalition for The W and Mississippi School for Mathematics and Sciences recommended Taylor for consideration for the position. "The W requires a president who honors its extraordinary 140-year heritage while commanding the national platform to protect and grow it," the letter reads. "Dr. Doris Taylor is that person – a pioneering scientist, a proven executive, a biotechnology founder, a dedicated trustee and donor, and a daughter of this institution who has spent her career building things that did not exist. We can think of no more powerful statement about the future of Mississippi University for Women than to bring her home to lead it." The letter is signed by Betty Bryan, a MUW alumna and MSMS parent; Jim Davidson Jr., a retired judge; Keith Gaskin, former mayor; Martha Jo Mims, MUW Foundation board member; Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Moore Jr., Birney Imes III, former publisher of The Dispatch; and coalition chair Bruce Hanson. |
| The W announces 2026-27 Community Read | |
| Mississippi University for Women's Community Read committee has announced Percival Everett's Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning novel "James," as the 2026-27 community read selection. "I can't think of a better title to discuss the same year of the 250th anniversary of America's founding," said Hillary Richardson, dean of Library Services at Fant Memorial Library. "This book is about freedom, defining yourself and building a way forward out of harrowing circumstances -- all values that are deeply a part of our American story." The Community Read is a collaboration between campus and community partners to celebrate reading and build bridges through discussing themes that connect students, faculty, staff and community neighbors. This year's collaborators include The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library, the City of Columbus and Friendly City Books. "James" is told from the point of view of Jim, the famous character from Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." |
| Find your sorority sisters in these photos from Southern Miss Bid Day 2026 | |
 | Photos: Sorority members celebrate Bid Day at the University of Southern Mississippi, in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Sunday, August 16, 2026. |
| University System of Georgia Drives Record $25.1 Billion Economic Impact | University System of Georgia | |
| The University System of Georgia (USG) generated a record $25.1 billion for the state's economy in Fiscal Year 2025 -- an 8.9% increase over last year, according to a new economic impact report. At the same time, a companion study shows a USG degree continues to pay off for students, adding more than $1.4 million to a graduate's lifetime earnings. "A USG degree isn't just a diploma. It's a game-changer for our students and a major win for Georgia's economy," USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. "Adding $25 billion to the state and giving our graduates a $1.4 million lifetime boost shows the real power of public higher education. When our students succeed, they put strong skills, a great work ethic and real value right back into Georgia communities." The companion study found that bachelor's graduates from the Class of 2025 will earn, on average, over $1.4 million more than they would without a college degree. The findings confirm how much each level of higher education can add to a USG graduate's total earnings throughout their lives. They offer evidence about how earnings increase substantially with each step up in earned degree. |
| Mizzou Researcher Gives Pork Producers An Edge Against Extreme Heat | |
| The University of Missouri is expanding an innovative, research-based mobile app that helps pork producers predict heat stress in pigs before symptoms appear. Backed by a $1.15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Jay Johnson, an associate professor in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, will build on HotHog, a smartphone app that identifies heat-related risks in pigs. Unlike humans, pigs do not sweat, making them especially vulnerable to heat. In livestock production, excessive heat can affect animal welfare, slow growth, reduce reproductive performance and, in severe cases, lead to animal losses. "By the time you start seeing your pigs panting, they've already been impacted," Johnson said. "The goal of the app is to help producers make management decisions before animals reach that point. That not only improves the welfare of their animals but also the economic outlook of the pork production industry, which is huge in Missouri." |
| The Heated Discourse About Civil Discourse | |
 | Proponents of what's often called civil discourse education are pushing to expand this teaching -- and mandate it -- across entire campuses. Earlier this month, Institute for Citizens and Scholars President Rajiv Vinnakota told state higher ed leaders that he doesn't just want to foster civil discourse, he wants to promote "civic practice" and build "civic muscle." "That means giving every student opportunities to practice three essential skills: having productive conversation, discerning and using credible information, and collaborating to create solutions, even with those with whom you may disagree," Vinnakota said. And he went beyond calling for mere opportunities for this education. "Every student, not those who just opt in, must learn and practice these skills," he told attendees of the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association's Higher Ed Policy Conference in Chicago. He asked for their help, now. "The question is no longer whether a focus on these skills belongs in higher education," he said. "The question is how we make it central to every student's experience, and how quickly we can move in this moment." But some faculty are still questioning this focus, and the motives of those who fund it. |
| 'Profoundly cruel': Errors upend student loan forgiveness program | |
 | The Biden administration brought thousands of student loan borrowers closer to debt forgiveness. Now the Trump administration is taking some of it back. Borrowers who work in public service jobs like teaching, nursing or are employed at qualifying nonprofits can have the remainder of their student debt forgiven if they stay on top of their payments and meet other criteria. But Trump's Education Department is rolling back some of the credits the Biden administration gave borrowers as the agency cleans its student loan data, according to a person familiar with the plans granted anonymity to speak about private conversations and an email sent between Federal Student Aid staffers viewed by POLITICO. Widespread student debt relief was an issue former President Joe Biden took all the way to the Supreme Court -- and lost. In response, the Education Department redoubled its work to forgive loans through other administrative methods, especially if borrowers had been wronged by schools or loan servicers and had their credit scores hit. |
| Applying the White House's Higher-Ed 'Compact' at State Level | |
| When it was announced last fall, the White House's "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education" -- which ties federal funding to much-needed reforms -- disturbed the right universities in the right ways. Now, as another school year gets underway, it's time to discuss how the compact can be applied at the state level. Activist colleges have lost their way and squandered the trust of many Americans. While critics characterized the entire plan as federal overreach, most of the compact's reforms are sound and desperately needed. The states should now pick up the ball to assure taxpayers and students that higher education will serve its core purposes. We disagree with those who would burn down most of academia tomorrow and salt the earth. Building new models for America's 20 million to 25 million students in post-secondary education takes time and money. But reformers should be bold. ... To help states revitalize American institutions of higher education and restore trust, we have released model state legislation that restores merit, free inquiry, institutional neutrality, financial responsibility, protection from foreign entanglements and renewed academic excellence -- without expanding Washington's role. |
| Drooling time may be limited for state's aerospace industries | |
 | Columnist Bill Crawford writes: Mississippi's burgeoning defense industries must be drooling over the Pentagon's proposed $1.5 trillion budget request. More ships, more missiles, more aircraft, more drones, all mean more lucrative production contracts. As Sid Salter recently wrote, with Sen. Roger Wicker chairing the Senate Armed Services Committee and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith joining the Senate Appropriations Committee's Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Mississippi companies stand to benefit from increased defense spending. Our pantheon of defense industries has surged. The fastest growing sector appears to be in aerospace systems. As MDA now touts, "We produce 3x the national average of rocket engines." |
SPORTS
| Football: Bulldogs Complete First Scrimmage | |
| Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby had two main objectives he wanted to see from his team during their first scrimmage on Sunday afternoon. The first thing the third-year head coach wished for was for his team to walk out of Davis Wade Stadium healthy. The next goal was to see balanced competition on each side of the football. When the sun started to disappear beyond the horizon of best small town in the south, the Bulldogs had accomplished both. "There was a ton of back and forth," Lebby said. "Defensively, we started the scrimmage really, really well and found a way to get a couple of three-and-outs. I liked how the offense was able to bounce back and continue to play. They took what was there and tried to go execute the call. That's what I said to the guys right after -- great competition and a ton of back and forth. We've got a ton of work to do. No. 1, we're healthy coming off the field, which is huge. No. 2, the energy, physicality and competitiveness were really good." |
| Taylor, physicality among highlights of State's first scrimmage | |
| Live reps are back at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi State had its first scrimmage on Sunday evening. Coach Jeff Lebby felt the Bulldogs started off strong and did things well on both sides of the ball. "Great competition, a ton of back and forth," Lebby said after the scrimmage. "We've got a ton of work to do. Number one, we're healthy coming off the field, which is huge. And number two, the energy, the physicality, and again, the back-and-forth competitiveness was really good." The scrimmage gave State a great opportunity to test its physicality. Lebby liked where it was at, but he also liked that they avoided any injuries. "First things first, we came off the grass healthy, which was huge, but man, we were (physical)," he said. "People were flying around. We'll continue to go watch (the film). We've got to have more and more of it. That's going to be a huge part of who we are." |
| Ethan Pulliam is giving back to community that raised him | |
| Ethan Pulliam has long been a part of the "Jacket family." Mississippi State's punter grew up in Starkville, and was a standout three-sport athlete at Starkville High School. He helped the Yellow Jackets to the 2022 6A state title on the football field, and was one of the best players in the area on the baseball diamond, hitting .466 as a senior. His high school success translated into a record-setting career in the college ranks. The redshirt-junior is MSU's single-season record holder in yards per punt, averaging 46.8 yards, and was recognized as one of the conference's best punters, earning preseason All-SEC third team honors in July. The hometown kid has won championships, and been named as one of the best at his position in one of the country's most prestigious conferences. And at just 21 years old, Pulliam made sure that it wasn't just him enjoying his successes. Pulliam donated $4,000 for school supplies to two Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District elementary schools in July. |
| 'Just getting warmed up': Will Whitson is healthy and hungry | |
| Not many players in college football last year got off to a faster start than Will Whitson. He shot out of a cannon in his first career game as a Bulldog, earning SEC Player of the Week after a four-tackle, 2.5-tackle-for-loss and one sack performance against Southern Miss. He carried that into a strong start against Arizona State, tallying two tackles for loss and an electrifying sack in the first half. Early into his sixth college season, it seemed the journeyman, who had climbed from community college to the SEC, was finally reaching everyone's radar on the national level. Then it all came to a screeching halt. On 4th-and-5, and State up 17-0 on the Sun Devils late in the second quarter, Whitson attempted to pressure Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, and make a play to cement the Bulldogs' first half dominance. He rushed from the edge, clashing with ASU's right tackle. As Leavitt rolled out on the opposite side of the play, Whitson disengaged from the block, landing awkwardly on his right leg in the process. While Leavitt scrambled for the line to gain along the ASU sideline, Whitson lied in solitude, rolling around the grass. He'd torn his ACL. His season was done. ... After a long recovery process, Whitson is back in pads during fall camp, and looking to jump right back into a key role along MSU's defensive line. |
| Soccer: State Claims First Road Win At UAB | |
| Mississippi State improved to 2-0 with a 2-1 win at UAB on Sunday night. The Bulldogs got goals from senior Hailey Johnson and fifth-year Ashley Tutas. "It was our first road win of the year and second game of the week. We showed some tired legs and a little fatigue factored in," head coach Kevin O'Brien said. "We talked about it before the game, that you've got to grind out wins on Sundays -- that's the nature of college soccer -- and the girls did. I'm really, really proud of the way that they dug deep, competed and battled for first and second balls." In the seventh minute, Johnson pounced on a loose ball in the box. She fought through a slide tackle and regained possession near the right-hand goal post. From there, she pinged a ball off the inside of the left post and into the net for the opening goal of the night. The Bulldogs added a second goal off a corner in the 26th minute. Kyli Switalski served the corner to the middle of the six-yard box where Tutas' height allowed her to get above the keeper to head it home. |
| In college sports' NIL era, 'there's no real rules' for agents. And some like it that way | |
 | Standing on the side of a practice field in late April, watching a training session for eight college defensive linemen they represent, Jacob Piasecki and Francesco Tricomi are discussing a topic they relish: people who can't stand them. Piasecki, 29, is the co-founder of A&P Sports Agency, an Austin-based company born five years ago at the dawn of college sports' current era of chaos, and Tricomi, 26, is his director of operations. In just a few years, agencies such as A&P have barged into college sports like profane party crashers. They're lamented by college coaches and general managers and resented by their NFL peers, who say they're accountable to no one. Without a central governing body or players union, NIL agents -- who represent college athletes in financial deals involving revenue sharing and name, image and likeness rights that give the space its catch-all acronym -- operate with little-to-no certification in an unfettered environment. Piasecki has landed on a one-word philosophy to describe the two industries -- college football and athlete representation -- his company helped reshape: discretionary. "There's no real rules," he said. "So everybody is doing things at their own discretion." |
| Tommy John, namesake for a pioneering elbow surgery that saved his career, dead at 83 | |
| Tommy John, who won 288 games during a 26-year big league career and became the first pitcher to successfully return following groundbreaking elbow surgery that later was named after him, has died. He was 83. He died at his home in Bradenton, Florida, on Saturday night, agent Mike Maguire said Sunday. He had been in hospice care. On Aug. 8, the New York Yankees released a social media post in which John wrote that he wanted to say goodbye to everyone, including friends and fans who followed him throughout his career, saying, "I will never forget you." The left-hander was 31 years old when he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow in 1974, a death knell for pitchers' careers to that point. John allowed Dr. Frank Jobe, the Dodgers' team physician, to replace the ligament with a tendon from his right forearm. Jobe gave the surgery 100-to-1 odds of being successful. The procedure had been done on others before, although it was usually performed on wrists and hands. John was the first pitcher to have it done on his elbow. More than 2,600 big leaguers and thousands more amateurs have since had UCL reconstructions, better known as Tommy John surgery. It's been a godsend for many of baseball's greatest stars. |
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