Daily News Digest (Mississippi State University)

Tuesday, November 3, 2026


Mississippi State reports record fall enrollment of 23,721
Mississippi State University reported a record fall enrollment of 23,721 students, an increase of 158 from last year, the university announced. The total includes 14,654 Mississippi residents, up from 14,491 a year earlier. Students come from all 82 Mississippi counties, all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and 89 countries, the university said. President Mark E. Keenum said the number of first-time students from Mississippi increased 6% and the university has grown in 11 of the past 12 years. "I am very proud that we have set a new enrollment record this fall, and that we are the only university in our state that has achieved enrollment growth for 11 of the past 12 years," Keenum said. "I am especially pleased to see that our class of in-state, first-time students grew by 6%. It's clear that the students and families who know us best appreciate the job we are doing and value the outstanding education and great college experience they get at Mississippi State."

Memorial service set for Mississippi State's first Black student
Memorial services for Dr. Richard E. Holmes, Mississippi State University's (MSU) first Black student, will be held on November 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the Cleveland Gallery at The Mill at MSU. Holmes died on October 16, 2026, at age 82. Speakers will include MSU President Mark E. Keenum, Rev. Guy Thompson, senior pastor of Second Baptist Church in Starkville, and MSU vice presidents Ra'Sheda Forbes and Sid Salter. Holmes' fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, will deliver a tribute. MSU's Black Voices gospel choir will also perform.

Election Day is here. Reminders for Mississippians heading to the polls
Election Day is here, and voters across Mississippi are heading to the polls to cast their ballots in this year's elections. Five congressional seats headline the races, including one of Mississippi's two U.S. Senate seats and all four of the state's U.S. House seats. Voters will also decide several judicial races and special elections. Polls statewide are open Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Any registered voter in line before 7 p.m. is legally entitled to cast a ballot. Voters should bring an acceptable form of photo identification with them. Voters may bring cell phones inside polling locations but are prohibited from using them to photograph marked ballots. Campaigning is prohibited within 150 feet of a polling place entrance, except on private property. Turnout in the 2022 midterms saw around 709,000 ballots cast, representing 32.5% of registered voters at the time. Of those, 49,630, or about 7%, were absentee ballots. While turnout for the 2026 midterms will be unknown until all ballots are counted, the total number of absentee ballots received by circuit clerks as of Monday was at 122,590, more than doubling the 2022 total.

Technology is reshaping Chinese farms -- and boosting its national security
The sun sinks low over China's northeastern rice fields as combines with spinning metal teeth slice neat rows in the tawny stocks. It's harvest time in Heilongjiang province, China's breadbasket, where large commercial farms showcase modern efficiency. "From sowing and plowing to harvesting -- it's all unmanned," says Liu Jianguo, a manager at the sprawling farm owned by Beidahuang Group, one of the country's largest state-owned agribusinesses. The province's dark, chunky dirt, rich with organic matter, comprises one of the world's four major deposits of super-fertile black soil, or chernozem. Other belts are found in Ukraine, the Mississippi Delta, and the Pampas plain of South America. Deputy governor Cong Li says that 1 in every 9 bowls of grain in China comes from this province -- and this year, thanks in part to farmers' embrace of innovation, she expects a record harvest. Such bounty is never taken for granted in China, which must feed a sixth of the world's population on less than 10% of its arable land. As wars in Ukraine and Iran and ongoing trade disputes disrupt global food flows, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has doubled down on liangshi anquan, or "food security," making it a top strategic priority, on the same level as hardening China's military or building up energy stockpiles.

Enrollment levels remain stable across Mississippi university system
The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) announced that enrollment across Mississippi's public university system has held steady into Fall 2026 compared with Fall 2025. That's according to data from the IHL's eight institutions and the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). IHL officials said that enrollment for Fall 2026 is 81,771, compared to 81,961 for Fall 2025. "Serving nearly 82,000 students this fall, our universities continue to provide higher education opportunities and prepare students for the workforce and life," said Dr. Al Rankins Jr., commissioner of higher education. Students are counted one time and are unduplicated regardless of on-campus and off-campus enrollment.

Jackson State holds vigil for student killed in Halloween shooting
Jackson State University held a candlelight vigil to honor Jada Henderson, an 18-year-old psychology student from Atlanta who was one of two people killed in the Hideaway shooting on Halloween night. "Seeing everybody gathered here for the purpose of this occasion wasn't too happy, it was very somber, but looking into the crowd and seeing so many people gathered together, I think it's truly a testament of how big of a community, how strong of a community we are here at Jackson State," said Hart Jefferson, president of the Student Government Association at JSU. The vigil brought together students, faculty, and others on campus to mourn Henderson's loss and reflect on the tragedy. JSU President Dr. Denise Jones Gregory also spoke at the event, emphasizing the strength of the university community during difficult times. "This is a difficult time for us, a time that we should not be here for tonight for senseless acts that are happening across the city, but we recognize our Jackson State family is resilient. We're here to support one another," Gregory said.

'It was fun, until it wasn't': JSU students describe leaving party before deadly shooting
Two people were killed and six others were injured when masked gunmen entered a Halloween party at a Jackson venue over the weekend, according to the Jackson Police Department. Police identified the victims as Lovdai Poindexter, 20, and Jada Henderson, 18. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. All eight people who were shot were under 21, police said. One of those killed was a Jackson State University student. Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney said she has reached out to promoters and plans to meet with them in person to discuss the seriousness of the incident. She noted a "pattern there of irresponsibility." Brackney said the shooting was the second at the Hideaway this year. Kimora Ewin and Naomi Francillon were dressed up in their costumes and having a good time. "Me and my friend we were matching," said Ewin. "It was fun, until it wasn't." They left around 12:30, roughly 30 minutes before they learned the venue had become a crime scene. "I got texts saying, are you okay, are you okay," said Francillon. "I'm an out-of-state student. I'm from Boston, so I'm very far away from home and even my friends from Boston heard about it, and they don't follow a lot of people that go to Jackson State or even in Mississippi."

Woodard, Rush on Student Affairs leadership changes: 'We're not going to miss a beat'
Auburn University's Student Affairs is preparing for a leadership transition after the University announced Sept. 21 that Bobby R. Woodard will become interim senior vice president for business and administration and chief operating officer, effective Nov. 1. Bryan Rush will assume the role of interim vice president for Student Affairs, while Lady Cox will become dean of students and senior associate vice president for Student Affairs. Both appointments take effect Nov. 1. Woodard joined Auburn in 2014 as associate provost and senior vice president for Student Affairs, bringing higher education leadership experience from East Carolina University, the University of Central Florida and the University of Georgia. During his 12-year tenure, he has overseen student development, campus engagement and initiatives focused on the student experience. On Nov. 1, Woodard will transition from Student Affairs to interim senior vice president for business and administration and chief operating officer. President Christopher B. Roberts appointed him following the announced retirement of Kelli Shomaker, who is leaving Auburn Oct. 31 to join Southern Methodist University. Reflecting on the appointment, Woodard said, "When your boss asks you to fill a role, you do it."

Buc-ee's to unveil new T-shirt design celebrating Texas A&M 150th anniversary
The celebration of Texas A&M's 150th anniversary will continue Tuesday with the unveiling a new Buc-ee's T-shirt design and a keynote address from Buc-ee's founder and Texas A&M graduate Arch "Beaver" Aplin at the Texas A&M College of Architecture Showcase in the afternoon. The new T-shirt design features Buc-ee celebrating the 150th anniversary milestone. The shirts will go on sale in Rudder Plaza and the Barnes and Noble Campus Bookstore. Buc-ee Beaver will make an appearance at a Buc-ee's pop-up event from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Rudder Exhibit Hall. A highlight of Tuesday's Architecture Showcase is the scheduled talk by Aplin at 4 p.m. in Rudder Theater. Texas A&M President Susan Ballabina will serve as the emcee.

Colleges Are Tempting Other Schools' Donors to Give to Them Instead
Every university has targets for donations. Alumni. Parents. Grandparents. Former hospital patients. Wealthy people with niche interests. But some of the biggest contributions these days are coming from people without traditional ties to the universities getting the checks. In September, a $3 billion contribution to Carnegie Mellon University came from just such a donor, the hedge fund titan Kenneth C. Griffin. It was the largest single contribution to an American university. "What we're seeing is donors more loyal to a particular purpose than an institution, so they look across different institutions and ask which can best advance that purpose," said James M. Langley, a consultant who led fund-raising for several top universities. It is not unprecedented for universities to collect checks from people with no pre-existing ties. MacKenzie Scott, for example, has surprised scores of colleges with multimillion-dollar gifts, many of which have gone to schools, like tribal or historically Black institutions, that rarely receive big contributions. But the surges benefiting schools like Carnegie Mellon and Vanderbilt, which saw its year-over-year unaffiliated giving rocket from $19 million to $276 million, are unusual for their speed and scale.

Generative AI Has Transformed Higher-Ed Jobs
Generative artificial intelligence is transforming the way higher education works. Faculty members try to teach AI literacy or prevent students from cheating with chatbots, of course. But administrators and staff working in a wide range of roles told The Chronicle that large language models have shifted how they think, write, create, crunch numbers, and even interact with other human beings. Some employees, asked to do more with less, are embracing AI to add capacity or reduce "grunt work," leaving time for higher priorities. Others have deep concerns. Even some fans raised cautionary notes and said they draw the line at certain uses.

SPORTS


Men's Basketball: State Takes Season Opener 106-88
Josh Hubbard scored 25 points and dished out nine assists, while King Grace provided a huge spark off the bench with 23 points as Mississippi State opened its 2026-27 men's basketball season with a 106-88 victory over Tennessee Tech on Monday night at Humphrey Coliseum. The Bulldogs put together an impressive offensive performance, shooting 58.3% from the field and connecting on 12 of 24 attempts from 3-point range. State placed five players in double figures and received 48 points from its bench while surpassing the century mark in its season opener. Hubbard led the charge, connecting on 7 of 11 shots, including 3 of 4 from beyond the arc, while making 8 of 10 free throws. Grace was equally efficient, hitting 8 of 12 field goals and 4 of 6 attempts from long range in just 23 minutes of action. Mississippi State returns to action on Thursday against Northwestern State. Tip time at The Hump is set for 6:30 p.m.

Hubbard's 25, Grace's 23 bench points power Mississippi State over Tennessee Tech 106-88
Josh Hubbard scored 25 points, King Grace added 23 off the bench, and Mississippi State defeated Tennessee Tech 106-88 on Monday night in both teams' season opener. Hubbard was 7-of-11 from the field, 3-for-4 from deep, and 8-for-10 from the charity stripe, and Grace went 8-for-12 (4-for-6 from beyond the arc). Tajuan Simpkins scored 15 and added five rebounds, five assists and two steals, and Thomas Bassong had 14 points and six rebounds. RJ Johnson chipped in with 12. The Bulldogs held a 53-37 edge at the break, but Tennessee Tech did not go away easily with 51 second-half points.

Women's Basketball: Bulldogs To Open 53rd Season Against North Alabama
Mississippi State women's basketball will begin the fifth season of the Sam Purcell era on Tuesday, as they welcome the North Alabama Lions to Starkville. Tipoff for the contest is set for 6:30 p.m. inside Humphrey Coliseum. The first 500 students will receive a maroon "Attack The Gap" rally towel. Tickets for the game can be purchased at hailstate.com/tickets. Mississippi State returns three Bulldogs this season -- Madison Francis, Favour Nwaedozi and Melissa Guillet. Francis and Nwaedozi were the top two scorers on last season's team. Mississippi State added six players from Division I institutions via the transfer portal -- Aryss Macktoon, Reese Beaty, Macie Phifer and Cali Smallwood. Two NJCAA All-American Honorees made the jump to the SEC -- Tootie Lockett and Arianny Francisco de Oliveira. The Bulldogs also added three freshmen to their roster -- Andrea Flores, Grace Ndubueze and Lani Smallwood. The Lions return three players from last year's team. They lost 10, including all five starters.

Jeffery Simmons stymies QB Sam Darnold, Seahawks in Bears debut
The four days leading into the Chicago Bears' dominant 34-17 win over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks were life-altering for Jeffery Simmons. The All-Pro defensive tackle pivoted from game-planning with the Tennessee Titans to learning a new defense while preparing for the Seahawks after he found out he was being traded on Oct. 29. In a matter of hours, Simmons left his family and home of the past eight seasons to join an NFC contender. Simmons delivered immediately for the Bears (6-2, 0-2). In his first primetime game in three seasons, the defensive tackle had a sack, six tackles (three TFLs) and deflected a pass as Chicago registered its third straight win. "Our guys were excited the moment they heard the news that we were bringing him on, and he's fit right in," Bears coach Ben Johnson said. "We got a high character locker room, and he is that himself. And you can feel his presence out there, whether it's during the play or even after the play, you can feel him talking a little smack as well, which I think that elevates everybody around him. So I thought he played outstanding. To come in there and have a share of the lead of tackles and a sack in his first game, his impact was profound."

Former Mississippi State star Jeffery Simmons helps lead the Bears past the Seahawks 34-17
Jeffery Simmons ran out of the tunnel for the first time since joining the Chicago Bears with a new uniform, orange sleeves and a wide smile as he welcomed the move that put right into contention with important games on big stages. Then he delivered exactly what the Bears needed. Simmons had a sack in his Bears debut as part of a dominant defensive performance that helped lead Chicago to a 34-17 victory over the Seattle Seahawks 34-17 on Monday night. "When I attacked the field, I wasn't worried about the trade," Simmons said. "I wasn't worried about all the outside noise. All I was worried about is play after play, just give the team everything I got." Acquired last week from Tennessee for a package that included two first-round picks, Simmons took little time to make a big impact on a defense that had lacked difference-makers. He had a sack on the opening drive, added another tackle for loss and finished with six tackles, three pressures and a pass defensed with coach Ben Johnson describing his impact as "profound." Chicago held Seattle to 252 yards and one third-down conversion on 11 tries.

LSU to crack down on unauthorized gameday events after brawl on campus
LSU plans to crack down on large gatherings on campus before and after football games after an on-campus brawl following the homecoming game against Mississippi State led police to break up a crowd with pepper balls. "Tailgating is about football. We cherish the seven Saturdays when we gather as a community to celebrate our tailgate traditions before cheering on our Tigers to victory," LSU President Wade Rousse said in a news release Monday. "While tailgating is embedded within the fabric of our community, we must remember it is a shared privilege that mandates a safe environment focused on one event, the LSU football game." Starting Saturday, "promoters/organizers of any unauthorized event can anticipate being shut down immediately if advertising is brought to the university's attention ahead of game-day," the release said. Freshman Na'lyih Smith said she would understand an increased presence of authorities on campus but does not agree with heightened tailgating restrictions. "It's starting to get too strict, it really is," Smith said.

Sports in the Election: What's at Stake in the 2026 U.S. Midterms
The NCAA and its influential members have spent more than a decade discussing the possibility of an antitrust exemption. The most recent and serious of those efforts, the Protect College Sports Act (PCSA), currently sits in a strange limbo. Its future -- and that of big-time college athletics–could be forever altered by the results of Tuesday's elections. The PCSA is one of a number of sports-related stories that will be affected during the U.S. midterms. There are former pro athletes on the ballot, and major implications for sports betting and prediction markets. Sports team owners have donated millions and could face bigger tax bills, while the constant barrage of campaign ads have changed the appearance of live sports broadcasts over the past few months. Despite securing a decisive 77-22 favorable vote in the U.S. Senate, the PCSA is no sure bet to pass the U.S. House of Representatives before the 120th Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3. For starters, there's not a lot of time left on the clock.

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