| Wednesday, November 4, 2026 |
| Enrollment grows as in-state students continue to make MSU their No. 1 university choice |
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| Mississippi State is experiencing another record enrollment this fall. The university is reporting a total of 23,721 students, an increase of 158 students from last year's 23,563 headcount. Enrollment includes students from all 50 states, plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, 89 countries and all 82 counties in Mississippi. Long known as the No. 1 college choice for Mississippi high school and community college graduates, the university is counting 14,654 in-state students, up 163 from last fall's 14,491. This growth emphasizes the university's commitment to Magnolia State students who graduate as Bulldogs well-equipped to serve the state's workforce and their communities. MSU President Mark E. Keenum pointed to the university's innovative, hard-working faculty and staff as being the catalysts in educating the students that will be Mississippi's future leaders. "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." | |
| MSU Bully's Pantry takes on Ole Miss in Egg Bowl Food Fight |
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| Bully's Pantry at Mississippi State is taking the Egg Bowl rivalry beyond the football field this November, competing against the University of Mississippi's Grove Grocery to support students facing food insecurity. The Egg Bowl Food Fight runs until Nov. 20, challenging the two universities to see which campus food pantry can collect the most donations. Each food or personal care item donated, and every dollar contributed, counts as 1 point toward MSU's total. MSU students can also donate block meals, with each donated meal counting as 1 point. Campus and community members who want to help MSU win the competition can donate needed food and personal care items. Donations can be dropped off at Bully's Pantry, 120 Morgan Ave., Monday-Friday from 1-4 p.m. Those who need to arrange a different drop-off time may call (662) 325-7683. Supporters also can purchase items from the Bully's Pantry Amazon Wish List and have them shipped directly to the pantry. Monetary gifts can be made online through the university's Bulldog Boost crowdfunding platform. | |
| He was a trailblazer whose legacy is still being felt on the Mississippi State University campus today |
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| He was a trailblazer whose legacy is still being felt on the Mississippi State University campus Tuesday. But, Dr. Richard Holmes really just wanted a good education at a top notch school that happened to be in his hometown. That led him to be the first African American student to enroll and be accepted in Mississippi State University in 1965. Tuesday, family, friends, university administrators, faculty, and staff came together for a memorial service honoring his life and legacy. Holmes' enrollment was quiet compared to what confronted James Meredith at Ole Miss just three years earlier, but it was just as historically significant. Tuesday, he was remembered as being courageous, thoughtful, and kind. "He was a very humble person. This great trailblazer, this monumental figure for the history of this university, and all that he meant to this school, but he never sought recognition or fame or acclaim. He was very humble in his approach to life, very thoughtful and considerate of others. I think that his humility and courage again transformed this university, and we're so very grateful for that," MSU President Mark E. Keenum said. | |
| Temporary guest workers are key to US agriculture |
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| Mississippi's agricultural industry has a long history of using legal temporary agricultural workers to help meet seasonal labor needs, particularly in labor-intensive crops. Sectors in Mississippi's agricultural industry rely on significant numbers of workers hired through the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker Program, overseen by the U.S. Department of Labor. Elizabeth Canales, an agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said this temporary agricultural visa program, which allows producers to hire guest workers, has been expanding in recent years. Calhoun County, the epicenter of the state's sweet potato industry, by far tops the list of counties hiring H-2A laborers. Lorin Harvey, Extension sweet potato specialist, said he is often asked why local American workers are not hired for these positions. "Frankly, that workforce doesn't exist," he said. "Hard, physical, outdoor work plus seasonal employment is a very difficult combination for building a large and dependable local workforce. Farmers have tried hiring locally. In fact, they are legally required to make this attempt before they can use the H2-A program." "Farmers aren't using H-2A because they don't want American workers," he said. "They're using the program because America still wants American-grown food, but we don't have enough domestic workers willing and available to do the seasonal work required to plant and harvest it." | |
| Supreme Court Justice Tollison investiture scheduled for next week |
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| Amanda Jones Tollison has been working as a Mississippi Supreme Court Justice for more than two months, but her formal investiture ceremony will be held next week in Oxford. Chief Justice Mike Randolph will administer the ceremonial oath Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. at the Lafayette County Courthouse. It is traditional for appointees to be sworn in to begin work immediately, with a more formal ceremony held at a later time. Former Gov. Haley Barbour and Gov. Tate Reeves will speak at the investiture. Tollison is the seventh woman to serve during the history of the Mississippi Supreme Court. With her appointment, the Supreme Court has three female Justices currently serving -- the most in the history of the Court. She has practiced law for 30 years. Before her appointment to the Supreme Court, she was a partner with Butler Snow LLP. Tollison earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Mississippi State University. | |
| Board tables moratorium on car washes, vehicle repair shops |
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| The Starkville Board of Aldermen, in a 4-3 vote, tabled a 180-day moratorium Tuesday on the development or redevelopment of any new vehicle repair and maintenance businesses. The moratorium was spearheaded by Mayor Lynn Spruill after concerns were raised in October about the number of car washes along Highway 12 and other similar facilities in the city. The hope with the proposed moratorium was to give City Planner Daniel Havelin and his staff time to analyze density concerns and potentially recommend amendments to the city's Unified Development Code. "I think that there is a time for us to take a look at some of those things that are starting to multiply in those areas, and it was worth taking a look at," Spruill said Tuesday during the public hearing on the moratorium. Vice Mayor Roy A. Perkins, who represents Ward 6, and Ward 7 Alderman Henry Vaughn spoke against the moratorium, citing concerns with its application to other businesses beyond additional car wash developments. | |
| Earth's Bounty final festival of the season this weekend |
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| Earth's Bounty will hold its final festival of the season Saturday, Nov. 7 beginning at 8 a.m. As Earth's Bounty's 2026 season winds down, so does the availability of fresh produce. The growing season is essentially over, but a few vendors may still have some sweet potatoes and collard greens. Vendors will have plenty of other homemade goods at their booths, including sweets and other pastries, homegrown honey, unique personal care products like lotions and creams, and a variety of other home-grown products. The event will also include city of Meridian staff, who will have a booth where you can find out about leaf collection in the city. Keep America Beautiful will add information about a city-wide cleanup on Nov. 14. Participants in the last festival of the season will also be able to enjoy the music of Chloe Goss, whose lyrics have a raspy, soulful quality that combines modern country with timeless Americana influences, Chloe will be making her Earth's Bounty debut on the stage at The MAX. The jam-packed day begins at 8 a.m., when vendors open their booths, and closes at noon at The MAX Courtyard in downtown Meridian. | |
| How Mistletoe Marketplace has become a Mississippi holiday tradition |
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| One of Mississippi's largest and longest-running holiday shopping events will return to the Mississippi Trade Mart on Wednesday, Nov. 4, and run through Saturday, Nov. 7, as the Junior League of Jackson hosts the 46th annual Mistletoe Marketplace. Founded in 1981, Mistletoe Marketplace has grown into a holiday tradition that draws thousands of shoppers from across Mississippi and neighboring states while raising money for the Junior League's programs serving children and families throughout the Jackson area. This year's event carries the theme "Merry and Bright," a colorful, nostalgic concept organizers hope will transport visitors back to cherished holiday memories. "We wanted bright color and a lot of fun," Mistletoe Marketplace Chair Caroline Hunter told the Clarion Ledger. "It's very nostalgic. It has some mid-century modern elements in it to hopefully give people that sense of nostalgia when they come to our special events and think back about their family Christmases and holiday times." The marketplace will feature approximately 160 merchants, consistent with recent years and continuing the event's tradition of bringing together a mix of returning vendors and newcomers from throughout the nation. | |
| US stocks rally, and the Dow soars more than 1,000 points |
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| U.S. stocks are rallying Wednesday after President Donald Trump's party lost its sole control of Washington in the midterm elections. Stocks generally do well in the months following any midterm U.S. election, regardless of who wins, and the S&P 500 jumped 1.5%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1,325 points, or 2.6%, as of 11:15 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.7% higher. Stocks of solar-power companies, dollar stores and hospital owners helped lead the way as Wall Street tried to sort the winners from losers following the widespread losses for Republicans. Investors, meanwhile, see risks ahead for Trump's social-media company, the artificial-intelligence industry and businesses owned by Elon Musk, who donated heavily to Republicans. Strategists along Wall Street had been urging investors not to get swept up in the election because it may not matter much for the broad market in the long term. Prices for stocks depend more on where profits for companies and interest rates are heading than on who controls what in Washington. Much remains impossible to predict, of course, and Trump retains executive authority over key areas such as defense, foreign policy and in some instances trade. | |
| Incumbents lose school board seats in Starkville, Lowndes |
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| Retired educator Maggie Cooks defeated incumbent Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board member Cassandra Palmer at the polls Tuesday, denying the incumbent a second term seat. Cooks, who spent 25 years of her 28-year career as an educator at SOCSD, said she is excited to get to work. Also in Oktibbeha County, incumbent County Court Judge Lee Ann Turner received 7,700 votes (56.1%) to beat challenger Marty Haug, who took 5,921 votes (43.2%). Turner, who was elected in 2023, said her office is on the cusp of starting several new programs and has applied for grants that she looks forward to seeing through during her second term. "I'm very proud of the work we have done as a team at the county court and youth court, and I think that just the people that we've touched by the work and the word of mouth to that has spread, and so I think that is tremendously rewarding," she said. Haug did not return requests for comment before press time Tuesday. | |
| Mississippi Senate race too close to call |
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| Mississippi's Senate race remained too close to call early Wednesday, with Democratic challenger Scott Colom holding a razor-thin lead over Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) of less than 1 percentage point. With nearly all ballots counted, Colom led Hyde-Smith by a little more than 2,000 votes -- 461,370 to 459,201 -- as of early Wednesday morning, according to Decision Desk HQ. The contest has put the reliably red state in the national spotlight as Democrats celebrate massive victories in Tuesday's midterm elections, winning control of both chambers of Congress and flipping several Republican-held Senate seats. A victory for Colom, a district attorney in the Magnolia State, would mark the eighth Senate seat Democrats have flipped this election cycle and a stunning political shift in Mississippi, which President Trump won by more than 20 percentage points in 2024. The race drew increasing attention in the closing days of the campaign as Democrats saw an opportunity to unseat Hyde-Smith, who was widely viewed as weak on the campaign trail, despite the state's strong GOP lean. | |
| Mississippi Senate election remains too close to call early Wednesday |
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| Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democratic challenger Scott Colom were locked in a tight race Wednesday morning, after each tried to reassure nervous supporters late on election night in a state where Republicans have had a lock on U.S. Senate seats for decades. Hyde-Smith and Colom remained neck-and-neck and The Associated Press had not declared a winner by early Wednesday morning. Independent Ty Pinkins was pulling about 2% of the vote. While the race remained too close to call, Colom remained in striking distance of pulling off what would be an extraordinary Democratic upset. The narrow margin in and of itself reflected what some onlookers called a "bluenami," with Democrats notching stunning victories in Republican strongholds such as South Carolina and Texas. State Republican Party Chairman Mike Hurst said he expected Hyde-Smith to pull off a victory and overcome a disastrous performance for Republicans around the country. Mississippi has no runoff in federal general elections, and the winner needs only a plurality. | |
| Colom and Hyde-Smith Senate race too close to call |
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| Just before 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, trailing in his race with incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith, Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Scott Colom walked out to greet supporters gathered for a watch party in downtown Jackson. He moved through the cheering crowd of a couple hundred or so, embracing several as he declared, "We're gonna win!" While the race remained too close to call and likely to stay that way for several more hours, a few minutes after 11 p.m., Colom told supporters he was excited about his campaign's momentum, though he did not expect final results to be in Tuesday night. Colom carried the election across the Golden Triangle, taking 12,313 votes (57.5%) in Lowndes County compared to Hyde-Smith's 8,865 (41.4%). In Oktibbeha County, he received 9,123 votes (59.9%) while Hyde-Smith received 5,907 (38.8%). In Clay County, Colom earned 5,736 votes (66.5%), and Hyde-Smith earned 2,808 (32.6%). Noxubee County voters cast 3,473 ballots for Colom (81%) and only 787 ballots (18.4%) for Hyde-Smith. Despite beating Democratic challenger Michael Chiaradio 143,371 votes (57.9%) to 101,090 votes (40.8%) across the district, incumbent Republican Michael Guest lost the race in Oktibbeha County. Unofficial results from the Oktibbeha County Circuit Clerk's Office show Chiaradio received 7,965 votes (57.3%) compared to 5,779 (41.5%) for Guest. | |
| Incumbent Mississippi Congressmen win re-election |
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| As expected, all four Mississippi incumbent Congressmen, three of which are Republicans, won their re-election bids Tuesday night despite a blue wave that swept across the U.S. In the 1st Congressional District, Republican Congressman Trent Kelly defeated Democrat nominee Cliff Johnson, an Ole Miss law professor, and Libertarian Johnny Baucom, a health and safety technician. Kelly was endorsed by President Donald Trump (R), as was his fellow Mississippi Republican Congressmen. Congressman Thompson cruised to re-election in the 2nd Congressional District, easily defeating Republican nominee Ron Eller and independent Bennie Foster. In the 3rd Congressional District, Congressman Michael Guest was declared the winner at 9:25 p.m. over Democrat nominee Michael Chiaradio and Libertarian Erike Kiehle. Down in South Mississippi, Congressman Mike Ezell handily defeated State Rep. Jeffrey Hulum III of Gulfport and perennial candidate Carl Boyanton, a businessman. | |
| Bennie Thompson cruises to easy US House win in District 2 |
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| Democrat Bennie G. Thompson handily won reelection Tuesday, Nov. 3, in Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District, defeating Republican Ron Eller and independent candidate Bennie Foster. The win extends Thompson's congressional career that has made him one of the state's most influential political figures. The victory secures another term for Thompson representing a district that stretches across the Mississippi Delta, includes Jackson and parts of central Mississippi, and remains the state's lone majority-Black congressional district. While Thompson's victory was never seriously in doubt this year, future races could become more competitive. Mississippi is expected to redraw its congressional boundaries after the next round of redistricting, and political observers have speculated that lawmakers could seek changes to the 2nd District's current configuration. Any significant shift in district lines could alter the electorate that has reliably supported Thompson for decades, potentially creating a more challenging political environment for Democrats. | |
| 'We're Just Fed Up': How Economic Fury Delivered Democratic Sweep |
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| Americans' long-simmering frustrations over the high cost of living boiled over Tuesday night to rearrange the nation's political map. Voters decisively swept Democrats to power in the House and Senate after two years of rising prices, a deepening housing crisis and the everyday pain of filling up a gas tank. "We're just fed up," said Ron Berube, a 64-year-old Lewiston, Maine, resident, who voted for Sen. Susan Collins (R., Maine) in 2020 but this year voted for her victorious Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson. "A lot of people are sick of Donald Trump. They can't afford it. They can't afford anything." Among voters polled by the Associated Press, roughly 39% said the economy was the single most important issue facing the country, and nearly 90% said the cost of living was a crucial or major factor in their vote. Economic anger was closely tied to how voters cast their ballots in Tuesday's House races. Three-quarters of voters described the economy as not so good or poor, and those voters backed Democratic candidates 67% to 29%. Nearly 80% said that inflation has caused their family hardship in the past year. The nationwide results were a stunning rebuke to a party and a president elected just two years ago by Americans who believed Trump was their best hope for fixing the economy and taming inflation. | |
| Trump made midterms about himself, and voters rejected him |
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| President Donald Trump consistently told voters this midterm campaign to pretend he was on the ballot. Voters responded by making election night a disaster for the Republican Party the president has spent a decade remaking in his own image. Trump spent his first two years back in the White House focused almost exclusively on his "Make America Great Again" base. One GOP strategist, granted anonymity to be candid, called the election results for Trump a "2006-style massacre," referring to President George W. Bush's second midterms when Democrats picked up a combined 37 House and Senate seats amid frustrations with the Iraq war, the economy and other issues at home. "This is much bigger than a couple of candidates here and there. ... The issues were Americans prefer cheap gas and not the Iran conflict, and [Trump's] tariffs were ... an issue given grocery prices," the GOP strategist said in a text message as midnight approached Tuesday in Washington, D.C. "What's going on in Texas ... could be the shot heard around the world." That was a reference to Texas going blue on Trump's watch, his handpicked GOP Senate nominee, state Attorney General Ken Paxton, losing his race to Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, and Trump-backed GOP Gov. Greg Abbott losing to Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa. Even as voters already were casting votes Tuesday, Trump continued to dismiss the country's "affordability" crisis, which he for months dismissed as a Democratic-manufactured lie. The president who long sold himself as the one true messenger of the forgotten American man and woman dismissed voter concerns as a "hoax." | |
| 'Not a hit on me': Trump faults candidates and Fox News, not himself, for Republican losses |
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| As the scale of the Republican Party's losses came into focus late Tuesday, President Trump watched from the White House and went looking for someone to blame. First it was Fox News. Just before midnight, with Democrats projected to seize control of the House, Trump wrote on Truth Social that the network "bears responsibility for these losses by constantly and consistently putting on the Dumocrat opposition, and worse." Then it was the fact that he had not been on the ballot, otherwise, he said, "we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!" Minutes later, Trump was on the phone with the same network he had just accused of sabotaging his party. And over a 22-minute interview, conducted before the Senate had been called for Democrats, his tone shifted from grievance to something closer to acceptance, though never to the idea that the election results were a rebuke on his administration. Looking ahead to what the election results mean for the last two years of his presidency with Democrats in control, Trump said he is willing to work with them -- but that he will not hesitate to use the power of the veto. | |
| Trump-backed Republican redistricting sought a midterm edge. It didn't work |
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| At the urging of President Donald Trump, Republicans in eight states redrew the boundaries of dozens of congressional districts over the past year while angling for an edge that could help them hold onto a slim House majority in a tough midterm election. Ultimately, it didn't work. Republicans lost most of the Democratic-held seats they had targeted to flip, lost others they had banked on retaining and got swept out of power by a Democratic surge fueled by voter dissatisfaction with Trump, the economy and the war with Iran. The Republican redistricting plan fell flat in Alabama, Florida and Texas. It got scuttled by courts in Missouri and then firmly defeated by its voters Tuesday. And it got offset in California, where a retaliatory Democratic redistricting flipped previously Republican-held seats. What started as a Republican redistricting effort could become a Democratic redistricting movement ahead of the presidential election. But the recent midterm redistricting revealed it can be difficult to anticipate voter behavior when trying to gerrymander districts for partisan advantage. | |
| Mike Johnson will step aside as House GOP leader |
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| Speaker Mike Johnson will step aside as the top House Republican leader after Tuesday's GOP defeat, concluding an unlikely and meteoric rise to power three years ago. Johnson of Louisiana announced his plans on a private call with staff Wednesday morning, according to two people on the call. His decision comes after Republicans lost at least 21 seats in the midterm elections, returning Democrats to power after four years. The speaker, who was out campaigning across the country in the final weeks until the election, had mused about potentially staying on as minority leader if Republicans lost their majority. But many of his colleagues believed that was unlikely. The speaker's decision to step down sets up a potential two-way race between House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan of Ohio to lead Republicans in the minority. | |
| Pete Hegseth stares down likely impeachment vote. And he's not the only one |
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| Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth faces impeachment accusations when Congress returns after the midterm elections and others, including President Donald Trump, could be investigated for alleged misconduct as Democrats return to power. Besides Trump and Hegseth, lawmakers have already filed impeachment resolutions against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Education Secretary Linda McMahon. None of the resolutions gained traction while Republicans led the House, but they signal what Democrats could investigate when they take control of the House and Senate in January. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, filed impeachment allegations against Education Secretary Linda McMahon in June. The accusations covered significant staff reductions at the department and moving 140 programs and offices to other federal departments. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Michigan, filed impeachment accusations against Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in December. Stevens accused Kennedy of freezing or canceling billions of dollars in research, firing health advisers and spreading conspiracy theories. | |
| 'I'm 100 Percent at War with Trump': MAGA Revolts After Midterms Wipeout |
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| Many MAGAworld figures are already pointing the finger of blame for their midterm losses squarely at president Donald Trump and his policies. Trump spent Tuesday evening lashing out at Fox News for platforming the Democrats who swept aside their GOP opponents in deep red states and took control of the House and Senate. But in the hours that followed, MAGA revolted. Matt Walsh, a right-wing podcaster, called the results "a political catastrophe of historic proportions" and Trump "a 80 year old lame duck president." Walsh blamed Trump's decision to start a war with Iran and his focus on trivial matters like attempting to rename artificial intelligence super intelligence and the White House ballroom. One notable aspect of MAGAworld's response to Tuesday's GOP wipeout was the relative silence coming from some of Trump's biggest supporters. Elon Musk, who poured hundreds of millions of dollars into supporting losing Republican candidates, has not said who was to blame for the results. He did post a joke saying his "election-interfering space lasers didn't work this time" and commented that it was "interesting" that an exit poll showed the Iran war was a "massive losing issue." | |
| Democrats Do the Unexpected: Capture a Majority of Governorships |
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| The Democratic Party captured a majority of governors' offices for the first time in nearly two decades. Govs. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Wes Moore of Maryland and JB Pritzker of Illinois were shoo-ins to win their reelection bids, but as affordability concerns motivated voters, other Democratic gubernatorial candidates were able to eke out victories in tight races against Republican opponents in solidly red states, shifting the balance of power nationwide. One shocking upset came in Texas, where Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term Gov. Greg Abbott, making her the state's first Democratic governor since 1994. Democrat Amy Acton joined Hinojosa in flipping a previously Republican seat by winning over Vivek Ramaswamy in a state that voted Republican in the last three presidential elections. Rob Sand faced similar headwinds in Iowa, a GOP-stronghold state that also voted for Trump in the last three elections. Like Acton, Sand flipped Iowa's governor seat to become the state's first Democratic governor since 2006, running on a platform that eschewed partisanship. In another historic victory, Keisha Lance Bottoms will become the first Black woman to serve as a U.S. governor after winning her race in Georgia. It was not a clean sweep for Democrats, however. One outlier was Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who beat her Democratic opponent, Memphis City Council member Jerri Green, in one of the country's tightest gubernatorial races. | |
| Justices seem inclined to side with Catholic preschool that excludes kids of gay parents |
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| The Supreme Court on Tuesday seemed inclined to rule in favor of a Catholic school that says it has been unfairly excluded from Colorado's universal pre-K program because it denies enrollment to children of same-sex parents -- a policy it argues is protected by the constitutional right to the free exercise of religion. The case is the latest clash involving the question of whether the Constitution allows Catholic institutions to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people because of church teachings. Some of the court's conservative justices, who hold a 6-3 majority, appeared receptive to the argument that the state's antidiscrimination requirements unfairly exclude families with children at St. Mary Catholic Parish and other preschools in the Denver Archdiocese. The program reimburses parents the cost of 15 hours per week of preschool for all 4-year-olds. As of December, that adds up to about $6,300 per child. Much of the skepticism toward St. Mary's argument came from the court's liberals, who questioned whether the school should get special treatment in the face of antidiscrimination laws that apply to every other school that receives the funding. | |
| Trump Says U.S. Plans to Cut Off Military Aid to Israel by End of Year |
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| President Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. would cut off military aid to Israel by the end of the year, suggesting the phaseout of grants to the U.S. ally could occur much faster than expected. "We won't be paying anymore to Israel," Trump said during an interview with Fox News. "We've already agreed that by the end of this year, we won't be paying Israel." Israeli officials, including from the security establishment, were surprised by Trump's comments, according to a person familiar with the matter. The phasing out of direct U.S. military aid to Israel has been under discussion for months, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly saying the country should eventually wean itself off U.S. assistance. Netanyahu had previously proposed eliminating direct military aid over the next decade. Trump cast the decision as a political calculation, arguing that ending the aid would deprive Democrats and other critics of Israel of a political talking point. Any move to eliminate U.S. grant funding to Israel would require cooperation from Congress, which has authorized and appropriated billions in annual assistance through 2028. | |
| MUW leads state in highest enrollment growth for second year |
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| Mississippi University for Women logged the highest enrollment percentage increase among state institutions of higher learning for a second consecutive year, posting a 3.6% bump for fall 2026. The increase brings The W's total student population to 2,457 students, according to figures released Monday by Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning. "Over the past two years, fall enrollment at The W has grown by more than 12%," Interim President Scott Tollison said. Mississippi State University also logged an increase in enrollment this year with the total student population rising 0.7% with a total of 23,721 students. MSU President Mark E. Keenum said the university is the only one in the state to achieve enrollment growth for 11 of the last 12 years. "I am especially pleased to see that our class of in-state, first-time students grew by 6%," Keenum said in a press release. "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." Despite enrollment increases at the Golden Triangle universities, state institutions of higher learning saw an overall decrease in enrollment, posting a 0.2% decrease for fall 2026 or a loss of about 190 students. | |
| Jackson State 'Party at the Polls' and 'Stroll to the Polls' offers voting information for students |
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| Jackson State University students marched to the university's polling location Tuesday with the Sonic Boom of the South, and nonprofit organizations offered voting information and free rides to the polls. Students said the events showed them how easy and enjoyable it is to exercise their rights. They said events like these, and nonprofits, are crucial to teach young voters their rights. Jakari Holland said young people have a role in the country's future. "Youth is so important in today's world because we will be the future leaders of America and showing what that looks like and even when you look back at past history, we've always advocated so bringing back advocation into college campuses and showing what civic engagement looks like now is important," Holland said. The Mississippi Move organization offered free rides to the polls for students and the community. JSU students also received spray painted shirts and hats with messages to encourage voting. | |
| UGA celebrates Science and Ag Hill modernization |
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| The University of Georgia completed the second phase of its Science and Ag Hill modernization initiative and celebrated with a ribbon-cutting and tour of the renovated facility on Oct. 28, according to a press release. The renovation improved the working space in Cedar Street Building B, which includes open laboratories, microscopy rooms, specialized equipment rooms and an insect containment facility. The project is part of UGA's several investments in research infrastructure. Other investments include the Interdisciplinary STEM Buildings and the first phase of the Science and Ag Hill modernization initiative. New conference rooms, collaboration areas, faculty offices and administrative suites were added as part of the renovation. "Our faculty and students are at the heart of the University of Georgia's research enterprise, and this renovation provides the modern facilities they need to advance teaching and discovery even further," UGA president Jere W. Morehead said. | |
| Mizzou's Kinder Institute for Constitutional Democracy gets $25 million donation |
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| The Kinder Institute for Constitutional Democracy has been awarded $25 million, a donation meant to further expand the opportunities for students to study abroad. The donation was bestowed by the Kinder Foundation and was announced Tuesday at Jesse Hall on the University of Missouri campus. The Kinder Foundation has awarded $86 million to Mizzou over the past 11 years. The grant will be used to expand global opportunities for students via a partnership with the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, bringing more staff and offering more scholarship and internship opportunities for students. "Today is a day to celebrate the remarkable leaders whose vision, generosity and commitment to education have transformed our university: Nancy and Rich Kinder," UM System President Mun Choi said at the ceremony. "They understand that the strength of our nation depends on an informed citizenry, one that understands our founding principles as a constitutional democracy," he said. | |
| Dems Take Control of Congress, Pledge to Hold Trump Accountable |
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| Democrats won big Tuesday night as voters made their voices heard in a consequential election that will reshape the balance of power in Washington, D.C., for the remainder of President Trump's second term. After flipping seats in Texas, Kansas and South Carolina, among other victories, Democrats are set to control both the House of Representatives and the Senate. They'll look to provide a check on the president's efforts to defund education programs and remake the federal government. Investigations and hearings are expected. However, much of the president's higher ed agenda will continue to move forward; the Education Department has finalized several new rules in the last year and has announced plans to make more changes next year. Key lawmakers in Congress say they want to focus on making college more affordable by increasing the maximum Pell Grant and expanding access to student loans. But they don't plan to grill university presidents like Republicans have repeatedly in recent years. | |
| Democrats took Republicans behind the woodshed. The GOP has only itself to blame |
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| The Magnolia Tribune's Russ Latino writes: If you've ever wondered what it looks like to get taken behind a woodshed, behold the absolute butt-whooping Democrats put on Republicans Tuesday night. We need not wait on the final results of Mississippi's U.S. Senate race -- one in which Democratic challenger Scott Colom may very well unseat incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith -- to take stock of the carnage. Prior to Tuesday, I predicted Republicans would lose both chambers of Congress. What I failed to anticipate was the intensity with which it would happen. Democrats did not merely pick up seats in purple states. They shattered the South's red wall and took the nation's heartland for good measure. ... For Republicans looking ahead to the next election, there's another uncomfortable reality. The Senate map does not get appreciably better in 2028. Pundits, including this one, will point to past midterm swings. It is undoubtedly true that the party holding the White House regularly loses seats in Congress in midterm elections. Americans have a healthy distrust of concentrated power. ... But anyone arguing that losing states like South Carolina, Texas, Kansas, Iowa and potentially Mississippi can be explained away as an ordinary midterm correction is not being honest with themselves. | |
| Like other tax proposals, California voters on Nov. 3 test-drove a tax on billionaires |
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| Columnist Sid Salter writes: California voters on Nov. 3 decided whether or not to approve Proposition 40, a ballot measure that would impose a one-time 5% tax on the net worth of Californians with more than $1 billion in net worth and use the proceeds largely to fund health care programs. At this writing, the results were unknown. On the eve of the election, the prediction markets and independent polling suggested the measure would narrowly fail. Let's hope so. The election's outcome will be a real test of the relatively new prediction markets. But supporters claimed the measure could generate roughly $100 billion over five years. Opponents called it a dangerous precedent that taxes wealth rather than income and could drive investment and taxpayers out of the state. Whatever the outcome, Proposition 40 deserves scrutiny beyond California because it raises a question with national implications: Can a state tax accumulated wealth rather than annual income? Whatever the outcome, other states are likely to take their own crack at wealth taxes. For generations, American tax policy has operated on familiar ground. Governments tax what we earn, what we buy or use, what we inherit, and the property we own. Proposition 40 ventures into largely uncharted territory by taxing net worth itself. | |
SPORTS
| Women's Basketball: Defensive Minded Bulldogs Earn Opening Day Victory |
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| Mississippi State women's basketball forced a Purcell-era record of 33 turnovers in the first contest of the season, as the Bulldogs cruised to a 68-27 victory against the North Alabama. "Great open to the season," head coach Sam Purcell said. "Anytime you get a new team with new pieces, the best thing that can happen is to play at home. In a game that had some ugliness, it was impressive on the defensive end." Defense was the name of the game, as North Alabama's 27 total points were the second-fewest allowed in the Purcell era. It marked the fourth time in the last 10 seasons that the Bulldogs have held an opponent to 30 or less points. State grabbed 20 steals as a team, which marked the most since the Bulldogs forced 20 in 2015. North Alabama shot 16.7 percent as a team, which was the lowest opposing field goal percentage since 2014. The Bulldogs will be back in action this Sunday in Tennessee to take on UT Martin. Tipoff for the contest is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+. | |
| State's defense shines in opener, but offense has work to do |
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| In its first game of the year, Mississippi State's women's basketball team showcased about a third of its identity. The Bulldogs showed toughness, but lacked discipline and connection in its 68-27 season-opening win over North Alabama on Tuesday night at the Humphrey Coliseum. "A lot of what I saw today is what I thought. We needed to be under the lights," State coach Sam Purcell said. "But in a game that had some ugliness on the offensive end, boy, was it impressive on the defensive end." MSU (1-0) forced 33 turnovers and scored 28 points off of them. That included 20 steals, which is the most the team has had in a game since 2015. Its 27 points allowed were the fewest in a game since Purcell took the job. The Bulldogs committed 18 turnovers, but they only resulted in four UNA points. North Alabama shot 9 of 54 (17%) from the field while State shot 27 of 64 (42%). "To throw out a 1-2-2 press, and then mix it up with a man and full-court press," Purcell said of the defense. "I think that gave us that turnover edge that we needed, and allowed us to get a lead early in this game." | |
| Basketball season is cranking up, but it's never to early to start talking about action on the diamond |
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| Football season has passed the halfway mark, Basketball season is cranking up, but it's never to early to start talking about action on the diamond. And Mississippi State's softball program continues to run up the score. Coach Samantha Ricketts recapped last year's season and gave a preview of the coming campaign to business and community leaders in Starkville. The 2026 season was full of highs for the team, including its first trip to the NCAA Softball College World Series. Coach Ricketts is quick to point out the strong work ethic of her players and the strong support from the fans and community. "It's been really cool to see just to see the fans show up, the support, the community, people driving in, and all the young softball players who were there in attendance, setting both single-season and single-game records, and it's something we want to continue to do, and keep people getting people to come out and check out some games." | |
| Tennessee's 'Privately Funded' 856 Neyland Has a Public-Funding Catch |
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| On Oct. 15, two days before Tennessee football hosted Alabama, half of the G-10 parking garage near Neyland Stadium was razed, marking the start of a sweeping new development in the heart of UT athletics. The first phase calls for an $83 million replacement garage that will serve as the structural foundation for the broader development -- a new 24-story condominium-hotel, the centerpiece of the planned $288 million entertainment district. The project's website describes the development as "100% privately funded." Indeed, since unveiling 865 Neyland three-and-a-half years ago, university leaders and developers have repeatedly stressed its reliance on private capital, promising to transform the area around the football stadium and generate new revenue for UT without drawing on taxpayer or university funds. But that claim -- like so much messaging and reporting surrounding Neyland 865 -- hinges on what, exactly, "it" refers to. And this distinction is more than a matter of semantics. Although the broader entertainment district may be privately financed, the $83 million parking construction -- the first major piece of infrastructure -- will be owned by the university and financed through state school bonds. The rest of the project, meanwhile, is far from assured. Nor is the university indemnified against the possibility that the developers' plans and UT's projected new revenue streams fail to materialize. | |
| Former MLB star Mark Teixeira wins U.S. House seat in Texas; Tuberville to be Alabama governor |
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| Republican Mark Teixeira, a three-time Major League Baseball All-Star, has won election to the U.S. House in Texas' 21st Congressional District. The former slugger for the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees defeated Democrat Kristin Hook, a former federal scientist who worked for the National Institutes of Health and the Government Accountability Office. Teixeira ran for the 21st District seat currently held by Republican Rep. Chip Roy, who decided not to seek reelection. Teixeira won the Republican primary for Congress with more than 61% of the vote in March. In other races Tuesday, former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya, a Republican, lost her U.S. Senate race in Minnesota to Democrat Peggy Flanagan. Tafoya, who had stressed to Republican voters her opposition to transgender women playing women's sports, was making her bid for political office after gaining fame as a sideline reporter. Former college football coach Tommy Tuberville, a Republican, won the Alabama gubernatorial race, defeating Democrat Doug Jones in the second head-to-head election involving the two men. | |
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