| Monday, May 18, 2026 |
| Keenum: Graduating Bulldogs prepared for next chapter of life thanks to MSU education, values | |
 | With a world-class degree in hand and a personal foundation built on Bulldog values, approximately 4,000 new Mississippi State graduates are ready to change the world. The Class of 2026 was honored at commencement ceremonies in Starkville and Meridian this week -- events MSU President Mark E. Keenum said were the beginnings of "an exciting new chapter" in their lives. "With your degree from this wonderful institution, you'll have people tripping over themselves to open doors to opportunities for you," the university's 19th president said. "Integrity, strong work ethic and respect for others -- that's who we are, and that's what we're known for. Embrace and live your life with these values." Keenum also conferred honorary Doctor of Public Service degrees to William "Bill" Berry, retired ConocoPhillips executive vice president for worldwide exploration and production, and Archie Tucker, retired area director for the federal government's Agricultural Research Service. |
| Mississippi State University graduation 2026 in Starkville | |
 | Photos: Mississippi State celebrates graduates during commencement at the Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Miss., on Friday, May 15, 2026. |
| Cancer-detecting breakthrough earns MSU's Scott national 'American Innovator' recognition | |
 | Mississippi State University chemist Colleen Scott has been selected for the Bayh-Dole Coalition's 2026 American Innovator Award, one of the nation's most prestigious honors given annually to researchers whose federally funded work leads to real-world impact. Past honorees include developers of mRNA vaccine technology, once-a-day HIV treatments and vision-restoring glasses. Scott, an associate professor in MSU's Department of Chemistry, was nominated by U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith for her patented research developing a shortwave infrared, or SWIR, dye for the visualization of cancer cells. Her award-winning technology enables safe, high-resolution deep tissue visualization by operating at lower energy levels than traditional imaging methods. Her technology is geared to selectively target cancer cells, allowing clinicians to more clearly identify tumor boundaries. Since joining MSU in 2015, she has mentored students, integrated hands-on learning for K-12 students through her "Science with Dr. Scott" outreach program and contributed to research that enhances both technology and education in Mississippi and beyond. |
| Delta Council Holds 91st Annual Meeting | |
| Last week, the Delta Council held its 91st annual meeting here on the lawn of the Delta Research & Extension Center at Mississippi State University. The venue change was due to Delta State University's commencement ceremony and marks a significant change from the 90-year tradition of the group convening at DSU. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson delivered a strong keynote that emphasized the Mississippi Delta's regional significance on the national stage. In his remarks, he highlighted the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, which the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed. Thompson stressed the importance of providing stability and resources for Mississippi Delta farmers and reiterated the need to protect both economic strength and national food security through continued investment in rural America. During the business session, the 2026 achievement awards were presented. Silent Shade Planting Company of Belzoni, Mississippi, received the Outstanding Rice Producer Award; Sledge Taylor III received the Conservation Farmer of the Year Award; Dr. Steve Martin received the Researcher of the Year Award; Bubba Simmons received the Soybean Award; Dr. Lester Khoo received the Outstanding Contributions to Delta Aquaculture Award; and Archie Tucker was honored as Steward of the Delta. |
| TVA ramps up fight against eelgrass in Lake Guntersville with expanded resources | |
| The Tennessee Valley Authority tells FOX54 it has added resources in the fight against eelgrass at Lake Guntersville, with a expanded fleet of harvesters already in the water and weekly herbicide treatments running through the fall. TVA spokesperson Clarissa McClain said the agency has been scaling up its aquatic plant management operation since 2023. On the chemical side, TVA is using EPA-approved herbicides with weekly treatments that run through October. Looking ahead, TVA is funding a four-year research partnership with Mississippi State University to study the effectiveness of various herbicide treatments and combinations -- with the goal of finding more efficient ways to combat eelgrass in the future. |
| $101M Starkville High bond could add hundreds to Oktibbeha tax bills | |
| With Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District borrowing $101 million for the new Starkville High School, property owners in the district are set to pay hundreds of dollars more on their next tax bill. The bond will also hit the books in a year Oktibbeha County taxpayers are bracing for another potential tax increase due to adjustments to the state's assessment manual. The increases will apply to property values for both homes and commercial buildings to the tune of 20%, considering the last adjustment made in 2021. District officials remain mum on estimating how substantial the impact might be, but an analysis from The Dispatch, based on the bond terms and available tax information, determined county homeowners could pay about $65 more per $100,000 of fair market property value just to service the high school bond -- to say nothing of additional increases to city and county taxes. New values set by the Mississippi Department of Revenue for appraising building materials will go into effect for the county this year, raising property values while also adding to the tax burden for property owners. The updates, which happen periodically, are intended to better reflect actual costs for construction in Mississippi. |
| Starkville to halt utility donation program, citing 2023 AG opinion | |
| Aldermen plan to rescind an order approved earlier this month that would have shifted Starkville Utilities' Power of Change program to a voluntary opt-out model after discovering a 2023 Mississippi Attorney General opinion that opposes the program altogether. The program historically required customers to opt in, rounding bills up to the nearest dollar to support the Starkville Community Foundation's utility assistance fund. In light of the AG opinion, the city now plans to halt the program entirely. "It's a shame," Mayor Lynn Spruill told The Dispatch following the board's Friday work session at City Hall. "I think it's a way for us to support our community and ... it circles right back to the city's utility system, which we are not allowed to donate services to anyone who has used them. This was another way to do that in a more charitable fashion, but it is what it is." Only 31 Starkville Utilities customers opted in to the program in the last quarter, contributing about $2,300 to the fund. Starkville Utilities Director Edward Kemp said the department hoped shifting to the opt-out model would generate about $7,000 per month to the fund. |
| When does a city inmate become a county one? Oktibbeha wants a clear answer | |
| Starkville and Oktibbeha County remain divided over when financial responsibility for felony inmates should shift from the city to the county, an issue Mississippi law doesn't clearly define and one that could cost the city thousands more annually. The disagreement centers on how long the city should pay to house felony detainees at Oktibbeha County Jail after arrest. A policy, approved by the county last month, aims to put the onus on Starkville to pay to house city inmates through their indictment, a process which could take months, according to Sheriff Shank Phelps. As it stands, the city assumes responsibility for inmates until they are arraigned, which occurs after a suspect receives bond and the case is transferred to circuit court, typically taking a matter of weeks. District 43 State Rep. Rob Roberson, who serves as attorney for the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors, said he and Starkville City Attorney Berk Huskison are negotiating language for a renewed jail agreement that could clarify where that responsibility changes hands. |
| The Oil Shock Is Causing a $45 Billion Rupture in the Economy | |
 | The largest oil disruption in history is widening a divide in the economy. Americans have cumulatively spent about $45 billion more on gasoline and diesel during the war with Iran than they did during the same period a year ago, according to an analysis of OPIS pricing data and federal demand figures. The surging costs are eating an outsize share of low- and middle-income consumers' paychecks, darkening their outlook relative to the well-off. At the same time, investors in oil-and-gas companies are watching their portfolios swell. Big energy returns bolstered a blockbuster corporate-earnings season and added momentum to the artificial-intelligence-led rally that has pushed the stock market to records. While higher inflation and borrowing costs have added stress on less-affluent Americans, many economists believe high earners will continue powering the U.S. ahead. |
| Mississippi 'whiskey speech' documentary explores art of political compromise | |
| In 1952, Mississippi was a state divided. Prohibition was the law, but whiskey was everywhere. Mississippi legislator Noah "Soggy" Sweat delivered an iconic speech that would resonate for decades. The speech is famous for arguing both sides of the bottle, calling whiskey the "devil's brew" in one breath and the "oil of conversation" in the next. A new documentary directed by David Crews and screened at the Two Mississippi Museums explores why those words still resonate. "He's dealing with those complications and those contradictions and trying to reach an understanding, trying to teach us something about communicating and getting along," Crews said. That need for understanding is something State Sen. Hob Bryan says is desperately missing in today's political climate. He says the speech isn't about changing minds, but about opening them. "It's not so much that whatever your position is, you're persuaded that you're wrong. It's that you understand why the folks who look at things differently feel the way they do," Bryan said. Bryan says in an era where people often assume the "other side" is beyond hope, the whiskey speech offers a different path. "Well, you know, anytime you combine history with whiskey, a lot of people are going to be interested. And, you know, I hope they have a more sophisticated understanding of what it takes to change laws, to piece together legislation and get it passed," Crews said. |
| Effort to make all Mississippi school boards elected failed this session. Another try could come in January | |
| An effort was made during the 2026 legislative session to make all Mississippi school board seats elected, but the legislation failed to garner the support necessary to reach the governor's desk. Another push to make the change is expected when lawmakers return in January. There are 138 public school districts in Mississippi. Most are overseen by a five-member school board that directs the locally appointed superintendent on school policy, the district's budget, personnel, and achievement goals, among other matters. Mississippi lawmakers required that all school superintendents be appointed in 2016. Nearly a third of superintendents were elected at the time. State Rep. Jansen Owen led the charge this legislative session to have all school board members across Mississippi elected, ensuring that the public had a direct voice in who oversees their school districts. However, his bill, HB 1292, died on the calendar in February. Yet, Owen continued to fight for his local constituents who wanted the change. |
| Legislators discuss 2025 session at annual event | |
| The Oxford & Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce held its annual Eggs & Issues breakfast recently at the Oxford Conference Center, where local legislators discussed key outcomes from the 2025 legislative session and highlighted funding priorities and policy initiatives affecting the region. State Sen. Nicole Boyd and state representatives Clay Deweese, Josh Hawkins and Steve Massengill spoke during the event. Boyd focused much of her remarks on education reforms and Mississippi's recent gains in national education rankings. "We've come from 48th in education to 16th," Boyd said, adding that national organizations have referred to the progress as the "Mississippi miracle." Boyd also addressed higher education funding, saying lawmakers are reviewing inequities in state university funding formulas. "We're trying to make sure we're getting better outcomes for students and taxpayers," Boyd said. |
| State. Rep. Jeff Hale arrested in Hernando | |
 | State Representative Jeff Hale was arrested Friday night in Hernando following a traffic stop. Hale was pulled over around 9:51 p.m. by Hernando Police Department for alleged excessive speeding. He was charged with disorderly conduct, failure to comply, driving under the influence-1st offense, reckless driving, and speeding. Hale was later released around 12:30 a.m. on $1,500 bond. Hale has represented Hernando and the 24th District since 2016. Hale said in a statement that he received an emergency phone call from his son and daughter-in-law informing him that his granddaughter was unconscious and not breathing and that they were en route to the hospital. Hale publicly apologized to officers Hernando Police Department and the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office for his actions. "That night they encountered a terrified grandfather whose only concern was reaching the hospital as quickly as possible," Hale stated. |
| Senators Work to Ban Gambling Ads Targeting Minors | |
| Two senators working to protect children online are introducing bipartisan legislation that would ban digital gambling advertisements targeting people under the age of 18, hoping to address fears that minors are getting hooked on betting through ads on social media. Sens. Katie Britt (R., Ala.) and Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.) are introducing legislation called the Gaming Advertisement to Minors Enforcement Act to create a federal prohibition on ads on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram that promote sports betting to minors. Many states and big social-media companies already have such bans, but critics say they are ineffective and don't have adequate punishments. Under the new bill, the Federal Trade Commission would enforce the provisions, and penalties could reach up to $100,000 per advertisement. The bill would exclude ads seen by a wide audience during sporting events and any results from minors actively searching for betting content. The ubiquity of betting ads at sporting events and on online platforms has created what some child-safety advocates call a burgeoning addiction crisis. |
| Republicans and Democrats are in dealmaking mode as time runs out for legislative action | |
 | As Republicans and Democrats prepare to battle each other for control of the House and Senate, they are also scrambling to pass legislative priorities that require working together -- a tall order after months of bitter infighting. Before members depart for a Memorial Day recess, the House GOP majority will try this week to ram through a party-line immigration enforcement package but also attempt to pass bipartisan housing affordability legislation and a bill that would revamp college athletics regulations. Senate Republicans, when not moving the filibuster-skirting immigration bill through their own chamber, are also expected to be conferring with Democratic counterparts on bipartisan deals around a companion college athletics proposal and a framework for overhauling the federal permitting process for energy projects. Speaker Mike Johnson is also negotiating changes to the college athletics bill known as the SCORE Act. That's to appease hard-liners who have issues with provisions in the bill relating to scholarships for international students, among other things. Already, some tweaks were made to woo Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), a former holdout. Trump has made it clear he wants to see passage of the SCORE Act. |
| Incumbent Bill Cassidy knocked out in Louisiana's GOP US Senate primary | |
| U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy incurred the wrath of pro-Trump Republicans in Louisiana who rejected his re-election bid in Saturday's party primary election. Instead, voters lined up behind Congresswoman Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming, who parlayed their stronger ties to the president to earn their way into next month's GOP runoff. In his concession speech to supporters, Cassidy took a not so subtle dig at Trump. "Our country is not about one individual," Cassidy said in his concession speech. "When you participate in democracy, you don't pout. You don't whine. You don't claim the election was stolen." Saturday's election was Louisiana's first closed congressional party primary since 2010, although voters without a party affiliation could choose to take part in the Democratic or Republican elections. Louisiana's move to a semi-closed election process, with Trump ally Gov. Jeff Landry as its lead architect, was designed to prevent Cassidy from getting votes from the non-GOP electorate who would have been able to pick his name in the open "jungle" primary had previously used for its congressional races. Cassidy's political demise began more than five years ago when he was one of seven Republican U.S. senators who voted to convict Trump during his impeachment trial over the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection attempt at the U.S. Capitol. |
| EEOC moves to axe EEO-1 reporting | |
| The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission plans to end employee demographic data reporting, according to a proposal sent to the White House on Thursday. The agency wants to get rid of EEO-1, EEO-2, EEO-3, EEO-4 and EEO-5 reporting requirements. EEOC also wants to axe reporting requirements related to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. EEO-1 reporting has been a cornerstone of HR duties, required by firms with 100 or more employees and federal contractors with 50 or more employees that meet certain requirements. EEOC and analysts have used it to assess demographic data nationally, and -- while the process is sometimes viewed as burdensome -- employers have reportedly used the collected data for self-assessments regarding nondiscrimination and diversity. Following White House approval, proposed rules are generally published in the Federal Register and opened up for public comment before a final rule is published. |
| 'Speak their names': Jackson State community honors civil rights organizer slain in 1967 protest | |
| Benjamin Brown was walking to a cafe on Lynch Street near downtown Jackson to buy food on May 11, 1967, when he encountered a standoff between students and police officers at Jackson State. Students objected to the presence of Jackson police on the campus and had begun protesting the previous day. As the demonstration continued, the state highway patrol and the National Guard got involved. Brown was nearby when law enforcement officers fired guns into the crowd. Bullets struck Brown in the leg, back and head. People cried out for help, but 45 minutes passed before police took Brown to a hospital. He died the next morning, on his 22nd birthday. Now, a new historic marker will honor Brown near the site where he was shot. University officials, along with state and local leaders, unveiled the Ben Brown Freedom Trail Marker on Thursday during JSU's annual Gibbs-Green Commemoration. |
| Mississippi College School of Law awards posthumous honorary degree to Medgar Evers | |
| As college graduations take place statewide, the Mississippi College School of Law presented a posthumous honorary degree to one of the state's iconic civil rights leaders. During Friday's commencement ceremony, the family of Medgar Wiley Evers was presented with the degree along with a framed citation commemorating the late Evers' life, leadership, and impact. "MC Law is humbled and honored that its name will now be forever linked with that of Medgar Wiley Evers through the awarded of this Honorary Doctor of Laws degree," MC Law Dean John Anderson said. Evers, who was the NAACP's first field secretary in Mississippi, applied to the University of Mississippi School of Law but was denied admission in 1954 due to his race. He went on to become one of the most powerful voices for equality nationwide before being assassinated outside his Jackson home in 1963. |
| Mississippi is losing public school students. Where are they going? | |
| Mississippi has lost nearly 70,000 public school students since the state's student population started its downturn in 2013. The vast majority of Mississippi's school districts, 113, have seen enrollment declines -- some as much as 40%. Some experts link the falling public school enrollment to the state's overall population loss. If districts continue to lose students, their funding will decline, too. In 2024, Mississippi adopted a new public school funding formula that ties money to student enrollment. A section of the student funding formula included a "hold-harmless" provision, which prevented districts with declining enrollment from being hit with significant cuts. That protection expires in July 2027. Kymberly Wiggins, the Mississippi Department of Education's chief operating officer, said every district will then have to live with their "true" allocation, which may be a wake-up call. She said the Legislature has an opportunity to adjust the funding formula in 2028 and minimize enrollment-related budget decreases. But Tyler Hansford, superintendent of Union Public School District and president of the state superintendents' association, is worried about what's going to happen in the meantime, as federal pandemic relief money dries up and the state's hold-harmless deadline approaches. |
| Beshear puts 'some pressure' on U. of Kentucky leadership. Can he actually make changes? | |
 | Loosely defined laws and regulations give Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear significant leverage over who leads the state's flagship university, a power he suggested he might invoke after recent disagreements with the University of Kentucky. Beshear recently called for the UK's Board of Trustees, President Eli Capilouto and his administration to be transparent about hiring decisions and layoffs. The governor also asked faculty and staff to be considered in decisions that impact them, including over 900 dining workers who will be laid off on June 30 by a UK partner, Aramark. He also has slammed the hiring of Gregory Van Tatenhove, a U.S. district judge, as the next dean of UK's law school, and Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart's retirement and appointment to executive in residence of a new UK Sport and Workforce Initiative, which Barnhart eventually turned down after the public raised concern about him being paid nearly $1 million a year for the role. After back and forth with the university in public comments, Beshear said he would review UK's board of trustees. He took issue with UK's change in policy to allow certain roles, including Van Tatenhove's and Barnhart's, to be approved by the president alone. UK says that change took effect in 2024. |
| U. of Missouri celebrates new grads at commencement ceremonies | |
 | A total of 5,867 students graduated from the University of Missouri this weekend as spring commencement ceremonies rolled out across campus. Throughout the weekend, each school held its respective commencements. The College of Education and Human Development held the first ceremony at 1 p.m. Friday in Mizzou Arena, and the final ceremony will be for the Graduate School at 3 p.m. Sunday. On Saturday morning, 124 medical students officially became physicians during the School of Medicine graduation ceremony at 10 a.m. in Jesse Auditorium. Following the School of Medicine ceremony, the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources held its commencement in Mizzou Arena. Later Saturday, the College of Arts and Sciences held the first of its two ceremonies in Mizzou Arena. Emilee Stickel was one of many graduates proudly wearing her first generation stole with her cap and gown. "It is very rewarding," Stickel said about receiving her bachelor's degree in interior design. "It feels great to be able to do it for myself and for others in my situation to show them that it can be done." |
| Community college student from Michigan to be 1st woman to represent US at world welding competition | |
 | Growing up, Mikala Sposito dreamed of being a trailblazer. "I always wanted to be the first female to do something," she said. That dream is about to be realized. The 21-year-old from Dexter, Michigan, will be the first woman to represent the United States in welding at the WorldSkills Competition in China. Sposito, a student at Washtenaw Community College, earned the coveted spot by winning the USA Weld Trials in Huntsville, Alabama, earlier this year. "It was very, very close the whole time, but I was the one who made it to Shanghai," Sposito said. Described as the Olympics of the skilled trades, WorldSkills determines the globe's best in technical disciplines that include construction, information technology, manufacturing and robotics. And, of course, welding. Sposito is the sixth Washtenaw Community College student to qualify in WorldSkills history |
| Can colleges still deliver in the age of AI? One Ivy League school is investing $30 million to improve career outcomes | |
| Fears that artificial intelligence will upend students' future career plans are reverberating across college campuses. "Higher education needs to do better," said Joseph Catrino, the inaugural director of Dartmouth's Center for Career Design. "We need to do better for our students -- we need to step up and help students be prepared." The Ivy League college recently raised $30 million in endowed funds to support internship opportunities. Now students can access up to $6,500 during any term to help finance unpaid or underpaid internships. "This allows the student to explore and engage in a field that they normally wouldn't be able to," Catrino said. Many other colleges and universities are launching similar initiatives to make students more employable amid a rapidly changing labor market. Additional internships, externships and hands-on work, these schools say, could better position their students to land jobs after graduating. |
| The Academic Scramble to Prepare Future Accountants for AI | |
| The school year is ending, but for accounting professors, the challenge of shaking up a traditionally static curriculum is just beginning. The automation of entry-level audit work, coupled with the loosening of CPA licensing laws, is upending traditional accounting training and forcing universities to reinvent how they train the next generation of professionals. Some professors who taught from the same textbook for up to 20 years are getting used to certain classes that don't feature a textbook at all. And accounting programs are implementing further AI-driven curriculum changes for the coming fall semester in a bid to keep pace with the needs of their students' future employers. "Up until a year ago, I was a little scared because I felt like I was falling further and further behind," said Kirsten Cook, a professor and director of Texas Tech University's accounting school, referring to AI. "The further behind you get, the harder it is to catch up." Accounting careers are among the most vulnerable to AI capabilities because of the routine work that is a part of auditing, tax and other services. AI has sped up the need for accounting curriculum updates. At Vanderbilt University, professors debrief students the moment they return from their Big Four internships to identify any last-minute adjustments needed before the fall term begins, said Scott Johnson, professor and faculty director of its accounting master's program. |
| No, Colleges Can't Just Quit Canvas | |
 | In the span of two weeks, a massive data breach poisoned the reputation of higher education's dominant learning management system, Canvas. Not only did the hack compromise the personal data of some 275 million users and disrupt finals week at universities across the country, Canvas's parent company, Instructure, is also facing a barrage of lawsuits and a congressional investigation. Canvas got back up and running after Instructure paid a ransom to ShinyHunters -- the cybercrime gang that has hacked Canvas three times in the past year -- to recover the stolen data, against conventional cybersecurity wisdom. While the move brought immediate relief to users, it also generated further frustration from many faculty members and students who remain skeptical that their data is safe. And in the fallout, some have suggested switching to another platform or building their own LMS. Despite all that, numerous experts told Inside Higher Ed that the public ire directed toward Canvas -- which is used by 41 percent of higher education institutions across North America to deliver courses -- likely won't be enough to topple its effective rule of the third-party LMS market; the second-most popular LMS, Blackboard, has about 17 percent of the market share. |
| A Master's Degree Isn't the Job Guarantee It Used to Be | |
| Going back to grad school has long been the Plan B of young professionals who aspire to climb higher in their careers or struggle to get promoted in a tough job market. New data show that getting a master's degree isn't the guarantee it used to be. The unemployment rate for workers under 35 with a master's degree has rarely been higher in the past 20 years, according to the Burning Glass Institute, a labor-market think tank focused on the future of work, which analyzed data collected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics going back to 2003. At the same time, the unemployment rate for workers under 35 with a Ph.D., law degree or medical degree has rarely been lower. "For most of the past two decades, these lines moved together -- not anymore," said Gad Levanon, chief economist of Burning Glass. Levanon has a theory about why the payoffs for advanced degrees have uncoupled: "More degrees chasing fewer of the positions those degrees were meant to unlock." |
| Institutions Prepare for New Accreditation Regulations | |
| As the Department of Education heads into its second week of negotiations over accreditation policies, the proposed regulations remain largely unchanged, higher education experts say. That has triggered concerns among institutions and their accreditors about the operational burdens that the sweeping regulatory proposal could impose. The draft -- first released in mid-April and updated on May 11 -- could dramatically change how accreditors oversee colleges and what institutions need to do to comply. So far, the Trump administration's regulations have faced significant pushback from accreditation agencies, colleges and universities -- all of whom have fewer seats at the negotiating table than they have in years past. But one of the most vocal opponents has been Jennifer Blum, a Republican-appointed member of the department's accreditation advisory committee. Emerging accreditors, though mostly thankful for Trump's interest in recognizing them as agencies, have shared hesitations as well. |
SPORTS
| Softball: Bulldogs Defeat Saint Mary's To Advance To Second Super Regional In Program History | |
| Starkville is home to some Super Dawgs once again. No. 20 Mississippi State defeated Saint Mary's, 5-0, on Sunday evening to complete an undefeated run through the Eugene Regional and reach the second Super Regional in program history. As has been the story all year long, the Bulldogs took control of the game from the circle. Alyssa Faircloth completed the most impressive run through a regional that MSU has ever seen. The junior picked up all three wins, struck out an MSU NCAA Tournament-record 26 batters and did not allow a run in 15.2 innings of work while throwing two complete-game shutouts and a no-hitter. "I just went out there and did it three outs at a time again. I don't want to get too big or look too far ahead," Faircloth said. "That was their message before we even left the hotel, which was like 'Let's take it one pitch at a time, one out at a time,' that kind of thing, rather than looking ahead. So, I'm just staying present in the moment and trusting the girls behind me." |
| Mississippi State softball wins Eugene Regional, advances to super-regional round | |
| The Mississippi State softball team swept through the Eugene Regional to advance past the opening round of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history. The No. 20 Bulldogs beat Saint Mary's, 3-2, in extra innings on Friday before using an Alyssa Faircloth no-hitter on Saturday to blank host Oregon, 4-0, on Saturday. Needing one win on Sunday, Mississippi State did just that with a 5-0 win over Saint Mary's. Faircloth was undoubtedly the star of the regional. The junior picked up all three wins in the circle and struck out 26 batters -- the most for a pitcher in Mississippi State regional history. She did not allow a single run in 15.2 innings of work. Mississippi State will now travel to Norman to play No. 2 Oklahoma in the super-regional round. The best-of-three series begins Friday at noon CT with the second game being played at the same time on Saturday. Game three, if necessary, will be played Sunday at a time to be determined. The winner will advance to the Women's College World Series. |
| Mississippi State wins softball regional with help from a broccoli-loving fan | |
| A near-empty Jane Sanders Stadium was the stage for Mississippi State University's NCAA Regional victory Sunday, May 17, in Eugene. The Bulldogs and Saint Mary's College both earned their places on the final day of the regional with Saturday wins over Oregon softball, and so a stadium that sold out Friday for the Ducks' postseason opener was riddled with empty rows Sunday. Amid that relatively sedate atmosphere (except for one broccoli-toting fan), Mississippi State sealed its spot in the Super Regionals. The atmosphere generated at the game came from the teams' shared bond with an outfield fan. A constant attendee during the weekend, the man dancing with broccoli at the top of the center-field bleachers was joined Sunday by both vegetable-equipped dugouts as they waved their broccoli and wedged it into the infield netting. The fan, Seattle-area resident Jim Allen, started attending games with broccoli six years ago, but found softball around 2023. Softball, he said, matched his energy better than any other sport, he felt, and he started to gain traction. During pregame introductions, the Mississippi State dugout waved its broccoli toward center field, and Allen turned on the dance moves. |
| OU softball vs Mississippi State schedule: Date, time, TV for NCAA Norman Super Regional | |
| Coach Patty Gasso and the third-seeded OU softball team are back in the NCAA Tournament Super Regionals for the 16th straight season. Awaiting the Sooners will be a familiar face Friday afternoon in Mississippi State coach Samantha Ricketts, who starred at OU during her playing days under Gasso. The Bulldogs (41-18) advance to the Norman Super Regional by going undefeated at Oregon, beating Saint Mary's 5-0 in the regional final Sunday. The Sooners (51-8) swept through their regional, beating Michigan 8-1 in Sunday's regional finale. "That's the thing I'm most happy about, is that we come out and we just set a tone right from the start," Gasso said. "That has a lot to do with Kai (Minor) and Gabbie (Garcia) and the hitters right behind that are ready to drive them in. So when you can put three up in the first inning, you've already set a tone and try to just keep matching that along the way, every inning." |
| Track & Field: Bulldogs Close Out SEC Championships | |
| Mississippi State track and field concluded the SEC Championships, hosted by Auburn, Saturday evening. The final day of competition had several point-scoring performances for the Bulldogs, both on the track and the field. The jumps squad kicked off the day on a high note, scoring points in all three events they competed in. Manie Mevo got things rolling in the women's triple jump, finishing sixth with a 13.10m mark earned in the final. Khalil Antoine earned a personal best of 2.17m in the high jump to tie fifth overall. Alla Parnov tied for seventh with a 4.06m jump in the pole vault, extending her No. 4 mark on the MSU all-time list. The men's team concluded the meet in 11th, amassing 39.5 points. The women earned 21.75 points over the weekend, with two podium finishes. |
| Shaq earns master's degree from LSU, trolls Charles Barkley at graduation ceremony | |
 | Shaquille O'Neal received a master's degree from LSU on Saturday and took the opportunity to poke fun at his longtime frenemy Charles Barkley. Before crossing the stage at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center to pick up his diploma, the former LSU basketball player and four-time NBA champion was introduced by the emcee as "Shaquille 'I Hate Charles Barkley' O'Neal." O'Neal and Barkley had a famous brawl on the court during their time in the NBA but have since become friends and can be found ribbing each other as analysts on 'Inside the NBA' on ESPN. O'Neal earned his master's degree from the College of Human Sciences and Education, where he wrote a thesis examining mentorship through the lens of Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey." In a speech at Saturday's ceremony, O'Neal told graduates to "never stop learning" -- and never stop buying his products. |
| At Big Ten spring meetings, coaches lobby for 24-team playoff | |
| Outside the meeting rooms at a swanky resort in Southern California, the Big Ten displayed some signature art for the league's annual meetings. It prominently featured three of the national championship trophies won by the conference this year -- Indiana's football trophy and the basketball trophies won by the UCLA women and Michigan men. Coming off three consecutive national titles in football, the Big Ten's voice will be heard louder this offseason. The league formally invited reporters to the spring meetings, a departure from the recent past and a move that mimics the heavily covered SEC meetings that take place annually in Florida after Memorial Day. "I just felt like if messages were getting out of one part of the country and not the other part of the country, some of the things that we wanted to share that we really believe in was getting missed," said Washington football coach Jedd Fisch, who advocated for more coverage of the meetings. |
| Lawmakers zero in on sports gambling regulation as scandals boom | |
 | Congress appears poised to intensify its scrutiny of major sports leagues and their gambling partners in response to a growing number of scandals involving illicit wagering that have rocked college programs and professional teams in recent months. An explosive scandal that hinged on point shaving and leaked injury information in the NBA last fall resulted in federal charges against a number of current and former players. Major League Baseball recently suspended a pair of pitchers charged with throwing balls and strikes at certain times to benefit gamblers. And the NCAA says it is investigating a handful of athletes at smaller college basketball programs who reportedly took bribes to benefit bettors as well as a top quarterback who checked himself into rehab for gambling addiction earlier this year who is believed to have wagered on a former team while with the school. The growing prevalence of gambling culture in sports, and the booming business of legal sports wagering in the U.S. is sparking concern from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle that the leagues and sportsbooks are not doing enough to protect game integrity and athlete safety. "Fans shouldn't have to wonder if their favorite player missed a buzzer-beater or dropped a touchdown pass because of a secret bet," said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), chairman of the Senate Commerce and Technology Committee. "Unfortunately, recent episodes have planted that seed of doubt and raised questions about whether changes are necessary to integrity in sports." |
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