| Thursday, February 11, 2016 |
| Ellis, Roberson file SOCSD-MSU partnership school bills | |
 | District 38 Rep. Tyrone Ellis, D-Starkville, and District 43 Rep. Rob Roberson, R-Starkville, both filed legislation this week that, if approved, would provide state funding for the construction of a grades 6-7 Oktibbeha County partnership school with Mississippi State University. The Ellis-penned HB 984 and Roberson-backed HB 993 call for the creation of a $30 million model school to open for the 2017-2018 school year. To fund its construction, both bills call for the Legislature to appropriate at least $30 million from available state funding sources or general obligation bonds. All three bills were sent to the House Education Committee, while the partnership school-specific drafts were also forwarded to the House Universities and Colleges Committee. |
| Mississippi State's EcoCar 3 team heading into crucial stage of competition | |
 | The team of Mississippi State University students working to transform a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro's fuel economy and power will begin installing modified mechanical aspects next week into the muscle car, team leaders said Wednesday. EcoCar 3 is an advanced vehicular competition funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy and General Motors. Sixteen universities from around the U.S. compete in a multi-year project to redesign vehicles into more powerful and sustainable models. "The major implementation of our design into the Camaro will be over the course of next three weeks," said Ashley Madison, EcoCar communications manager. "We will disassemble the Camaro starting on Monday hopefully." The majority of testing and design implementation takes place at the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems at MSU in the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park. |
| Aldrin captivates Mississippi State students | |
 | Buzz Aldrin walked on stage to thunderous applause from the 1,024 who packed the gorgeous Bettersworth Auditorium, inside Lee Hall, on the Mississippi State campus. The second man to walk on the moon smiled, then quickly struck a pose Tuesday night as if he might surprise us with a dance. Instead, he slowly raised his right pant leg to reveal red, white and blue socks. The crowd roared. He was funny, introspective, charming, mesmerizing and, so it seemed, happy. And much to everyone's delight, he was more than willing to share details of his journey on Apollo 11 in July 1969, when he and the late Neil Armstrong became the first humans to land on the moon and explore it. It was also refreshing to see that Aldrin's appearance, and what he means to our nation's history, didn't fly past MSU's students. Free tickets were gone in no time after the event was posted. |
| Buzz Aldrin promotes space exploration at Mississippi State | |
| The second man to walk to the moon, Buzz Aldrin, spent a part of his Tuesday-evening lecture at Mississippi State University telling the capacity crowd about the miracle of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission to the Moon. The miracle wasn't the result of the three astronauts -- himself, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins -- working alone, he said. Instead it was the collaborative effort of untold thousands of people uniting to work toward a single, seemingly-impossible goal. The Apollo 11 crew was welcomed as heroes when they returned to Earth -- but the celebration wasn't just about them, Aldrin said. "We understood that people were not cheering for three guys, but for what we represented," he said. |
| Mississippi consultants announce 2016 scholarship winners | |
 | Two Mississippi State University graduate students have been named recipients of scholarships from the Mississippi Agricultural Consultants Association. The award is made annually to a student, or students, in recognition of outstanding achievements in their agricultural studies. "It's impressive each year to see the high caliber work being done by students pursuing degrees in agricultural specialties," said Bill Pellum, Clarksdale, Miss., consultant, who presented the awards at the group's annual meeting. William Jeffrey Mansour, Greenville, Miss., and John Hartley North, Madison, Miss., are the 2016 scholarship honorees. |
| Mississippi Department of Transportation expands into STEM education | |
 | As part of a continued effort to invest in the educational opportunities for the young people of Mississippi, the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) has launched www.GoMDOT.com/stemeducation a new STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) website aimed at increasing interest in careers in the transportation industry, specifically civil engineering. To meet the needs of the changing workforce, many schools across the state have shifted their focus to STEM education programs. MDOT has responded to this shifting emphasis by developing, implementing and supporting multiple education outreach programs. "Our new STEM education site is designed as a tool to raise awareness about the education outreach programs MDOT offers," said MDOT Executive Director Melinda McGrath. "This site is a valuable resource for teachers, parents and students." |
| Mississippi's Abney elected as Chairman of the Board at UPS | |
 | UPS has elected Mississippi native David P. Abney, UPS Chief Executive Officer, as Chairman of the Board, effective immediately. Abney succeeds Scott Davis as Chairman, who will retire from his position on the UPS Board effective as of the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareowners. A native of Greenwood, Abney earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Delta State University. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Delta State University Alumni Foundation. He and his wife, Sherry, sponsor the school's annual symposium on international business. Abney began his UPS career in 1974 in a small facility in Greenwood while attending Delta State. |
| Delta Furniture opens plant in Houlka, plans to hire 100 | |
 | Upholstered furniture maker Delta Furniture has expanded into Chickasaw County, with plans to eventually hire 100 people. The company, based in Pontotoc, announced Wednesday that it would invest $432,000 to set up a plant in an 80,000-square-foot facility formerly owned by Astrolounger. The Mississippi Development Authority is giving the company $150,000 for infrastructure improvements, with the Three Rivers Planning and Development District providing a 10 percent match. |
| Unions: Friend or foe to Mississippi workers? | |
| The state of Mississippi has seen an economic explosion in industry during the last decade. With growth of industry, however, has come the decline of labor unions in the state. Gov. Phil Bryant has repeatedly touted that Mississippi is a "non-union state." In Lowndes County, the industrial park came to life as Severstal, Paccar and Stark Aerospace put down Mississippi roots. General Tire, Omnova, EkoNobel and American Bosch were all major industrial players in the Columbus city limits. Of those four companies, only EkoNobel remains. The others, all union, have shuttered. State Rep. Gary Chism said the numerous plant closures were due, in part, to unions. Robert Shaffer, president of the Mississippi chapter of AFL-CIO, said union workers want to enjoy "much of the same benefits that Mr. Chism enjoys by being a legislator." |
| Ed committee passes appointed superintendent bill | |
| A bill that would require all school superintendent positions in Mississippi to be appointed cleared an initial hurdle out of the Senate Education Committee Wednesday. Legislative leaders have been pushing for the change, which comes up nearly every year. In years past, similar bills have passed the Senate and died in the House. Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves applauded the committee's actions. "The current model of electing superintendents strictly limits the ability of local communities to find the best candidate for the job," Reeves said. "Districts should be able to choose highly qualified candidates to lead their schools without the limits of an individual's geography and desire to run for office." Reeves said he believes this will be the year the state "finally takes that crucial step in improving district management." |
| Mississippi bill would require appointment of school superintendents | |
 | The Mississippi Senate's Education Committee passed legislation Wednesday that would require appointment of school district superintendents statewide, a move that would affect DeSoto County, where the superintendent is elected every four years. This isn't the first time senators have pushed appointment, but the measure has always failed in the House. Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, who presides over the Senate, thinks this year might be different. "I believe this is the year Mississippi finally takes that crucial step in improving district management," Reeves, a Republican, said in a prepared statement. In DeSoto County, an affluent and populous district where performance has never been an issue, the idea of appointing superintendents has never gained much traction. State Sen. Chris Massey, R-Nesbit, one of two DeSoto senators on the Education Committee, said Wednesday he is not likely to support the measure when it comes to a full vote in the Senate unless it includes a provision allowing a local option on whether to elect or appoint. |
| Senate panel seeks appointed local school superintendents | |
| Mississippi lawmakers are making a fresh push to have 55 elected local school superintendents appointed by school boards instead, with the Senate Education Committee approving such a bill Wednesday. Only Democrat J.P. Wilemon, of Belmont, and Angela Hill, R-Picayune, opposed Senate Bill 2438 on a voice vote. It now moves to the full Senate for more work, and could be considered as early as Thursday. Senate Education Committee Chairman Gray Tollison, R-Oxford, likened hiring a superintendent to hiring a football coach. He noted school districts can go anywhere to hire a winning coach, but voters have to select a superintendent from among district residents who hold a school administrator's license from the state. In some rural counties, the pool of eligible candidates can be very small. |
| Bill would allow teachers to promote creationism | |
| A Mississippi lawmaker wants to strengthen a public school teacher's ability to express beliefs that challenge climate change and evolution, among other subjects. Rep. Mark Formby, R-Picayune, said a constituent told him a teacher had been questioned after bringing the theory of creationism, or the religious belief that the universe originated from acts of divine creation. The bill was referred to the House Education Committee, which Rep. John Moore, R-Brandon, chairs. Moore, who is listed as a co-author on the bill but has not carefully reviewed it, said it is unlikely he will bring it up. "We're very limited on the amount of legislation we move forward," Moore said. |
| Go heeled for God: Bill would allow guns in church | |
| A bill authored by House Judiciary Chairman Andy Gipson would allow Mississippi churches to authorize members to carry firearms and provide legal protection for those who do. "I started thinking about this after the church shooting in South Carolina," Gipson said of House Bill 786, the "Mississippi Church Protection Act" now pending in his committee. Gipson said state law is unclear, and conflicting, on packing in church. "One section says you can with an enhanced carry permit, another statute has an outright prohibition for places of worship," Gipson said. "This gives churches the option, the choice. They can create their own security program, and designate members who can carry ... A lot of these smaller churches can't afford to hire security." |
| Several states, including Mississippi, seek to block 2nd trimester abortion method | |
| Abortion opponents in Mississippi, West Virginia and several other states are filing bills to ban an abortion procedure commonly used in the second trimester that opponents describe as dismembering a fetus. Courts have already blocked similar laws that Kansas and Oklahoma enacted in 2015. The New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights, which represents abortion providers in legal fights, says banning the dilation and evacuation method of abortion -- commonly called "D&E" -- is unconstitutional because it interferes with private medical decisions. Republican Rep. Sam Mims, chairman of the Mississippi House Public Health Committee, is sponsoring the proposal to ban a procedure he calls "very graphic." |
| MDOC head urges lawmakers not to cut budget | |
| Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Marshall Fisher isn't asking lawmakers for additional money for corrections, but urges lawmakers not to cut his budget, citing a shortage of guards and parole and probation officers. Fisher gave a presentation Wednesday to the House Appropriations Committee, outlining the needs for the department including realigning or increasing the salary of guards and parole and probation officers. "If I told you all my needs, we would be here awhile," said Fisher, who become MDOC commissioner in January 2015. MDOC's current budget is $374 million, with $345 million of that from the general fund. For the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, Fisher said his goal is level funding. |
| Mississippi bill would allow pogy boats to keep more red fish | |
 | A bill in the state Senate Ports and Marine Resources Committee would greatly increase the number of red drum a commercial fishing boat could have on board. That, a conservation group says, is unacceptable. "All of this has been done without any public scrutiny," said F.J. Eicke of the Coastal Conservation Association. He said the conservationists were not included in any discussions about the bill. Sen. Brice Wiggins of Pascagoula said he was asked by Omega Protein, which fishes for menhaden in Mississippi waters, to file the bill. "They are looking out for their captains," Wiggins said. "The way the law is now, there is zero tolerance. This allows law enforcement some leeway. As in any kind of law, there should be flexibility." |
| Chicago man sues to try to get on Mississippi Democratic primary ballot | |
| The Mississippi Supreme Court is considering a challenge by a Chicago businessman who's trying to get listed on the state's March 8 Democratic primary ballot for president. Three justices heard arguments Wednesday from attorneys representing Willie Wilson and the Mississippi secretary of state, but did not say when they would rule. Wilson's attorney, Sam Begley, said he thinks the Mississippi Democratic Party and the secretary of state are violating Wilson's constitutional rights by leaving him off the ballot. The party initially rejected Wilson's petition to be listed, saying he submitted too few signatures. Party chairman Rickey Cole later contacted the secretary of state and said to list Wilson, but absentee ballots had been printed. Begley asked justices to order the secretary of state to produce and distribute a new ballot that lists Wilson. |
| Appeals court tosses order blocking Mississippi executions | |
| An appeals court Wednesday upheld Mississippi's method of lethal injection, rejecting arguments from death row inmates who opposed the state's plan to use drugs not specifically approved by state law. The 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate ruled incorrectly in August when he issued a preliminary injunction blocking the state from executing prisoners. It wasn't immediately clear if Attorney General Jim Hood would seek to set execution dates for prisoners who have exhausted their appeals. A spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. |
| State lawmakers endorse Clinton for Dem primary | |
| Some state Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday endorsed Hillary Clinton for president in the March 8 Mississippi primary at a Capitol press conference that ended with them holding campaign signs and chanting "Hillary, Hillary, Hillary." "Hillary Clinton has a proven record of fighting for children and families," said Rep. Earle Banks, D-Jackson, chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus. "From helping achieve the Children's Health Insurance Program, which covers more than 8 million kids, to her commitment in this campaign to raise wages, she has continually worked to expand opportunity for all Americans. I am proud to stand behind her as she offers real solutions to problems that face our communities every day." |
| John Kasich, No. 2 in New Hampshire, Turns to an Uncertain South Carolina | |
 | Gov. John R. Kasich of Ohio savored his come-from-behind, second-place finish in the New Hampshire Republican primary on Tuesday night as if it were an outright victory. But the road ahead for his presidential campaign remains arduous and uphill. Henry Barbour, a veteran Republican strategist based in Mississippi, commended Mr. Kasich's second-place finish but noted that he had benefited from what Mr. Barbour called "a refreshing contrast with the rest of the field with his positive message to their food fight." "Oh, and by the way," Mr. Barbour added, "he should buy Chris Christie a steak dinner for his hand in changing the entire momentum of the race in New Hampshire just three days before the primary." |
| Returning to his roots, Obama calls for an end to 'poisonous political climate' | |
 | Returning to the message of hope that propelled him from the Illinois state capital to the White House, President Obama on Wednesday invoked Abraham Lincoln's warning that a house divided could not stand and called for structural changes to improve the country's political discourse. In an address to the same Illinois Legislature where he once served, and in the city where nine years earlier to the day he had launched his presidential bid, Obama accepted responsibility for his failure to "reduce the polarization and meanness in our politics," even as he fondly recalled the collaborative nature of his work as a state senator. He warned that the "poisonous political climate" was a growing threat and said he still believed in a "politics of hope." The president's trip to Springfield was a nostalgic one. |
| Student Competition Highlights Obesity In Mississippi | |
 | Sponsored by Blue Cross & Blue Shield, students this week presented business plans showcasing how each team would help combat obesity and health issues prevalent in Mississippi. Glenn Boyce is commissioner of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning. He describes the benefits students get from participating. "They learn so much about teamwork, collaboration, responsibility, and they also learn about putting together business plans. Perhaps, the most important thing is, it draws on their creativity to help solve some of the most important problems in Mississippi, and that's some of our health related issues," says Boyce. Eleven teams of three to six students, represented each public university. This is the second annual Social Business Challenge. Boyce says he looks forward to seeing what the next one may bring. |
| MUW's Tom Velek nominated for IHL diversity award | |
| This year's recipient of Mississippi University for Women's Diversity Educator of the Year award was described as "a champion of diversity" on campus and in the community. Dr. Tom Velek, professor of history in the College of Arts and Sciences at The W, was honored at a Tuesday luncheon on campus attended by university administrators, faculty and staff representatives, past award recipients and guests. In her nomination letter, Dr. Leslie Stratyner, professor of English, said, "As you can see, during his 18 years at The W, Dr. Thomas Velek has been and continues to be a champion of diversity at this institution. In every way, he merits the IHL Diversity Award." |
| UM student committee to vote on Vardaman Hall resolution in near future | |
 | The Associated Student Body Senate met in a committee session to discuss ideas and issues on campus, including the resolution concerning the name of Vardaman Hall Tuesday night. In the summer of 2013, an expanded Sensitivity and Respect Committee reviewed the University's environment on race and race related issues. Both the University's organizational structure related to diversity and issues concerning building names and symbols were evaluated by independent advisors. Any and all symbols and buildings may benefit from this, but some to consider in the early stages include Vardaman Hall, the ballroom in Johnson Commons, and the Confederate Statue, according to the report. |
| Oxford University Transit approves annual budget | |
| As the Oxford University Transit system continues to grow, so does the number of buses, the number of routes traveled and the cost of providing the service. The OUT board approved a $5.3 million budget Tuesday for the 2016-2017 fiscal year, which increased from the current budget of $3.7 million. OUT needs to approve its budget early in the year so it can be submitted to the Mississippi Department of Transportation by the end of February to apply for transportation grants that pay 80 percent of capital costs and 50 percent of the operational costs. In 2015, the board approved creating a new route, the Grey Route, to provide service to Oxford High School and the Oxford Commons area. The board also approved starting a new late-night route, called Safe Ride, which brings students from the downtown Square to campus. The route started two weeks ago and already has carried about 750 students, according to OUT Manager Ron Biggs. |
| Institute of Marine Mammal Studies expansion plans making progress | |
 | Plans are moving forward to more than double the space used by the Institute of Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport. Construction bids are being opened to turn the empty area next to the current IMMS center into a 36,000 square foot facility, mostly indoors. It will be a larger space for IMMS to house dolphins and sea lions, along with an aviary. Visitors will also have a chance to swim with sting rays and sharks. Moby Solangi, executive director of the institute, said the property has been acquired from the Harrison County Development Commission and is primarily being paid for by federal grants and private donations. Solangi thinks the expansion will give more people a chance to get up close and personal with the marine life. Solangi says bids will be open on March 3, and he hopes construction will be finished by the end of this year. |
| East Mississippi Community College Instructor, Student Honored At State Capitol | |
 | An East Mississippi Community College student and teacher were recognized among the best in higher education in the state at an awards luncheon at the Mississippi State Capitol. Sophomore Matthew Addy of College Station, Texas, and Information Systems Technology instructor Andrew B. Sesser were named EMCC's 2015-16 HEADWAE (Higher Education Appreciation Day, Working for Academic Excellence) Award recipients at a luncheon that took place Feb. 2. At the banquet, a student and teacher from each community college and university in Mississippi were recognized for their outstanding work. "The represented EMCC quite well at the banquet," EMCC President Dr. Thomas Huebner said. |
| First listening sessions for U. of Alabama strategic plan slated | |
 | The first of a series of listening sessions that will inform the ongoing strategic planning process at the University of Alabama is scheduled for today. The listening sessions will be used to hear concerns from the campus community as the strategic planning council assesses the state of the university and identifies priorities and corresponding strategies for the next five years. The sessions announced so far are intended for faculty and staff specifically with other general listening sessions to come later, according to a university spokesperson. UA President Stuart Bell said he hopes to present the five-year plan in April. |
| Auburn University biologist discovers new tarantula species, names it after Johnny Cash | |
 | A team of researchers, led by Chris Hamilton, former doctoral student in the Department of Biological Sciences at Auburn University, has discovered a previously unknown species of tarantula and named it after legendary singer-songwriter Johnny Cash. The species, Aphonopelma johnnycashi, was found in California near the site of Folsom State Prison, which Cash made famous in his song "Folsom Prison Blues." The mature male Aphonopelma johnnycashi measures up to 6 inches across and is generally solid black in color, much like Cash's distinctive style of dress from which his nickname, "The Man in Black," was coined. "The project was a mix of traditional taxonomy which biologists have been doing for the last 200 years and the most advanced, modern techniques available," said Jason Bond, senior author of the study and chair of the Department of Biological Sciences. The study was part of Hamilton's dissertation, which was funded by two National Science Foundation grants made to Auburn. |
| U. of Tennessee official says governor's outsourcing plan 'would be a disaster' | |
 | A top official at the University of Tennessee has blasted Gov. Bill Haslam's proposal to outsource management of campus buildings, saying it would be a disastrous move for the state's flagship university. Dave Irvin, the associate vice chancellor for facilities management at UT's Knoxville campus, told students this week that the state's plan to privatize facilities management at colleges, prisons and state parks was a "one-size-fits-all" approach that wouldn't meet the unique needs of his campus. "It would be a disaster for this campus. It would be a disaster for our students," Irvin said during an interview with the students, who were writing a column for The Daily Beacon, UT's student newspaper. Those students shared a recording of the interview with The Tennessean. Making the change probably would imperil administrators' hopes for UT-Knoxville to become one of the country's top 25 public research universities, Irvin said. |
| Meeting at UGA aims to develop women agriculture leaders | |
 | Women from across the Southeast -- and a few men -- met in Athens this week to begin building a new generation of women agricultural leaders. Women have made inroads in leadership positions in the agriculture industry. But even the most accomplished can come up against bias, said Deputy U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden, the keynote speaker at the Southern Region Women's Agricultural Leadership Summit at the University of Georgia's Center for Continuing Education. A native of Camilla and a UGA graduate, Harden is the second-highest administrator in the department -- chief operating officer for the USDA and its 100,000 employees. Yet when Harden recently interviewed for a job, she was asked if she had management experience, she told a crowd of more than 100 that included farmers, extension agents, agricultural supply business owners and other agricultural professionals, most of them women. |
| All-clear sounded after reported shooting near UGA Health Sciences Campus | |
| Authorities have given the all-clear following a shooting incident this afternoon near the University of Georgia's Health Sciences Campus. A gunman who fired at a residence directly behind the campus during an armed robbery is believed to have left the area and authorities are focusing their efforts on finding him in an area more than two miles away. A little before 6 p.m., Athens Clarke County Police identified the suspect as Kristopher Ellison, 25 of Athens. He was last seen wearing dark in color shorts and a dark in color shirt. Police as if anyone sees this individual or knows his current whereabouts, they are asked to call 911. He should be considered armed and dangerous. Shortly before 3 p.m., UGA police issued a "timely warning" about gunshots being fired near the campus. |
| U. of Florida professor, marathon runner, dies at campus rec center | |
 | A University of Florida physics professor and marathon runner died this week after he was found unresponsive in a bathroom on campus, according to the UF Police Department. Steven Detweiler was found unresponsive Monday morning in a bathroom at Maguire Field, near the Southwest Recreation Center, UPD Officer Wayne Clark said. He was pronounced dead after paramedics took him to the hospital. Detweiler, who was 68, taught physics at UF for many years and did research on black holes and gravitational waves. Last year, Detweiler was among more than 20 people from North Central Florida who completed the Boston Marathon. His finishing time was 3:43:21. |
| EXCLUSIVE: Lawsuit might undo huge tax breaks for student housing in Columbia | |
 | A new lawsuit threatens to unravel millions of dollars in student housing tax breaks that led to a burst of high-end, dormitory-like construction in the Capital City in the past two years. The suit contends that it was illegal for Richland County and the city of Columbia to extend 50 percent property tax breaks to five complexes whose owners invested at least $240 million collectively to build apartments intended to keep university students living in the city center rather than moving into private housing just outside of town. The surge of construction, now reaching completion, is to bring some 3,000 students downtown. |
| Faculty: U. of Missouri education dean's departure not tied to university issues | |
 | The departure of University of Missouri College of Education Dean Daniel Clay is a normal academic career move that does not reflect on issues at the college or university, two division directors said Wednesday. On Monday, the University of Iowa announced it was hiring Clay to lead its College of Education. Clay's first tenure-track position was at Iowa, the news release said. His salary will be $305,000, a raise of almost $58,000 over his MU salary. For much of the past year, Clay has been working on a special fundraising assignment with the Provost's Office, with Kathryn Chval filling in as acting dean. Clay was traveling with interim Chancellor Hank Foley and could not be reached for comment. |
| House committee votes to exclude U. of Missouri System from budget increases | |
 | The House Committee for Higher Education Appropriations voted Wednesday to nix a funding increase for the UM System. In his budget, Gov. Jay Nixon recommended a 6 percent increase to higher education funding, totaling $55.6 million for all state-funded Missouri colleges and universities. Under Nixon's proposal, the system would have received an additional $26.8 million over this fiscal year's allocation. The amendment approved in the committee hearing brought the Nixon's proposal down to a 2 percent increase and applied it to all state-funded Missouri colleges and universities, but it excluded the UM System from receiving any more money. Rep. Donna Lichtenegger, R-Jackson, chair of the committee, said the UM System's exemption from the increases is a consequence of recent turmoil on MU's campus. |
| U.S. House Backs New Bid to Require 'National Interest' Certification for NSF Grants | |
 | The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation on Wednesday that would require the National Science Foundation to award grants only for research projects that the agency can certify as being in the national interest. The Republican-written measure (HR 3293), passed on a nearly party-line vote of 236 to 178, would set a series of broad yardsticks by which the "national interest" could be defined, such as improving American economic health or strengthening national defense. It marked the latest Republican attempt to limit scientific freedom at the NSF, which receives more than $7 billion a year in taxpayer support. The measure "ensures the grant process at the National Science Foundation is transparent and accountable to the American people," said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, chairman of the House science committee. |
| New boutique hotel chain focuses on college towns | |
 | Graduate Hotels, and its parent company, AJ Capital, are far from the first to turn their eye to the college hotel market, which is relatively steady and even recession resistant, but they may be the first to do so by running away from the every-room-like-every-other-room safety of the average Holiday Inn Express or the often limited offerings of a university-owned, nostalgia-themed hotel. Graduate Madison and its chain just turned two years old. It has five locations up and running so far in cities like Oxford, Miss., and Tempe, Ariz., and another five upcoming this year. All the cities have a number of elements in common, but first and foremost is a major university presence. Whether Graduate Hotels is set to permanently or significantly change the college hotel market is unclear, however. |
| What happened at Sanders U.: Jane Sanders' time running a Vermont college | |
 | When Jane Sanders was in charge of a small private college in Vermont for seven years, it sank deep into debt while trying to expand its campus. Many students took out tens of thousands of dollars in loans to attend, but their investment was questionable: Only a third of former Burlington College students earn more than the average person with a high school diploma. Jane Sanders' husband, presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, has offered a higher-education plan that would make tuition at public colleges free. But it would do little to prod colleges, public or private, to keep costs down or ensure that a college degree is worthwhile for graduates. Jane Sanders, who led Burlington College from 2004 to 2011, spent millions on a new campus -- 33 acres along the bank of Lake Champlain -- to attract more students and donations from alumni. It didn't work. It's a formula that has failed colleges and universities across the country. |
| Today's Freshman Class Is the Most Likely to Protest in Half a Century | |
| Today's college freshmen are more likely to participate in a student-led protest than each of the nearly five decades of classes that preceded them, according to survey results released on Thursday. That includes the college freshmen of the late 1960s and early 70s, an era storied for its on-campus political activism. Nearly one in 10 freshmen said there was a very good chance they would participate in a protest in college, according to the annual Freshman Survey by the Cooperative Institutional Research Program, part of the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California at Los Angeles. The racial unrest in recent years -- including police shootings nationwide and protests on college campuses -- has clearly made a mark on students' psyches. |
| Survey finds 1 in 10 freshmen plan on participating in campus protests | |
| The protests that swept across college campuses last year may be here to stay, at least for the next four years, according to the newest findings from an annual survey of incoming freshmen. Nearly one in 10 students responding to the survey said they expect to participate in student protests while in college. About 9 percent of incoming freshmen said they have a "very good chance" of participating in student protests while in college, an increase of 2.9 percentage points from last year's survey. The finding is among several from this year's survey that the researchers say point to the highest level of civic engagement in the study's 50-year history. |
| Berkeley facing big budget trouble, 'painful' measures ahead for nation's top public college | |
 | The University of California at Berkeley, the nation's most prestigious public university, is facing a "substantial and growing" budget deficit and is preparing to take measures that its leader warned will be "painful" as it repositions itself financially. University Chancellor Nicholas B. Dirks announced Wednesday morning that Berkeley needs to review almost every aspect of the school's finances -- including its academic and administrative structure, how it generates revenue and philanthropy, and what it spends on athletics and buildings. Berkeley officials say the school's expenses are projected to exceed revenues this year by about $150 million, or 6 percent of its operating budget. With about 37,000 students, Berkeley is perennially ranked the top public university in the country and is the jewel of the world-renowned UC system. Fiscal troubles at the flagship of the Golden State underscore perils facing public higher education nationwide. |
| Protecting Student Journalists in a New-Media Era | |
| The controversial firing of a faculty member who advised Mount St. Mary's University's student newspaper has drawn attention to such publications' vulnerability to censorship. At the same time the Maryland private college is coming under fire from free-speech advocates, however, that state's Senate is considering a bill intended to keep such events from taking place at public colleges and high schools, by guaranteeing the First Amendment rights of their student journalists. Similar bills have been offered up in Nebraska and passed by legislative committees in Missouri and Washington State. North Dakota enacted such a measure into law last spring. |
| Colleges Seek Out Future Special Education Teachers | |
 | With the need for special education teachers in Utah far outstripping the supply, teacher educators at Utah State University aren't letting any potential prospects slip through the cracks. The overarching theme of the university's initiatives, said Robert L. Morgan, a professor of special education who oversees student recruitment, is that an enticing brochure or a flashy website isn't enough to bring would-be teachers in the door. "If you have a teacher shortage in special education and you need people to be coming into your teacher-preparation programs, you have to go out and actively recruit," Morgan said. Utah is far from alone in facing a shortage of special education teachers: It's been a nationwide problem for decades. The issues that drive teachers from special education -- or that prevent some would-be candidates from considering the field -- are multifaceted, said Mary Brownell, a professor of special education at the University of Florida. |
| Mississippi's own kind of socialism | |
| Mississippi newspaper publisher and columnist Wyatt Emmerich writes: "Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders received an avalanche of criticism when he called himself a democratic socialist. Meanwhile, the newly entrenched Mississippi Republican leadership is going full bore with its own kind of socialism. When the government picks which industries come to Mississippi, you can't get more socialistic than that. Russia tried that kind of centralized governmental planning. It didn't work out so well. ...A better economic development strategy would be to repeal Mississippi's unusual state franchise tax. That would help all businesses instead of just a few." |
| Gas tax hike hard sell to Mississippi lawmakers | |
| Syndicated columnist Sid Salter writes: "At the pump, we're all paying less for gasoline than we've paid since 2009. In recent months, Mississippi gas prices have significantly declined. So, too, have the nation's roads and bridges declined. The overall condition of roads and bridges, particularly in states like Mississippi, are approaching very dangerous points. Some 16 states have approved gas tax hikes over the last two years, but Mississippi isn't one of them. Like their federal counterparts in Congress, Mississippi lawmakers have been slow to approve any tax increases. Despite broad-based support from Republican state transportation officials and the Mississippi Economic Council, there's little momentum for the MEC-based 'Excelerate Mississippi' initiative -- a package of legislative proposals the group says will raise $375 million per year to improve transportation infrastructure in Mississippi." |
SPORTS
| Texas A&M, Mississippi State to play key SEC women's basketball game | |
 | Two years ago when the Mississippi State women's basketball team came to Reed Arena, it was all about Vic Schaefer's homecoming. The then-second-year Bulldogs head coach had the program on the upswing, but the 73-35 Texas A&M victory showed he had a ways to go. Still, it was a memorable return for Schaefer, who was an Aggie assistant nine seasons, including the 2011 national championship year. Schaefer said afterward he appreciated the crowd's warm response before tipoff, but as for the game, "I'm disappointed, but there's a bigger picture here." The bigger picture comes into focus at 6 p.m. Thursday at Reed Arena when the 11th-ranked Bulldogs face the 15th-ranked Aggies in a pivotal Southeastern Conference game. |
| Mississippi State's win over Arkansas largest since 2005 | |
 | Mississippi State's 78-46 victory over Arkansas on Tuesday night not only snapped a five-game losing skid to the Razorbacks but was also the Bulldogs' biggest win in quite some time. The 32-point margin of victory was the first time MSU has won an SEC game by 30 points since it downed Auburn 90-53 on Jan. 5, 2005. "The secret is out, we can play really good," said MSU coach Ben Howland. "We can be a very good team so now we've got to build on this." The victory was also the Bulldogs' first 20-point win in league play since defeating Arkansas 79-59 on March 3, 2012. |
| Mississippi State's Gavin Ware producing one of the nation's best seasons | |
| Mississippi State's record disguises Gavin Ware's dominance this season. Players on losing teams (the Bulldogs 10-13 and 3-8 in conference) rarely receive postseason attention. Yet, Ware is producing some of the best numbers in the country. "The coaches, I'm not sure the media, but the coaches recognize that for sure, because he's demanding double-teams," coach Ben Howland said. "People are coming at him, helping on him." On the surface, Ware leads Mississippi State averaging 14.2 points per game and 7.1 rebounds. Neither ranks within the top five of the Southeastern Conference. Advanced analytics paint Ware as one of the top players nationally, regardless of position. |
| Mississippi State softball opens Nusz Park | |
| It's time to play ball at Nusz Park. Mississippi State's newly-renovated, $6.4 million softball facility makes its official debut Thursday as part of the season-opening Bulldog Kickoff Classic. MSU hosts Georgia Southern at 5:30 p.m. "My heart is already starting to pound," Alexis Silkwood, Mississippi State projected starting pitcher for today's game, said. "I'm already starting to get nervous, but it's just so exciting. You can feel the tension in the locker room because the season is here. It's time to break (the new park) in and just get back out there and grind." |
| Will Clark to speak at Eagle Club breakfast | |
 | Major League Baseball player Will Clark will be the keynote speaker for the Eighth Annual Eagle Club Recognition Breakfast. Hosted by the Choctaw Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the event will be held Feb. 16, at the Kahlmus Center at MSU-Meridian. After powering the U.S. Olympic baseball team to a second place finish in the 1984 Summer Olympics as a 20-year-old, Clark put together a ferocious season for the Mississippi State Bulldogs and won the Golden Spikes Award from USA Baseball -- recognizing him as the top college baseball player in the country. The San Francisco Giants later selected Clark, a New Orleans native, in the 1985 MLB draft. |
| Bjork: NCAA says investigation into Ole Miss is over | |
| The NCAA has told Ole Miss its three-plus year investigation into the school's athletic program is complete, Ole Miss' athletic director said Wednesday. Ross Bjork also said that the school has not received (and doesn't expect to receive) a rumored "second letter" concerning more NCAA violations, has not been charged with lack of institutional control and that football coach Hugh Freeze was not named by the NCAA in any wrongdoing. The university received a formal notice of allegations on Jan. 22 that accuses Ole Miss of breaking rules in its football, women's basketball and track and field programs. The Clarion-Ledger formally requested the document as a public record under the Freedom of Information Act. Ole Miss has argued against releasing the document at this time, citing the need to respect the privacy of certain individuals named in the notice of allegations and to give them time to respond. |
| SEC commissioner does not want to partake in 'childhood use of Twitter' with Jim Harbaugh | |
 | The SEC's request to block programs such as Michigan from conducting practices during spring break is not about eliminating competitive advantages, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey told AL.com. The SEC asked the NCAA recently to block programs from holding practices during spring break due to time demands on student-athletes. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh announced on National Signing Day the Wolverines would move a week of spring practices to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida during the school's spring break holiday in late February and early March. "What's unfortunate is people try to reduce this to simply a competitive issue, which it is not," Sankey said. Harbaugh fired off a tweet Tuesday many believe was in direct response to Sankey's message to CBSSports.com on Monday. |
| Family of worker killed during Kyle Field renovations awarded $53M in lawsuit | |
| The family of a construction worker killed during the renovation of Kyle Field in December 2013 was awarded $53 million by a Houston jury Wednesday. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Angel Garcia's mother and two children. The jury found Manhattan-Vaughn JVP was 75 percent liable and Lindamood Demolition was 25 percent liable for Garcia's injuries. Garcia, 28, who was an employee of Lindamood Demolition, was catapulted off the edge of a fourth-floor ramp when a section of concrete fell onto the skid steer loader he was operating, the lawsuit states. The extra weight caused the small tractor to fall over the edge. The tractor hit a steel beam on the way down, which caused enough force to eject Garcia, who landed in a pile of rubble. Texas A&M was not named in the lawsuit. |
| Georgia owes ousted football coaches $6.2 million | |
| It's common knowledge that Georgia had to buy out Mark Richt's contract for $4 million when he was fired as its football coach this past November. But the bucks didn't stop there. As the Bulldogs flip the page to 2016, they still have an additional six coaches with whom to make good before they can close their books on the previous coaching staff. Due to salary "offsets" created by former assistant coaches taking jobs for lesser pay, UGA still owes more than $2.2 million to offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, linebackers coach Mike Ekeler, tight ends coach John Lilly, offensive line coach Rob Sale and strength and conditioning coach Mark Hocke, according to information obtained from UGA in compliance with an open records request from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. |
| Also in lawsuit against U. of Tennessee: Peyton Manning, Lil' Jon | |
 | The allegations of an assault against former football player Drae Bowles are part of the plaintiff's argument that the University of Tennessee has created a hostile sexual environment. The factual allegations included detailed explanations of the alleged sexual assaults suffered by five of the plaintiffs and the processes that followed when they reported their cases to university authorities. Along with the plaintiffs' stories, the lawsuit also includes allegations of misconduct by Tennessee athletes going back to a charge of rape against football player Nilo Sylvan in 1995. It also includes an allegation against NFL quarterback Peyton Manning. It also cites the Nov. 9, 2014, visit by rapper Lil' Jon to the Tennessee football facility as "enhancement of a hostile sexual environment," saying Lil' Jon "has been associated with sexual violence and rape culture" for more than a decade. |
| NCAA's Round of 64 Will Be Called First Round | |
 | Responding to years of public pressure, the NCAA announced a radical move: the first round is the first round again in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. In 2011, the tournament expanded to 68 teams, so the first round for most teams was no longer called the first round -- that title was reserved for four play-in games, with the first game for a majority of the field referred to as the second round, or round of 64. But the NCAA said Wednesday that to put an end to the confusion, they're reverting to the old vernacular with the play-in games no longer the "first round" and now just known only as the "First Four." |
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