Thursday, April 15, 2021   
 
First MSU-Meridian student in Mississippi Teacher Residency program to graduate this spring
Felisia Fleming had nearly given up the idea of earning an elementary education degree until she heard about the Mississippi Teacher Residency program. One of 12 teacher assistants from Jackson Public Schools to participate in the first cohort of the free two-year program, Fleming is now the first Mississippi State student to complete it and will receive her diploma at MSU-Meridian's May 3 commencement ceremony. In total, up to 36 individuals will be served by the MSU and JPS partnership. Funded by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and administered by the Mississippi Department of Education, MTR is designed to recruit underserved students to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education. The nonprofit National Center for Teacher Residencies developed the program that also requires participants to commit to teaching for three years in their respective underserved school district. MTR students have a wealth of resources at their disposal, from PRAXIS preparation to financial assistance and one-on-one attention from both the MDE, as well as MSU-Meridian faculty and staff. "My advisors Dr. Jeff Leffler and Kevin Entrekin have been very hands-on through the entire process, and whatever I needed they were right there to help pull me through," Fleming said. "I've wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl, and MTR helped me realize this dream. I honestly don't know who is most proud of my accomplishments -- my three kids or myself."
 
Modern timber bridges could be a cost-effective fix to county roads
On Monday, President Biden discussed issues with bridges across the country. In Mississippi, county bridges may need the most help. A professor at Mississippi State University hopes a popular building material from the past could be a cost effective and environmentally friendly option for the future. Rubin Shmulsky has worked with timber products for nearly 25 years. He said this could help build stronger, more durable bridges. "We have bridges that are derated or in need of repair and we find there's never enough money to replace all the bridges all at once and do all the work that's needed," said Shmulsky. "Finding the lowest cost, best solutions is favorable for everybody." Shmulsky said the timber is preserved to ensure no rotting or decaying takes place, helping these bridges last for 50 years or more. The professor said the bridges can handle heavy loads with ease and minimize their deflections making for a comfortable ride across.
 
Master Gardeners' plant sale to feature thousands of items
Last year, the Lee County Master Gardeners had to cancel their annual plant sale because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This spring, they'll more than make up for it. "I have no idea how many plants we'll have for sale," said Donna Tucker, chairman of the sale. "There are thousands. We've got plenty for everyone." The event will be Saturday, April 17, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Mississippi State University/Lee County Extension office at 5338 Cliff Gookin Blvd. in Tupelo. The after-sale is April 19 and 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. "We're so excited to be able to hold a plant sale this year," said Susan McGukin, program associate for volunteer management at Lee County Extension. "MSU has more stringent guidelines than the state of Mississippi, so please wear a mask and practice social distancing." Tucker, who has been a Master Gardener for 26 years, said plants will be more spread out than in years past, and some will be on flatbed trailers. "We're going to limit the number of people who can come through the gates at one time," she said. "We'll have a limited number of wagons for customers to use, and we'll have people available to help deliver plants to cars."
 
China Rivalry Spurs Republicans and Democrats to Align on Tech Spending
Legislation with bipartisan support in Congress would expand the role of the National Science Foundation and provide up to $200 billion in tech and related research funding to meet what backers say is a growing threat from China. The centerpiece of the package is a bill that would rename the federal government's science agency as the National Science and Technology Foundation, and authorize it to spend $100 billion over five years for research into artificial intelligence and machine learning, robotics, high-performance computing and other advanced technologies. The Endless Frontier Act got a hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday, drawing support from Republicans and Democrats. Lawmakers in both parties also expressed concern about veering too far from market-centered decision making and establishing industrial policy. "We will not beat China by copying its strategy," said Sen. Roger Wicker (R., Miss.), the top Republican on the panel. Strategic government investments "are important, but we will not win by simply throwing money at the problem." The hearing featured testimony from academics at several universities, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Notre Dame and Mississippi State University, who focused on how to make more efficient use of federal research dollars.
 
Starkville middle, high schools adding piano labs
It's been a while since Shayla Paige has played the piano. The Starkville High School junior and member of the school choir's Chamber Singers, she's excited to again "tickle the ivories" beginning next fall. Partnership Middle School and Starkville High School have procured the funds to build piano labs to further music education in the school district. The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees accepted a $10,000 donation from the Starkville-MSU Symphony Association for a piano lab at PMS. The board also voted to fund a piano lab at SHS for $17,985. Paige plans to be one of the first students learning in the high school lab, both to expand her music skills and enhance her singing. "I'm interested in taking piano lessons because I love music," Paige said. "I had a keyboard when I was younger, so I learned to play a little bit, but then I stopped. So, I want to learn how to play the piano again, and I think it will help my singing voice as well because I can tune my voice to the piano." SHS Director of Choral Music Jennifer Davis said these piano labs will give students exposure to music theory and piano skills not before offered in the school district.
 
Future entrepreneurs showcase business ideas at statewide forum
Kendall Walker received instant feedback from the judges as she pitched her Tupelo-based tutoring business at the 2021 Mississippi Entrepreneurship Forum. The 2020 University of Mississippi graduate was among about 220 college students getting advice from business pros. Leaders with the McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement at Ole Miss, Innovate Mississippi and the Mississippi Development Authority partnered to make the virtual conference a success. Students from Mississippi's eight public universities participated with counterparts from Millsaps, Mississippi College and Belhaven University. First-place (and a $2,500 award) went to Mississippi State University student Neil Hickman with his Hickman Farms plan. Jeff Rent, President/CEO of the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce, applauds the work of the institutions, groups like Innovate Mississippi and the annual Entrepreneurship Forum. "Innovate Mississippi has a successful track record of assisting and equipping entrepreneurs from across the state with the tools necessary to take an idea from concept to reality.''
 
Neshoba County Fair returns
Mississippi's Giant House Party is returning July 23rd-30th after the coronavirus put a hold on last year's event. Communication director for Philadelphia's Community Development Partnership, Amelia Henson, says not having the fair in 2020 was a big let-down. "We are excited for what it will bring for the city of Philadelphia. We are excited for tourists to visit. We are excited for our local businesses, local restaurants and local hotels. We can't wait for everyone to have a good time in July," Henson said. The Miss Neshoba County Fair pageant, horse racing, political speaking, competitive exhibits and music will still take place. Country artist Hardy will take the stage July 27th, Trace Adkins the 28th, Jordan Davis the 29th and Riley Green on the 30th. Henson says she has been told electricity to the cabins will be turned on May 3rd.
 
Conservation groups sue Army Corps of Engineers over Yazoo Pumps
A coalition of conservation groups is suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over a massive flood-control project in the south Mississippi Delta they say was hastily approved in the final days of the Trump administration. American Rivers, National Audubon Society, Sierra Club and Healthy Gulf filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C on Wednesday against the Corps and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The same group already sued the Environmental Protection Agency in January in an attempt to block the construction of pumps in the Yazoo Backwater area north of Vicksburg. The newest lawsuit claims the Corps "severely underestimated the pumps' devastating impacts and failed to inform the public about the true costs of the project." The group says the Yazoo Pumps would drain thousands of acres of wetlands that support more than 450 species of fish and wildlife, including several federally endangered species. Farmers and environmentalists have been arguing for decades over proposals for flood-control projects in the south Delta.
 
Amazon fulfilling MCEDA vision of ready sites here
Text notification alerts about the availability of jobs at Mississippi's third state-of-the-art Amazon fulfillment center set to open here this fall are available now. Amazon hopes to begin hiring this summer at the site west of I-55 and Nissan Parkway off Mississippi 22 near Canton. The Amazon fulfillment center is helping to fulfill Madison County Economic Development Director Joey Deason's vision for jobs he laid out when he arrived four years ago. Madison County has a lot of good qualities, but one thing it lacks is land ready and available for industrial development, Deason said back in February 2018 shortly after arriving on the job. "We don't even get to play in a lot of the opportunities that the state has because we don't have land available," Deason told the Canton Rotary Club in February 2018 after about four months on the job. MCEDA's aim is to make more land available for development because that's what's necessary along with four-lane highways, water, electric, sewer and rail access, he said then. And that Deason has done by growing the Madison County Megasite where Amazon is locating.
 
Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann won't close door to Medicaid expansion in Mississippi
Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann isn't closing the door on Medicaid expansion in Mississippi. Hosemann was in Natchez Wednesday morning to meet with the Mayor and Board of Aldermen and the Adams County Board of Supervisors, as well as to speak to the Natchez Rotary Club at noon. "We need to look at the delivery of health care in Mississippi and find out how we can best deliver health care to those who are working but who cannot afford health insurance," Hosemann said, while speaking to Natchez Rotarians. "We cannot allow that to proliferate." Mississippi is one of only 12 states that has not accepted the federal government's call to expand Medicaid. As of January of this year, in Mississippi, more than 170,000 working adults do not make enough money to afford health insurance. "I think we need to get away from the political aspect of this issue, like the name calling of Obamacare or Trumpcare. We need to take a look at what is the best way to deliver health care to people who are working and can't afford it," he said. Hosemann said he is appointing members to two health care committees, which will begin meeting this summer and will continue until the fall, in an effort to study ways to deliver health care to working Mississippians.
 
Mississippi marijuana program hinges on initiative arguments
The Mississippi Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit that's trying to block a voter-approved medical marijuana program by disputing how the issue got onto the ballot. Arguments were not about marijuana. Instead, they were about Mississippi's initiative process. Voters in November approved Initiative 65, which requires the state Health Department to establish a medical marijuana program by the middle of this year. The department is working to create a program, even as the legal fight continues. To get Initiative 65 on the statewide ballot, organizers gathered signatures from the five congressional districts that Mississippi used during the 1990s. They did that based on legal advice issued years ago by the state attorney general's office. Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler filed a lawsuit days before the election, contending that the state's initiative process is outdated. Chief Justice Michael Randolph said seven bills have been filed over the years to update Mississippi's initiative process to remove confusion about signatures coming from old or new congressional districts, and legislators have not made the change.
 
Mississippi Supreme Court weighs legality of state's medical marijuana ballot initiative
Medical marijuana was hardly mentioned Wednesday as attorneys argued over whether Initiative 65, the voter-approved pot legalization program, should be overturned by the Mississippi Supreme Court. Instead the debate focused on congressional districts and a seemingly innocuous section of the Mississippi Constitution that suggests there are five districts when the state now has just four. "This is not about the wisdom of legalizing medical marijuana; it is about the plain language of (the constitution)," said attorney Kaytie Pickett, representing Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler, who filed the lawsuit challenging the initiative. Still, the outcome of the case will decide whether Mississippians get access to medical marijuana any time soon. And it might cast legal doubt on past ballot initiatives approved by Mississippi voters, while disrupting initiative signature-gathering drives just getting underway. It's unclear exactly when the court will rule, but Chief Justice Michael Randolph noted Wednesday that justices plan to move "as quickly as possible."
 
Mississippi ends license requirements for some beauty jobs
Mississippi no longer requires professional licenses for people who offer low-risk beauty services, a change that will save residents thousands of dollars and hours of time spent on training. House Bill 1312 was signed by Gov. Tate Reeves April 9, and it became law immediately. It removes certification requirements for people who work as eyebrow threaders, eyelash technicians or makeup artists. The Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology previously required people who receive money for these services to earn an esthetician license. The license requires training and exams, but none of the training deals with applying false eyelashes or eyebrow threading, the technique of using a single strand of cotton thread to remove hair. The legislation was prompted by multiple lawsuits against the board. Mississippi Justice Institute director Aaron Rice said these kinds of regulations disproportionately impact the poor, minorities and young people.
 
W student's lawsuit leads to change in state law
Of all the bills passed into law by the Mississippi Legislature in 2021, one of them raised eyebrows. House Bill 1312 swept through the Legislature by a combined 159-6 vote and was signed into law on Friday. The new law, which exempts certain beauty care providers from being required to obtain an esthetician license, is the result of a lawsuit filed by former Mississippi University for Women graduate student Dipa Bhattarai against the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology. In 2019, the Mississippi Justice Institute filed the suit on behalf of Bhattarai, who argued the 600 hours of classroom training needed to attain a license, none of it related to her eyebrow threading practice, forced her to close her two eyebrow threading businesses in Columbus and Starkville. The new law, authored by Rep. Jerry Turner (R-Baldwyn) is a result of a settlement reached by MJI and the Cosmetology Board. "In order to resolve the lawsuit we had to get the law changed, which is something all parties agreed to do," said MJI Director Aaron Rice, who represented Bhattarai in the case. "We agreed to exempt some of these niche beauty practices from the licensure requirement." The law applies to eyebrow threaders, makeup artists and those who perform eyelash extensions.
 
Biden administration imposes significant economic sanctions on Russia over cyberspying, efforts to influence presidential election
The Biden administration on Thursday imposed the first significant sanctions targeting the Russian economy in several years in order to punish the Kremlin for a cyberespionage campaign against the United States and efforts to influence the presidential election, according to senior U.S. officials. The administration also sanctioned six Russian companies that support Russian spy services' cyberhacking operations and will expel 10 intelligence officers working under diplomatic cover in the United States. The measures are an effort to make good on President Biden's vow to hold Moscow accountable for a series of operations, including the hacking operation commonly known as SolarWinds, which compromised nine federal agencies and about 100 private firms. "This action signals that the Biden administration is not going to hold back," said Edward Fishman, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. "They're taking significant actions against the Russian economy and putting global markets on notice that Russian sanctions will increase if Russia's aggressive behavior continues."
 
Music, myth-busting bring vaccines to hesitant farmworkers
There's been a lot of talk about essential workers during this pandemic, from restaurant workers preparing our takeout to the people keeping grocery stores humming or the electricity flowing in our home offices. There is also growing concern about the folks who grow our food: farmworkers. Health officials say they've been hit hard, since many live and work in cramped conditions. At least 1 in 3 farmworkers in California have COVID-19 antibodies, meaning they have already been infected, said Elizabeth Strater from United Farm Workers. With vaccinations well underway elsewhere in the country, there's a concerted effort now to get farmworkers vaccinated as well, but that requires a unique approach in the face of several challenges. Based on statistics gathered by Purdue University, as much as 18% of the U.S. agricultural and farmworker population has tested positive for COVID-19. That's compared to 5% of the general population nationwide. Officials say that inequity for farmworkers is the result of many factors, including language barriers, lack of regular access to primary health care, especially if they're undocumented, and even lack of internet access in rural areas. Another hurdle is vaccine misinformation.
 
Pay raises for Mississippi higher ed employees: Too little, too late?
SirSandra Jordan had worked in public education in Starkville for 24 years when she decided in 2018 to move away. The youngest of her two kids had left for college on a football scholarship. She was due to retire in a few years. And she wanted to take care of her uncle, who lived with the rest of her family in Carrollton, a 181-person town on the edge of the Delta. At the time, Jordan was an administrator in facilities management at Mississippi State University, overseeing the department's credit cards. Her salary was $36,000. It had been barely enough to cover her expenses when her youngest lived at home, but it was also the most she'd ever made. Jordan looked for local jobs in Carrollton, but none paid more than $30,000. Rather than take a pay cut, she kept working at MSU, where she's still employed today. Most days, Jordan leaves her house around 5 a.m. for the 70-mile, one-way drive. She maintains a modest lifestyle. Her fridge is rarely stocked; she often splits the same meal between lunch and dinner. Since gas is her biggest expense, she sometimes stays in Starkville with friends who cook for her. She's had to defer car payments and borrow from family. Jordan's story is common among the nearly 25,000 people who work at Mississippi's eight public colleges and universities. Like their K-12 counterparts, higher ed faculty and staff in Mississippi, no matter their institution or rank, are among the lowest-paid in the South, according to the Southern Regional Education Board.
 
A talk with the chancellor: Reflecting on Glenn Boyce's relationship with Ole Miss, his consulting money and his future at UM
When the news broke that the Institutions of Higher Learning had selected Glenn Boyce to become the University of Mississippi's next chancellor in October 2019, Boyce's reputation preceded him. After having served as IHL commissioner and then consulting on the IHL's search for chancellor, he made a name for himself before even setting foot on campus as the 18th chancellor of the University of Mississippi. Traditionally, a newly-selected chancellor sits down with The Daily Mississippian once he settles on campus, but Boyce and his office declined the DM's interview requests for over a year and a half -- until now. Here's what Boyce finally had to say. Regarding the IHL selecting him as chancellor and how the UM community felt about the process, Boyce said since he’s become chancellor, he’s been very open, visible and extended himself by getting to know members of the UM community. “I’ve been here for a while now. Those (problems) are in the past, so the more time has gone by, the more people I’ve gotten to visit with, to know and just to see the kind of leadership that I’m offering, which is open leadership, communicative leadership,” Boyce said. Those “problems” included several protests regarding his selection and potential calls of “no confidence” from various councils around campus at the very beginning of his term. Boyce now feels very strongly that he has a good relationship with the UM community.
 
Controversial teacher merit pay program goes unfunded amid pandemic
With less than a week before Gov. Tate Reeves must approve the education budget passed by lawmakers this year, a merit pay program he supports was not funded this year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The School Recognition Program, which provides bonuses for public school teachers in high-performing schools and those that improve their students' achievement, went unfunded this year by the Legislature. And with less than a week before Reeves must sign or veto the state's education budget, it is unclear whether he will push back. Last year, Reeves partially vetoed the education budget because it did not fund the School Recognition Program, which he championed dating back to his time as lieutenant governor. Lawmakers overrode Reeves' veto but also passed a separate bill for $28 million for the School Recognition Program. Sen. Dennis DeBar, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said the program went unfunded this year after state testing was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program awards bonuses to educators based on schools' accountability ratings, which are based partly on students' performance on state tests. Without year-over-year test results, bonuses would prove difficult to award.
 
How much will Auburn University tuition and housing cost in the fall? AU trustees meeting to figure it out
Auburn students should find out this week how much it will cost next year to attend and live at the university. The university's Board of Trustees will meet Thursday afternoon and Friday morning at the Auburn University Hotel and Conference Center for its spring quarterly meeting, ahead of Saturday's A Day spring football game at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Tuition and housing fees top the trustees' meeting agenda. Chief Financial Officer Kelli Shomaker is scheduled to brief the trustees on tuition for the 2021-22 year, but the university did not include those recommendations in the board's meeting materials. Shomaker told the trustees last fall that the university's finances have held up well during the coronavirus pandemic. Housing fees were included, however. It appears that Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Bobby Woodard will recommend a 2 percent hike, more or less, across the board for dormitories at the Auburn and Montgomery campuses. South Donahue will be the priciest spot on the Auburn campus, costing over $6,000 per student for the year, while the remaining dorms on the Hill -- which is being phased out by Woodard's office, will be the cheapest, costing $3,000-4,000 for the year.
 
U. of Arkansas, Fayetteville faculty supports continuing mask use
Faculty at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville on Wednesday called for a campus face covering requirement to continue indoors until the release of new guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC recommends that people wear masks "in public settings, at events and gatherings, and anywhere they will be around other people" as a way to help slow the spread of covid-19, according to its website. Masks must be worn at U.S. airports and on planes, trains and other public transportation. UA's faculty senate voted to support the "continuation" of a campus indoor mask requirement "until the CDC declares the wearing of face coverings in public buildings no longer necessary." The faculty voted 40-3 to pass the nonbinding resolution at a meeting held online, Stephen Caldwell, chairman of the faculty group, said in an email. UA and other large universities in the state have kept in place on-campus face covering requirements, despite Gov. Asa Hutchinson on March 30 lifting a statewide mask mandate. Joe Steinmetz, the university's chancellor, last month in a statement expressed uncertainty about whether face coverings would be needed in the fall, while also saying that he expected classrooms to return to their "usual capacity."
 
Kori Gauthier, missing LSU student, identified as body found in Mississippi River
A body found in the Mississippi River in St. John the Baptist Parish was identified Wednesday as Kori Gauthier, the LSU freshman missing since last week whose disappearance rocked the Baton Rouge community and spurred extensive search efforts as her loved ones hoped for the best. Law enforcement officials said over the weekend that no foul play or criminal activity was suspected in her death, a message they reiterated in a statement released to media Wednesday evening. Her uncle Spencer Gauthier, who helped organize the search efforts, said in a Facebook live video Wednesday that the family can start their healing process, though the road to closure began in tragedy. "Life is worth living. In all honesty, life is worth living," he said in the post. "Never give up. As you guys can see, a nation of people came together for my niece. That same nation of people would come to your side ... We're all in this together." His niece, an education major from Opelousas, was reported missing one week ago after not showing up for class, work or a doctor's appointment. Earlier that morning, someone had crashed into her car that was sitting empty on the Interstate 10 Mississippi River bridge, her family later discovered.
 
UF President Kent Fuchs promises replacement graduate living, UF students demand more information
With a vow to turn the university administration's focus to graduate students, University of Florida President Kent Fuchs said no graduate students will be displaced following UF's plans to demolish three out of the five graduate and family housing complexes on campus. Fuchs attended a Graduate Student Council meeting April 7 to address the needs of graduate students, who asked for answers and explanations regarding the future of their living situation. This was the first time Fuchs was invited to and attended a graduate meeting in his six years serving as UF president, he said. There are no established plans so far, but Fuchs told students the university will work with one of two temporary solutions to match the capacity of the two graduate housing buildings being torn down. The first option is to provide graduate living space in other buildings on campus, such as one of the new complexes to be built by 2023 for undergraduates, following UF's master plan, which is a 10-year facility and construction plan. The second option would be to work a public-private partnership, in which the university contracts with a private company to provide living accommodations to students. Both of these options are temporary solutions to ensure graduate students aren't displaced and their needs are met.
 
Debate over adding Reconstruction to required college course delays vote on South Carolina bill
Debate over whether the Reconstruction era following the Civil War should be required reading for South Carolina's college students halted legislators' discussion April 14 on requiring a semester-long course on America's founding. The bill taken up by the House would require all students in South Carolina's public colleges to a take a course that "provides a comprehensive overview of the major events and turning points of American history." Instruction must include reading -- in their entirety -- the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Emancipation Proclamation, as well as at least five essays from the Federalist Papers. But Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, argued that if the intent is for students to better understand how America came to be, the measure should also include instruction on Reconstruction, when newly freed slaves acquired voting rights and ran South Carolina's Legislature, before the end of federal oversight ushered in the Jim Crow era. She proposed adding John Hope Franklin's 1947 "From Slavery to Freedom" and five essays on Reconstruction to the course's required reading. Since 1924, state law has mandated a year-long course and test on the founding documents to graduate from a public college. Efforts to update the century-old law began seven years ago, with legislators complaining most colleges stopped following it. But the proposals repeatedly failed, partly due to pushback from university officials.
 
New college of engineering dean at the U. of Missouri is no longer 'interim'
Noah Manring, who has served as interim dean of the University of Missouri College of Engineering since May 2020, now can remove "interim" from the title. Provost Latha Ramchand on Wednesday announced Manring has been selected as the new dean of the College of Engineering beginning May 1. He has been interim dean since Elizabeth Loboa left last year. "For over two decades, Dr. Manring has been a crucial part of distinguishing the College of Engineering on the national stage with passion for engineering research and education," Ramchand said in a news release. "His ability to foster a spirit of collaboration and love of engineering with our faculty, staff and students will continue to help develop the next generation of engineers and scientists for work in Missouri and beyond." Manring has served as the Glen Barton Professor and chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. He has also served as chair of the former electrical and computer engineering department and twice served as the college's associate dean of research. Manring has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University, a master's degree in theoretical applied mechanics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a doctoral degree in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University.
 
How to get college students to get vaccine: Offer chance to win housing, meals, books
A COVID vaccine could mean free housing, meal plans and textbooks for some North Carolina college students. Universities across the state are setting up vaccine clinics on campus and motivating students to get vaccinated with perks. UNC Greensboro recently announced its incentive program that gives students a chance to win a free meal plan, textbook money and a grant to cover the cost of residential housing for the 2021-22 academic year. The winners will be chosen by April 28. Two HBCUs are also giving vaccinated students a chance to offset some college expenses. North Carolina A&T students can win a free semester of housing, free semester of dining or free year of parking once they've been vaccinated. North Carolina Central University has weekly drawings where students can win laptops, TVs, parking passes, $500 housing credits and textbook vouchers. Most campuses also are handing out freebies at vaccination clinics like stickers, hand sanitizer and face masks. Others, including UNC Charlotte, Western Carolina and UNC-Asheville, give out food, gift cards and T-shirts to students who get vaccines. UNC-Chapel Hill, N.C. State University and Duke University are not offering incentives, but are running vaccination clinics on campus and encouraging all students and employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
 
Cyberattacks Are Spiking. Colleges Are Fighting Back.
The message, emailed to thousands of students and employees at the University of Colorado's Boulder campus last week, was alarming. Their personal information, including addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, academic progress reports, and financial documents, had been stolen, and their university was refusing to cooperate with extortion demands. As a result, the data was starting to be posted on the dark web, the shadowy back channel of the internet where cybercriminals lurk. Elsewhere around the country, students and employees at at least nine other universities were receiving similar warnings. The campuses are part of an escalating number of extortion and ransomware attacks the FBI has been tracking since March 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic took hold in the U.S. Cybercriminals have taken advantage of the unique circumstances of the pandemic to double down on their demands. "The rapid shift to distance learning and remote work dramatically increased the attack surface," said Paul B. Davis, who advises higher-education institutions about cybersecurity threats for Gallagher, a global insurance broker. He said his clients have reported a significant increase in the number and severity of cyberattacks since the pandemic began. "Many more devices were logging in remotely, and not every institution had the proper controls in place to manage access."
 
Jerry Falwell Jr.'s son out as VP at Liberty University
The son of Jerry Falwell Jr. is out of his job as vice president at Liberty University nearly eight months after his father resigned as president of the Christian school amid allegations of inappropriate personal behavior and financial self-dealing. Liberty University spokesperson Scott Lamb on Wednesday confirmed to POLITICO that Trey Falwell was "no longer employed by the university." That development, Lamb said, occurred "this week," but he declined to provide any additional details about what happened. Lamb also declined to answer questions about whether Jerry Falwell Jr.'s other son, Wesley, or his daughters-in-law were currently employed by the university. Liberty "does not answer questions about personnel," he said. The move is a strong signal that the powerhouse evangelical university is seeking aggressively to distance itself from its former president -- even as he hints at a possible comeback. Falwell, the eldest son of Liberty's founder, the late Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr. -- has been advertising his visits to the university on social media. He told POLITICO in an interview published earlier this month that the Liberty community still embraces him. Following the publication of that story, however, Jerry Prevo, the university's acting president, instructed employees to avoid communicating with Jerry Falwell Jr. or his wife, Becki, and to immediately report to the university if they receive any contact from the Falwells about university business.
 
Could the Pandemic Prompt an 'Epidemic of Loss' of Women in the Sciences?
Several studies have found that women have published fewer papers, led fewer clinical trials and received less recognition for their expertise during the pandemic. Add to that the emotional upheaval and stress of the pandemic, the protests over structural racism, worry about children's mental health and education, and the lack of time to think or work, and an already unsustainable situation becomes unbearable. "The confluence of all of these factors creates this perfect storm. People are at their breaking point," said Michelle Cardel, an obesity researcher at the University of Florida. "My big fear is that we are going to have a secondary epidemic of loss, particularly of early career women in STEM." The career ladder is particularly steep for mothers. Even during maternity leave, they are expected to keep up with lab work, teaching requirements, publications and mentoring of graduate students. When they return to work, most do not have affordable child care. The path is even rockier for scientists of color, who encounter other biases in the workplace -- in everyday reactions, professional reviews or promotions -- and now have to cope with the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on Black and Latino communities.


SPORTS
 
Madisyn Kennedy's walk-off single leads Mississippi State softball over Southern Miss
All it took was a soft ground ball to second base. Senior right fielder Carter Spexarth delivered the first Mississippi State run of Wednesday's home game against Southern Miss with a chopper to the right side in the first inning at Nusz Park. Senior designated player Mia Davidson raced home for the first run of the ballgame, and the Bulldogs had an early 1-0 lead. "That's something we work on," Mississippi State coach Samantha Ricketts said. "It's a team at-bat. Nothing flashy in the books, but it's getting the job done and getting a way to get some runners across with what our game plan is." Spexarth's RBI groundout was an early sign the Bulldogs have improved in small-ball situations in recent days, and it foreshadowed more success when MSU came to bat in the bottom of the eighth in a 2-2 ballgame. Sophomore second baseman Paige Cook led off with a single, and junior catcher Jackie McKenna bunted her to second. Cook moved to third on a wild pitch and scored the winning run on sophomore shortstop Madisyn Kennedy's bloop single to left field. Once again, Mississippi State's revamped offensive strategy had paid off in a 3-2 extra-inning win for the Bulldogs (22-16) against the Golden Eagles (20-19) in Starkville.
 
Vaccine passport for Gamecock fans at football games? Here's what South Carolina president says
University of South Carolina officials still hope to welcome back full capacity crowds to Gamecock football games this fall -- and fans likely won't have to be vaccinated from COVID-19 to make that happen. USC President Bob Caslen, speaking Wednesday at an event promoting a new partnership between the school and Major League Soccer, was asked about the possibility of 100% capacity at Williams-Brice Stadium for the 2021 season that starts in September. "We are in consultation with the CDC and their guidance on large gatherings. The state also has some guidance they give us based on where the conditions for the state are for large gatherings," Caslen said. "We're going to comply with what those guidance are. If it allows us to be 100%, that's exactly what we would like to do -- and if we have the ability to do that, we'll definitely do that." Most recently, the NFL's Buffalo Bills announced it would host full capacity crowds at home this fall -- so long as every fan shows proof of COVID vaccination. Without that proof, fans will be denied entry. South Carolina doesn't seem likely to enact a similar policy. "I'm not sure that's going to be necessary," Caslen said Wednesday.
 
Alabama Senate passes bill on 'name, image, likeness' compensation for college athletes
A bill saying that college athletes can receive compensation for their name, image, and likeness moved closer to becoming law in Alabama today. The Alabama Senate approved the bill by Rep. Kyle South, R-Fayette on a 26-0 vote. The Senate added an amendment and sent the bill back to the House, which could give it final passage and send it to Gov. Kay Ivey, who could sign it into law. The legislation comes as the NCAA prepares to adopt rules that will allow student athletes to profit off their names, with certain limitations, while still competing at the collegiate level. The NCAA's board of governors has approved the concept. In January, the NCAA's Division I Council postponed a decision on adopting rules to govern the name, image, and likeness compensation. In the meantime, the NCAA opposes legislation passed by states on the issue and prefers that Congress pass a bill that would provide uniformity across states. But other states are passing bills. A bill passed by the Florida legislature is scheduled to go into effect in July. University of Alabama Athletics Director Greg Byrne and Auburn University President Jay Gogue wrote letters endorsing the bill to Sen. Tom Whatley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which approved South's bill last week. South's bill is House Bill 404.
 
Brett Favre wants politics out of sports, says kneeling for national anthem has 'created more turmoil'
Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre said he does not want politics involved in sports because it's hurting the games. Favre made his comments Sunday on "The Andrew Klavan Show" on The Daily Wire. He added that he believes most fans want sports to remain about sports, not politics. "I know when I turn on a game, I want to watch a game. I want to watch players play and teams win, lose, come from behind," Favre said. "I want to watch all the important parts of the game, not what's going on outside of the game, and I think the general fan feels the same way, "I can't tell you how many people have said to me, 'I don't watch anymore; it's not about the game anymore.' And I tend to agree." Favre's comments came days after Major League Baseball decided to move the league's All-Star Game to Coors Field in Denver after pulling it from Truist Park near Atlanta. The decision to pull the game from the Atlanta Braves home ballpark came after Georgia passed voting laws likened to Jim Crow-era laws. The 20-year NFL veteran and Super Bowl 31 winner was open about voting for former president Donald Trump in the 2020 election. When asked why it was controversial for him to support Trump but not for athletes to kneel for the national anthem, Favre said the controversy was very lopsided and kneeling for the anthem has "created more turmoil than good."



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