Wednesday, June 30, 2021   
 
CWS run helping Starkville businesses recover from pandemic-impacted sales
The College World Series has been the talk of the town in Starkville as Mississippi State looks to win its first-ever national championship. The hype behind the Bulldogs is bringing more to the town than many could see coming. Many bars and restaurants have been the sites of watch parties. According to one merchandise store manager, the baseball team's success has rubbed off on sales. "We've definitely had a comeback from last football season, which has definitely been helpful in keeping our business running," Nicole Kifer of Maroon & Co. said. She's referring to the 2020 football season which saw COVID-19 restrictions play a major factor in limiting crowds and potential customers. Kifer said she's never seen the store so busy during what's normally a slow summer period. The store's online sales also rose. After a big win, the store may receive as many as 200 orders in a single night. MSU baseball hats and jerseys have been popular items. Kifer said all these purchases, both online and in the store, are bringing the locally-owned business back on its feet.
 
Starkville bars, restaurants create 'Omaha South' with CWS watch parties that bring in fans, extra business
Since not every Mississippi State fan could make it to the College World Series, Starkville's bars and restaurants have done their best to bring the CWS to them. "They expect that atmosphere when they come in, they start to have a good time and we cheered like we were in Omaha, that's for sure," says Barton Dinkins, the co-owner of 2 Brothers Smoked Meats. Normally, 2 Brothers wouldn't even be open on a Monday night. But for Game 1 of the College World Series Finals, they had a packed house. "Everyone who I've ever known is actually in Omaha now and I actually don't have cable," said MSU grad student Haley Grant. The bars and restaurants of downtown Starkville and the Cotton District sought to re-create the game-day atmosphere to turn Mississippi's College Town into Omaha-South. "We were full downstairs, big exciting crowd," Dinkins said. "Everybody's ready and we expect to have the same thing [Tuesday night] hopefully." 2 Brothers is one of 21 restaurants hosting watch parties for the College World Series finals. After the toll that 2020 took on the restaurant business, Paige Hunt, the director of tourism for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, says the parties are a shot in the arm for local businesses.
 
Mississippi State's Unmanned Aircraft System Receives FEMA Funding
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently announced funding for Mississippi State University's Federal Aviation Administration Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). For fiscal year 2021, the funds provided to the MSU Center by FEMA's Homeland Security National Training Program Continuing Training Grant total approximately $2 million and are intended to be used to develop training programs for the use of drones in disaster preparation and response. "The development of these UAS training programs will save lives in the coming years. Mississippi and other states in our region will face the inevitable storms and floods of the future with increased preparedness thanks in part to this program and the grants that make it possible," Representative Michael Guest said in a statement. Mississippi State University's Raspet Flight Laboratory was designated in 2020 as the FAA's UAS Safety Research Facility. This laboratory is the only institute in the world that is designated as the FAA's UAS Safety Research Facility and as official UAS Test Sites for both the FAA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Companies such as Airbus Helicopters, Aurora Flight Science, GE Aerospace and Stark Aerospace have established bases in Mississippi due to MSU’s efforts, bringing in more than 700 high-tech jobs to the state.
 
Mississippi State professors receive $1.6 million for two nuclear energy research projects
Faculty members in Mississippi State University's departments of aerospace engineering and geosciences are advancing nuclear energy technology with $1.6 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy for two separate projects. Aerospace engineering assistant professor Zhenhua Tian is serving as principal investigator for an $800,000 grant to develop and validate wireless, ultrasonic sensor arrays for real-time monitoring of welded dry canisters that store spent nuclear fuels. Rinat Gabitov, associate professor in the department of geosciences, is receiving $800,000 for a project to advance the functionality of engineered barrier systems through the addition of phosphate minerals in backfill mixtures, potentially improving the materials' sorption/uptake of radionuclides in water breach scenarios. The grants are part of 99 advanced nuclear energy projects recently announced by the DOE as part of the federal agency's efforts to bolster the resiliency and use of nuclear energy, the largest domestic source of carbon-free energy. "MSU has a long history of leading innovative energy research and preparing graduates to excel in energy related careers," said MSU vice president for research and economic development Julie Jordan. "These awards to Dr. Tian and Dr. Gabitov are a reflection of their individual expertise and the dynamic ways MSU researchers are contributing to the creation of an energy-secure future."
 
#BuddyStrong: Dog could be released by end of July after being set on fire in April
A dog that was set on fire by a child in April continues to recover due to the aid of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Tunica Humane Society. In an update on Facebook, the College stated that in the 9 weeks Buddy has been recovering, he has received 5 skin grafts and his face is healing well. Buddy has also received small surgeries to help his eyelids close. Hair has begun to regrow around his eyelids and the edges of his burns, and his whiskers are reportedly coming in as well. "The main part left to heal is the bridge of his nose between his eyes -- basically the center of the wounded area," the College explained. According to Dr. Betsy Swanson, Buddy could be released as early as the end of July or the beginning of August. This depends, though, on how long it takes for him to heal. "He continues to heal rapidly, but it's a large area to cover," said Swanson. The College said that Buddy continues to be a happy and loving dog and that he loves attention, walks and back scratches.
 
Bouncing signals off the moon: Amateur Radio Club draws young and experienced 'ham' operators
Amateur radio operators from across the Golden Triangle gathered over the weekend at the Community Counseling Services Administrative Campus, formerly Mary Holmes College in West Point. By the end of Sunday, at least one operator had made it 7,850 miles from there, to Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, using Morse code. The farthest radio contact was one of the highlights of a picture perfect weekend for Mississippi State University's W5YD Amateur Radio Club annual field day event. "Four months of planning went into putting this together," said Colby Stevens, club vice president. "There's more to it than just fellowship. It takes effort." Club public information coordinator Caleb Rich said the event assembles individual amateur radio operators as well as amateur radio clubs to set up their portable stations and practice operations in the field. "This gives them an opportunity to see how well their equipment is, or is not, working before any event occurs that may require that emergency response," he said. Participants in the field day ranged from teens to seasoned veterans who find common ground in the fascinating world of radio communications. Tents and antennas were scattered around the parking lot with teams reaching out across the globe to contact colleagues, since the field day is an international event.
 
MSU Summer Scholars Musical
Video: Sally Stafford and William Norris from Mississippi State University's Summer Scholars production camp drop by to tell us about their upcoming musical that will take place at McComas Hall on MSU's campus this Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at noon. Both performances are free to the public.
 
High construction costs not reflected in timber prices
Although construction costs are through the roof, timber prices have not kept pace, and Mississippi forest landowners are waiting for improved markets. Shaun Tanger, a forestry economics specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the recent increase in construction costs is a demand-side phenomena. "The thing driving the costs of construction materials is an economy flush in newly printed money and low interest rates," Tanger said. Tanger said he learned from his grandfather, who owned an apartment rental business for about 50 years, that "when money is cheap, people build." "Combine this current access to cheap money with the ability of many new workers to work remotely -- meaning they can live in a different location from the office -- and you have rapid increases in construction in medium-sized cities when comparing to larger cities like New York and Los Angeles," Tanger said. Compounding the issue was the fact that many mills were unprepared when COVID-19 struck, and some cut back or closed for a time, often months, due to government mandates. "Lumber production was constrained right at the same time that interest rates cratered," he said. "Since people were working from home, it allowed many to live elsewhere. You had a perfect storm of people looking for new homes, others engaging in remodeling at their existing homes, and a decrease in production capacity for the products that those groups were using."
 
U.S. Hog Prices Sink as China Rebuilds Herd
Prices for hogs in the U.S. are tumbling in the wake of China's announcement that the country's herds have recovered from the African swine fever. Through last week, the most-active hog futures contract trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange has fallen nearly 17%, bringing the price down to 99 cents a pound -- the first time it has fallen under a dollar since March. Futures have posted a slight rebound to start this week, rising 0.8% Tuesday to nearly $1.04 a pound. U.S. prices for pork cutouts -- parts of the pig such as loin or ribs -- have posted a steep dive in recent weeks. Loin prices have fallen 8% in the past 10 days, while ribs have declined nearly 28%. Pork butt -- commonly used for pork barbecue -- has declined 14%. Driving the decline is the Chinese government's declaration that it has rebuilt hog herds devastated by an outbreak of African swine fever in 2018. The outbreak forced the nation's hog producers to cull roughly 40% of its hog population. The nation's agricultural ministry now says that its hog herd is back to more than 98% of its predisease levels---which was roughly 420 million head. The recovery comes well ahead of schedule, as China wasn't projected to complete this rebuild until 2023. Some U.S. traders remain skeptical of the Chinese government's data.
 
As activists demanded state flag change in 2020, Philip Gunn began counting GOP votes
A police officer murdered George Floyd on the streets of Minneapolis. A team of police officers killed Breonna Taylor in her apartment in Kentucky. White men killed Ahmaud Arbery while he was jogging in Georgia. Millions of Americans had taken to the streets to protest police brutality in a national reckoning on racism. Speaker of the House Philip Gunn, who had been the most prominent Republican to publicly call for removing the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag but struggled to get buy-in from his GOP legislative colleagues, was watching intently. "George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, all the other incidents happened, and we weren't even supposed to be in session to begin with," Gunn said. "But there we were, and there the nation was. There clearly was a window of opportunity to discuss the flag again." On June 6, 2020, several young Black organizers gathered at least 3,000 Mississippians in downtown Jackson for a Black Lives Matter rally. Historians suggested that the rally was the largest civil rights demonstration in Mississippi since the 1960s. One of the organizers' main demands to government leaders: Change the state flag. In the crowd that day was state Rep. Chris Bell, a Democrat who represents the city of Jackson. Moved by the rally and the moment, Bell got to work when he returned to the Capitol two days later.
 
Lawmakers working to complete medical marijuana bill draft
Lawmakers working on a proposal to bring a medical marijuana program to Mississippi plan to have a draft of the legislation ready later this summer, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Tuesday. "I think we'll have something that we can have serious discussions about, hopefully relatively soon," the Republican governor said. Reeves addressed the issue of medical marijuana in Mississippi after he was asked about it by reporters during an unrelated news conference about a new occupational licensing law going into effect this week. Reeves said Tuesday that he's had several conversations with Republican Sen. Kevin Blackwell, a lawmaker working to draft the proposed legislation. He said he understands legislators expect to have a draft bill "within the next couple of weeks." Blackwell, of Southaven, is Senate Medicaid committee chairman and a member of the Senate committee on Public Health and Welfare, which has held hearings in the past few weeks on the issue.
 
President Biden wants to pay farmers to grow carbon-capturing crops. It's complicated.
President Joe Biden's goal of paying farmers and ranchers to help battle climate change is running into the reality of how complicated and costly it will be. Six months into the administration, officials have yet to unveil their plan. That's in part because it's logistically complex and difficult to make the economics work: While corporations are eager to buy credits that pay farmers to pull carbon dioxide out of the air and into their soil, the credits aren't yet lucrative enough to entice enough farmers to rethink how they grow crops to maximize capturing carbon. "There's a ton of hype and farmers are very interested in this, but if this gets screwed up it's going to be a bad deal," said Mitchell Hora, an Iowa farmer and founder of Continuum Ag, a soil health consulting company, who himself isn't jumping into carbon markets yet. Farmers are a key piece of Biden's overall strategy to slash greenhouse gases across the U.S. economy: American agriculture contributes about 9 percent of U.S. emissions, but in theory has the potential to more than offset its own footprint. Recent interest among farmers and buy-in from powerful food and ag industry groups are giving Biden a rare opportunity to enlist agriculture in his sweeping climate agenda. But the window for action may be limited as the new president's political capital wanes and midterm elections draw closer.
 
FBI Director Christopher Wray visits Huntsville for celebration at $1.3 billion campus
FBI Director Christopher Wray visited Huntsville on Tuesday in a low-key stop to help celebrate construction of a key part of the bureau's sprawling campus at Redstone Arsenal. Wray lifted a shovel of dirt along with Alabama Sens. Richard Shelby and Tommy Tuberville to mark the formal groundbreaking of the FBI's Innovation Center. Shelby tweeted a photo of the ceremonial event on Tuesday afternoon. "Honored to participate in today's groundbreaking of the new FBI Innovation Center at Redstone Arsenal," Shelby's post on Twitter said. "This center will be a great asset focused on cyber threat intelligence and analytics. I look forward to the many jobs that will be created and the future of the FBI in Alabama." The FBI is building a sprawling, college-like campus on Redstone Arsenal that could eventually create as many as 5,000 jobs. In 2019, the FBI said more than 4,000 jobs would be shifted to Redstone Arsenal. The innovation center is considered to be a key part of that campus, which will top $1 billion in investment by its completion. Madison County Commission Chair Dale Strong, speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for restaurants at Town Madison on Tuesday, put the FBI's investment at $1.3 billion. The innovation center will be three stories and, in addition to collaborative and office space, will include a kinetic cyber range and a virtual reality classroom for agents to test and apply skills in real-world settings.
 
House Votes To Remove Confederate Statues In The U.S. Capitol
The House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to remove all Confederate statues from public display in the U.S. Capitol, along with replacing the bust of former Chief Justice of the United States Roger Taney, author of the 1857 Dred Scott decision that declared that people of African descent were not U.S. citizens. The House passed the measure 285-120. All Democratic members supported the legislation; all 'no' votes came from Republican members. Among the Confederate statues, there is a statue of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, displayed in Statuary Hall. The legislation also calls for the removal of the bust of Taney, author of the Dred Scott decision, which declared that Black Americans weren't citizens of the U.S. and thus couldn't sue in federal courts. The decision also claimed that Congress didn't have the authority to prohibit slavery in U.S. territories. The legislation calls for the bust to be replaced with one of Thurgood Marshall, the first Black Supreme Court Justice. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., used his debate time Wednesday to condemn critical race theory, a scholarly approach to studying American institutions through the lens of race and racism that has been rebranded by many Republicans as a stand-in for any conversation about race or the role racism continues to play in American society. McCarthy said he supports the removal of Confederate statues and repeatedly noted that the racist lawmakers and leaders they depict were then members of the Democratic Party.
 
Two Mississippi Congressmen speak out on removing statues from U.S. Capitol
On Tuesday, the House voted to approve a bill that would remove statues of men at the U.S. Capitol who served in the confederacy. The legislation passed 285 to 120. Congressman Michael Guest was delayed in his return this week to Washington following the passing of a close family member. As a result, he was unable to vote on H.R. 3005. Congressman Guest voted against a similar piece of legislation last year, and said his stance remains unchanged. In an interview last year, he said, "I would be opposed to the federal government ordering or dictating Mississippi to remove those statues." He added, "The process for removing or changing states' statues displayed in the U.S. Capitol already exists, and the authority is granted to state legislatures to make these decisions." Congressman Bennie Thompson, who voted in favor of the bill stated, "I support HR3005 -- A bill introduced by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to remove symbols of sedition, slavery, and segregation from the U.S Capitol. Confederate statues plague our nation signifying hate and divide. Our monuments should represent those who fought for inclusivity and a better America." Congressman Steven Palazzo and Congressman Trent Kelly voted against the legislation.
 
State health officials: COVID-19 isn't over, Delta variant cases climbing in Mississippi
As COVID-19 Delta variant cases multiply in Mississippi, state health officials said Tuesday they anticipate an increase in coronavirus cases and related deaths if more residents do not get vaccinated. Federal health officials have warned of the Delta variant's high transmissibility rate along with its greater hospitalization risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed the Delta variant under its "variants of concern" on June 15. Variants with this designation are more easily spread, can cause serious illness and are more resistant to monoclonal antibody treatments used in certain COVID 19-positive patients to lessen the chance of severe outcomes. The Mississippi State Department of Health first recorded Delta variant cases May 27 in Claiborne, Smith and Hinds counties. As of Tuesday, Delta variant cases made up 78 of the over 800 variant cases and are mostly concentrated in the Jackson metro area, according to state health department records. State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs and State Epidemiologist Paul Byers agreed Tuesday that the Delta variant is likely now the dominant strain in Mississippi. "It feels very reminiscent of where we were in an early part of the pandemic," Byers said. "It feels like we're in the same situation now with the Delta variant."
 
Delta is 'dominant strain' of COVID-19 in Mississippi ahead of Fourth of July weekend
Mississippi State Health Department officials on Tuesday sounded the alarm on rising COVID-19 Delta variant cases in Mississippi and urged residents to take precautions ahead of the Fourth of July weekend. "I would say that it is now the dominant strain in Mississippi," State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said. Although only 78 cases of the Delta variant, which originated in India, have been confirmed in the state as of Tuesday, health officials said the variant is spreading. State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers agreed with Dobbs' assessment, saying he'd be surprised if it's not currently the dominant strain. "It's certainly the predominant strain that we're seeing from our sequencing data, overwhelmingly," Byers said. Most of the 78 cases have been in central Mississippi counties • Claiborne (2), Copiah (1), Desoto (1), Forrest (1), Harrison (1), Hinds (44), Jackson (1), Madison (16), Rankin (9), Smith (1) and Washington (1). The number of confirmed Delta cases is up from 29 last week. Mississippi now has 78 cases of the variant, which is a nearly 169% increase of confirmed Delta cases in a week. The Delta variant has affected people of all ages, causing outbreaks among restaurant employees, churches and children in youth settings, like summer camps, MSDH officials said.
 
MSDH partners with UMMC scientists to track, fight COVID-19 variants
Mississippi's health leaders are partnering to figure out which COVID-19 variants are traveling through our state and where they've been. The partnership is with University of Mississippi Medical Center scientists, Mississippi State Department of Health, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Scientists say every time a virus comes into contact with human cells; it can make a mistake trying to copy the genetic makeup. Ultimately, this mistake could lead to the creation of another variant. UMMC says studying this virus, new forms of it, and how moves can end this pandemic and prevent future ones. Right now, the department of health says this delta variant is becoming the predominant strain in the state. The state says they're concerned just because this variant is highly infectious. While most cases have been in the Hinds, Rankin, and Madison County areas, they say the virus will spread across the state.
 
Facebook for fish? New app aims to make citizens into marine biologists
Want to help scientists identify Gulf Coast wildlife? There's an app for that. Two University of Mississippi faculty members are working on a new app that will allow citizens to post pictures and report sightings of wildlife across the northern section of the Gulf of Mexico, specifically in South Mississippi. The app is designed to be used by users with little-to-no knowledge of biology. "We are trying to design an app that is not just for the 'citizen scientist' already out there but for everyone," said Richard Buchholz, Ph.D. Professors Buchholz and Glenn Parsons have partnered with the Gulf of Mexico Citizen Scientist Initiative to help design the features of the app. The team has moved past the initial design phase and began taking programming bids on June 28. Parsons recently spoke about the app at the Mississippi Aquarium earlier this month. "We would love to have a whole army of people out there taking photos," Parsons said. The program was funded by the RESTORE Act, which granted $1.9 million to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. MDEQ then made a sub-grant of $1.7 million to the University of Mississippi, which included an additional sub-grant of $500,000 to the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.
 
Southern Miss welcomes new School of Music director
After a 33-year career with the School of Music at the University of Southern Mississippi, Jay Dean is calling it a career. "It's bittersweet, but I know it is something I need to do," Dean said. "It has been an honor to be here and a pleasure to work with so many wonderful people." In his place, USM has appointed Colin McKenzie, the former director of The Pride of Mississippi, as the new director for the School of Music. "To have the opportunity to be trusted with the directorship of the School of Music, not just after him but the numerous school directors that have come before who have left such an incredible legacy for us, it is an honor that I have a hard time putting into words," McKenzie said. McKenzie will officially take the director position on Thursday.
 
Gogue Center fall performances to include Dawes, Kenny G, Beach Boy
Performers such as Dawes, Kenny G and the Beach Boys will take the stage at the Auburn University Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center this fall, per an announcement from Auburn University Tuesday morning. The 13 performances slated for the fall kicks off with Goat Rodeo on Aug. 13 and ends with "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical" on Dec. 12. Goat Rodeo's concert, one of only two to be held on the East Coast during their upcoming tour, is called "Not Our First Goat Rodeo, and will feature Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile, with guest Aoife O'Donovan. Other artists to perform at GPAC are the Del McCoury Band, Candi Staton, Ziggy Marley, Sierra Hull, Boz Scaggs, Melissa Etheridge, Patti Labelle, humorist Jeanne Robertson and Erin Rae, who is listed as a special guest with Dawes. Tickets for Kenny G, the Beach Boys, Ziggy Marley and Melissa Etheridge are currently limited to Gogue Center sponsors and subscribers, but the general public will be able to purchase tickets for those events starting July 6. Tickets for all other performances are available now.
 
Draft on now-ex U. of Arkansas chancellor Joe Steinmetz mentioned teaching
A draft version of Joe Steinmetz' resignation announcement referred to him remaining as a University of Arkansas, Fayetteville faculty member, but the former chancellor's final message to the campus said nothing about his future plans. Steinmetz, 66, on June 17 in an email sent to students, and faculty and staff members said he would step down effective the next day. Email records from university staff members released under the state's public disclosure law include discussion from earlier that day about the forthcoming announcement from Steinmetz. "These would fit our headline template: Steinmetz to Conclude Service as Chancellor; Will Remain on Faculty," Mark Rushing, a UA spokesman, wrote in an email on the afternoon of June 17. He went on to list another possible "headline": "Steinmetz to Conclude Service as Chancellor; Will Continue to Teach." Laura Jacobs, chief of staff for Steinmetz, wrote to Rushing: "Still on standby. Fine but let's see." Bill Kincaid, a campus attorney last week named by UA System President Donald Bobbitt as acting chancellor for the university, in response to Rushing wrote: "I would be inclined to stop after 'Chancellor' given the stated duration." The email discussion, held minutes before 3 p.m., took place as the University of Arkansas board of trustees was winding down a meeting to discuss an unspecified personnel matter. No action was taken by the trustees, and the personnel discussion took place during a non-public part of their meeting.
 
Sonny Perdue's land deal draws new scrutiny amid Georgia's chancellor search
Sonny Perdue bought a grain plant in South Carolina from one of the biggest agricultural firms in the nation at a small fraction of its estimated value shortly after Donald Trump tapped him to be U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, The Washington Post reported. The investigation found that Archer-Daniels-Midland sold the grain storage facility in Estill, S.C. to AGrowStar, a firm then-owned by Perdue, for $250,000. Six years earlier, ADM paid more than $5.5 million for the same land, a figure that lines up with estimates from independent analysts who reviewed the records for the Post. The report, published Tuesday, could further complicate Perdue's ongoing push to lead Georgia's higher education system. The Board of Regents last week voted to appoint an interim chancellor, temporarily delaying Perdue's hopes of landing the coveted, high-paying job. The Post's report quoted experts who said the timing of the deal raised legal and ethical concerns. Georgetown University law professor Julie O'Sullivan, a former federal prosecutor, told the publication the deal "stinks to high heaven" and should result in an investigation. "Only a prosecutor with the powers of the grand jury can find out, in fact, whether there was a quid pro quo that existed at the time of the deal," she said.
 
Texas A&M seeking unvaccinated young adults for paid virus study
Texas A&M researchers are seeking 2,000 currently unvaccinated young adults to participate in a national study that seeks to answer the question of whether those who are vaccinated against COVID-19 can spread the virus to the unvaccinated. Participants in the four-month study can earn up to $1,000. Rebecca Fischer, a principal investigator for the PreventCOVIDU program at Texas A&M and an assistant professor of biostatistics and epidemiology, said Tuesday that the high efficacy of the vaccines has been proven, but those who are vaccinated against COVID-19 can still be exposed to the virus, and it is not currently clear whether the vaccinated can pass the virus on to those who are unvaccinated. "This is looking at how the Moderna vaccine, an mRNA vaccine, works to prevent infection," Fischer said. "We know that the vaccines are very effective against disease, against symptoms, against hospitalizations, and at preventing deaths. What we don't know is if the vaccines can really block infection." The national study is funded by the National Institute of Health, Fischer said. Twenty U.S. colleges are participating. Fischer said the goal is to enroll 2,000 people at A&M's study sites in College Station, Kingsville and Corpus Christi. She said participants don't have to be college students.
 
U. of Missouri study examines impact of spirituality on breast cancer survivors
A new study looks at the impact strong spiritual beliefs have on breast cancer survivors. Jennifer Hulett, assistant professor at the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing, is the lead author of the study. The project looked at whether a group of 41 breast cancer survivors believe in a loving God or a punishing God. Belief in a forgiving God was another aspect of their lives breast cancer survivors were asked about in a survey. The study also looked at levels of biomarkers that measure acute stress and immune inflammation. A previous study, using the same participants, measured cortisol, a measure of long-term stress. More study is needed, Hulett said. "This helps us with a proof-of-concept," Hulett said. Work to be done in the future includes determining how strong spiritual beliefs affect the physical health of cancer survivors, which will require a larger study, she said. "We did see a link between social support and immune inflammation," Hulett said. The biomarkers were measured from the cancer survivors' saliva, taken three times a day over two consecutive days. The next study, using the same participants, will examine mindfulness practices and their effect on inflammation.
 
Arizona public colleges can't require COVID vaccines -- or masks or testing for unvaccinated
Arizona State University announced its COVID-19 mitigation plans for an in-person fall semester just two weeks ago. Under the plans, students would not have to be vaccinated against COVID-19. But those who chose not to submit proof of vaccination to ASU would be required to participate in twice-weekly COVID testing, wear face coverings in both indoor and outdoor campus spaces, and submit to a daily health check. Fully vaccinated students would be able to bypass these extra requirements. The political backlash was immediate and fierce -- ASU was promptly forced by the governor to backtrack. "This is bad policy, with no basis in public health," Governor Doug Ducey, a Republican, wrote on Twitter the day ASU announced its policy. He issued an executive order the next day stating that Arizona public universities and community colleges cannot mandate COVID-19 vaccines or require unvaccinated individuals to submit to COVID testing or to wear face masks as a condition for class attendance or participation in learning. The order says that a public college can only require COVID-19 testing if there is "a significant COVID-19 outbreak in a shared student housing setting that poses a risk to the students or staff." Language that would codify Ducey's executive order into law is included in both the House and Senate versions of a higher education budget bill and is widely expected to be approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature later today.
 
George Washington University to rename student center, remove segregationist former president's moniker
George Washington University's Board of Trustees voted to change the name of the student center, Cloyd Heck Marvin Center, due to the namesake's legacy of enforcing racial segregation. The university announced the renaming of the building, now called the University Student Center, on Tuesday. Its former name memorialized Marvin, GWU's president from 1927 to 1959, who barred Black students from admission until 1954, when the university became the last university in the District to desegregate. The student center was named after Marvin in 1971, two years after he died, the university said in a statement. "GW doesn't change names lightly, and the board appreciates the hard work and consultation with the community that brought us to this point," GWU Board of Trustees chair Board Chair Grace Speights said in a statement. "The board concurs with the recommendation of the special committee on the naming of the Marvin Center." GWU's nickname, Colonials, which the university began to reconsider in July 2020, is still under consideration, spokeswoman Kathleen Fackelmann said. At the time, GWU officials formed two committees -- one to reexamine the name of the student center and another to reconsider the nickname -- and established a framework for any future renaming requests.
 
Hearing witnesses suggest tax changes to help students pay for college
A panel of witnesses testified before members of the House Ways and Means Committee Tuesday about expanding access to higher education, primarily focusing on how existing policies -- like the Pell Grant and higher education tax credits -- could be reformed to better serve the students most in need. The current higher education system is not equipped to support low-income students, students of color and students with disabilities, said Marshall Anthony Jr., a senior policy analyst at the progressive think tank the Center for American Progress. The Pell Grant doesn't cover a high enough share of the cost of college, students would have to work more than 15 hours a week in most states in order to afford to attend a four-year public institution -- and studies suggest working more than that can hinder students' completion -- and the lack of funding for community colleges means they often don't have the resources to serve the lower-income students who attend. "The ability to graduate should not be conditional upon a student having good fortune," Anthony said. "But we've created and perpetuated a system where that unfortunate reality has been the standard for far too long." The intent of the virtual subcommittee hearing was to examine how the powerful, tax-writing Ways and Means Committee could do more to help students, said Representative Bill Pascrell Jr., a Democrat from New Jersey, in his opening statement. "Are there ways to use the tax code to enable students, especially low-income ones, to receive higher education?" Pascrell asked. "That's the question."
 
Supreme Court deals another setback to unions in property rights decision
Syndicated columnist Sid Salter writes: Mississippi's agribusiness community and the state's labor organizations both saw a major Supreme Court decision issued in a California case that centers on the intersection of union access to private property in union organizing activities. The case is styled Cedar Point Nursery and Fowler Packing Company, Inc., versus Victoria Hassid, in her capacity as chair of the California Agricultural Relations Board. The question before the Supreme Court was whether the uncompensated appropriation of an easement that is limited in time effects a per se physical taking (of their property) under the Fifth Amendment. At issue also was the property owner's "right to exclude." According to the high court, state law in California "forces agricultural businesses to allow labor organizers onto their property three times a day for 120 days each year. The regulation provides no mechanism for compensation (to those farmers and growers)." But attorneys for the two petitioner growers argued prior to the court's ruling that the rule is a "government-authorized physical invasion of private property." Joshua Thompson, a senior attorney for the Pacific Legal Foundation, argued, "The Constitution forbids government from requiring you to allow unwanted strangers onto your property. And union activists are no exception."


SPORTS
 
Mississippi State Routs Vanderbilt To Force Game 3 In College World Series Finals
TD Ameritrade Park on Tuesday turned into a maroon-and-white party. With 24,122 fans in Omaha, mostly cheering for the Bulldogs, Mississippi State played perhaps its best game of the season in the biggest moment of the season. After on Monday losing to Vanderbilt in the first game of the best-of-three College World Series finals, Mississippi State needed to bounce back Tuesday in game 2 to keep its season alive. The Bulldogs did that and then some, defeating the Commodores, 13-2. The CWS finals will come down to a decisive third game Wednesday. Mississippi State took an early lead, pushing a run across in the first inning and then scoring four in the third inning to start to separate from Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs never stopped scoring to the delight of the thousands of their fans that have flocked to Omaha in hopes of seeing the first team national championship in school history. Among the fans in attendance was Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, perhaps the school's most beloved alumnus. The atmosphere was a special one for the Bulldogs. "It's why every little boy in the world wants to come here," righthander Preston Johnson said. "To have that many people travel all the way across the world to just be with us and live our dreams with us is unbelievable." Coach Chris Lemonis said the partisan crowd did more than make it a fun game for Mississippi State. With Vanderbilt on Tuesday starting freshman Christian Little, Lemonis said he thought the crowd helped the Bulldogs hitters, particularly in high-stress situations.
 
Mississippi State beats Vandy 13-2 to send CWS finals to Game 3
Mississippi State's first three wins in the College World Series were one-run games. The Bulldogs' fourth was a blowout, and it was well-timed. Houston Harding and Preston Johnson combined on a four-hitter and MSU capitalized on struggling Vanderbilt pitching in a 13-2 victory Tuesday night that forced a deciding third game in the College World Series finals. The easy win allowed Bulldogs coach Chris Lemonis to hold back rested pitchers, including star reliever Landon Sims, for the winner-take-all Game 3 on Wednesday night. "We're ecstatic because, one, we're still playing, and, two, we used two arms tonight," Lemonis said. "We have an opportunity to use some different guys tomorrow now because of the score. It was nice after the game. I grabbed Landon, I said, 'Man, it was sure nice not having to pitch you tonight' because I feel like in every win for the last month he has been out there." The start in this one was delayed two hours because of rain, but that didn't dampen the enthusiasm of another pro-MSU crowd that included Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in a pinstriped "State" baseball jersey. Prescott, MSU's two-time All-SEC quarterback in 2014-15, got big cheers during an in-stadium interview when he gushed over a Bulldogs' fan following that far exceeds Vandy's in numbers and volume. When an MSU fan caught a foul ball and tossed it up to the section behind him where Prescott was sitting, Prescott signed it and tossed it back.
 
Bounce back: Mississippi State routs Vanderbilt in Game 2 of College World Series final
Tanner Allen acknowledged No. 4 Mississippi State "took a haymaker" from No. 7 Vanderbilt on Monday in Game 1 of the best-of-three College World Series final. Just one night later, it was the Bulldogs' turn to knock the Commodores to the mat. On Tuesday, Mississippi State (49-18) gave as good as it got -- and more -- in a 13-2 thrashing of Vanderbilt (49-17) as the Bulldogs not only held onto their national championship but loomed larger than life over their beaten opponents in a maroon-thronged TD Ameritrade Park. The Bulldogs cracked 14 hits, drew 10 walks and left veritable tire tracks all over the base paths to move within a single win of their first national championship and the first team title in school history. "We've had our back against the wall (what) feels like all year long, and they just keep responding," coach Chris Lemonis said. And perhaps most importantly, Mississippi State saved some life in its proverbial arm to dole out some more punches in Wednesday night's winner-take-all Game 3. Left-hander Houston Harding went the first four innings and righty Preston Johnson went the next five as just two Bulldogs pitchers got the job done. When Johnson got Isaiah Thomas to ground out for the final out, Lemonis took closer Landon Sims aside.
 
Preston Johnson proves he belongs as Mississippi State gets one game closer to a CWS title
Mississippi State pitcher Preston Johnson has the phrase "You Belong" written on the brim of his hat, and the junior reliever certainly proved he belonged on the biggest stage in college baseball Tuesday night. In front of a crowd of over 24,000 baseball fans, Johnson pitched a career-high five innings and 74 pitches on Tuesday night as No. 7 Mississippi State beat No. 4 Vanderbilt, 13-2, to tie the best-of-three College World Series championship series, 1-1. Johnson, who earned his fourth win of the year, relieved MSU starting pitcher Houston Harding in the top of the fifth inning, leading 6-1, and never looked back. He allowed only one run on two hits and two walks while striking out a career-high seven Commodores in the win. "Coming in, I was just like pound the zone," Johnson said. "(Chris) Lemonis made it very clear. His go-to saying is pound the zone and we'll have a good chance to win. That's what I wanted to do for the team. And it was a dream come true to be out there and get in front of that crowd. It was like a home game." "Tonight was twice as many pitches as I've thrown this year," Johnson said. "The whole thing is, I think that was twice as many innings I've been in this year. And I love doing it. It's awesome. Gives you the adrenaline rush."
 
Mississippi State stays alive, crushes Vanderbilt 13-2 to force College World Series Game 3
It will all come down to Wednesday. Mississippi State beat Vanderbilt 13-2 in Game 2of the College World Series final Tuesday, setting up a winner-take-all third game Wednesday. The Bulldogs relied on a patient approach, scoring six runs on eight walks in the first four innings before blasting ahead against Vanderbilt pitching to finish the game with 14 hits. Vanderbilt (49-17) is seeking its third national championship and Mississippi State (49-18) is fighting for its first. Top-of-the-lineup bats Tanner Allen, Kamren James and Luke Hancock thrived for Mississippi State. The trio combined to go 5-for-10 with six walks, seven runs and three RBIs. Middle infielders Scotty Dubrule and Lane Forsythe provided pop from the bottom of the order, providing five hits and driving in six runs. In all, Vanderbilt's pitchers walked 10. Senior left-hander Houston Harding threw four innings for Mississippi State, allowing one run on two hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Harding worked his way out of a jam in the fourth, stranding two runners who reached with one out by striking out the final two batters. After Harding, Mississippi State turned the ball to junior right-hander Preston Johnson, who allowed one run on two hits in five innings, striking out seven. The performances from Johnson and Harding saved key members of Mississippi State's bullpen for Wednesday, namely closer Landon Sims, who has not pitched since Saturday.
 
Vanderbilt routed by Mississippi State, will have to win College World Series Game 3 to repeat
Vanderbilt's going to want to forget that one. In all, the Commodores used five true freshman pitchers Tuesday in Game 2 of the College World Series -- three of whom had not pitched since May. The strategy preserved the bullpen, but it also led to a laugher, a 13-2 Mississippi State blowout that, after the second inning, was never close. Vanderbilt pitchers Christian Little, Patrick Reilly, Nelson Berkwich, Hunter Owen and Donye Evans combined to allow 14 hits and 10 walks with 10 strikeouts. In total, the Commodores threw 212 pitches, one short of the record for a single team in a College World Series game since 1981. On Wednesday, Vanderbilt (49-17) will look to put the ugly game behind it and take the series over the Bulldogs (49-18). Kumar Rocker will likely start on the mound and the Commodores' best relievers will be rested. The game will be at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2. Both of Vanderbilt's first two pitchers struggled to find the plate. Little was solid for two innings but fell apart in the third, allowing an infield single and then walking three straight batters. He was replaced by Reilly, who allowed all four runs to score before getting out of the inning, then was pulled after allowing three walks of his own. Berkwich, who had not pitched since the SEC Tournament, threw strikes but also gave up six hits and two runs. Then, Owen pitched one inning and struggled with allowing both walks and hits, ultimately giving up five runs. After a clean game Monday, the errors that have plagued the Commodores throughout the College World Series returned. Vanderbilt committed three errors, including a throwing error by Jayson Gonzalez that extended the first inning and two errors on stolen base attempts that led to Mississippi State runs.
 
JUCO, grad transfers keep powering Mississippi State to victory
Forge the hot-shot young guys. Mississippi State's grizzled journeymen keep delivering. Stars like Tanner Allen, Rowdey Jordan, Will Bednar and Landon Sims have gotten most of the publicity. But Mississippi State has clawed to within one win of a College World Series title because of contributions from the junior college transfers and graduate transfers who keep the roster together like glue. Take Tuesday's 13-2 rout of a win over Vanderbilt at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha. The two pitchers Mississippi State (49-18) used were Itawamba Community College transplant Houston Harding and Hinds Community College transplant Preston Johnson. They allowed two runs on four hits and four walks with 11 strikeouts. Johnson has a 2.70 ERA across 13 1/3 innings this postseason. Harding has a 4.07 ERA across four postseason starts, and The Bulldogs are 3-1 with him on the mound. "Houston Harding and Preston Johnson, two more of my Mississippi JUCO players, just couldn't be more proud of those guys," coach Chris Lemonis said. "They gave us a chance tonight, and they pitched great. Commanded the zone, but it was just toughness."
 
How Mississippi State's 'JUCO bandits' got their start at Northwest Mississippi Community College
Mark Carson wants his players to be prepared. The Northwest Mississippi Community College head baseball coach, who just wrapped up his 16th year in charge of the program, preaches it all the time. "You never know when your opportunity is going to come around," he tells his players often. Now, three former Rangers have seen that chance come on college baseball's biggest stage, playing for Mississippi State at the College World Series. Two of them, Brayland Skinner and Tanner Leggett, even teamed up to help send the Bulldogs to the national championship series. From Senatobia to Starkville, here's how Mississippi State's "JUCO bandits" -- as head coach Chris Lemonis termed them -- came to play big roles for the Bulldogs in Omaha. "I couldn't be more proud," Carson said. "It has been so much fun to watch and keep up with all three of them." When high school recruits visit Northwest, Carson plunks them on his couch and asks the same question. In a perfect world, he says, where would you want to be? For most area players, the answers are the same: Mississippi State. Ole Miss. LSU. "I can promise you you don't hear, 'Northwest Mississippi Community College,'" Carson said. It's why he's happy to refer to the junior college route as "your best Plan B," realizing Division I schools are often the primary focus for talented young players. But Carson said JUCO offers several things bigger schools don't. And in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference, the trio of Rangers got what they needed.
 
Dudy Noble North? Mississippi State fans flood Omaha for College World Series final
The best way to beat college baseball's most notorious noisemaker isn't by booing. It's by drowning him out. The first inning of Game 1 of the College World Series final between Mississippi State and Vanderbilt wasn't very competitive. The Commodores outscored the Bulldogs 7-1 in the 43-minute inning before cruising to an 8-2 win. But the game within the game within the inning took place in the stands. From the time Mississippi State starter Christian MacLeod threw his first pitch, the infamous Vandy Whistler was at his old tricks. He'd fill the space between pitches with three stark whistles, a staccato triplet that echoed through the stadium and bled into the broadcast feed. Mississippi State fans were prepared, though. They had a counter. For every whistle, whistle, whistle, approximately 20,000 Mississippi State fans were ready to counter with a "Let's Go State!" A battle ensued. Three whistles. A chant. Three whistles. A chant. Three whistles. A chant. Then more chants. A few "Maroon! White!" chants. By the middle of the first inning, the Whistler was buried. Even as Vanderbilt piled on runs, it became inescapably obvious that Mississippi State was playing a home game in Omaha. TD Ameritrade Park felt like Dudy Noble North for the first game of the College World Series final. The announced attendance Monday was 24,052 people. The crowd appeared to be about 80% Mississippi State fans, and that might be generous to Vanderbilt fans. Omaha is overrun with Magnolia State migrants this week. Restaurants and bars are packed with maroon. Mississippi State flags are flying on street corners and tied to lampposts. It's hard to stop at a crosswalk or get on an elevator or buy a soda at a convenience store without being greeted (or, if you're wearing black and gold, confronted) with a "Hail State."
 
Omaha morphs into 'Starkville North' as Mississippi State fans hope for first CWS title
Nebraska's typical Sea of Red had deepened to maroon in downtown Omaha on Monday. Little leaguers sporting maroon jerseys goofed around. Maroon vehicles with Mississippi license plates squeezed into parking spaces. Outside the downtown CHI Health Center, Mississippi State University officials showed off a maroon trolley with white accents that would give Omaha's Ollie the Trolley a run for its money. "When you consider all the people that are here, it's basically Starkville North," Jeremiah Dumas said of the large Mississippi State fanbase. Dumas' official title at the university is executive director of transportation. But Monday afternoon, he was promoting all things Mississippi State, snapping photos of families who posed in front of the trolley and offering tours inside the vehicle. "Put your phone down now -- hug your momma like you mean it," Dumas said to one mother-son pair as they posed on the trolley's rear platform. MSU operates public transit in Starkville for both the university and the town, Dumas said, "so it only felt natural that we extend that up to Omaha as part of our responsibility of transporting folks." The trolley, Dumas said, will be used by alumni groups and others.
 
'Ain't no place like hometown' for HARDY
Before he wrote "God's Country", before he was playing sold out shows across the American landscape and before he became one of country music's rising stars, Michael Hardy was a Mississippi kid that loved the Bulldogs. There are no pro teams in the state of Mississippi so the home state colleges mean a little more to the people in the Magnolia than most places. Hardy grew up in nearby Philadelphia where summer meant postseason baseball for Mississippi State and the Neshoba County Fair. either of those things have been forgotten by the talented artist. He's in the middle of a nationwide tour and has already played 32 shows this year as live music opens back up. That's where he was last Saturday night -- somewhere in Idaho -- when he was getting a new tattoo on his tour bus and watching MSU and Texas fight for a trip to the National Championship. After going back and forth with his friends on a possible trip to Omaha, he decided to do it. Childhood compadres Caleb and Matthew Tingle and Chance Barfoot had already planned the trip up but Hardy was now on board to complete it. “It’s insane that we all get to be here and experience this,” Hardy said. “Hopefully State gets to go every year, but we don’t know when we’ll have a chance to all do it. We all grew up diehard State people so it’s crazy.”
 
Bulldogs bounce back in Dudy North, aim for first national championship
Mississippi sports columnist Rick Cleveland writes: Mississippi State for decades stacked on decades has boasted one of the elite, most beloved college baseball programs in the country. The Diamond Dogs have been to 12 College World Series, won multiple SEC, NCAA Regional and Super Regional championships. They've produced dozens of Major League stars, scores of All Americans. What they have not done is win a National Championship. That could change Wednesday night, June 30, 2021. An estimated 20,000 Bulldog fans will cheer them against defending national champion Vanderbilt tonight at TD Ameritrade Park, which really has become Dudy Noble North this week. The Bulldogs, with their backs to the wall, fired back for a 13-2 trouncing of the Commodores Tuesday night to force a winner-take-all third game in this CWS Championship series. The announced attendance was 24,122. Surely, 20,000 of them were State faithful. They made a difference. ... State has one distinct advantage: These really are like home games times two. Vandy has its Whistler. State has a maroon-clad army of fans, who waited out a two-hour weather delay Tuesday night and then cheered from start to finish as if their lives, not just a national championship, depended on it.
 
Vanderbilt baseball fans tell all at CWS watch party -- not everyone loves Vandy whistlers
Vanderbilt cheerleaders strolled through the infield for photos. Fathers and sons played catch in the outfield. Families lost their minds when CJ Rodriguez went yard in the second inning. Hawkins Field didn't look like its ordinary gameday self. The outfield turf was covered with chairs, towels and people. Mostly people. Hundreds of Vandy fans gathered at the Hawkins Field watch party Tuesday night to watch the Commodores' attempt to clinch its second consecutive World Series title, a feat that hasn't been accomplished since South Carolina in 2010-11. Fans of all ages scattered across the outfield to enjoy games, concession food and a jumbotron showing of Tuesday's 13-2 loss to Mississippi State in the College World Series finals. While the young ones gathered in deep left center to play jackpot, others waited out the two-hour weather delay to watch the Commodores. The Vandy whistlers' presence was missed at Tuesday's watch party, but not in Omaha, where the two whistlers have been cheering on the Commodores. The infamous Vanderbilt superfans can be heard at ballgames making noise, and they have received plenty of attention at the College World Series. "I love it," Jacob Jones, 15, said of the whistlers. "People act like they hate him. You gotta love him." Others weren't as supportive. "No, it's very annoying," Elijah Cooper, 13, said.
 
Despite Loss, Vanderbilt Set Up Well For Decisive Game In CWS Finals
On Tuesday, Mississippi State evened the College World Series finals series with Vanderbilt with a 13-2 win. This was always going to be the most questionable game for Vanderbilt from a pitching standpoint. Game 1 was mapped out nicely with Jack Leiter ready to go, and he delivered with six strong innings in a Commodores win. Making it even better, Vanderbilt was only forced to use one reliever to finish it off, as Nick Maldonado came on and threw three scoreless frames on 46 pitches, a not unreasonable number. Tuesday was a different story, however. With Kumar Rocker having thrown Friday, he wasn't available. That left the assignment to freshman righthander Christian Little, who pitched in the Commodores' elimination game against Stanford earlier in the CWS. Little is a highly regarded pitcher who reclassified in high school to get to Vanderbilt a semester early. He has good stuff, he's an intense competitor and there's every reason to believe he's going to be a very important piece of the puzzle for Vanderbilt at some point, but he struggled on Tuesday. Throughout the season, it's felt almost inevitable that if Vanderbilt was going to be in position to win a national title, it was going to come down to whether Rocker and Leiter, in some order, would be enough.
 
Starkville dealership prepared to pay student-athletes for social media promotions
Starting Thursday, college athletes in Mississippi will be able to receive money outside of scholarships from the University. Six states, including Mississippi, signed a new law enacting compensation for student-athletes for use of their name, image, and likeness. Parker-McGill Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram is prepared to be one of the first businesses to pay college athletes for promotional purposes. Kristi Snyder is the general manager of the car dealership. She feels this a great opportunity to promote their brand in a Starkville-friendly way. "We want to be able to offer them the opportunity to earn some money," she explained, "but at the same time have a chance to get our brand out there and you know more recognizable than where we are right now." Snyder and her team at the dealership searched athletes social media outlets to see who has a large following. The company hopes to use the athletes' online presence as a way to market the dealership to fans across Mississippi come July 1st. "Mississippi State fans are very loyal and keep up with these kids even throughout their college career and beyond," said Snyder. "Forging a partnership with somebody that's got a good following, you know that people really have embraced and embrace around here, I think would be mutually beneficial."
 
BankPlus Welcomes Chad Ramey, Pro Golfer and Mississippi Native, as Brand Ambassador
BankPlus is excited to welcome Korn Ferry Tour member Chad Ramey as a brand ambassador. Ramey is from Fulton, Mississippi, and attended college at Mississippi State University. Ranked third on the Korn Ferry Tour Regular Season Points List, he has already secured PGA Tour membership for the 2021-22 PGA Tour season and will begin his PGA Tour career in September. Ramey has had a remarkable extended Korn Ferry Tour season that has included a win at the Live and Work in Maine Open, two second-place finishes, three third-place finishes, nine top-10s and 18 top-25 finishes. He has been a model of consistency with 19 straight cuts made and 33 out of 36 cuts made, dating back to the beginning of the Korn Ferry Tour season. During Ramey's career at Mississippi State, he won the Tiger Invitational in 2013 and was a First Team All-SEC selection his junior and senior seasons. Prior to Mississippi State, he was a three-time individual state champion and was a part of three state championship teams at Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton, Mississippi. Additionally, Ramey qualified and participated in the BankPlus Junior Pro Am, which is an annual event hosted by the PGA Tour's Sanderson Farms Championship. "We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with Chad over the next several years," said Rob Armour, Chief Marketing & Product Development Officer for BankPlus. "It is an honor to associate the BankPlus brand with his name and his work ethic. Chad embodies diligence and consistency, two BankPlus hallmarks, on and off the golf course."
 
SEC Announces 2021-22 Executive Committee
University of Georgia President Jere Morehead will begin a two-year term as the President of the SEC's Executive Committee beginning July 1, the Southeastern Conference announced Tuesday. Morehead moves into the role of president after a two-year term as vice president. University of Florida President Dr. Kent Fuchs will begin a two-year term as Vice President of the committee while University of Mississippi Faculty Representative Ron Rychlak continues as the Secretary. Joining the committee is University of Alabama President Dr. Stuart Bell who will become Vice President in 2023. Continuing members of the committee are Vanderbilt University Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Dr. Candice Storey Lee; University of Missouri Senior Deputy Athletics Director, Chief Operating Officer & Senior Woman Administrator Sarah Reesman; and University of South Carolina Faculty Representative Dr. Val Littlefield. The SEC Executive Committee is comprised of the three officers of the Conference and four individuals elected at the regular annual conference meeting. The elected members are composed of a Chief Executive Officer, Director of Athletics, Senior Woman Administrator and Faculty Athletics Representative. The primary responsibility of the SEC Executive Committee is to approve the annual operating budget of the Conference and oversee all financial and fiscal affairs of the Conference as administered by the Commissioner.
 
UGA President Jere Morehead elected president of the Southeastern Conference
University of Georgia President Jere W. Morehead has been elected to a two-year term as president of the Southeastern Conference, beginning Thursday. As president, Morehead will chair the SEC's Executive Committee, a seven-member panel that approves the SEC operating budget and oversees the conference's fiscal affairs, among other duties. Morehead has served as SEC vice president for the past two years. Last August, Morehead was appointed to the NCAA Division I Board of Governors and Board of Directors. The NCAA Board of Governors is the highest governance body in the NCAA, tasked with overseeing association-wide issues and ensuring that each division operates in accordance with NCAA policies and principles. He continues to serve on both boards. Kent Fuchs, president of the University of Florida, was elected SEC vice president, while Ron Rychlak, faculty athletics representative at the University of Mississippi, was elected secretary.
 
U. of Alabama releases NIL guidelines for athletes
Alabama athletics released guidelines for its athletes Tuesday ahead of July 1, when UA athletes will be allowed to receive compensation for name, image and likeness. A few of the notable guidelines for Crimson Tide athletes about NIL and compensation that UA stressed in its release include: UA employees aren't allowed to compensate or arrange compensation for current or prospective athletes. Compensation can't be exchanged for someone to attend or compete for Alabama. Compensation for NIL can be money, goods or services. Contracts are not allowed to go past an athlete's time with the Crimson Tide. Athletes can have professional representation help in arranging opportunities to get compensated for NIL, but those representatives can't be involved in anything past NIL, such as future professional contracts or negotiations. Athletes have to share agreements with UA. Most of the use of an athlete's NIL won't include anything to do with Alabama athletics. UA registered or licensed marks, logos, verbiage or designs aren't allowed to be used unless UA gives consent.



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