| Friday, January 14, 2022 |
| Short documentary about Old Main dorm to premier Jan. 23 | |
 | In the early hours of Jan. 23, 1959, a fire erupted at one of Mississippi State University's most iconic locations, the Old Main Dormitory. Students ran through hallways and down staircases to escape the flames engulfing the building. Old Main now is remembered on MSU's campus through the current Old Main Academic Center, which is designed to resemble parts of the original dormitory, and the Chapel of Memories, which contains salvaged bricks from Old Main. "One of our most iconic traditions at Mississippi State was the Old Main Dormitory, what we would now call a residence hall," MSU Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter said. "At the time, Old Main was believed to be the largest residence hall in the United States." To commemorate this significant event in MSU's history, the University Television Center has created an 11-minute short film, "Old Main," telling the stories of those who lived through that experience nearly 63 years ago. The UTC handles nearly all of the university's broadcast, television and production needs, aside from athletics and some agriculture production. MSU Films, an initiative of the UTC, is a way to tell stories of MSU and those that are a part of it, Director of the University Television Center David Garraway said. "MSU Films started as a platform for us to develop and test new productions and improve our storytelling methodology," Garraway said. "We're trying to get better at what we do. At the end of the day, we're trying to get a message to an audience, and a lot of that comes through storytelling, so this was an opportunity for us to visualize and tell stories that we have not before." Old Main will premier at 7 p.m. Jan. 23 on the university's Facebook page, as well as MSTV for local cable subscribers. |
| MSU offers COVID testing to students and faculty on campus | |
 | Another testing option is open to students and faculty at Mississippi State University. COVID tests are being administered in front of Newell Grissom Hall. This began on Thursday, Jan. 13. "This a great resource on campus," junior Calvinesha Johnson said. She got tested for COVID and is grateful to have the option on campus. "Not everybody may have the option back at home," she said. "So, it's good that they have the option, free and very convenient for students." This testing is for people who have no symptoms. The Pfizer vaccine and booster are also available on campus at the Student Health Center. The new site was set up to help ease the workload at the center. "We're also going to test Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday," nurse manager Nancy Ball said. "I believe it will pick up when students come back in and faculty get ready to start classes." Students and faculty will receive their test results 24 hours after taking the test. Classes resume on Tuesday, Jan. 18. |
| Home prices up, inventory down in Golden Triangle | |
| In 43 years selling real estate, Rick McGill can't remember a time quite like this. Coming off a banner year in area home sales in 2021, properties are moving quickly and at ever-higher prices, said McGill, broker associate and former co-owner of Crye-Lyke Properties Unlimited as well as current president for the Golden Triangle Association of Realtors. Starting off 2022, McGill said there are fewer than 250 homes for sale in the association's eight-county territory, which includes a core of Lowndes, Oktibbeha and Clay counties. That's a little more than half the normal inventory. "Buyers are wanting to buy because interest rates are still very good," McGill said. "Demand is out there, but supply is so low." According to numbers GTAR supplied The Dispatch, Realtors sold 105 more homes and 54 more condos in Lowndes, Oktibbeha and Clay counties in 2021 than during 2020. Those figures do not count properties sold directly by the owner. Lowndes County led the way in home sales, with 693 (up 50 from 2020), while 509 sold in Oktibbeha (up 40 from the prior year) and 110 sold in Clay County. For condominiums, Oktibbeha County -- home of Mississippi State University -- saw 133 sales in 2021 (up 51 from 2020). “We’re seeing a lot of multiple offers on homes, where we may get two or three offers over the listing price,” McGill said. “Now that’s not the norm, even now, but we’ve never really seen that in this area. “I’m dealing with a couple right now in Starkville that is looking for a four bedroom/three bathroom,” he added. “They’re going to be in the $350,000 to $450,000 range.” |
| Some Golden Triangle restaurants using temporary shutdowns to relieve overworked employees during Omicron surge | |
 | While tables are full at restaurants like Harvey's in Columbus, it's a different story in the kitchen. "We've definitely felt staffing shortages," Eat With Us Group Sales and Marketing Director Jordan Tarter says. "We've had to shut down a couple of stores every once in a while just so we could give our team a break, and they can come back in and be ready to work again." Tarter says it is one of several new measures in place at their restaurants across the Golden Triangle, with Omicron COVID-19 cases on the rise. "With the rise in cases and everything here in the past couple of months, we have had to reevaluate all the precautions again," she says. The Grill in Starkville had to close on Friday and Saturday. "We just, we couldn't handle the volume that we were going to have that Friday and Saturday," Tarter says. "We reopened on Sunday for brunch." Tarter says they've only had to use this option about three times as a last resort when a restaurant has less than 50 percent of its staff. Tarter says that the current staffing issues are not as bad as they were in 2021, and she is grateful to the community for their support. "We thank our guests for being so patient with us and loyal to us during these hard times," she says. |
| National blood crisis forcing doctors and patients to make tough choices | |
 | Dozens of hospitals and trauma centers across the country say they're in dire need of blood donations after what the American Red Cross is now calling a nationwide blood crisis. The Red Cross said in a statement this week that the dangerously low blood supply levels are posing a concerning risk to patient care, resulting in medical staff making difficult decisions on who receives blood transfusions and who will need to wait until more blood is readily available. In recent weeks, the Red Cross -- which provides nearly 40% of the nation's blood -- said it had less than a one-day supply of critical blood types and has had to limit blood product distributions to hospitals. The organization says that at times, up to one-quarter of hospital blood needs are not being met. Additionally, the pandemic has also contributed to a 62% drop in blood drives at schools and colleges. In Mississippi, officials with Mississippi Blood Services (MBS) told local TV station WJTV that blood donors are increasingly harder to obtain. And given that the dip in donated blood is hitting hospitals hard across the state, many patients are being told they have to wait. "We need to see anywhere from 200 to 250 donors every day to meet those needs. Right now, we're seeing about 100 to 150 donors," Merle Eldridge, the director of donor recruitment for MBS, told WJTV. The Red Cross is asking donors of all blood types, but particularly those with Type O, to make an appointment now to give in the weeks ahead. Additionally, it's also seeking volunteers to help out at blood drives and transport blood products to hospitals. |
| Mississippi wants more tech jobs. Here's what it can learn from Alabama's tech success | |
 | Only 4.2% of Louisiana's workforce has a tech job, the second lowest number in the country. Mississippi holds last place. Yet technology historian Margaret O'Mara believes it's not too late. She points out that 100 years ago, Silicon Valley was a farming region. "It was the prune capital of America," O'Mara, author of "Cities of Knowledge: Cold War Science and the Search for the Next Silicon Valley." "So never say never." For proof that can happen in the Gulf South, take a look at Huntsville, Alabama, home to the second largest research park in the country. It houses the offices of biotechnology, cybersecurity and space travel companies. New tech companies are moving in, while the ones already there expand. Experts say cities in Mississippi and Louisiana can achieve something similar by being strategic and making investments in education and quality of life. Huntsville's current tech success got lift off from its rocket past. In the '50s and '60s, research at the Redstone Arsenal military outpost led to the development of the Saturn V rocket, which made the first moon landing possible. Many of the engineers that worked on the project stayed in Huntsville after the project ended. Those workers eventually built up the city's defense and space sector, which is still thriving today. This suggests that the simplest way to attract tech jobs is to already have tech jobs -- a frustrating paradox for southern cities hoping to replicate Huntsville's success.. But experts say it's more about building tech around a city's strengths, whatever they may be. While it's easy to draw a straight line between rocket development and building up a tech sector, today tech stretches into all industries. |
| Scotsman Manufacturing Company beginning operations in Laurel, creating 85 jobs | |
 | Scotsman Manufacturing Company is proud to call Laurel home of its new manufacturing operations. Erin and Ben Napier, hosts of HGTV's hit series Home Town and co-owners of Laurel Mercantile Company, along with partners Mallorie and Jim Rasberry and Emily and Josh Nowell, are locating wood countertop and cutting board manufacturing operations under a new company, Scotsman Manufacturing Company. The new company will be housed in a revitalized facility near downtown Laurel. The Scotsman Manufacturing team is committed to American-made goods and will wholesale its products to retailers nationwide, creating 85 jobs in a once-shuttered industrial complex. The Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance for building improvements. Scotsman Manufacturing Company also has been certified for the Advantage Jobs Rebate Program, which is designated for eligible businesses that create new jobs exceeding the average annual wage of the state or county in which the company locates or expands. Mississippi Power is aiding with energy efficiency upgrades to the facility. |
| Archives waiting on additional info on proposed apartments on Duling School property | |
 | A proposal to construct a six-story apartment building on the Duling School property in Fondren is not expected to be on the agenda when the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Board of Trustees meets on Jan. 21. "MDAH has not received any additional information from the developers or lead federal agency associated with the project that would allow us to make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees on January 21," said Barry White, director of the Historic Preservation Division of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, in an email. The nine-member board, which is led by Spence Flatgard of Ridgeland, meets quarterly. The Duling School property is designated as a Mississippi Landmark under the provisions of the Antiquities Law of Mississippi. Developers Andrew Mattiace and Mike Peters plan to convert the top floors in Fondren Place, which is located at North State Street and Duling Avenue, from office space into luxury apartments, and build a new structure, Fondren Place Phase 2. The Fondren Business Improvement District, which provides security, landscaping and cleaning services for the business district, will also benefit from the additional taxes, according to the foundation. |
| Retail sales dropped 1.9% in December as higher prices caused consumers to curb spending | |
| Retail sales fell much more than expected in December as surging prices took a big bite out of spending, the Commerce Department reported Friday. The advance monthly sales report to close out the year showed a decline of 1.9%, considerably worse than the Dow Jones estimate for just a 0.1% drop. Excluding autos, sales fell 2.3%, a number that also fell well short of expectations for a 0.3% rise. In addition to the weak December numbers, the November gain was revised down to 0.2% from the initially reported 0.3% increase. Considering that the sales numbers are not adjusted for inflation, the data point to a slow ending to what had otherwise been a strong 2021 in which sales rose 16.9% from the pandemic-scarred 2020. The consumer price index rose 0.5% for the month, bringing the year-over-year gain to 7%, the highest since June 1982. Wholesale price also rose, climbing 9.7% in the 12-month period for the biggest calendar-year rise since data was kept going back to 2010. Online spending took the biggest hit as a share of overall spending, with nonstore retailers reporting a plunge of 8.7% for the month. Furniture and home furnishing sales declined 5.5% and sporting goods, music and book stores saw a 4.3% drop. Only two categories saw increases for the month: miscellaneous store retailers, which rose 1.8% and building materials and gardening centers, which posted a 0.9% gain. |
| Mississippi lottery players fill state coffers, generating over $1 billion in sales | |
| In November 2019, Mississippians no longer had to travel across state lines to play the lottery, starting with scratch off games. Now players have kept that money in the state with each purchase. Every lottery ticket may not hit the jackpot, but the State of Mississippi is coming out a winner. "It's been received very well in the state. I think its success speaks for itself," said Jeff Hewitt. That success, according to the MS Lottery president, is over $1 billion dollars in lottery sales since gaming became legal in late 2019. Two-hundred-61-million dollars have been returned to the state of Mississippi. Each fiscal year, the first $80 million dollars generated go to infrastructure. The amount above that goes to the Education Enhancement Fund. "We're very excited when we can hit that first $80 million and start watching that money go into the education fund," said Hewitt. "So far this year through November, again we've not posted our December numbers yet, but we've returned $54 million dollars to the state, a little over." Net proceeds to the state in 2021 were over $137 million dollars. The best sellers are scratch offs. There are more than 1,800 retailers in the state, selling those chances that ultimately improve roads, bridges and education. |
| Medical marijuana advances with Mississippi senate vote | |
 | Mississippi senators voted Thursday to advance a bill that would create a medical marijuana program, sending it to the House for more work. One lawmaker started the debate by quoting Bob Dylan's "Everybody Must Get Stoned." It was a double reference to perceptions about recreational use of the drug and the criticism the lawmaker himself has faced from the governor. "They'll stone you when you're walking on the street. They'll stone you when you're tryin' to keep your seat. ... I would not feel so all alone. Everybody must get stoned," Republican Sen. Kevin Blackwell of Southaven said, using a Dylan sing-song at the end. Blackwell has been one of the lead negotiators the past several months on creating a medical marijuana program for Mississippi residents with debilitating medical conditions such as cancer, AIDS and sickle cell anemia. Advocates say patients want the drug for for pain relief and not to get high. To illustrate the amount of marijuana people with could obtain with a prescription, Blackwell held up two packages of hemp and a hemp cigarette in a plastic container. He let senators pass the items around. Some refused to touch them. Others smelled the bags. The bill sets taxes on the production and sale of cannabis, and it specifies that plants must be grown indoors under controlled conditions. |
| Medical marijuana closer to reality in Mississippi after Senate vote | |
 | The Mississippi Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday to approve a bill creating a medical marijuana program which would allow people with certain conditions to use cannabis if a doctor prescribes it. Five of the 52 senators voted against the bill after three hours of debate and six proposed amendments failed. The bill heads to the House where it is expected to be debated and possibly amended. The Senate's passage comes 14 months after voters in Mississippi overwhelmingly approved a medical marijuana program at the ballot box, and nine months since the state supreme court overturned the referendum and nullified the state's ballot initiative process. Sen. Kevin Blackwell, R-Southaven, drafted the bill after several public hearings and input from lawmakers, lobbyists, trade groups and possible medical marijuana patients and growers. Rep. Lee Yancey, R-Brandon, worked closely with Blackwell in drafting the bill. While floor debate lasted hours, there were some light-hearted moments. Blackwell passed around samples of hemp, which looks the same as marijuana, but lacks the psychoactive chemicals. The bill would apply the state's 7% sales tax and a new 5% excise tax to cannabis. Meaning, if a person bought $100 of cannabis they would pay $12 in taxes. No other prescription medication is subject to a tax in Mississippi. |
| Senate overwhelmingly passes Mississippi medical marijuana | |
| Sen. Kevin Blackwell recited Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" -- "everybody must get stoned" -- and passed out various sized hemp samples before the Senate on Thursday passed a long-debated Mississippi medical marijuana program. The vote on Senate Bill 2095 was initially counted as 45-5, well beyond what would be considered a veto-proof majority, but subject to change as it was by use of morning roll call and senators could change their votes or check in through the end of the day. The measure was held on a technical motion, but is expected to move to the House on Monday. Its passage is expected to be a heavier lift there, but Rep. Lee Yancey -- who has worked with Blackwell for months on the legislation, said he's confident it will pass, if not by a veto-proof two-thirds majority. On Thursday several House members, including Yancey, stood on the Senate floor or gallery during the debate. "He's just handed me the football," Yancey said after he congratulated Blackwell. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann recently called it the most scrutinized legislation in recent history and said Thursday, "It's been well vetted, including again here today on the Senate floor." Hosemann said he has not talked with Reeves about the bill and does not know if he's still considering a veto. Other House and Senate leaders said the same Thursday. "I think he has been briefed on the bill," Hosemann said. |
| Blount files bill to tax E-cigarettes at same rate as conventional cigarettes | |
| The state of Mississippi could be set to tax e-cigarettes at the same rate as conventional cigarettes if a bill in the Mississippi Legislature becomes law. State Sen. David Blount, D-Jackson, filed Senate Bill 2062 that would tax e-cigarettes and vaping products at the same 15 percent excise tax as cigarettes. The bill will be handled by the Senate Finance Committee. "I continue to believe that electronic cigarettes and vaping products ought to be taxed at the same rate as regular cigarettes," Blount told the Northside Sun. "There are different ways of taxing these products since some of them are in liquid form. I'm open to any way that works, but the simplest way is to just tax them like a pack of cigarettes based on their retail price." Two years ago, Blount authored a similar bill that was approved by the Finance Committee for a floor vote, where it missed the three-fifths majority for passage by one vote. A three-fifths majority is required on any tax-related issue, according to Senate rules. Blount has gone for a more simplistic approach in this year's bill. Instead of a 5 cent levy on every liquid milliliter of nicotine like in his previous bill, e-cigarettes would be taxed at the same 15 percent rate as conventional cigarettes. According to statistics from the state Department of Revenue, the state's tobacco tax generated $145 million in revenue in fiscal 2021, which ended June 30. In fiscal 2020, the tax generated about $138 million in revenue. |
| Vicksburg's Briggs Hopson Elected to Serve on National Conference of State Legislatures' Executive Committee | |
| Lawmakers from around the country elected Senator Briggs Hopson to serve on the 2021-2022 NCSL Executive Committee at the National Conference of State Legislatures' (NCSL) 2021 Legislative Summit in Tampa, Fla. "I am proud to be a part of the leadership of a well-respected organization like the National Conference of State Legislatures," Hopson said. "Our country needs to see that elected officials from both parties can work together to solve problems. NCSL is the go-to resource for state legislators from around the country. I'm glad to give Mississippi a voice on this important national committee." The NCSL Executive Committee is the governing body of the National Conference of State Legislatures. Comprised of 63 elected members, the Executive Committee drives the organization by supervising and controlling the affairs of the Conference, its committees and publications, as well as deciding the organization's ultimate positions on public policy. "We are pleased to have Senator Hopson's expertise on NCSL's Executive Committee," said NCSL President and Hawaii Speaker Scott Saiki. "His participation in NCSL over the years has been a key part of the organization's success." Hopson, who lives and practices law in Vicksburg, has been an active member of NCSL throughout his tenure as a state legislator and has served as Co-chair of NCSL's Law, Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. |
| Rep. Shanda Yates announces switch from Democrat to Independent | |
 | On Thursday, State Representative Shanda Yates announced that she was changing her party affiliation, switching from being a Democrat to an Independent. Yates, a freshman lawmaker, has represented the people of House District 64 since 2020. "My priorities as your representative this legislative session remain unchanged. I will continue to focus on securing the necessary funds to make critical repairs to the City of Jackson's water and sewer infrastructure," Rep. Yates said in a statement to her constituents. Yates said that she would continue to work with state, county and city officials to develop, implement, and fund a plan in order to combat the crime epidemic within our capital city. "It is a privilege serving the citizens of Northeast Jackson and Resevoir Ridgeland in the Mississippi Legislature; this change in political affiliation in no way changes my commitment to fighting for our public schools, quality infrastructure, and small businesses," said Yates. |
| Welfare scandal: Hinds DA pursues new indictment, News ask to relocate trial | |
| The Hinds County District Attorneys Office is asking a grand jury to consider new information gathered during its investigation into Nancy and Zach New, figures in Mississippi's welfare scandal. The state has also asked Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Faye Peterson to postpone the New case, which is set for trial on Feb. 7, to give the grand jury enough time to convene. The recent motion suggests the state expects a grand jury to hand down new criminal indictments against the News, which will likely have many parallels to the first. Meanwhile, attorneys for the News wrote a scathing 12-page motion accusing State Auditor Shad White, who originally investigated the case, of attempting to try their case in the media. "Auditor White's statements went beyond the information contained in the indictments and instead amounted to character attacks and assurances that those charged were indeed guilty," the attorneys wrote. "White's emphasis on 'influential people,' 'politically connected' persons, and allegations of stealing from the poor for personal gain gave the story special pique and media saturation across Mississippi." The News' motion asks the court to suppress White from speaking to the media -- even though there is already a gag order in the case -- and also asks the judge to move the trial, known as a change of venue, "due to the relentless actions taken by the State Auditor to poison the jury pool." The auditor's office declined to comment for this story. |
| Supreme Court blocks vaccine-or-mask mandate for larger employers | |
 | The Supreme Court blocked on Thursday a Biden administration requirement that larger businesses require employees to be vaccinated or have a masking and testing policy, but allowed a similar vaccine mandate to go into effect for around 10 million health care workers. The decisions hinged on whether the administration had the authority to issue the policies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resurged as a sharply increased number of Americans are testing positive among the spread of the highly contagious omicron variant. In a 6-3 order, the justices halted an Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule for larger businesses to either require vaccines or have a masking and testing policy early this year. And in a 5-4 order, the justices allowed a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services vaccination mandate for health care workers at federally funded health care facilities. In both cases, the challenges to the Biden administration actions were at preliminary stages, when courts were deciding whether to allow the actions to go into effect while the lawsuits moved through the legal system. Thursday's rulings won't stop the underlying legal fights over the policies. |
| Reeves: Biden's COVID vaccine mandate wasn't about safety, but wielding presidential power | |
 | Gov. Tate Reeves celebrated the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to halt a Biden administration vaccine-or-testing requirement for employees of large businesses. "Today's decision is a major win for the United States," Reeves's Thursday news release said. "It's a major win for federalism and our system of checks and balances. It's a major win for workers across the country who want to put food on their table and still exercise their right to make the medical decision that's best for them." The requirement laid out by the Biden administration called for workers of businesses with at least 100 employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or face regular testing and mask-wearing. On Thursday, the nation's high court stopped the mandate, ruling it was an overstep by the Biden administration. However, the Supreme Court did allow a vaccine mandate for workers at health care facilities who receive federal funding through Medicare and Medicaid. According to USA TODAY, that measure affects about 10 million workers. Reeves, who has spoken out about the proposed mandate since early November, said he viewed it as a "a significant encroachment into the lives and health" of Americans who would've been subjected to the vaccine-or-testing requirement. While Reeves has publicly backed getting vaccinated against the coronavirus, he has said numerous times it's a personal choice to get the shot. |
| Supreme Court ruling means Mississippi hospitals must enforce vaccine mandate for frontline workers | |
 | A COVID-19 vaccine requirement for staff at private businesses with over 100 workers was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday, but the mandate for all federally funded health care facilities can proceed. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, an outspoken critic of the Biden administration's vaccine requirements, praised the ruling for private businesses in a statement released Thursday afternoon. Reeves, though, did not address the vaccine mandate that can now proceed for health care workers, a hot-button issue on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In a 5 to 4 decision, the Supreme Court lifted two injunctions that blocked a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rule that more than 17 million workers in the health care industry be vaccinated against the virus. Both vaccine mandates were heavily contested among the Mississippi Gulf Coast workforce. In a statement to the Sun Herald on Thursday, Singing River Health System general counsel Jaklyn Wrigley said the the hospital system was "disappointed" in the ruling which will lead to the termination of unvaccinated nurses at a time when hospitals are severely understaffed. "Although we intend to make every effort to comply with the CMS mandate, we cannot help but be concerned that the mandate will cause us to lose more frontline health care workers from the state – workers who are already in extremely short supply. Even the loss of one nurse can have a negative impact on the number of patients for whom we are able to deliver care, and the mandate could cause us to lose many more than that," Wrigley said. |
| Lawmakers raise health concerns as they quietly seek to replace a House chairman | |
 | Before starting high-stakes talks on the nation's next farm bill, House Democrats are facing tensions in their own ranks about whether their Agriculture Committee chair is ready for the challenge. Rep. David Scott, 76, is a member long respected by both parties -- and a historic figure as the first Black lawmaker to lead the agriculture panel. But people close to the Georgia Democrat, known for his low-key manner, acknowledge he's noticeably slowed in the last few years, citing his increasingly halting speech and trouble at times focusing on a topic. House Democrats in December 2020 voted for Scott to lead the panel, but some of his decisions since then have frustrated an array of his colleagues. POLITICO spoke with 28 lawmakers, congressional aides and other government officials for this article. Ten lawmakers who detailed concerns about Scott spoke on condition of anonymity in order to speak candidly about the sensitive situation. Some House Democrats say Scott has been unable to maintain control of routine committee hearings to keep Republicans from running roughshod over Democrats on key priorities such as climate-related agriculture programs and their now-stalled $1.7 trillion social spending bill. Scott in a phone interview this week dismissed questions about his health as the actions of "a bunch of wannabe chairmen" who are taking advantage of his physical health challenges in order to stage a mutiny. Worries about Scott’s ability to lead the committee in the grueling months ahead are such an open secret that people in other parts of the federal government -- including two Department of Agriculture officials and three senior Senate aides -- say they have discussed similar concerns in their offices. |
| Jan. 6 Inquiry Weighs a Major Escalation: Subpoenaing Colleagues | |
 | The refusal by Representative Kevin McCarthy, the minority leader, to be interviewed by the House committee scrutinizing the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol raised the prospect of a subpoena of the highest-ranking House Republican, prompting legal questions with little court precedent and escalating the political stakes of the investigation. For weeks, members and investigators on the special House panel have privately agonized over how aggressive to be in pursuing sitting members of Congress, weighing their desire for information about lawmakers' direct interactions with former President Donald J. Trump against the potential legal difficulty and political consequences of doing so. Now, they are wrestling with whether to subpoena Mr. McCarthy, the man who is in line to be speaker if Republicans retake the House this November, setting in motion a process that could potentially lead to a Democratic-controlled House holding him in contempt of Congress with the midterm elections looming. In a letter on Wednesday, Representative Bennie Thompson, Democrat of Mississippi and the chairman of the committee, said the panel wanted to ask Mr. McCarthy a range of questions. In his statement later that day, Mr. McCarthy accused the committee of an abuse of power, complaining that it "wants to interview me about public statements that have been shared with the world, and private conversations not remotely related to the violence that unfolded at the Capitol." Mr. Thompson has said publicly several times that "nobody is off limits" and that the panel would consider issuing subpoenas for members of Congress who do not voluntarily cooperate with the investigation. |
| Analysis: Biden overshoots on what's possible in divided DC | |
| He was supposed to break through the congressional logjam. End the pandemic. Get the economy back on track. Days before he hits his one-year mark in office, a torrent of bad news is gnawing at the foundational rationale of President Joe Biden's presidency: that he could get the job done. In the space of a week, Biden has been confronted by record inflation, COVID-19 testing shortages and school disruptions, and the second big slap-down of his domestic agenda in as many months by members of his own party. This time, it's his voting rights push that seems doomed. Add to that the Supreme Court's rejection of a centerpiece of his coronavirus response, and Biden's argument -- that his five decades in Washington uniquely positioned him to deliver on an immensely ambitious agenda -- was at risk of crumbling this week. Jeffrey Engel, director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University, said Biden's sweeping promises have collided with the realities of enacting change in a divided Washington where his party has only the slimmest margins of control in Congress. "I don't think there's any way to reach any other conclusion that he's overshot here," Engel said. "It's important to separate the politically possible from the politically desirable." |
| With Biden's signature legislation stalled, Democrats stare into political void | |
| Democrats are quietly preparing for life after Build Back Better. With little progress on Joe Biden's signature legislation, elected officials and operatives from across the president's party are busy plotting how to run midterm campaigns without the benefit of a bill to bolster the social safety net and make generational investments to address climate change. It's far from the ideal position. And party leaders and campaign strategists are holding out hope that the White House may still be able to revive nascent talks around the initiative to at least salvage some popular elements. But in interviews with nearly two dozen Democrats involved in the upcoming election, there is an increasing sense that political inertia may well win out and that their party will be forced to radically adapt its core pitch to voters. Stan Greenberg, the veteran Democratic pollster, stressed that losing the major bill could significantly increase the difficulty for Biden's party in an already challenging political environment. "It becomes much harder if you're talking about what Republicans cut off rather than what you've delivered," said Greenberg, one of the few officials POLITICO spoke with who still believes Democrats could pass something -- even a slimmed down social spending bill -- through Congress in the next few months. "If this thing just goes away, you really do have a very different definition of the election," he said. |
| Lawmakers begin discussing government spending deal as Democrats eye virus aid, paid leave | |
 | Congressional lawmakers are beginning to discuss a long-term spending package that could fund the government, prevent a shutdown and potentially even deliver another round of coronavirus relief, including an emerging Democrat-backed plan to provide paid leave to millions of Americans. The early talks, including a bipartisan gathering Thursday focused on future federal spending levels, have increased in pace and intensity as Democrats and Republicans race to reach a deal before the current agreement is set to expire on February 18. A failure to find compromise by that date would bring federal agencies to a halt. Both parties have expressed optimism in recent days that they can avert a dramatic, high-stakes fiscal showdown, especially after partisan divisions nearly shuttered Washington twice in the past six months. Lawmakers have explored ways to replace an existing stopgap with a measure that funds the government through the remainder of the 2022 fiscal year, which concludes at the end of September. But challenges abound on Capitol Hill, including a long-simmering dispute between Democrats and Republicans over how much to devote to President Biden's domestic priorities, including climate change --- all while satisfying the GOP's desire for more defense spending. Others see a potential funding deal as a natural legislative vehicle to advance perhaps billions of dollars in additional coronavirus-related aid, though Republican lawmakers aren't entirely sold on the idea. |
| ABC News draws fire for editing of CDC director's interview | |
| ABC News is under fire for its editing of a "Good Morning America" interview with CDC Director Rochelle Walensky that created uncertainty that's being exploited by vaccine critics. In the interview, Walensky discussed a study that showed how most vaccinated people who died of coronavirus were also sick for other reasons. But the way the interview was edited, it wasn't clear she was talking about vaccinated people -- and references spread widely online implying she was talking about all COVID-19 victims. The interview was seized upon by figures like Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham to imply the Biden administration has been lying to the public about the importance of vaccines. The network remained mum on Thursday about the controversy. However, experts say ABC News has a responsibility to talk to viewers about what happened and why, to prevent misinformation from spreading further. In the interview on Friday, Cecilia Vega asked Walensky about the "encouraging headlines" surrounding a study that showed how well vaccines worked to prevent severe illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director began by summarizing some of the findings. But ABC edited out the summary, about 20 seconds of her answer. That made it appear that Walensky began by saying: "The overwhelming numbers of deaths, over 75%, occurred in people who had at least four comorbidities, so really these were people who were unwell to begin with." Many television news producers hate corrections, said Tom Bettag, a longtime ABC "Nightline" producer who now teaches journalism at the University of Maryland. While newspapers generally put a correction inside the paper, when a newscaster has to discuss it, for television that's effectively on the front page. |
| Omicron Slows in Early U.S. Hot Spots, Offering First Hopes of a Peak | |
 | The steep rise in new daily Covid-19 cases fueled by the Omicron variant is starting to slow in some early U.S. hot spots, including New York and Chicago, sparking some optimism that a record-breaking spike in cases may be plateauing. Public officials are viewing the data cautiously and aren't yet declaring victory. Still, some are noting that the trend is appearing to follow similar trajectories that have played out in South Africa and the U.K., where Omicron hit earlier. "There seems to be a slowing down in the major cities that were most initially impacted by the Omicron variant," said Enbal Shacham, an epidemiologist and associate director of the Geospatial Institute at St. Louis University. "This pattern is similar to what we saw in South Africa and what we were all kind of hoping to see." Nationally, Covid-19 cases remain around never-before-seen highs. The seven-day average for newly reported cases was about 786,500 on Thursday, more than triple the pre-Omicron peak hit last winter, data from Johns Hopkins University show. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Wednesday that the Omicron wave is expected to peak in the weeks ahead. There are already some positive signs, including seven-day averages that turned lower in New York and New Jersey, and may have crested in Connecticut. Still, officials and epidemiologists say there are reasons to continue to be cautious. There are still large parts of the country where Omicron hit later and may be ill-prepared for the coming wave, said Dr. Shacham, of St. Louis University. Hospitalizations are likely to continue to rise in some cities where the healthcare systems are already stretched to capacity or beyond, she said. |
| K-12 schools reopened across Mississippi this week. Omicron has forced many into virtual learning. | |
| A school nurse told students and families on Tuesday there were so many cases of COVID-19 in the school it was "almost impossible to contact trace" and for all seventh through 12th graders to assume they'd been exposed as a result. The situation at West Lincoln Attendance Center in Brookhaven, where there is not a mask mandate -- and its quick transition to a hybrid model of instruction following the holiday break -- is not unique. Schools are battling staffing and substitute teacher shortages, closures and a large number of student absences as teachers and administrators attempt to kick off the spring semester. Omicron, the dominant and extremely contagious strain of the coronavirus, is making its way across the state, and schools are not spared. The state saw a record-high number of new cases on Thursday with over 8,000 Mississippians testing positive in a single day. The Department of Health reported 1,541 teachers and staff who had tested positive across 633 schools for the week of Jan. 3-7, the highest number of positive staff reported at any point in the pandemic. On top of logistical and health challenges, school leaders are also dealing with students and families' COVID-19 fatigue. Oxford School District Superintendent told his school board last week he wasn't sure the community "would stomach another mask mandate." A board member made a motion to require masks anyway, but other board members did not support it. On Thursday, the district announced it would be closed on Friday and extend the observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. |
| Chik-fil-a to open in Senatobia at Northwest Mississippi Community College student center | |
 | Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia announced today the future home America's top chicken sandwich will be right on its campus. The college released a video on social media heralding in the national chicken chain. Natalie T. Ehrhardt, communications specialist at NWMCC, confirmed the big news. "We made the big announcement today, we have a Chik-fil-a coming," Ehrhardt said. "We're going to make some room for it in the McLendon (Student) Center and it will open in the fall." The center houses the campus' book store, post office and a cafe. "It's going to be a 150 seat restaurant, it will be open to the community too, not just the college," Ehrhardt said. "It's really exciting. We've been fired up about it." Britt Herrin, executive director of the Tate County Economic Development Foundation in Senatobia, said he welcomes the positive economic change the new restaurant will bring. "It shows what an impact Northwest Mississippi Community College has on our community," Herrin said. "I'm excited because this will have some other retailers take a hard look at us. It'll put a stamp of approval on our area as a retail location." |
| Michael Amiridis expected to become U. of South Carolina's next president with vote today | |
 | Michael Amiridis, a native of Greece with expertise chemical engineering and a reputation as an personable college administrator, is expected Jan. 14 to win approval to become the next president of the University of South Carolina where he worked for than two decades. After Amiridis meets virtually with students and staff during the morning, trustees are expected to hire the University of Illinois Chicago chancellor at a 2 p.m. meeting. A news conference is anticipated after the vote. Amiridis, 59, spent 21 years at USC as a dean and provost before heading to Chicago in 2015. He reportedly interested in becoming president when Harris Pastides retired in 2019, but the job went to Bob Caslen, a retired Army general who ran West Point. Caslen resigned in May amid a plagiarism scandal and later called coming to USC the "biggest regret of my life." Amiridis' name would often come up first among preferred successors because he understands the academic and political challenges of the school with an annual budget approaching $2 billion and more than 50,000 students and more than 12,000 faculty and staff across eight campuses. He also would be a popular pick after garnering respect as an affable, effective leader and being seen as a steadying force after Caslen's short tenure ended so abruptly. USC is facing political pressure after issues from recent searches. Three bills are under consideration at the Statehouse that would remove current university trustees and cut the size of the board in half. |
| U. of Kentucky reviewing dorm access after employee entered, stole from rooms over winter break | |
 | The University of Kentucky housing employee who allegedly burglarized hundreds of dorms over winter break still managed to gain access to rooms even after UK turned off his key card, a UK police officer testified in court Thursday. Kristian Lowe, a 28-year-old former contract employee with Greystar who worked in UK's residence halls, was given access by another housing employee to dorm rooms on three floors of Holmes Hall after his access badge was turned off because of the investigation into his alleged thefts, according to Stevie Wood, a UK police officer. Lowe was fired after the burglary allegations were revealed. Lowe performed routine maintenance at the residence halls and was supposed to change air filters in the dorms at the time of the alleged burglaries, Wood said. He was given access to all the rooms on the fifth, sixth and seventh floors of Holmes Hall by another employee with a key card, Wood said. The other employee has been fired, UK spokesman Jay Blanton confirmed. In addition to getting into common areas inside residence hall suites, Lowe also had a key which granted him access to students' individual bedrooms, Wood said. The other employee was questioned by police but was released without facing any charges after officers spoke with him. They didn't have any evidence that he took any students' belongings. "When we spoke with him, he had no clue why we were talking to him," Wood said of the second employee. |
| State financial aid totals grew 4.5 percent in 2019–20 | |
 | State financial aid totals continued to grow during the 2019–20 academic year, just before state budgets and family incomes were roiled by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest report from the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs. States awarded about $14.8 billion in financial aid during the 2019–20 academic year, according to the NASSGAP report. That total reflects a nominal 4.5 percent increase over the $14.1 billion in financial aid awarded during the 2018–19 academic year, or a 2.6 percent increase in constant, inflation-adjusted dollars. Most of that total -- 87 percent -- was handed out to students via grants, which do not need to be repaid. States doled out 4.2 million grants in the 2019–20 academic year, totaling $12.9 billion in grant aid, the report showed. States paid out another $1.8 billion in nongrant aid, about half of which took the form of tuition waivers. Loans, loan assumptions, conditional grants and work-study made up the remainder of that total. Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia provided the most grant aid per capita, the report states. Meanwhile, Georgia, Louisiana, New Jersey, South Carolina and Tennessee provided the most undergraduate grant aid compared to full-time undergraduate enrollment. |
| Why Colleges' Covid Dashboards Might Look Different This Spring | |
 | As students return to campus for the spring semester, colleges are seeing a surge in Covid-19 cases thanks to the extra-contagious -- but generally less virulent -- Omicron variant of the coronavirus. But while some institutions are continuing to publish data on their long-active public dashboards showing case counts, vaccination numbers, and isolation housing capacity, others have started archiving certain indicators or stopped updating their dashboards altogether. The differing approaches to public disclosure of Covid data reflect the shifting dynamics of the pandemic and the changing significance of metrics that once seemed so critical, as the virus has mutated and human behavior has adapted. For some campus advocates, like those in labor unions and graduate-student associations, and health professionals and student leaders, the publication of Covid case data is a cause célèbre. They argue that transparency about Covid cases is important for holding institutions accountable and keeping community members safe. Others say the data is not as important as it used to be, since many people now test themselves at home and do not report their results to their college. The University of Florida stopped updating its Covid dashboard on December 31; the leader of the institution's testing program told The Chronicle the data was "kind of useless." Other colleges and universities have maintained their dashboards but removed particular indicators that officials say are not as helpful anymore. Some experts say providing that information could do more harm than good. |
| DoD Launches University Consortium for Cybersecurity | |
| The Department of Defense (DoD) has launched the DoD University Consortium for Cybersecurity (UC2) to better facilitate communication between the Secretary of Defense and academia, and fulfilling a requirement from the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, DoD announced Jan. 10. The National Defense University's College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC) will serve as the UC2 Coordination Center. Jim Chen, a CIC faculty member, will be the coordination center's first director. "As part of both DOD and academia, CIC is a natural hub for thought leadership on strategic cyber issues, and we're so happy to serve as the UC2 coordination center," Cassandra Lewis, CIC chancellor, said at the UC2 kickoff event on Jan. 7. UC2 already has its fair share of supporters in the DoD. David Frederick, executive director of U.S. Cyber Command; Lt. Gen. Dennis Crall, director of the Joint Staff CIO; and DoD Chief Technology Officer Heidi Shyu, under secretary of Defense for research and engineering, all came to the kickoff event to show their support. Shyu emphasized the importance of not only focusing on larger research universities, and advocated for working with community colleges and historically black colleges and universities as well. "Diversity of ideas will create the best innovation," she said. |
SPORTS
| Mississippi State preparing for needed potential resume booster against No. 24 Alabama | |
| A must-win game doesn't exist in college basketball until it's tournament play and a team's season ends with a loss. If you disagree, let isitamustwin.com explain it to you. That's why it would be incorrect to deem Mississippi State's home game on Saturday against No. 24 Alabama as such. Mississippi State men's basketball has nine potential Quadrant 1 wins remaining on its schedule, with three at home. It also has a pair of Quadrant 3 games at home -- Jan. 22 against Ole Miss and Feb. 1 against South Carolina -- where losses could do as much to hurt an average resume as a big win could help. Let's stray from calling Saturday a must-win game. But there's no denying it's an important one. Ben Howland spoke prior to Wednesday's win against Georgia and emphasized the importance of winning at home in the SEC. Mississippi State's students are making their way back to campus, and Alabama fans will surely make the trip for what could be the biggest crowd (previously 6,965) at Humphrey Coliseum this season. Starting forward Tolu Smith is expected to be back from COVID-19 protocols, so things are lining up for Mississippi State to not fall flat like it did at Ole Miss last Saturday to snap a four-game winning streak. Smith will help bolster a host lineup that got a career-high 28 points from Iverson Molinar in their 88-72 win against Georgia. |
| Track & Field: Bulldogs Open Indoor Season at Blazer Invitational | |
| A new season for the Mississippi State track and field program begins Friday, as the Bulldogs kick off its 2022 campaign in Birmingham, Alabama for the UAB Blazer Invitational. "We're expecting to have a good showing," head coach Chris Woods said. "I want the student-athletes to execute the things they've been working on in the offseason. We've had a very extensive winter break. I'm really excited to see what we're able to do in our first competition." Friday's meet marks the beginning of four straight meets across three weekends for the Maroon and White, spanning from Birmingham to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to wrap up the opening month of action. The Blazer Invite is set to begin at 10 a.m CT with the men's shot put with Jabari Bennett representing the Bulldogs. The meet is scheduled to conclude with the 4x400 meter relay which is set for a 5:30 p.m. start. Live results for the meet can be found at XpressTiming.com. The most important thing we have to do is keep our team goals in focus and in line with what it is we're trying to do, ultimately," Woods said. |
| Dak Prescott headlines 38 Mississippi players in 2022 NFL playoffs | |
| With the NFL playoffs beginning on Saturday, 12 of the 14 teams still competing to win Super Bowl LVI have a player on the roster who played high school or college football in Mississippi. The group includes eight former Clarion Ledger Dandy Dozen honorees, some in-state and out-of-state standouts who thrived at Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Southern Miss and a handful of Mississippi high school players who left the state for college. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is the most notable of the bunch that also includes two Pro Bowl honorees: Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones and Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay. |
| Here's how NIL money has already helped LSU with baseball scholarships | |
 | Baseball coach Jay Johnson is still keeping much under wraps as his first season at LSU creeps closer. He is hesitant to name specific players at times, leaving himself room for preseason practice to make decisions on lineups. But Johnson did have a big revelation Wednesday about how name, image and likeness is already impacting the program, giving LSU more wiggle room with its scholarships. Speaking on Wednesday to the Baton Rouge Rotary Club, Johnson said NIL possibilities are wide-ranging, and that while the NCAA hasn't made a lot of specific rules about it, he's open to adapting to the era. LSU has already benefited in a big way. "I had one prominent player on our team made some money in terms of name, image and likeness, and his dad called me and said, 'Coach, I know you're trying to put together a roster. We're going to give you back the scholarship for this year,' " Johnson said. "I don't think the NCAA really understood what they were doing with this and it's going to cause some issues, but no matter what it's been -- the transfer portal, NIL -- my job is, I can I can either cry about it or I can figure out how we need to do it to do well for us." Johnson did not name the athlete who's family who gave back his scholarship, but moves like these could have a deep impact on powerhouse baseball programs with prominent players, like LSU. College baseball teams are allotted 11.7 scholarships, which can be split to a maximum number of 27 athletes on a 35-player roster -- all of which need to receive at least 25% of the cost of attendance. |
| Local merchandise shops reaping benefits from Georgia football national championship | |
 | When Georgia was putting the finishing touches on its first national football championship in 41 years Monday evening, Laura Beaghan joined many longtime Bulldogs fans in shedding a few joyous tears. "We cried after the end of the game because we've been Bulldogs fans our whole lives," said Beaghan. "We were all in tears and then we said, 'Oh wait. We've got to get to work now.'" For local merchants like Beaghan -- who with her husband Kyle owns and operates University Spirit on Baxter Street -- Monday's excitement is continuing unabated as they cash in with folks willing to part with their hard-earned money on Georgia Bulldogs swag. "It's very exciting," said Beaghan, whose parents Rick and Lesley Maggiore opened University Spirit in 1975, on Wednesday morning. "Today is our big day because we've overnighted everything from Nike and Champion and 47Brand and we have everything from ornaments to glassware. We've been working for the last three weeks on our preorders and we have everything on our website." The family's other business, The Clubhouse (located on College Avenue downtown), also enjoyed a steady stream of patrons on Tuesday and Wednesday, with an even bigger crowd expected Saturday. The Clubhouse is owned by Beaghan's sister Lisa Royals and her husband Thomas. "What we love is that so many people want to support local businesses," said Beaghan. "I know Dick's Sporting Goods and Academy Sports have been slammed, but there's still a part of this community that wants to support local business and we have felt that and we are so appreciative." |
| ESPN analyst Greg McElroy challenges top draft prospect Kayvon Thibodeaux to take IQ, Wonderlic test | |
 | Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux did an interview with FOX Sports' Joel Klatt during the 2022 College Football Playoff national championship game Monday. Thibodeaux discussed attending Oregon over Alabama, and he had some things to say about the supposed quality of education at both institutions and why he chose the Ducks. "I already hate the stigmatism of football players being dumb jocks," Thibodeaux said. "So now, do you know the stigmatism of Alabama education? It ain't the West Coast. It ain't Harvard." Later in the interview, Thibodeaux continued to talk about an Alabama education. "If I would have went to Alabama ... I don't know if my degree would mean anything," Thibodeaux said. ESPN college football analyst and former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy took offense to Thibodeaux's statements. He discussed it for quite a while on his radio show with Cole Cubelic --- "McElroy and Cubelic In the Morning." "I just take real personal offense, man," McElroy said Thursday. "I genuinely do. I don't care. Don't come. If you think so little of us, don't come. Fine by me, because I know the people that live in this state. I chose Alabama, because I love Alabama. ... If you don't want to see Alabama for the greatness it can potentially provide you, it's on you. You're missing out." Cubelic and McElroy both chastised Thibodeaux for saying "stigmatism" when he meant "stigma." "He says he doesn't like the stigma that athletes are dumb jocks, and yet, he sounds like a dumb jock," McElroy said. McElroy was a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship in 2010. |
| NFL taps data science community to help track head impacts | |
| The NFL is continuing to crowdsource new ways to track head and helmet impacts during games from data scientists and for the second straight year the winner of its artificial intelligence competition comes from outside the United States. The NFL and Amazon Web Services awarded $100,000 in prizes for this year's competition with the top prize of $50,000 going to Kippei Matsuda from Osaka, Japan, the league announced Friday. The task for Matsuda and the rest of the data scientists who took part was to use artificial intelligence to create models that would detect helmet impacts from NFL game footage and identify the specific players involved in those impacts. NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller, who oversees health and safety, said the league started manually tracking helmet impacts for a small number of games a few years ago. The tedious task of tracking every helmet collision, especially along the line of scrimmage, made it difficult to do more than just a small sampling of games as the league tried to gather more data on head impacts. By sharing game film and information with the data science community, the league is hoping to continue developing better systems that can track those impacts more efficiently. The league estimates Matsuda's winning system could detect and track helmet impacts with greater accuracy and 83 times faster than a person working manually. |
The Office of Public Affairs provides the Daily News Digest as a general information resource for Mississippi State University stakeholders.
Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.
