| Tuesday, March 8, 2022 |
| MDAC announces promotional partnership with Mississippi State | |
 | Commissioner Andy Gipson has announced a promotional partnership between the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) and Mississippi State University. The partnership is part of an initiative geared towards promoting Mississippi universities through MDAC's Bureau of Regulatory Services inspection stickers. Each sticker representing the divisions within the Bureau of Regulatory Services will feature the school colors of the chosen university for one year. "We're proud to have Mississippi State University represented on our 2022 Bureau of Regulatory Services inspection stickers," Gipson said. "Our agency has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with MSU over the years. Not only is our Bureau of Plant Industry housed on MSU's campus in Starkville, but we also work closely with MSU's State Chemical Laboratory on petroleum industry matters and MSU Extension Service on a multitude of agricultural projects and events. I want to encourage the public to look for our new maroon and gray colored inspection stickers at various businesses across the state." MDAC inspection stickers are awarded to ensure fairness and equity in the marketplace. In 2021 alone, the Bureau of Regulatory Services tested 11,431 scales and 56,314 devices found at gas stations. |
| MDAC announces partnership with MSU | |
| If the colors on gas pumps, scales and other devices around the state look different, there's a reason for that. The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce is partnering with Mississippi State University in a new promotion, so the new color is maroon! It's part of the initiative to promote universities in the state through the agency's bureau of regulatory services inspection stickers and Mississippi State is already a big part of the state agency. "So, we're honored because of the importance of agriculture in Mississippi," said Sid Salter with MSU. "The two largest cash crops in this state: poultry and timber." Commissioner Andy Gipson noting how the university puts on and helps host the livestock shows and monitors moisture levels around the state through moisture meters at its extension campus in the Delta. |
| MSU deer study: Late season hunting can be challenging, but productive. Here's why | |
 | Have you wondered why some bucks seem to disappear late in the season while others show up out of the blue? Have you ever wondered why bucks seem more difficult to pattern in late season? New research at the Mississippi State University Deer Lab may answer those questions and indicates late season is a prime time to spend more hours in the stand. "It's a time to catch deer with their guard down and in an area they're not as familiar with," said MSU graduate research assistant Luke Resop. "They're out cruising and it's a great time to be in the woods. It's when bucks, particularly mature bucks, are expanding their home range." The MSU Deer Lab and Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks captured roughly 55 mature bucks near the Big Black River in Madison and Yazoo counties to study how they reacted to hunting pressure. They were outfitted with GPS collars and ear tags and approximately 750,000 waypoints were collected between 2017 and early 2019. While the study was initially focused on bucks and hunting pressure, it has since opened more doors into the life of bucks. When it comes to home ranges, Resop said data indicates there are two types of bucks. Sedentary bucks have a single home range of about 800 acres and make up about 68% of the population. On average, they make about six excursions per year outside of that range. In human terms, think of those excursions as day-trips. Resop said the other 32% percent, known as mobile bucks, have two home ranges of about 6,000 acres each and relocate about three times a year. For individual bucks those relocations happen at the same time each year. "It's like they operate on this strange internal clock that says, 'Bam. It's time to go,'" Resop said. |
| Mississippi State University's transportation services impacted gas prices | |
 | Gas prices have risen and filling up tanks is emptying wallets. In our area those prices are approaching record numbers. Regular gas is knocking on the door of four dollars a gallon; premium and diesel fuel are over that mark. At Mississippi State University's transportation services; they're begun to feel the pinch, even though they have some advantages. "We do have our own gas station here so that helps a little bit in terms of you know being able to operate on more of a wholesale type price but when gas is the way it is we feel it as well," said executive director of transportation at the university, Jeremiah Dumas. Dumas said those gas prices still hit them in the long run especially filling up those bigger buses. He also said they factor price increases in the budget, but not increases like this. "Fuel is absolutely a line item that we have every year and we budget for increases, fluctuations in prices but obviously at the rate they're going now we realize that there are some concerns long term if they stay at that point," said Dumas. Those climbing prices have more people climbing aboard. "We see ridership increase and we see things change when gas prices do become the way it is because it does become a little more difficult for people to use their personal vehicle," said Dumas. |
| First PA students at MSU-Meridian receive white coats during inaugural ceremony | |
 | Mississippi State University-Meridian's inaugural cohort of 19 Physician Assistant Studies students earned the program's first white coats during a ceremony at MSU's Riley Center on Saturday. "For the student, the white coat ceremony marks a transition," said James R. Kilgore, interim program director of MSU-Meridian's Physician Assistant Studies program. "It signifies they are moving from the classroom to the clinical setting where they are expected to become providers of compassionate and empathic healthcare." After receiving their coats, the students took the Pledge of Professionalism in Medicine, stating their commitment to adhere to the science and art of the practice of medicine. The cornerstones of this promise are sympathy, compassion and understanding of their patients. "It is an honor to have earned the right to wear this white coat alongside my classmates. It is symbolic of our dedication, flexibility, and resilience thus far," said CeRina James of York, Alabama. "I'm proud of every single person in my cohort for the long nights and seemingly endless days of hard work that they've put in to get to this point. PA school has been the absolute hardest thing I've ever done -- but I'm confident that it's also one of the best things -- and I'm excited to see what this new phase will hold for the Class of 2023." Students now begin rotations in clinical areas including internal medicine, family medicine, behavioral health, pediatrics, general surgery, emergency medicine and women's health. |
| MSU State Singers to perform in New York City | |
 | Mississippi State University (MSU) State Singers with Choral Activities Director Gary Packwood will perform in New York City at Carnegie Hall. The recital is a joint concert with choirs from McPherson College in Kansas and Wagner College in New York. The choirs will perform "Serenade to Music", "The Merchant from Venice", "Te Deum" and "Book of Common Prayer." The State Singers performed at Carnegie Hall in 2012 and in 2019 with the Starkville High School Choir. The choir has performed in Spain, France, Austria, Czech Republic and at the White House. "Carnegie Hall is easily the most prestigious concert hall in the world, and for our students to be invited to perform is outstanding," said Packwood. The concert will start at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 19. |
| MSU EcoCAR continues quest for excellence | |
 | At the Starkville Rotary Club's weekly program on Monday, MSU EcoCAR team faculty advisor Randy Follett and members of the student team outlined to the Rotarians what the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge is all about and what it takes to make improvements on a vehicle. With Follett on Monday were three MSU students who are vital parts of the team: project manager Rachel Hendricks, engineering manager Vance Hudson, and communications manager Mary Nielson Clinton. |
| With 4 months remaining in fiscal year, Mississippi revenues are up over estimates by $750 million | |
 | Total revenue collections for the month of February FY 2022 are $101,362,084 or 31.76% above the sine die revenue estimate. Fiscal YTD revenue collections through February 2022 are $768,408,412 or 21.46% above the sine die estimate. Fiscal YTD total revenue collections through February 2022 are $433,287,076 or 11.06% above the prior year's collections. The FY 2022 Sine Die Revenue Estimate is $5,927,000,000. February FY 2022 General Fund collections were $70,265,191 or 20.06% over February FY 2021 actual collections. Sales tax collections for the month of February were above the prior year by $16.9M. Individual income tax collections for the month of February were above the prior year by $39.2M. Corporate income tax collections for the month of February were above the prior year by $8.4M. |
| White confirmed as head of Mississippi transportation agency | |
 | The Mississippi Senate on Monday confirmed Brad White as executive director of the state Department of Transportation. White has been working in the role since July 1. The three elected transportation commissioners voted unanimously in June to nominate him for the job. It's not unusual for nominees to serve several months while waiting for state Senate confirmation. White moved to the Department of Transportation after serving as chief of staff for Republican Gov. Tate Reeves. He had also been chief of staff for two Republican U.S. senators, Cindy Hyde-Smith and the late Thad Cochran, and for the state Department of Audit. White was an assistant to former Central District Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall from 1999 to 2005. White was chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party from 2008 to 2011. |
| Lawmakers working to fix unconstitutional eviction law by reinstating grace period | |
| Mississippi lawmakers are working to revise the state's eviction law after a federal judge recently ruled it unconstitutional. Rep. Nick Bain, R-Corinth, authored the new bill -- which gives tenants a seven-day grace period after a judge orders their removal -- to rectify issues with the current statute. The bill also allows tenants who are being evicted because they are behind on rent to stay in their home if they pay all past due rent and fees by the court-ordered move out date, something that was not guaranteed in the existing law. Currently, Mississippi's law offers no grace period to tenants, which means that a renter may be forced out of their home on the day they lose in court, but also that a landlord may immediately seize all their belongings. "If we don't pass it, we will not have a constitutional eviction statute in Mississippi," Bain said. "So it attempts to do that, puts a Band-Aid, and I think there's going to be, maybe next session, a broader bill to address landlord-tenant altogether." Bain's bill has passed the House and is awaiting full Senate approval. U.S. District Judge Michael Mills ruled the law unconstitutional in November after a landlord in north Mississippi used it to justify taking everything Samantha Conner, a low-income single mom, owned. Mills put a stay on his decision to give lawmakers time to revise the law before it would be struck down altogether. |
| Union County lawmaker wants commission to promote 'muddy' Tallahatchie River | |
 | To some Mississippians, the Tallahatchie River is just an old, muddy stream. But to other people around the world, the river is a symbol of the state's painful history of racial injustice and Mississippi's rich artistic culture. A Northeast Mississippi lawmaker is hoping the eight counties through which the river runs can band together to preserve and enhance the complicated, yet storied history of the murky waterway. "My hope is to get all the counties along the river to collaborate," Rep. Sam Creekmore IV told the Daily Journal. "This could morph into something larger." Creekmore, R-New Albany, and a bipartisan group of legislators authored House Bill 1323 that would create the Tallahatchie River Authority. The legislation would allow the board of supervisors in eight counties to each nominate one person to form the authority. Should the legislation pass, the authority also would have the power to develop plans to enhance tourism, promote economic development and address drainage issues. If created, the eight-member body would have a hard job of promoting the river while accurately describing its complicated, painful past. The river is the site where Emmett Till's body was dumped after a group of white men in Money lynched, beat and tortured him to death. The river also became famous when singer Bobbie Gentry, a native of Chickasaw County, crooned the mysterious song, "Ode to Billie Joe," in 1967. In the song, a family during a "sleepy, dusty Delta day," discusses the recent death of Billy Joe McAllister, a local boy the narrator knew, who jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge. The song garnered worldwide attention and still captures the interest of listeners today. |
| New medical marijuana law draws millions in Mississippi investment | |
| DeAundrea Delaney built a hemp empire in Mississippi, but her sights have long been set on opening one of the state's first medical marijuana dispensaries. As Delaney, 42, waited for Mississippi's medical marijuana program to clear legislative hurdles, she set up a foundation selling what she legally could: products with hemp-extract cannabidiol, or CBD. Hemp is marijuana's cousin -- cannabis without the high. Delaney opened her first Hemp World store in 2019. At the time, she had just left her job at an insurance office. Her husband was working at a Nissan manufacturing plant. The couple struggled to pay bills and build their savings while caring for their blended family of six children. Selling CBD changed everything for Delaney's financial situation. Medical marijuana will too. And not just for her business, she said, but for the state. "We're on the cusp of a green economy here," Delaney said from inside a new Hemp World shop she helped open in Olive Branch last week. To her, that "green" economy refers to all the new jobs and revenue that will soon come into Mississippi to support the medical marijuana industry. With Mississippi's medical marijuana program just months from becoming reality, Delaney and other entrepreneurs are investing hundreds of thousands -- even millions, in some cases -- to create the needed infrastructure to support it. |
| Senate passes anti-lynching bill and sends federal hate crime legislation to Biden | |
 | The Senate unanimously passed a bill on Monday that criminalizes lynching and make it punishable by up to 30 years in prison. It sailed through the House of Representatives last month, and President Biden is expected to sign it. While it eased through both chambers of Congress this time with virtually no opposition, the path to passage took more than 100 years and 200 failed attempts. Under the bill, named the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act after the 14-year-old boy from Chicago who was lynched while visiting family in Mississippi, a crime can be prosecuted as a lynching when a hate crime results in a death or injury, said Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., a longtime sponsor of the legislation. "Tonight the Senate passed my anti-lynching legislation, taking a necessary and long-overdue step toward a more unified and just America," Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., wrote on Twitter. "After working on this issue for years, I am glad to have partnered with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to finally get this done." Other co-sponsors of the Senate bill were Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. Paul objected to a similar bill that passed the House in 2020. At the time, he said the measure was too broad. By Monday night, he was satisfied with the bill's language, "which will ensure that federal law will define lynching as the absolutely heinous crime that it is," he said. |
| Supreme Court denies appeal of Pennsylvania, North Carolina maps | |
 | The Supreme Court allowed congressional maps that favor Democrats to move forward in North Carolina and Pennsylvania in an order issued Monday afternoon. The two decisions reflect the latest in a flurry of court filings in the last few weeks as Republicans seek to overturn court victories they see favoring Democrats. In a concurring opinion on the decision rejecting the North Carolina case, Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh wrote the Supreme Court will likely not intervene in other mapmaking cases. "[I]t is too late for the federal courts to order that the district lines be changed for the 2022 primary and general elections, just as it was too late for the federal courts to do so in the Alabama redistricting case last month," Kavanaugh wrote. Last month, the Supreme Court allowed an allegedly racially discriminatory map to move forward for this fall's elections. There, Kavanaugh argued the state's May primary was too close to fully hear the dispute over the map. Both Pennsylvania and North Carolina have May 17 primaries. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito and Neil M. Gorsuch dissented, writing they would have granted the stay in the North Carolina case. Kavanaugh, in the concurring opinion, wrote the court may consider the merits of the case down the road. The high court rejected Pennsylvania case without a written order. |
| Progressives grit their teeth as defense wins big in spending bill | |
 | Progressives have begged Joe Biden to take a hard line against a ballooning Pentagon budget since he took office. Things aren't quite working out that way. Democratic leaders are expected to deliver the president one of history's biggest pots of defense spending as part of a monthslong government spending deal that the party hopes to unveil Tuesday -- and much of the House's liberal wing is prepared to vote for it. As Russia's brutal assault on Ukraine enters its 13th day, the invasion has scrambled progressives' own game plan for Congress' looming funding pact. That enormous government funding measure is expected to include a Pentagon budget that far exceeds the $715 billion Biden proposed, plus at least $10 billion more in emergency aid to help bolster Ukraine. The deal to supercharge the Pentagon budget is partly thanks to a $25 billion boost to the administration's defense proposal that Democrats and Republicans endorsed in military policy legislation Biden signed in December. But congressional leaders must still pass legislation to fund the Pentagon, and their negotiations could produce Pentagon spending even higher than the $740 billion they agreed to months ago. Despite that cash influx for the military, the funding bill could actually win more progressive support than in years past, thanks to an emboldened Vladimir Putin and years of uncertainty to come. It's the latest sign of the difficulty that Democrats' left flank has encountered translating its Biden-era ambitions into policy progress. |
| U.S. Retirement Funds, Heavy on Stocks, Brace for Losses | |
 | Volatile stock markets are eroding the retirement savings of America's teachers and firefighters after public pension systems ended last year with equity holdings at a 10-year high. Public pension funds had a median 61% of their assets in stocks as of Dec. 31, up from 54% 10 years ago, according to Wilshire Trust Universe Comparison Service. Since then, the Russia-Ukraine War and expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates this month have battered equity prices, reducing those holdings by billions of dollars. The situation highlights public retirement funds' enduring dependence on the stock market and the potential impact on local government services and municipal-bond prices if losses continue. Smaller retirement systems tend to rely even more heavily on stocks than larger ones, which are more likely to seek returns from private-market assets like infrastructure and private equity. U.S. state and local government pension funds control more than $4 trillion in public-worker retirement savings but will need hundreds of billions of additional dollars to cover promised future benefits. Over the past 12 years, blockbuster stock performance has swelled pension coffers, bringing state and local governments closer to being able to cover those liabilities and taking some of the pressure off taxpayers already burdened by high pension costs. A downturn, however, could ultimately squeeze state and local budgets. |
| Why do we import Russian (and other foreign) oil when we have a lot of it in the U.S.? | |
| There's been a lot of discussion about the fact that the United States imports Russian oil -- and a pretty good amount of it. Now, you could be excused for asking yourself: "Wait a second, I thought the U.S. had a bunch of oil in the Permian Basin in Texas and the Bakken Shale in North Dakota. Why the heck are we importing oil?" Turns out the answer is part chemistry and part economics. When oil refiners talk about crude, they generally ask two questions. First: How easy is it to break up the hydrocarbons to produce, say, gasoline or jet fuel? (In oil speak: How light is it?) Second: How much sulfur is in the oil? If there isn't much, it's called sweet crude. "Higher sulfur content, more sour crudes actually are cheaper to purchase," said Hugh Daigle, associate professor of petroleum engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. That's because they take longer to process and need specialized refining equipment. This cheap, lower-quality crude comes from Canada, Venezuela and Russia, among other spots. Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was the product U.S. refiners were buying. "A lot of refineries, especially in the Gulf Coast, made a very expensive bet to invest in this equipment that would allow them to save money on input costs by processing, you know, lower-quality crude," said Richard Sweeney, an assistant professor of economics at Boston College. Then came the fracking boom. Fracking produces light, sweet crude that can't be refined with that equipment. "And it's just like the economics of that bet turned out, ex-post, to be really bad," Sweeney said. |
| AP Source: Biden to ban Russian oil imports over Ukraine war | |
| President Joe Biden has decided to ban Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia's economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the matter. The move follows pleas by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to U.S. and Western officials to cut off the imports, which had been a glaring omission in the massive sanctions put in place on Russia over the invasion. Energy exports have kept a steady stream of cash flowing to Russia despite otherwise severe restrictions on its financial sector. The White House said Biden would announce on Tuesday "actions to continue to hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked and unjustified war on Ukraine." The U.S. will be acting in close consultation with European allies, who are more dependent on Russian energy supplies. The European Union this week will commit to phasing out its reliance on Russia for energy needs as soon as possible, but filling the void without crippling EU economies will likely take some time. Natural gas from Russia accounts for one-third of Europe's consumption of the fossil fuel. The U.S. does not import Russian natural gas. While Russian oil makes up a small amount of overall U.S. energy imports, the U.S. could replace Russian crude with imports from other oil-rich nations, but that could prove politically problematic. Key U.S. senators are warning the Biden administration from seeking any oil import deal from the Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela. |
| As Russia's Military Stumbles, Its Adversaries Take Note | |
 | When it comes to war, generals say that "mass matters." But nearly two weeks into President Vladimir V. Putin's invasion of Ukraine -- Europe's largest land war since 1945 -- the image of a Russian military as one that other countries should fear, let alone emulate, has been shattered. Ukraine's military, which is dwarfed by the Russian force in most ways, has somehow managed to stymie its opponent. Ukrainian soldiers have killed more than 3,000 Russian troops, according to conservative estimates by American officials. Ukraine has shot down military transport planes carrying Russian paratroopers, downed helicopters and blown holes in Russia's convoys using American anti-tank missiles and armed drones supplied by Turkey, these officials said, citing confidential U.S. intelligence assessments. To be sure, most military experts say that Russia will eventually subdue Ukraine's army. Russia's military, at 900,000 active duty troops and two million reservists, is eight times the size of Ukraine's. Russia has advanced fighter planes, a formidable navy and marines capable of multiple amphibious landings, as they proved early in the invasion when they launched from the Black Sea and headed toward the city of Mariupol. And the Western governments that have spoken openly about Russia's military failings are eager to spread the word to help damage Russian morale and bolster the Ukrainians. But with each day that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky holds out, the scenes of a frustrated Russia pounding, but not managing to finish off, a smaller opponent dominate screens around the world. The result: Militaries in Europe that once feared Russia say they are not as intimidated by Russian ground forces as they were in the past. |
| Gene-edited beef cattle get regulatory clearance in US | |
| U.S. regulators on Monday cleared the way for the sale of beef from gene-edited cattle in coming years after the Food and Drug Administration concluded the animals do not raise any safety concerns. The cattle by Recombinetics are the third genetically altered animals given the green light for human consumption in the U.S. after salmon and pigs. Many other foods already are made with genetically modified ingredients from crops like soybeans and corn. The cattle reviewed by the FDA had genes altered with a technology called CRISPR to have short, slick coats that let them more easily withstand hot weather. Cattle that aren't stressed by heat might pack on weight more easily, making for more efficient meat production. The company did not say when home cooks or restaurants might be able to buy the beef, but the FDA said it could reach the market in as early as two years. Greg Jaffe, who specializes in biotechnology at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said the FDA's announcement made clear it wasn't exempting all gene-edited animals from the longer approval process. "They reinforce the idea that this is a case-by-case review," Jaffe said. |
| Chinese Spies Hacked a Livestock App to Breach US State Networks | |
 | The web-based software known as the Animal Health Emergency Reporting Diagnostic System, or USAHERDS, serves as a helpful digital tool for state governments to track and trace animal disease through populations of livestock. Now it's turned out to be a kind of infection vector of its own---in the hands of one of China's most prolific groups of hackers. On Tuesday, the cybersecurity incident-response firm Mandiant revealed a long-running hacking campaign that breached at least six US state governments over the past year. Mandiant says the campaign, which it believes to have been the work of the notorious Chinese cyberespionage group APT41 -- also known as Barium, or as a part of the larger Chinese hacker group Winnti -- used a vulnerability in USAHERDS to penetrate at least two of those targets. It may have hit many more, given that 18 states run USAHERDS on web servers, and any of those servers could have been commandeered by the hackers. APT41 has gained a reputation as one of China's most aggressive hacking groups. The US Department of Justice indicted five of its members in absentia in 2020 and accused them of hacking into hundreds of victims' systems across Asia and the West, both for state-sponsored espionage and for profit. The group's goal in this latest series of intrusions, or what data they may have been seeking, remains a mystery. But Mandiant analyst Rufus Brown says that it nonetheless shows just how active APT41 remains, and how inventive and thorough it's been searching for any toehold that might allow them into yet another set of targets -- even an obscure livestock management tool most Americans have never heard of. |
| Mississippi colleges and universities received $575M in ARPA funding | |
| Mississippi colleges and universities are reported to have received almost $575 million from the White House in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education. The funds were provided through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to colleges and universities across the nation with Mississippi already given $540 million under prior coronavirus relief legislation. One of the largest one-time infusions of funding into Mississippi colleges and universities, over half of the dollars will be used for financial aid to students. Currently, the ARPA has provided the following totals: approximately $270 million for community colleges; over $237 million for 7 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); over $85 million for 6 Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), which includes Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Predominantly Black Institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions, and Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions. |
| MUW kicks off week of activities celebrating school's anniversary | |
| Mississippi University for Women kicks off a week of activities celebrating the school's anniversary. Charter Week started Monday with a luncheon on the Columbus campus, featuring Dr. Erin Kempker, chair of the Department of History, Political Science, and Geography. Charter Week commemorates the anniversary of the legislation that created the school, the nation's first state-supported college for women, in 1884. There will be daily activities all this week, including the W Parade and Birthday Party, Tuesday at 3 p.m. This year also marks the 40th Anniversary of the enrollment of men at The W. Monday's luncheon was originally supposed to be served on the Bryan Green Gazebo Lawn but had to be moved indoors due to the weather. |
| Center for Integrative Health to host inaugural 'Spring into Wellness' event | |
| The Center for Integrative Health will host its inaugural "Spring Into Wellness" family-friendly celebration on Saturday, April 9. The event sponsored by the Center, a part of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, will "nurture mind, body and spirit while creating a healthier Mississippi," said Dr. Danny Burgess, UMMC professor of psychiatry and the Center's director. Events kick off with an 8 a.m. 5K Run and Walk that will begin in the Holmes Community College Wellness and Fitness Center parking lot, 331 Sunnybrook Road in Ridgeland. Registration is $25 through March 21 and $35 after that, and it includes a race T-shirt. To sign up, click here. Spring Into Wellness also includes lots of free activities, including a Family Fun Run, chair yoga instruction, a healthy snack demonstration, a health fair with screenings, kids' bounce house and obstacle course, a massage tent, a Wheel of Wellness, a kids' crafts tent and door prizes. |
| Inaugural ERDC Day held at Alcorn State University | |
| Recently, Alcorn State University (ASU) hosted a team of personnel from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, Mississippi, for a career day. The event -- known as ERDC Day -- was the first of its kind to be held on the ASU campus in Lorman, Mississippi. "This is the beginning of a strong, renewed relationship with ERDC," said Dr. Ontario Wooden, ASU Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. "Today is the realization of the partnership that we have been dreaming about." "We are appreciative of ERDC's commitment in helping us help our students be the best that they can be," Dr. Felecia Nave, President of Alcorn State University, said as she welcomed the ERDC team to campus on February 23. "We are appreciative of the commitment of Dr. (David) Pittman and his team in making sure that we are more intentional and deliberate in showcasing the relationship and making sure our students are not only prepared, but also very much aware of ERDC and the valuable resource that is right up the road in Vicksburg, Miss." The one-day event featured ERDC researchers and other staff, who introduced the students to various avenues of employment from scientific research to communications. "ERDC is always looking for the best and brightest," said Mr. Mark Noel of ERDC's Environmental Laboratory. "Strengthening the relationship with Alcorn State University gives ERDC an opportunity to engage with the students early through internships leading to recruitment and employment. Moving forward, strategic engagements will lead to adjunct faculty and collaborative research opportunities." |
| It's 'Alarming': Children Are Severely Behind in Reading | |
| The kindergarten crisis of last year, when millions of 5-year-olds spent months outside of classrooms, has become this year's reading emergency. As the pandemic enters its third year, a cluster of new studies now show that about a third of children in the youngest grades are missing reading benchmarks, up significantly from before the pandemic. Children in every demographic group have been affected, but Black and Hispanic children, as well as those from low-income families, those with disabilities and those who are not fluent in English, have fallen the furthest behind. The literacy crisis did not start with the pandemic. In 2019, results on national and international exams showed stagnant or declining American performance in reading, and widening gaps between high and low performers. The causes are multifaceted, but many experts point to a shortage of educators trained in phonics and phonemic awareness -- the foundational skills of linking the sounds of spoken English to the letters that appear on the page. The pandemic has compounded those issues. States like Mississippi, Alabama and Massachusetts have begun retraining teachers in phonics and decommissioning outdated curriculum materials. But some efforts were interrupted or slowed by the pandemic. |
| U. of Alabama, OSHA team up for safety on new hospital construction | |
 | With a new hospital underway for residents of west Jefferson and eastern Tuscaloosa counties, the University of Alabama is taking a lead in ensuring the construction progresses safely. The UA SafeState Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program has partnered with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration's area office in Birmingham and Brasfield & Gorrie General Contractors for the new UAB MedWest project being built in McCalla. Medical West Hospital Authority, an affiliate of UAB Health System, officially broke ground on its replacement MedWest facility in November. Earlier this month, UA and OSHA announced a partnership aimed at ensuring the safety of construction workers at the McCalla site. "The primary objective of this partnership is to create a working relationship that focuses on preventing work-related fatalities, mitigating serious workplace hazards and establishing a foundation for the development of an effective safety and health program," said Don Elswick, executive director of UA SafeState in a news release. |
| New U. of Alabama water tower to improve pressure-related issues | |
| A new water now sits on the Northwest edge of the University of Alabama campus. It's located on the intersection of Campus Drive and Riverside Drive and will improve water flow which currently fluctuates throughout the day. "It'll go from 30-to-90 PSI, instead of that it will maintain a plus or minus 10PSI throughout the day," said Jarrod Milligan, City of Tuscaloosa Executive Director of Infrastructure & Public Services. Not only will the water tank allow for constant water pressure, Milligan also expects it will help the city better meet fire flow demands. The area is currently heavily populated with campus buildings, Bryant Denny Stadium and student apartments. "It is saturated with people so you want to make sure you're able to provide just everyday demand, but also fire-flow demand if something was to happen during the gameday, you want to be able to not only serve the demand out there but also fight a fire if needed," he said. The City of Tuscaloosa is paying for the project with a combination of American Rescue Plan funds and a State Revolving Fund loan. Milligan expects the project will be complete by the end of 2022. |
| National faculty organization censures University System of Georgia over tenure | |
 | The governing council of the American Association of University Professors voted to censure the University System of Georgia over changes to tenure protections for faculty on Saturday. USG is the first public university system to be censured by the faculty group in 44 years. "By their unilateral actions, the USG board of regents has proclaimed to the academic community that they do not view academic freedom as important for public higher education in the state," Irene Mulvey, president of the AAUP, was quoted as saying in the press release. "The removal of protections for academic freedom will have a devastating effect on the quality of education in the USG system, and on recruitment and retention of faculty and students." The censure is the culmination of a months long back and forth between the AAUP and the USG Board of Regents. Traditionally tenured faculty can only be removed for serious academic or personal misconduct after an investigation by other faculty members. Last fall the Regents passed changes to tenure protection that would allow faculty who failed to improve after a negative post-tenure review to be removed by the administration, without the traditional tenure protections. According to the AAUP, this is the first time since 1978 that an entire university system has been censured, the last was the State University System of New York. |
| Rare yellow cardinal has been spotted at the U. of Florida | |
 | Wildlife watchers have a chance to spot one of the rarest birds along the country's east coast in a wooded area at the University of Florida. Experts say Gainesville's newest feathered friend is a one-in-a-million picturesque yellow cardinal. While there are an estimated 15 million red cardinals across the eastern U.S., making it one of the most common birds in the wild, there are just 10 to 15 yellow cardinals flying around the region. "I don't know how many cardinals I have seen, maybe thousands," said Andy Kratter, the ornithology collections manager at the Florida Museum of Natural History. "This is the first yellow cardinal I have seen." The newest wildlife attraction has been spotted near campus for several weeks. It has a vibrant yellow body with a black mask around its eyes and beak. The early morning sunlight enhances its brightness against the spring green foliage of the area. North American cardinals are born with a brown or greyish color and will develop a more colorful plumage upon leaving their nests within the first month. "The color comes from carotenoid pigments derived from the foods cardinals eat," explains Mark Hostetler, a professor in the Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation at UF/IFAS." The yellow pigments are later converted to red by a specific enzyme in their bodies, which helps male cardinals blend into their environment better. If the enzyme is missing, the cardinal will be yellow instead of red, Hostetler said. |
| Aggie entrepreneurs bring ideas to annual pitch competition | |
 | The McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship at Texas A&M held its fifth annual "Shark Tank" style Aggie PITCH competition Monday where 30 current and former students presented their ideas to potential investors. With ideas ranging from drone technology to feminine hygiene to a cocktail and mocktail mixer, the 20 current and former students who presented full pitches were selected out of about 100 who applied for the event. An additional 10 entrepreneurs were given the chance to present a one-minute elevator pitch to the sold-out crowd at the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center. Steve Greer, a retired HP employee and a member of the Aggie Angel Network and Houston Angel Network, said the competition is a good one for entrepreneurs to gain experience getting up in front of a group of people and defending their ideas and answering difficult questions. Juan Pablo "JP" Arevalo, a current student who presented their cocktail mixer company Dry County with his team members said he was grateful to have the experience to meet other entrepreneurs and network with students and potential mentors and investors. It is that networking that made the McFerrin Center decide to bring the event back as quickly as possible in 2021 after the 2020 event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The presentations can be made virtually, but the connections and networking do not translate to a virtual setting, said Blake Petty, executive director of the McFerrin Center. |
| Fiji fraternity hazing lawsuit defendants ask for case dismissal, media restrictions | |
 | Defendants in an ongoing civil lawsuit over alleged hazing at the University of Missouri's now-unrecognized Phi Gamma Delta fraternity -- commonly known as "Fiji" -- have begun to file varying motions in response to allegations made by the family of Daniel Santulli. The lawsuit names 23 defendants, ranging from the fraternity's national organization to its student executive board, arguing their negligence around an Oct. 19 "pledge father reveal party" that left Santulli, 19, incapacitated following "excessive" alcohol consumption. In addition to the civil case, there could still be criminal charges filed: An MU Police Department spokesperson confirmed an investigation into the incident "remains open and active." But, according to filings in Boone County Circuit Court, some defendants have filed motions to dismiss the claims and restrict media coverage of the proceedings. John G. Schultz, an attorney representing Ryan Delanty -- who is named in the lawsuit as Santulli's "pledge father" -- has been the most active. The case received a new judge at the request of Schultz, who previously declined to comment on the lawsuit. It will now proceed under Judge Joshua Devine. |
| AFT, AAUP announce new affiliation to boost faculty voice | |
 | The American Association of University Professors and the American Federation of Teachers on Monday announced plans to expand their affiliation and become a stronger faculty voice in national, state and campus-based discussions about the future of higher education. Under the tentative agreement, each group would maintain its independent mission and organizational structure, but union organizing activities would be combined. The AFT would also contribute to the AAUP's nonunion advocacy efforts regarding academic freedom and tenure. The AAUP would also continue to censure institutions for alleged violations of faculty rights. Irene Mulvey, president of the AAUP and professor of mathematics at Fairfield University in Connecticut, said the groups are expanding their partnership as professors face challenges on multiple fronts, from continued attacks on tenure to legislation limiting their ability to discuss certain topics in the classroom. Asked about specific legislative goals for this new enhanced partnership, Randi Weingarten, AFT president, cited the AFT's and AAUP's previously announced New Deal for Higher Education. The proposed legislative agenda seeks reinvestment in higher education at the state and federal levels, the end of mass employment of low-paid adjunct instructors, academic freedom surrounding the teaching of inequality and U.S. history, student debt relief, and increased college access. |
| Do Students Self-Censor? Here's What the Data Tell Us | |
 | On Monday, it felt like everyone in higher ed had an opinion about a University of Virginia senior's opinion essay in The New York Times. Emma Camp argues in her piece that students are censoring themselves in classes, on campuses, and online -- and that the problem is pervasive. Camp's essay kindled the latest flare-up in a contentious, seemingly endless debate over whether college students feel free to express their opinions. Many academics suggested that Camp's account lacked nuance and that she was merely complaining because her peers didn't agree with her. Some were more guarded, saying that they didn't want to dunk on a student but that her argument was nonetheless flawed. A few agreed with the grim picture she painted. Is self-censorship on campus the crisis Camp makes it out to be? The data show it's more complicated than that. In surveys, there's some evidence that students are worried about how their beliefs will be viewed by their peers. Yet there's also evidence that most students, across all political affiliations, feel encouraged by their institutions to speak freely and have never experienced discrimination based on their beliefs. In those surveys, a higher proportion of students of color report feeling unsafe on campus because of others' speech. Sigal Ben-Porath, a professor of education, philosophy, and political science at the University of Pennsylvania, says the topic of student self-censorship is more reflective of problems within society than institutional issues. "The argument is that students broadly feel silenced by their institutions," she says. "And I actually think that's inaccurate." She says that while there are counter examples to everything, "the vast majority of colleges and universities have a very strong commitment to open expression." |
| Yale professor lists companies not boycotting Russia: McDonald's, Starbucks and Coca-Cola | |
 | Among executives, board members, analysts and others in the business world in recent days, a "who's who" list has been floating around, showing which companies have pulled out of Russia amid its attack on Ukraine -- and which ones have stayed put. The spreadsheet, compiled by Yale University professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and his research team, has become a naughty-or-nice list of sorts, with CEOs trying their best to avoid being placed on the roster of "Companies That Remain in Russia With Significant Exposure." Sonnenfeld, who founded the nonprofit Chief Executive Leadership Institute, said he has fielded calls from CEOs asking "why we didn't have them on the right list, and what they needed to do to either clarify or actually take a more strong stance." On top of skyrocketing inflation and a plummeting ruble, Russians have been left with a dwindling marketplace: Prada stores have shuttered, TikTok has suspended operations in their country, and car companies including Rolls-Royce, Toyota and Volkswagen have stopped shipping vehicles to Russia. Even WWE, the wrestling entertainment company, said it would halt operations there. The gutting of the Russian economy has shattered the image that President Vladimir Putin had created, portraying himself as an all-powerful leader with things under control, Sonnenfeld said in a phone interview Monday with The Washington Post. And with Russian state media echoing Putin's framing of the war as a "special military operation," Sonnenfeld added, the corporate pullouts provide a tangible message that the attack "isn't just some little military operation." |
| What The American Rescue Plan Did for Higher Ed, One Year Later | |
| The American Rescue Plan (ARP) last year provided one of history's biggest one-time infusions of federal dollars to community colleges, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and other higher education institutions through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). On Monday, the Department of Education (ED) announced a state-by-state breakdown of funding for colleges and universities that came from ARP. "Imagine what the headline would be today if those HEERF funds weren't there," said Dr. Miguel Cardona, United States Secretary of Education. "We know that these funds are going towards taking care of students' basic needs like housing and nutrition. I talked to a student at a tribal college who was living out of her car. The needs are great out there." More than $10 billion went to over 1,000 community colleges. In addition, more than $2.7 billion went to HBCUs, and almost $1 billion went to Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). About $11 billion were provided to Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) while more than $190 million went to Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). Thousands of colleges and universities across the country have used HEERF to provide students with emergency grants, discharge outstanding student debt or unpaid balances, and get rid of transcript withholding for student debt. Such efforts help keep students enrolled and on track to graduate. |
SPORTS
| Diamond Dawg Gameday: vs. Texas Tech | |
| No. 23 Mississippi State will open a two-game midweek series against the No. 11 Texas Tech Red Raiders on Tuesday, March 8, at the Hancock Whitney Classic at MGM Park in Biloxi. First pitch between the Diamond Dawgs and Red Raiders is slated for 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday. Both midweek games will be streamed on SEC Network+. The contests will also be carried on the Mississippi State Sports Network powered by Learfield along with a live audio stream via HailState.com/plus. Mississippi State enters the week with a 6-6 overall record over the first 12 games of the season. The Diamond Dawgs are in the midst of six straight games away from Dudy Noble Field. The trip began with a game vs. Southern Miss in Pearl (3/2) before last weekend's three-game series at Tulane (3/4-6). Tuesday's contest will mark the ninth time MSU and Texas Tech have met on the diamond. The series dates back to 2004 when the Red Raiders defeated State twice to eliminate the Dawgs from the Atlanta Regional. Mississippi State leads the all-time series over Texas Tech with a record of 5-3 against the Red Raiders. Texas Tech is led by 10th-year head coach Tim Tadlock and enter the week with a 10-2 overall record and having won nine straight. Texas Tech returns to Biloxi after going 39-17 in 2021 and hosting both a Regional and Super Regional in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. It was the fifth consecutive year the Red Raiders were a nationally-ranked seed in the NCAA Tournament. Texas Tech has also appeared in the College World Series in three of the last five seasons with back-to-back appearances in Omaha in 2018 and 2019. |
| Molinar Wins Bailey Howell Trophy | |
| Iverson Molinar continued Mississippi State's dominance as the latest recipient of the Bailey Howell Trophy announced Monday by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. Named after Mississippi State legend and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Bailey Howell, Molinar is the seventh State player to capture the honor and extended the program's run to four of the last five seasons winning the award under Ben Howland. Quinndary Weatherspoon was a two-time recipient during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, while Reggie Perry earned the 2019-20 honor. Molinar, a consensus All-SEC Preseason First-Team selection, is one of two Power 5 players to rack up consecutive seasons of 500-plus points over the last two seasons. His 553 points is tied for 12th at MSU for a single-season and is 13 points shy of moving into the top 10. The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame exists to promote, preserve and protect Mississippi's rich sports heritage for this and generations to come. The Museum serves as a destination for sports legends to live forever through interactive displays and exhibits where visitors can play, live and dream. Mississippi State will take on South Carolina during Thursday's SEC Tournament Second Round action hosted at Amalie Arena, the home of the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning. Tip time is slated for 5 p.m. CT televised by SEC Network and available online courtesy of the ESPN app and www.ESPN.com/watch. |
| Lady Rebs' Austin, Bulldogs' Molinar voted state's top college basketball players | |
| Mississippi sports columnist Rick Cleveland writes: Ole Miss's Shakira Austin, a repeat winner, and Mississippi State's Iverson Molinar accepted the Peggie Gillom and Bailey Howell trophies, respectively, during an awards luncheon Monday at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Museum. It says here media voters from across the state got it right in voting that MSHOF executive director Bill Blackwell said was the closest in recent years. Ole Miss, 23-8 overall and 10-6 in the Southeastern Conference, was the best women's team in the state, and Austin, who averaged 15.4 points and nine rebounds a game, was the Lady Rebels' best player. Mississippi State, 17-14 overall and 8-10 in the SEC, was the best men's team in the state, and Molinar, who surely will be named to the All-SEC team Tuesday, was far and away the Bulldogs' best player. Clearly, there was a certain symmetry to both awards. Before we get into all the particulars, one of the most interesting moments of the program came when Ben Howland was talking about Howell's legacy. Howland mentioned that Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe has averaged 15.3 rebounds per game this season and commentators are calling him the greatest college rebounder in decades. Said Howland, "Bailey Howell averaged 17 rebounds per game for his entire career!" How good is that? |
| College ball poised to gain fans longer MLB lockout drags on | |
| Kush Patel showed up at Minute Maid Park wearing the No. 43 jersey of Houston Astros ace Lance McCullers Jr. and hankering for some baseball. This time, instead of watching his favorite team, Patel was there to see the Tennessee Volunteers play the Texas Longhorns in a battle of college baseball heavyweights. "I'm a diehard Astros fan so it's just good to be back in this building, watching some baseball," Patel said. "I'm more of an MLB guy, but I started watching college baseball last year for the College World Series. In college, it seems like the players are allowed to have more passion, so that definitely makes the game a little more interesting and fun to watch." The college game might turn out to be an attractive alternative for Patel and other fans if the Major League Baseball lockout extends deep into the spring. College baseball has experienced unprecedented growth over the past decade with schools spending hundreds of millions of dollars to build new stadiums and facilities and increase coaching salaries. The level of play is at an all-time high and will get even better, people in the game say, because the reduction of rounds in the MLB draft means more elite players will go to school, or stay in school, rather than head to the pros. Those factors, plus the lockout, give the college an opportunity to expand its fan base. |
| Tennessee football won't have spring game because of Neyland Stadium renovations | |
 | Tennessee will not hold its Orange and White spring football game because of renovations to Neyland Stadium and no suitable alternate site available, the university announced Monday. Instead, UT will hold an intrasquad scrimmage on April 9 at 1 p.m. on the practice field, which will be open to media, recruits and players' family members. There will not be room for fans to attend that scrimmage at Haslam Field. However, Volunteer Village at Humanities Plaza will open that day from noon to 3 p.m., and fans can watch the scrimmage on two giant video screens and enjoy food trucks, music, activities and other amenities. The scrimmage will not broadcast on live stream. It will be part of "All Vol Weekend," a fan-friendly series of events and tailgating from April 7-10 on campus. UT baseball will host a three-game series against Missouri with fireworks after Saturday's game as the highlight of the weekend. Phase I of the Neyland Stadium renovation is expected to cost $180 million, while the total project is $340 million. The plan is to create a premium experience on the lower west side of Neyland Stadium behind the Tennessee bench. The other plan has two parts -- adding a north end zone video board and creating a standing room only area under the video board. |
| UGA, coach Tom Crean to part ways after basketball season | |
| Tom Crean stood by himself, leaning against the painted cinderblock wall of the tunnel underneath Section P at Stegeman Coliseum. Facing the court, the building was empty except for UGA facilities personnel, who were busy sweeping, mopping and tidying up the 58-year-old arena an hour after Georgia's 75-68 loss to Tennessee. Asked by a passerby what he was doing, the Georgia head coach said, "Oh, just taking everything in." Crean could have punctuated that line with "one last time," but he didn't. Whether he knew it then or not, all indications are that was the last Georgia home game he'll coach. After overseeing the losingest season in the history of Georgia basketball, all indications are that Crean and the Bulldogs will part ways after the season concludes, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation. However, an official decision has not been made. That merciful end will come whenever the last-place Bulldogs (6-25, 1-17 SEC) bow out of the SEC Tournament at Amalie Arena in Tampa. Odds are that will be after Georgia's first-round game against 11th-seeded Vanderbilt (15-15, 7-11) late Wednesday. UGA Athletics Director Josh Brooks has declined to comment on Crean's coaching status during the season. But events have trended toward this inevitable outcome for a while. After four years as the Bulldogs' men's basketball coach, the buyout clause of the six-year, $19.8 million deal that Crean signed with Georgia when he came to Athens in March 2018 reduces from $7.2 million to $3.2 million at season's end. |
| Kentucky lawmakers wrap up name, image, likeness bill | |
| Kentucky lawmakers wrapped up work Monday on legislation endorsed by prominent coaches to regulate name, image and likeness compensation for college athletes in the state. The measure won 89-2 final passage in the House, which sent the bill to Gov. Andy Beshear. The bill drew strong support in a state with nationally renowned college sports programs with legions of fans. University of Kentucky men's basketball coach John Calipari, in a committee hearing, said the bill offers a "model" approach, providing flexibility to respond to the NIL issue. University of Louisville women's basketball coach Jeff Walz offered his support during another committee hearing. Lawmakers in statehouses across the country are wrangling with the high-stakes issue, as millions of dollars pour into endorsements for college athletes. Kentucky's measure would set a framework for college athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness. Governing boards of universities could adopt NIL-related policies for their school's athletes. In Kentucky, college athletes have been able to make money off their name, image and likeness since last summer, when the governor signed an executive order. His action was seen as a short-term response, resulting in the bill that sailed through the legislature with bipartisan support. |
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.
