| Thursday, March 10, 2022 |
| Mississippi State students benefit from additional Astronaut Scholarship Foundation award | |
 | MSU students will have more scholarship opportunities as the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation expands the university's awards. The ASF will allow for seven additional scholars over the next seven years. MSU students became eligible for the prestigious merit-based scholarships in 2017. Each award is worth up to $15,000 and selected students become official Astronaut Scholars, with access to ASF's Innovative Leadership Mentor Program. They may also attend ASF's Innovators Week and Gala, featuring the Neil Armstrong Award of Excellence. Students majoring in STEM fields apply during their sophomore or junior years of college and must express intent to pursue research or advance their field upon completion of their degree. |
| Mississippi State University's military support nationally recognized | |
 | Mississippi State University's support for its military is being recognized on a national scale yet again. A recent ranking by VIQTORY, formerly Victory media, MSU is considered a top ten Military Friendly School for 2022 to 2023. There is a hefty list of ways Mississippi State supports those who serve. More than 3,100 students military students now attend the university. In 2018, MSU became the first university in the state to offer free tuition to members of the Mississippi National Guard through the Bulldog Free Tuition Program. Current military and veterans can transfer technical skills learned through their service into school credits. Nusz Hall, a 7,500 square-foot campus facility that opened in 2016, serves as a support center for everything administrative, educational, or recreational for military students. |
| MSU/MDAC Partnership, i.R.O.C.K. Grant and Marjorie Spruill Book Drive at USM | |
 | Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced a promotional partnership between the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce and Mississippi State University on Monday, March 7. The partnership is part of an initiative to promote universities within the state through MDAC's Bureau of Regulatory Services inspection stickers. Each sticker represents a division within the Bureau of Regulatory Services and will feature the school colors of the chosen university for one year. The system informs the public when inspections took place and provides contact information for MDAC's Weights and Measures Division, State Metrology Laboratory, Petroleum Products Inspection Division and Consumer Protection Division. MDAC awards inspection stickers to ensure fairness and equity in the marketplace. In 2021, MDAC's Bureau of Regulatory Services tested 11,431 scales and 56,314 devices found at gas stations and obtained 1,919 samples for analysis by the State Chemical Lab, a release from MSU says. |
| SOCSD moves forward with $15M facility improvement program | |
 | The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District is moving forward with building maintenance projects at Sudduth Elementary, Overstreet Elementary, Starkville High School and the Millsaps vocational campus. Half of this work will be done with the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, but the other half will be funded with a 10-year special obligation bond for capital improvements. SOCSD has been given a total of $24 million in ESSER funds, but only $7.2 million has been allocated for construction. In March 2021, SOCSD issued $7 million in bonds and added nearly $1 million more in district funds to the effort, according to SOCSD Public Information Officer Nicole Thomas. "This means there is roughly $15 million total available to address facility improvements," Thomas said. Some work has already been approved such as painting inside buildings and getting a new HVAC system for Armstrong Junior High School, among other projects. Sudduth and Overstreet will soon join AJHS in getting completely new HVAC systems. According to architect Thomas Stewart, all HVAC systems being replaced are done with ESSER funds, and because there is a timeline on when those funds must be used, they will take priority. Along with a new HVAC system at Sudduth, the school board approved interior painting and playground improvements there. Currently, the playground at Sudduth is not fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and it includes equipment that is not age appropriate. |
| From Moscow to Mississippi: Sanctioned Russian oligarch played key role in making steel mill a reality | |
| The man who is reportedly the richest oligarch in Russia --- and the target of numerous international sanctions because of his country's recent invasion of Ukraine --- played an important role in one of the Golden Triangle's biggest economic development moments of the last two decades. In fact, Alexey Mordashov is arguably why one of the region's top employers exists today. In 2014, Steel Dynamics Inc. bought a steel mill in the Golden Triangle Industrial Park for $1.6 billion. The Indiana-based steel producer is now one of Lowndes County's top five manufacturing employers, said Meryl Fisackerly, vice president of economic development and existing industry with the Golden Triangle Development LINK. The mill Steel Dynamics purchased had started operations seven years earlier under the ownership of SeverCorr -- a company Mordashov essentially bankrolled. It was an important moment for the Golden Triangle because, at the time, the region was industry-poor. "There had not been a lot of success," said LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins of the area's efforts to lure in industry. State and local leaders offered SeverCorr an attractive package of loans, grants and tax incentives to land the company. For the state, the investment was a long-term gamble, one local leaders hoped would pay off by the expansion of the local tax base and by attracting other companies from the engineering and steel processing sector. For its part, SeverCorr said it would turn out 1.5 million tons of flat-rolled steel made each year and eventually employ at least 450 people. For the Golden Triangle, the bet has paid off. |
| 'Significant storm': Bomb cyclone packed with snow, rain and wind to slam eastern US | |
 | Old Man Winter may have at least one more trick up his sleeve: A potential "bomb cyclone" storm could batter portions of the central and eastern U.S. this week and into the weekend, forecasters warn. "Confidence is growing for a significant storm that will bring wide-reaching impacts," AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva said. That would include everything from rain and severe thunderstorms to high winds, snow and a rapid freeze-up across the eastern third of the nation, AccuWeather said. A bomb cyclone, which occurs through the process known as bombogenesis, is basically a winter hurricane. It "occurs when a mid-latitude cyclone rapidly intensifies," or quickly drops in atmospheric pressure, marking the strengthening of the storm, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Areas from eastern Oklahoma to western portions of Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, and even northern parts of Mississippi and Alabama, have a shot at up to a few inches of snow. Much heavier snow is likely farther to the east, according to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski. Severe thunderstorms could also rattle portions of the Southeast on Friday and Saturday, the Storm Prediction Center said. "Damaging wind and a few tornadoes are possible late Friday night into early Saturday morning across parts of the Southeast and coastal Carolinas," the Storm Prediction Center said. |
| Chance of snow and significant plant-damaging freeze expected this weekend in north Mississippi | |
 | There is a chance of snow in north Mississippi Friday night along with a hard freeze bringing temperatures in the 20s, which could cause significant damage to outdoor plants Saturday night across the state. To prevent damage, plants should be covered or brought inside this weekend. There is a limited threat of light snow accumulation Friday night through Saturday morning in north Mississippi, according to the National Weather Service in Jackson. Bridges could become snow-covered and slick. A light freeze is expected Friday night into Saturday morning, then a freeze capable of significantly damaging unprotected vegetation is expected Saturday night into Sunday morning. Temperatures are expected to fall into the 20s. |
| Online employment portal launched for agriculture community | |
| Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson has announced the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) is launching MS AgWorks, a new online employment portal dedicated to connecting Mississippi farmers and ranchers with potential employees. "Now more than ever, we are experiencing shortages in supply chains, transportation of products and labor force," said Commissioner Gipson. "Our agency is committed to supporting Mississippi's agriculture community, and MS AgWorks is a new tool that will assist in bridging the gap between agribusinesses and farms needing employees and those seeking jobs. I encourage all Mississippians looking for work and our employers in the ag industry to take advantage of this new opportunity." As Mississippi's largest industry, agriculture is responsible for employing nearly 20% of the state's workforce. Workers are in high demand in every aspect of the industry, from loggers, truck drivers, orchard workers and farm hands to salesmen, teachers, business managers and front desk cashiers, technicians, mechanics, welders, and more. MS AgWorks is an online marketing portal that connects those seeking employment with a range of job opportunities at various agribusinesses and farms across the state of Mississippi. Job postings will include internships, full time positions and temporary worker positions. The MS AgWorks website can be accessed at www.mdac.ms.gov/ms-agworks. |
| Mississippi advances bill against COVID vaccine mandates | |
 | Anyone in Mississippi could cite "a sincerely held religious objection" to avoid a public or private employer's COVID-19 vaccination mandate, under a bill that advanced Wednesday at the state Capitol. COVID-19 vaccine mandates have not been widespread in Mississippi, but Republican Sen. Brice Wiggins of Pascagoula, said President Joe Biden's attempt to set a mandate for federal contractors could have caused big problems for Mississippi's largest private employer, Ingalls Shipbuilding. Wiggins said he is "proudly vaccinated" but believes getting the vaccine should be a personal choice. "To me, this is about government overreach," Wiggins said. The spectators' galleries were packed Wednesday, and people applauded as some senators denounced vaccine mandates. House Bill 1509 passed the Senate 36-15 on Wednesday, with Republicans in favor and most Democrats opposed. One Democrat did not vote. A version of the bill passed the House 74-41 in January, also mostly along party lines. Because the Senate made changes, the bill will go to final negotiations. |
| Senate passes anti-vaccine mandate bill | |
| The Senate after much debate -- and efforts to make the measure stronger -- passed a House bill to prohibit private companies and Mississippi governments from requiring COVID-19 vaccination of employees over their "sincerely held religious objections." But the Senate added a change to the bill to ensure more debate and scrutiny before it could be sent to the governor and signed into law. This was out of fear that the measure could jeopardize federal funding for state universities. The Senate passed House Bill 1509 on a 36-15, party line vote with Republicans voting in favor. The bill, authored by Republican Speaker of the House Philip Gunn, passed the House in a mostly party line vote in January. "The Senate passed a strong, conservative bill which protects employees and children attending school in Mississippi from a COVID-19 vaccine mandate," said Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann. "I personally support a broader bill providing a religious exemption for vaccine requirements for schools and will support that provision when it is properly before the Senate." A group of supporters of the vaccine mandate ban packed the Senate gallery, and had to be warned twice by Hosemann to stop cheering when lawmakers made anti-vaccine mandate statements. |
| Mississippi House leaders kill postpartum Medicaid extension | |
| Republican leaders of the Mississippi House killed a bill Wednesday that would have let mothers keep Medicaid coverage for a year after giving birth, up from the current two months. Supporters said extending coverage under the government health insurance program could help reduce Mississippi's maternal mortality rate, which is significantly higher than the national rate. "A healthy child needs a healthy parent," said Democratic Rep. Bryant Clark of Pickens, who backed the bill. Senate Bill 2033 passed the Republican-controlled Senate 46-5 on Feb. 2. The bill passed the House Medicaid Committee March 1 but died Wednesday when House Speaker Philip Gunn and House Medicaid Committee Chairman Joey Hood chose not to bring it up for a vote. Wednesday was the deadline for House and Senate committees to consider general bills that had passed the other chamber. Gunn told The Associated Press he did not want anything that would appear to be a broader expansion of Medicaid. Mississippi is one of a dozen states that have not expanded Medicaid to working people whose jobs do not provide health insurance. The expansion is an option under the federal health overhaul signed into law by then-President Barack Obama in 2010. Gunn said he is aware Mississippi has a high maternal mortality rate, but he has not seen data showing that extending postpartum coverage would save money. Asked whether it could save lives, Gunn said: "That has not been a part of the discussions that I've heard." |
| Bill to expand Medicaid benefits for mothers dies in Mississippi House | |
 | Senate Bill 2033 would have extended postpartum Medicaid benefits for up to 12 months for mothers in Mississippi. The bill passed the Senate with a vote of 46 to 5, and also cleared the House Medicaid committee. Dr. Anita Henderson, President of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, says mothers are only covered by Medicaid up to 60 days after birth. She says expanding access could reduce the state's maternal and infant mortality rates. "And we were very supportive of this bill," says Dr. Henderson. "Pediatricians, family practice doctors, obstetricians, the entire medical community is very supportive of this bill because we know that healthy moms are more likely to have healthy babies. So we know that this bill would have improved the health of moms and babies in Mississippi." The decision to kill the bill was made by House Medicaid Chair Joey Hood, and Speaker of the House Phillip Gunn. Gunn told the Associated Press that he is opposed to expanding Medicaid in the state. Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney says even though his office is not directly linked to Medicaid, he says the issue of health coverage for mothers who have recently given birth is essential. Chaney says "I think that's pretty dadgum important for the state because we already do that to some level with the state health plan and we need to extend it to the Medicaid side. And generally, the people that are on Medicaid are usually very young folks that are in the childbearing age. And they need to be healthy." |
| House Republican leadership kills postpartum Medicaid legislation | |
 | Republican leaders in the House on Wednesday killed legislation that would allow mothers in Mississippi -- the state with the highest infant mortality rate -- to receive Medicaid benefits for up to a year after they give birth. House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, told reporters on Wednesday that the Mississippi Division of Medicaid has not given lawmakers any clear guidance on postpartum benefits and whether they would be effective at improving health outcomes. "I think there's different views on does this expand Medicaid or not," Gunn said about the postpartum proposal. This is the second consecutive year House leaders have let a postpartum Medicaid bill die on the legislative calendar, despite health care leaders largely endorsing the proposal. The Senate last month overwhelmingly passed the postpartum measure, 46-5. Senate leaders, who have framed the bill as a "pro-life issue," called the House's decision to kill the bill terrible. "Being pro-life also means taking care of children and mothers after giving birth," said Sen. Chad McMahan, R-Guntown. Between 2013 and 2016, there were 136 Mississippi mothers who died either during pregnancy or within one year of their pregnancy's end, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health. Of those deaths, 86% of them occurred postpartum. A report issued by the Center for Mississippi Health Policy, a nonpartisan organization that provides information for health policies, found that many of these deaths occurred after Medicaid coverage ended at 60 days. |
| 1 in 5 local election officials say they're likely to quit before 2024 | |
 | For the past two years, the people who run America's elections have been sounding the alarm. The polarized voting environment that's come out of the 2020 election has led to near daily harassment and death threats for some election officials, and made the profession unsustainable for many. Now, there's new data to back up those concerns. A new survey of local election officials released Thursday by the Brennan Center for Justice found that 1 in 5 local election administrators say they are likely to leave their jobs before the 2024 presidential election. "There's a crisis in election administration," said Larry Norden, the senior director of elections and government at the Brennan Center. "[Election administrators] are concerned, and they're not getting the support that they need." The poll results show that the 2020 election -- specifically former President Donald Trump's continued false attacks on the legitimacy of the voting process -- is playing a large role in how voting officials feel about their work. Of those election officials who said they were likely to leave their jobs before 2024, the most common reasons why were that too many politicians were attacking "a system that they know is fair and honest," and that the job was too stressful. The Brennan Center poll did find that most election officials -- roughly 75% -- say they find real enjoyment in their jobs. But a majority also said they worry that the current environment will make it more difficult to retain or recruit election workers in the future. |
| Inside Senate Republicans' battle over the future of big beef | |
 | After years of failed attempts, Washington lawmakers are closer than they've ever been to mandating more competition in the American beef industry -- which is dominated by four big meatpackers that control how most cattle are bought and sold. But the politically powerful conglomerates and key farm lobby groups are making a last-ditch push to derail the bipartisan legislation by splitting Republicans on the Senate Agriculture Committee -- sparking unusually bitter finger-pointing between GOP lawmakers and their staffs. In a rare personal rebuke, Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley, one of the bill's main proponents who has been trying for decades to pass similar reforms, even recently accused some GOP Agriculture Committee aides of "working behind the scenes at the behest" of the big meatpackers to stall it. "You got to think behind all this is the political power of the big four packers," Grassley said on a call with reporters as progress on the bill slowed. The tensions show how hard it is to fix a situation that many lawmakers from both parties agree is a problem: 85 percent of the beef Americans eat from cattle raised for meat is processed by the four companies. That dominance often hurts small farmers and ranchers' leverage to negotiate prices for the cattle they raise -- and, some argue, increases the prices consumers pay for steak at the grocery store. The legislation represents the first real test of meat conglomerates' political power since President Joe Biden took office and vowed to crack down on their control of the market. If passed, it would greenlight a major intervention by the federal government in food markets that are increasingly dominated by large corporations. |
| House passes overdue $1.5 trillion omnibus appropriations bill | |
 | The House on Wednesday passed a fiscal 2022 omnibus spending package, as well as a four-day stopgap measure extending current funding levels through March 15 to ensure there's no lapse in appropriations while the Senate works to get the larger measure to President Joe Biden's desk. But passage of the omnibus -- filed in the wee hours of Wednesday morning and five months after the fiscal year began -- did not come without drama. Democratic leaders had to send the bill back to the Rules Committee Wednesday evening to strip $15.6 billion in funding for immediate COVID-19 needs and move that as a stand-alone bill -- which ultimately was delayed until next week. That measure excludes a $7 billion rescission of state and local funds that some Democrats objected to in the omnibus, leaving nearly half of the emergency spending unpaid for. The sprawling, 2,741-page omnibus would appropriate $1.5 trillion in discretionary spending across the 12 annual bills and $13.6 billion in emergency spending to address the crisis in Ukraine. It also carries a hodgepodge of unrelated bills that lawmakers are eager to advance on the must-pass vehicle. Other measures riding on the spending package include legislation to increase reporting of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, a provision allowing regulation of synthetic nicotine manufacturers, language intended to boost the Federal Trade Commission's ability to crack down on attempts to defraud seniors and various health provisions, like an extension of higher Medicaid reimbursements for U.S. territories. |
| Pence ramps up political activity as he eyes 2024 run | |
 | Former Vice President Mike Pence is becoming increasingly aggressive in his political maneuvering ahead of a potential 2024 White House bid, a campaign that could put him in direct contention with his ex-running mate and boss, former President Trump. In recent weeks, Pence has ramped up his political activity, using a series of speaking engagements, media appearances and private meetings -- most recently with the influential GOP mega-donor Miriam Adelson -- to carve-out a unique lane for himself in a potentially crowded and contentious Republican primary field. "There's pretty clearly an opportunity for him to come out and say 'look, we want the Trump policies but let's have it without the chaos,'" one Republican strategist who has worked on presidential campaigns said. At times, Pence's strategy has meant distancing himself from -- and even outright criticizing -- Trump, who remains the standard-bearer for the modern GOP and is eyeing a possible comeback bid for the White House in 2024. In a thinly veiled rebuke of his former boss last week, Pence declared that "there is no room" in the GOP for "apologists" for Russian President Vladimir Putin, an apparent reference to Trump's description of the Russian leader as a "genius" for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Pence also offered a forceful rejection last month of Trump's claim that Pence had the authority to change the results of the 2020 presidential election, asserting plainly that the former president was "wrong." To be sure, the former vice president is still embracing aspects of Trump's agenda. But he has also sought to present a more forward-looking vision. Speaking to GOP donors on Friday, Pence warned that Republicans "cannot win by fighting yesterday's battles or by relitigating the past." |
| White House warns Russia could use chemical weapons in Ukraine, rejects false 'conspiracy' of U.S. biolabs | |
 | The Biden administration warned Wednesday that Russia could use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, as it rejected Russia's claims that U.S. biological weapons labs are operating in the war-torn country. White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Wednesday called Russia's claims "preposterous" and warned of "disinformation" campaigns. "We took note of Russia's false claims about alleged U.S. biological weapons labs and chemical weapons development in Ukraine," she tweeted. "We've also seen Chinese officials echo these conspiracy theories." Psaki said the United States was in "full compliance" with its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention, which bar countries from developing or possessing such weapons. She said Russia has long "maintained a biological weapons program in violation of international law" and cited its military intervention in Syria in support of the Bashar al-Assad regime and its suspected poisoning of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny in 2020 with a Novichok-like nerve agent. "Now that Russia has made these false claims, and China has seemingly endorsed this propaganda, we should all be on the lookout for Russia to possibly use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, or to create a false-flag operation using them. It's a clear pattern," she added. Psaki made the comments after Russian officials accused the United States of developing such weapons in Ukraine. |
| Russia, Out to Contain NATO, Instead Reignites the Alliance | |
 | Troops at Lithuania's Rukla military base have stood at high alert for years, worried about the threat posed by Russia, across the border 62 miles away. Their NATO allies to the west had played down those concerns. Now NATO is pouring resources into the remote outpost. Since President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, other North Atlantic Treaty Organization members have sent 600 troops to Rukla and doubled the number of allied forces throughout this tiny country to 3,000. NATO plans to add another 1,000 troops from the U.S. and other countries. The transformation of Lithuania's bases is a part of a seismic shift across the alliance, which only three years ago faced questions about its continued existence. NATO members are shipping large volumes of weapons to Ukraine and will spend billions of dollars more on defense than they had planned just weeks ago. They are also considering permanently basing troops on their eastern flank -- something allies previously refrained from doing out of deference to Moscow. NATO itself is one of the reasons Mr. Putin has justified his war, citing the group's expansion into former Soviet-bloc countries such as Lithuania and its invitation to Ukraine in 2008 for eventual membership. But rather than repel NATO, Mr. Putin has prompted the alliance to reinforce its eastern front, placing an unprecedented number of troops, planes and vehicles on alert in the region. Russia's aggression hasn't just given NATO renewed focus after three decades of seeking a purpose in the post-Cold War world. It has shown the alliance's centrality to Western democracies' political and economic freedom, prompting members to rally around the often-criticized institution. This unity comes at the price of warfare and death in Ukraine and enormous economic pain for the West. Revitalizing NATO will cost members hundreds of billions of dollars and will likely divert resources from efforts like fighting climate change and pandemics. |
| Alumni welcome back on campus for homecoming at the W | |
| Mississippi University for Women alumni can finally step foot back on campus for homecoming. This year will be the first in-person Homecoming celebration at the W since the COVID pandemic. Events will include a luncheon honoring the Golden Girls Classes of 1970-72, a celebration of the 50th anniversary of The W's 1971 National Basketball Championship win and a new soiree, Magnolia Mingle, on Shattuck Lawn. Dates for Homecoming will be April 7th-10th. |
| UM Researcher Examines Molecular Causes Behind Heart Disease | |
| Nikki Reinemann, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Mississippi, is using a three-year grant from the American Heart Association to delve into the underlying causes of heart disease. Reinemann hopes that her work may help physicians find ways to prevent and treat heart disease, the nation's No. 1 cause of death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Specifically, she is looking at the molecular bases of muscle contraction and how those proteins affect the heart. "We understand how an individual molecule works," Reinemann said. "We understand how a muscle functions. What I'm trying to understand is how do those individual molecules work together to achieve that muscular function." To pursue this work, Reinemann has received an Early Career Development Award from the American Heart Association. The grant is designed to advance the research skills of nontenured professors who have been in academia for less than five years. Reinemann will receive $231,000 over the three-year period to help fund the necessary materials, along with research assistance from two undergraduate students and a graduate student from UM engineering departments. |
| Students vote to change activity fee | |
 | In the 2022 Associated Student Body spring elections, University of Mississippi students voted to increase the Student Activity Fee from $5 per semester to $2 per credit hour per semester. Sitting Attorney General and senior public policy leadership and economics major Grace Dragna announced the results of the referendum, which passed with 79.42% of the vote. A wave of cheers accompanied Dragna's announcement. Current treasurer Alex Mabry, who took a temporary leave of absence from ASB to campaign for the SAF increase, said she's glad campaigning for the referendum paid off. "This project has been a passion of mine since July. Honestly, I am so relieved that the campaign is over and overjoyed that the referendum passed after working nonstop to increase awareness and impact of the SAF," Mabry said. "Mostly, I'm just so grateful that the student body cares enough about the SAF to have advocated for it themselves." Mabry now looks to take the proposed increase to the Institutions of Higher Learning's Board of Trustees yearly meeting for them to approve and accept the changes. If that is passed, students will pay an increased SAF as early as fall 2022, but more likely by fall 2023. |
| USM professor develops plan to protect Earth's moon | |
 | Dr. Daniel Capper, Professor of Religion at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), has been working on an elaborate plan to help ensure that such an erasure a world where the famed "man in the moon" would no longer be visible from Earth never happens. Capper's lunar land use plan was presented to the Committee on Space Research's (COSPAR) Scientific Assembly in February 2021. His continued work has led to publication of a paper titled, "What Should We Do with Our Moon? Ethics and Policy for Establishing International Multiuse Lunar Land Reserves" in the interdisciplinary journal Space Policy. Capper points out that his plan took shape as the result of several initiatives like NASA's Project Artemis and the European Space Agency's Moon Village that involve returning humans to the moon -- this time to stay long-term. Part of these initiatives include mining the moon for various resources such as precious metals, or the energy source called helium-3. In his report, Capper notes that our moon lacks plate tectonics, meaning that the lunar surface cannot heal itself from the changes wrought by mining. Intentional remediation of the lunar surface in the wake of mining will be needed to provide restoration. |
| USM celebrates 'Providing Healing, Promoting Hope' legacy | | |
| In celebration of Women's History Month, the Committee on Services and Resources for Women (CSRW) at The University of Southern Mississippi is sponsoring and co-sponsoring events and activities on the Hattiesburg campus that commemorate the role of women in history, culture and society. As designated by the National Women's History Alliance (NWHA), the yearly theme for Women's History Month is "Providing Healing, Promoting Hope." The NWHA announcement states that, it is "both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history, in our community." Candice Salyers, chair of CSRW and professor of dance, said, "USM's programming honors the contributions of women artists, healers, historians, activists and entrepreneurs to the health and wellbeing of society. This month offers us an opportunity to come together across disciplines to acknowledge and reflect upon issues of importance in the lives of women." |
| Mississippi Arts Commission, Alcorn State to host panel discussion on 'Folklife and the Civil Rights movement in Mississippi' | |
 | Alcorn State University announces it partnered with the Mississippi Arts Commission to host a panel discussion on "Folklife and the Civil Rights movement in Mississippi,", an online exhibit published by the Mississippi Folklife Journal, from 12:30 to 2p.m. Tuesday March 22. This panel will explore the intersection of traditional arts, community and civil rights history. A panel discussion will be held in Alcorn State's James L. Bolden Student Union Ballroom located on 1000 ASU Drive in Lorman. Speakers on this panel include the following: Dr. J. Janice Coleman will focus on the activist side of B.B. King and will describe the quilt she created to bring to light his lesser known work. Dr. Dave and Patty Crosby will offer a visual presentation "Victory Day in Port Gibson" which documents the origins of victory day to celebrate a long-fought victory against oppression in Claiborne County. Dr. Constance Bailey will celebrate the Gulf Coast's Black Spring Break and emphasize the importance of Black recreation in civil rights history through her work "Keeping the Civil Rights Movement Alive: Black Spring Break." |
| Four men arrested for robbery at Alcorn State University | |
| Four men have been arrested and charged in connection to a robbery that happened at Alcorn State University. According to Claiborne County deputies, witnesses said four individuals jumped out of a white Chevrolet Tahoe and robbed them of their car keys, wallets, money and cell phones in the Medgar Evers Parking lot. The incident happened on Monday, February 28. Alcorn campus police officers arrested Jarrell Johnson who was the driver of the white Chevy Tahoe and bought him in for questioning. During the investigation, authorities were able to identify Jarrell Johnson, Taurus West, Ronnie Griffin Jr., and Larry Griffin, Jr. as persons of interest. All suspects appeared in court on Tuesday, March 8 and were charged with two counts of strong-arm robbery with a bond of $100,000 each. |
| MDE awards William Carey University $1.9M grant to recruit educators | |
 | If want to become a teacher, the time is now. William Carey University is offering a program called the Mississippi Teacher Residency Program. It's packed with support to get aspiring teachers, those who are not in education, their master's degree in elementary and special education. William Carey University Chair of Curriculum and Instruction, Katie Tonore explains who should apply. "Anyone who has a degree, or had a late calling in life, or wants to change their profession," Tonore said. The Mississippi Department of Education awarded William Carey University a $1.9 million grant to recruit 10 candidates each year, for two years, with a bachelor's degree who wants to teach kindergarten through 6 grade. "We are looking for anyone who would like to give back to their community in Covington County, Forrest County, Hattiesburg, and Greenville Public School District. You can move here, but you will be required to do practicum and clinical experiences in the school," Tonore said. William Carey's Dean of Education, Dr. Teresa Poole, said this grant is a big step in creating the teachers the community needs. |
| EMCC names Campbell director of The Communiversity and Workforce Development | |
 | East Mississippi Community College has hired David Campbell as executive director of The Communiversity and Workforce Development. Campbell, who assumes the position April 4, will provide strategic direction over The Communiversity and will collaborate with business and industry leaders, economic development agencies and policy makers to ensure that the college's workforce training meets the needs of area employers while providing students industry-relevant training in fields that are in demand locally. He will also oversee EMCC's Adult Education department and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs. Campbell has worked the past two years as vice president for Workforce Development and Career-Technical Education at St. Johns River State College in Orange Park, Florida where he served on the college's executive management team and led more than 70 fulltime faculty and staff. A Mississippi native who calls Senatobia home, Campbell has nearly three decades of experience working at community colleges in the Magnolia State. Prior to working at St. Johns River State College, Campbell served as the vice president for Workforce Solutions and Career-Technical Education at Northwest Mississippi Community College. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Community College Leadership from Mississippi State University. |
| LEAVING A LEGACY: Thomas W. Carson Band Hall opens at ECCC | |
| Nearly nine years after his untimely death at age 57, Tom Carson's dream came true Tuesday when a new band hall bearing his name was unveiled at East Central Community College. "This has been a long time coming," ECCC president Brent Gregory said during a ceremony officially opening the 11,000 square-foot facility. "I can't think of a building on this campus that will be used more than this one will be." The new building honors Carson, who died of esophageal cancer in 2013. He served as ECCC's director of bands for 30 years, from 1982 to 2012. The hall houses the Wall O' Sound Marching Band practice hall, practice studios, teaching studios, instrument storage, a music library and office space. Carson joined the East Central faculty in 1982 as sole Director of Bands -- including the Warrior Marching Band; the concert, jazz, blues, and pit bands; and the Collegians rock group -- for 13 years until an assistant director was hired. He also taught music appreciation classes and instrumental lessons, as well as an occasional Spanish course. Over the years, Carson increased the size of the band from 17 members in his first year to 180 members at his retirement. In 1996, he officially changed the name of the band on its 50th anniversary to the present day Wall O' Sound Marching Band. |
| 'You are not alone, and we need you to know that:' What schools are doing to support students' mental health | |
| After 20 years of teaching special education, Alison Rausch has adopted a "one day at a time" attitude towards her job. Rausch, who currently teaches fifth and sixth grade at the Wheeler Attendance Center in Prentiss County, has found the uncertainty of the pandemic exhausting. The unpredictable nature of students being out for quarantine leaves her regularly reteaching lessons and makes it difficult to plan. There have also been an increased number of students referred to her department for testing for special education services, mostly related to depression and anxiety. "I've always been a firm believer as a special education teacher -- if you don't provide resources for the mental health, for the behavioral health, for the social skills, then you're not going to get the academic outcomes that you want," Rausch said. As the pandemic persists, Mississippi and the nation have seen increased anxiety and depression among children. The American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health in October 2021, which they said was a pandemic-induced escalation of prior trends. In Mississippi, 31,000 youth reported having a major depressive episode in 2019, of which nearly three-quarters said they did not receive treatment according to a new report from Mental Health America. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education, said both her teacher and student advisory councils have been very vocal about the need for increased mental health services in response to increased depression and anxiety from the pandemic. "To me, that is the part that breaks your heart," Wright told Mississippi Today. "Statewide, we need to do a really good job of training our teachers and leaders on the signs and symptoms of children and adults that are struggling from mental health and social-emotional issues." |
| Alabama 'divisive concepts' bill stalls under bipartisan scrutiny | |
 | Sponsors say the bill, which is a descendent of several anti-critical race theory bills filed this summer, reaffirms academic freedom and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. But some educators have said the bill is a caricature of classroom learning and will instead have a chilling effect on instruction. In a committee meeting Wednesday, the bill's author, Rep. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, made his intentions clear. "I believe there are people who like to proselytize our children," Oliver said, noting that he wanted to prevent children from being forced to become socialists or communists as a result of classroom instruction. After being pressed by other lawmakers, he refused to give specific examples of such lessons. Some House Democrats called the bill itself a "divisive concept" after hearing Oliver's remarks, pointing to recent racist incidents in Alabama schools as evidence that diversity education is needed. One Republican lawmaker, Rep. Mike Ball, R-Madison, said the Republican-sponsored bill, and any legislation that passes, would need bipartisan support to work. "This isn't going to do it," Ball said. "You can't do it in an adversarial environment. You have to do it in a spirit of love, and not this side overpowering that side." |
| Louisiana higher education officials defend proposed spending increases | |
| Louisiana higher education officials testified before the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday, fielding questions on requested increases in student aid, a dip in the TOPS scholarship program and efforts to keep graduates in the state, among other issues. According to The Center Square, the hearing centered on Gov. John Bel Edwards' proposed spending increase of $111 million across higher education, with $75.6 million directly from the state's general fund. About $31.7 million would go to increase faculty salaries across all of the state's higher education institutions, $17.2 million for state services at those facilities and a boost of $15 million for the higher education funding formula. Funding for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, Louisiana's merit-based scholarship program, would remain flat at around $331 million, of which $272.5 million would come from the general fund. Officials told the committee that the funding request for the program has essentially plateaued because demand for scholarships has declined during the pandemic. Sen. J. Cameron Henry Jr., R-Metairie, questioned whether officials were working with schools to understand why fewer students are seeking the scholarships. Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed said officials are conducting student focus groups and reaching out to schools to get to the reason for the decline. Multiple lawmakers also questioned the high cost of the TOPS program. |
| U. of South Carolina has spent years supporting the rule of law in Ukraine. Will war undo that? | |
 | When the University of South Carolina entered into a partnership in 2018 to train Ukrainian legal professionals on promoting the rule of law, it hoped to foster a Western-style legal system in the young democracy. But four years later, Russia's full-scale invasion on its smaller neighbor has raised concerns about whether Ukraine will come under the thumb of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "The invasion threatens democracy in Ukraine at a fundamental level," said Joel Samuels, the dean of USCs College of Arts and Sciences and the executive director of USC's Rule of Law Collaborative. The Rule of Law Collaborative operates in several other countries, including Moldova, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Sri Lanka and Sierra Leone, but the Ukraine program is the only one that offers a certificate course for practicing attorneys, judges and other legal officials, Samuels said. "In a time of crisis; what happens to the rule of law?" Samuels said. "And the answer is, times of crisis are times when the rule of law is most tested and with such a new democracy in Ukraine, the aftermath of the invasion, whatever it looks like will place renewed and new kinds of pressure on the rule of law and it will be more important than ever for us to support Ukraine and its efforts, not only to sustain its democracy, but also to build meaningful mechanisms to protect the rule of law." The collaborative's deputy director, Steve Austermiller, lived in the country of Georgia from 2012 to 2016 after Russia invaded in 2008, and he thinks Putin may be more aggressively anti-democratic this time around. When Russia invaded Georgia, Putin stopped short of sacking the capital of Tbilisi. But long after the brief invasion ended, Russia has failed to turn Georgia into a puppet state, though pro-Russia sentiments in Georgia are reportedly growing. |
| Florida Lawmakers Put a Conservative Stamp on Higher Ed | |
 | The conservative effort to reshape higher education has dug a deep foothold in Florida. The state's Republican-controlled legislature on Wednesday approved a bill that requires public colleges to seek new accreditors and allows the Board of Governors to call for post-tenure review every five years. The legislation follows another bill, passed on Tuesday, that allows public colleges to conceal the names of presidential candidates until finalists are chosen. Both bills will now go to Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, who is expected to sign them into law. The Florida bills deal with what some consider the minutiae of academe, not the headline-grabbing measures meant to directly bar the instruction of controversial topics on campus, now being considered in other states. Supporters in the Florida Legislature describe the measures as common-sense reforms meant to improve student outcomes, provide more accountability to tenured faculty members, and encourage quality applicants for leadership. State Rep. Amber Mariano, a Republican, said the state's public colleges should be able to find the accreditor that best fits their needs -- as long as it's not their current accreditor, the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Colleges. But national higher-education experts and faculty members in Florida say the legislation is part of an attack on bedrock principles that preserve the academic autonomy of faculty members and institutions. |
| Renewable energy could save UF millions of dollars | |
| A new analysis suggests UF could transition to renewable, cheaper energy and save $100 million, rather than move forward with its current more expensive plan to construct a gas plant. The Rocky Mountain Institute, an environmentalist think tank, presented its analysis to a group of climate scientists, retired professors and Matt Williams, UF's sustainability director, on Wednesday. It found UF can save money by using clean energy to achieve its energy needs while protecting the natural environment. The Board of Trustees approved a $235 million Central Energy Plant Project in June to build a combined heat and power energy plant on campus. Some faculty, students and environmentalists opposed the plant because it will use methane gas, which is 25 times more potent at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. The proposed clean energy plan would cost $120 million, over $100 million less than the Central Energy Plan. UF's campus is currently reliant on chilled water and steam production to generate energy, sterilize hospital equipment, and provide air conditioning, heating and humidity control. The on-campus steam plant will be decommissioned by 2027. UF won't renew its contract with the steam provider, Duke Energy. The university is looking for new options to produce on-campus energy. Mark Helms, UF facilities services assistant vice president, said the university may have a solution that includes a gas fired plant. However, it hasn't ruled out renewable energy. |
| U. of Arkansas pushes back deadline for bids on spending-cuts consulting, cites errors in solicitation | |
| The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville is seeking outside help to identify ways of reducing nonsalary expenditures, but has pushed back by one week the deadline for consultants to submit bids after citing errors in its bid solicitation documents. UA last month published past years' estimates -- now described as erroneous -- showing a 78% year-over-year rise in non-salary spending, listing it as $305.9 million in fiscal year 2021 and $171.7 million in fiscal year 2020. Before Wednesday, the university had told potential bidders that spending increases could be attributed to an information technology project and campus construction. But, in a new addendum published Wednesday, UA now states that non-salary spending is estimated to have dipped in fiscal year 2021 compared with a year earlier, falling to $295.9 million in fiscal year 2021 from $298.4 million a year earlier. Bidders had previously been given a deadline of this morning to submit their proposals, but now have until next Thursday. The university is asking for bids to be submitted for "campus cost containment consulting services," and is specifically asking for a consultant to "evaluate cost reduction opportunities across the UAF campus." It's a type of "spend analysis" that's not been done previously by the university, according to a published "Q&A Addendum" aiming to answer questions from potential bidders. |
| Athens named best college town in the South by popular magazine | |
 | In a recent poll voted on by readers of long-running lifestyle publication Southern Living, Athens was named "The South's Best College Town" in the magazine's April 2022 double issue, topping a list of 20 that included Chapel Hill, N.C., Auburn, Ala., Clemson, S.C. and Charlottesville, Va. "There's plenty of excitement to be found between the hedges at Sanford Stadium, but the energy here reverberates well beyond the privet," wrote Southern Living's Betsy Cribb. The article went on to call Athens a "music lover's heaven," mentioned concerts at the Georgia Theatre, and singled out Weaver D's Delicious Fine Foods in praising the Classic City's food scene. Savannah placed second under Charleston, S.C. in the "South's Best Cities Overall" list and won big with Back in the Day Bakery named "South's Best Bakery" and Wiley's Championship BBQ named "South's Best BBQ by State." The survey was conducted by a third party agency, M&RR, among the Southern Living audience, asking them to rate their favorite places across the South from July 2021 to Sept 2021. Southern Living has been in publication since 1966. |
| UNCF launches a new digital platform for HBCU students | |
 | The United Negro College Fund, an organization representing private historically Black colleges and universities, and Deloitte Digital have partnered to create a new online learning platform for HBCU students, faculty and staff. The plan, which was announced Wednesday, represents "an ambitious strategic initiative to reimagine online education in partnership with historically Black colleges and universities," UNCF said in a press release. It will enable users of the platform "to learn, develop, and build community together from anywhere." The remote learning hub is called HBCUv and will allow students to take courses for college credit and connect with peers and scholars from HBCUs across the country starting next year. The platform will provide both synchronous and asynchronous learning options for students and predictive analytics on student performance and other tools for instructors to track students' academic progress. "One of the biggest advantages of online education is the sheer volume of data generated," Edward Smith-Lewis, vice president of strategic partnerships and institutional programs at UNCF, said in an email. "There are literally thousands of data points that HBCUv can track and analyze not just to predict challenges, but to match students with courses that fit their learning style or give faculty deeper insights into who their students really are." About 8,000 students will be able to participate in a pilot of the platform at nine HBCUs. |
| Congress poised to boost U.S. science funding, launch new health agency | |
| U.S. research agencies would get budget boosts of roughly 5% this year under a final 2022 spending bill that congressional leaders unveiled early today and hope to pass in the next few days. But those amounts fall far short of aspirational funding levels for several science agencies that Congress is weighing under separate legislation now being negotiated. The 2741-page appropriations measure, if approved, would lift a spending freeze that has been in effect since the start of the 2022 fiscal year on 1 October. Lacking a final budget, Congress kept the government operating through a series of continuing resolutions and, before the bill passes, may need one more extending into next week. The freeze has prevented agencies from expanding existing programs or launching any new initiatives, including the proposed Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to develop cutting-edge medical treatments and a new technology directorate at the National Science Foundation (NSF). The so-called omnibus bill would end that paralysis. NIH's overall 2022 budget, for example, would increase by 5.3%, to $45 billion, with language requiring each of its 27 institutes and centers to grow by at least 3.4%. The bill also gives the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institute of Health's (NIH's) parent body, a budget of $1 billion to create ARPA-H. NSF's overall budget would rise by 4.1%, to $8.84 billion, although none of it is designated for new programs within the technology directorate. The Department of Energy's Office of Science would get a 6.4% boost, to $7.48 billion, while NASA's science program would rise by 4%, to $7.61 billion. Smaller science agencies would see similar increases, including nearly 8% more for in-house research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and 6% more for all activities at the U.S. Geological Survey. |
| APLU Statement on Omnibus Appropriations Bill | |
| Association of Public and Land-grant Universities President Peter McPherson today released the following statement regarding the omnibus appropriations bill congressional leaders announced this morning, which would fund the federal government through September.: The FY2022 omnibus appropriations bill congressional leaders announced this morning would make critically important strides in college affordability and cutting-edge federally funded research that powers U.S. innovation and prosperity. The public university community thanks House and Senate leadership for reaching a bipartisan agreement that invests in our future. We urge lawmakers to quickly pass this legislation and send it to President Biden's desk for his signature. ... This bill provides a significant boost to low-income students and HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutions. Increasing the maximum Pell Grant award by $400, the largest increase in many years, is another important step in efforts to #DoublePell. ... On the research side, the bill makes important investments in federal research agencies, including the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. ... Lastly, APLU applauds lawmakers' efforts to provide robust military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine as it continues to defend its sovereignty against Russia's invasion and provide support to its innocent citizens. ... |
| 'Everyone' must prepare for university cyberattacks, says FBI agent | |
| "Everyone" should be involved in preparations for cyberattacks, including senior university leaders who lack technical expertise, speakers said during a virtual event Wednesday hosted by the University of California. Making sure everyone knows areas of responsibility and who to call when there's a breach -- and practicing those responses -- can help organizations prevent chaos, said Brett Yeager, a special agent in the FBI's Cyber Division. Figuring out who to contact beforehand and running tabletop exercises can help universities respond to incidents more effectively because cybersecurity staff won't have to wait for approval before taking action, he said. "They're not getting bogged down with a bunch of queries and questions to provide those updates," Yeager said during the event. Colleges and universities, which manage federal research data in addition to the personal and financial information of students and staff, continue to face a barrage of ransomware and other cyberattacks, which often disrupt operations. Part of smoothing the response process involves determining an institution's risk tolerance, which requires input from many offices and departments, said Kim Milford, executive director of the Research and Education Networks Information Sharing and Analysis Center. For example, chief financial officers should be involved in whether universities pay ransoms, she said. "That has to be a tabletop at a very high level to get those decisions in place so that you have your policy and your procedures lined up," Milford said. |
| US colleges cut partnerships, financial ties with Russia | |
| Colleges across the U.S. are pulling students from study abroad programs in Russia, ending research partnerships and cutting financial ties as part of a global wave of condemnation over the invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, colleges have promised to support Russian students on their campuses, opposing calls from a few in Congress to remove them from the country as a sanction against their homeland. The moves are mostly symbolic -- U.S. colleges have little power to sway Russia or squeeze its finances, and academic exchange between the nations has always been meager. But the suggestion that some or all Russian students should forfeit the opportunity to study here has drawn new attention to the role of universities in global disputes. Last academic year, U.S. colleges hosted nearly 5,000 students from Russia, less than 1% of all international students. Advocates for international education say losing those students would forgo a chance to expose them to western ideals, and they say Russians who choose to study in America are already more likely to want change back home. Many universities have called for compassion for students from Russia who, like those from Ukraine, may fear for the safety of family members or face sudden financial difficulty. In a message to students, Columbia University's president said students from both countries face a "bewildering and uncertain road ahead." |
| Invasion of Ukraine raises issue: Do academic boycotts work? | |
| The sheer brutality of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine has presented a challenge to the interconnected global academic community that it has arguably never faced on such a scale. Ukrainian academics within and outside the country -- as well as many other scholars horrified at the terror inflicted by Russian forces -- have often been vociferously clear: there are no circumstances under which academic ties between Western academics and those in Russian institutions can continue while such an onslaught is being maintained. Such pleas have come at every level, from institutions such as the National Research Foundation of Ukraine asking academics around the world for the "immediate severance of all your ties with Russian scientific structures" to individual scholars urging action as they shelter in Kyiv from the bombardment. Add to these calls the images of the destruction and human suffering coming from Ukraine -- including Ukrainian university buildings themselves decimated by shelling -- and it is easy to understand why some universities, funders, governments and academics are immediately breaking off ties with their counterparts in Russia. The reach and the speed of the decisions to sever ties are exceptional compared with previous political actions in the academic sphere, such as the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement in relation to the Israel-Palestine conflict or refusals to work with South African academe during apartheid. |
| Monetizing your business | |
| Columnist Phil Hardwick writes for the Mississippi Business Journal: While watching a recent episode of CBS Sunday Morning (my favorite TV show) I noticed that the "Calendar" section had changed. Instead of being full screen, the items had been relocated to a sidebar and three-fourths of the screen contained an advertisement for - I can't remember - a prescription drug or some kind of insurance. I'll be darned, I thought. They have monetized the calendar. Lots of things are being monetized these days that used to be without commercialization. Let's take a look at some examples. Perhaps you can find a way to make more money for your business or organization. Then again, maybe there are some things that shouldn't be monetized. In general, the term "monetize" is defined as turning an asset into cash. My problem with that definition is that it implies that the asset is replaced with cash. For purposes of this discussion, we will keep the asset, but use it to add cash. For example, if you're reading this column online, you probably see an ad embedded within it. The publisher still has the column, but the addition of an advertisement might generate additional cash to the publisher if the reader clicks on the ad and purchases something. ... The sports world has probably done more monetizing than just about any other industry. Remember when college football bowls were named after flowers, fruits, and real things? Now we have insurance company bowls, places bowls, retail store bowls, and even vegetable spread bowls. Click on any of the bowls and discover plenty of ads to click on for official merchandise and more. All of that is about monetizing an asset. |
| Not that excited about eliminating state income tax | |
| Mississippi newspaper publisher and columnist Wyatt Emmerich writes: I'm not hugely excited about plans to eliminate the state income tax. It's not that I like taxes. Like everybody, I hate paying taxes. And I much prefer employing the free market to accomplish society's economic goals. Private enterprise does just about everything better than government. I'm not excited for two main reasons: First, I am cynical about this really saving money for taxpayers. There are literally dozens of different state taxes we pay. Cutting one tax doesn't mean much if it causes other taxes to be raised. Secondly, Republican politicians love to boast about how they cut taxes. There's a lot of showboating going on here. Every Republican state legislator will be boasting about how he cut the personal income tax in Mississippi. It's great for their political careers but less great for the state. ... There is another reason I am not excited about eliminating the state personal income tax: The state's prison system is failing and needs a massive infusion of money. The failure of our prison system has caused a dangerous increase in crime, although the average taxpayer doesn't easily see the connection. ... There are some functions of government the private market can't do. Law and order is one. I would be more in favor of a big tax cut if our state was already doing a good job fulfilling one of its most basic responsibilities. But it isn't. |
SPORTS
| Gameday: Five Things To Know MSU-South Carolina | |
| Mississippi State turns its attention to the SEC Tournament and faces a familiar foe in South Carolina during Thursday's second round at Amalie Arena. The two teams have already met twice this season with both programs protecting their respective home floors. The Bulldogs (17-14, 8-10 SEC) registered a 78-64 victory on Feb. 1 at the Hump, while South Carolina (18-12, 9-9 SEC) dialed up a 66-56 win on Feb. 23 in Columbia. The two programs have split their four previous SEC Tournament meetings. The Gamecocks captured the first two meetings in 2001 and 2006 with State picked up wins during 2009 and 2013. The last time the SEC Tournament was held in Tampa was in 2009 when the Bulldogs knocked off Georgia (79-60), South Carolina (82-68), No. 20 LSU (67-57) and Tennessee (64-61). Jarvis Varnado, the NCAA all-time leading shot blocker, along with Barry Stewart secured All-Tournament honors with Varnado winning the event's MVP. Mississippi State also has won the SEC Tournament title in 1996 under Richard Williams and in 2002 under Rick Stansbury. A balanced scoring effort has been key to Mississippi State's success this season. The Bulldogs have posted a 11-1 mark when at least four players register 10-plus points. State has accomplished that feat during five of its eight SEC victories. South Carolina has won five of its last seven outings to finish the regular season in a five-way tie for fifth place in the SEC standings. The Gamecocks have dropped four of their last five SEC Tournament openers. |
| Ben Howland: It's 'do or die' for Mississippi State as Bulldogs open SEC tournament play | |
| Ben Howland knows what happened the last time the Southeastern Conference tournament was played at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Mississippi State won the whole thing. That was back in 2009 under coach Rick Stansbury as MSU earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. It was 10 years before Howland brought the Bulldogs back in 2019 as an at-large selection. But Howland knows Mississippi State (17-14, 8-10 SEC) has no hope of an at-large bid this time after closing a disappointing regular season with Saturday's loss at Texas A&M. So it'll take a repeat performance in the Sunshine State for the Bulldogs to duplicate history. "I think the only way we get in the NCAA tournament is to win the (SEC) tournament, and that's very difficult, but it's been done, can be done," Howland said Tuesday. The Bulldogs' path begins at 5 p.m. Thursday against South Carolina (18-12, 9-9 SEC), a team Mississippi State saw twice in the regular season. MSU dominated Feb. 1 at Humphrey Coliseum in a 78-64 win, but the Gamecocks returned the favor with a 66-56 victory on Feb. 23 in Columbia, South Carolina. "It's just one game at a time," Howland said. "You've got to survive the first game to get a chance to play the second game and survive that." |
| Mississippi State basketball vs. South Carolina: SEC Tournament scouting report, prediction | |
| If Mississippi State basketball has any hopes of playing its way back onto the NCAA Tournament bubble, the Bulldogs' journey through March Madness begins Thursday. Mississippi State (17-14) battles South Carolina (18-12) in the second round of the SEC Tournament in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday (5 p.m. CT, SEC Network). Mississippi State ranks No. 57 in the NET rankings with three Quadrant 1 and 2 wins and South Carolina ranks No. 90 with seven Quadrant 1 and 2 wins. The Bulldogs and Gamecocks split their season series against one another. Mississippi State won in Starkville 78-64 on Feb. 1 and South Carolina won in Columbia 66-56 on Feb. 23. Whichever team wins the third matchup advances to face No. 2 seed Tennessee on Friday (5 p.m., SEC Network). The loser heads home to await its postseason fate, potentially an NIT bid. When Mississippi State bested South Carolina, it did so by dominating physically. The Bulldogs out-rebounded the Gamecocks and 41-24, outscored the Gamecocks 30-24 in the paint and drew 18 fouls that led to 26 free-throw attempts. When South Carolina came out on top, the script didn't flip. Mississippi State just played worse. Mississippi State has the physical advantages in this matchup. The difference has been whether the Bulldogs can capitalize on opportunities. |
| Frank Martin's job status again a topic as Gamecocks head to SEC Tournament | |
 | Frank Martin seemed as relaxed as he always is, when he's not in game mode. As usual with his press briefings, there were smiles, wisecracks and the occasional gig to the media about when football practice is going to start. He knows the talking points of this week, and knows they go far beyond his South Carolina basketball team playing in the SEC Tournament. But he's not concerned. "Pressure? Come on, man. I've been shot at," Martin said. "I used to work 80 hours a week to make 25 grand. My first year at (Kansas State), I had no contract. They could have fired me on the spot for zero dollars. This school has treated me like a champ. What do I have to complain about?" Martin was glib because he's not going to put any more on his basketball team than what's already on it. The Gamecocks are in a familiar spot, about to play in the SEC Tournament and needing to win it in order to get to the NCAA Tournament. USC had a solid but not stellar season, finishing 18-12 and tied for fifth in the conference, which earned it the seventh seed in Tampa, Fla., and a second-round date with 10th-seed Mississippi State on March 10. The pressure referenced was his job status after this week. Martin knows that. Of course he does. It was less than a year ago that same topic was being debated after a 6-15 season heavily affected by COVID. Politicians got involved and finally a contract extension was issued, but one heavily slanted toward USC. Martin took full responsibility for last season, blaming himself for how he handled it while twice contracting COVID. That season can be excused, but at least for many of the more vocal fans on social media, it's only part of the argument for why a change could or should be made. |
| Davidson's Five-RBI Day Leads State To 10th Run-Rule Win | |
| For the 10th time this season, Mississippi State claimed a run-rule victory on Wednesday night, defeating North Alabama, 10-2, in five innings. The Bulldogs collected four doubles and a homer in the game and did the majority of its scoring in a six-run fourth. Mia Davidson drove in the first four runs of the day with a two-run homer in the first and a two-run double in the second. In the fourth, Paige Cook and Jackie McKenna both doubled in two runs with two more scoring on a Davidson grounder and a Matalasi Faapito single. "That's a very good offensive team, we knew coming in, and we wanted to make sure that we were treating it that way," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "That is a big part about midweeks, that we are going after it, ready to attack and expecting to get everyone's best efforts. North Alabama is a good team. They have a solid pitching staff and a strong offense. We went after them with Kenley Hawk to start, knowing that they were going to come out swinging. I thought that she did a good job. A little wild there at the beginning but she settled in and was able to get us out of some jams and had some quick innings to follow up. I liked her performance, and the offense got her some support early on, which really helped too." Mississippi State opens conference play this weekend at No. 3 Florida. The Bulldogs and Gators will play in the SEC's showcase Saturday-Monday series with all three games airing on SEC Network. |
| Mississippi reports highest number of CWD cases in a single year | |
| Chronic wasting disease continues to spread in Mississippi's deer and the 2022 sample year, which began July 1, 2021, has produced a spike in confirmed cases. In addition to the significant number of cases discovered so far, another county will be added to the North CWD Management Zone. "We started out the year with 82 positives," said Russ Walsh, Wildlife chief of staff for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. "As of (Tuesday), we have 50 positives for the sample year, including suspects." Suspected positives are those that in-state test results indicate a tissue sample from a deer is positive for CWD, but not yet verified by a second test at an out-of-state lab. Even so, Walsh said he feels confident the 13 suspected cases will be confirmed. The cases will bring the total number for the state to 133 and will be the most found in a single year. "We had 35 in 2020 and last year we had 28," Walsh said. The new positive cases will bring more counties into the North Mississippi CWD Management Zone. Under the department's management plan, any county within 10 miles of a known positive will be added to a management zone to help slow the spread of the disease. Chronic wasting disease is always fatal for cervids such as white-tailed deer. The reason for the spike in positive cases isn't exactly known. On one hand, Walsh said it could be an increase in the prevalence of the disease. On the other, it could be because a larger amount of samples were collected by taxidermists from mature bucks, which are more likely to carry the disease than other deer. "We used more taxidermists than before," Walsh said. "Because our quality of samples went up this year, that could be why we had an increase." |
| SEC Tournament offers chance to settle order of Kentucky, Auburn, Arkansas, Tennessee | |
| Gone are the days where Southeastern Conference basketball was easily described as Kentucky and everyone else. A four-team tier has emerged at the top of the league this season: Auburn, Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee. Picking the best team from the group is no easy task due to a combination of imbalanced scheduling and strong performance all around. Auburn won the regular season title by one game. Kentucky and Tennessee tied for second place. Arkansas finished one game behind them in fourth. Both the USA TODAY Coaches Poll and Associated Press top 25 rank Auburn highest, at No. 4, one spot ahead of Kentucky. The computer rankings at KenPom.com and the NCAA's NET metric favor Kentucky. Tennessee was one of only three teams to beat Arizona this season. Arkansas arguably played the best down the stretch, winning 14 of its last 16 games with the only two losses combing by a combined five points on the road. Comparing the four teams is made all the more difficult because of home court advantage. The quartet combined to go 67-1 in their home arenas. In head-to-head matchups between the four, the home team won all eight games. "Our top four teams, wow," Kentucky coach John Calipari said. In theory at least, the SEC Tournament presents an opportunity for the four teams to prove themselves against each other in a neutral environment. |
| Beshear signs bill regulating payments for Kentucky college athletes | |
| Coaches and administrators filled a small cheering section Wednesday as Gov. Andy Beshear signed a bill regulating name, image and likeness compensation for college athletes in Kentucky. The new law sets a framework for the athletes to profit off their notoriety, while university governing boards can adopt NIL-related policies for their school's athletes. It recognizes that athletes are the "main attraction" in college sports and deserve to be fairly compensated for use of their name, image and likeness, Beshear said. Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, a former college basketball player, called it "step toward equity for the athletes that we cheer on." Rhyne Howard, a star on the University of Kentucky women's basketball team, thanked the lawmakers for passing the measure to benefit athletes. "We are very thankful for being able to be compensated for all the work that we do," she said. The high-profile issue united Republican and Democratic lawmakers as well as rival schools in a state with nationally renowned college sports programs with legions of fans. The bill-signing ceremony at Kentucky's Capitol featured a cross-section of college coaches and administrators -- including University of Kentucky men's basketball coach John Calipari and University of Louisville women's basketball coach Jeff Walz. |
| Florida women's basketball coach Kelly Rae Finley gets five-year, $3.7 million deal | |
| Florida women's basketball coach Kelly Rae Finley signed a five-year deal that will reach $740,000 annually between salary and incentives by March 1, 2023, according to a public records request fulfilled by the University's Athletic Association. Finley -- who was named a semifinalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year Award on Tuesday -- will receive a base salary of $450,000, according to the contract, which runs from Feb. 27, 2022 until April 15, 2027. Finley will also receive a $71,000 "talent" incentive payment, a $4,000 "academic" incentive, a personal travel allowance of $40,000, a $25,000 equipment supplement from UF's endorsement contract with Nike, and a $50,000 expense account that begins Jan. 1, 2023. Beginning March 1, 2023, the 36-year-old head coach will also receive an annual $100,000 longevity incentive, provided she's still employed as UF's head coach. Finley's $3.7 million contract makes her the ninth-highest paid head coach in SEC women's basketball when factoring in Texas and Oklahoma, the two schools set to join the SEC beginning in 2025. Vanderbilt University, a private school, isn't required to publicize contract details. As Selection Sunday approaches, it is likely that the Gators will find themselves in the NCAA Tournament field of 68 for the first time since 2015-16. |
| 'They need to pay up': Emails in college admissions trial show USC's interest in wealthy applicants | |
 | USC officials discussed how much money some families stood to donate while deliberating whether to endorse their children as "VIP" applicants, according to emails filed recently in federal court. Lawyers for Jovan Vavic, who was fired as USC's water polo coach in 2019 after being charged with misrepresenting applicants as talented athletic recruits in exchange for bribes, put forward the emails to support a request to call USC officials as witnesses in his trial, which began this week in Boston. Vavic has pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering, bribery and fraud. Prosecutors say Vavic conspired with the scheme's admitted ringleader, William "Rick" Singer, to deceive the school's admissions office in exchange for payments to the USC water polo program's account and Singer's paying the private school tuition of Vavic's children. Vavic's lawyers say USC effectively required coaches to raise funds for their programs. One of his attorneys, Stephen G. Larson, previously told The Times that the case brought against Vavic "ignores the reality that at USC, a parent's ability and willingness to contribute to the university, including to athletics, influenced admissions decisions." Larson is seeking to call three current and former USC officials to testify about the school's fundraising practices. |
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