| Monday, March 21, 2022 |
| Lifestyles Briefs: Swing era comes to life at MSU Ragtime and Jazz Festival | |
 | Mississippi State University audiences have a chance to be transported back to the 1920s, 30s and early 40s to hear -- and feel -- swing jazz during the Charles H. Templeton Ragtime and Jazz Festival set for Thursday through Saturday. With jazz music and its history at the center of this year's event, the Sweet & Hot Quartet is bringing this foot-stomping, knee-slapping sound into McComas Hall Theater on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. On Friday night, the four musicians will present the concert "Rag-a-Jazz: Sweet AND Hot!!," followed by Saturday's "Hot Hands and Sweet Syncopation!" Tickets just for the Friday and Saturday concerts can be purchased for $15 each, and registration for this and all festival events is available online at festival.library.msstate.edu. MSU students can attend any or all events for free with a valid student I.D. Tickets also will be available at the door. For information, call 662-325-6634 or email ragtimefestival@library.msstate.edu. |
| Monday Profile: 'I just love art': After stint in LA, Boswell returns to MSU as exhibit coordinator | |
| While Dixie Lyn Boswell doesn't teach students in her role as Mississippi State University's exhibit coordinator, you can hear the pride in her voice as she talks about the up-and-coming artists. The Visual Arts Center gallery, located along University Drive, is currently hosting Glitch, a juried exhibit featuring design work from students from 18 universities. Part of the exhibit, a selection of pieces by MSU junior Trisha Harjono, features a folded-paper book about Kewpie baby dolls. As Boswell turns the pages, she points out how Harjono fell in love with the small plastic dolls when she came to the United States from Indonesia. Boswell also points out Harjono's attention to detail, how parts of the book are joined together with tape that says "cupid" -- what Kewpie is supposed to be short for -- along the seams. At the end, a little pop-up featuring the doll's silhouette holding a letter "q" in one hand and a "p" in the other appears. Boswell smiles and giggles at the surprising addition, while looking at the creation with pride. "I just love art," she says, admiring the piece. "I want to share it with the world." |
| MSU group prepares to host summer camp | |
| A Mississippi State University group is helping children be ... well, kids. Camp Kesem, driven by college students, is a nationwide nonprofit that supports children whose parents have or have had cancer with free year-round services. To ensure its programs are free to participating families, the MSU chapter fundraises year-round to meet its overall goal of $35,000. The chapter hopes to make the first annual Make the Magic Gala and Silent Auction its biggest fundraiser. Set to be held 6-9 p.m. April 2 at The Storehouse, 1437 Fire Station Road, Starkville, the event includes a cocktail hour, seated dinner and program. The MSU chapter was founded in 2019, but the pandemic put a hold on its activities. The University of Mississippi recently received its chapter this year and are now in their first year of operations, said MSU chapter co-director Madelyn Slaten. "Having more chapters in Mississippi allows for more children to benefit from our programming," she said. The MSU chapter currently consists of 13 executive members, six counselors, six general members, two advisory board members and several community contacts and donors that make the programming possible. The executive members, counselors, and general members are all MSU students, Slaten said. |
| People seek public transportation to fight rising gas prices | |
 | It can be a stressful time filling up your gas tank these days with gas prices continue to soar. Some people revert to public transportation, like the SMART buses in Starkville. Amy Smith rides the buses every day and has been doing so for years. With 11 different routes running nearly every day of the week, the buses can take people like Smith just about anywhere in Starkville. It is free. But it isn't just the price of gas pushing people to public transit. According to Executive Director of Transportation Jeremiah Dumas, about 35% of people are without cars in Starkville. "We know the importance of our service," he said. "We want to be there for them so that they don't have to worry about transportation costs." With the decrease in COVID-19 cases, combined with rising gas prices, more people are using SMART transit. Dumas hopes those people continue to use the service, even when gas prices eventually go down. |
| MSU-Meridian graduate students open North Hills floral shop | |
 | Two Mississippi State graduate students have opened a local floral boutique, crediting the university -- and family -- for helping them realize their potential in business. Sisters Kailie and Kelsey Dunlap opened Meridian's Honeysuckles florist a few months ago while also in pursuit of obtaining their Master of Business Administration degrees at MSU-Meridian. The two, who already hold MSU bachelor's degrees, said that without the university and their family, their business would have never gotten off the ground. "One of the first things we did is contact Mississippi State's Small Business Development Center, and counselor Karen Kimberl walked us through writing a business plan and gave us pointers on how to apply for a business loan," Kelsey said. "Since my undergraduate degree was in business, I took the lead on this phase, but I consulted Kailie on every aspect." Kailie, who does the day-to-day floral designing, credits MSU's James DelPrince, an associate extension professor, and floral instructor Lynette McDougald, for their expertise and thoroughness which, she explained, prepared her for operating and owning a floral shop with her undergraduate horticulture degree. "Dr. DelPrince has high standards and expected our best work, but I appreciate that because it motivates me when I am creating a piece for a customer," she said. "He is also an excellent source and is gracious to share information and his connections to suppliers and other resources we can use in our business." |
| Approval of sale of city-owned land paves way for 65+ jobs | |
| New jobs will be coming to the Golden Triangle after Starkville approved the sale of city-owned land Friday. Oregon-based Columbia Industries, an equipment manufacturer, sought the land and buildings at 101 Airport Road in Starkville where the old Kirby Building Systems resided. Because the buildings were owned by Kirby and the land by Starkville, Columbia needed approval for the transaction. With Kirby agreeing to sell the buildings earlier last week, the city approved the sale of its land to Columbia by a 6-0 vote at a special call session Friday. Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver was not in attendance. Columbia purchased the 28.7-acre property for $2.95 million, with Starkville receiving $796,500 of the share. Starkville Board Attorney Chris Latimer said the property was no longer needed for municipal related purposes, and in the adopted motion, the city agreed the sale would promote and foster economic growth and development of the community. Golden Triangle Development LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins said the LINK has been working with Columbia for several months because it had extreme attraction to Starkville. "We've been working on a project and they have shown interest in the area," Higgins told The Dispatch. "They made an offer for that building this week." Columbia creates construction-related products, and the open layout of the property will allow the company to operate with ease, Higgins said. Higgins said the company hopes to employ 65-75 individuals, with annual salaries of around $45,000 to $55,000. The welding jobs, he said, will create products for the solid waste and oil field industries. |
| Hospitals feeling the effects of national blood shortage | |
| Blood keeps living, breathing creatures alive, but nationwide hospitals and other medical centers are struggling to keep the life force in stock. The Golden Triangle is no exception, and the blood shortage crisis is at an extremely critical level, according to Mississippi Blood Services. The most common types of patients in need of blood include cancer and surgery patients, accident victims, organ recipients, burn victims, and those who have complications during pregnancy and childbirth, according to Hildred Deese, who has served as the health chair on the Board of Directors with Oktibbeha-Starkville Emergency Response Volunteer Services for seven years. OSERVS will host its first blood drive of the year from noon to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at its office at 501 Highway 12 West. Walk-ups are accepted. Blood has a shelf life -- usefulness outside of the body -- of approximately 42 days, or six weeks, said Dr. Ryan Looney, an internal medicine specialist with OCH Medical Associates in Starkville. Because of its short shelf life and quick use in an overwhelmed medical system, blood is in even higher demand than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the world. "We're never really happy with where we're at (on blood supply). Blood is not infinite. It is a valuable resource, kind of like gold. It's a very valuable but finite resource," Looney said. "It has an expiration date, so we can't just store it for months and months or years and years because it's a kind of living thing. We were always kind of running at a shortage, but then when the pandemic hit that really compounded things." Deese said even with COVID, Oktibbeha County residents are still making it out to the OSERVS blood drives. |
| Gulf Coast States Face Tornado Threats This Week | |
 | The National Weather Service said there is a substantial risk of severe weather including tornadoes, thunderstorms, hail and damaging winds this week as a storm moves east along the Gulf Coast. The storms are predicted to begin Monday afternoon in Eastern Texas and could include damaging wind gusts, authorities said Sunday. The Weather Service issued a warning of enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms from the Texas Hill Country to the Upper Texas Coast, which spans major cities like Houston, Pasadena and Austin. By Tuesday, the greatest risk is predicted for Louisiana, Mississippi and eastern Alabama. The Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center said there is moderate risk of severe thunderstorms on Tuesday from southern Louisiana to southern Mississippi. Strong tornadoes, damaging winds and hail are most likely Tuesday evening and overnight. The Weather Service warned of flash flooding that could affect the Southern Plains, which includes central and northern Texas, and the Lower Mississippi Valley. Nearly two million people are at moderate risk for severe weather Tuesday, according to the Storm Prediction Center, including residents of Baton Rouge, La., and Jackson, Miss. |
| Severe weather to hit Mississippi, tornados likely in some areas | |
 | Severe storms are likely in Mississippi on Tuesday with a possibility of tornadoes, strong winds and hail. Jackson and Hattiesburg are under a moderate risk of damaging winds up to 70 mph and hail up to golf ball-size. Tornadoes are likely, with some possibly strong, according to the National Weather Service in Jackson. The timing of the severe weather will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Jackson and noon to 8 p.m. in Hattiesburg. Some parts of the state, including Vicksburg and Meridian, are under an enhanced risk of damaging winds up to 70 mph and hail up to golf ball-size. Tornadoes are possible, and some could be strong. Parts of northwest Mississippi are under a slight risk of severe weather. A flood watch is in effect Tuesday afternoon through evening for portions of central Mississippi, east central Mississippi, south central Mississippi and southeast Mississippi, including Jackson and Hattiesburg. |
| Tourism groups aim for more diversity, inclusion in planning | |
 | Tourism leaders from across the Southeast are expected to gather in an Atlanta suburb this month to explore more ways of incorporating diversity, equity and inclusion into their travel planning. State tourism officials and groups from Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Virginia are among those expected to attend the 2022 Travel Unity Summit Southeast Tuesday through Friday in Brookhaven, Georgia. The aim is to provide welcoming experiences for all visitors. Organizers say it's one of the first events of its kind and represents growing initiatives in the United States. The summit will focus on ways of helping marketers, members of the travel industry and economic development professionals incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion into the strategic planning or their organizations. Among the organizations involved are the Southeast Tourism Society; the Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus; the Georgia Department of Economic Development; the Alabama Tourism Department; the Louisiana Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus; the Louisiana Travel Association; and the Mississippi Tourism Association. Representative of convention and visitors bureaus from around the region are also expected to attend. |
| Supreme Court confirmation hearing starts with historic mark | |
 | The weeklong Supreme Court confirmation hearing for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson starts Monday heavy on history and relatively light on political drama. The 51-year-old appeals court judge would be the first Black woman on the Supreme Court, and the first justice with experience representing those too poor to afford an attorney; Democrats plan to highlight what that perspective would mean to the court. "She would be the first Supreme Court justice who is the daughter of parents who felt the crushing oppression of segregation, and the first justice who has represented an indigent as a public defender," Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., said Thursday on the Senate floor. Jackson, the daughter of public school teachers in Florida, graduated from Harvard Law School, clerked on the Supreme Court, has law enforcement in her family, and has been a federal judge since 2013. She has picked up support from prominent conservative federal judges and lawyers, law enforcement groups and more. "Indeed, with Judge Jackson's confirmation, the Supreme Court would come closer to fully reflecting the diversity of America," Durbin said. The country "will get to see what I have seen in meeting with her personally. She is thoughtful brilliant, kind and has a good sense of humor," he said. Republicans, with one exception, largely have passed on opportunities to attack Jackson -- while Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn and others have praised her qualifications. Instead, Republicans have simply pointed to the opportunity at confirmation hearings to reexamine her past decisions from the bench and demand more thorough answers about her judicial philosophy. |
| Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas admitted to hospital with infection | |
 | Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas has been hospitalized for the past two days and is being treated for an infection, court officials said Sunday. Thomas, the most senior associate justice on the high court, is being treated with intravenous antibiotics, the court said, and his symptoms are improving. The Supreme Court said Thomas was admitted to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., on Friday after experiencing flu-like symptoms. Court officials said Thomas expects to be released in a day or two. Thomas did not have COVID-19, the court said. President George H.W. Bush nominated Thomas in 1991 to fill the seat that had been held by Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall. Thomas, who is 73 and the only African American on the Supreme Court, was previously a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The extent of Thomas' symptoms was not clear. The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on Monday. Court officials said Thomas intends to take part in considering cases through court records and recordings of oral argument for the days he cannot be there in person or remotely. Thomas, a stalwart of the court's conservative wing, celebrated his 30-year anniversary on the Supreme Court last fall. |
| McConnell: Republicans supporting Putin are 'lonely voices' | |
 | Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Sunday called Republicans who support Russian President Vladimir Putin "lonely voices" within the GOP. Appearing on CBS's "Face the Nation," McConnell called for further direct assistance to be given to Ukraine, including weapons systems. He also called for a change in attitude, saying the U.S. should approach the situation with the belief that Ukraine could win the conflict, considering how long it has fended off a Russian takeover. Host Margaret Brennan noted that McConnell's clear support of Ukraine differed from what some other members of his party have said, pointing to Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.), who called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a "thug." Cawthorn's remarks were widely amplified by Russian state media. "Well, there's some lonely voices out there that are in a different place," McConnell said. "But looking at Senate Republicans, I can tell you that I would have, had I been the majority leader, put this Ukraine supplemental up by itself. I think virtually every one of my members would have voted for it." "The vast majority of the Republican Party writ large, both in the Congress and across the country, are totally behind Ukrainians and urging the president to ... take these steps quicker, to be bolder. So there may be a few only voices off the side. I wouldn't pay much attention to them," he added. |
| Zelenskyy says he's willing to talk with Putin but not yield his nation's independence | |
 | President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine said on Sunday he was ready to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin but not willing to yield on his nation's territorial integrity. Speaking through an interpreter on CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS," he said: "I am ready for negotiations with him. I was ready over the last two years, and I think that without negotiations we cannot end this war." "If there is just 1 percent chance for us to stop this war," he added, "I think that we need to take this chance, we need to do that." Ukraine's president also warned that talks were the best hope to avert a third world war. Zelenskyy's nation continues to hold off a Russian military that was widely believed to be one of the most powerful in the world but has suffered extensive casualties, some of it from Russian airstrikes on civilian targets. During the interview with Zakaria, he displayed a wide range of emotions, including defiance in the face of the invasion, pride in how his nation has responded, frustration with other world leaders for not taking his previous warnings about Russia seriously, concern about what Russian President Vladimir Putin might do next, and despair over the losses that his nation is suffering. "Unfortunately, our dignity is not going to preserve lives," he said at one point. |
| Agriculture Giants Stay in Russia Despite Calls to Exit Over Ukraine War | |
| The world's largest agricultural companies are continuing to sell seeds and handle crops in Russia, despite pressure to sever ties following the invasion of Ukraine. Companies including Cargill Inc., Bayer AG and Archer Daniels Midland Co. say humanitarian concerns over food availability for Russian citizens and other countries justify the companies' continued operation in Russia, while Western oil companies, fast-food chains and other companies have pulled out or paused operations there. Advocacy groups and employees of some agricultural companies have urged executives of businesses still operating in Russia to pull back further, however, and last week Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for continued pressure on Western companies to exit Russia. Companies in other industries, like drugs and consumer products, have also cited humanitarian grounds for their decisions to keep operating certain parts of their business in Russia. Agricultural companies' ongoing operations in Russia could have broader effects on global food supplies. Russia's war in Ukraine involves two of the world's major grain-producing powers, upending a region that has become increasingly critical to feeding a growing and more affluent global population. A dent in Russian exports of food commodities such as wheat, on top of the likelihood of a diminished harvest in Ukraine, could lead to serious food shortages around the world, analysts said. |
| Surging food and fuel prices are driving many struggling Americans back to food banks | |
 | For Chelsi Lewis, things started getting tight again in December. She found herself carving a little from the money budgeted for the electricity bill toward buying groceries. She wondered how she was going to fill her tank to take her high school twins to their track meets and jobs. The tighter times began when the child tax credit expired, said Lewis, 48, a Rockville, Md., single mother of three and full-time student at Bowie State University. She still gets food stamp SNAP benefits of $800 per month, but that lasts about three weeks. She also used to get enhanced unemployment, after losing her seasonal UPS job during the pandemic, as well as pandemic-EBT to supplement school meals, but both expired. "I've been winging it," said Lewis, who is studying history. "There are some nights I don't eat because I only have enough to feed them. I'll eat whatever is left over on their plates. I just tell them I'm not hungry." Even as coronavirus rates continue to drop and the American labor market nears full recovery from the pandemic, food banks are seeing another surge in need. Most pandemic-era assistance programs have ended, inflation is rising and many Americans are once again having trouble making ends meet. Food bank officials are reporting growing lines at their distribution centers nationwide. And rates of reported hunger have been increasing since early August, when 7.8 percent of those polled said they "sometimes" or "often" did not have enough to eat, according to data from the Census Household Pulse Survey data. |
| Scientists to Explore Suicidal Behavior for Brain Awareness Week | |
 | Two neuroscientists and an educator will conduct a virtual discussion on suicidal behavior March 23, as part of Brain Awareness Week at the University of Mississippi. The goal of the Brain Awareness Week is to make brain research and its impact in the society accessible to the general public. Aliona Tsypes, Kristin Austin and Juawice McCormick will address the topic "Suicidal Behavior and the Brain" beginning at 3 p.m. on Zoom. "Αfter the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people that commit suicide is increasing in our society," said Alberto Del Arco, an associate professor and behavioral neuroscientist in the UM School of Applied Sciences and coordinator of the activity. "Brain sciences are working to understand the neurobiological bases of suicidal behavior. In this roundtable, we will learn how a distortion in brain function may contribute to suicidal behaviors as well as new strategies to treat suicidal behavior and risk in our community." Tsypes is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pittsburgh. Austin is a clinical assistant professor in UM Department of Psychology. McCormick is interim director of the UM Counseling Center. Each speaker's presentation will focus on a different aspect of suicidal behavior. Brain Awareness Week ends Thursday (March 24) with a display of research posters made by Ole Miss students minoring in neuroscience from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Bryant Hall gallery. This research showcase is organized by Lainy Day, UM associate professor of biology. |
| LSU panel to soon narrow list of potential provost candidates, then bring some to campus | |
 | LSU is in the market for a provost, eight months after the university's new president removed the previous one. A 17-member search committee, headed by Boyd Professor of Chemistry Graça Vicente, will soon begin interviewing selected candidates and determining which ones to bring in for campus visits. In his first week at the university last July, LSU President William F. Tate IV removed Executive Vice President & Provost Stacia Haynie from her role as provost and promoted Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Support Services Matt Lee to hold the spot on an interim basis. Haynie, who joined the LSU Department of Political Science in 1990 to study judicial politics, had been in charge of academics and curricula as provost since 2018. At the time, Tate thanked Haynie for her work during the pandemic and told faculty and staff that setting out in a new direction sometimes requires a "fresh start in certain areas." "It is not meant to imply that things aren't going well," wrote Tate, who was provost at the University of South Carolina prior to his appointment at LSU. Haynie returned to the College of Humanities & Social Sciences. Since Haynie's removal as the university's chief academic officer, LSU has embarked on a nationwide search to find a permanent leader. |
| Georgia could cut aid gap for college students near diplomas | |
| Georgia lawmakers are trying again to help college students who have run out of money, this time focusing on those close to graduating. Senators are now considering House Bill 1435, which passed the House 171-3 on Tuesday. It would create a program under which public and private colleges and universities could give up $2,500 to students to help them finish school if the students have already completed 80% of the course credits needed for their degrees. Rep. Chuck Martin, the Alpharetta Republican sponsoring the bill, said that the state has invested in students all the way through K-12 and college, having them drop out for the lack of just a little money is bad for the state and can leave people earning little while mired in student debt. Students who take time off from college are less likely to return and complete their degrees than those who attend continuously. "A very small sum of money -- it could be $600, $800, $1,200 -- would help them finish and get on track to earn more and provide for their family and be able to take care some of the debt they have accrued," Martin said. "The only thing worse than graduating college with some debt is not graduating college with some debt." Georgia is one of only two states that lack broad need-based financial aid. |
| Two UF students victims of hit-and-runs last week | |
| Mackenzie Mullen and an unidentified student -- two University of Florida students -- were involved in hit-and-runs last week. Mullen had serious injuries, and the other student was killed. Mullen was hit while riding her scooter on West University Avenue by a truck turning left onto Northwest 23rd Street, and the other student was hit while walking on the sidewalk along Southwest 34th Street. Both drivers fled the scene but have been found and are in custody. The number of hit-and-run fatalities involving UF students -- Maggie Paxton, Sophia Lambert and Denise Griffiths -- and serious injuries has grown with the incidents Thursday evening. The unidentified UF student was hit and killed by a truck that ran off the road at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The driver, 19-year-old James O'Reilly, drove off after hitting the student on the 3600 block of Southwest 34th Street. "Good Samaritans provided CPR to the victim until EMS arrived," the Gainesville Police Department press release said. The student had traumatic injuries and was taken to UF Health Shands Hospital, where they were later pronounced dead. Shortly after the crash, O'Reilly and his car were found. He was charged with DUI manslaughter, DUI with damage to a person or property, reckless driving and leaving the scene of a crash involving a death or personal injury. |
| AggieCon returns to campus for 51st fandom event | |
 | After a two-year hiatus caused by COVID-19, AggieCon returns for its 51st convention this weekend. The annual event was started in 1969 by the Texas A&M student organization Cepheid Variable. Organizers say it is one of the "oldest, largest student-run fan conventions in the world." This year's event will be on the Texas A&M campus inside Rudder Tower. The event celebrates fan culture of fantasy, science fiction, gaming, horror and anime. Sai Nakka, Cepheid Variable head of alumni outreach and tabletop gaming, said it's about having fun and celebrating nerd culture in Texas and College Station as well as the history of Cepheid Variable. "I see it as kind of a way for us to get connected with the community here because until very recently, nerd culture hasn't really been as big or popular," said Sydney Do, Cepheid Variable head of convention operations. "It was kind of a way to get to know people in the community who share those same interests and get to know past members from the club as well." There will be various card games, shops and panels that will feature voice actors, cosplayers, and others who are well-known in the media entertainment industry, said Ivan Franco, Cepheid Variable's public relations officer. "On top of that, we also have multiple video game tournaments. Tabletop board game rooms, where we have D&D (Dungeons and Dragons) and other board games," Nakka said. "We have a cosplay café that will be hosting cosplayers, just having fun with them, getting to know them a little better as well as an anime room where people can watch anime." |
| MU medical students learn where they will spend residencies during 'Match Day' | |
 | Medical students from the Class of 2022 found out Friday where they will spend their residencies during a ceremony known as "Match Day." Of the 110 students graduating from the University of Missouri School of Medicine, about 96% were matched to a residency program from the Main Residency Match system, according to MU Health Care. MU medical seniors were matched to residency programs all over the country, including Dartmouth College, the University of Kentucky, Vanderbilt University and others. According to a news release, 30% of the graduating class will complete their residency at MU, and 43% will remain in Missouri. The medical school's Acuff Gallery, where the event was held, was decorated with balloons. Thermoses tagged with each student's name were given out by the medical school. Many students surrounded by their families held posters and signs announcing their specialties and residency matches. After the students opened their letters to learn where they would perform their residency, many stayed to take photos and chat with one another. MU's ability to place graduates at a residency program through the Main Residency Match system is higher than the national average. Data from the National Resident Matching Program, which coordinates the matching process, showed that across the U.S., 92.9% of domestic medical seniors were matched to a first-year residency position, compared to MU's 96%. |
| Survey: Student college choices both practical and strategic | |
 | Robert Alexander at the University of Rochester, like many in admissions, says he has spent a lot of time thinking about how "the impact of the pandemic seems to have exacerbated the story of the haves and have-nots that we've seen trending over the last decades in college access." National trends in the application process -- policies such as test-optional admissions and more lenient high school transcript reviews -- offered a new way for fortunate students "to access even more prestigious levels of higher education," says Alexander, dean of admissions, financial aid and enrollment management. Meanwhile, in the two-year sector and for at-risk populations, "we continue to worry they are falling out of the higher education pipelines," he adds. The latest Student Voice survey from Inside Higher Ed and College Pulse, sponsored by Kaplan, sought perspective from both students whose college search and enrollment were impacted by the pandemic and those who were already in college by spring 2020. Students in each group tended to have made decisions based on practical matters such as location, academic offerings, price and flexibility in the admissions process. |
| Dems fret Biden's inaction on student debt will burn in midterms | |
| President Joe Biden's indecision on student loan debt could dampen turnout with a key constituency ahead of the midterms: younger voters. While White House officials have indicated he may extend the freeze on student loan payments for the fourth time, Biden's lack of certainty ahead of another looming deadline is causing heartburn across the president's party. Advocates in close touch with the White House are impatient, arguing that even if Biden ultimately moves forward with another payment suspension by the May expiration date, it's becoming increasingly tough for them to inspire restive young voters to match their record 2020 or 2018 turnout levels. And Democratic lawmakers are pressing Biden to give millions of borrowers more than a month's notice when deciding on an extension, which prevents them from going over a financial cliff. The ultimate answer, both advocates and Democrats say, is for Biden to finally use his executive authority to fulfill a campaign promise to eliminate at least $10,000 in student debt for every borrower. And they're hoping he does it before November. The issue is one in a long list of pledges Biden extended during his campaign that advocates, particularly those representing young voters, say the president is dragging his feet on. Increasingly, they worry that along with addressing climate change and countering GOP assaults on voting rights, the lack of broad action on spiraling student debt will send a signal to Gen Z and millennials that Biden and his party are unwilling to use all of their available powers to make immediate and meaningful changes that affect their pocketbooks and futures. |
| Remedial math needed in tax cut debate | |
 | Syndicated columnist Bill Crawford writes: Remedial math has been the most in-demand developmental class in Mississippi colleges for decades. Perhaps that helps explain the difficulty many public officials seem to have in grasping budget issues. For example, the governor and top officials say the state is in its best financial condition ever. But a 2021 independent financial review gave the state a D financial rating. How can both of these add up to be true? Well, the massive influx of federal COVID-19 dollars has put the state in an unprecedented position with hundreds of millions of dollars of unallocated cash. At the same time, growing unfunded liabilities in the state's retirement system leave it billions of dollars in the hole. ... Dazzled by the huge amount of cash on hand, our math challenged leaders only see new tax cut and spending opportunities, not the systemic risks from decimating the state tax base and ever-growing unfunded liabilities. Realize, too, the state is not quite halfway through implementing historic tax cuts adopted in 2016 -- the phasing out of corporate franchise taxes and the 3% income tax bracket. Still and all, Reeves, House Speaker Philip Gunn, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and their Republican minions in the Legislature are committed to adopting an even bigger tax cut. |
| Legislators could force local officials to raise property taxes as they slash state taxes by record amount | |
| Bobby Harrison writes for Mississippi Today: The Mississippi Legislature may end the 2022 session taking credit for a historic tax cut while leaving local officials on the hook to either raise property taxes on their constituents or decide where to make cuts to their school districts. As gasoline prices rise and overall inflation rates increase, the Legislature is preparing to underfund the program that provides for the basics of operating local school districts by what may be a record amount. The only options for local school districts to deal with the state funding shortfall could be to make cuts or raise local property taxes. Despite that funding shortfall, the 2022 legislative session still will be recorded as an historic one for public education with the largest teacher pay raise since at least 2000 being enacted. The $246 million teacher pay package has passed the Senate and is expected to be taken up by the House in the coming days. The pay raise will make a substantial difference for Mississippi teachers. But despite the historic nature of the 2022 session, it still could be considered one of lost opportunities for public education. |
| Our Communities and Constituents are Counting on ARPA | |
| Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann writes: Let me be very clear: failing to appropriate the one-time $1.8 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for infrastructure and recovery projects is not a rational option for our state. Yet, last week members of the state House of Representatives made public comments hinging the allocation of these one-time dollars on the passage of unrelated legislation. Meanwhile, the citizens and communities who elected us are in limbo, waiting for this critical funding to increase the number of available hospital ICU beds, extend broadband service to rural areas, support child protective services, and boost our economy through workforce development and tourism. As importantly, our cities, counties, and rural water associations are depending on millions of dollars in ARPA funds to rehabilitate our aged water and sewer systems across the state --- a healthcare, economic development, and quality of life issue. ... While Dec. 31, 2024, the date the funds must be obligated, seems far into the future, economic and political uncertainties require us to act now. For example, leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives recently included a measure to claw back unallocated ARPA funds in an initial version of the appropriations bill. The language was taken out in a later draft but should serve as a cautionary tale not to drag our feet. Record-level inflation may be an even bigger problem. Every day we fail to spend these funds, the cost of construction goes up and the value of our ARPA funds go down. |
SPORTS
| Mississippi State softball posts shutout to sweep Ole Miss in SEC series | |
| The no-hit bid had already ended, and as the softball sliced a path into left center field, it appeared for all the world like Mississippi State's shutout bid was over, too. Ole Miss pinch-hitter Annie Orman's liner into the outfield with two on and two out in the seventh seemed destined to find grass, plate the Rebels' first run and perhaps set the stage for a rally despite a six-run MSU lead. That is, until left fielder Chloe Malau'ulu dived in out of nowhere and snared the ball in her glove. Malau'ulu's catch kept Ole Miss off the scoreboard Sunday as the Bulldogs (19-10, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) closed out a sweep of the Rebels (21-7, 0-3 SEC) with a 6-0 win over the Rebels at Nusz Park. Mississippi State made up for being swept last season in Oxford to open SEC play, winning all three games by a combined score of 22-11. "It felt very nice, especially coming back from last season and showing up today and this weekend overall," second baseman Paige Cook said. "It was just very nice to have that sweep under our belts." Cook's two-run home run in the fifth inning capped the scoring for the Bulldogs. The junior took reliever Brooke Vestal deep to left field, stretching MSU's lead to 6-0. Cook, hitting .338 and anchoring the middle of the lineup for Mississippi State, said her two-run shot kept her team's momentum up -- though the Bulldogs didn't need much help with that. "We kept the energy on our side and knocked it off of their side even more," Cook said. |
| Mississippi State hires New Mexico State's Jans as coach | |
| Mississippi State named Chris Jans its men's basketball coach on Sunday, a day after he led New Mexico State in the NCAA Tournament's second round. The school announced the hire on its athletic department's website but did not provide details. Jans, who went 122-32 the past five seasons in Las Cruces, guided the 12th-seeded Aggies past No. 5 seed UConn 70-63 in the first round before they fell 53-48 to fourth-seeded Arkansas in Saturday night's West Region game in Buffalo, New York. He is 143-44 as a Division I head coach, including going 21-15 at Bowling Green during the 2014-15 season. Jans' .765 winning percentage is fourth nationally among active head coaches behind Gonzaga's Mark Few (.837), Kansas' Bill Self (.768) and Duke's Mike Krzyzewski (.766), who will retire after this season. Jans also served two stints on Wichita State's staff, helping guide the Shockers to seven consecutive NCAA Tournament berths during his first stay. His background also includes several stops on the junior college level. Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen said Jans was considered one of college basketball's top coaches and that his overall resume "speaks for itself." |
| Mississippi State hires New Mexico State's Chris Jans as new head men's basketball coach, replacing Ben Howland | |
| Mississippi State didn't wait around to find the next coach to lead its men's basketball program. The school has hired former New Mexico State coach Chris Jans to replace Ben Howland, MSU announced Sunday. Jans, 52, went 122-32 in five seasons with the Aggies. Jans and New Mexico State finished their NCAA tournament Saturday with a 53-48 loss to Arkansas. The Aggies were a No. 12 seed in the West Region and beat No. 5 UConn in the first round before losing to the fourth-seeded Razorbacks. By Sunday morning, Jans and Mississippi State had reached an agreement. The Bulldogs moved quickly to select their new coach after parting ways with Howland after seven seasons Thursday. In Jans, they found a coach who took the Aggies to three of four NCAA tournaments during his tenure and won 25 or more games four times. Jans' first New Mexico State team earned a No. 12 seed in the NCAA tournament, losing in the first round to Clemson. The following year, the Aggies went 15-1 in Western Athletic Conference play, earned another No. 12 seed and came up one point short of upsetting No. 5 seed Auburn. |
| Mississippi State names Chris Jans new head men's basketball coach | |
| Mississippi State has officially named Chris Jans its men's basketball coach. The news comes a day after Jans led New Mexico State to the second round of this year's NCAA tournament. He'll replace Ben Howland who was fired last week after leading MSU to one NCAA tournament bid in seven seasons. Jans spent five seasons as New Mexico State's head coach in which he led the team four NCAA tournament bids -- three appearances because the 2020 tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19. The Aggies were eliminated in the first round of each tournament before this season. New Mexico State defeated 5-seed UConn in the opening round for its first tournament win in 29 years before losing to Arkansas on Saturday. Jans was named Western Athletic Conference coach of the year three times in his tenure, leading the program to four regular season conference titles and three conference tournament trophies. Jans graduated from Loras College in 1991 after being a three-year starter and serving as team captain his senior season. |
| Mississippi State basketball hires Chris Jans of New Mexico State as coach | |
| Less than a week after firing Ben Howland, Mississippi State basketball has hired New Mexico State's Chris Jans as coach, the school announced Sunday. Jans led No. 12 seed New Mexico State to a first-round upset No. 5 Connecticut on Friday in the NCAA Tournament and nearly shocked No. 4 seed Arkansas in the second round Saturday. Jans, 52, has a 122-32 record. New Mexico State won the Western Athletic conference in four of his five seasons there and made the NCAA Tournament three times. "Throughout our thorough research, what stood out about Coach Jans was his culture of accountability, hard-working mentality, emphasis on player development, and vision for the future," Mississippi State athletics director John Cohen said in a news release. "Coach Jans is a proven leader and winner, who is considered by many to be one of the top coaches in the game. He is a tireless recruiter, brilliant Xs and Os tactician, and his overall resume speaks for itself. In 12 years as a head coach at the Division I and JUCO levels, he won 20 or more games in all but one season." Mississippi State will be Jans' first Power Five head coaching job. |
| No. 23 Mississippi State salvages series, takes finale against No. 20 Georgia | |
| Mississippi State's offense responded in a big way after being shutout in Friday's series opener at No. 20 Georgia by scoring 11 runs in a loss Saturday. The visiting Bulldogs kept that momentum rolling at the plate but got contributions from their pitching and defense Sunday to salvage the series and avoid a sweep, taking the finale 20-3. In a score one would expect more from November's matchup between the schools on the gridiron, Mississippi State rebounded from a 3-1 deficit and never looked back. State retook the lead with a four-run fourth before putting up eight runs a couple frames later. It came from a plethora of contributions -- highlighted by a Hunter Hines grand slam in the sixth blowing the game open. Four MSU hitters collected multi-hit performances. The bottom third of State's starting lineup collected 10 runs batted in -- led by Brad Cumbest in the No. 7 slot connecting on four hits, a home run and three batted in. Mississippi State returns to Dudy Noble Field for four games this week. It begins with a matchup on Tuesday against Southern University before welcoming in Alabama for a weekend series. |
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