| Thursday, April 7, 2022 |
| Northeast Mississippi receives more than $19 million from Legislature for local projects | |
 | The Mississippi Legislature has voted to send more than $19 million to counties, municipalities and other entities in Northeast Mississippi to help fund projects ranging from tourism to infrastructure needs. Often jokingly referred to as a "Christmas tree" bills, Capitol leaders tend to use bonded debt to dole out money for pet projects across the state as a way to curry favor with local favors. With the state coffers are awash in excess revenues, lawmakers decided to use cash to fund the projects this year. "We're not incurring any debt," Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann told reporters on Tuesday. "Over the next two years, we will write off approximately half a billion dollars in debt in Mississippi, making our financial statement very strong for this year and for every year in the future." Here is a list of some of the Northeast Mississippi projects for which state lawmakers allocated money, including: City of Starkville, $250,000 for Northside Drive drainage improvements; City of Starkville, $250,000 for J.L. King center infrastructure; City of Starkville, $1.25 million for a Main Street project; and Oktibbeha County, $1 million for upgrades to Maben Sturgis Road. |
| Oktibbeha County no longer GAP county | |
 | Oktibbeha County is no longer distinguished as a Growth and Prosperity Program county, showing lower poverty rates. The program identifies specific counties as GAP counties in Mississippi, providing income, franchise, sales and property tax incentives to companies looking to locate or expand in these areas. To be designated as a GAP county, a county must have an unemployment rate that is 200 percent of the state's annual unemployment rate or must have 30 percent or more of its population living below the federal poverty rate. Oktibbeha County falls in and out of the GAP zone, Golden Triangle Development LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins said, something which is reviewed annually. It has fallen out of the program according to this past year, he said, since its poverty rate is now below 30 percent -- it was 31.1 percent for 2020 but has dropped to 23.5 percent for 2021 -- and its unemployment rate the last three years has been below 150 percent of the state's annualized rate. "​​If the poverty rate falls below 30 percent, the statute has us look at the annualized unemployment rate over the past three years," Higgins said. "If a county can't pass the unemployment rate test, it falls out of the program." Under the GAP program, businesses with 10 or more employees, and existing businesses that expand by at least 10 jobs, are allowed a full exemption on state income and franchise taxes, as well as a majority exemption on sales and ad valorem property taxes. |
| Lawmakers end 2022 session with historic spending spree | |
 | Mississippi legislators ended the 2022 session on a two-day spending spree where they spent funds at a pace never before seen in the state. During a two-day period ending late Tuesday evening, legislators appropriated $7.32 billion on a state-support budget -- 9.2% or $617 million more than was spent for the current year budget that ends on June 30. In addition, the Legislature spent: $1.51 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds on a litany of items ranging from helping to repair or improve local water and sewer systems to tourism enhancement to propping up state agencies facing lawsuits because of substandard conditions, and more than $900 million in surplus funds on hundreds of projects, including small projects such as courthouse repairs across the state, construction (on public buildings, including schools, state office buildings and community college and universities and more) and road and bridge repairs. One area where there was debate during the final days was on providing about $20 million in federal ARPA funds to private schools -- both private universities and kindergarten through 12th grade schools. Opponents said public funds should not be spent on private schools. The private school bill was at first defeated in the Senate, but ultimately the Senate leadership garnered the votes to pass the bill. |
| Legislative minority leaders reflect on 2022 Mississippi session | |
 | Lawmakers in Mississippi are returning to their home districts after a busy legislative session. Minority leaders are sharing how the bills passed could affect the state. Republican and Democratic leadership entered the 2022 legislative session with several priorities in common, including redistricting, teacher pay raises and creating a medical marijuana program. But some legislation prioritized by Republican lawmakers received strong opposition from the Democratic party. House Minority Leader Robert Johnson of Natchez says the state could have used funds from a $600 million revenue surplus to address other needs. "The chairman of Ways and Means and the speaker had a plan that I thought was at least palatable, something that we could work with, but the negotiations back and forth got us to an income tax cut that I think had no basis in research or work," says Representative Johnson. "They just resigned themselves to just cutting taxes and I thought that was a bad idea and I hate that they did that." Another bill passed, now signed by the Governor, was Senate Bill 2113 titled "Critical Race Theory; prohibit." The bill prevents any Mississippi school, college or university from teaching that any sex, race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin is superior or inferior to others. Senator Angela Turner-Ford Chairs the Legislative Black Caucus. When the bill was taken up in the Senate, she and all other Black members of the delegation left the room in protest. Senator Turner-Ford says "The legislation actually falls short of prohibiting the teaching of Critical Race Theory, but then the question becomes or the issue is, from all indications Critical Race Theory was never taught in our high school or elementary schools anyway. So this was a bill that seemed to be in seek of a problem." |
| Law protecting Mississippi students' right to free speech signed by Governor Reeves | |
 | Last week, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (R) signed House Bill 1416 into law. The bill was sponsored by State Representative Kent McCarty (R). It will ensure that public school students can engage in political activities or discussions while protecting the students' right to free speech and assembly no matter their beliefs. The measure initially passed the House by a vote of 114-3 and the Senate 52-0. "Proud to have authored this legislation to defend the right to free speech for ALL Mississippi students!" Rep. McCarty said on Twitter. McCarty thanked State Representatives Jansen Owen (R) and De'Keither Stamps (D) for co-sponsoring the bill. "Across the US, we've seen schools silence students based on their political beliefs," Governor Reeves said on Twitter. "In MS, we believe students should be able to freely express themselves." Through House Bill 1416, partisan and nonpartisan political groups must be given the same access to school facilities for assembling as is given to other noncurricular groups without discrimination based on the political content of the students' expression. The bill says that it is unlawful for any public school which has a limited open forum to deny equal access or a fair opportunity to, or discriminate against, any students who wish to conduct a meeting within that limited open forum on the basis of the political, philosophical, ideological or other content of the speech at such meetings. |
| After raise, where would Mississippi governor's salary rank? Spoiler: It's high | |
 | If Gov. Tate Reeves signs House Bill 1426 into law, raising statewide and other elected officials' salaries effective in 2024, Mississippi's governor would be the second-highest-paid governor in the Deep South, second only to Georgia's governor. If the bill becomes law, the Mississippi Governor's annual salary would go from $122,160 to $160,000 -- a 31% pay increase -- after the next election. By comparison, Georgia's governor would be the only higher-paid state governor in the Deep South now, making $175,000, according to salaries compiled by the Council of State Governments. Other higher paid governors include governors in California at $209,747; Delaware at $171,000; Hawaii at $165,048; Illinois at $181,670; Maryland at $180,000; Massachusetts at $185,000; and the highest paid, New York at $225,000. Also included in Mississippi's pay raise bill among others are the Attorney General, whose salary would go from $108,960 to $150,000 (38%); the Secretary of State, whose salary would go from $90,000 to $120,000 (33%); and the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House, whose salaries would both go from $60,000 to $85,000 (25%). |
| After lawmakers go home without extending postpartum Medicaid, six moms speak out | |
| Thousands of Mississippians stand to lose health insurance later this year because of Speaker of the House Philip Gunn's refusal to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to a year. When the COVID-19 public health emergency ends, possibly as early as July, the 40,000 Mississippians currently covered under pregnancy Medicaid rules will lose coverage. People who give birth after that point will have 60 days to recover and make follow-up appointments with doctors. After that, they'll be on their own.That harsh, quick disintegration of a safety net is one that many Mississippi mothers already know well: About 60% of births in the state are covered by Medicaid, one of the highest percentages in the United States. Dr. Nina Ragunanthan, an OB-GYN at Delta Health Center, a federally qualified health clinic in Mound Bayou, said the "vast majority" of her patients are on Medicaid. Complications after birth are a major contributor to the state's high maternal mortality rate, she said, and depression and anxiety in particular can arise and worsen well after 60 days postpartum. Black women in Mississippi die of pregnancy-related complications at a rate three times higher than white women. "I just think that this is a no-brainer," she said. "It would be so good for the health of women, the health of babies, and even makes economic sense." Sen. Kevin Blackwell, R-Southaven, who authored the bill extending postpartum Medicaid coverage, said he plans to reintroduce the legislation next year and hold a hearing on the issue sometime this summer. |
| Mississippi egg producer: Bird flu brings higher egg prices | |
 | A Mississippi company that produces eggs in more than a dozen states says it has seen a significant impact on prices since the outbreak of bird flu. The avian influenza virus is having a significant impact on egg prices, WAPT-TV reported. Egg prices have jumped about $2 over the past three weeks compared to the same time last year, said Max Bowman, chief financial officer and vice president of Jackson-based Cal Maine Foods Inc. Across the U.S., farmers have had to kill about 22 million birds due to bird flu. Because the virus is so infectious and deadly for commercial poultry, entire flocks are destroyed and composted on the farms when they are infected. The cases in birds do not present an immediate public health concern, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. |
| Fed Signals Faster Pace of Rate Increases, Likely Bond Runoff | |
 | Federal Reserve officials signaled they could raise rates by a half-percentage point at their meeting early next month and begin reducing their $9 trillion asset portfolio as part of their most aggressive effort in more than two decades to curb price pressures. Minutes from the Fed's March 15-16 meeting, released Wednesday, showed that many officials last month were prepared to raise rates by a half-point but opted for a smaller, quarter-point increase because of concern over the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Stocks fell and bond yields rose in the midst of expectations of a more aggressive Fed policy tightening process than previously anticipated. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which rises when bond prices fall, climbed to 2.606%, a three-year high, from 2.554% on Tuesday and 2.409% on Monday. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.2%, while the S&P 500 fell 1% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.4%. The minutes revealed for the first time how officials expect to shrink their asset holdings much faster than they did last decade, which would serve as another key tool for tightening monetary policy. Officials neared agreement on a plan that, after a roughly three-month ramp-up, would allow up to $95 billion in securities to mature every month without being replaced. The Fed's plans have sent tremors through the mortgage market, where the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose last week to 4.9%, the highest rate since late 2018, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. |
| 'Environmental Justice': Corps officials testify on the Yazoo Pumps Project | |
| Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith pressed U.S. Army Corps officials on environmental justice and the Yazoo Backwater Pumps project this week. At a Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2023 Army Corps budget on Wednesday, Hyde-Smith focused on how to overcome the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision in November to halt the Yazoo Backwater Area Pumps. "I believe the Corps understands that the Yazoo Backwater Pump project is one of my very top priorities because I have seen the suffering that has happened in Mississippi," Hyde-Smith said following the hearing. "It's clear to me that the Corps understands that a pumping station is the only way to bring meaningful flood protection to this part of Mississippi. I hope ongoing talks help us make that a reality sooner rather than later." Democratic U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson made his own statements about the pumps project during a presentation to the Vicksburg Rotary Club on March 24. EPA canceled the pumps project in November 2021, citing it was in violation of Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act. This cancelation was spurred in part by an August 2021 letter from Thompson, in which he cited "serious issues" with the EPA's handling of the project under the Trump administration. During the Rotary Club meeting, Thompson, who represents Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District, stated his concerns again, saying the Yazoo Backwater Pumps Project didn't meet the requirements of "the law." "I'm on record supporting the pumps, but I'm also on record saying they need to follow the law," Thompson said. |
| USDOT gives Mississippi $42 million to improve public transit | |
| The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced on Wednesday the distribution of over $20 billion to states and regions across the nation, with Mississippi expected to receive $42 million of the funds. In November, President Joe Biden passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which designated $1 trillion to be given to projects improving water, recycling, electric and low-emission buses, tribal communities, and pollution prevention. An annual transit formula made by Congress calculated the exact amount to be distributed to Mississippi totaling $42,077,587 to fund the improvement of state roads, bridges, transit systems, and more. "Every day, transit connects millions of Americans to jobs, schools, groceries, hospitals, resources, and countless other opportunities -- all while helping to reduce pollution, congestion, and traffic," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. "Now, thanks to the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are making the largest investment in public transit in our nation's history." |
| The New Voting Restrictions Aren't as Restrictive as Many Think | |
 | Last month, Texas held its first primary election since the passage of its controversial, restrictive voting law last year. Early reports sounded the alarm that tens of thousands of absentee ballots -- 30 percent in the state's most populous counties -- were being rejected because of the law's new strict ID requirements. But the final results were more mixed. At least 18,000 mail-in ballots were rejected -- about half the rejection rate that was feared. Even so, 2.9 million Texans ended up voting successfully in the primary -- a double digit percentage increase over 2018. Republicans seized on this. They argue that the experience in Texas and the other 18 states -- under both Republican and Democratic control, but mostly Republican -- that passed new restrictive voting laws after the 2020 election will prove that turnout is higher when voters are confident that elections are fair. Meanwhile, progressives argue that the way to increase voter participation is to make voting easier -- and that the spike in turnout in Texas happened in spite of the new restrictive voting law, not because of it. (They note that turnout in the state only increased substantially among Republicans.) Democrats and those on the left are calling this raft of new legislation -- 34 laws in 19 states -- undemocratic voter suppression and election subversion, designed to keep people of color from getting to the polls and reviving the nation's dark past of racist voting laws. So, just how bad -- or good -- are these laws? The political reaction to these laws seems to have overshadowed what's actually in them. |
| Senate set to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson for upcoming Supreme Court vacancy | |
 | The Senate is expected to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson on Thursday as the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, the end of a historic nomination process streaked with acrimony even for a justice who will not alter the court's current conservative tilt. Jackson, who appears set to receive bipartisan support, will also be the first former public defender to sit on the court. It's a professional background that Democrats said would add a much needed perspective on the high court but Republicans mined to accuse Jackson of being soft on crime. Jackson will take the seat of Justice Stephen G. Breyer, who plans to retire at the end of the term in June. By then, the 6-3 conservative majority is expected to deliver major rulings on abortion and gun rights that could fuel debate about the high court's legitimacy. On the horizon are cases about election laws and congressional redistricting after the 2020 census. Senate Democrats remained focused on Jackson's education and track record as a federal judge and repeatedly drove home how she stands at the precipice of history: a first on the Supreme Court like Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first Black man, or Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman. For the first time there will be four women on the Supreme Court at the same time. Jackson, along with Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, will often find themselves in the dissent on divisive issues. |
| Trump's fixation on the past puts his political future in limbo | |
| Standing before a crowd of political advisers -- well-heeled donors in metallic designer dresses, longtime Palm Beach friends and Fox News stars past and present -- former President Donald Trump couldn't hide his pleasure with the reception he was getting. Ushered through the doors, he'd been met with a standing ovation, head nods and adoring smiles, the type of response he's come to expect from the crowds that gather at his palatial Mar-a-Lago resort on the Florida coast. They were there, clustered together at white-tablecloth spreads under glittering chandeliers, to debut a movie meant to cast a shadow on the 2020 election results, but also to see Trump himself. Even in a slightly politically weakened state, he remains the axis around which the Republican Party revolves. As he spoke, however, a tension became apparent in the room. Trump and his aides and allies may be living up the moment. Some may have their eyes on the potential of a presidential run in 2024. But on Tuesday night, like many others since Trump left the White House, they remained consumed by what happened in 2020. Those Republicans who support Trump but are one step away from his inner circle find the scene that unfolded Tuesday night to be counterproductive. At a time when the ex-president could be focused on propelling the Republican Party toward the upcoming elections, Trump is still anchored down by conspiracies and anger over losing the last one. At a time when President Joe Biden's own weaknesses make him an easy political target, Trump and his political apparatus instead seem to be unable to move past the abyss of election-fraud lies. |
| U.S. Says It Secretly Removed Malware Worldwide, Pre-empting Russian Cyberattacks | |
 | The United States said on Wednesday that it had secretly removed malware from computer networks around the world in recent weeks, a step to pre-empt Russian cyberattacks and send a message to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. The move, made public by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, comes as U.S. officials warn that Russia could try to strike American critical infrastructure -- including financial firms, pipelines and the electric grid -- in response to the crushing sanctions that the United States has imposed on Moscow over the war in Ukraine. The malware enabled the Russians to create "botnets" -- networks of private computers that are infected with malicious software and controlled by the G.R.U., the intelligence arm of the Russian military. But it is unclear what the malware was intended to do, since it could be used for everything from surveillance to destructive attacks. An American official said on Wednesday that the United States did not want to wait to find out. Armed with secret court orders in the United States and the help of governments around the world, the Justice Department and the F.B.I. disconnected the networks from the G.R.U.'s own controllers. "Fortunately, we were able to disrupt this botnet before it could be used," Mr. Garland said. President Biden has repeatedly said he would not put the U.S. military in direct conflict with the Russian military, a situation he has said could lead to World War III. But his hesitance does not appear to extend to cyberspace. The operation that was revealed on Wednesday showed a willingness to disarm the main intelligence unit of the Russian military from computer networks inside the United States and around the world. |
| MUW in-person homecoming returns this weekend | |
 | It's been two years since the Mississippi University for Women had an in-person homecoming because of COVID-19, but this year it's back. Carolyn Williams is a junior at the university and this will be her first homecoming experience. "I'm excited to meet new people and hear stories about The W because I've heard a few and I kind of want to hear a few secret ones confirmed." Director of Alumni Engagements Anna Ogburn said the university has 360 alumni visiting for homecoming this year. "...let the current students see the alumni come back and tell their story--what was their W experience like because it was very different." The return starts Thursday, April 7th and goes through Sunday, April 10th. It will feature different events including musical performances, honoring three Golden Girl classes and a new event called the Magnolia Mingle. "We welcome folks to come to campus and interact with us and just enjoy being with us as we celebrate a lot of different alums," said Ogburn. |
| UM students research new drug delivery systems | |
 | For the past year, students at the University of Mississippi -- mostly chemistry, pharmacy, biology and engineering majors -- have been experimenting different ways for drug delivery for the nasal cavity. Located on the first floor of Coulter Hall, many projects testing drug delivery are currently ongoing. Eden Tanner, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, started this lab in hopes of finding new ways to administer drugs. "As anyone who's had a cold or runny nose knows, the nose is full of mucus. And so what we need to do is test our materials to see how they interact with and how they move through or diffuse through that mucus to get through to the tissue onto the other side," Tanner said. The materials the lab uses are called ionic liquids, which coats nanoparticles and the coating interacts with the mucus, allowing the nanoparticles to travel through the nasal cavity. New forms of drug delivery can be revolutionary to pharmaceuticals. "The ionic liquid will change the diffusion, and that could be really important because it means that we could potentially get drugs across that biological barrier and into people's bodies much more easily than we could without using these tools," Tanner said. |
| USM Alumni Association announces 2022 Homecoming date | |
 | The University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association has announced the 2022 Homecoming game will be Saturday, Oct. 15. According to the university, the Golden Eagle football team takes on the Red Wolves of Arkansas State. "With the excitement of joining the Sun Belt Conference, there is no doubt that Homecoming 2022 will be memorable for Golden Eagle fans everywhere," said Jerry DeFatta, executive director of the Southern Miss Alumni Association. "Homecoming is always an exciting time on campus as it provides us with an opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni and recognize former students who have played a vital role in the life of the University." Homecoming events will begin Monday, Oct. 10, and continue throughout the week leading up to Saturday's game at The Rock. This year's signature alumni events will include the 24th Annual Alumni Homecoming Golf Tournament and the Alumni Hall of Fame Banquet. Both events are scheduled for Friday, Oct. 14. |
| ICC's enhanced Summer Edge program offers tuition-free up to six hours and waived fees | |
| Itawamba Community College will continue its Summer Edge program in 2022, rolling out an enhanced version that will offer all students an opportunity to take up to two three-credit hour classes for six credit hours with tuition and all fees waived. Classes will be offered both online and face-to-face. "Itawamba Community College is committed to student success and has worked diligently over the past two years to ensure all students are receiving the resources they need to be successful," ICC President Dr. Jay Allen said. ICC feels the Summer Edge program is a significant opportunity to engage students who continue to experience economic barriers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. "It will enable students to get an edge in classes through quality instruction at ICC," Allen said. "That is our continuing commitment." ICC's summer schedule enables students to take classes they need. Summer opportunities are also perfect for adults who want to explore other careers, build skills on their own or enroll in classes they never had an opportunity to take. |
| U. Of Alabama Awarded $360 Million Grant, The Largest In Its History | |
| The University of Alabama has been awarded a five-year $360 million grant to lead a consortium that will conduct a wide range of research on water use and resource management. The grant comes with the potential for renewal for another five years based on successful performance during its initial funding period. The grant, from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is the largest external award in the University's history. It will establish the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH), which will be headquartered at the University's Alabama Water Institute. CIROH will be made up of a consortium of 28 academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and government and industry partners, assembling a team of hydrologic researchers across the United States and Canada. "I am thrilled that The University of Alabama has received this competitive award to facilitate a cutting-edge Cooperative Institute focused on hydrology," said U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.). "UA has the unique environment and expertise to lead the nation in high-level water research between 28 partners. Thanks to the Alabama Water Institute's leadership in assembling a world-class team, the growing scientific expertise and collaborations in Alabama will continue to benefit the nation." |
| Longtime LSU dorm, Kirby Smith Hall, to be demolished under less 'explosive' circumstances | |
 | Anyone excited to see an explosive end to Kirby Smith Hall will have to settle for a much less entertaining demise for the 57-year-old LSU dormitory. LSU announced Wednesday that instead of imploding the building, it will use "high-reach" equipment to dismantle it one floor at a time. The school hired Lemoine Company and Lloyd D. Nabers Demolition to handle the floor-by-floor disassembling, school officials said. "This method of demolition is more cost effective for the university and is less of an inconvenience for surrounding residents and businesses than an implosion would have been," university officials explained in a press release. LSU has tried to get rid of Kirby Smith for many years now, but growing demand for campus housing has repeatedly delayed those plans. The building served as transition headquarters for two Louisiana governors: Bobby Jindal in 2007 and John Bel Edwards now. According to LSU, more than 20,000 students have called Kirby Smith Hall home since 1967. The opening of two new residence quarters, Azalea Hall and Camellia Hall, in the fall created enough housing capacity to make the demolition possible this summer. After the building is torn down and the debris is all cleared up, the university plans to turn the area into a green space. |
| U. of Tennessee Institute for American Civics for 'informed patriots' comes into focus | |
 | An academic unit reshaping American civics education at Tennessee's largest public university is turning from a long-discussed idea into a codified entity. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced the Institute of American Civics at the University of Tennessee during his annual State of the State address, saying it will create more "informed patriots" and be "a beacon celebrating intellectual diversity at our universities." When it was announced, little was known about the center, although it's been in discussion with the governor and legislators since at least last year, according to Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission confirmed that it initially would be housed at the UT Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, and Lee said in his speech that it would cost taxpayers an estimated $6 million for the first year and $4 million in the following years. But a bill, which has bipartisan support, establishing the institute has been making its way through the state legislature and paints a clearer picture of who would be involved with the center and what it would look like. A law is needed to make Lee's request a reality. "I know a lot of folks, when they heard this announcement, thought, 'Oh great, this is a state way of pushing a certain ideology or the great debate over 1776 verses 1619," Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, said during a committee meeting. "I just want to make it clear that this is not what this institute is designed to do." |
| U. of South Carolina board chairman's residency questioned amid heated re-election battle | |
 | An examination of tax records and voter registration files has raised questions over whether the University of South Carolina's board chairman actually lives in the district he has represented for the past 12 years. But Dorn Smith III, the embattled leader of USC's 20-member board whose re-election bid this spring is in danger, insists he lives at a family property he has claimed as his home since 2009. In an interview with The Post and Courier, he offered explanations for records that seemed to hint he instead lives at a larger home in downtown Florence, one that lies within another longtime USC trustee's district. Still, the questions about Smith's residency only add to the doubts surrounding his leadership of a USC board that has stumbled from one controversy to the next in recent years. At least one state senator who is screening Smith for re-election wants another chance to question the Pee Dee surgeon under oath before the Legislature votes on college board candidates in May. Smith is not the only incumbent USC trustee in trouble. The re-election bids for four others are said to be in limbo after a March 28 hearing in which they faced questions about USC's controversial hiring of former President Bob Caslen, $16 million in buyouts paid to former football and basketball coaches, and public fallouts with major donors in recent years. |
| Smaller Georgia colleges grapple with declining enrollment | |
| At a recent town hall meeting, the president of East Georgia State College told employees the school must do a better job of enrolling and retaining students. Enrollment was down nearly 17% last fall to about 2,000 students -- the sharpest decline of any public college or university in the state. The consequences of a continuing decline could include losing state funding, which faculty fear could mean job cuts. They also worry it may result in the closure of some smaller colleges. "This truly is a game of inches," said David Schecter, who became the college's president in January. "One or two students at a time each day can really help us as a college." East Georgia State is one of six University System of Georgia schools with enrollment declines greater than 20% over the last five years. Most of those schools are state colleges focused on offering two-year associate degrees located outside metro Atlanta. They receive less state funding from a funding formula largely based on enrollment. Across Georgia, the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the enrollment challenges, educators say. |
| Aggie Family Weekend to host over 10,000 students and their families | |
 | Aggie Family Weekend is upon Bryan-College Station, where Texas A&M students and their families can attend multiple events starting Thursday through Sunday to celebrate student achievement in academics, extracurricular activities and sports. "Family weekend is always an exciting time, and this year we have a great mix of returning and new events," said Libby Daggers, A&M director for New Student and Family Programs. "With so much happening on campus and in the Bryan-College Station community, there is a lot to offer our families." The weekend event was canceled the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Aggies are ready to be back and celebrate with their families, Daggers said. Family Weekend, or some form of it, has existed at Texas A&M University since 1919, according to Mariah Patrick, a communications specialist for New Student and Family Programs. "It is part of a long-standing tradition that gives students an opportunity to express their gratitude to those who have impacted their lives," Patrick said. Patrick said more than 10,000 students and their families will be in attendance during the weekend. |
| Fiji claims it had 'no day-to-day control' of Missouri fraternity house in alcohol poisoning incident | |
 | Phi Gamma Delta had no control over its house at the University of Missouri, and any harm that happened there was because of others' negligence, attorneys for the fraternity wrote in a court document filed this week. The fraternity is also known as Fiji. The information is in the fraternity's response to a lawsuit filed by the family of former MU student and fraternity pledge Danny Santulli. Santulli requires around-the-clock care in a Colorado rehabilitation hospital. s part of a hazing activity on Oct. 19, Santulli was given a bottle of vodka he was expected to consume before he passed out on a couch and stopped breathing, the lawsuit alleges. There were no calls to 911, but two fraternity members drove him to MU Hospital, where he was resuscitated. He was admitted with alcohol poisoning, described as a serious and sometimes deadly consequence of drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short amount of time. Student protests sprang up spontaneously at the fraternity house. MU removed its recognition of the fraternity based on its history of violations. "Defendant (the national fraternity) had no day-to-day control over the activities of the Chi Mu Chapter or its members," reads a portion of the fraternity's response, referring to the MU campus chapter. There's no excuse for not having control, said David Bianchi, attorney for the Santulli family. "That's exactly what the problem is," Bianchi said. "They did not adequately control what was going on. They should have had control." |
| National Fiji fraternity says alleged MU hazing victim 'acted unreasonably' | |
 | The national Phi Gamma Delta fraternity claims a former University of Missouri student left unresponsive following alcohol poisoning at a local chapter event "acted unreasonably" by "knowingly and voluntarily" consuming a large amount of alcohol. The fraternity, commonly known as Fiji, argued in a court filing that it should not be held liable for injuries suffered by Daniel Santulli during an October "Pledge Father Reveal" party. Fiji also downplayed the amount of control or knowledge it had of such events at local chapters. The party was not "an event, occasion, or incident planned, controlled, approved by, or known to" the national organization, its attorney wrote. In a joint action with MU administration, Fiji suspended the local chapter the morning after Santulli was hospitalized with alcohol poisoning. His parents have filed a civil lawsuit in Boone County Circuit Court against the national fraternity and several of its members. Fiji initially directed "thoughts and prayers" toward the family in a statement issued when the lawsuit arrived, but it requested dismissal of the case in the Tuesday filing. Other recent filings indicate that a former MU employee is among the defendants. Jack O'Neill worked on the staff at the MU School of Journalism at the time of the incident, according to university payroll records. An MU spokesperson confirmed O'Neill is no longer employed by the university, though it's not clear when he left the position or whether that departure was voluntary. O'Neill also served as the live-in house director, or "house dad," for the local Fiji chapter. |
| Jury awards falsely accused former Clemson student $5.3 million | |
 | A South Carolina jury awarded a former Clemson University student $5.3 million on defamation and civil conspiracy claims last week, the result of a five-year legal battle stemming from unfounded charges of sexual misconduct in 2015. The lawsuit was against three individuals -- not Clemson. But campuses across the country took note. "That's a chilling award," said Peter Lake, Charles A. Dana Chair and director of the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy at Stetson University College of Law. "That kind of award, if it stands and isn't remitted in some way, is very impactful on college business and insurance operations. I would assume that every college in South Carolina is meeting this week to talk about the implications of this. And what's going to start happening, if you get more of these verdicts, is more Title IX systems will be literally supervised by attorneys. Colleges will have teams of lawyers." Andrew Pampu filed the lawsuit in 2017, alleging that his Clemson classmates Colin Gahagan and Erin Wingo, as well as Wingo's father, David, sought to "defame, harass, abuse and punish" him following a consensual sexual encounter between him and Erin Wingo in 2015, when they were first-year students. Though this wasn't a Title IX case per se, it stems from a Title IX investigation and has implications for the ever-evolving federal legislation barring discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education. |
| Help Wanted: Adjunct Professor, Must Have Doctorate. Salary: $0. | |
| The job posting for an assistant adjunct professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, set high expectations for candidates: A Ph.D. in chemistry or biochemistry, a strong teaching record at the college level, and three to five letters of recommendation. But there was a catch: The job would be on a "without salary basis," as the posting phrased it. Just to be clear, it hammered home the point: "Applicants must understand there will be no compensation for this position." The posting last month caused an immediate uproar among academics across the country, who accused the university of exploiting already undervalued adjunct professors, and suggested this would never happen in other occupations. Under pressure, U.C.L.A. apologized and withdrew the posting. But the unspoken secret had been fleetingly exposed: Free labor is a fact of academic life. "These arrangements are common in academia," Bill Kisliuk, a spokesman for U.C.L.A., told Inside Higher Ed when at first defending the job posting. Contingent faculty, the umbrella term for all kinds of generally part-time and untenured college teachers without much if any job security, make up a huge portion of the teaching staff of universities -- by some estimates, around 70 percent overall and more in community colleges. |
| Professor pay fell 5 percent this year, counting inflation | |
| Full-time faculty salaries increased 2 percent this academic year over last, according to annual faculty compensation data gathered by the American Association of University Professors. This is one of the smallest year-over-year increases the AAUP has recorded since it began tracking the measure in 1972---and that's before factoring in this year's surging inflation. Adjusted for inflation, real average salaries decreased 5 percent year over year, representing the greatest decrease in real-wage growth seen since 1979–80, according to the AAUP. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, or CPI-U, increased 7 percent in 2021 and 12.5 percent in 1979, the AAUP said in a preliminary analysis of its data. The association plans on releasing a much more detailed analysis of its full-time and part-time faculty salary survey data later this year, in the form of its "Annual Report on the Economic Status of the Profession." Glenn Colby, senior research officer at the AAUP, said the forthcoming report will be shaped by input from AAUP economics and higher education finance experts, and it will interpret this year's survey results "in the context of the current U.S. economy. Inflation is hitting 40-year highs, and the annual report will discuss key areas to watch as colleges and universities rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic." |
| Do the 'U.S. News' Rankings Rely on Dubious Data? | |
 | Robert Morse, the lead designer of U.S. News & World Report's rankings methodology, speaks at the professional conference for college data-crunchers every year. And every year, attendees say, his workshop is packed. "Every time I've gone to that session, it's been standing-room-only and people leaning in the door," said Jeffrey A. Johnson, director of institutional research and effectiveness at Wartburg College. Conference-goers always ask tough questions, said Todd J. Schmitz, assistant vice president for institutional research for the Indiana University campuses. But Morse's audience is rapt: "He has this room of 300 people hanging on his every word," Johnson said. The scene captures the complicated relationship between colleges' data submitters and U.S. News, the best-known college-ranking system in the United States. Many resent the time and oxygen the ranking takes up. After The Chronicle asked to interview her, Christine M. Keller, executive director of the Association for Institutional Research, conducted an informal poll of the group's members about their views of U.S. News. One major theme: Answering the magazine's survey requires too many resources, a situation they see as taking away from internal data projects that contribute more to student success than rankings do. Yet they know that responding to the survey is an important part of their jobs, and often campus leaders are paying close attention. |
| GOP backlash against student loan freeze grows | |
 | Republican criticism of the freeze on student loan repayments and interest is growing in the wake of President Biden's extension of the moratorium until late summer. GOP criticisms range from the extension representing an expensive handout to "elites" to saying that Democrats are displaying hypocrisy for extending pandemic-era policies that they like while rolling others back. "How was it fair to somebody like myself who just paid his off?" said Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), adding that he recently made a lump sum to pay off his loans 20 years after graduating from college. "I grew up poor. I've never been rich, but I had an ability to pay, make my payments consistently over time, and then pay it off," Donalds said. Biden on Wednesday extended the freeze on student loan and interest payments until Aug. 31; it had been scheduled to expire on May 1. It is the sixth extension of the pause that started in March 2020, having been initially enacted and then twice extended by former President Trump at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The move drew support from a number of Democrats and student loan debt activists who have been pushing Biden to use executive authority to outright cancel a chunk, or all, of student debt. |
SPORTS
| 'No better time than the present to be a Bulldog': Mississippi State providing financial awards to athletes | |
| Mississippi State is taking part in a nationwide movement with its recent move to start providing financial awards for student-athletes. That goes for all student-athletes, regardless of scholarship status. The announcement comes about a year after the Supreme Court's ruling in NCAA v. Alston -- in which the court determined the NCAA's unwillingness to pay athletes for academic-related purposes was a violation of antitrust laws. With the ruling, schools have started to provide monetary prizes for accomplishments in the classroom. Mississippi State is among those thanks to contributions from the Hall Academic Awards. The awards were distributed in mid-February for the first time, MSU announced. Over $1 million was awarded. The maximum allowed for a single athlete in a year is $5,980. "At Mississippi State, we are committed to providing unprecedented support to all of our student-athletes," athletic director John Cohen said. "The Hall Awards program now gives us the means to take care of our student-athletes like never before. The best part is these benefits are available to every Mississippi State athlete. That -- along with opportunities to capitalize on name, image and likeness -- means there has been no better time than the present to be a Bulldog." |
| Purcell Tabs Corry Irvin as New Assistant Coach | |
| Mississippi State women's basketball head coach Sam Purcell announced the addition of Corry Irvin to his staff as an assistant coach on Wednesday. Irvin is the second assistant coach announced by Purcell, joining Gabe Lazo, who was announced back in March. "In order to be successful, you have to hire good people who work hard and have great relationships with others, and that is exactly who Corry Irvin is," head coach Sam Purcell said. "I got the opportunity to meet Corry nearly 15 years ago when she dominated the high school ranks in Chicago as head coach at Whitney Young [High School], and the two of us have stayed in contact ever since. Her resume speaks volumes about the type of coach she is. She has won at every level of the game, and I know that she will help us win at Mississippi State." Irvin, a native of Elgin, Ill., comes to Mississippi State after spending the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach at the University of Illinois. She has over 23 years of coaching experience across every level of basketball with strong national recruiting ties. Irvin earned her bachelor's degree from Fresno State in 1996. She holds two master's degrees from the University of Phoenix in curriculum development (2008) and special education (2010). |
| Mississippi State adding Corry Irvin as women's basketball assistant | |
| Mississippi State is hiring Corry Irvin as an assistant on Sam Purcell's staff, a source confirmed to the Daily Journal. Irvin joins Gabe Lazo, leaving room for one more assistant. The newest addition comes after Joi Williams was named an assistant athletic director for women's basketball Tuesday. The moves for Purcell are coming quickly as he has turned his attention fully to Mississippi State following the conclusion of Louisville's Final Four run where he served as an assistant under Jeff Walz. Irvin joins MSU after a year as an assistant on Illinois' staff under Nancy Fahey. Prior to moving into the Big Ten, Irvin was head coach at Saint Xavier University where she led the team to back-to-back Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference championships. Irvin's rise in the collegiate ranks comes through success at the high school level. She spent 18 seasons coaching at Chicago's Whitney Young High School before joining the staff at Saint Xavier. She led the team to three state titles. She attended Larkin High School in Elgin, Illinois, before attending Fresno State to continue her playing career. Upon graduation, Irvin finished her career at Fresno State ranked No. 10 on the program's all-time field goal list (360), No. 9 in rebounds (510), and No. 5 in blocked shots (55). |
| Anastasia Hayes returns to Mississippi State for final season as staff takes shape | |
| The future of Mississippi State women's basketball has begun to take shape with the naming of two assistant coaches and Anastasia Hayes' announcement on Wednesday that she will return for her final season of eligibility. Hayes' return will be a very welcome sight for the Bulldogs. She was excellent this past season under Doug Novak, emerging as a key player on a thin roster who became the primary scoring option after Rickea Jackson's departure. Hayes earned a spot on the All-Southeastern Conference Second Team and was an honorable mention WBCA All-American after averaging 18.6 points and three assists during the 2021-22 season. Because of the NCAA's COVID-19 rules, she has one year of eligibility left, and she confirmed on Twitter that she will spend it in Starkville. "After weighing my options and talking with my family, I am excited to say that I'm coming back to Mississippi State for my final year of eligibility!" Hayes posted. "This team will be special, and I believe in what Coach Purcell is building in Starkville, and I want to be a part of it. Hail State!" A day earlier, Mississippi State announced that Sam Purcell had brought in Joi Williams to be assistant athletic director for women's basketball. On Wednesday, State announced Purcell had hired Illinois assistant Corry Irvin as an assistant coach. Irvin spent two years at Saint Xavier University and 18 years as a high school coach in the Chicago area before joining the Illini. |
| Anastasia Hayes announces she'll return to Mississippi State women's basketball | |
| Anastasia Hayes will return to Mississippi State women's basketball next season, she announced Wednesday. "After weighing all my options and talking with my family I'm happy to say that I'm coming back to Mississippi State for my final year of eligibility," Hayes wrote on Twitter. "This team will be special and I believe in what Coach (Sam) Purcell is building in Starkville and I want to be a part of it." Hayes, a 5-foot-7 guard from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, averaged 18.6 points per game this season. That was more than any player other than Rickea Jackson, who averaged 20.3 before entering the transfer portal after 15 games. She is now at Tennessee. Hayes' decision to stay at Mississippi State is a big win for first-year coach Sam Purcell who is now able to bring back one of the top scorers in the SEC. Hayes was a two-time first-team Conference USA selection at Middle Tennessee State before transferring to Mississippi State. She was a second-team all-SEC selection last season. |
| Leach Brings Insurgent Warfare And Football Strategy Class To MSU | |
| The stakes are drastically different. The fields of battle aren't the same. Ask Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach how war and football are similar though and you don't have to wait long for an answer. "You're getting a group to work together when there's chaos going on everywhere," Leach said. "Of course, there are goals and objectives and things you have to protect as far as vulnerabilities. Then there are things you have that are strengths you want to utilize. And then the more strengths you can discover and utilize, the more vulnerabilities you can find on the opponent and the better off you'll be." For those wanting to hear more from Leach on such a topic, you now have your chance. Leach, along with his friend, former Washington state senator and current Spokane County treasurer Michael Baumgartner, will host an insurgent warfare and football strategy class on Friday, April 8, on the MSU campus. The event will be held at the Old Main Wingo Auditorium at 5:30 p.m. with doors opening at 5 p.m. One free ticket to the class can be claimed by students or members of the public starting at 9:00 a.m. Friday at the Center for Student Activities on the third floor of the Colvard Student Union. At 4:00 p.m., any remaining tickets will be moved to a table outside of the Old Main Academic Center. All tickets are on a first come, first served basis. The class is similar to one Leach and Baumgartner oversaw at Washington State back in the spring of 2019 when Leach was head coach of the Cougars. For Friday's edition, Leach and Baumgartner will reunite to discuss how successful football and warfare somewhat go hand in hand. |
| 'Every day, every meeting': Mississippi State defensive line places emphasis on pass rush | |
| Randy Charlton found his pass rush prowess waning with every game in the 2021 season. Filling Mississippi State's defensive end slot after Jordan Davis went down with an injury in fall camp, Charlton started off well. But as the year went on, that began to change. "I was doing alright at first, but slowly by the end, I wasn't the player I was at the beginning," Charlton said Tuesday. The senior from Goulds, Florida, said it wasn't just him: His teammates on the defensive line could have done better when it came to pass rush, too. Statistics bear that out: Last season, the Bulldogs finished 11th in the Southeastern Conference and tied for 65th nationally in sacks. It's why the defensive line's No. 1 focus this spring is getting after the quarterback, even if it's only chasing green-jerseyed Bulldogs signal-callers for now. "Every day, every meeting," nose tackle Nathan Pickering said. "That's the main thing: We've got to get better at pass rushing. If we don't get better at anything else this spring, we're getting better at pass rushing." Pickering and Charlton had four sacks apiece in 2021 for Mississippi State, which finished with 27. Tyrus Wheat led with 7.5, and fellow linebacker Nathaniel Watson had five. All four of those players return in 2022, and the Bulldogs return starting defensive linemen Jaden Crumedy and Cameron Young, too. |
| Allen Greene says he wants to remain as Auburn's AD | |
 | Allen Greene's tenure at Auburn started in January 2018 and could end in early 2023 if incoming president Dr. Chris Roberts doesn't renew his contract as athletic director. Greene hasn't said a lot publicly to connote his desire to stay. There have been reports of the former Notre Dame baseball player interviewing for various AD jobs at other universities. Is Auburn committed to Greene? Is Greene committed to Auburn? A final verdict on Greene's status can't be determined until Roberts takes the helm. But Greene recently spoke with AL.com and confirmed his desire to stay at Auburn. "I love it here. My wife loves it here. My kids love it here," Greene said. "When I got here four years ago, I remember telling a group of alumni that I've been an Auburn man my whole life. I just didn't know until I got here." Greene's department had an overall successful year, with men's basketball reaching its first number one ranking in program history. Gymnastics led by Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee is set to contend for a national championship. "The values at Auburn align with mine," Greene said. I appreciate that Auburn wants to win. But they want to excel in the classroom. They want to create Auburn men and women. That's who I am. That's why I'm excited to be here." Of course, in the SEC, you are judged most for how your football team performs, and that's the impetus behind a lot of the uncertainty around Greene's status at Auburn moving forward. Auburn football coach Bryan Harsin, Greene's most prominent hire, lost his last five games to end a disappointing first season. |
| Making Mike Honcho: How Jordan Beck became a Tennessee baseball folk hero and NIL success | |
| Jordan Beck was one of the final people to board the Tennessee baseball bus Friday. The Vols outfielder did postgame media in right field. He talked to his parents outside Vanderbilt's Hawkins Field. Then he hopped on the bus and heard the same sound playing from front to back. His teammates were watching clips of coach Tony Vitello's in-game interview in which he referred to Beck as "Mike Honcho." "Somebody came up to me and was like, 'Did you see this?'" Beck said. "I just pulled out my phone. I thought it was hilarious ... "I didn't think it was going to turn into what it has." Beck gained folk hero status instantly during Tennessee's sweep at Vanderbilt when he accepted the "Mike Honcho" title that his coach bestowed upon him in jest. More than 3,000 shirts playing off the nickname were sold in 48 hours at VolShop and Alumni Hall through Spyre Sports. Back Door Tavern in west Knoxville put "Mike Honcho drinks 4 free" on its pylon sign Thursday among other baseball-themed messages. "I think this can happen to anyone and could be anyone at any time," Beck said. "You just have to embrace the role and accept it. You have to have fun with it." The fun stemmed from a decidedly not fun moment for No. 1 Tennessee (28-1, 9-0 SEC), which hosts Missouri (18-8, 3-6) in a series starting Friday. Beck homered on the first pitch he saw at Vanderbilt. He was called out for using an unapproved bat after umpires reviewed it and deemed it lacked the sticker indicated it was tested and cleared for use in the game. |
| As Kansas celebrates victory, a years-long NCAA investigation hangs over the school | |
 | The Kansas Jayhawks just hoisted the National Championship trophy above their heads, but that excitement could be short-lived as an NCAA investigation into corruption in college basketball may be near its conclusion. The University of Kansas was included in a list of schools as part of a 2017 FBI case alleging bribes were paid to lure top recruits to elite programs. And payments were made to coaches so they would steer young players toward financial and business advisers, according to then U.S. Attorney Joon Kim of the Southern District of New York. "Coaches at some of the nation's top programs soliciting and accepting cash bribes; managers and financial advisers circling blue-chip prospects like coyotes; and employees of one of the world's largest sportswear companies secretly funneling cash to the families of high school recruits," Kim said in 2017. The FBI's investigation led the NCAA to allege five Level I violations -- which represent a severe breach of conduct -- against the Kansas men's basketball program in September 2019, including head coach Bill Self and assistant Kurtis Townsend. The allegations centered around payments made by representatives of Adidas, the school's apparel sponsor, to prospective KU recruits. Kansas has vigorously defended the program and both of its coaches, spending more than $3 million defending itself against the NCAA violations, KCUR reported. |
| How MLB's younger set factored into the dispute between owners and players | |
| The Major League Baseball season gets underway later today, which will be a relief for fans. For 99 days, the owners locked the players out while the two sides negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement. They finally reached an agreement on March 10. One of the main sticking points was over how long players had to wait before they become eligible for salary arbitration. Despite the backdrop of people getting paid to play a game, this is a labor story. "It's about paying people who are providing what's exciting about the sport. And what's exciting about the sport, are the young stars who emerge out of nowhere," said Michael LeRoy, who teaches labor law at the University of Illinois. Teams don't have to pay them more than the league minimum salary until they become eligible for arbitration -- which usually takes at least three seasons. Former MLB executive Marty Conway said teams are using data analytics to pay the least amount for the most talent. "Owners and general managers could look at players almost as a blind resume and say, 'If I'm getting the same or better production from a player who's less than three years, that I don't have to pay into the tens of millions of dollars, I'm just going to do that," Conway said. Conway said as a result, average player salaries have decreased while the number of younger players has increased. |
| Braves to sell $151 burger at Truist Park with option to buy World Series ring for $25,000 | |
 | The Atlanta Braves are the defending World Series champions and on Opening Day of the 2022 season at Truist Park are unveiling a burger worth $151 to celebrate. The half-pound waygu beef burger, called "The World Champions Burger," is served on a toasted, Irish-buttered brioche bun. The other toppings are pan-fried eggs, gold-leaf-wrapped Hudson Valley foie gras, grilled cold water lobster tail, heirloom tomato, garden-fresh Bibb lettuce, Tillamook cheddar cheese and truffle aioli. Parmesan waffle fries are served on the side. The $151 price tag is in honor of the Braves' 151st year of existence, going back to their 1871 start as the Boston Red Stockings. A replica World Series championship ring comes with the burger. A limited-edition original ring is also available -- for $25,000. |
| Appearing This Year at the Masters: Azaleas, Green Jackets and Inflation | |
| The lush confines of Augusta National Golf Club, a sanctuary of sport, power and privilege, are showing a harsh economic truth: Inflation can be as invasive as kudzu weeds. There may be no athletic event in the United States that has been more defiantly immune to the outside forces of economics, politics and modernity than the Masters Tournament. But two aggravations of the present -- inflation and supply-chain pressures -- are encroaching at concession stands that have long sold sandwiches and sweets to the well-heeled for rock-bottom prices. Measured merely in dollars and cents, the changes are hardly seismic, especially for spectators who routinely pay thousands for tickets on the secondary market. Ham and cheese on rye, for example, has gone from $2.50 last year to $3 now, while the price of a chicken biscuit has increased by 50 cents, to $2. Augusta National is a place, though, where shifts on much of anything are so scarce that they attract attention. Now, in addition to being the first major showcase of the golf season, the Masters is an example of how inflation, running at nearly 8 percent nationwide through February, is trickling into corners of American life that traditionally tilt toward the economically obdurate. "The change in the price of concessions at Augusta is a little like the dollar store being the dollar-and-a-quarter store," said Lawrence H. Summers, the former Treasury secretary (and a self-described "very enthusiastic and very bad golfer") and among the first prominent figures to warn about this surge of inflation, which he characterized in an interview as "strong enough to break even longstanding traditions." |
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