| Thursday, April 14, 2022 |
| New apiary creating buzz at MSU | |
 | Bees play a part in every aspect of the ecosystem with beekeeping being a hobby or full-time career for some Mississippians. To bring awareness to the importance of bees and offer beekeeping classes and workshops, Mississippi State University constructed a new apiary. This apiary, which will officially open in a few weeks, will be housed at the Clay Lyle Entomology Complex as a partnership between MSU Extension Service and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. MAFES researcher Priya Chakrabarti Basu, who will be the primary teacher for beekeeping classes, said it will enhance bee research and teaching activities, while giving bees a permanent home at MSU. "This apiary is geared toward having our own base at Mississippi State University so that we can more easily, safely and conveniently train and teach people about bees while doing research," Basu said. MSU has always had bees at the entomology complex but not in this capacity. Audrey Sheridan, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology Apiculture Extension and MAFES research associate, said having the bees out in the open and unprotected caused two problems for the bees -- vandalism of the beehives and no visual barrier between the bees and the public. With the help of Extension bee specialist Jeff Harris and MSU Delta Research and Extension Center Head Jeff Gore, Basu and Sheridan worked diligently over the last four months to make their dream of an on-site bee apiary a reality. The 768-square foot permanent fixture with at least 12 hives will give people a place to observe bees in a safe environment, Basu said. |
| ACCESS expands skill training program for high school students with disabilities | |
| Greg Carlyle's son Andrew was born with a heart disorder, leading to surgery which caused a stroke and resulted in Andrew having an intellectual disability. Throughout the first 20 years of his life, Andrew had a neurologist who encouraged him to be positive and to see what life has in store. "Every time we went to her and asked questions ... she always just said, 'Let's see what happens,'" Carlyle said. "That has been our mindset going through middle school, high school and the ACCESS program at Mississippi State. Let's see what will happen, and great things happened." Andrew participated in Mississippi State University's ACCESS program, an inclusive program for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities, something Carlyle cites as what prepared his son for a life in the professional world. After more than a decade of offering an on-campus program and nearly a year after launching ACCESS Online, the program is expanding to high school students through online enrichment courses. ACCESS Online now is open to any student, age 14 or older, regardless of their academic level or disability. Among the first of its kind, ACCESS Online provides students with an online platform to learn career preparation and money management skills, ACCESS Academic Coordinator Stacy Jackson said. "With our on-campus program, students have to meet some level of independence and meet certain qualifications to be interviewed and accepted," Jackson said. "For these online classes, it's more broad and anyone is able to register and enroll. It gives more opportunities to students." |
| MSU offers residential, day conservation camps | |
 | Two conservation camps this summer offer students in grades six through 12 the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in wildlife science, outdoor recreation and conservation careers. Conservation Camp 2022 has a residential edition June 5-8 for rising eighth through 12th graders. The day camp edition is June 13-15 for rising sixth through eighth graders. The residential camp costs $325 per student, and the day camp is $75 per student. Both camps are offered by the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service and the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture in the MSU College of Forest Resources. Registration fees cover all on-site transportation costs, on-site food and activities. The fee covers lodging at MSU for the residential camp as well. |
| Supply chain disruptions linger for beef industry | |
| Two years have passed since the first cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the United States, but problems the virus caused in the country's grocery supply chain could remain well into 2022, which will likely mean higher beef prices for consumers. Josh Maples, an agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said labor reductions caused beef shortages, which have increased the price of this commodity across the country. "Meat supply chains are complex, feature many stages and decisions, and include long production lags," Maples said. "The animal supply chain starts when the decision to produce that animal is made and ends when the meat is eaten by the consumer. A lot occurs between those two points, and disruptions can vary depending on which stage of the supply chain is impacted and also how severe it is." For Ethan Welford, a meat processor based in Lucedale, the first signs of disruption in his industry came in June 2020, when meat packing houses in the Midwest temporarily closed or reduced the number of employees on each shift. Since then, meat processing has moved closer to prepandemic staffing levels, but demand continues to outpace manpower and distribution, leading to higher prices at stores. “Labor at meat processing plants was a challenge even prior to the pandemic,” Maples said. “Broader labor challenges seem unlikely to end anytime in the short term. Most sectors are still struggling to find workers, and that is certainly true for meat processing and transportation. The severity of the labor challenges at any time may be impacted by surges or declines in the pandemic.” |
| National Academy of Inventors Opens New MSU Chapter; MSU Hosting Marc E. Bassy | |
 | The National Academy of Inventors recently announced that it is establishing a new chapter at Mississippi State University. NAI is a non-profit organization created to support aspiring inventors in academics. Founded in 2010, the NAI educates and mentors students and enhances the visibility of academic technology and innovation. MSU's chapter is part of a collaboration with the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering, its Department of Mechanical Engineering and the iDEELab, an educational resource for engineering students. ... Music Maker Productions at Mississippi State University will host San Francisco singer/songwriter Marc E. Bassy at the Old Main Music Festival on Friday, April 22, at the MSU Amphitheater. Bassy is a former vocalist for the Los Angeles-based pop band 2AM Club. Works from his solo career include the 2014 mixtape "Only the Poets," a 2015 release titled "East Hollywood" and the 2016 EP "Groovy People," which includes the single "You & Me" featuring G-Eazy. The Old Main Music Festival is free and open to the public. |
| For churches hit by disaster, Easter brings promise of hope | |
 | Easter's message of renewal will be especially poignant this year for four U.S. congregations rebounding from disasters. Their churches were destroyed by a tornado in Kentucky, gutted by a blaze in New York City, shattered when Hurricane Ida hit the Louisiana coast, and filled with smoke and ash by the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history. For the pastors, Easter's promise of hope couldn't be more timely as their resilient congregations come to terms with what happened and prepare for what's next. The windows at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic church were blown out, and its ceiling, sacristy and vestibule crumbled after Hurricane Ida blasted ashore in August, hitting the small fishing community of Point-aux-Chenes, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southwest of New Orleans. Since then, its pastor, the Rev. Rajasekar Karumelnathan, has celebrated Mass in the rectory and under a tent set up in the church's parking lot. Attendance dwindled after the storm: from about 80 people who used to attend Sunday services to about 15 worshipers now. Celebrating Christmas under the ruins was especially emotional for the congregation, the pastor said. But he expects a different, lighter mood for their first post-Ida Easter service, which promises believers eternal life. "We have lots of hope. We hope that we can reclaim all that we've lost," he said. "Easter strengthens us." |
| Inaugural Mississippi Makers' Challenge winner announced after more than 130,000 votes cast | |
| A different kind of bracket challenge drawing in more than 130,000 votes to find the Coolest Thing Made in Mississippi. The Mississippi Manufacturers Association is hopeful the Makers' Challenge will shine a spotlight on what's being produced right here in the Magnolia State. The winner is Taylor Power Systems' TM 1000 that's made in Clinton. It's a container-based portable generator. "The original concept of the product was for disaster relief... hurricanes, freezes... power goes out in a strategic area or certainly in a geographic area," explained Lex Taylor, Chairman and CEO of the Taylor Group. "These units go in and help power hospitals, nursing homes, Costcos, Walmarts, whatever." They're large -- semi truck sized. But with a push toward more electric vehicles and equipment, there's another use they expect for the relatively new product. "There's not enough infrastructure right now to charge a group of products in a construction site," described Taylor. "Perfect for bringing on-site and charging the electric vehicles, the loaders, the excavators, the trucks, whatever, and keeping that project going." |
| CREATE Foundation announces staff changes, new member | |
 | The CREATE Foundation has announced a series of staffing changes that will help the community foundation further its goal of improving life for Northeast Mississippians. Mike Clayborne, President of the CREATE Foundation, announced the staff changes on April 13. Effective July 1, CREATE Senior Vice President Lewis Whitfield will assume a new role as senior consultant. In his new role, Whitfield will continue to work in regional community development by providing support to the Commission on the Future of Northeast Mississippi and other initiatives at CREATE. Whitfield isn't the only CREATE staff member taking on a new role: Kristy Luse, vice president for the Toyota Wellspring Fund at CREATE, will assume additional responsibilities as the coordinating staff member for Regional Impact, one of the three pillars in CREATE's strategic plan. Finally, the CREATE Foundation has also hired GT McCullough as director of Regional Impact, effective May 2. McCullough will be the lead staff member for the Commission on the Future of Northeast Mississippi and will work to implement CREATE's Community of Excellence Program. McCullough has worked with The Alliance in Corinth for the past five years. He currently serves as Director of Business Development and has provided staff leadership for Corinth Beautiful. |
| Eudora Welty letters released 2 decades after author's death | |
| The Mississippi Department of Archives and History is allowing the public to have access to additional papers from the late author Eudora Welty, including letters written by members of her family. The release came Wednesday on the 113th anniversary of Welty's birth. She died July 23, 2001. According to her will, the family correspondence was to remain private for 20 years after her death. Welty, who lived most of her life in Jackson, was known for the lyrical quality of her short stories and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1973 for her short novel, "The Optimist's Daughter," published in 1972. While establishing herself as a writer, Welty photographed scenes of everyday life in Mississippi during the Great Depression for the Works Progress Administration. Welty's niece, Mary Alice White, said in a news release from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History that the newly released letters begin with the courtship of Welty's parents. White said they also include Welty's correspondence with relatives and papers and letters from others in the family. The Eudora Welty Collection was established in 1957, when she donated manuscripts, photographs and correspondence to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. |
| State to allocate $500K to museum | |
| The recent appropriation of $500,000 in new monies to Marty Stuart's Congress of Country Music project is a good indication of the support it has in the state Legislature, Rep. C. Scott Bounds said. "That was not an 'ask' that was put in by myself or Senator (Jenifer) Branning," Bounds said. "It was dollars that the leadership of the Legislature put in. It will help toward the ultimate goal of completing the renovation work at the Ellis." Stuart, a native of Philadelphia, put on An Evening With Marty Stuart's Congress of Country Music gala in Jackson last month. Members of the Legislature, including Lt. Gov. Philip Gunn, attended and expressed support for the project. Bounds said that probably didn't hurt. "I think so. Here again, the Legislature has been receptive to what is happening up here," Bounds said. "This was some additional money we were able to put into it." Located on the south corner of Byrd Avenue and Main Street, when completed, the Congress of Country Music will feature a renovated Ellis Theater along with a museum to display Stuart's 20,000-plus piece collection of country music memorabilia. There will also be classrooms, a community hall, event space and a rooftop performance venue. "That is $500,000 that will go toward the completion of the Ellis Theater," said Senator Branning. "If their resources in Phase I are adequate, then they can roll it into to Phase II." |
| Gov. Reeves signs bill creating new broadband development office | |
| Gov. Tate Reeves on Wednesday signed a bill into law that will create a new statewide office for broadband internet development. House Bill 1029 establishes the Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi office (BEAM), which would be tasked with managing hundreds of millions of federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act. Reeves has appointed former state Sen. Sally Doty to run the office. U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Tupelo, attended the bill signing ceremony and called the state legislation a "quantum leap" that would connect more Mississippians to quality internet service. Wicker voted against the ARPA bill in Congress but voted in favor of the infrastructure bill. "Broadband connectivity is the rural electrification of the 21st century," Wicker said. "My team will work diligently to establish a plan to reach unserved areas and to leverage federal funds to reach underserved areas across the state at speeds that will allow all Mississippians to participate in this digital economy that we're a part of now," Doty said. Doty said she intends to start leading the BEAM office in June, which would mean the Public Service Commission and the governor would have to fill her vacancy in the coming months. |
| Mississippi to open new office of broadband expansion | |
 | Mississippi will soon launch a new broadband office as part of an effort to help connect underserved communities with high-speed internet. Governor Tate Reeves has signed a bill that establishes the Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi, which will serve under the Department of Finance and Administration. Governor Reeves says there are many rural areas in the state that do not have internet, have slow speeds, or have high costs that prevent Mississippians from accessing the internet. "200 years ago, people in America moved near rivers and waterways, 100 years ago people in America moved to where the train tracks were. Today in America, people are moving to where there is connectivity," says Reeves. "For us to be competitive in economic development, we've got to have more and more connectivity and ensure reliability of connectivity in our rural areas." This law does not have any funding directly tied to it, however the state has allocated around $162 million to fund broadband expansion. Sally Doty, who currently serves as the Executive Director for Public Utilities Staff, has been appointed to become the Director for this new department. She says in today's standards, access to the internet is essential. "Telehealth. I cared for my elderly parents for a long time, and the ability to not have to load my mother in a wheelchair in a handicap van, but to have a telehealth appointment, it is a game changer," says Doty. "And then in education, our kids, they can't do their homework. They can't access different resources. So it's just, I think, transformational." |
| Reeves signs bill creating Mississippi broadband office, appoints Sally Doty to run it | |
| Gov. Tate Reeves on Wednesday signed into law the "Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi Act" and appointed former state senator and current Public Utilities Staff Director Sally Doty to run the new BEAM office. The new office will direct hundreds of millions in federal dollars to expand broadband internet access across Mississippi, where some have estimated 40% of the state lacks access. The effort has been likened to providing electricity to rural Mississippi in the 1930s. "It is my strong belief that one's zip code should not limit access to these technologies," Reeves said as he signed House Bill 1029 into law and announced Doty's appointment. "... Mississippi needs someone who gets up every single day and asks, 'What can we do to improve and increase access to broadband for our entire state." The new BEAM office, under the state Department of Finance and Administration, will take applications from internet providers and dole out $162 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act money earmarked for broadband expansion projects. Mississippi also is expected to receive from $500 million to $1.1 billion for broadband expansion from the infrastructure bill Congress passed late last year. Doty, as public utilities staff director appointed by Reeves in 2020, has already been helping oversee broadband expansion work in Mississippi. |
| In Several States, Teachers Get Their Biggest Raise in Decades | |
 | After rocky teacher shortages that saw classrooms led by police officers, the National Guard and even a governor, a small but growing number of states are approving significant pay raises for teachers. Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi signed off on the largest pay raise for the state's teachers in decades: an average increase of $5,100 that will raise salaries by more than 10 percent. For Suzanne Smith, a math and social studies teacher in Grenada, Miss., the $5,100 salary jump has not sunk in yet -- it is the largest one she has seen in the more than three decades she has spent in this field. The average salary for a Mississippi schoolteacher is $46,843, according to the National Education Association, the lowest in the nation. Throughout Ms. Smith's entire teaching tenure, she said, she and other teachers in her district have worked several jobs to supplement their income. She has worked at a day care center, hotels and a sporting goods store. Ms. Smith is not sure what she plans to do with her $5,100 salary boost, but she has a few ideas. Her car is sputtering, so she may use the money to buy a new one. And there is always the option of spoiling her grandchildren. "I think it means more now, not just because it's financial but because of the timing of it on the tail end of the pandemic," she said. "This is that little extra boost. That's our pat on the back to go on, and keep pushing forward. Because the past couple years have been really difficult." |
| Mississippi gov again proclaims Confederate Heritage Month | |
| Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves is defending his decision to again name April as Confederate Heritage Month, nearly two years after he signed a law retiring the last state flag in the U.S. that featured a Confederate battle emblem. The Republican governor signed a proclamation without fanfare Friday. It does not mention slavery -- the defense of which was Mississippi's stated reason for trying to secede from the U.S. In response to a question at a news conference Wednesday, Reeves said he issued a Confederate Heritage Month proclamation "in the same manner and fashion that the five governors that came before me, Republicans and Democrats alike, for over 30 years have done." "And we did it again this year," Reeves said. "Didn't think this was the year to stop doing it." Four governors before Reeves -- not five -- issued Confederate Heritage Month proclamations. By state law, Mississippi also has a Confederate Heritage Day in April, which is a holiday for state employees. Mississippi has taken steps in recent years to distance itself from symbols of the Confederacy, including removing some monuments, with critics saying the images glorify racism in a state where nearly 40% of residents are Black. |
| Biden approval ratings decline most among younger generations: Gallup | |
 | President Biden's approval rating among younger generations of Americans has declined, according to a new Gallup poll released Thursday. The new poll found that Biden's approval rating among Millennials and Generation Z respondents had dropped nearly 20 points since the beginning of his presidency. Thirty-nine percent of Generation Z respondents said they approve of the job Biden has done as president, a 21-point decline from 60 percent of respondents who approved of Biden's handling of the job when he first took office. Forty-one percent of Millennials respondents said they approve of Biden's job as president, a 19-point decline from 60 percent of respondents who approved of his job as president through the months of January and June 2021, his first months in the White House. Along party lines, 30 percent of Generation Z respondents who identify as Democrats said they approve of Biden's job as president, while 52 percent of independents and 18 percent of Republicans who surveyed agreed, according to the poll. Twenty-seven percent of Millennial respondents who identify as Democrats approve of the job Biden has done as president, while 53 percent of independents and 20 percent of Republicans who surveyed also approve of Biden's job as president. There was also a difference based on respondents' education. Forty-seven percent of those who are college-educated said they approve of the job Biden has done as president, while 37 percent of respondents who have high school/GED degrees or less agree, the poll said. |
| Inflation, China competition bill will headline Biden's stop in battleground North Carolina | |
 | President Joe Biden will continue his travels to promote efforts to combat inflation with a visit to Greensboro, N.C., on Thursday to urge congressional action to finalize work on a bipartisan competitiveness bill as Democrats seek to hold both chambers of Congress. The president plans to tour the Harold L. Martin Sr. engineering research and innovation complex at North Carolina A&T State University, a historically Black institution. "Throughout his visit, the president will highlight the domestic manufacturing strategy and regional investments in areas such as advanced manufacturing and clean technology. He will discuss how Greensboro's economy and educational institutions are reinventing themselves for ... 21st-century industries and will benefit from the package of the Bipartisan Innovation Act," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday. Congress is convening a rare formal conference committee to work out differences in House- and Senate-passed versions of the sprawling legislation, which has gone by various names in both chambers over the past year. Among the objectives are improving supply chains for essential products and better competing with China in technological innovation. Biden's trip to the state comes after a High Point University poll released last week showed a 35 percent approval rating in the state, with 53 percent of North Carolinians saying they disapprove of his job performance. |
| Federal agencies are trying new ways to ease the burden of medical debt | |
 | Vice President Kamala Harris this week announced the federal government is taking several new measures to help people affected by medical debt. Joined by cabinet members and other federal officials at the White House, Harris spoke about the stress and fear of medical debt. So many people have been "rushed to the hospital because their appendix burst or because they took a nasty fall and who are still paying off the bill years later," Harris said in remarks at the White House. "Parents who have sat in a hospital parking lot, afraid to bring their child through those sliding glass doors of the emergency room because they knew if they walk through those sliding glass doors, they may be out thousands of dollars that they don't have." The administration's new actions could help ease the burden of medical debts that Americans already have -- they do less to prevent Americans from being saddled with high medical bills they can't pay in the first place, says Jenifer Bosco, a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, a nonprofit organization that advocates for economic security for low income people. Bosco's organization has been working to fight "abusive and aggressive" medical debt collection for some time. |
| The Secret of Ukraine's Military Success: Years of NATO Training | |
 | When Ukrainian National Guard Lt. Andriy Kulish ambushes Russian forces, he thanks the Canadian army. The Canadians trained Lt. Kulish's Rapid Response Brigade last summer in urban warfare, field tactics and battlefield medicine. The exercise in western Ukraine was one of the many in recent years with troops from Canada, the U.K., Romania and the California National Guard. This was just one piece of a little-publicized effort by countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization that transformed Ukraine's military up and down the ranks, from foot soldiers to the defense ministry to overseers in parliament. It is one big reason why Ukraine's nimble fighting force has surprised the world by fending off a much larger and better-equipped invading army, say Ukrainians and their Western advisers. Through classes, drills and exercises involving at least 10,000 troops annually for more than eight years, NATO and its members helped the embattled country shift from rigid Soviet-style command structures to Western standards where soldiers are taught to think on the move. In confounding Russian invaders today, Lt. Kulish says his comrades-in-arms "are definitely using procedures they learned during the training with NATO." The Western assistance, while never secret, wasn't trumpeted to avoid riling Russia. It also remained low-key because it was a valuable source of intelligence for the U.S. and its allies. |
| South Korea must step up, become stronger ally to U.S., president-elect says | |
 | South Korea in recent years has been a passive player on the global stage even as its economic and cultural influence ballooned, wary of aggressive neighbors North Korea and China. The country's incoming conservative president vows to change that. South Korea must step up its foreign policy commensurate to its economic and cultural status and become a stronger ally to the United States, he told The Washington Post in his first interview as president-elect. "We should not only focus on relations with North Korea, but rather expand the breadth of diplomacy in the [European Union] and throughout Asia with the South Korea-U.S. relationship as our foundation," Yoon Suk-yeol said Thursday. "We should take on a greater role in fulfilling our responsibility as one of the top 10 economies in the world." Yoon now joins a growing cadre of leaders throughout the Asia-Pacific who are abandoning conciliatory stances in defense of their countries and tightening alliances to counter China. He aspires to make South Korea a critical player in addressing global challenges -- including supply chain management, climate change and vaccine production -- moving away from a singular focus on North Korea and calibrating policy around it. The question is how effective he can be in this goal. On May 10, Yoon is set to become the president of the world's 10th-largest economy, although he has no policy or governing experience and was elected last month with the narrowest margin in the nation's democratic history. He now faces the test of rallying the opposition-controlled parliament and a divided nation weary of income inequality, soaring housing prices and empty promises of hope. |
| Mississippi needs hundreds of doctors. This scholarship program is 'growing our own physicians.' | |
| When Dr. Jonathan Buchanan moved home to practice family medicine in Carthage in 2017, he was the first physician to come back to Leake County in 26 years. Many residents had avoided going to the doctor unless it was "dire straits," Buchanan said. They drove to Jackson or Meridian if they had to. Elderly patients would pay for someone else to take them. The community was glad to see him. "It was absolutely an amazing welcome," he said. "My parents still live there, like a lot of people I grew up with, who raised me or taught me, those kinds of things. To be gone for a while for college, medical school, residency, and then come back, it was very exciting." Buchanan is one of the 55 practicing alumni of the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program. The scholarship launched with 10 awardees in 2008, aiming to tackle the state's shortage of medical providers, one rural doctor at a time. Just shy of 90% of program alumni who have completed their service requirement are still practicing in Mississippi. And the scholarship is still ramping up. Behind the 55 alumni are 64 people in residency, 64 in medical school, and 67 still completing their bachelor's degrees. |
| UMMC plans Ridgeland location | |
| The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) has planned a new location in Ridgeland for education and multidisciplinary purposes. The facility will be located on 36.3429 acres north of Colony Park Boulevard and west of I-55. Ridgeland's Director of Public Works Alan Hart said they have not received any submittal regarding the project at this time, but there is an idea as to what the main purpose of the facility will be. "I anticipate that they will propose an Ambulatory Care Center and some Medical Office Building(s)," Hart said. In UMMC's application for the project to the Mississippi State Department of Health, UMMC proposes a 67,500 square-foot multi-disciplinary, educational campus. The total capital expenditure is expected to be $64,438,800, according to the application. While Hart doesn't have information regarding the timeline of the project, he does know what some benefits for the city will be. With UMMC choosing Ridgeland for this location, it will provide medical services to the city and provide economic development. Hart said they don't have many details about this project yet, but they anticipate a submittal soon. UMMC's Assistant Director of Communications Ruth Cummins said nothing is finalized yet, so they are not talking about the project at this time. |
| JSU Commencement Speakers | |
| Jackson State University recently announced two speakers who will hold presentations during the university's 2022 commencement exercises. Thasunda Brown Duckett, president and chief executive officer of the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association, will serve as the speaker for the graduate student ceremony on Friday, April 29, at 9 a.m. TIAA is a Fortune 100 provider of secure retirements and outcome-focused investment solutions to people working in higher education, healthcare and other mission-driven organizations. Homer Wilkes, under secretary of agriculture for the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment, will serve as the speaker for the undergraduate student ceremony on Saturday, April 30 at 9 a.m. During his tenure, Wilkes has served as state conservationist for Mississippi, chief financial officer for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Washington, D.C. and as deputy state conservationist for Mississippi. The commencement ceremony will be a non-ticketed event. There will be no processional for graduates, and seating for graduates will be spaced out. |
| Vicksburg Mayor recognized by Jackson State University | |
| Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. was one of several Jackson State University alumni recognized Saturday for his continued dedication and contribution to JSU during "A Night of Champions" at the 5th annual Blue Tie Gala. Other notable JSU Legends recognized at the gala included Robert Brazile, Walter Payton, Robert Walker, Dr. John A. Peoples and others. "I am humbled to be among the great people celebrated at this event. I look forward to seeing the positive impact that JSU will have on the students at the university," Flaggs said. The Blue Tie Gala honored the commitment of alumni and partners who make a difference in the lives of students who need financial support. JSU successfully raised more than $1 million for its scholarship fund and established long-term partnerships that will provide students with internships and job opportunities. |
| Mission trip leads Ford to plumbing | |
| Patton Ford said a sign advertising plumbing classes at Hinds Community College in Pearl locked in his decision to pursue his plumbing career after discovering his love for the trade during a mission trip to Haiti. Ford began his plumbing journey after graduating from Ole Miss in 2013 and returning from his mission trip. While in Haiti, he met Mike and Jann Kenney from Quality Plumbing in Jackson, who sold him on the idea of becoming a plumber. Now, almost 10 years later, Ford has a successful company in Ridgeland on North Wheatly Street called Ford Plumbing and Gas, a residential service repair business that works on fixing things like leaky faucets and clogged drains. "After I graduated from Ole Miss, I planned on going to law school," Ford said. "At the time, I had a liquor store job that I wasn't excited about, but it was paying the bills. During that time, I went to Haiti and was there around 3 months." During his time in Haiti, Ford discovered through Mike and Jann Kenney, who were there with the same mission organization as he was. They told him there was a lack of people going into the plumbing trade, and that got his attention. This discovery changed his life. Instead of becoming a lawyer, he chose to become a plumber. "I was struggling with the idea, and I wondered if this was something I wanted to do," Ford said. "I was out in Pearl around six years ago, and I passed the Hinds campus there. A sign was flashing saying to sign up for plumbing classes. I felt the Lord took me down Interstate 20 so I could see that sign. It was a very decisive sign for me." |
| Talk of race, sex in schools divides Americans: AP-NORC poll | |
| Americans are deeply divided over how much children in K-12 schools should be taught about racism and sexuality, according to a new poll released as Republicans across the country aim to make parental involvement in education a central campaign theme this election year. Overall, Americans lean slightly toward expanding -- not cutting back -- discussions of racism and sexuality, but roughly 4 in 10 say the current approach is about right, including similar percentages across party lines. Still, the poll from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows stark differences between Republicans and Democrats who want to see schools make adjustments. About 4 in 10 Republicans say teachers in local public schools discuss issues related to sexuality too much, while only about 1 in 10 say too little. Among Democrats, those numbers are reversed. The findings reflect a sharply politicized national debate that has consumed local school boards and, increasingly, state capitols. Republicans see the fight over school curriculum as a winning culture war issue that will motivate their voters in the midterm elections. In the meantime, a flurry of new state laws has been introduced, meant to curtail teaching about racism and sexuality and to establish a "parents' bill of rights" that would champion curriculum transparency and allow parents to file complaints against teachers. |
| Habitat for Humanity home to honor memory of U. of Alabama graduate | |
 | While he was a student at the University of Alabama, Daniel Nielsen participated in the building of 17 Habitat for Humanity homes and helped raise more than $200,000 for the nonprofit group. Now efforts are underway to fund the building a Habitat home in Tuscaloosa in memory of Nielsen, who died in November 2021 at the age of 24. Gabi Gevers, a UA graduate student, says this will be a fitting memorial for "truly an outstanding young man" who earned two academic degrees in his five years at the Capstone. "He was so dedicated to Tuscaloosa and to helping those in his community. And so, the best way that we can give back to him is to help him continue to help the Tuscaloosa community," Gevers said. The goal is to raise $100,000 for the building of a Habitat home in Nielsen's name. To kick that effort off, Gevers and fellow student John Pelham have organized the Dan Nielsen Memorial Fundraiser. Gevers said she hopes people will have fun at the event, which will highlight Nielsen's dedication and his support for Habitat's mission of building affordable homes for families in need. Nielsen served with UA's Habitat for Humanity chapter from 2016 to 2019, first as the chapter's treasurer and then as president. |
| Georgia officials blame supply chain woes for rising college project costs | |
| Georgia's Board of Regents on Wednesday agreed to multimillion dollar budget increases for several construction projects, which officials blamed on global supply chain issues. The budget for one project, a venue for sports and other events at Georgia Gwinnett College, rose from $42.3 million to $48.3 million. The budget for another project, an events center at Georgia Southern University, went up from about $58.7 million to more than $64.4 million. Augusta University got approval to increase the total budget for its College of Science and Math Building from $10 million to nearly $15.5 million. Costs for construction materials has increased significantly in the past year, an impact of the coronavirus pandemic. There's a shortage of workers in some construction fields, which has slowed the time to transport materials worldwide. The rising costs have been an ongoing concern, University System of Georgia leaders say. Former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, who this month became chancellor of the state's public university system, said after Wednesday's vote his office would look at ways to better budget construction costs. "We need to design well. We need to manage those projects well. We need to be good stewards of those projects," he said. |
| U. of Missouri retirees unhappy about plan to remove option for future increases in pension plan | |
 | A plan to remove the ability of the University of Missouri System Board of Curators to give retirees cost-of-living adjustments in the future was a hot topic Wednesday at the Spring General Faculty Meeting. The meeting was in Stotler Lounge at Memorial Union. The MU Retirees Association wrote a letter April 2 to Darryl Chatman, chairman of the board, and other board members complaining about the plan. At issue is a planned change to the Collected Rules and Regulations that retirees describe as the unnecessary removal of a discretionary tool. The change would prevent the Board of Curators from approving future cost-of-living adjustments that the current regulations allow. The association recommends the board vote against a paragraph that reads: "Given the magnitude of the plan's liabilities and the additional risks inherent in managing a closed plan, under no circumstances shall plan benefits be increased above levels in place at the time of this policy's adoption." The letter also has the endorsement of the MU Faculty Council. "Why are we removing a tool that hasn't been used since 2007?" said faculty member Rabia Gregory, citing the year of the most recent cost-of-living increase. Calling it an "unearned benefit, MU Chief Financial Officer Ryan Rapp said the administration wanted to be clear about the change. |
| U. of Missouri alumna and professor land nominations for Peabody Awards | |
 | The board of jurors for the 2022 Peabody Awards announced its list of nominations, and among the 60 nominees were the University of Missouri filmmaker-in-chief and an alumna. Robert Greene, associate professor of documentary journalism, landed a nomination for his 2021 film "Procession," and MU grad and St. Louis native Eva Reign received a nomination for her work in VICE News series "Transnational." "Procession" documents the stories of six survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests. The film was released on Netflix in Nov. 2021 and included MU students as production and camera assistants. As filmmaker-in-chief for the MU Murray Center, Greene plays a central role in the program's hands-on approach to teaching students. "I have the distinction of being, in the journalism school, the only person with a creative appointment, so literally part of my job in the journalism school is to make films, which is a cool place to be," Greene said. The film has been nominated for 23 awards so far and won three, according to IMDb. It was shortlisted for the 2021 Academy Awards in the documentary feature category. "This arresting and unusual film by Robert Greene demonstrates the healing power of art and friendship ..." the Peabody Awards said in a news release Wednesday. |
| Drag show at Clemson infuriates College Republicans | |
 | Clemson University's College Republicans condemned a drag show staged Saturday as part of LGBTQ+ pride week celebrations, prompting outrage among students and a tepid response from the administration. On Sunday, the Clemson College Republicans posted an "official statement" on Instagram, describing the annual drag show as "chock-full of sexual degeneracy that spits in the face of the Christian population" attending Clemson. "Many of the event's participants promote transgenderism and other deviant forms of sexual licentiousness," it continued. The post earned a swift backlash from students. More than 6,000 people left comments, most of them angry. Students also started a Change.org petition to get the College Republicans banned from campus. In a message to students, Christopher Miller, vice president and dean of students, wrote, "There have been comments regarding events in the past year, most recently surrounding Pride Week, which could be deemed as inflammatory or hostile ... We are a collective group of unique individuals worthy of care and consideration and I encourage us all to be thoughtful in our interactions with each other that could be deemed hateful and disrespectful to one's particular viewpoint." |
| Va. fraternities, other college groups required to get hazing training after VCU student death | |
| All fraternity and sorority members in Virginia will now receive mandatory training on hazing after Gov. Glenn Younkin signed Adam's Law. The measure is named after a student who died at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2021. "He was just a lovable teddy bear," said Courtney White of her cousin. "I mean, he was the sweetest thing that you could ever imagine. He loved and cared about everyone and took care of everybody." Adam Oakes, of Sterling, was a student at VCU and had just joined a fraternity there. On Feb. 26, 2021, he took part in a "big brother" ritual where he was told to drink excessively including an entire handle of Jack Daniels. Oakes died of alcohol poisoning sometime during the night, and emergency services finally got a call from one of his friends who went to check on him. Adam's parents, White and other family members pushed for an investigation into the incident and have seen numerous members of the fraternity charged for hazing and supplying alcohol to minors. Adam's Law passed both chambers in the Virginia legislature earlier this year and received Youngkin's signature Monday. Starting in the fall, every member of a college student organization will get training on hazing and alcohol poisoning. In addition to training, it would also require all student organizations to publish hazing violations clearly on their websites, as well as grant immunity to any bystander that calls 911. |
| Taylor Swift fans desperately seek NYU commencement tickets | |
| Within hours of New York University's March 28 announcement that Taylor Swift would be this year's commencement speaker, senior Sean Nesmith started receiving direct messages asking for his price for a graduation ticket. "I just got DMs from people who found me from an NYU Facebook group -- which I thought those groups were closed," said Nesmith, an international relations and public policy student. "People have been messaging me asking how much for me to sell my tickets." Swift will speak to the Class of 2022 at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, May 18, where she will receive a doctor of fine arts, honoris causa. She is one of six honorary degree recipients this year. Later that same day, the Classes of 2020 and 2021 will have a joint commencement at the stadium, where disability rights activist Judith Heumann will speak. The honorees were nominated by NYU community members -- confidentially -- and then vetted by university staff, reviewed by the University Senate and ultimately approved by NYU's Board of Trustees, according to NYU spokesperson John Beckham. But none has caused a greater stir than Swift. So far, Nesmith has received messages from six fans asking if he was selling his commencement tickets. Most told him to name his price; one fan offered $500 for a ticket. So far, Nesmith doesn't know of any classmates who have actually sold their commencement tickets. For one thing, each 2022 graduate only gets two tickets this year. For another, NYU has made it clear that students caught selling tickets could face serious consequences. |
| Colleges Create New Confusion With SAT and ACT Score Policies | |
| Roughly three-quarters of colleges around the country haven't required standardized tests from applicants during the pandemic, many ditching the scores to accommodate teens whose SAT and ACT exams were canceled because of the public-health crisis. The reprieve is now over at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which will again mandate test scores for next year's applicants. Those trying to get into the Georgia Institute of Technology will also need to submit results. Yet the California Institute of Technology will be test-optional for at least one more year. And Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, which was already test-optional before the pandemic, is running an eight-year pilot for test-blind admissions, meaning it won't allow applicants to submit scores at all. The jumble of policies is leaving high-school students baffled over whether they should take the exams, and if so, whether they should submit their scores to particular institutions. "You're expected to have the spreadsheet skills of a middle manager. I think that's asking a lot of applicants," said Anna Ivey, an independent college counselor and co-founder of Inline, a software tool that helps applicants navigate the Common App. "In an unintended way, these test-optional policies add a lot of stress and complication for students." |
| Does college prestige really matter? Maybe. | |
| One of the takeaways from the 2019 college admissions scandal, which exposed a conspiracy of wealthy parents bribing their children's way into elite institutions, is the enormous cultural weight placed on college prestige. Getting into a top college or university becomes a north star for some high schoolers and their families and can be closely tied to feelings of self-worth. But does going to a more prestigious school really make a difference your life? It depends, says Ron Lieber, author of "The Price You Pay for College" and The New York Times' "Your Money" column. "It isn't always easy to know ahead of time -- particularly with a teenager who doesn't know what they want to do with their life -- how much [prestige] may matter. But we shouldn't pretend that it doesn't matter at all," he said in an interview with Marketplace's David Brancaccio. "It will mean something, in some places, sometimes." |
| Survey: 80% of College Graduates Believe Higher Education Worth Their Investment | |
| A new survey of 1,250 American college graduates aged 25 and older reveals that 80% feel higher education was worth their financial investment. The survey was conducted between March 25 and 26 by Intelligent.com, an online resource that helps students plan their educational futures with tools like degree rankings. The survey concluded that 39% of college graduates strongly agreed and 41% agreed that getting their degree was worth the investment. Of those remaining graduates who were dissatisfied with their educational experience, 42% said they believed college was a poor investment. Graduates' satisfaction depended on their financial concerns and career success. Of those with unfavorable responses, 43% were still paying off student loan debt, and just 27% were working jobs related to their degrees. Twenty-nine percent (29%) said, if they were to do college again, they would choose a different major. Of those who were satisfied with their experience, only 32% were paying off loans, and 41% were working within their field of study. Thirty-three percent (33%) said, if they were to do college over again, they would choose a different major, and 23% said they would attend a less costly school. |
| Biden Wants to Double the Maximum Pell Grant. What Difference Would That Make? | |
 | A $13,000 Pell Grant would just about fully cover today's average annual cost of attendance for community-college students. Students at public four-year institutions would have more than half of their tuition, fees, room, and board paid for. That's what President Biden called for last month in his latest budget proposal: a doubling of the maximum Pell Grant by 2029. While it isn't likely to pass, affordability advocates say they hope the president's ambitious proposal will amplify an important conversation about the federal student-aid program. The Pell Grant has helped low-income students afford college for 50 years. But Biden and higher-ed advocates say it isn't doing that job as well as it could be. Biden has cited a striking statistic: In 1980 the maximum Pell award covered nearly 80 percent of tuition, fees, room, and board at a four-year public university. In 2020 it covered less than 30 percent of those costs. Congress has recently tried to keep the Pell Grant in line with inflation by making small increases, of $100 and $200, in the maximum award. In the latest omnibus spending package, passed in March, lawmakers approved a $400 increase -- the largest single boost for the Pell in more than a decade. The maximum Pell Grant increased from $6,495 to $6,895, and the minimum award grew from $650 to $690. |
| Schumer: White House closer to canceling student debt 'than ever before' | |
| Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) told activists on Wednesday that President Biden and his senior advisers are warming up to the idea of forgiving student debt, insisting they are closer to pulling the trigger "than ever before." Schumer, who has repeatedly called for canceling up to $50,000 in student debt per borrower, predicted that's where the president and his administration will ultimately land. "I have talked personally to the president on this issue a whole bunch of times. I have told him that this is more important than just about anything else that he can do on his own," he told the State of Student Debt Summit in a virtual event Wednesday. "We're making progress folks. We are making progress. The White House seems more open to it than ever before," he said. The Department of Education announced last week that it would extend the pause on federal student loan repayment, interest and collections through August. But Schumer says that doesn't go far enough and that that Biden is getting closer to agreeing with him. "Don't get me wrong, the pause is a good thing, but it ain't enough. It ain't close to enough," he said. Biden has said he's willing to cancel up to $10,000 in student debt per borrower, but he wants Congress to pass legislation to do so, which he would then sign. |
| New legislation would restart the China Initiative | |
| Several Republican senators want to revive the China Initiative, while a second professor has been found guilty of fraud and of hiding his ties to China from federal grantmaking agencies. A half-dozen GOP lawmakers have introduced legislation to re-establish the controversial investigation of academic and economic espionage, which the U.S. Department of Justice shuttered in February. In a written statement, Sen. Rick Scott, a Florida Republican and the bill's main sponsor, said it was needed to protect "the United States' intellectual property and our academic institutions from spying and interference by one of our greatest adversaries." The measure focuses on higher education and what the sponsors see as the vulnerability of academic collaboration with China. It calls for the development of an enforcement strategy to deal with the potential theft of research and technology from labs and universities. Another aim of the reconstituted China Initiative would be to "educate colleges and universities about potential threats to academic freedom and open discourse from influence efforts on campus" by the Chinese government. Under the legislation, a new investigation would run for six years. A China Initiative 2.0 will face opposition from civil-rights groups, science and academic organizations, and others who argue that the original inquiry, begun in 2018 under the Trump administration, amounted to racial profiling and had a chilling effect on international research collaboration. Critics also note that few cases have actually involved allegations of espionage. Instead, charges have focused on research-disclosure failures, false statements, and tax fraud. |
| Russian universities expel antiwar students | |
| Russian universities are leading the charge in cracking down on student opposition to the Kremlin's war on Ukraine, with hundreds of students estimated to have been expelled already. With Russian academe increasingly cut off from the outside world, student dissidents are finding themselves targeted by the very institutions tasked with nurturing their critical thinking. On March 9, Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs reportedly ordered Saint Petersburg State University to expel 13 students who participated in antiwar protests, in what academics have said is an escalation of the crackdown on free speech. While no official figures exist, hundreds of students have likely been expelled for their opposition to the war, estimated Vladimir Ashurkov, a Russian activist and executive director of the Anti-Corruption Foundation, a Moscow-based nonprofit established by opposition politician Aleksei Navalny. Ashurkov, who now coordinates the Freedom Degree project, which fields queries from students facing expulsion, told Times Higher Education that the initiative has been flooded with requests in recent weeks. "Many of the letters we receive begin with: 'I'm very scared,'" he said. Even at universities that stop short of expelling students, scare tactics are "blatant and offensive, and they target the brightest and most promising students." Students are being rejected by supervisors, fired from laboratories and told they'll face problems defending their theses, he said. Expulsion is far from the worst outcome for those who speak out, academics noted. Those in Russia who challenge the Kremlin's version of facts about its "special operation" in Ukraine face up to 15 years behind bars. Across Russia, more than 15,500 people have been detained for antiwar actions since February, according to data from human rights project OVD-Info. |
| Mississippi legislative budget process: There's got to be a better way | |
| Geoff Pender writes for Mississippi Today: Many people who experience "conference weekend" at the Mississippi Legislature have the same takeaway: There's got to be a better way to set a state budget. Some phrase it in more colorful or profane language. It's a harried, hurried couple of days in which a handful of selected negotiators haggle out a multi-billion dollar budget. Most members of the 174-member Legislature twiddle their thumbs for hours on end, then are hastily called into session to pass dozens of budget bills under deadline, with most not knowing exactly what's in the bills on which they are voting. Some lawmakers have asked in vain for more information -- such as spreadsheets -- before voting. Often, such info is not available because of the last-minute nature of Mississippi budget setting. Public transparency? It goes right out the window in this process. Politicos over the years have likened it to a game of whack-a-mole, lemmings following each other off a cliff, college students scrambling on a term paper after procrastinating and a goat rodeo. Others have been less flattering. In this frenzied affair, mistakes get made. |
SPORTS
| Diamond Dawg Gameday: vs. No. 14 Auburn | |
| Mississippi State Baseball will host No. 14-ranked Auburn in an SEC home series as part of Super Bulldog Weekend beginning at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday, April 14, at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville. The series opener will air nationally on SEC Network with Dave Neal and Lance Cormier on the call, while all three games will be available on SEC Network+. The series will also be carried on the Mississippi State Sports Network powered by Learfield along with a live audio stream via HailState.com/plus. This weekend's series will mark the 208th time Mississippi State and Auburn have met on the diamond in a series that dates back to 1908. Mississippi State holds a 113-93-1 edge over Auburn in the all-time series. The Dawgs are 59-35 against the Tigers in games played in Starkville. Last season, the Diamond Dawgs traveled to Auburn and came away with a series sweep over the Tigers. In that series, MSU won the opener, 6-5, before clinching the series with a 7-2 victory in game two. The Dawgs out-slugged Auburn in the finale to win by a score of 19-10 to secure the series sweep on the road. Auburn is led by head coach Butch Thompson, who is in his eighth season with the Tigers. Auburn defeated Vanderbilt in two of three games last weekend to secure its third straight SEC series win for the first time since 2017. The Tigers haven't won four straight series since the 2013-14 campaigns. |
| 'He throws a lot of strikes': What Lemonis, Mississippi State hope to get from 'TBA' | |
| He comes in all shapes in sizes and has pitched the greatest of games while tossing just as many awful starts. He threw five innings and allowed just one run in a Saturday start for Ole Miss at Kentucky two weeks ago and came back out Sunday for 4 1/3 scoreless innings. His reach stems outside the state of Mississippi, too. He made an appearance in Vanderbilt's series at South Carolina and allowed two runs in 3 1/3 innings. He's even taking the mound for the Chicago Cubs this weekend against the Colorado Rockies. With a crucial series looming against No. 17 Auburn (23-10, 7-5 SEC), he is finally taking the mound for Mississippi State (19-15, 4-8) as Chris Lemonis looks to find a rotation with Parker Stinnett moving out. "TBA is (starting)," Lemonis said. "He throws a lot of strikes. I don't know where he's throwing or what day he's throwing, but he's good when he competes. We'll figure it out. I don't know how we'll do the third game, but we're probably gonna put Parker in the bullpen." In a season where offense was expected to carry the load in the SEC, coaches have often been left in a bind to find second or third weekend starters. Lemonis lost his top guy with Landon Sims out for the season, but fortunately Preston Johnson delivered a convincing Friday start against LSU last week to remain in the rotation. |
| 'Are you sure?': Jason Washington adjusting to coaching running backs for first time | |
| Jason Washington finds himself using the word "anticipation" a lot these days. For the Mississippi State running backs coach, it's the key tenet of this offseason's instruction: preparing his players for the defenses they will face. "This is what this front is trying to do to you," Washington has explained. "This is what these linebackers are trying to do to you." It's a worthwhile lesson and one that Washington said his running backs have begun to learn. But Washington himself surely must be feeling some anticipation these days. Washington is in his first year coaching running backs -- not just at Mississippi State but at any level. He was moved from coaching safeties at the end of January, a decision by head coach Mike Leach that Washington initially questioned. "I was surprised a little bit," Washington said. "I was like, 'Are you sure?'" Leach certainly was, shaking up not only Washington's position but those of nearly half his assistants. Former running backs coach Eric Mele took over as special teams coordinator, Matt Brock dropped special teams duties and assumed command of all linebackers, and defensive coordinator Zach Arnett took on Washington's role with the safeties. Despite his surprise, Washington stepped right into his new role and has embraced a transition he called "awesome." |
| Softball Crosses State Line For Another Top-Five Matchup | |
| Mississippi State is once again set to meet a top-five opponent this week when the Bulldogs travel to No. 2 Alabama on April 14-16. With three games against the Crimson Tide, which is ranked No. 3 in the latest NFCA poll, State will reach 10 games against NFCA top-five opponents this season. The only other season in which MSU (26-14, 7-5 SEC) saw that many top-five squads was the 2016 campaign (16). In their last series in Tuscaloosa, the Bulldogs upset then-No. 4 Alabama in an extra-innings matchup in the final game of the series. MSU has hit its stride in conference play this season. The Bulldogs' .292 batting average in SEC games is third in the league and their pitching staff has allowed the third-fewest runs (54) in conference games. Chloe Malau'ulu has been at the center of that push, leading the team with a .444 betting average and .750 slugging percentage in league games. State has also gotten a boost from Paige Cook who is leading the team with 16 two-out RBIs. More than half of MSU's RBI's in SEC games have come with two outs. MSU will have two midweek games next week. The Bulldogs host ULM at 5 p.m. CT on Tuesday, April 19. That game will air on SEC Network+. State then hits the road for a makeup contest against UT Marting in Lexington, Tennessee, on Wednesday, April 20 at 5:30 p.m. |
| Saban: Current state of college football not 'sustainable' | |
| Nick Saban's willingness to adapt and often be a catalyst for change in college football, both on the field and off, has propelled Alabama to six national championships in 13 seasons. The 70-year-old coach is confident his program will continue to thrive during this new era of college athletics, with players having more opportunities to earn money than ever before and more power to determine where they play. But the current state of college football has Saban concerned. "I don't think what we're doing right now is a sustainable model," Saban told The Associated Press in a recent interview. That's a common theme among coaches these days, with Clemson's Dabo Swinney and Southern California's Lincoln Riley among the most prominent who have echoed Saban's sentiments. The combination of empowered athletes and easily accessible paydays is changing the way coaches go about their business. "The concept of name, image and likeness was for players to be able to use their name, image and likeness to create opportunities for themselves. That's what it was," Saban said. "So last year on our team, our guys probably made as much or more than anybody in the country." Paying a player to attend a particular school is still a violation of NCAA rules, but NIL deals have quickly become intertwined with recruiting -- both high school prospects and the growing number of college transfers. |
| U. of Kentucky sports media programs will have production, research space in Central Bank Center | |
 | Students interested in sports media at the University of Kentucky will soon have access to a new production and research space in Rupp Arena at the Central Bank Center, the university announced Wednesday. The 20,000 square foot studio, production center and research space in Central Bank Center will allow UK students, faculty and staff interested in sports media to work alongside UK's media and marketing teams. The space is a partnership between the College of Communication and Information, UK Athletics and JMI Sports, said Jennifer Greer, dean of UK's College of Communication and Information. "We've been training students in broadcasting and media production for more than 70 years in various spaces across the campus," Greer said. "This space represents a significant step forward in providing a collaborative place where our educational programs can be taken to the next level through an innovative partnership with athletics and the university's media-rights partner, JMI Sports." The new space will be located on the first floor of the Pavilion in the renovated Central Bank Center, and will include a production center, as well as space for faculty and students to conduct research, Greer said. UK has a Sports Communication path within the Department of Communication, as well as a sports track within the School of Journalism and Media. "We believe deeply in the imperative to put students first in everything that we do," said Tim Bernal, executive associate athletics director/external operations for UK Athletics. "That extends to our students on the field and court as well as those who are working alongside us in media and sports production. Our goal is to be best-in-class in every sport and in every program. This studio aligns with that goal to provide the best opportunities for all of our students." |
| Vanderbilt baseball gets donor gift for Hawkins Field upgrades | |
 | Vanderbilt announced Tuesday a $5.5 million gift to help fund improvements at Hawkins Field. The gift, made by donors Fred and Karen Hall, will fund new lights, graphics, a sound system and seating improvements at the field. Fred Hall is the CEO of Hall Capital. "We are grateful to the Hall family for this generous gift and their steadfast support through the years," athletic director Candice Lee said in a statement. "Vandy United is our vision for the future of Vanderbilt Athletics. We want student-athletes to grow into champions. We know our blueprint works because we watched the VandyBoys make Hawkins Field the center of the college baseball world across two national championships and five College World Series appearances in 10 seasons." Vanderbilt has undergone several enhancements at Hawkins recently, including new premium seating and new lights for the 2022 season. |
| Former Texas A&M football coach R.C. Slocum and local oncologist urge preventative care to area residents | |
 | Former Texas A&M football coach R.C. Slocum discussed the importance of receiving help for medical health problems sooner rather than later, after sharing how he survived cancer with the aid of College Station's Baylor Scott & White Medical Center. Juddi Yeh, a medical oncologist and hematologist at the hospital, also shared the importance of receiving preventive care. Slocum and Yeh shared their thoughts at the Hall of Champions on Wednesday morning, where Slocum was able to once again ring a bell at Kyle Field in celebration of being cancer free. The 77-year-old coach was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in June 2021 after experiencing a persistent cough. He had 12 chemotherapy treatments, the last on Nov. 29 at the clinic. He has been considered cancer free since January and is grateful to be in remission. "I had a rare cough that wasn't present all the time. ... I didn't wait, and once I got checked and found out I had [lymphoma] I was right on it and making phone calls and getting everything arranged to be seen," he said. "I think with this pandemic all of our lives have been changed. ... If you are not careful and don't pay attention to your health, and when you get to where I have been recently, your health becomes the No. 1 thing. We tend to put our health in the background, and put all of these other little things up front." |
| New 'Field of Dreams' movie site owners unveil plans for youth baseball and softball complex | |
 | The new owners of the "Field of Dreams" movie site hope people will come to the iconic farm again, just as James Earl Jones' character prophesied in the 1989 film. And, now, they're planning to give people another reason to come. Go the Distance, which owns and operates the site, was scheduled to announce a massive makeover Thursday morning, using $80 million in private investment to build youth baseball and softball fields, team dormitories and a hotel, among other improvements, near the movie site, in rural Dyersville, Iowa. "I am grateful for all that the game of baseball gave me throughout my career," Hall of Famer and Go the Distance CEO Frank Thomas said in a statement provided to the Des Moines Register, "and now I am proud and excited to lead a team that is building opportunities for players, fans and families to enjoy our national pastime and for teams to train and compete." Thomas' group, which purchased controlling interest in the movie site last year for an undisclosed amount, has high hopes for the overhaul, which is expected to be completed in phases by the end of 2023. The work won't end there. The hope is to keep Major League Baseball coming back to the site after a successful visit in 2021. Last season's MLB game between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees showed just how special an event the site can host. That game was played in a specially constructed stadium near the iconic diamond from the movie. This season, the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds are set to play a game there on Aug. 11. |
| It's a Golden Hour for College Gymnastics. The NCAA May Still Miss Out on the Money. | |
| Hours before the biggest college-basketball game of the year, Auburn's basketball arena felt like the loudest place on earth. The roaring wasn't for basketball. Women decked out in orange, families with young children, couples, older men and students were all screaming for the Tigers at a college gymnastics meet. "This is our first time," said Lori Wilson, who flew in from Lakewood, Fla., and said she was loving it. "Our boys' fraternity is having a moms' weekend and we were looking for something to do," she said. Her son and his fraternity brothers were watching in another part of the arena. It's been dubbed "The Suni Effect": a megawatt moment for women's college gymnastics brought about by the change in NCAA endorsement rules. It wasn't always this way. Auburn and other gymnastics powerhouses like Utah, LSU, Alabama and Florida can pack their arenas now, but it took years. Many of those coaches credit the SEC Network for televising meets since 2014, with the "Friday Night Heights" franchise. The SEC, for its part, credits the coaches with a P.T. Barnum-like approach to staging a meet. Capitalizing on this success will be difficult for the NCAA, however, for the same reasons that are pinching the increasingly popular NCAA women's basketball tournament. Media rights and corporate sponsorship deals for the events are captive to long-term deals that undervalue them. |
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