Monday, April 18, 2022   
 
USDA Under Secretary to visit MSU for Carlton Owen Lecture
The guest for Mississippi State University's (MSU) 2022 Carlton N. Owen Lecture Series will be the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, Homer Wilkes. Wilkes, a Mississippi native and the first African American to hold this federal office, will lead the lecture on Friday, April 29 at 10:00 a.m. in the Tully Auditorium in Thompson Hall. "Dr. Wilkes has a unique perspective to share due to his myriad experiences in working lands conservation and coastal restoration that perfectly aligns with the intent of this lecture series. His ascent to a position of national leadership in natural resources conservation provides a model to which our students might aspire. We are so proud to welcome him back to campus for this special event," said MSU President Mark E. Keenum.
 
MSU summer camps offer fun, educational activities
Mississippi State University's camps will be in full force this summer, with a variety of enriching activities planned for elementary through high school students. Camps offered include accounting, architecture and design, arts and sciences, engineering, sports, theater, veterinary and many more. A comprehensive list can be found at summercamps.msstate.edu/camps. "We are excited to have a full slate of summer camps to offer our community right here on our campus. MSU summer camps allow kids and youth of all ages to learn something new while having lots of fun and experiencing a sense of campus life," said Dei Allard, executive director of University Housing. "While some are stepping onto our beautiful campus for the first time and some are regular summer guests, each person leaves with a great experience and memories to last a lifetime." In addition to camps, summercamps.msstate.edu is a resource for those planning or attending summer conferences. Information on amenities, lodging, dining, parking and transit, recreation and meeting spaces also is on the site, as well as related university policies, including the Minors Protection Policy at summercamps.msstate.edu/policies/minors-protection-policy.
 
MSU offers residential, day conservation camps
Two conservation camps this summer offer students in grades sixth through 12th 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 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. Leslie Burger, camp director and an environmental educator with the MSU Extension Service, said this project is supported by the 2021 Youth Participation Initiative Program of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. "These camps are designed to connect young people with nature and give them hands-on experience in environmental science topics," Burger said. "We hope they will leave with new excitement about science and a greater appreciation of the outdoor world."
 
Camp Kesem at Mississippi State helps kids have fun, feel supported
Mississippi State University senior Madelyn Slaten remembers feeling alone as a child when her mother was undergoing cancer treatment. That changed once the Tennessee native started attending Camp Kesem in her home state. Camp Kesem is a summer camp for children ages 6 to 18 impacted by a parent's cancer. She said being around others with similar experiences validated her experience. Four years at Camp Kesem motivated Slaten to found a chapter at MSU in 2019, the first in the state, to provide support for other children affected by cancer. The chapter planned to host similar camps to the one she had attended in Tennessee, but the coronavirus pandemic shifted camp online. Now MSU's Camp Kesem is preparing to hold its first in-person summer program at Camp Hopewell in Oxford from July 24 to 30. Members are raising money and recruiting campers and counselors. "It will be good to see the past four years of work come to life and see the campers and see the impact we have on them," Slaten said. Susan Brooks, a staff advisor of the Camp Kesem chapter, sees potential for Camp Kesem to help children in Mississippi. They are an underrepresented group who don't always receive support while their parents are undergoing cancer treatment, she said. "They have the same fears and worries ... but they don't always have the same outlet to express that," Brooks said.
 
Area projects receive millions from state bill
Last week the Mississippi Legislature passed its annual appropriations bill, showering municipal and county governments with cash for some ongoing projects. Oktibbeha County received $1 million for road repair, while the city of Starkville is tapped for $5.75 million for various projects. Oktibbeha County received $1 million to develop Sturgis Maben Road. District 1 Supervisor John Montgomery, who oversees the area where this road sits, has long advocated for finding funds to improve the road. He said this is the worst road to drive on within his district, and having these funds will help residents of Oktibbeha County. Coming from a separate revenue bill, Oktibbeha County received $1 million for a tower for the Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Office, located in Maben. Supervisors' attorney Rob Roberson, who also serves on the legislature, said this tower will allow OCSO to communicate more efficiently with other sheriff offices. Starkville received $1,250,000 for the redesign and development of Main Street. The Starkville Board of Aldermen approved the redevelopment of Main Street in late 2021, which will eliminate the street's turning lanes to allow for sidewalks and create a more pedestrian-friendly streetscape. Starkville received $4 million to finish the development of Highway Patrol Troop G. The city also received $250,000 for improvements to the J.L. King Center and $250,000 for a drainage and ditch cleanup project in west Starkville.
 
Influential Delta business group calls for Medicaid expansion
A major economic development organization that represents the 19 Mississippi Delta counties on Monday called for lawmakers to expand Medicaid. The Delta Council, long a powerful lobby that has the ear of top Republican leaders, is among the state's first major, non-health care related organizations to recommend Medicaid expansion. Major medical groups in the state like the Mississippi Hospital Association have supported expansion for years. The resolution was passed unanimously by Delta Council's health and education committee. There are around 150 council members on the committee, though not all of them were in attendance. "While Medicaid expansion is not a complete panacea for individuals, the community's economy, health care providers, and employers, it is a critical first step that will benefit all of them in the short and long term," the resolution reads. The resolution was presented to the committee after a special subcommittee studied different options for helping struggling health care facilities in the Delta. "After we talked to the experts and people in the industry, it became obvious that the best way to do that is to expand Medicaid," said Wade Litton, chairman of Delta Council's Economic Development Committee and the leader of the subcommittee.
 
State Auditor's office hires data analytics firm in ongoing PBM investigation
A state agency is putting substantially more firepower into its ongoing investigation of whether drug middlemen may have overcharged taxpayers to pad their profits, a public document shows. State Auditor Shad White last month inked a deal with Delaware-based data analytics firm Intelaform Services to collect and analyze a wide breadth of data involving drug intermediaries known as pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. The contract between White and Intelaform authorizes the private firm to investigate and analyze data generated by PBMs, pharmacy benefit administrators and managed care organizations that conduct business with state agencies -- a wide scope of data. According to the wording of the contract, which runs through June 30, 2023, Intelaform is performing the services at no cost to the state. Pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, are subcontractors often hired by health plans or employers to manage drug benefits, negotiate drug pricing with manufacturers, and reimburse pharmacists. Part of PBMs' job involves negotiating rebates and other discounts from drugmakers, and in exchange, they provide preferred placement to a drugmakers' product. Mississippi officials have investigated one company – Centene – for ripping off taxpayers at the state Division of Medicaid, which resulted in a multi-million settlement with the state, as previously reported by the Daily Journal. The company admitted to no wrongdoing.
 
'One Mississippi' replaces state song that had racist roots
Mississippi is ditching a state song that's based on the campaign tune of a former governor who pledged to preserve segregation. The current governor, Republican Tate Reeves, signed a bill Thursday to replace "Go, Mississippi" with a new song called "One Mississippi." The change will happen July 1 -- two years after Mississippi retired a Confederate-themed state flag. "Go, Mississippi" uses the tune, but not the lyrics, from a 1959 campaign jingle of Democratic Gov. Ross Barnett. "Roll With Ross" included the lyrics, "For segregation, 100%. He's not a moderate, like some of the gents." Barnett unsuccessfully resisted integration of the University of Mississippi in 1962. Legislators adopted a state song that year setting new words to his campaign music: "Go, Mississippi, keep rolling along. Go, Mississippi, you cannot go wrong." The new state song was composed by country music singer and songwriter Steve Azar, who's a Mississippi native, for the state's 2017 bicentennial celebration. The lyrics of "One Mississippi" play on the hide-and-seek counting game (One Mississippi ... two Mississippi ... three Mississippi ...). The song uses familiar images, including magnolia trees, fried catfish, hurricanes and kudzu.
 
Governor signs bill scrapping state song with racist history
Mississippi has ditched its official state song, which has racist ties. Gov. Tate Reeves on Thursday signed a bill into law that would effectively replace Mississippi's state song with with Steve Azar's, "One Mississippi," and create a new commission to explore other songs to be included in the final list of songs. The former song, "Go, Mississippi," takes its tune from a 1959 campaign jingle of Democratic Gov. Ross Barnett, according to the Associated Press. The campaign song, "Roll With Ross" included the lyrics, "For segregation, 100%. He's not a moderate, like some of the gents." Rep. Becky Currie, the author of the bill, said it was time to change the state's song in favor of something with no ties to the former governor. "Hopefully people embrace this song, and it is learned in schools and enjoyed all over the state," Currie, R-Brookhaven, said. "It is something else we can be proud of." Azar, the author of the new song, is a Mississippi native. He was commissioned by the state to write "One Mississippi" for the Magnolia State's 2017 bicentennial celebration. But Azar's song likely won't be the only one included in the Magnolia State's official list . The law also creates a committee to recommend to the Legislature different genres of songs to be included in the list such as country, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and gospel.
 
Law creates 8-county group for Tallahatchie River projects
Mississippi is creating a group to promote economic development and other projects in areas crossed by the Tallahatchie and Little Tallahatchie rivers. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves on Thursday signed House Bill 1323, which becomes law July 1. The Tallahatchie River Authority will have members from eight northern counties: Lafayette, Leflore, Marshall, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tippah and Union. The legislation says the group can work with local, state and federal agencies on projects affecting tourism, forestry, drainage, land reclamation and preservation, water conservation, recreation, public health and education.
 
Mississippians gather signatures for local medical marijuana
Leaders of some cities and counties in Mississippi are voting to opt out of the state's medical-marijuana program. But residents who support it are pushing for a public vote. Residents who live in communities that have opted out of the state's developing medical marijuana program are gathering signatures to require a public vote for opting back in. City and county leaders have until May 3 to decide if businesses that sell or grow marijuana will be prohibited in their jurisdiction. Glenn Fincher is a resident of Calhoun County and says his board of supervisors voted Thursday morning to opt out. "We are going to go after the signatures to get a ballot initiative started. I say we're a poorer county, but we will force them to have another vote if need be," says Fincher. "We will go get the signatures and get it on the ballot again." Fitcher says his county had overwhelming support for initiative 65 in the 2020 election and anticipates gathering all of the required signatures. The City of Brandon voted to opt-out in early March, with alderman saying they are wary of the regulations still being developed by the Department of Health. Buell Polk is a local pharmacist who owns several retail stores across the state. At his pharmacy near Brandon's main hospital, he's gathering signatures to challenge the board's decision. Polk says "I felt like this would be an opportunity for my company to be able to service those people that would qualify for the medical cannabis, and this would prevent them from having to leave this local area and go to another area to be serviced with their medical needs."
 
Biden meets robot dog, pitches innovation agenda
President Joe Biden went to battleground North Carolina to highlight bipartisan economic competitiveness legislation as a means to counter inflation, but it was a yellow robotic dog named "Spot" that stole the show. "Spot, I tell you what, be nice to me on the way out," said Biden after being introduced to the four-legged robot, pointing to the journalists traveling with him. "There's a couple of press people I want you to look at." The president was touring facilities at the Harold L. Martin Sr. Engineering Research and Innovation Complex at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University ahead of more formal remarks on innovation. EPA Administrator Michael Regan, an alum of North Carolina A&T, was among those introducing Biden in Greensboro. "To the students here, know that you have education, know that you happen to know that you have the ability, not just to excel, but to be extraordinary," Biden said. "You have everything you need to soar, and the world has never needed you more. So never forget that, yes, indeed, your degree from a historically Black university can take you anywhere, including the White House." Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who has opposed much of the rest of the spending agenda of the Biden administration but supported both the bipartisan infrastructure law and a Senate-passed version of the competitiveness bill, was among the Republicans focused on the increasing costs for families caused by high inflation. The president used inflation and supply chain issues, as well as national security considerations, in touting the importance of the innovation act moving from a conference committee to becoming law: "So Congress, get this bipartisan bill to my desk."
 
GOP shadow primary gains steam ahead of 2024
The 2024 Republican shadow primary is ramping up. The once-quiet strategizing and networking by a handful of prospective contenders for the next GOP presidential nomination has grown louder in recent weeks, as would-be hopefuls like former Vice President Mike Pence, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo begin to more aggressively flex their political muscles. None are openly running for the White House just yet, but Republican observers and strategists say that their intentions are becoming clearer by the day. Still, there's a long way to go before the 2024 nominating contest begins in earnest, and any potential contender still faces a key hurdle: former President Trump, who is himself considering another run for office. "The invisible primary is real," said Alex Conant, a Republican strategist and former adviser to Sen. Marco Rubio's (R-Fla.) 2016 presidential campaign. "I think the anticipation is that [President] Biden might not run again or if he does, he'll be really vulnerable. There are a lot of people who are very excited to run in 2024 and are doing everything they can now to be ready. The starting gun goes off after the midterms." "Once we get past November, it's all about running for president," Conant added. Even before the midterm elections, however, there are signs that the 2024 campaign is intensifying. Pence has ramped up his public schedule, traveling to Ukraine last month amid the Russian invasion. And just this week, the former vice president delivered a speech at the University of Virginia, where he teased a potential run for the White House. "I'll keep you posted," he told students when asked whether he would seek the presidency in 2024.
 
BA.2 Proves the Pandemic Isn't Over, but People Are Over It
BA.2 is spreading in the U.S., although few want to talk about it. The Omicron subvariant is contributing to school and work absences, yet two years of dealing with Covid-19 have made people tired of taking precautions, getting tested and asking about other people's status, say physicians, psychologists and behavioral scientists. If this is a pandemic wave, then many have decided the best response is a weary shrug. Part of that reaction comes from the fact that while cases are ticking up in some areas, hospitalizations remain low. In addition, people in many places got on with their lives long ago and are unwilling to return to a pandemic crouch. There is a psychological element, too: Avoiding a potential problem can be a way of trying to protect ourselves emotionally when we are depleted, say psychologists. Psychologists say it can be difficult to discern how seriously to take BA.2, given shifting guidance and sometimes difficult-to-parse public-health messaging. That anxiety and uncertainty can result in avoidance, says Dr. Bethany Teachman, a psychologist and director of clinical training at the University of Virginia. Avoidance takes various forms, she says, including refraining from asking friends about Covid exposures to avoid answers people may not want to hear. Some people say they won't worry about BA.2 unless it is absolutely clear they need to. Nearly three-quarters of Americans polled by Monmouth University in mid-March agreed that Covid is here to stay, and people should get on with their lives.
 
'We're teachers too': Community college faculty feel shortchanged by legislative raises
The Legislature appropriated $11 million dollars for faculty pay raises at Mississippi's community college system but some say it is not enough to ensure their salaries stay competitive with K-12 after the historic teacher pay raise. Mississippi's 15 community colleges have long struggled to retain the best and brightest faculty due in part to a lack of state funding. A 2007 law mandates that community colleges receive mid-level funding, or half the per-student amount the Legislature appropriates to K-12 and the regional universities, but that has never happened. Now some are saying the historic pay raise for K-12 teachers, coupled with the comparably modest sum lawmakers appropriated for community college instructors, means many faculty could be making more money if they switched to teaching K-12. "I want to make it really clear, I'm pleased for the K-12 instructors," said Thomas Huebner, Meridian Community College president. "But it will absolutely impact our ability to attract and retain instructors at the community college level." The likelihood a community college instructor will make more in K-12 will vary, and there is a lack of data to show how that could play out in aggregate. The Mississippi Department of Education has not calculated how the pay raise will affect average teacher salaries. It also can be tricky to make a direct comparison between K-12 and community college instructors because they work varying contract lengths and teach different subject areas.
 
Students Are So Behind Due to Pandemic Schools Pay Millions for Tutoring
Schools are racing to spend billions of federal stimulus dollars earmarked to help students make up for lost instruction time, often contracting with tutoring companies that have no proof their methods are effective, public records show. An influx of $122 billion into public education has attracted legions of online tutoring companies, including established players with a record for advancing students and venture-capital-backed startups that let students chat through questions around the clock. Schools face pressure to act quickly: They must spend the money before it expires in 2024. While some states and districts are hiring in-person tutoring corps, many are looking online, which eases the burden of finding enough qualified tutors locally. Mississippi's education department announced last month it's spending $10.7 million for Paper to provide 138 districts with tutoring. Tennessee's education department is in the process of awarding Paper a contract, the state and company say. Paper doesn't have data backing its premise but recently hired LearnPlatform, an education technology company, to perform studies with Paper and its district customers over the next year. Carey Wright, Mississippi's superintendent of education, said the state plans to collect data to study whether Paper is improving student performance. "The ideal outcome is for children to learn and achieve," Ms. Wright said.
 
Police: 3 robberies on University of Alabama campus
The University of Alabama Police Department confirmed three robberies early Saturday morning, April 16, 2022, on the University of Alabama campus. Officers said around 12:30 a.m. the first victim received a ride from suspects in the Lakeside East area and was robbed of personal property when leaving the vehicle. Incidents were also reported near Lakeside Dining and near the Ridgecrest area, according to UA Police. he vehicle was described as a light colored 4-door Honda Accord with no license tag and 3-4 suspects inside. UA police said witnesses reported one suspect was wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt with tie-dyed pattern. One suspect was wearing a ski mask and blue fatigue puffer jacket, and one suspect was reportedly wearing a ski mask. Anyone who has any additional information is asked to call University Police at 205-348-5454 or Crime Stoppers at 752-7867(STOP). Crime prevention information is published in UAPD's Safer Living Guide published at https://saferliving.ua.edu/.
 
LSU student from Ukraine shares Passover Seder with BR family: The comfort of tradition remains
Lucas and Bree Spielfogel did not hesitate to open their home and Passover Seder to Daria Antonovskaya, a 24-year-old LSU student from Dnipro, Ukraine. "I didn't think for one second of not inviting her to join us," Lucas Spielfogel said. "It's not just because she's from Ukraine, if any Jewish person was here and wanted to share Passover with us, we would gladly welcome them." Before joining the Spielfogels at their home Friday evening, Antonovskaya said that she was excited to celebrate Passover with another Jewish family, but she was not completely surprised at the invitation. "When you go anywhere in the world you can find a Jewish family," she said. "Still, I'm surprised that a family here in Baton Rouge invited me to their home." Antonovskaya said that last year she celebrated Passover with her family at their countryside home near Dnipro. "It feels like it was a past life," she said, acknowledging that the juxtaposition between her happy memories of home and the reality of today are striking and hard to comprehend. "Yesterday I read a great quote that was something like, 'We are at the place where we are so we have to be in a good place,'" she said. "I am happy to be in a good place here in Baton Rouge. Physically and mentally, I am in a good place."
 
What Tennessee colleges are doing to fight food insecurity on campus
Ekramul Ehite is a busy person. The fourth-year doctoral student from Bangladesh spends a lot of time at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville's Institute for Agriculture, running lab experiments and researching how to transform agricultural waste into usable bioenergy. But when he finally finds time to step away from his work to grab a bite to eat in the afternoon, the only on-campus dining location at the agriculture campus -- Mabel's at McCord Hall -- is closed by 2 p.m. Like a surprising number of Tennessee college students, both graduate and undergraduate, Ehite often finds himself without time, access or money for his next meal. "I've suffered from food insecurity," Ehite said. "And sometimes the food insecurity is not even that I don't have money to buy food, but it's sometimes it's availability and accessibility to nutritious food." A 2018 study found that one in three students on three of the University of Tennessee campuses -- Chattanooga, Knoxville and Martin -- aren't getting enough to eat. At UT Knoxville, that's more than 8,300 students who could be searching for where their next meal will come from or skipping meals completely to stretch out the food they have. It's not a new problem on college campuses, but it has been getting more attention over the past five years as both universities and community colleges change how they address students' basic needs.
 
A U. of South Carolina lab was built on a Beaufort County barrier island decades ago. Now it's in the water
Hannuman Bull used to live largely alone on a barrier island off the South Carolina coast. He'd wake up to a cup of coffee, descend from the stilted lab building he stayed in and walk his dog, Jake, on the desolate Pritchards Island. For three turtle nesting seasons over three years, Bull served as the island's manager. Pritchards Island had a functioning laboratory back then, a raised wooden structure with ocean views. It was tucked away, surrounded by live oaks and palmettos, only the sound of crashing waves interrupting what for many was an undisturbed respite. It was a place where researchers and students stayed to study the island's ecosystems and monitor threatened loggerhead sea turtles. Bull was in charge of a radar system measuring ocean currents and waves. Almost 15 years have passed since Bull left the lab. Now, it's abandoned. But what lies beneath the building tells a larger story; one where the lab unwittingly became a study in itself. Pritchards Island is being swallowed by the ocean, primarily because of the coast's natural life cycle but also from nearby development and rising seas. While many say the island's fate is expected, some have concern about how quickly it's disappearing. The combination of climate change, Mother Nature and development on nearby Fripp Island are suspected of causing troubles at Pritchard's Island.
 
U. of Missouri professor: Ukrainian forces defeated Russia in battle over Kyiv
Ukrainian forces defeated Russia in Kyiv, a significant feat, said University of Missouri associate professor Stephen Quackenbush. Quackenbush is director of the Defense and Strategic Studies Program in MU's Truman School of Government and Public Affairs. Some of his previous research has centered on the importance for invading armies to capture a country's capital. "They lost the battle for Kyiv, frankly," Quackenbush said of Russia. "They may come back." Russia didn't withdraw from Kyiv to be nice, he said. It was defeated. "We know that Russia lost the battle for Kyiv, and that's significant," Quackenbush said. Kyiv seems to no longer be an interest of Russia, said Irynka Hromotska, MU photojournalism graduate student from Ukraine. "Their Plan A of taking Kyiv in three days failed," Hromotska said. "Now they don't mention at all about how they're going to take Kyiv." Ukrainian students at MU celebrated the sinking of the Russian Black Sea flagship Moskva, but Quackenbush said its significance is mostly symbolic and adds to Russian missteps. "I think it's significant symbolically," Quackenbush said. It's humiliating for Russia and boosts Ukrainian morale, he said. The ship won't be replaced because Turkey won't allow a Russian military ship through its waters, he said.
 
'Flexible Work Is Not the New Norm,' One University Says
A new report from the University of Iowa offers one take on the future of the higher-ed workplace -- namely, that flexible work might not be as prominent in a post-pandemic era as some have predicted. Based on nearly two years of pilot programs involving 1,800 employees, Iowa's final "Future of Work" report, released this month, outlines recommendations for how the university should proceed with remote-work policies. Iowa's plan makes room for some flexibility, but not for everyone, and not all the time. "Flexible work is not the new norm," the report says. "Most faculty and staff roles require on-campus work that provides the residential campus experience students expect." A number of colleges have created "future of work" initiatives, published guidelines for remote and hybrid work, and started pilot programs. Some have stressed the importance of preserving in-person work, while others have contemplated how permanent Covid-era changes in the campus workplace are likely to be. But Iowa's report stands out for its clear position statement on what the university's work arrangements should look like after the pandemic. That's not to say that flexible work lacks advantages, like saving space and money, expanding some services, supporting employees' well-being, and raising the institution's standing in a competitive job market, Cheryl Reardon, associate vice president and chief human-resources officer at Iowa, said in a news release. And some jobs, like those in information technology, finance, and research administration, can be "effectively performed" remotely or on alternative schedules. But on the whole, faculty and staff members at Iowa shouldn't expect a future dominated by remote work. That's because of the institution's focus on the student experience, Reardon told The Chronicle. "That's who we are as an institution," she said. "We don't want to lose that at all."
 
Campus police alter uniforms and unmark cars to soften image
Like many law enforcement agencies, campus police forces have become the subject of scrutiny, particularly in the post–George Floyd era, when distrust of uniformed officers is high. Many university police wear militarized uniforms and carry gear more commonly seen in combat zones; through the Pentagon's military surplus 1033 program, some colleges even equip officers with leftover weapons of war, including grenade launchers, M16 rifles and land mine–resistant tactical vehicles. Protests against police brutality and calls to defund law enforcement are as common on college campuses as they are on city streets. Now some college police departments are deploying a new tactic to try to gain student trust: swapping out their intimidating uniforms and badges for casual clothing that makes them appear more approachable. Beyond that, some college police departments are dropping the black and white paint and flashing lights from their cars, adopting campus colors in an effort to soften their presence. And it isn't just a look---campus leaders say it's part of a strategy focused on enhancing community policing.
 
Here's How Rising Inflation Is Affecting Higher Ed
Like every other industry right now, higher education is grappling with the effects of raging inflation, tempering much of the other news, largely good, about higher ed's finances. While college endowments saw stellar returns in the 2021 fiscal year, investment managers believed that navigating rising inflation would be a long-term challenge, according to a recent endowment study by the National Association of College and University Business Officers. And an early look at state spending on higher education in the 2022 fiscal year showed that it was up 8.5 percent from the year before. But that increase has essentially been canceled out by the jump in inflation for the 12 months ending in March. With inflation at a four-decade high, the findings in new provisional data about faculty pay took on a different level of urgency. According to the American Association of University Professors' most recent faculty compensation survey, real (or inflation-adjusted) average salaries for faculty members fell 5 percent between the 2020-21 academic year and the current one. That's the greatest decrease in real wage growth since the 1979-80 academic year, when inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, or CPI-U, rose more than 12 percent, the association said. Meanwhile, a new report from Moody's Investors Service warned that tuition-revenue growth could be reduced at many institutions. The factors in play? A strong labor market and high inflation, analysts at the bond-ratings agency wrote.
 
Grocery tax cut considered, but never acted upon by state's political leadership
Bobby Harrison writes for Mississippi Today: Mississippi's political leaders have talked for years about cutting the 7% tax on groceries, the highest statewide tax of its kind in the nation in its poorest state. But those efforts never go anywhere. Earlier this session, tax cut plans touted by the leadership of both the House and Senate included a cut to the grocery tax in addition to reductions or elimination of the personal income tax. But the plan finally approved by legislators cuts only the income tax. "We are not opposed to a grocery tax cut, but as we have said the income tax cut is the priority," said House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton. Referencing the $525 million income tax cut that passed during the just-completed session and the negotiations with Senate leaders to develop the plan, Gunn added, "Even with this plan we insisted the $500 million tax break we passed this year be income tax. Some of the negotiations that took place early on had about $120 million of that being grocery tax and we said we are not looking at a $500 million tax cut, which includes $120 million of groceries. We want $500 million in income tax. If y'all want to throw a grocery tax (cut) on top of that, we are fine with that ... But we are looking at income tax as the main objective."


SPORTS
 
Bulldogs Take Down Kentucky On The Road 4-1
Mississippi State women's tennis picked up momentum going into the Southeastern Conference Tournament with a 4-1 road win at No. 58 Kentucky. The 67th-ranked Bulldogs claimed the early doubles point and three of the first four singles matches to take the match. "That was a huge win for us," said head coach Daryl Greenan. "Kentucky is a very feisty team and tough to beat in Lexington. I am proud of the resilience our girls have shown to keep fighting after so many close losses this season." The MSU tandem of Chloé Cirotte and Alexandra Mikhailuk took down Carlota Molina and Florencia Urrutia 6-3. The doubles point came down to Court 2 where Emmanouela Antonaki and Marta Falceto clinched the win for the Bulldogs with a tiebreaker 7-6 [12-10]. In doubles, Kentucky's 27th-ranked duo of Fiona Arrese and Ellie Eades defeated Tamara Racine and Magda Adaloglou 7-5 in a close match. The Bulldogs now head to Gainesville, Fla. for the SEC Tournament as the No. 13 seed. MSU's first match at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex is scheduled for Wednesday with 12th-seeded Missouri with first serve set for 11 a.m. CT.
 
If Mississippi State wants to take step forward, Will Rogers' progress is crucial
Mike Leach's scheme requires some coach-speak with real meaning. His Mississippi State teams haven't required the biggest players making the flashiest plays, but rather the Air Raid offense is looking for players with a perfect understanding of their respective roles. Find the gaps in the defense. Run your run efficiently. Get the ball quickly. Run more plays, get more first downs and score more points than the opponent. They key to it, Leach says repeatedly, is consistency -- a consistent understanding of your specific role. The engine to it: quarterback Will Rogers. With his incremental improvement, State's ability to succeed grows. Spring ball doesn't predict a lot for the regular season, but it provides grounds for players to inch closer to their next step. Leach got that from his quarterback the last month. "He already has (elevated his game) some," Leach said. "Just steady work." Rogers' youth was often lost in the shuffle of his record-breaking performances last season. His nine appearances and six starts as a true freshman the year prior made it appear he was more accustomed to playing in the SEC than most of his peers. But Leach made sure to often remind reporters about the typical experience he has at quarterback compared to what Rogers brought. Still, as a sophomore, the Brandon native took the necessary steps to become an upper-tier quarterback.
 
USM sets 2022 homecoming date
The University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association is excited to announce the 2022 Homecoming game will be Saturday, Oct. 15 as 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." Southern Miss 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 scheduled for Friday, Oct. 14. As events are finalized, details will continue to be added to the Association's Homecoming site at SouthernMissAlumni.com/Homecoming. To nominate an alumnus for one of the Southern Miss Alumni Association's annual awards, visit SouthernMissAlumni.com/Awards.
 
Alabama honors university's first Black football players
John Mitchell and Wilbur Jackson already had their place in Alabama football history. Now, the Crimson Tide's first Black players also share a prominent spot outside Bryant-Denny stadium. The university unveiled a plaque honoring Jackson and Mitchell Saturday in a ceremony before the current team's end-of-spring A-Day game, more than 50 years after they broke the color barrier. "It was a moment I will never forget," said Mitchell, who had become emotional when he spoke at the ceremony. "It was very touching. You grow up a little Black kid from south Alabama and these are things you never dream of. " The two 70-year-olds were also honored at halftime. The introverted Jackson became the Tide's first Black scholarship football player when he signed on Dec. 13, 1969. In 1971, defensive end Mitchell, a transfer from Eastern Arizona Junior College, became the first to play in a game. Both are now members of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
 
In college gymnastics, the ripple effect of real 'air time'
The then-fledgling SEC Network needed content when it launched in 2014. The gymnastics programs within the conference needed a way to showcase their burgeoning talent. And "Friday Night Heights" was born. It seemed like a win-win for a sport that has historically struggled to generate widespread public interest outside of the Olympics. Longtime LSU coach D-D Breaux was among the skeptics. "She was (ticked) off to say it quite bluntly," said Kathy Johnson Clarke, a two-time Olympic medalist turned commentator for ESPN. "She was afraid we were going to ruin college gymnastics." Breaux feared if people could watch the meets on TV, they wouldn't come to the arena to support the Tigers. It wasn't until Breaux caught one of the broadcasts -- taut 90-minute affairs that crammed all of the emotion of a football game into half the time -- that she realized she was on the wrong side of history. "The opposite of what she was worried about happened," Johnson Clarke said. "They started packing the arena and started selling out crowds. We increased their exposure. It was an exponential shot in the arm for these programs." "I just think there's a greater awareness because of things like SEC Network, it's one of the things that attracted me (to Arkansas)," said Olympic gold medalist and Razorbacks coach Jordyn Wieber. "And I think it attracts a lot of recruits. Their parents get to watch them if they can't make the meet."



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