Thursday, June 30, 2022   
 
Mississippi State University hosts disaster relief conference
When a natural disaster strikes, most people and businesses turn to their insurance carriers to help them rebuild but what about rebuilding the environment? That was the topic of discussion at a conference hosted by Mississippi State University's Department of Sustainable Bioproducts. The Disaster Resilient Food Energy Water Systems Workshop -- or DIRE FEWS -- brought researchers together to discuss how to help repair damage to things like forests, waterways, and water supplies after disasters such as hurricanes, and how to improve their ability to weather future storms. "We can plan for disaster responses, and we can work together and make improvements on how we respond to disasters," said Beth Stokes for MSU Forest and Wildlife. "So, by getting the word out about groups like this who are interested in doing this type of research. then we feel like we have a better opportunity to serve the citizens of the region." Researchers from MSU, Southern University in Baton Rouge, and Texas A & M participated in the conference.
 
Deer in Texas Are Struggling to Grow Antlers as Drought Grips State
Severe drought and high temperatures in Texas may be stunting the growth of white-tailed deer antlers. Texas is currently gripped by drought, and according to the latest government map released on June 27 drought conditions have expanded and intensified for the third consecutive week. Prolonged extremely dry conditions impact plants, drying out the soil and inhibiting their growth, and causing them to not grow to the size they normally would. As herbivorous animals, this will have huge effects on the levels of nutrition that white-tailed deer are able to consume, which will in turn their affect growth and reproduction. Antlers, which are used for dominance displays, fighting, and sexual quality signalling in male white-tailed deer, require a high level of water and nutrition to grow to their full potential. The drought is expected to impact this growing cycle, causing the antlers to be stunted compared to other years. "We've actually documented annual changes in buck antler size related to drought and heat," Bronson Strickland, Professor of Wildlife Management and Extension Wildlife Specialist at Mississippi State University, told Newsweek.
 
Farmers Market Finds: Starkville Community Market sees record-breaking attendance
The Starkville Community Market hit a record-breaking attendance milestone June 25 surpassing the previous year's total season attendance. In its first 10 markets this year, the Starkville Community Market has seen 5,348 customers. The 2021 summer season overall total was 5,327. The market has grown significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic began thanks to the help of its advisory board and supportive sponsoring businesses. The market is held at Fire Station Park at the intersection of Russell and Lampkin Street in downtown Starkville, and runs each Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. Each market features live music, various children's programming, and the Mayor's corner where residents can meet and greet Mayor Lynn Spruill. Due to increasing fuel prices, the market offers produce vendors a mileage grant for those interested in participating. The Partnership is comprised of the Starkville Area Chamber of Commerce, Oktibbeha County Economic Development Authority, Starkville Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Starkville Main Street Association.
 
New president for Mississippi's Main Street Association announced
For the second year in a row, the presidency of Mississippi Main Street runs through the Golden Triangle. Michelle Jones of Starkville has been elected to serve as President of the Mississippi Main Street Association board. Jones and her husband Briar own the Cottage Industry Starkville, which has rehabilitated historic homes in the city. She helped establish Starkville Main Street in 2010. Jones succeeds Columbus developer Chris Chain as president. "I think it says we have a lot to offer for the state, and there was certainly a lot of work," said Jones. "Chris Chain has done fabulous work in Columbus, and my husband and I have tried to do really good work in Starkville to make sure that historic properties are restored and finding new use in today's world." Jones will serve as president for one year.
 
Marszalek named National Federation of Democratic Women's Outstanding Member
A commitment to service, both in Oktibbeha County as well as in state and national politics, has earned a Starkville woman an national honor. The National Federation of Democratic Women has named Starkville's Jeanne Marszalek its 2022 Outstanding NFDW Member. The National Federation of Democratic Women is an organization that aims to unite women of the Democratic party. It has a national club as well as many state and local federations. The award is given annually to a woman who has contributed to the growth, development and promotion of the federation. Women from across the country are considered for the honor. Marszalek founded the Oktibbeha County Federation of Democratic Women in 1990 and served as its president and treasurer several times. Today, she continues to serve as its historian. "I felt really humbled and honored to receive that award," Marszalek said. "I attribute a lot of it to the help that I received from my committee, who helped me to be able to collect and organize the papers of the Federation of Democratic women and send them to the Library of Congress." Since 2011, she has served as the chair of the history committee for the NFDW. Marszalek has also been instrumental in the curation of the Jeanne A. Marszalek Collection in the Mitchell Memorial Library at MSU.
 
BankFirst to acquire fifth bank in last seven years
BankFirst Capital Corporation announced a merger last week with Tate Financial, the parent company of Sycamore Bank in Senatobia. It's Columbus-based BankFirst's fifth acquisition in the past seven years, and it is expected to close in September. When the merger is complete, BankFirst will have $2.5 billion in total assets, up from its current $2.2 billion. It will also add to its current 370 employees at 41 locations in Mississippi and Alabama. BankFirst president and CEO Moak Griffin said Sycamore Bank customers won't see any significant changes to their banking experience, other than the name change to BankFirst once the two banks combine their operating systems around December or January. Since 2015, BankFirst also has acquired Newton County Bank, First National Bank of Central Alabama, Traders and Farmers Bank and The Citizens Bank of Fayette. The latter two acquisitions came in 2020 and 2021, respectively. We want the markets they're in to be markets that we're all familiar with," Griffin said. "We usually buy the market leader in deposits in their county or in their county areas that they bank in." Those markets tend to show increased growth in small business loans, personal banking and real estate, Griffin said, making them prime candidates for acquisition.
 
Consumers spending more ahead of July 4th holiday weekend
Like many Americans this Independence Day weekend, Kelsey Scott plans to be outside with family and friends. "I plan to do a lot of grilling, ribs, chicken, a couple sides -- things like that," he said. But as Scott and millions of consumers have or will discover, it's going to cost more this year to celebrate the Fourth of July. Personal finance website Wallet Hub in a survey said 84% of Americans plan to celebrate the 4th of July this year, with spending totaling $7.7 billion -- with $1.4 billion on beer and wine. However, the survey also found that 57% said inflation would affect their holiday plans, and 66% said they planned to spend less compared to last year. The American Farm Bureau Federation said food prices overall have increased by more than a third this year, as the Consumer Price Index, a key gauge of inflation, accelerated by 8.6%, the fastest pace in over 40 years. Ground beef has skyrocketed 36% from a year ago, while prices for boneless, skinless chicken breast, pork chops, and pork and beans jumped more than 30%. Additionally beer is up 25%. As the Wallet Hub study indicated, Ashley Henderson of New Albany is adjusting her plans a little this year. Usually, the Hendersons head to the beach for July 4th, but this year they're staying a little closer to home. "We're going to the lake this year and, while those plans are the same as usual, we will definitely spend more on fuel with the higher gas prices," she said. "We have chosen not to do a beach trip this year because of the higher prices in general. But we'll pack lots of snacks and have fun in the sun either way."
 
July Fourth gas prices: How much will gas cost? When should I get gas for my road trip?
Fourth of July travelers will have some relief at the pump, although gas prices are still at levels never before seen for the holiday weekend. The national average for a gallon of gas is $4.86, according to AAA. That is 26 cents more than Memorial Day weekend prices, but it reflects a decline in prices in recent weeks. Gas prices peaked when the all-time record, not adjusted for inflation, was reached on June 14 at $5.01 a gallon. The drop in prices comes as a record number of Americans are expected to take road trips for July Fourth weekend. But high prices are still an issue for some travelers, as 50% of respondents surveyed by the travel planning site The Vacationer said gas prices affected their holiday travel plans. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said people may be excited about the decline in gas prices, but it might not last for long. "Little bouts of relief here and there are going to be common this summer, but we may not also be done with the fireworks yet," De Haan told USA TODAY. De Haan listed several factors as to why gas prices are going down, notably the fears of the global economy resulting in oil prices declining. However, oil prices have begun to rise. Aside from the rise in the demand for gas this summer, another factor that could contribute to another rise in prices is the beginning of hurricane season, as offshore refineries could be impacted by storms.
 
Mississippi new laws: Tax cut, teacher pay raise, state song
Several new laws take effect in Mississippi on Friday, which is also the first day of the new state budget year. In the new budget year, teachers will receive raises that average about $5,100, and assistant teachers will receive $2,000. Mississippi's average teacher salary in 2019-20 was $46,843, according to the Southern Regional Education Board. The national average was $64,133. Mississippi will reduce its income tax over four years. Starting in 2023, the 4% income tax bracket will be eliminated. The following three years, the 5% bracket will be reduced to 4%. After the first year, the tax-free income levels will be $18,300 for a single person and $36,600 for a married couple. State and local election offices are banned from accepting donations from outside groups for election operations. Mississippi joins other Republican-led states in setting a ban in reaction to donations that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg made across the U.S. in 2020. A new law designates "One Mississippi," by singer-songwriter Steve Azar, as one new state song. It also creates a committee to recommend additional state songs from various genres. The state is ditching "Go, Mississippi," which had been the state song since 1962. It uses the tune of "Roll With Ross," the 1959 campaign jingle of segregationist Gov. Ross Barnett.
 
New law against catalytic converter theft effective Friday
A new law to curb catalytic converter theft and more goes into effect Friday. "We all see it. It's very common," Gulfport Police Chief Adam Cooper told WLOX. "It's a load on the person it happens to. It's very expensive to get repaired because it's an expensive item taken right off the car, and it's not very well protected under the vehicle." But now, it's a little more protected by law. "Our policymakers have given us a statute that are going to help enhance public safety," District Attorney Crosby Parker said during a press conference Wednesday at the Harrison County Sheriff's Office. Leaders say the new legislation raises the fine for the crime. Anyone selling the equipment is required to provide an ID and VIN number from the vehicle the catalytic converter was removed from. The transaction must be paid by check, which will provide a paper trail for law enforcement. "On the way over here, I saw catalytic converters. It's just right down this road," Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann said. "Now, they'll be honest people selling them. That's real important." State Senator Mike Thompson and Representative Kevin Felsher collaborated on the bill for more than a year. "I'm just hopeful that it helps out my local community," Thompson said. "In Long Beach, we had one neighborhood get hit with like 20 vehicles in one night."
 
Lauderdale County Republican Chairman looks forward to November elections
We saw an increase in voter turnout for Tuesday's 3rd Congressional District Runoff. Just under 15 percent of registered Lauderdale County voters cast a ballot. That's 25 percent more than the June 7th primary. Lauderdale County Republican Party Chairman Chris Bullock said voters started paying more attention and made it a point to come out. "I think that once they saw how important this race was and how low the turnout was originally, I think that fired up the Republican Party base and they showed up to the polls," Bullock said. Bullock said people wanted a strong conservative representing their district. "I kind of encourage voters to look at the history of this congressional seat," Bullock explained. "There was Sonny Montgomery, Gregg Harper and now Michael Guest. People in Mississippi, especially in this 3rd Congressional District, love a strong conservative representing them in Washington. Michael Guest is that guy. He's got our support." Bullock says the Republican Party is now focused on the November general election.
 
Path to victory: Here's how Mike Ezell defeated Steven Palazzo in Congressional runoff
South Mississippi voters on Tuesday exercised their own term limits, ending Rep. Steven Palazzo's 12 years in Congress and choosing Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell as the likely candidate to make it to Washington. The final tally in the District 4 Congressional race was 54% for Ezell to 46% for Palazzo. Palazzo felt the sting of defeat he dealt to former U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor 12 years earlier. Taylor, a right-leaning Democrat, represented South Mississippi in the U.S Congress for 21 years when Palazzo, then 40 and a member of the "tea party," unseated him in the 2010 general election. Palazzo on Tuesday night blamed his loss on the endorsements Ezell got from the other five candidates who finished behind them in the primary and then quickly swung their support to Ezell to beat Palazzo. Palazzo said he didn't have any transition help from his predecessor 12 years ago when he entered Congress and said he would be there to help the incoming Congressman and introduce him in Washington. Palazzo still has six months in Congress and said he doesn't have any regrets. "Whatever door opens next, I'm looking forward to walking through it," he said. Both candidates won six of 12 counties, but the numbers on the Coast overwhelmingly went to Ezell. He took 68% of the vote in his home of Jackson County and even outscored Palazzo at home in Harrison County 55% to 45%.
 
Palazzo urges support of Ezell for Congress in 4th District's General Election
South Mississippi's 4th District Congressman Steven Palazzo sought to unite Republican voters on Wednesday, urging them to support Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell in the November General Election after Ezell won the runoff on Tuesday. Palazzo, the 12-year incumbent, lost to Ezell in the Republican runoff by a 54% to 46% margin. The Congressman will serve until January when his replacement is sworn in. In a Facebook post, the Congressman said his and Ezell's goals are ultimately the same. "I've talked to Mike Ezell and congratulated him and Suzette on their victory. I hope you will join me in supporting his candidacy this fall," Palazzo stated. "Our goal is the same: win a Republican majority, fire Nancy Pelosi for good, and end the radical Left's woke agenda." As the Republican nominee, Ezell now moves on to face Democrat nominee Johnny DuPree, the former Mayor of Hattiesburg, and Libertarian Alden Johnson in the General Election. Palazzo wrote a heartfelt note to his supporters, saying that serving south Mississippi in Congress has been the highest honor of his life. "While I am disappointed in the election results, I will be eternally grateful for the opportunity to serve the hardworking people of Mississippi's 4th District. I thank everyone who cast a ballot yesterday," Palazzo said.
 
Dupree ready for general election campaign
Johnny DuPree, the Democratic Party nominee for representative for the 4th Congressional District, said he's looking forward to campaigning for the general election in November. DuPree will face Republican Mike Ezell and Libertarian Alden Patrick Johnson in the general election on Nov. 8. Ezell, Jackson County sheriff, defeated incumbent Steven Palazzo in Tuesday's Republican primary runoff. "I congratulate him on his successful campaign and I look forward to the next four months to campaign and put our views out and hopefully, the citizens will come out," Dupree said. "I really do hope they come out and vote because that's what this democracy is all about." He was in Biloxi on Wednesday attending a conference for the Mississippi Municipal League. He said that he expects many different issues to be discussed during the campaign. "Certainly, the things that affects Mississippi, healthcare, education, jobs, inflation, all those things are important to Mississippians, they're important to the 4th Congressional District and they're probably the most common things you're going to find, regardless who you talk to," DuPree said. "But, the other thing is respecting the rights of people," DuPree said. "I think that is most important to make sure we respect their rights, the right to be individuals, the right to be citizens, the right to have a healthful, peaceful life, the Constitution talks about that and we need to preserve those rights."
 
Analysis: At 3-year mark, more questions than answers in Mississippi welfare fraud scandal
"It doesn't look good." Former Gov. Phil Bryant's own words about his role in the state's welfare fraud scandal are a great understatement. And now at the three-year mark since investigators began nibbling at the edges of what state Auditor Shad White has called the largest public fraud case in state history, things still don't look good. But there remain as many questions as answers on how at least $77 million in federal welfare dollars was stolen or misspent. And by whom. The questions in chief: Is the case being thoroughly investigated, top to bottom, and will all those responsible be held accountable? Have punches been pulled because of politics or celebrity? It's unclear where any continuing federal or state investigations stand at the three-year mark. No further arrests have been made since February of 2020. Interim Southern District U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and the U.S. Department of Justice declined comment. This has raised questions, in particular, about state Auditor White, who spearheaded the initial investigation and charges with a local DA -- for eight months -- without involving federal authorities despite the case involving millions of federal welfare dollars. White has explained that he made arrests to stop the flow of funds to the allegedly corrupt nonprofits and afterward turned all evidence over to federal authorities. White, who has often declined comment citing a long-running state judge's gag order on the case, on social media blasted such questioning in Mississippi Today articles, calling it "garbage reporting" and a liberal attack. He said he would no longer speak with Mississippi Today.
 
1955 warrant in Emmett Till case found, family seeks arrest
A team searching a Mississippi courthouse basement for evidence about the lynching of Black teenager Emmett Till has found the unserved warrant charging a white woman in his 1955 kidnapping, and relatives of the victim want authorities to finally arrest her nearly 70 years later. A warrant for the arrest of Carolyn Bryant Donham -- identified as "Mrs. Roy Bryant" on the document -- was discovered last week by searchers inside a file folder that had been placed in a box, Leflore County Circuit Clerk Elmus Stockstill told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Now in her 80s and most recently living in North Carolina, Donham has not commented publicly on calls for her prosecution. But Teri Watts said the Till family believes the warrant accusing Donham of kidnapping amounts to new evidence. District Attorney Dewayne Richardson, whose office would prosecute a case, declined comment on the warrant but cited a December report about the Till case from the Justice Department, which said no prosecution was possible. Arrest warrants can "go stale" due to the passage of time and changing circumstances, and one from 1955 almost certainly wouldn't pass muster before a court, even if a sheriff agreed to serve it, said Ronald J. Rychlak, a law professor at the University of Mississippi. But combined with any new evidence, the original arrest warrant "absolutely" could be an important stepping stone toward establishing probable cause for a new prosecution, he said. "If you went in front of a judge you could say, 'Once upon a time a judge determined there was probable cause, and much more information is available today,'" Rychlak said.
 
Mississippi women lawmakers want more holistic pro-life policies next session
Nearly every Republican politician in Mississippi has praised the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and eliminating a person's constitutional right to seek an abortion, but there's no clear vision among those same leaders on what the next pro-life goals should be. But Mississippi has extreme problems with poverty, leads the nation in infant and maternal mortality rates, leaves swaths of the population without access to an OB-GYN, and does not have a robust system of child care assistance. If state lawmakers don't try and improve those metrics combined with, presumably, more Mississippians carrying pregnancies to term, real lives could be on the line in the state with the lowest per capita rate of physicians. Hours after the Court handed down the historic ruling, House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, announced that he was forming a commission that would recommend policy proposals for "new challenges and opportunities" the state will face with a likely increase in the number of births. When asked if his commission would entertain any type of Medicaid expansion or enhancement, Gunn said he would leave that decision up to the commission members, but reiterated he currently remains opposed to the policy proposals. Ironically, Rep. Becky Currie, R-Brookhaven, who introduced the bill that led to the Supreme Court eliminating abortion rights, also thinks House Republicans should give mothers more healthcare tools like postpartum coverage and access to contraceptives. "We have to do a better job of making sure people have what they need," Currie bluntly said. "If somebody wants birth control, they should have access to it."
 
Mississippi House Speaker says 12-year-old incest victims should continue pregnancies to term
Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn (R) told reporters Wednesday it is his "personal belief" that if a 12-year-old girl is a victim of incest she should still be made to carry a resulting pregnancy to term. "I believe that life begins at conception and every life is valuable. Those are my personal beliefs," Gunn said. A reporter then asked, "So that 12-year-old child molested by her father or uncle should carry that child to term?" to which Gunn replied, "That is my personal belief." A challenge to a Mississippi law banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy made its way to the Supreme Court, where it was upheld in a decision that overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that guaranteed the right to abortion. A separate state law passed in 2007 bans abortions outright if Roe were overturned, with exceptions for rape and instances when the mothers life is at risk. The 15-week law does not include a rape exception, and neither law makes exceptions for incest. The Mississippi Free Press reports that several GOP lawmakers want the rape exception eliminated from the trigger ban, which would mean abortions would only be allowed to save the life of the mother. Mississippi currently has the nation's highest infant and fetal mortality rates, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the lowest life expectancy in the country.
 
As the clock ticks on legal abortion, tensions rise outside the state's only clinic
On Friday morning, Brooke Jones was at work at Mississippi's only abortion clinic, performing an ultrasound, when her aunt called -- twice. "She usually doesn't call when I'm at work," Jones, a sonogram and lab tech at the clinic, said. "I called her back when I finished my patient up. She was like, 'Have you heard? I said, 'Heard what?' She said, 'They overturned it.'" Jones rushed into the hallway, where her colleagues were gathered. They were sad, she said. It felt like a heavy weight had settled onto their shoulders. They were also confused about what the sudden elimination of a constitutional right would mean for the 20 or so patients already in the building. "We had to tell the patients, we're not sure if it's going to be in effect immediately," Jones said. "It was really emotional for the first 30 minutes, because we honestly didn't know what to do." The patients were scared, Jones said. One asked if she could have her $150 back. That day, the clinic was packed with people from out of town -- some clinics around the country had already stopped offering abortions in anticipation of the ruling. One woman said she had driven six hours and just wanted to know if she would be able to get her pills. Then, clinic director Shannon Brewer, who was in New Mexico working on plans to open a new abortion clinic there -- dubbed Pink House West -- told staff to continue with business as usual. The workday resumed, busier and more urgent than ever.
 
How Abortion-Rights Advocates Won in Mississippi
Almost a decade before Mississippi passed the law that would result in the pro-life movement's greatest victory -- overturning Roe v. Wade -- anti-abortion advocates suffered a major loss there. In 2011, they attempted to ban abortions through a ballot measure, Initiative 26, that legally defined life as beginning at the moment of fertilization. No exception. Voters overwhelmingly rejected it, 58% to 42%. Such a "personhood" initiative may have seemed like a fringe idea for Mississippians and others back then, but it is now very much a reality in a post-Roe world. In fact, these and other restrictive measures at the state level could be the next battleground --- in which case, the fight over Initiative 26 offers some valuable lessons. "I was just a normal Mississippi girl, going to college. And then I was abducted and raped," says a White woman named Cristen Hemmins in a TV ad against the measure. "Initiative 26 doesn't make any exceptions for rape or incest," she says. "I don't trust the government. I trust Mississippi families and women to make these important decisions. It's perfectly acceptable to be pro-life and against Initiative 26." The message worked by embracing the complex and nuanced feelings around abortion. There were almost a dozen ads that featured doctors, nurses, pastors and others. They touted conservative values while underscoring the real-life consequences, such as putting a mother's life at risk, losing access to birth control and criminalizing women. In the end, voters rejected Initiative 26 even as they elected a Republican governor. And the coalition that helped defeat Initiative 26 disbanded and moved on.
 
Jackson to take Supreme Court oath Thursday, minutes after Breyer retires
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will be sworn in as the Supreme Court's first Black female justice at noon Thursday, just minutes after her mentor Justice Stephen G. Breyer makes his retirement official. Jackson, 51, was chosen for the court by President Biden after Breyer this year announced his plans to retire. She was confirmed April 7 but has been waiting for Breyer to finish out the last term of his four-decade judicial career. Breyer's work on the court will end with release of the term's remaining opinions and possibly with the announcement of some new cases accepted for next term. Jackson will be sworn in at a private ceremony at the Supreme Court. Breyer and Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. will administer the oaths Jackson must take. Breyer sent a letter to Biden on Wednesday that said he planned to end his service on the high court at noon. "You have nominated and the United States Senate has confirmed the Honorable Ketanji Brown Jackson to succeed me in the office, and I understand that she is prepared to take the prescribed oaths to begin her service as the 116th member of this court," wrote Breyer, who hired Jackson as a clerk for the 1999-2000 term. Breyer added, "It has been my great honor to participate as a judge in the effort to maintain our Constitution and the Rule of Law." Jackson will become the first Black woman to serve on the high court, and her elevation from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit will mean the Supreme Court for the first time will have four female justices among its nine members. She will serve with Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett.
 
Supreme Court: Biden may end Trump-era 'remain in Mexico' policy for migrants
The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the Biden administration to end a Trump-era immigration policy that required migrants seeking asylum to remain in Mexico while their cases are reviewed, ending a year-long legal fight over a policy critics say contributed to a humanitarian crisis on the border. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for a 5-4 majority. He was joined by Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh and the court's liberals. Associate Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas and Amy Coney Barrett dissented. In the final opinion handed down in the 2021-2022 term, a rare win at the court for President Joe Biden, Roberts said that the lower court's ruling against the administration "imposed a significant burden upon the executive's ability to conduct diplomatic relations with Mexico." That's because, Roberts noted, the United States cannot unilaterally return migrants who are from Central America to Mexico. Those returns must be negotiated with Mexican officials. In dissent, Associate Justice Samuel Alito blamed the administration for releasing "into this country untold numbers of aliens who are very likely to be removed if they show up for their removal hearings. "This practice violates the clear terms of the law," Alito said, "but the court looks the other way."
 
Supreme Court limits EPA in curbing power plant emissions
In a blow to the fight against climate change, the Supreme Court on Thursday limited how the nation's main anti-air pollution law can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. By a 6-3 vote, with conservatives in the majority, the court said that the Clean Air Act does not give the Environmental Protection Agency broad authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants that contribute to global warming. The court's ruling could complicate the administration's plans to combat climate change. Its proposal to regulate power plant emissions is expected by the end of the year. President Joe Biden aims to cut the nation's greenhouse gas emissions in half by the end of the decade and to have an emissions-free power sector by 2035. Power plants account for roughly 30% of carbon dioxide output. "Capping carbon dioxide emissions at a level that will force a nationwide transition away from the use of coal to generate electricity may be a sensible 'solution to the crisis of the day,'" Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in his opinion for the court. But Roberts wrote that the Clean Air Act doesn't give EPA the authority to do so and that Congress must speak clearly on this subject. In a dissent, Justice Elena Kagan wrote that the decision strips the EPA of the power Congress gave it to respond to "the most pressing environmental challenge of our time."
 
Liz Cheney: 'Republicans cannot be both loyal to Donald Trump and loyal to the Constitution'
Rep. Liz Cheney, speaking at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Wednesday, said it's time for Republicans to make a choice: Donald Trump or the Constitution. The vice chair of the Jan. 6 committee leaned into her message just a day after White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson's stunning testimony unveiled new details about the highest echelons of the White House in the final days and hours before the violent Capitol attack. In taking the stage at the Reagan Library in California, Cheney didn't shy away from her newfound role as the face of the anti-Trump GOP and a relic of the Republican Party before the dominance of Trump, who she said is "attempting to unravel the foundations of our constitutional republic." The Wyoming Republican, who has yet to rule out a run for president in 2024, spoke in a manner that paves the path for a presidential run. "It's undeniable. It's also painful for Republicans to accept. And I think we all have to recognize and understand what it means to say those words, and what it means that those things happened," Cheney said to the crowd at a site long associated with traditional Republican values as reflected in Reagan's presidency. Cheney, who is at risk of losing her primary for her Wyoming House seat, said she's a conservative Republican, a politician who believes in limited government, low taxes, a strong national defense and that family is the center of Americans' lives. She hit the Biden administration for its economic policies and record-high inflation plaguing American households. But she said as a leader in her party, she said she cannot ignore "the threat posed by Donald Trump," nor can other Republicans.
 
Buttigieg launches $1B pilot to build racial equity in roads
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Thursday launched a $1 billion first-of-its-kind pilot program aimed at helping reconnect cities and neighborhoods racially segregated or divided by road projects, pledging wide-ranging help to dozens of communities despite the program's limited dollars. Under the Reconnecting Communities program, cities and states can now apply for the federal aid over five years to rectify harm caused by roadways that were built primarily through lower-income, Black communities after the 1950s creation of the interstate highway system. New projects could include rapid bus transit lines to link disadvantaged neighborhoods to jobs; caps built on top of highways featuring green spaces, bike lanes and pedestrian walkways to allow for safe crossings over the roadways; repurposing former rail lines; and partial removal of highways. Still, the grants, being made available under President Joe Biden's bipartisan infrastructure law, are considerably less than the $20 billion the Democratic president originally envisioned. Advocacy groups say the money isn't nearly enough to have a major impact on capital construction for more than 50 citizen-led efforts nationwide aimed at dismantling or redesigning highways. Meanwhile, some Republicans, including possible 2024 presidential contender Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have derided the effort as the "woke-ification" of federal policy, suggesting political crosswinds ahead in an election season.
 
Former U. of Alabama vice president of strategic communications accepts job in Memphis
A former University of Alabama vice president credited with spearheading UA's "Where Legends Are Made" advertising campaign has accepted a new job at Rhodes College in Memphis. Linda Bonnin will assume the role of vice president for marketing and communications at Rhodes College on Tuesday. She served as UA's vice president for strategic communications from 2015 to early 2020 before leaving Tuscaloosa to become senior vice president for marketing and strategic communications at Abilene Christian University in Texas. The Memphis native came to UA after stints in similar posts at LSU and the University of Memphis. "Linda Bonnin brings a wealth of strategic, collaborative, and visionary marketing skills to Rhodes," President-elect Jennifer Collins said in a news release from Rhodes College. Bonnin earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Harding University and a liberal arts degree from Harding Academy. UA's "Where Legends Are Made" branding campaign was named the No. 1 advertising campaign internationally in 2019 in the CASE Circle of Excellence awards.
 
Governor signs law that seeks to prevent a student from going hungry on a college campus
A bill to establish colleges as a "hunger-free campus" in Louisiana has been signed into law. University of Louisiana System President Jim Henderson praises the law and says it's designed to address food insecurities among college students. "And very welcome legislation. legislation that addresses a need that is hidden from view," said Henderson. The law establishes a task force to create action plans focused on food insecurities on college campuses. Henderson says when he was at Northwestern State a group of students started a food pantry on campus and it quickly expanded due to demand. He says as school tuition and the cost of living has increased over the years and the current economy it's only made the issue of hunger even more real on college campuses. "This hunger free campus idea helps us to absolve that perfect storm and couldn't come at a more opportune time," said Henderson.
 
Judge denies requests to block Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' so-called 'Stop WOKE Act'
A federal judge Monday rejected arguments by attorneys for teachers, a student and a diversity consultant that he should block a controversial new state law that restricts the way race-related concepts can be taught in classrooms and workplace training. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued a 23-page order that largely denied a request for a preliminary injunction against the law, which is slated to take effect Friday. Walker, however, did not rule on an injunction request by a University of Central Florida professor, after ordering attorneys to file additional briefs. Lawmakers passed the measure (HB 7) -- dubbed by Gov. Ron DeSantis as the "Stop WOKE Act" -- during this year's legislative session after fierce debate. A group of plaintiffs filed the lawsuit April 22 after DeSantis signed the bill, arguing, in part, that it violated First Amendment rights. They also challenged rules approved last year by the State Board of Education that included banning the use of critical race theory, which is based on the premise that racism is embedded in American society and institutions. Walker, who held a hearing last week, said in the order Monday that four of the plaintiffs lacked legal standing to obtain a preliminary injunction. Walker, however, left unresolved the preliminary injunction request by Robert Cassanello, an associate history professor at the University of Central Florida. That came after the plaintiffs' attorneys last week filed a document pointing to a proposed rule that is scheduled to go before the state university system's Board of Governors on Thursday.
 
Georgia Tech hotel hosting conference by election deniers
A meeting of activists spreading debunked theories about the 2020 presidential election, vaccine misinformation, and conspiracy theories about supposed global "shadow government" will take place this holiday weekend in an unexpected place -- the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology. The Nations in Action "Solutions and Strategy Summit" is scheduled to be held in the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center, a midtown hotel run by the Georgia Tech Foundation, the university's non-profit fundraising arm. Nations in Action, an organization founded by former Georgia lobbyist and Republican activist Maria Zack, bills the conference as an opportunity "to learn strategies and tactics to win America back." The speakers are fringe figures, some of whom have espoused antisemitic conspiracies about Jewish control of government and the media or debunked claims about alleged health impacts of 5G cellular technology, among other beliefs. Mia Bloom, a Georgia State University professor and expert on extremist groups, said the descriptions of the panels for the conference mirror language commonly found on QAnon channels on Telegram. She said the fact that it is being held on Georgia Tech's campus is troubling. "This is disinformation and misinformation intended to distort reality ... but it is being held at one of the most prestigious universities in the South," she said. "I don't know what Georgia Tech is charging, but it's not worth their reputation." When reached for comment, Georgia Tech replied with a written statement through a spokesman that attempted to distance itself from the conference without condemning its content.
 
In Its Latest Public Filings, Liberty U. Blasts the President Who Turned It Into a Billion-Dollar Behemoth
The bitter war of words between Jerry L. Falwell Jr. and Liberty University -- the institution Falwell led for over a decade -- shows no signs of abating, per newly filed federal records obtained by The Chronicle. In the most recent Form 990 that Liberty filed with the Internal Revenue Service, the university disclosed that Falwell earned $3.5 million from the institution in 2020 -- $2.4 million of it from severance. But Liberty also accuses Falwell and his family of benefiting from a series of dubious financial transactions during Falwell's last five years as president of the Christian mega-university. The recriminations follow the filing of dueling lawsuits by the two parties in state court in 2021, and before that, the pair's very public and acrimonious separation in August 2020. In a statement to The Chronicle, a lawyer for Falwell disputed the veracity of "virtually all the statements" made by Liberty to the IRS. He also suggested that an examination opened by the IRS into Liberty's operations during the 2019 fiscal year may have motivated the institution to make such allegations. The latest volley of accusations and countercharges offers a marked contrast to what was once a fruitful partnership between Falwell and the institution, during which Liberty became an online juggernaut. Liberty generated $1.5 billion in revenue in the 2021 fiscal year, and enrolled 123,000 undergraduate and graduate students during the 2019-20 academic year.
 
Millions of Students Experience Food Insecurity. But Campus Food Pantries Can Make a Difference.
In a push to support students' basic needs, the University of California system has added a food pantry to each of its 10 campuses -- and students who use them regularly are improving their well-being, according to a new study. Researchers surveyed nearly 2,000 students across the UC system before and after their visits to campus food pantries in 2019. Students who frequently visited the pantries self-reported a reduced number of depressive symptoms, better overall perceived physical health, and increased amounts of sufficient sleep. Those frequent users also reported a greater improvement in their health in comparison to peers who used the pantries less. The study was published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. Food insecurity is a nationwide issue, but its presence is felt deeply on college campuses. A survey by the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice found that more than one-third of students, and 38 percent of students at two-year colleges, reported experiencing food insecurity in the past 30 days in fall 2020. As students from marginalized backgrounds have struggled during the pandemic, more colleges have zeroed in on basic needs as part of overall wellness.
 
Most college students unaware of social progress made in US and worldwide
Fewer than half of American college students are aware of social progress made in the U.S. and across the world in terms of literacy, poverty and life expectancy, according to a new report. "American colleges and universities play a vital role in educating future political, cultural and business leaders. The goal of our survey is to understand how well we are equipping our future leaders with the knowledge, openness, optimism and agency to aid in continuing society's progress," said John Bitzan, Menard Family Director at the Challey Institute at North Dakota State University and co-author of the report. The university's American College Student Freedom, Progress and Flourishing Survey found that based on what they have learned in school, 45 percent of U.S. college students believe the world is better off than it was 50 years ago among measures such as literacy, life expectancy and poverty. In the past 50 years, extreme poverty has decreased, hunger levels have been falling, life expectancy has gone up by more than 10 years and global literacy has increased. However, these numbers took a hit in the pandemic. "The findings suggest many students are not being equipped with what we might call a progress-mindset. I have collected a lot of data showing young Americans are not optimistic about the future, but it still surprises me that so many young people, particularly students with access to a college education, do not feel hopeful and inspired," said the study's co-author Clay Routledge.
 
U.S. Plans to Help Universities Protect Security of Research
The U.S. Department of Commerce on Tuesday announced a new effort aimed at working with universities to protect potentially sensitive research products from theft by foreign agents. The so-called Academic Outreach Initiative was announced by the Commerce Department's assistant secretary for export enforcement, Matthew S. Axelrod, in a speech at the annual meeting of the National Association of College and University Attorneys. "The challenges of keeping our academic research environments thriving and our controlled information secure from improper foreign acquisition are significant," Axelrod said in remarks prepared for delivery at the conference. "That's why I'm announcing today a new Export Enforcement initiative to help academic research institutions protect themselves from these threats." By working more closely with universities that conduct research with potential national security implications, the federal government "will empower colleges and universities to prevent unauthorized exports, including releases of controlled technology, and to make informed judgments about their future and ongoing partnerships with foreign universities and companies," Axelrod said in remarks prepared for delivery at the conference.
 
New Title IX rules raise concerns for the accused
The long-awaited proposals for new Title IX regulations under the Biden administration were released last week, to mixed reactions. The proposals include changes to the way colleges investigate sexual assault, which has sparked concern and condemnation from civil liberties advocates. Some critics believe that changing the process for sexual assault investigations will roll back due process rights for the accused, returning higher education to a climate that allegedly favored the rights of accusers, which prompted a flurry of lawsuits from alleged perpetrators in recent years. Supporters of the changes argue that Biden's Title IX regulations reverse rules established by the Trump administration that have silenced accusers and made victims less likely to come forward. The Biden administration's proposed changes will drop mandated live hearings in Title IX cases -- unless they are required by state law -- that provided for cross-examination of accusers, permit a return to a single-investigator model, reduce the evidence a college must share with the accused to a written summary and allow colleges to investigate sexual misconduct without a formal complaint. These changes roll back a number of regulations established under former secretary of education Betsy DeVos during the Trump administration that emphasized due process for the accused. Opponents of the DeVos regulations have welcomed the changes, though much of the reaction has fallen along party lines, with Democrats celebrating and Republicans fuming.
 
Vital education issues Supreme Court could revisit
The Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade captured the world's attention in recent days, but the ultraconservative majority also issued consequential rulings on issues involving schools that could have long-lasting repercussions. The unrestrained approach that it displayed in overturning Roe and other precedents throws open the question of what other cases the high court's aggressive majority might revisit that could affect American schooling. In the past week, the court: ruled 6-to-3 in Carson v. Makin that Maine cannot exclude religious schools from a taxpayer-funded "tuitioning" program that pays for private school tuition when no nearby public high school is available; and ruled 6-to-3 against a Washington state school board, in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, that had disciplined a former football coach for leading postgame prayers at midfield with student-athletes and others. Another issue that could come before the current court is the 1982 Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe, which struck down a Texas law that denied state education funding to noncitizens. The high court concluded that the statute violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and that a state cannot prevent children of undocumented immigrants from attending public school unless there is "some substantial state interest" in doing so. The dissent criticized the majority for overstepping its authority and legislating from the bench: The "importance of a governmental service does not elevate it to the status of a 'fundamental right' for purposes of equal protection analysis." In May, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said he wants the case revisited -- and wants the federal government to pay for the public education of undocumented students in Texas schools.


SPORTS
 
Mississippi State Takes Over SEC Network On July 10
The SEC Network will soon be wrapped in Maroon and White for a day. Mississippi State is set to be featured for 24 straight hours of programming on Sunday, July 10, as part of SEC Network Takeover. SEC Network original shows and some of the regular season's top moments from the past year will be featured. For MSU, programming will include an airing of Banner Year: The Story of Mississippi State's First National Title -- a special look back at the Bulldog baseball team's run to the 2021 crown. Among the games to be showcased, fans can relive Mississippi State softball's March 20, 2022, victory over Ole Miss that saw the Bulldogs polish off a series sweep amidst the team's historic season that included a Super Regional appearance. The complete programming schedule will be revealed by the SEC Network at a later date. This marks the eighth consecutive year in which all 14 Southeastern Conference schools have received a dedicated day on SEC Network since the channel's debut on August 14, 2014. This year's SEC Network Takeovers begin on Saturday, July 2, and run through Friday, July 15.
 
Leach signs 2-year contract extension with Mississippi State
Mississippi State coach Mike Leach has signed a two-year contract extension through 2025 after leading the Bulldogs to their second consecutive bowl appearance. MSU football spokesman Brandon Langlois on Wednesday confirmed the extension, which was initially reported by several media outlets. The third-year coach's base annual salary increases from $5 million to $5.5 million under the new deal. Known for his high-octane Air Raid offensive scheme -- and for being outspoken -- Leach is 11-13 in two seasons at MSU and 150-103 over a 20-year head coaching career with stops at Washington State and Texas Tech. The Bulldogs went 7-6 in 2021 with wins over three ranked schools. Junior quarterback Will Rogers led an offense that ranked fourth nationally in passing at 378.3 yards per game and tied for 28th in total offense (441.5). MSU is 1-1 in postseason under Leach, dropping last season's Liberty Bowl 34-7 to Texas Tech. They won the Armed Forces Bowl in 2020 following a 10-game, Southeastern Conference-only schedule because of the coronavirus pandemic.
 
Mississippi State women's basketball has size again. How does Sam Purcell make the pieces fit?
JerKaila Jordan is a 5-foot-9 guard. She was recruited as such at Tulane, and when she transferred to Mississippi State's women's basketball program. It's simple but is easily forgotten after injuries and transfers derailed the team's depth a season ago. It left interim coach Doug Novak with one post player at times, including a 15-point loss at Ole Miss in January. Novak started five guards that day, which meant Jordan was forced to be the team's center. "I remember that game specifically," Jordan said. Even she couldn't help but laugh when reminded of it. New coach Sam Purcell won't have to worry about that. Jordan will remain at guard because Mississippi State now has size on its roster. Adding bigs was a priority for Purcell in the transfer portal. He landed a pair of 6-foot-4 forwards in Nyayongah Gony (Miami) and Ramani Parker (Louisville). Purcell also has Denae Carter returning from a torn ACL after an SEC all-freshman season and Charlotte Kohl coming back after emerging as a formidable rebounder. But most valuable is the return of Jessika Carter. The 6-foot-5 center was second team All-SEC in 2020, but a tough road followed. "Jess is a great player," Denae said. "The five is her position, and she's going to do amazing at it."
 
2022-23 Mississippi State men's basketball SEC opponents announced
The schedule for Chris Jans' first season as Mississippi State's head basketball coach continues to come into focus. On Wednesday, the Southeastern Conference announced the Bulldogs' SEC opponents for the 2022-23 season. MSU will play every team at least once. Jans' squad will face permanent opponents Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina twice in addition to playing home and road games against Missouri and Tennessee. Last season also saw a home-and-home with Missouri, while Tennessee came to Humphrey Coliseum in the only matchup between the two schools. MSU's nine games at the Hump also include Kentucky, Florida, LSU and Texas A&M. On the road, the Bulldogs will travel to Arkansas for the only matchup between the two teams, who played twice last season. Auburn, Georgia and Vanderbilt will also host Mississippi State. The Bulldogs' full schedule has yet to be released, but it includes an SEC/Big 12 Challenge matchup with TCU on Jan. 28, 2023, in Starkville. Mississippi State will join Georgia Tech, Marquette and Utah at the Fort Myers Tipoff from Nov. 21-23 and will also travel to Minnesota in a game reported to be set for Dec. 11.
 
After winning AD of the Year, Ashley Robinson plans to 'dominate the FCS' in football and beyond
After leading Jackson State athletics back to a level of national prominence that it hasn't seen in decades, Ashley Robinson was recognized as one of 28 winners of the Cushman & Wakefield AD of the Year award Tuesday in Las Vegas. "This is a great accomplishment," Robinson told the Clarion Ledger. "To me it's one of the biggest accomplishments I've had as an athletic director. I feel very, very excited about the success we've had at Jackson State University." His boldest move, hiring Deion Sanders as football coach, has paid off with the program's first SWAC title since 2007, a Celebration Bowl appearance, and an FCS Coach of the Year award. Earlier this month, with Sanders, five-star cornerback Travis Hunter, and quarterback Shedeur Sanders, JSU became the first HBCU represented on the cover of Sports Illustrated since Alcorn's Steve McNair graced the cover in 1994. Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs pledged $1 million to JSU football at the BET Awards on Sunday. "You walk through the airport, you turn the radio on, you open the newspaper, you turn SportsCenter on, you see Jackson State University," Robinson said. "That shows the branding that we're doing for our institution and the success we're having. We want to continue to grow Jackson State, but that's one of the best experiences you can ever have as an athletic director."
 
How South Carolina athletes are capitalizing on NIL opportunities one year into new era
South Carolina receiver Dakereon Joyner clasped a microphone in his right hand on May 14 as more than 70 middle school-age campers turned to watch him from the bleacher seats below. Joyner had been preparing since roughly December for the first DK Joyner Football Camp at Fort Dorchester High School, the place where he starred as a quarterback under the Friday night lights. Securing such things as field time, insurance permits and a videographer, he learned, takes that kind of time. "I've been preparing (this camp) for five months," Joyner said. "And I'm still preparing to the last minute." In past years, camps like this organized by or featuring an active college player were outlawed under previous rules. But the NCAA's name, image and likeness policies it adopted last summer allowed Joyner and other South Carolina athletes to put on events and partake in business deals that were previously taboo. The NIL space in the Palmetto State is expected to continue evolving as soon as this week. The state Legislature voted in March to suspend South Carolina's current NIL law that limited schools like USC, Clemson and other in-state institutions from being directly involved in the business dealings of their athletes. The change begins Friday.
 
Equity in Sports Has Focused on Gender, Not Race. So Gaps Persist.
For all of the progress made through Title IX, many who study gender equity in sport argue that it didn't benefit women across all races. White women, they point out, are the law's primary benefactors, as the statute's framing on gender equity -- without mentioning the intersection of gender with race and income -- ignores significant issues faced by many Black female athletes, coaches and administrators. "It's sort of good news, bad news when you think of Title IX," said Ketra Armstrong, a sport management professor and director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Michigan. She added: "We talk about gender equity, but if you look at the numbers, we see it's white women who are breaking the barriers, who are ascending to these leadership roles to a much greater extent than Black women are, and that's because we're more comfortable talking about gender." Some experts in sports believe that Title IX cannot solve the racial disparities in athletics. Others, like Armstrong, argue that issues of race and gender are tethered, and that Title IX conversations about gender are incomplete without including race. Armstrong, who played basketball at Itawamba Community College in Mississippi and then at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, said she believes there are more opportunities for Black women today, in an era of increased empowerment and representation.



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