| Thursday, February 23, 2023 |
| Mississippi Rice Council Gathers for Updates and Outlook | |
 | More than 50 Mississippi rice farmers and allies gathered here at the Bolivar County Ag Extension Office auditorium for a meeting of the Mississippi Rice Council last Friday. Mississippi Rice Council President and Chair of USA Rice Kirk Satterfield kicked off the meeting with a warm welcome and overview of the packed agenda, turning the meeting over to Mississippi Rice Promotion Board Chair Carter Murrell for his report on the good financial health of the board. Laura Jane Giaccaglia, Bolivar County Extension coordinator, recounted the busy year for Delta Rice Promotions including representing Mississippi rice at multiple trade shows around the region, in front of community and business groups, and with the media, including appearing on Episode 53 of The Rice Stuff podcast. She reminded attendees about the Delta Rice cookbook, Between the Levees, released in 2022, and the outdoor media campaign that highlighted local rice and promoted the very successful Delta Rice Festival in Merigold last fall. The meeting then shifted to agronomy with presentations from Dr. Hunter Bowman, rice specialist, and Dr. Drew Gholson, assistant professor and coordinator of the National Center for Alluvial Aquifer Research, both with the Delta Research & Extension Center at Mississippi State University. |
| AFBF Fellowships Bring MANRRS Student Members to Leadership Conference | |
| Fourteen student members of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences have been selected to attend the Farm Bureau FUSION Conference in March as part of a new American Farm Bureau Federation fellowship program. The conference provides learning opportunities for attendees to increase their knowledge and skills in the areas of leadership development, agriculture issues, professional and personal growth and building a network. It will bring together more than 900 agricultural leaders who are active in three main Farm Bureau program areas -- Young Farmers & Ranchers, Women's Leadership and Promotion & Education. The MANRRS students -- including Mya Dixon from Mississippi State University -- will attend the conference as Farm Bureau Fellows, with sponsorship support from CoBank. "We look forward to welcoming MANRRS students to the FUSION Conference and hope it's a great growth opportunity for them," said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. "I'm very pleased that we're able to support MANRRS students through this fellowship program and welcome them to our Farm Bureau family." |
| Sen. Wicker meets with MSU ACCESS members | |
 | Photo: Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) recently met with three students from Mississippi State University's ACCESS program. The students were Charles "Garrett" Lofton of Brookhaven, Tanner Laird of Roxie, and Cedric Gainwell Jr. of Yazoo. MSU ACCESS is a four-year, residential post-secondary college program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Students learn independent living skills, develop career and employment skills through a variety of internship experiences, audit university courses, and further their academic and social skills. Upon completion of the program, students will graduate with an MSU Certification of Completion. In place since 2010, the program currently has 26 students. |
| Argument between Yokohama workers becomes fatal | |
 | An argument between two coworkers at the Yokohama Tire Manufacturing plant Wednesday morning escalated to fatal violence, according to Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott. Willie Swain Jr., 41, and Javarest Gray, 28, began arguing in the parking lot of the Yokohama campus. Swain allegedly shot Gray shortly after 7 a.m. and fled the scene. Authorities arrived within 10 minutes of the 911 call, Scott said, and a deputy performed CPR on Gray while waiting for the ambulance. Gray was taken to North Mississippi Medical Center in West Point, where he was pronounced dead at about 8:30 a.m. Deputies are seeking Swain, who was still at large at press time, as a person of interest, Scott said. There is no warrant for his arrest at this time. Gray was the stepson of Starkville Fire Chief Charles Yarbrough. "He was a great young man who had dreams. He fulfilled several of his dreams at 28," Yarbrough wrote in a text to The Dispatch. "We are devastated by this senseless loss. We believe that he is in heaven as we speak. We are praying for peace and swift justice." |
| Authorities searching for suspect in fatal shooting at West Point tire factory | |
 | Authorities across the Golden Triangle are searching for a 41-year-old man accused of fatally shooting a coworker Wednesday morning at the Yokohama Tire Company. Two employees got into an argument around 7 a.m. on Feb. 22 and it escalated to the point where shots were fired. First responders were on the scene and Clay County deputy sheriffs performed CPR until the ambulance arrived to carry Javarest Gray, 28, to the emergency room at the North Mississippi Medical Center in West Point. Gray was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott said they are actively looking for Willie Swain Jr., 41, as a person of interest in the homicide. Anyone with any information about Swain's whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Clay County Sheriff's Office at 662-494-2896, Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 1-800-530-7151 or the Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers P3 App. |
| Second Fast Break robbery suspect charged | |
| Police have arrested a second suspect in a Nov. 24 armed robbery at the Fast Break convenience store at 1201 Highway 182 W. Erick Jones, 19, of Memphis, Tennessee, is charged as an accessory to the armed robbery, according to a Starkville Police Department press release issued Wednesday. The incident remains under investigation and more arrests are expected. Demontavis Jones, 21, of Maben was arrested and charged with armed robbery the same day of the incident that took place at about 2:33 a.m. in the Fast Break parking lot. The victim left his car running to go inside the store. When the victim returned, Demontavis Jones was in the driver's seat. Police believe Erick Jones, among others, was with Demontavis Jones at the time of the robbery. |
| Mounting Cost of Bird Flu: 48 Million Dead Chickens and Some Very Expensive Eggs | |
 | After losing eight million egg-laying hens to avian influenza in 2015, Versova Management Co. spent tens of millions of dollars on laser systems, sound cannons and on-site worker showers to shield flocks from the virus spread by wild birds. Versova lost another two million or so hens in the latest outbreak, showing the limits of costly industry protections. "We're fighting an epic battle," said J.T. Dean, president of Versova, one of the five largest U.S. egg producers. "We have to be perfect." The avian flu has a nearly 100% mortality rate in chickens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is so contagious that even a chance gust of wind can carry wild-bird droppings toward a barn vent and spread the virus inside, Mr. Dean said. Poultry farms routinely destroy entire flocks after a single case is found to try to prevent further spread. The loss of poultry flocks to bird flu coincided with a broad rise in the cost of labor, energy and livestock feed, squeezing consumers with higher grocery store prices. In its latest securities filing, Cal-Maine, the largest U.S. egg producer, said in December that it hasn't had a single bird-flu case and that it was working to mitigate the risk of outbreaks. The company didn't reveal how it has kept its flocks safe and declined to comment. |
| Columbus lawmaker pushes reforms to rape kit, sexual assault laws | |
| Republican Rep. Dana McLean of Columbus joined advocates and other House members Wednesday to urge the state Senate to pass bills that streamline how rape kits are processed and remove archaic language from the state's criminal rape law. McLean, for the second year, pleaded with colleagues to strike the current rape definition of "assault with the intent to forcibly ravish a female of previously chaste character" from state law and replace it with more modern, inclusive language. The bill, if passed, will also remove the state's current spousal defense exemption from the books. Mississippi is one of only a handful of states that still grants an exemption to rape crimes for spouses. The Lowndes County legislator believes the archaic language and the spousal exemption often cause state prosecutors not to pursue rape charges against a defendant and instead try to convict them for sexual assault or sexual battery, crimes that carry lesser penalties. The House passed the bill without any dissenting votes. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann referred the bill to the Senate Judiciary B Committee, which is led by Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall. Fillingane told the Daily Journal that McLean's bill was "interesting and has some merit," but he was noncommittal to questions about bringing the legislation up for debate when his committee is expected to convene for a meeting Tuesday. |
| Bills to bring Mississippi rape laws into 21st Century move to Senate | |
| Two measures aimed at helping rape survivors get justice have unanimously passed the state House and are before the Senate, where they were killed without a vote last year. But Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, who oversees the Senate, on Wednesday voiced support for the measures, which could help their chances greatly. "The lieutenant governor supports the bills and is encouraging the chairmen to bring them out of committee," said spokeswoman Leah Rupp Smith. House Bill 485, authored by Rep. Angela Cockerham, I-Magnolia, would standardize the handling, timely testing and tracking of sexual assault evidence or "rape kits" in Mississippi. Unlike 36 other states, Mississippi has no statewide rules and advocates say there is a large -- albeit unknown due to lack of tracking -- backlog of unprocessed rape kits. It would also give survivors the right to know the status of their kits. House Bill 995, authored by Rep. Dana McLean, R-Columbus, would remove archaic, misogynistic language from the 1800s from Mississippi's rape and sexual battery laws and remove a spousal defense for those who commit marital rape. The bill would clarify the definition and elements of rape and sexual assault, replacing passages such as "assault with the intent to forcibly ravish a female of previously chaste character." Both bills recently passed the House unanimously. But they both passed the House overwhelmingly last year as well, only to die in Senate committee. |
| Mississippi tax cut bills stall despite GOP leaders' push | |
 | Tax relief proposals favored by Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves and Republican legislative leaders stalled Wednesday and appear to be dead for the entire election-year legislative session, despite the GOP holding a supermajority in the House and Senate. Even with the backing of Reeves, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, House Speaker Philip Gunn and House Ways and Means Chairman Trey Lamar -- all Republicans -- several proposals failed to gain enough support to even come up for a vote in either chamber. Wednesday was the deadline for the House and Senate to take the first steps toward passing bills dealing with budgets and taxes. If money bills were not voted on before the deadline, they died. Gunn and Lamar have pushed House members to move toward eliminating the state's income tax rate. But a group of lawmakers is concerned about passing another income tax cut ahead of November's legislative elections, Lamar said. "I believe this is more of a timing issue with some of these representatives as opposed to any real opposition to income tax elimination," Lamar told The Associated Press in a text message Wednesday. "Coming off the heels of last year's income tax bill, and this being an election year, there are a few that would just prefer to wait a little longer before making further cuts." |
| 'Mississippi moms can't wait.' Doctors urge legislators to extend postpartum coverage | |
| Flanked by residents and student physicians from all over the state, Mississippi doctors and the Mississippi State Medical Association had one ask for Speaker of the House Phillip Gunn on Wednesday. "We're simply asking the speaker to allow (Senate Bill) 2212 to be brought for a vote," said Dr. Anita Henderson, a pediatrician from Hattiesburg. Last year, Gunn killed the legislation before it could be brought to a vote on the House floor. He has been noncommittal as to whether he will allow his chamber to vote on it this session. In a press conference hosted on the second floor of the Capitol, Mississippi doctors emphasized the importance of extending postpartum care in the state and at times spoke directly to the House, asking them to pass SB 2212 to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months. According to a Mississippi Today poll of House lawmakers conducted this session, a majority support extending the health insurance coverage for moms on Medicaid. When cornered by media on Wednesday afternoon and asked whether he planned to take up the Senate postpartum bill, Rep. Joey Hood, who chairs the House Medicaid Committee and represents Ackerman, responded, "We're just going to continue to work it through the process." When asked follow ups about when the House Medicaid Committee was going to meet and what he thought about the MSMA calling on him to extend postpartum coverage, he repeated the statement several times. |
| Mississippi secretary of state questions disqualification of gubernatorial candidates | |
| Following the disqualification of two Democratic nominees seeking to become Mississippi's next governor, Secretary of State Michael Watson is questioning the merit of the party's decision to remove them from the race. The Mississippi Democratic Party recently disqualified gubernatorial candidates Gregory Wash and Bob Hickingbottom from pursuing the state's highest elected office. According to the party's executive committee, the two candidates failed to file statements of economic interest to the Mississippi Ethics Commission, which the committee claims is required under state law. During a Wednesday interview on The Gallo Show, Watson disputed the notion that a candidate is required to file such documents in order to be qualified to run for state office. "By statute, that is not a requirement to be qualified to run for office," Watson said. "They can clearly file that, and have some deadlines to meet that, but you don't have to do that to be qualified to run for office." The disqualifications, if not overruled via appeal, will officially make Brandon Presley the Democratic nominee for governor. |
| Thompson discloses discussing House Bill 1020 with Dept. of Justice | |
| While lawmakers have yet to decide the fate of House Bill 1020 in the Senate, the legislation has already begun to make waves in the nation's capital after U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson disclosed this week he has been discussing it and possible civil rights concerns with the U.S. Department of Justice. Thompson, a Democrat who represents Mississippi's second congressional district, made the revelation during an interview with the Black Press Tuesday. House Bill 1020 would carve out nearly one-fourth of the capital city and establish a new court system with unelected judges and prosecutors for the crimes that take place in what's known as the Capitol Complex Improvement District. Cliff Johnson, director of the MacArthur Center for Justice at the University of Mississippi School of Law, said that the expanded district would have 80 percent of the majority-Black city's white residents. Should the bill become law, Johnson believes it will be challenged on the state and federal level almost immediately. "The Department of Justice is going to have the opportunity to weigh in. They've had good success in Mississippi lately. They challenged the constitutionality of Mississippi's mental health system, and they won. They challenged the conditions at the Hinds County Detention Center, and they won. And here they would come and they would look at the same map that all the rest of us are looking at," Johnson said. "And they would conduct interviews, and they would get try to get to the bottom of the motivation behind what's happening here and this very unusual piece of legislation." |
| U.S. Aims to Create Semiconductor Manufacturing Clusters With Chips Act Funds | |
| The U.S. will target funds from the $53 billion Chips Act to create at least two semiconductor manufacturing clusters by 2030, according to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, marking the initial stages of a plan to bring more chip manufacturing back to the U.S. The aim would be to create ecosystems that would bring together fabrication plants, research-and-development labs, final packaging facilities for assembly of chips and the suppliers needed to support each phase of the operation, Ms. Raimondo said. "When we are done implementing this by 2030, America will design and produce the world's most advanced semiconductor chips," she told reporters in a briefing Wednesday. Ms. Raimondo is scheduled Thursday to outline the plans in a speech at Georgetown University. Next week, the Commerce Department is set to disclose further details on how companies can apply for funds. Ms. Raimondo didn't say where the clusters would be located, but Arizona, Ohio and Texas would likely be in the running based on investment plans by companies that now produce leading-edge chips: Intel Corp., South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. The Chips Act was signed into law in August by President Biden following its passage in Congress with bipartisan support. It provides $39 billion in incentives to help build and expand manufacturing facilities and more than $12 billion for research and development, as well as workforce development. |
| Dems consider break with tradition to get Biden more judges | |
| Even as Democrats celebrated the 100th judicial confirmation of Joe Biden's presidency, they are clamoring for more -- and some are flirting with ending a century-long Senate practice to help make it happen. The rising friction over what in Washington parlance is known as the "blue slip" is creating tensions on the Senate panel that handles judicial nominations and prompting stern warnings from Republicans about a dangerous escalation in the partisanship that already dominates the judicial confirmation process. The clash over Senate procedure could have major ramifications for Biden as he seeks to fill as many court vacancies as possible during the final two years of his term. Aghast at the speed with which Republicans approved judges during the Trump era, Democrats have made the confirmation to the courts a top priority, vowing to fill every seat possible. Their focus on the nominations is even greater now that Republicans control the House and can stall much of Biden's broader legislative agenda. Since at least 1917, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee has sent a blue-colored form, or "blue slip," to the senators representing the home state of a judicial nominee. A blue slip returned with a positive response signals the senator's approval of moving forward with a nomination hearing. But if the blue slip is not returned or comes back with a negative response, that means the home state senator objects, which can doom the nomination. |
| Supreme Court sounds skeptical on Twitter liability for terror attack | |
 | Supreme Court justices expressed skepticism during oral arguments Wednesday that terror attack victims could sue Twitter because the attackers had used the social media site. Twice in as many days, the justices mulled the broader negative consequences of ruling against Twitter and other internet companies when it comes to liability for content users post on their platforms. Wednesday's case, Twitter v. Taamneh, centers on whether Twitter could be held liable because terrorist group the Islamic State used the website to recruit members and spur the 2017 attack at the Reina night club in Istanbul that killed Nawras Alassaf. The victim's family argued that Twitter should face a lawsuit under the Antiterrorism Act because it knew the Islamic State group used its platform and had not done enough to stop them. The justices are expected to decide the case before the conclusion of the term at the end of June. Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh expressed concern Wednesday about what it would mean for the economy if a business could be brought into court because a terrorist used its generally available services. Kavanaugh and several other justices questioned whether a ruling that sided with the terror victim's family could sweep in too many otherwise normal activities that unintentionally help a terror group. |
| 'Incredibly damning:' Fox News documents stun some legal experts | |
 | The disclosure of emails and texts in which Fox News executives and personalities disparaged the same election conspiracies being floated on their shows has greatly increased the chances that a defamation case against the network will succeed, legal experts say. Dominion Voting Systems included dozens of messages sent internally by Fox co-founder Rupert Murdoch and on-air stars such as Tucker Carlson in a brief made public last week in support of the voting technology company's $1.6 billion lawsuit against the network. Dominion claims it was damaged in the months after the 2020 election after Fox repeatedly aired false statements that it was part of a conspiracy to fraudulently elect Joe Biden. Dominion said the emails and texts show that Fox's hosts and executives knew the claims being peddled by then-president Donald Trump's lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Sydney Powell weren't true -- some employees privately described them as "ludicrous" and "mind blowingly nuts"-- but Fox kept airing them to keep its audience from changing channels. If so, the messages could amount to powerful body of evidence against Fox, according to First Amendment experts, because they meet a critical and difficult-to-meet standard in such cases. "You just don't often get smoking-gun evidence of a news organization saying internally, 'We know this is patently false, but let's forge ahead with it,'" said RonNell Andersen Jones, a University of Utah professor who specializes in media law. |
| Trump attorneys: Special grand jury probe 'a clown show' | |
| The Georgia-based legal team representing former President Donald Trump accused Fulton County prosecutors of running a "clown-like" investigation into interference in Georgia's 2020 elections, seizing on information disclosed by the forewoman of the special grand jury seated to aid in the probe. Defense attorneys Drew Findling and Jennifer Little said media interviews earlier this week by Emily Kohrs undermined the credibility of the probe. They indicated they were keeping their legal options open, including potentially filing court motions in response. "This type of carnival, clown-like atmosphere that was portrayed over the course of the last 36 hours takes away from the complete sanctity and the integrity and, for that matter, the reliability" of the investigation, Findling told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution late Wednesday. In remarks on Tuesday to the AJC and other media outlets, Kohrs said she and fellow jurors recommended that multiple people be charged with crimes. She declined, however, to state whom the panel named and which specific laws they believed might have been broken. "It's not a short list," said Kohrs, who added that "you're not going to be shocked" by any of the names given. Little and Findling said Kohrs' statements paint a picture of an investigation that was unprofessional and overly chummy between jurors and the office of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. |
| DeSantis wants to roll back press freedoms -- with an eye toward overturning Supreme Court ruling | |
 | Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' broken relationship with the mainstream media could get even worse. At the governor's urging, Florida's Republican-dominated Legislature is pushing to weaken state laws that have long protected journalists against defamation suits and frivolous lawsuits. The proposal is part DeSantis' ongoing feud with media outlets like The New York Times, Miami Herald, CNN and The Washington Post -- media companies he claims are biased against Republicans -- as he prepares for a likely 2024 presidential bid. Beyond making it easier to sue journalists, the proposal is also being positioned to spark a larger legal battle with the goal of eventually overturning New York Times v. Sullivan, the landmark 1964 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limits public officials' ability to sue publishers for defamation, according to state Rep. Alex Andrade, the Florida Republican sponsoring the bill. "There is a strong argument to be made that the Supreme Court overreached," Andrade said in an interview. "This is not the government shutting down free speech. This is a private cause of action." Andrade said he is working with DeSantis' office on the bill: "I would say I am accepting their input." Yet the proposed bill goes further than simply decrying media bias. Free-press advocates call the measure unconstitutional and suggest it could have far-reaching consequences beyond major media outlets. |
| Dual credit education giving students jump on workforce | |
| Many high school students are getting a jump start on higher education by earning college credits while still in high school. They can take dual enrollment classes to earn college credit or be enrolled in the Collegiate College program that enables them to take classes on a community college campus and earn a high school diploma and a two-year degree at the same time. There are numerous advantages to students and parents, but Heather Morrison with the State Institutions of Higher Learning says there are also positive impacts for the state's workforce. "Providing students with access to a rigorous curriculum, ways to earn college credit at a discounted rate, and providing opportunities for students to explore postsecondary education degree programs are desired outcomes for dual enrollment/credit," she said. As the IHL's director of student and academic affairs, Morrison adds that it's "imperative for high school counselors to work with their partnering postsecondary institutions to ensure students are taking classes that will articulate to the student's desired degree program. Dual credit for the sake of the Mississippi Accountability Model Acceleration points should not be the motivation for high schools to encourage students to enroll in classes." Although Morrison does not have the data from the Department of Education for the exact number of high schools participating, she says that each community college district has students participating in dual enrollment/credit programs this year for a total of 17,753 students in public and private high schools. There are 2,549 high school students participating in dual enrollment at state four-year colleges and 2,500 with independent schools for a grand total of 22,327 students this year. |
| 'Pot Goes Public' panel at Ole Miss shares hopeful thoughts on Mississippi medical cannabis program | |
 | Mississippi's Medical Cannabis program and its future were the topic of discussion for a panel hosted by Ole Miss at the Overby Center. The panel was moderated by Ole Miss student Violet Jira and was headlined by State Health Officer Dr. Daniel Edney. The panel discussed the process of implementing medical cannabis as dispensaries have now opened in Mississippi. They want to keep the public aware of the challenges while also highlighting the benefits medical cannabis has brought to those with terminal illness and/or chronic pain. "It's young. It's maturing. We still have a lot to learn," says Dr. Edney. "But we're committed at the health department to make this a benefit to the patients." |
| Tribal students sing national anthem at Ole Miss game | |
| Students from Choctaw Tribal Schools participated in Native American Heritage Night by singing the American national anthem during the Ole Miss vs. South Carolina game on Feb. 19. Tribal students took to the court and sang in their native language before the game began. Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben and 2022-2023 Choctaw Indian Princess Cadence Nickey presented stickball sticks and a stickball to Chancellor Glenn Boyce and Athletics Director Keith Carter. "I appreciated the opportunity for our Tribe to be recognized and sing the national anthem in our language," Ben said. "It was also great to see our own Tribal member Asa Jimmie serving as student manager on the court." Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin talked about feeling the Choctaw spirit during her after-game press conference. "I hope they understand that we belong," McPhee-McCuin said. "We've been right there, and I'm not just talking about South Carolina, I'm talking about LSU, Utah, and Oklahoma. We're right there. I can taste it." McPhee-McCuin received a medallion from Chief Ben, which she showed off at the press conference and plans to take it with her wherever she goes. "We were banking in shots, we were doing stuff, and I felt the spirit, baby," she said. "This medallion is part of the Tribe and it's honorary. We're just going to keep going and keep moving forward." |
| House reverses course, names Baptist as state's burn center | |
| The House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to name Mississippi Baptist Medical Center as the home of the state's next burn center. The move came less than a week after the House Appropriations Committee approved awarding the University of Mississippi Medical Center, which has publicly announced it is establishing a burn center, $4 million for the same purpose. Rep. Karl Oliver, R-Winona, vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, presented a strike-all amendment to the UMMC bill on the House floor. The amendment names Baptist Medical Center as the state's burn center and awards federal COVID-19 funds "not otherwise appropriated" to the Mississippi Department of Health, which would flow through to Baptist. Oliver said the funds would go to the Health Department to ensure they go only towards costs specifically associated with the burn center. Several lawmakers were confused about UMMC's current status with burn care, asking whether UMMC has "closed its burn center." Mississippi Today previously reported that while UMMC officials publicly said they were treating pediatric burns, an internal email from a member of the newly established Burn Committee revealed otherwise. "They (UMMC) don't have a burn center. They've been treating burn patients," said Oliver. "We've been sending severe burn patients out of state." Any hospital operating a burn center must get designation from the state Health Department to receive additional state funding. UMMC has submitted its application for such designation. Heath Department spokesperson Liz Sharlot said the application is under review. |
| Oysters in Mississippi Sound at risk from Louisiana diversion plan, study says | |
 | Freshwater from Louisiana's proposed $800 million Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion could pose a significant threat to oysters and other fisheries in Mississippi Sound, according to a new study commissioned by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. When the diversion's water is added to an average of Mississippi River, Lake Pontchartrain and other Mississippi coast rivers and bayous obtained from an 11-year record of water flows, salinity levels in portions of the western Mississippi Sound near Bay St. Louis where oysters are grown drops to unsafe levels for as much as 50 days or more, said Jerry Wiggert, lead author of the study, and associate director of the University of Southern Mississippi School of Ocean Science and Engineering. Oysters are generally able to tolerate salinity levels of between 5 and 15 parts per thousand. However, the peer-reviewed study conducted by Wiggert and other USM researchers was based on Louisiana's original plan for the diversion that called for a maximum flow rate of 75,000 cubic feet per second. In 2021, the state announced it was reducing the diversion's maximum flow to 50,000 cfs. Wiggert said his team has not looked at that lower maximum flow rate, but expects it could result in as much as 21 days of salinity levels below 4 parts per thousand in the western sound, which would still be a threat to oysters. The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, which would build the diversion, said that it planned to look into the USM study, but expressed concern it was not contacted to help design the model used by the researchers or their investigation plans. |
| USM School of Social Work receives reaccreditation | |
 | The University of Southern Mississippi's School of Social Work recently received some good news. The school, which develops and communicates knowledge and skills that are consistent with the standards of the profession, received accreditation once again. The school's director said that he was ecstatic about the school's status. "Our program is evaluated rigorously," Director Jerome Kilbo said. "So, we know whether or not they meet the benchmarks. And that provides an assurance for the agencies out there and for the people that the agency serves, that they know that they're going to get a good service from our graduates." Currently, 213 students are enrolled in the bachelor's program with another 134 students in the master's degree program. The Hattiesburg campus boasts 239 in the School of Social Work, while the Gulf Park campus is home to another 108 students in social work. |
| 'A day of celebration': Auburn University Dance Marathon raises over $276K for children's hospital | |
 | Auburn University Dance Marathon held its annual event on Saturday, and students revealed the organization raised a total of $276,237 for The Children's Hospital at Piedmont Columbus Regional. Auburn University joined the nationwide dance marathon movement in 2011 to raise money for the local Children's Miracle Network hospital in the community. Piedmont Columbus Regional, located in Columbus, Ga., serves 21 surrounding counties in Georgia and Alabama. The Auburn students raised money and awareness throughout a year-long time frame and ended with the 12 hour long event where they stay on their feet dancing in celebration and dancing for those who can't. According to a release from the Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital, AUDM has raised over $3.3 million since Auburn students started doing the annual dance marathon 12 years ago. The funds the hospital received this year will be used to help the hospital "continue to transform healthcare for the children of the Chattahoochee Valley -- ensuring they can receive care close to home with family and loved ones by their side," the release said. |
| Louisiana faculty sound the alarm on retirement crisis | |
| Louisiana's higher education faculty feel trapped. In the early days of their teaching careers, professors are asked to make an irrevocable choice about their retirement: choose the more portable optional retirement plan, or the more lucrative Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana. Faculty do not pay into Social Security and therefore do not have the option to draw on Social Security in retirement. Because of the natural uncertainty about a career in academia, many select the optional retirement plan, which gives individuals the ability to take the money they've paid in to another employer. Approximately 26% of college faculty have tenure, which offers an indefinite academic appointment. To be granted tenure, a faculty member typically works at an institution for about six years. That combination of factors has led to thousands of faculty statewide choosing the optional retirement plan, a decision they regret as they join the lucky few that obtain tenure or the unlucky crew that are unable to leave for a more prestigious post. Many of these individuals now struggle to afford retirement. The LSU Faculty Senate, the most vocal faculty body in the state, passed a resolution last week calling on LSU leadership to endorse legislation in the 2023 regular session that would allow faculty to switch from the optional retirement plan to the Teachers' Retirement System on an actuarial basis. |
| How a Center for Civic Education Became a Political Provocation | |
 | Early last year, a provocative proposal landed in the inbox of a senior administrator at the University of Florida. The six-page Word document argued that the fundamental mission of a university -- to seek truth -- was threatened by "cancel culture and uniformity of opinion on campus." To counter those formidable threats, a new academic unit would act as a defense. The Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education, named after the founding father, would promote freedom of thought, provide students with a "nonpartisan civic education" in American ideals, teach the great books of the Western canon, and improve the political and intellectual diversity of UF's faculty body, according to the proposal. By design, the center would operate differently from a typical academic unit. It would be located outside of existing departments and colleges. It would offer its own courses and degree programs and hire faculty members whose appointments would reside entirely in the center. An external board of advisers would recommend initial faculty hires to the president and to the university's Board of Trustees, which together would make final selections. "If Hamilton Center faculty were to be hired through existing departments, the result would be a replication of what already exists," the document said. All told, a "robust and fiercely independent" center would "provide choice for Florida's students and their parents" who are "dissatisfied with the present offerings." The proposal was sent by Adrian Lukis, a partner at a prominent lobbying firm and former chief of staff to Ron DeSantis, Florida's Republican governor. He'd been hired to advocate for the center's creation by a nonprofit organization with virtually no public profile, the Council on Public University Reform. |
| Florida college students plan statewide walkout against Gov. DeSantis: 'This is our fight for freedom' | |
 | Florida college students are planning a statewide walkout Thursday in protest of recent education-related efforts by Gov. Ron DeSantis, including his policies targeting LGBTQ+ and people of color. Organized by the Florida College Democrats and Dream Defenders, "Stand for Freedom" is a statewide movement and walkout scheduled for noon on Thursday across Florida college campuses. Participants in the movement and walkout are calling on the DeSantis administration to restore diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in colleges and universities, according to the "Stand for Freedom" pledge. The demonstration will demand bringing an end to what organizers say is "the DeSantis administration's attacks on LGBTQ+ and BIPOC students, faculty and staff." The protest follows DeSantis' announcement last month to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion efforts made in previous years across Florida campuses. DeSantis' announcement is only the latest in his initiatives to scrutinize academic freedom. "We are Florida's students and citizens. It is our education that is being tarnished and our schools being discredited," the movement's pledge states. "This is our fight for freedom." |
| U. of Texas System pauses new DEI policies | |
| The University of Texas System's board of regents said Wednesday it has put a pause on all new policies that promote diversity, equity and inclusion at its 13 university and health campuses and asked all school leaders to provide a report on their current DEI policies. UT System board Chair Kevin Eltife said that while the system strives to promote diversity among its students and faculty, "certain DEI efforts have strayed from the original intent to now imposing requirements and actions that, rightfully so, has raised the concerns of our policymakers around those efforts on campuses across our entire state." Eltife's comments, which were first reported by the Austin American-Statesman, did not specify which DEI efforts he considered to cross a line. The UT System did not immediately respond to further questions. Earlier this month, Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter to public university and state agencies warning them that DEI hiring practices violated federal and state employment laws and barring them from hiring on factors "other than merit." Law experts have said the governor's office mischaracterized the legal practices employers use when considering diversity in their hiring. In response to the governor's memo, Texas A&M University in College Station recently said it changed its hiring policies. According to an email obtained by The Texas Tribune, the vice president of faculty affairs told college deans late last week that they should consider only a cover letter, resume, personal statement and professional references in hiring. |
| Study: Increased marijuana use on college campuses | |
 | Opponents and proponents of legalizing marijuana have long debated whether prohibiting or decriminalizing it would lead to increased usage of the drug by young people. The jury may still be out on who's right, although some studies have shown that recreational cannabis use increased by 20 percent in states that legalized it. Twenty-one states, along with Washington, D.C., and Guam, have legalized the sale, use and production of marijuana; 27 states have decriminalized it, and research data have shown an increase in cannabis use on college campuses across the country even as alcohol consumption has declined. A recent study on the use of marijuana on college campuses in Texas found that nearly 40 percent of students use it and more than 26 percent have used it on their campuses. The study, which was conducted by a University of Texas at Austin doctoral student, used data from the UT Austin Tobacco Research Evaluation Team and surveyed 14,000 Texas college students at 19 institutions. The study data showed that students who vape marijuana were 2.35 times more likely to use marijuana in a public location on campus outside of a dorm. "My research has been focused on understanding the intersection between vaping and marijuana since vaping devices have become more common," said Caroline North, a doctoral student at UT Austin who conducted the study with Alexandra Loukas, associate dean for research and graduate studies. The study's findings indicate that marijuana use on college campuses is common and the ability to vape marijuana may increase usage on college campuses, including in public locations such as classrooms and libraries. |
| A West Virginia bill allowing concealed guns at colleges is one step away from law | |
 | A bill that would allow people to carry concealed weapons at public college campuses in West Virginia passed by a landslide in the state's House of Delegates on Tuesday. The measure now heads to the desk of Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican. He hasn't made any public indication of whether he will sign it into law. Current laws in West Virginia prohibit carrying guns on public college and university campuses. But this bill -- which didn't gain enough traction when introduced in 2018 and 2019 -- would allow people with concealed-carry permits to have pistols or revolvers on campuses starting in July 2024. The Campus Self-Defense Act was passed 29-4 in the state's Senate chamber last week and then 84-13 in the state's House on Tuesday. The bill strictly prohibits open carry of guns on public college campuses and doesn't allow guns in high-capacity areas like stadiums. The presidents of West Virginia University and Marshall University penned a joint letter to legislators opposing the bill in late January. "We believe that our boards of governors are best suited to decide whether guns should be permitted on campus," the letter reads. "We therefore do not support statewide campus carry." The presidents of West Virginia State University, Concord University and Shepherd University wrote a separate letter saying they strongly support the Second Amendment but "have serious reservations about the significant public safety challenges" that the bill would present. |
| Stanford Faculty Moves to Stop Students from Reporting Bias Anonymously | |
| A group of Stanford University professors is pushing to end a system that allows students to anonymously report classmates for exhibiting discrimination or bias, saying it threatens free speech on campus. The backlash began last month, when a student reading "Mein Kampf," the autobiographical manifesto of Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler, was reported through the school's "Protected Identity Harm" system. The reporting system has been in place since the summer of 2021, but faculty say they were unaware of it until the student newspaper wrote about the incident and the system, spurring a contentious campus debate. "I was stunned," said Russell Berman, a professor of comparative literature who said he believes the reporting system could chill free speech on campus and is ripe for abuse. "It reminds me of McCarthyism." The Stanford faculty's effort is part of broader pushback against bias-reporting systems around the country. About half of college campuses have one -- more than twice as many as five years ago -- according to a 2022 survey by Speech First, a conservative nonprofit. Free-speech advocates have taken several schools to court and forced them to change their systems, alleging they inhibit the exchange of ideas. Stanford Business School professor Ivan Marinovic said the bias-reporting system reminded him of the way citizens were encouraged to inform on one another by governments in the Soviet Union, East Germany and China. |
| Education Dept. Shocks Ed-Tech Experts and Colleges With Expansion of Oversight | |
| The U.S. Department of Education has announced a stunning expansion of its interpretation of federal regulations that appears to put a large swath of colleges' ed-tech vendors on the hook for following more rules, and place the vendors under closer scrutiny. Updated guidance shared last week stated that, "effective immediately," the department considers entities that help colleges serve students in their Title IV-eligible programs by providing recruitment and retention services, certain software products, and "any percentage" of educational content and instruction to be "third-party servicers," with some exceptions. And colleges need to report those arrangements by May 1. "Third-party servicers" is a label historically reserved for entities that assist institutions in administering federal financial aid to students. But now, sources say, many ed-tech vendors -- including those providing online-program management, learning-management systems, and mandatory tutoring -- all could fall under that same umbrella. That would make them subject to various requirements: Having to be based in the U.S. Being held responsible with their client institution for any violation of Title IV requirements, and any resulting damages. Submitting an annual, independent compliance audit. Allowing government access to its college contracts. |
| Biden administration to rescind part of Trump's free inquiry rule | |
| The Education Department wants to roll back part of the so-called free inquiry rule, which required public colleges and universities to uphold the First Amendment, among other provisions. However, the department says it isn't changing the actual requirements of the First Amendment in higher education. In particular, the department is proposing to eliminate the section that barred higher education institutions from denying faith-based student organizations any rights, benefits and privileges afforded to nonreligious student groups because of their "beliefs, practices, policies, speech, membership standards or leadership standards." Colleges found in violation of that prohibition would lose access to grant programs administered directly by the department and indirectly through the states -- but not federal financial aid. Critics have said that the regulations could be interpreted as requiring higher education institutions to allow religious student groups to discriminate against vulnerable and marginalized students, such as LGBTQ students, while proponents said the rule provides needed protections. The Trump administration, which issued the final rule in September 2020, said the rule would ensure that religious organizations as well as their student members fully retain their right to free exercise of religion. |
SPORTS
| Mississippi State women look to boost tournament résumé in home finale against Arkansas | |
| The Southeastern Conference is unforgiving in most sports, and women's basketball is no different. The current conference standings demonstrate that perfectly with the third-place through eighth-place teams all possessing fairly similar records. Right in the middle of that group is Mississippi State. The Bulldogs (19-8, 8-6 SEC) are the dictionary definition of a bubble team in Year 1 under head coach Sam Purcell, and they're likely playing with their March Madness dreams on the line in their final two games of the regular season. MSU will first face Arkansas (19-10, 6-8 SEC) at 8 p.m. Thursday at Humphrey Coliseum, followed by a trip to face No. 5 LSU. It would be pessimistic to assume that the Bulldogs don't stand a chance in Baton Rouge, but their worst performances have come on the road in the SEC, and this LSU team's only loss is against South Carolina -- undefeated, No. 1 ranked, defending national champion South Carolina. The Bulldogs will want to cause an upset against LSU either way, and if they need the win because of Thursday night's result, that will be a different mindset altogether, but their preferred scenario is sealing a winning SEC record against a good Razorbacks team. That likely gives their résumé the boost it needs to get into the big dance. |
| Mississippi State baseball's Jurrangelo Cijntje shines in first start | |
| When Mississippi State baseball freshman pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje takes the field, he doesn't skip over the foul line like many of his counterparts. Instead, he bends over, touches the line with his hand, crosses himself and trots to the mound. It's unconventional but it was far from the most eye-catching part of his outing Wednesday in a 14-3 win against the University of Louisiana Monroe. That's because when Cijntje -- who was introduced as a right-handed pitcher -- stepped onto the mound, he picked up the ball with his left hand. And threw with it. After a handful of warm-ups, he moved the mitt to his left hand and threw pitches from the right side. One of baseball's most intriguing shows finally took center stage at Dudy Noble Field, and fans were given a treat. In four innings, Cijntje -- college baseball's lone switch pitcher -- allowed no runs and just one hit. "It's probably the coolest thing," catcher Ross Highfill said postgame. Cijntje threw 58 of his 75 pitches from the right side. The lone hit, a two-out single in the second inning, came as a right-handed pitcher. Topping out around 98 miles per hour, Cijntje collected six strikeouts from the right side. He only threw 17 pitches as a left-handed pitcher, topping out around 91 mph. His first two left-handed batters reached base on a walk and hit by pitch. However, the final two lined out to first and struck out. |
| Jurrangelo Cijntje shines for Mississippi State baseball in midweek victory over ULM | |
| Freshman switch-pitching phenom Jurrangelo Cijntje got the start on Wednesday afternoon for Mississippi State, a long-awaited start since signing with the Bulldogs. After exclusively pitching from the right side over the weekend, Cijntje showcased his arm from both sides, touching as high as 96 miles per hour right-handed and 92 mph left-handed. In doing so, he shut down a Louisiana–Monroe offense that touched MSU for 11 runs on Tuesday, tossing four shutout innings while striking out seven Warhawks. The Mississippi State offense backed him up big time, putting up a five-spot in the fourth inning as some long drives and timely hitting helped the Bulldogs (3-2) rout ULM (3-2), 14-3, on Wednesday. "I thought it was great," Mississippi State head coach Chris Lemonis said. "He probably could have gone a little bit longer if we hadn't thrown him the inning on Sunday, but it was an impressive night for him." The midweek got off to a rough start for the Bulldogs, but between Cijntje's strong start and a near-complete offensive performance, MSU put itself in perfect position heading into an important weekend set against Arizona State (4-0). Friday's series opener begins at 4 p.m. |
| Mississippi coaches discuss new college baseball rules | |
| College baseball, which has largely stayed the same in terms of rules since its full-on inception in 1947, recently introduced some big changes. As programs across the country continue to acclimate to the new rule changes -- which are all intended to speed up game time -- Mississippi coaches are voicing their opinions on the matter. Following Mississippi State's opening weekend series victory over VMI, head coach Chris Lemonis said that he had mixed feelings about the new rule changes. Although he understands the pros of speeding up the game, he still has some concerns about hitters getting stuck in the box via the 20-second action clock. "Some of it's a little too much," Lemonis said. "I feel bad for the hitter that gets in (the box) at 18 seconds, and then, the pitcher takes it down to two seconds and you're sitting there stuck, and the hitter can't call a timeout." Lemonis added that he believes game time can be condensed without having to alter the origins of the game, especially with college baseball working toward prime-time TV slots. "I know we've gotten a lot of knock lately, but it's TV-based," he continued. "We have to get our games back under control. 10 years ago, we were playing games in two and a half hours, and TV's part of why we went bigger, but they've gotten slower for a lot of ways." |
| Softball Announces Promotional Schedule Ahead Of Home Opener | |
| Mississippi State softball released its promotional schedule for the 2023 home schedule on Wednesday with 18 theme games and nine giveaway items on tap at Nusz Park. Celebrating diversity and giving back are two hallmarks of this year's themes. The home opener on Feb. 28 against Mississippi Valley State will start things off with a Black History Month celebration. Samoan Day, honoring Chloe Malau'ulu, Leilani Pulemau, Matalasi Faapito, Kiarra Sells and head coach Samantha Ricketts' heritage, returns on April 30. New this year, the Bulldogs have added Native American Day on March 18 to recognize the tribal heritage of Aspen Wesley (Choctaw), Shea Moreno (Yaqui) and volunteer assistant coach Zac Shaw (Seneca-Cayuga). Also returning for 2023 are Military Appreciation Day (March 4) and First Responders Day (March 12). Once again, following the game against East Tennessee State, members of the Starkville police and fire departments will compete on the field in a home run derby. State will raise awareness for the fight against cancer, recognizing a cause that is dear to them, three times this spring. The annual Snowman tournament will again honor the legacy of the late Alex Wilcox who played at MSU and died of ovarian cancer in 2018. The first day of the tournament will include a teal "StrikeOut Cancer" t-shirt giveaway on March 3. Later in the season, the Bulldogs will play at home on April 28, the day of the annual 4:28 Wall Sit Challenge in Wilcox's memory. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the challenge while at the game against Kentucky. Finally, MSU will hold Breast Cancer Awareness Day on April 1 against Arkansas. |
| How Alabama brass decided star freshman Brandon Miller would keep playing | |
 | The decision to allow Brandon Miller, and by extension Jaden Bradley, to remain a part of the Alabama men's basketball team was made "collectively," Crimson Tide athletic director Greg Byrne said on a podcast recorded and released Wednesday afternoon. Alabama officials knew Miller and Bradley were outside the Tuscaloosa strip the night of Jan. 15, when then-teammate Darius Miles was involved in a shooting along with 20-year-old Michael Davis, killing a young woman. Alabama brass, including president Stuart Bell, came together to evaluate the status of Miller, its star freshman. "It was ongoing from the get-go when the incident happened," Byrne said via the ESPN College Gameday podcast, hosted by Rece Davis and Pete Thamel. "It was conversation between myself, Nate Oats, conversation with myself and the president. We have legal counsel involved for the university. We have our different offices within the university that are at least aware of it. We had normal conversations like we do for other issues. That information was shared collectively and collectively we decided that Brandon was able to play." Byrne explained over a 15-minute appearance that the university learned new facts about the case when the trial resumed on Tuesday. (Both Miles and Davis were denied bond in the killing of Jamea Jonae Harris.) The fact that both Miller and Bradley were cooperating with investigators and were not ruled suspects, Byrne told ESPN, were key pieces of information they received the morning after. |
| Alabama's Miller stars amid alleged role in fatal shooting | |
| Alabama standout freshman Brandon Miller was in the starting lineup and had a career-high scoring game in a win over South Carolina on Wednesday night -- one day after police said he delivered a gun ahead of a fatal shooting that took place near campus in mid-January, and hours after the university said he'd remain an "active member" of the No. 2-ranked Crimson Tide and is not considered a suspect. Alabama's support for the Miller, one of college basketball's top players, made little difference to Gamecock fans at Colonial Life Arena, who focused on the 6-foot-9 forward even before the Southeastern Conference game started. The crowd booed each time Miller touched the ball. Members of the student section chanted, "Lock him up," and "Guilty!" several times as Miller played. Miller, who finished with 41 points, scored the decisive basket with 0.9 seconds left in OT as SEC-leading Alabama beat South Carolina 78-76. The game capped an eventful few days for Miller, who authorities say is allegedly connected to the shooting death of 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris last month. Tuscaloosa Police investigator Brandon Culpepper testified this week that Miller brought a gun to now-former teammate Darius Miles on the night of the shooting after Miles texted him and asked him to do so. |
| White House decision reached on Georgia football visit with President Biden | |
 | The Georgia football team has an invitation to come to the nation's capital. The Bulldogs are being invited for a White House ceremony with President Joe Biden, a White House official told the Athens Banner-Herald Wednesday night: "The President looks forward to welcoming the Georgia Bulldogs to the White House." Georgia went 15-0 this past season, winning its second straight national title. It did not make a visit to the White House after the 2021 national championship victory, its first in 41 years. The Georgia U.S. Congressional delegation and the two U.S. Senators from the state wrote a letter last month asking President Biden to welcome a visit for the Bulldogs and coach Kirby Smart. The NBA champion Golden State Warriors and World Series champion Atlanta Braves have met with Biden at the White House in recent months. A Georgia athletics spokesperson said Wednesday night: "We have not heard from the White House at this point." No date is yet set for Georgia's White House visit. |
| If you're an LSU fan who ever wanted to play golf inside Tiger Stadium, you'll get a chance | |
| If you're an LSU football fan and an avid golfer, you'll soon be able to merge those two passions inside Tiger Stadium. The LSU Athletic Department announced Wednesday that the Stadium Golf Tour will have a stop at Tiger Stadium from March 16-19, giving people a chance to play golf on the hallowed grounds of Death Valley. There will be a nine-hole golf course layed out inside the stadium. There will also be golf simulators to go along with a putting and chipping challenge. Tours will also be available for the Lawton Room and the Jeff Boss Locker Room at the stadium. The event is intended for all skill levels. There are also spectator tickets available for non-golfers. All golfers will get 18 balls with an option to upgrade to a VIP package that includes extra balls, access to simulators along with special food and beverage options. Participants must book in even number groups, and only eight golfers total can book per tee time. There is also a chance to purchase a private deck for up to 25 people. |
The Office of Public Affairs provides the Daily News Digest as a general information resource for Mississippi State University stakeholders.
Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.
