| Friday, February 24, 2023 |
| Despite disabilities, ACCESS students thrive from college experience | |
 | Cedric Gainwell is a sophomore student at Mississippi State University. He's traveled to Washington, D.C. on a team of students presenting agricultural findings to the National Science Foundation. He's an intern with the veterinary school, where he learned this week he will be hired full time. He's a quarterback for a football team that beat Ole Miss in November. Gainwell is also one of 26 students this year in MSU's ACCESS Program, which offers the college experience for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. "It just shows me how many different opportunities I can have within the program," Gainwell told Columbus Exchange Club members Thursday at Lion Hills Center. "I never thought I'd be able to go to different states because I've never been to Washington, D.C. It's a whole lot of walking, like 17,000 steps." Established in 2008 at MSU, ACCESS provides its students with the opportunity to audit college classes, find jobs and live independently. The four-year program has students live on-campus, teaches them life skills and affords them the myriad social opportunities that come with college life, Academic Coordinator Molly Stafford said. The program focuses on four key areas – academia, career development, socialization and independent living. As part of that process, the students take both ACCESS-based and regular courses, at least one internship per semester and engage in community activities like football, where Gainwell helped lead his team to a Unified Egg Bowl Victory against a team from Ole Miss. |
| Mississippi earning a reputation as a technology gem | |
 | Mississippi is a technology state, says Joe Donovan, director of the Mississippi Development Authority Office for Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. "We just forgot to tell ourselves and the rest of the world," Donovan said. "There are technology gems across the state. The Coast has done an amazing job with the Blue Economy. There is a lot going on in aerospace. If it flies in space, it was tested at the Stennis Space Center. Mississippi universities are doing a lot of practical development with autonomous air, ground, and water vehicles. We are developing a plan to capitalize on everything that is going on." Recently the Mississippi Economic Development Council and its partners at the Mississippi Research Consortium released plans to develop the Mississippi Strategic Innovation plan. This is a comprehensive state plan that includes input from the four research universities in the state -- Mississippi State, University of Mississippi, Southern Miss and Jackson State University -- and economic development officials across the state. The hope is to have the plan completed in time to present to the 2024 Legislature. |
| Egg prices responding to high demand while supply is short | |
 | Shoppers facing sticker shock at the grocery store know that eggs are part of the cost increase, but they may not know why. Josh Maples, an agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said egg prices over the Christmas holiday were more than double what they were at the same time in 2021. "Retail egg prices averaged $4.25 per dozen in December, a record high," Maples said. "This compares to $1.79 per dozen in December 2021." The primary cause of the high prices is a disruption in supply at a time when consumer demand for eggs is strong. "Highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, which is often called bird flu, is an important concern each year, but it was especially problematic in the U.S. in 2022," Maples said. "The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that HPAI was detected in 307 commercial flocks in 2022." Byron Williams, Extension food processing specialist, said high demand for processed food products also stretched the egg supply. "Eggs are very versatile products and serve many roles in food manufacturing processes," Williams said. "Most battered, breaded and baked products utilize some form of eggs, and egg whites, yolks and mixtures all play vital roles in the manufacture of various processed products." |
| High egg prices expected to moderate in coming months | |
 | Shoppers across Mississippi have seen high prices at the grocery stores when it comes to buying eggs, but they may not know why. The primary cause of the high prices is a disruption in supply at a time when consumer demand for eggs is strong. Lower egg availability coincided with the holiday season, which is the food's peak season for consumption. USDA estimates Americans used 11.4 eggs per household during the Thanksgiving holiday and 8.6 eggs per household over Christmas. Households in 2022 used an estimated 1.6 more eggs at Christmas than they did in 2021. Other than strong egg demand at Easter, demand should soon ease, and prices should fall as producers continue to recover from the supply disruptions of 2022. Jessica Wells, Extension poultry specialist, said the answer to the problem of expensive eggs is not to quickly decide to have a flock of chickens at home. "Even though egg prices have drastically increased, the price to feed, house and manage your flock will still be very costly," Wells said. Additionally, since HPAI is carried by wild and migratory fowl, backyard flocks are highly susceptible to the virus because they easily come in contact with infected birds. |
| Conservation group names Jimmy Bryan Farmer of the Year | |
| Recognizing more than two decades of successful quail habitat restoration work at Prairie Wildlife, last week Quail Forever named Jimmy Bryan, of Clay County, its 2022/2023 Farmer of the Year with an award co-sponsored by the group and the John Deere company. Since the turn of the century, Bryan has been working in partnership with university researchers and professional field biologists to return much of his cattle and row crop land to its original native state, one that once lived in harmony with wild quail. "At one time we did nothing for quail," Bryan said. "It was a natural habitat and the birds were here, and they co-existed with our farming practices in those days. We came in and started planting fescue and Bermuda grass for year round grazing, then we started fence row to fence row farming and you woke up one day and it was clear why we didn't have birds - they had nowhere to live." Bryan reached out to Dr. Wes Burger, dean of the college of forest resources at Mississippi State University. Burger met Bryan at the latter's property in Clay County for a tour. "I spent a day with Dr. Burger, and he told me all we needed to do," Bryan said. "I said, 'Wes, you're telling me I need to make this place look like it did in the '50s.' He said, 'You're exactly right.'" Bryan and his team at Prairie Wildlife began restoring quail nesting cover and quail brood cover while also addressing the land's erosion issues. "You don't find many landowners willing to sacrifice part of production to create wildlife-friendly situations," said Dr. Mark McConnell, with the College of Forest Resources at Mississippi State University. |
| Man flees police, leads agencies on multi-county chase | |
| An armed man who led law enforcement on a multi-county chase is in custody and awaiting a mental evaluation, according to police. Starkville officers responded to a domestic-related report at 8:59 a.m., a police department press release said. Upon arrival, the armed man fled in a vehicle, and officers pursued him until he left Oktibbeha County. At about 10:03 a.m., the suspect returned to the county on Highway 25 with Louisville police and Winston County sheriff's deputies in pursuit. The vehicle exited onto Highway 182, where law enforcement employed spike strips to stop the suspect, who was not injured. During the chase, a collision involving a Mississippi Highway Patrol vehicle occurred at the intersection between Highway 25 and Poorhouse/Longview Road. The suspect was not involved in the collision, according to Brandon Lovelady, public information officer for Starkville Police Department. |
| Suspect arrested, charged with murder in Yokohama shooting | |
| A man accused of shooting his coworker Wednesday morning in the Yokohama Tire Company parking lot has been charged with murder. Willie Swain Jr., 41, turned himself in to the Clay County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, according to Sheriff Eddie Scott. Swain allegedly shot Javarest Gray, 28, during an argument just 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. |
| MDA Deputy Director Laura Hipp plans to keep momentum growing | |
| Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is coming off the most successful year in state history, including the Steel Dynamics announcement of a $2.5 billion investment in an aluminum flat rolled mill in the Golden Triangle that is expected to create 1,000 jobs. MDA Deputy Executive Director Laura Hipp said MDA and its partners are working to make sure the state continues to advance with new projects and expansions of existing businesses to lift the economy of the state. "We have some strong potential projects in the works," Hipp said. "We hope to land some of those. We also have some exceptional events coming up over the next year, including the Industrial Assets Management Council's Spring Forum, which will be held in Biloxi and will allow us the opportunity to showcase the entire state to this unique set of professionals who work in the corporate real estate world. "In late September, Blue Economy professionals from around the world are expected to attend the Oceans 2023 Gulf Coast conference. We are positioned well in one of our hottest emerging sectors related to the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth." MDA also will continue to focus on site development. Especially since the pandemic, companies want to get up and running as quickly as possible. MDA will continue to support workforce education, including working with the AccelerateMS and other key partners such as community colleges and universities. |
| Mississippi House passes bill that would allow liquor stores to open on Sundays | |
 | Have you ever been in the mood for something a little stronger than beer before all of the sudden remembering it's Sunday and all of the liquor stores are closed? Well, if that's the case, you might be in luck. The Mississippi House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would allow liquor stores to be open on Sundays. House Bill 384, authored by Republican Representative Brent Powell of Brandon, would give wet counties the choice to authorize liquor stores to be open between the hours of 1 and 6 p.m. on Sundays. As of now, ABC-permitted liquor stores in Mississippi can sell liquor between 10 a.m. and midnight, Monday through Saturday, and are required to be closed on Sundays and Christmas Day. The bill has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee as it awaits further discussion. |
| Find out where Mississippi lawmakers, Capitol staff, reporters eat while in Jackson | |
 | Each new year, more than 100 Mississippi legislators and their staffs descend upon downtown Jackson for the legislative session. If you're in Jackson during this time, where might you find some of them -- or the reporters who cover them -- eating lunch? One place where members of the Legislature can often be seen chatting over a meal is Keifer's. Keifer's actually has two locations near the Capitol, and while they're owned by different people, both offer a wide variety of Mediterranean fare including gyros and hummus. While politicos can be seen at both locations nearly any day the legislature is in session, the location on Poplar Boulevard near Baptist Hospital is particularly busy in the time just after one of the chambers adjourns. It is a bit further from the capitol than the Keifer's Downtown location but has its own parking lot and offers more space, with indoor and outdoor seating. Another popular downtown restaurant is Hal and Mal's. Located near Jackson City Hall and a number of the city's courthouses, Hal and Mal's may be your best place to spot both state and local officials. One street over from the Poplar Boulevard location of Keifer's is The Manship, a favorite of those looking for a slightly more formal meal while still not straying too far from the capitol. The Manship combines classic American flavors with those from New Orleans and Europe, with an emphasis on cooking over flame. |
| House leaves uncertain future for Mississippi burn center location, months after closure | |
 | Last week, it seemed the Mississippi House of Representatives had settled on University of Mississippi Medical Center as the next location for Mississippi's only dedicated burn center. That changed Wednesday, when an amendment was added on the House floor that switched the recipient of burn center funding from UMMC to Mississippi Baptist Medical Center. Both Jackson hospitals, one public and one private, have been seeking to establish a burn center in the months following the closure of the state's only such facility at Merit Health Central, also located in Jackson. In the weeks before Merit closed its burn center, UMMC announced that it would begin treating burn patients. Meanwhile, Derek Culnan, the former medical director of the Merit burn center, began to treat patients at Baptist. Still, neither hospital is currently able to treat the most severe of burn victims, with those patients being transferred to out-of-state burn centers, some as far away as Augusta, Georgia. Funding from the state legislature could change that. Last week, a House committee voted to award UMMC with $4 million to establish a burn center. Then, on Wednesday, Rep. Karl Oliver, R-Winona, brought an amendment to the House floor that would change both the recipient and the funding mechanism. Rather than $4 million to UMMC, the bill would now give the Mississippi Department of Health the authority to distribute unused COVID-19 relief funds to Baptist in order to help it establish its burn center. The amended bill passed the House 102-11, and now heads to the Senate, where it will need to pass committee and floor votes. |
| Senate committee advances very different version of House Bill 1020 | |
| A heavily modified version of one of the most contentious bills of the 2023 legislative session passed a Senate committee Thursday. The version of House Bill 1020 that passed the Senate Judiciary A Committee entirely removes the creation of a new unelected court system within the Capitol Complex Improve District, instead cementing state support for and involvement within the existing Hinds County court system. The version of the bill that passed the House, after nearly five hours of debate, would have created a new court system to oversee cases within an expanded CCID. Critics said it would create two court systems within Jackson, one elected by residents and serving areas in the city with a majority of Black residents, and another appointed by state leaders and serving majority white areas. Proponents, like the bill's author Rep. Trey Lamar, R-Senatobia, said it is intended to help assist the backlog faced by Hinds County Court and therefor reduce crime in the city. Sen. Brice Wiggins, R-Pascagoula, said his changes to the House version share Lamar's motivations, despite making significant changes. Similar to a bill that already passed the Senate, the new version of HB 1020 would increase the jurisdiction of the Capitol Police to include all of Jackson. It would require a memorandum of understanding to be agreed to between the city and the state Department of Public Safety on how Jackson Police and Capitol Police would work together. If no agreement can be reached, the dispute would be decided in favor of the state. |
| Senate panel strips many 'onerous' provisions from HB 1020 | |
| Controversial House legislation that would create a special judicial district within the city of Jackson with judges appointed instead of elected was significantly changed Thursday by the Senate Judiciary A Committee. The House legislation was opposed by many because it created permanent judicial posts appointed by the white chief justice of the state Supreme Court, instead of elected by the Black majority population of Jackson. Under changes made by the Senate panel, there no longer would be a separate judicial district with appointed judges. The Senate plan unveiled by Senate Judiciary A Chair Brice Wiggins, R-Pascagoula, would place in law five special judges appointed by Chief Justice Michael Randolph to help ease the backlog of cases currently facing the four elected circuit judge serving Hinds County and the city of Jackson. Those special judges could hear cases until December 2026. The bill would also add another elected judge for the Hinds County judicial district. That judge would be elected in 2026 and assume office in January 2027. The Senate plan also would eliminate another controversial portion of the House proposal that expanded an existing Capital Complex Improvement District to cover what many members of the Jackson legislative delegation described as the whiter and more affluent areas of the city. The Senate plan would give state law enforcement, which currently has jurisdiction in the existing Capital Complex Improvement District, police powers throughout the city. |
| Lumumba: New H.B. 1020 Is 'Attack on Black Leadership'; Will Not Sign Forced MOU | |
| Controversial legislation to establish a new court system in Hinds County with unelected judges and prosecutors in an expanded Capitol Complex Improvement District has now morphed into an effort to expand the jurisdiction of the State-run Capitol Police over the entire capital city. It also commands that the City of Jackson sign an agreement allowing them expanded jurisdiction after weeks of controversy over proposed legislation to allow the State to take more control of the majority-Black capital city. Mississippi Senate Judiciary A Committee passed the new version of House Bill 1020 that imports the language of Senate Bill 2343, which would grant the Capitol Police jurisdiction over all of Jackson, concurrent with the jurisdiction of the Jackson Police Department and Hinds County sheriff, rather than just the whitest part of town as was first proposed. The primary area would still be the Capitol Complex Improvement District. The legislation demands that Mississippi Commissioner for Public Safety Sean Tindell and the City of Jackson must agree to a memorandum of understanding by July 1. Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba confirmed to the Mississippi Free Press tonight that he will not sign that MOU. "The legislation is still an attack on Black leadership in every form," he said. |
| Jaheim McMillan's mother and BLM demand civil rights probe into Black teen's killing | |
 | The mother of 15-year-old Jaheim McMillan, Black Lives Matter Grassroots and other activists are calling for a federal civil rights investigation into the Black teen's shooting death by a Gulfport police officer. "I am so disappointed by the decision and had hope that Mississippi would do the right thing, but they do not have the courage," Jaheim's mother, Katrina Mateen, said in a statement released by Black Lives Matter Grassroots, a non-profit group made up of over a dozen BLM chapters. The grand jury report released Wednesday cleared Officer Kenneth Nassar of any criminal wrongdoing. The shooting happened shortly after Gulfport police responded to a 911 call in the area of Pass Road and 8th Avenue in reference to minors --- since identified as McMillan and four other teens --- who were in a silver Kia Soul wearing masks and waving guns at motorists. Nassar and another Gulfport police officer caught up with the teens after they pulled into a Family Dollar store in Gulfport on the afternoon of Oct. 6. McMillan and another teen jumped out of the car and ran with guns in their hands. In police body and dash cam footage, McMillan is seen running in front of the store with a gun near his side when Nassar fires eight shots, ultimately resulting in McMillan's death. Mateens and the BLM's members and other activist are disputing claims from police that McMillan "became a threat when he exited the vehicle." |
| Rep. Bennie Thompson warns release of Jan. 6 video could compromise Capitol security | |
 | Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, the former chair of the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack, says House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's decision to release security video of that day to Fox News host Tucker Carlson could compromise the security of the U.S. Capitol by exposing the placement of cameras throughout the complex. "This was an individual decision made by the speaker. Can you imagine the chief of the Capitol Police reading about it in the paper?" Thompson said in an interview with Morning Edition Host Steve Inskeep. Earlier this week, Axios reported that McCarthy granted Carlson access to more than 40,000 hours of the tapes. NPR has not independently confirmed Carlson's team has access to the footage. Both Fox News and McCarthy's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Thompson said any release of video footage that comes without coordinating with U.S. Capitol Police could compromise the security of the U.S. Capitol by exposing the placement of cameras throughout the complex. "(The) video identified those positions when members were escorted out of the Capitol during the height of the insurrection," Thompson said referring to security footage he reviewed as chair of the select committee investigating the Jan. 6th attack. Democrats also expressed concern the release could trigger a new wave of disinformation. |
| U.S. Offers $2 Billion in Weapons to Ukraine on One-Year Anniversary of War | |
 | The Pentagon announced another $2 billion in long-term military support for Ukraine, a package that includes additional high-demand ammunition, as well as new kinds of drones, counterdrone systems and other types of weaponry. Unlike some assistance packages that draw directly from American stocks, the $2 billion in aid unveiled Friday -- the anniversary of Russia's invasion a year ago -- will come from what's called the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which funds defense manufacturing for Ukraine's long-term needs. Some weaponry in the package under procurement may not reach Ukraine for another year or so. The package includes High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or Himars, additional 155-mm artillery rounds, munitions for laser-guided rocket systems as well as a number of types of unmanned aircraft, including CyberLux K8 quadcopter drones, Switchblade 600 drones, Altius-600 drones and Jump 20 drones, according to a Pentagon statement. The package also includes other systems to counter Russian attack drones, many of which come from Iran, electronic warfare-detection equipment, mine-clearing equipment and communications-support equipment, the Pentagon said. The $2 billion package also includes funding for training, maintenance and sustainment of the new systems. Along with President Biden's trip to Kyiv in recent days, the Biden administration has taken steps, like new sanctions targeting Russia, to show on the one-year anniversary of the war that the U.S. and its allies must continue to provide support. |
| The GOP field descends on Iowa, readying to eat some humble pie | |
 | Sen. Tim Scott arrived in Iowa this week amid buzz about a presidential bid to come. But shortly after stepping foot in the state, that enthusiasm was complemented by the humbling elements that come with politicking in such an intimate place. Scott chose a reading room at Drake University, hoping to reach younger voters who don't always hear from Republican candidates. There, he received enthusiastic applause from conservatives in the front as he stuck closely to the prepared speech rolling on teleprompters. But his message was a harder sell to some of the other young voters who didn't respond to his lines about gender identification and the teaching of racism. Later, they confided that they would never vote for him. After all, they were Democrats. "That's exactly what I assumed he was going to say," said Gavin Hoedl, a 20-year-old student, who had come merely to witness the possibility of an announcement being made. "That's the standard Republican stump speech." Over the course of three days in Iowa this week, the political pitfalls and opportunities of the state already became apparent. Any candidate for office can be rewarded for the right amount of gladhanding and pork eating and farm marveling. And those with an eye on the presidency in 2024 gave it their shot. But the voters In Iowa are picky too. They don't hide it. "We like to be courted," said Patti Parlee of Urbandale, who was at the Polk County Republican dinner on Wednesday to hear Scott speak. |
| Tired of Texans running for president? 2024 may be reprieve | |
 | It's early yet, but next year's presidential race may feature something the political world hasn't seen in the last 50 years: no Texans. The Texas-size hole in the field will be on stark display Friday at a closed Republican donor event outside the state capital, Austin, featuring the likes of former Vice President Mike Pence, who is expected to mount a campaign, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who announced her bid last week. Some Texans could still run. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott won't decide until after Memorial Day. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, who ran in 2016, says he's focused for now on reelection next year. Will Hurd, a onetime CIA agent and former Republican congressman from San Antonio, is seriously considering a bid and may bring on staff, aides say. If none of them seeks the White House, it'd be the first time since 1972 without at least one major candidate who rose to public prominence in Texas or lived in the state while running for or holding office. Finding the next most recent Texan-less presidential cycle requires going all the way back to 1952, four years before Lyndon B. Johnson made his first attempt at the White House. Since the modern era of presidential campaigning began in 1972, Texans have been involved in more cycles than any other state. Candidates from California have launched more overall bids at 19, according to Eric Ostermeier, a research fellow at University of Minnesota's Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs. But Texans and New Yorkers are second, producing 15 total candidacies each. |
| With new attention on Carter legacy, presidential library due for overhaul | |
| The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum is usually closed on Mondays, but its managers decided to open the doors for a few hours on Presidents Day to give people a space to process the news that the former president had entered hospice care. Over the following days, attendance tripled and doubled from the previous week and nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels. People looking for a place to reflect turned to the Atlanta-based museum, the archives library with thousands of Carter documents and its tree-lined campus. "It's so important for people to come to see and learn more about President Carter from the early years to current day; I just think it puts a different perspective on things," said Meredith Evans, the facility's director. "Plus, we have beautiful grounds for people to reflect on life and what this means as we enter toward new beginnings." Even before the news about Carter's declining health, Evans was already thinking about the next chapter for the library and museum. The facilities are functional but aging. When guests watch an introductory video that precedes each tour, they sit in the same cinema seats as the first visitors when the building opened in 1986. The theaters and other spaces need retrofitting to keep up with internet and audio-visual advances, as well as new compliance regulations for people with disabilities. Most notably, the museum's exhibits haven't been refreshed since 2009. The Carter library makes no mention, for example, of the presidency of Barack Obama. |
| US mass killings linked to extremism spiked over last decade | |
| The number of U.S. mass killings linked to extremism over the past decade was at least three times higher than the total from any other 10-year period since the 1970s, according to a report by the Anti-Defamation League. The report, provided to The Associated Press ahead of its public release Thursday, also found that all extremist killings identified in 2022 were linked to right-wing extremism, with an especially high number linked to white supremacy. They include a racist mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, that left 10 Black shoppers dead and a mass shooting that killed five people at an LGBT nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado. "It is not an exaggeration to say that we live in an age of extremist mass killings," the report from the group's Center on Extremism says. Between two and seven domestic extremism-related mass killings occurred every decade from the 1970s to the 2000s, but in the 2010s that number skyrocketed to 21, the report found. The number of victims has risen as well. Between 2010 and 2020, 164 people died in ideological extremist-related mass killings, according to the report. That's much more than in any other decade except the 1990s, when the bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City killed 168 people. |
| Mississippi's Super Bowl of STEM taking place in Biloxi | |
 | The Mississippi Academy of Sciences annual convention is known as the Super Bowl of STEM in Mississippi. College professors, grad students and undergraduate students from all around the state are talking all things related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. "Everybody will look at us and think we're just a bunch of nerds, but this bunch of nerds really has a hard impact on Mississippi," said Dr. Michelle Tucci, anesthesiology professor at University Medical Center. "We have a lot of people here representing various fields, from agriculture to zoology." All types of STEM-related topics are on the table here for these students and faculty members. "The goal is to get participation from every institute in the state, so the MAS conference is really important to us to get all those people in one spot and share ideas and create collaborations," said Alex Flynt, director of Mississippi IMBRE (Idea Network of Biomedical Excellence). It's for job retention as well. They'd like to keep the Magnolia State's best and brightest at home working and educating the next generation of STEM students. |
| Spike in COVID-19 on campus | |
 | Along with the typical cold and flu seasons this winter, COVID-19 is still prevalent, and COVID-19 cases have risen recently on the University of Mississippi campus and in Mississippi. According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, there have been 3,594 COVID-19 cases reported between Feb. 7 and Feb. 13 in Mississippi. Thirty-nine new deaths were also reported. "We can confirm a slight increase in COVID-19 cases around the state and at University Health Services. Luckily, we are able to provide treatment, and the cases have been mild," Director of University Health Services Alex Langhart said. Some students did not know that COVID-19 cases have risen. Hannah Dear, a junior international studies and Spanish major, said this pattern is common. "(Cases) are always spiking and falling. Such is the nature of a mutating virus, I suppose," Dear said. Even with the lifts in mask mandates, there are still students, faculty and staff wearing masks on campus. Sophomore public policy leadership major Mateos Lozano said he still consistently wears a mask outside his apartment, other than when eating or drinking. "I still think COVID-19 poses a present danger, and I want to protect myself as well as my family at home. The last thing I want to do is to bring an illness back to my family after I come home from break," Lozano said |
| Quintuplets born to couple at U. of Mississippi Medical Center | |
| Quintuplets have been born at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Names and details were not yet available, but the babies were born to a Mississippi couple. A press conference has been called for Friday to announce the births. Parents of the quintuplets will be joined by Dr. Rachael Morris, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, who led the team that delivered the babies. The five babies are neonatal intensive care patients at Children's of Mississippi. Quintuplets are extremely rare. The chances of spontaneous quintuplets are about one in 60 million, according to multiple medical sites. Reproductive techniques such as fertility-enhancing drugs or in vitro fertilization can improve those odds slightly. In December, a Mississippi couple announced they were expecting quintuplets. They documented their process on YouTube. UMMC officials did not confirm whether this was the same family that gave birth at UMMC. |
| USM's College of Business/Development hosts annual economic outlook forum | |
 | Business experts took center state at the University of Southern Mississippi's annual Economic Outlook Forum. Bret Becton, dean of the College of Business and Economic Development, said leaders are able to explore and research several issues related to economic trends of 2023. "A lot of businesses depend on this, in terms of planning for the future, so it's a great event," Becton said. "It gets the business community together and it's a good connection point for the College of Business and the university with the community. Banking, real estate, retail and manufacturing members were among those who attended the event. Hoppy Cole, president/chief executive officer of The First Bank, said the forum can relate to anyone in the business. "Well, we hope it's beneficial to the people of South Mississippi to help in their plans for their business for the year and to understand what the expectation of the economic outlook is," said Cole. The forum had three economic presenters, including Dr. Christopher Smith, Thanh Roettele and Dr. Gary Wagner, who discussed local employment trends in the metro areas of Mississippi and the housing markets. |
| ICC campus chief named head of state campus police association | |
| Itawamba Community College Campus Police Chief Jason Dickinson of Mantachie has been elected president of the Mississippi Campus Law Enforcement Association for a two-year term. Dickinson returned to ICC in 2021 to become Campus Police Chief 28 years after he first enrolled as a student. He previously spent 23 years working patrol and investigating in such roles as chief of police, chief investigator, captain patrol, commander special operation group, sergeant patrol and patrol officer. A graduate of Mantachie High School, Dickinson earned Associate of Applied Science degrees in Agribusiness and Law Enforcement at ICC. The Mississippi Campus Law Enforcement Association includes representatives from all colleges in the state. Its purpose is to promote professional ideals and standards in the administration of security and law enforcement throughout the community and the state's junior/senior colleges and universities. It also makes security and law enforcement a part of the education process and improves methods and procedures in the administration, planning, development, operation and maintenance of campus law enforcement, ensuring the safety and well-being of the campus community. |
| Northeast Mississippi Community College receives $15.9M technology grant | |
| Northeast Mississippi Community College received one of its highest grants from EON Reality. A $15.9 million grant will bring virtual reality to Northeast Mississippi CC. The college plans to digitally transform every classroom by incorporating some form of virtual reality in the class. "Integrating augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed reality into the normal instructional process will create a tremendous advantage for our students," said Northeast president Dr. Ricky G. Ford. The XR platform holds nearly 120,000 assets and covers topics from architecture to engineering to lab sciences, advanced mathematics, and fine arts like studio design and photography. "They will now have access to the content in a completely unique way. This will encourage our students to be more creative and knowledgeable of the materials, thus ensuring our students will have the ability to be competitive in their chosen workforce field," said Dr. Ford. |
| FORGE partners with EMCC to host fair showing job interviewing process | |
 | Hundreds of area students learn what's it like to apply for a job and to be asked some tough questions. Teens from five counties and nine different schools converged at EMCC's Communiversity Thursday. The FORGE organization partnered with the school to host the event. Small businesses and others were there to interview the students, take their resumes, and grade their performance. The goal is to have the students prepared to interview for jobs as they approach graduation. More than 400 kids participated in the annual event. |
| Pearl River leads the state in allied health programs, answering the need for healthcare professionals in Mississippi | |
| Pearl River Community College received terrific news that they are now leading the state in enrollment and credit hours for allied health programs at the community college level. Demand for allied health professionals has been growing and the trend is expected to continue for years to come. A survey by AMN Healthcare in 2022 showed that 85% of healthcare facilities face a moderate to significant shortage of non-nurse and non-physician healthcare providers. Fields in particular demand include radiologic technologists, laboratory technicians, and occupational therapists. In Mississippi, occupational therapists, physical therapy assistants, and aides are expected to account for the majority of over 11,000 healthcare jobs by 2026 according to The Mississippi Occupational Employment Project report. The demand for licensed practical nurses and registered nurses continues to hold across the state and country. Within the PRCC district, the need for LPNs is expected to grow by almost 9% while the need for RNs is expected to increase by almost 11%. "We know there is a shortage, and we are prepared to do all we can to meet this need," said Dr. Jana Causey, Vice President for Forrest County Campus, Allied Health, and Nursing Programs. "We have formed many partnerships with our local healthcare providers and Universities and have devoted tremendous effort to expanding current programs and implementing new ones. |
| Deadline extended to apply for Mississippi Teacher Residency program | |
| The application deadline for the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) Mississippi Teacher Residency (MTR) program has been extended beyond February 15. The Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) voted in December 2021 to award more than $9.8 million in grant funds to five universities to cover tuition and expenses for up to 200 aspiring educators seeking a master's degree in elementary and special education. Those universities are Delta State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University. MTR now includes 42 participating school districts based on each university's established process for partnering with geographical critical shortage area districts. Confirmed participating school districts are included in the application and will be updated as needed on the MTR website. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all 200 slots are filled or the universities can no longer accept candidates. Candidates who submitted complete applications before February 15 will have priority for acceptance into the program. |
| HBCUs have big role to train diverse teachers amid shortages | |
| Surrounded by kindergarteners, Lana Scott held up a card with upper and lower case Ys, dotted with pictures of words that started with that letter: Yo-yo. Yak. Yacht. "What sound does Y make?" Scott asked a boy. Head down, he mumbled: "Yuh." Instead of moving on, she gave him a nudge. "Say it confident, because you know it," she urged. "Be confident in your answer because you know it." He sat up and sounded it out again, louder this time. Scott smiled and turned her attention to the other kids in her group session. As a student teacher from Bowie State University, a historically Black institution, Scott said she has learned to build deep connections with students. The school, Whitehall Elementary, is filled with teachers and administrators who graduated from Bowie State. Classrooms refer to themselves as families, and posters on the wall ask children to reflect on what makes a good classmate. HBCUs play an outsize role in producing teachers of color in the U.S., where only 7% of teachers are Black, compared with 15% of students. Of all Black teachers nationwide, nearly half are graduates of an HBCU. Having teachers who look like them is crucial for young Americans. Research has found Black students who have at least one Black teacher are more likely to graduate from high school and less likely to be suspended or expelled. Some new research suggests the training found at HBCUs may be part of what makes an effective teacher. |
| U. of Alabma president to be inducted into Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame | |
 | University of Alabama President Stuart R. Bell will be one of six people inducted Saturday into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame. Bell graduated from Texas A&M in 1979 with a nuclear engineering degree. The 66-year-old Abilene, Texas, native also earned a master's degree and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, both from Texas A&M. He first arrived at UA in 1986 as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering and founded the Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies. Bell served as dean of engineering at the University of Kansas and as executive vice president and provost at Louisiana State University before returning to the Capstone in 2015, when he became UA's 29th president. During his tenure as UA president, Bell has advanced engineering and science workforce development in the Alabama while sparking technical innovation, according to the news release. The Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame is managed through the UA College of Engineering with input from engineering schools at UA, Auburn University, Alabama A&M University, Tuskegee University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Alabama in Huntsville and the University of South Alabama. |
| Revival fervor fades at Samford University | |
 | A spontaneous revival of students that started at Samford University on Feb. 15 and continued into the weekend has been subsiding this week. On Thursday afternoon, the doors to Reid Chapel were open and the audio-visual system was turned on, with changing screens offering Bible quotations and prayer advice, but the building was empty. "As of right now, the revival has waned, but there is a small group of students who continue to meet and pray," said a statement released by Samford officials on Thursday, in response to questions about whether the revival had ended. While students had been gathering during the day for prayer and worship, that began to fade this week. Some students are continuing to gather at night for worship. Samford President Beck Taylor and other faculty and staff had stopped in last week and were impressed with the spontaneous worship led by students. "It's real, genuine, vulnerable, passionate, biblical and all about Jesus," Taylor said last week. Larger crowds came at night, but students had been coming into the chapel and praying all day long, said Jonathan Bass, a professor of history who had been visiting and observing the revival. |
| 'Woodstock' for Christians: Revival Draws Thousands to Kentucky Town | |
 | Jennifer Palmer told her boss on Thursday morning that she had to leave work, and drove 11 hours straight from Jacksonville, Fla., to get here. Jayden Peech, a high school student from a few hours away in Kentucky, came with his mother after listening to a speaker at their church. Valor Christian College in Ohio canceled classes, and almost the entire student body drove down in a bus, with no plans for where they would spend the night. For two weeks, tens of thousands of people have made a pilgrimage to a tiny Christian college, about 30 minutes south of Lexington, for what some scholars and worshipers describe as the nation's first major spiritual revival of the 21st century. Drawn by posts on TikTok and Instagram, plus old-fashioned word of mouth, Christians from across the country poured through a chapel on the campus of Asbury University to pray and sing until the wee hours of the morning, lining up hours before the doors opened and leaving only when volunteers closed the chapel at 1 a.m. to clean it for the next day. The unplanned event has strained the campus and kept the little chapel filled at all hours, prompting administrators to wind down the spectacle and disruption. Beginning Friday, the school said, there will be no more public events. Students said they were ready to return to their normal campus rhythms. The university estimates that the revival has drawn more than 50,000 people to Wilmore, a sleepy town of 6,000 people where the grocery store hosts a weekly Bible study and police cars read "In God We Trust." Asbury was founded in 1890, and its roots are in the Methodist and Wesleyan-Holiness tradition, which has a historical emphasis on transformative movements of the Holy Spirit. |
| Students confront U. of Arkansas, Fayetteville's chancellor on art 'censorship' | |
| An event Thursday billed as an opportunity for University of Arkansas, Fayetteville students to bring their questions and concerns to Chancellor Charles Robinson focused on only one topic -- the university's handling of a student's art exhibition earlier this week -- after roughly two dozen students and staff from the School of Art ensured that would be the only subject. Programs like Thursday's function best when "I hear your voice, and I can respond to your questions and [suggestions] about how we can make the university better," Robinson said in his introduction shortly before the School of Art group burst into the meeting. Graduate student M'Shinda Abdullah-Broaddus has his thesis exhibition displayed -- not an uncommon practice at the university -- in the new Studio and Design Center. He claims his work has been "censored" by the university after the chancellor ordered some sight lines to the art blocked and signs put up noting the nature of the art -- which involves nudity and sexual acts -- that may offend some viewers. "Censorship is a subjective description of what happened here," Robinson said. The art wasn't taken down and "will continue to be in the [building]." However, "I was hearing from people who were offended, and it's a public building," Robinson said. "I wanted to give people a choice" of whether to view the art or not, rather than be "surprised" by it. |
| U. of Florida students participate in statewide walkout in protest of DeSantis policies | |
 | About 100 University of Florida students and faculty members took part in a statewide walkout on Thursday in protest of recent controversial education-related initiatives championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The walkout took place at noon outside the Marston Science Library. The crowd built slowly before Sabrina Briceno, a member of the UF College Democrats and Stand for Freedom Florida, spoke on the issues. "We're talking about a huge overreach from our governor into our higher ed, k through 12, and everything in between. We're really just out here to make sure that Ron Desantis knows that we are upset and want our freedoms to be academically involved and engaged in the ways that we wish," she said. "To accurately learn our education, accurately learn our history, and that includes history that he might not agree with." Signs in the crowd included "Trans healthcare is a human right, not a political pawn!" and "Restrictions on education = restrictions on free thought, free expression, free love, progress and freedom!" After Briceno's brief remarks, the crowd of people moved inside the library where they heard from UF faculty, including Paul Ortiz, the director of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, on such topics as the importance of teaching Black history. |
| Florida bill would end diversity programs, ban majors, shift power at universities | |
| A bill filed this week in the Florida House would turn many of Gov. Ron DeSantis' wide-ranging ideas on higher education into law by limiting diversity efforts, vastly expanding the powers of university boards and altering course offerings. House Bill 999, filed by Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, proposes leaving all faculty hiring to boards of trustees, allowing a faculty member's tenure to be reviewed "at any time," and removing majors or minors in subjects like critical race theory and gender studies. It would also prohibit spending on activities that promote diversity, equity and inclusion and create new general education requirements. DeSantis' administration has been alluding to legislation like this for weeks. General education courses, the bill says, "may not suppress or distort significant historical events or include a curriculum that teaches identity politics, such as Critical Race Theory, or defines American history as contrary to the creation of a new nation based on universal principles stated in the Declaration of Independence." It spells out communications, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and math courses that may count as general education credits. In addition, the bill would greatly expand the role of boards of trustees at each school, which in turn would increase the governor's role in university life. The bill would require all faculty hiring to be done by boards of trustees. The boards may delegate the role to presidents, but a president would not be able to delegate the role to anyone else. |
| Grand jury indicts former U. of Kentucky student accused of racist attack | |
 | A 22-year-old former University of Kentucky student accused of hurling racial slurs at a Black student desk clerk has been criminally indicted on all charges by a Fayette County Grand Jury. The grand jury indicted Sophia Rosing Tuesday on all six counts that she was initially charged with: third-degree assault of a police officer, two counts of fourth-degree assault, second-degree disorderly conduct and alcohol intoxication. The incident took place at Boyd Residence Hall where Rosing, a white student, entered and began taunting, using racial slurs and making derogatory comments toward Kylah Spring, a Black student, according to videos of the incident and court records. After police arrived, Rosing continued using slurs, resisted arrest and bit a police officer, according to the arrest report. In November, Rosing was permanently banned from campus and is not eligible to re-enroll, according to an email from President Eli Capilouto. She was also fired from jobs as a student influencer, and another job at Dillards. The indictment alleges she kicked a UK police officer and bit and hit three other victims, including Spring. |
| U. of Missouri sets new record for research spending | |
 | The University of Missouri's continuing research growth led to a record $432 million in research expenditures in the 2022 fiscal year, the university announced Thursday -- a trend that now spans a decade. The increase leads to key outcomes like citations, published books, recognition of faculty through granting doctoral degrees, UM System President and MU Chancellor Mun Choi said in a news release. "I'm very proud of the many efforts of our faculty, staff and students to achieve excellence in research." In a news release, Michael Williams, the chair of the UM System Board of Curators, said that "an investment in research at MU is an investment in Missouri." MU research led to nearly $1 billion in economic impact, backed more than 6,800 jobs and generated $55 million in state and local taxes, according to the university. Contributing to the latest year of research spending was a proposal development service supported by the university's MizzouForward initiative, as well as the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Building, according to a news release. |
| 'Sadly, It's a Club': What Michigan State Leaders Learned Responding to a Mass Shooting | |
 | After a shooting spree at Michigan State University last week left three students dead and five critically injured, campus leaders had some major responsibilities: help their community process grief and regain a sense of safety on campus, facilitate a return to the classroom, communicate new developments to the public, and examine what could be done to improve campus security. It's a set of duties that has become familiar to the leaders of other institutions that have experienced tragedies on and around their campuses, especially in an era when mass shootings take place almost every day. On Sunday, Michigan State's interim president, interim provost, and chief of police answered questions from The Chronicle about how they see their roles in the midst of this tragedy and the kinds of support they have received from other college leaders. They also discussed the return to the classroom and measures they're taking to improve campus safety. The interim president, Teresa K. Woodruff, and interim provost, Thomas D. Jeitschko, ascended to those posts last fall after the president at the time, Samuel L. Stanley, resigned amid a dispute with the Board of Trustees. Woodruff was the provost at the time, and Jeitschko was the senior associate provost. |
| UC applications slow down for fall 2023. Will Californians get a better shot at admission? | |
 | After two years of record growth, the University of California received a smaller number of applications for fall 2023, with state students holding steady but nonresidents declining, according to preliminary data released Friday. Overall, UC drew 206,405 applications for first-year seats, a 2% decline over last year, with international students accounting for the steepest drop. The number of California first-year applicants stayed essentially flat overall at 132,226 --- increasing at six of the nine UC undergraduate campuses and slightly declining at UCLA, UC Davis and UC Merced. But as UC plans to increase the enrollment of California undergraduates by 4,200 this fall under an agreement with Gov. Gavin Newsom, the chance of admission may be a tad better. Although the system's nine undergraduate campuses won't release their admission decisions until next month, they accepted a record number of California first-year students last year, while significantly narrowing entry to out-of-state and international applicants amid demands to preserve seats for state residents. Campuses expect to continue that trend this year. UCLA, UC San Diego and UC Berkeley are again planning to swap out about 900 nonresident students, giving those seats to Californians, under a deal with Newsom and legislators to make up losses in the higher tuition paid by out-of-state and international students. Despite the dip for fall 2023, the number of first-year applications is still higher than it was in 2021, the start of a two-year record surge that campus officials largely attribute to the elimination of standardized testing requirements for admission. Six of the 10 most applied to universities in the nation are UC campuses. |
| In texts, Youngkin appointee plots 'battle royale for the soul of UVA' | |
 | After Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) named him last summer to the University of Virginia's governing board, Bert Ellis had a platform to influence the school's administration. He spotted a potential target, a vice provost named Louis P. Nelson, tasked with community engagement, public service and academic outreach programs. Nelson, who reports to U-Va's chief academic officer, Provost Ian Baucom, is also a professor of architectural history and an award-winning scholar and teacher. He has researched buildings and landscapes that shaped slavery in West Africa and the Americas, including at the prestigious public university that Thomas Jefferson founded in Charlottesville. Ellis was unimpressed. "Check out this numnut who works for Baucom and has nothing to do but highlight slavery at UVA," Ellis wrote on July 22 in text messages to two other new board members, Stephen P. Long and Amanda Pillion. "This bloated bureaucracy has got to be slashed." That and other text messages from Ellis were obtained last week through Virginia's Freedom of Information Act by Richmond-based author Jeff Thomas, who provided them to The Washington Post. They provide an unfiltered window into the conversations of a controversial board newcomer who has voiced skepticism of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, been protective of the legacy of Jefferson and advocated for a new course for the flagship university. They also underscore mounting political tensions throughout public higher education as Republican governors and their appointees challenge university culture, norms and operations. |
| By Announcing an Investigation, Did Tulane Censor Her? | |
| When the Tulane University student Sarah Ma published a viral diatribe last month that promoted stereotypes about Jews, and defended the antisemitic rants of the rap artist formerly known as Kanye West, there were widespread demands on the heavily Jewish New Orleans campus that administrators investigate and punish the 20-year-old for "creating a hostile environment." A few days after the article was published, Erica Woodley, Tulane's associate vice president and dean of students, student resources, and support services, sent a campuswide email that denounced Ma's article, pointed traumatized students to a phone line for emotional support, restated the university's free-speech policy, and said the university would review student complaints. "Tulane strongly condemns antisemitism, anti-Blackness, and all forms of bias and discrimination. The Office of Student Conduct is reviewing this matter," wrote Woodley. "We acknowledge the pain these words have caused." That email has landed Tulane in the crosshairs of a roiling debate over campus free speech. Across the country in recent months, college administrators have been under increasing fire over whether or not they acknowledge, denounce, or publicly investigate hate speech. |
| As the pandemic wanes, where's the market for massive online learning? | |
| If there was ever a moment when massive open online learning courses were going to take off, it seemed like the pandemic was it. And they did: Companies reported exponential spikes in enrollment as people took classes in technical drawing, philosophy and Adobe Illustrator. It was boom times. Some companies raised funding; others went public. But now, the times seem to be more bust than boom. One of the platforms, Udemy, recently announced it's cutting 10% of its workforce. Another, Coursera, let go of some employees in the fall. So, who's the market for these courses now? Retired engineer Steve Meier, 59, has taken half a dozen massive online courses. "Use it or lose it," he said. "It's a way to keep your marbles." Meier also wants to help others keep their marbles. He now works as a massage therapist in Silicon Valley and sees many older adults, some of whom have dementia. So he took an online class in neuroscience to learn about stimulating nerves. All the classes Meier has taken have been free. "Never paid," he said, laughing. The online platforms likely hope he eventually does take a course that costs money. In the meantime, these companies are bringing in money from corporate clients looking to advance their workforce's skills, said Stephen Sheldon, an analyst with the bank William Blair. "They want businesses to pay for this at scale for all of their employees," he said. |
| Freedom is precious | |
| Mississippi newspaper publisher and columnist Wyatt Emmerich writes: The world is divided between free, democratic nations and dictatorships. This battle between freedom and tyranny is the defining ideological battle of our age. Here in America, we take our freedom for granted, which is foolish and dangerous. Freedom is precious, paid for with lakes of human blood. I was driving around Jackson on a recent spring day. Spring in Mississippi starts on Feb. 15, when temperatures take a dramatic leap forward the last half of the month. You could see the blossoms starting to bloom. Spring has always been my favorite season. There is change in the air. The cold days are receding. There is a feeling of renewal and rebirth. As I drove around and looked at the houses, buildings and streets, with all their physical imperfections, I had a profound sense of seeing, or at least sensing, the palpable presence of freedom everywhere. ... So what is freedom? That's simple. In the United States you can say whatever you want about any politician without fear of retribution by the government. I have been writing editorials and opinion columns for 40 years. I have been harshly critical of governmental authorities innumerable times. Never once have I been threatened with arrest in any way by any governmental official. Never once have I been censored. Nor has any other journalist in my organization. Ironically, at this moment Chuck Espy, the mayor of Clarksdale, is calling for a boycott of the Clarksdale Press Register and Emmerich Newspapers. He has posted Facebook videos calling Press Register publisher Floyd Ingram "evil, wicked and racist." |
| Gov. Tate Reeves wants to fix your road this election year | |
| Mississippi Today's Geoff Pender writes: After more than three years as governor, Gov. Tate Reeves now has a major road building plan, just in time for his reelection campaign. Of course Reeves, during his previous eight years as lieutenant governor, offered some road plans. But mostly these were to usurp MDOT's plans and priorities and widen, pave or build ones around where he or his family lived. But now he wants to go statewide, announcing with a press conference and social media campaign last week: "We will build the great roads and bridges that our state deserves!" All he needs is the Legislature to give him $1.3 billion -- he magnanimously said he doesn't care where they pull it from -- and he'll take it from there. He presented a jumbo map on an easel, with projects color-dotted across the state. The dots oddly coincide with areas one running for governor might concentrate campaign efforts, but never mind that. ... Someone politically cynical might surmise Reeves, who as governor controls neither state purse strings nor the building of roads, was trying to get out in front of the Legislature and take credit for a boom in roadbuilding he really has nothing to do with as reelection time nears. If that was the plan, it appeared to work, at least from a public relations standpoint. |
SPORTS
| Relentless offensive performance powers Mississippi State women past Arkansas in home finale | |
| Speed, versatility and togetherness. Mississippi State women's basketball is closing the regular season in style. The team is playing inspired offensive basketball and powering its way into March Madness contention. The Bulldogs were in the bubble conversation for some time and were the "last team in" ahead of the loss at Missouri, but they earned another résumé-booster Thursday with an 87-73 home win over Arkansas. The Bulldogs (20-8, 9-6 Southeastern Conference) have now won five of their last six games to reinforce their tournament résumé in a crowded SEC, and importantly, they've picked up a pair of convincing wins in their final two home games. They will finish the season with a 14-2 home record, averaging over 5,000 attendees per game, and Sam Purcell made sure to give credit to their efforts in an emotional postgame press conference. "The energy about this place, as I reflect back on the season, there's no better feeling than to play at home," Purcell said, "and it's just something special that you can't put a word to. It's just a magical place that loves women's basketball. To have senior day last game and Jess(ika Carter) not being able to play, we made it a senior week. Like we talked about, we don't lose on senior week. There was just an unbelievable look from my young women, they're together, they're one. We talked about it all year, you want to be playing your best basketball come March, and I think you see this right now." Purcell has said time and again how much Mississippi State just felt like the right culture for him, and reflected again Thursday about the passion he's felt from within the program as well as from the fanbase. |
| Diamond Dawg Gameday: Arizona State | |
| With opening weekend now in the rear view, the Mississippi State Bulldogs welcome the Arizona State Sun Devils to Dudy Noble Field for the second weekend series of the year. The series starts Friday evening at 4 p.m. CT, continuing Saturday at 5 p.m. and concluding Sunday at 1 p.m. All three games will be broadcast on SEC Network+. The series will also be carried on the Mississippi State Sports Network powered by Learfield along with a live audio stream via HailState.com/Listen. The Diamond Dawgs head into the weekend sporting a .337 batting average. Mississippi State and Arizona State will be facing off for the second time ever, the first being a matchup in the 1981 College World Series where the Bulldogs suffered a 4-3 loss. Arizona State is led by second year head coach Willie Bloomquist. Bloomquist is a 14-year Major League Baseball veteran and former Sun Devil standout. The Sun Devils come into the weekend with a 4-0 record with a series sweep of San Diego State and midweek victory over UNLV. As a pitching staff, Arizona State has a combined ERA of 2.50, including one shutout of San Diego State. |
| Bulldogs gear up for 'premier matchup' with Arizona State | |
| February is made for answering some of the pressing questions that plague college baseball coaches around the country. "Who do you trust coming out of the 'pen?" is one, Mississippi State coach Chris Lemonis acknowledged Wednesday. "Who's going to make pitches?" is another. It's only been five games, but the Bulldogs (3-2) aren't sure yet. "We're trying to figure ourselves out," Lemonis said. With Arizona State coming into town this weekend, the Bulldogs had better do that soon. The Sun Devils (4-0) are Mississippi State's first Power Five opponent of the season, and they visit Dudy Noble Field this weekend. MSU isn't exactly off to a scorching start, but Lemonis predicted an exciting series nonetheless. "It'll be a premier matchup this weekend," he said. "I think it'll be one of the better weekend matchups in college baseball." The series opens at 4 p.m. Friday. First pitch Saturday is 5 p.m., and a 1 p.m. start Sunday wraps up the three-game set. |
| Smith Named Bailey Howell Trophy Finalist | |
| Mississippi State's Tolu Smith has secured one of three finalist spots for the Bailey Howell Trophy announced Thursday by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. The Howell Trophy is awarded annually to the best male college basketball player in the Magnolia State. Smith is joined by Matthew Murrell of Ole Miss and Austin Crowley of Southern Miss. Named after Mississippi State legend and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Bailey Howell, the Bulldogs have captured the Howell Trophy during four of the last five seasons. Quinndary Weatherspoon was a two-time recipient during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, while Reggie Perry earned the 2019-20 and Iverson Molinar captured the 2021-22 honors. This year's winner will be announced during a luncheon at the Golden Moon Casino at Pearl River Resort in Choctaw on Monday, March 6. The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame exists to promote, preserve and protect Mississippi's rich sports heritage for this and generations to come. The Museum serves as a destination for sports legends to live forever through interactive displays and exhibits where visitors can play, live and dream. For more information about the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum, visit www.MSFame.com. |
| Mississippi State basketball vs. No. 25 Texas A&M: Scouting report, score prediction | |
| There was a sour taste left at Humphrey Coliseum the last time Mississippi State basketball left the court. After a five-game winning streak built hype around coach Chris Jans' program and generated one of the best crowds of the season, MSU lost to Kentucky last week. A chance at redemption awaits Saturday (2:30 p.m., SEC Network) with No. 25 Texas A&M coming to Starkville. Winning a Quadrant 1 game not only adds to MSU's NCAA Tournament push, but it could rejuvenate a fan base eager for a signature moment at home. Doing so requires beating a squad on a six-game winning streak. "They've got all the glossy numbers," Jans said Monday. "They've got the record. They're playing awfully well. (It's) a big, big opportunity for us." Texas A&M has emerged as perhaps the best SEC team behind Alabama. Coach Buzz Williams, similarly to last season, has his team playing well at the right time after nonconference losses to Murray State, Colorado and Wofford. The Aggies are led by guards Wade Taylor IV (15.9 points per game) and Tyrece Radford (13.3) who rank in the top 20 for scoring in the SEC. A&M's 74.1 points per game rank fifth in the conference. The team ranks 22nd in offensive efficiency and 47th in defensive efficiency in the nation, according to KenPom. |
| Bulldogs To Open SEC Indoor Championships On Friday | |
| The Mississippi State track and field program begins the postseason on Friday with nine Bulldogs in possession of top-20 times/marks in the country at the start of the 2023 SEC Indoor Championships. The SEC Indoor Championships will take place Friday (Feb. 24) and Saturday (Feb. 25) at Randal Tyson Track Center with Arkansas serving as the host school. The meet begins at 1:30 p.m. CT on Friday and 12 p.m. on Saturday. A link to live results can be found at SECsports.com or through the link listed below. Live coverage of the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships will air on SECN+ at 1:30 p.m. CT on Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday. The broadcast talent includes Dwight Stones, Dan O'Brien, Larra Overton and John Anderson. A tape-delayed broadcast of the Championship will air on the SEC Network Sunday at 7 p.m. CT. A total of 19 Southeastern Conference men's and women's track and field programs are included in the top-25 of the latest NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index released Monday. Mississippi State's men enter the meet ranked No. 20 nationally. No other conference has more than four teams in the men's top-25. |
| Ole Miss fires men's basketball coach Kermit Davis | |
| The Ole Miss Rebels have fired men's basketball coach Kermit Davis with just over a week left in the regular season, it was announced Friday. "We thank Coach Davis for his dedication to the Ole Miss basketball program and our student-athletes," athletic director Keith Carter said in a statement. "No one wanted to bring a title home to Mississippi more than him, and we appreciate the passion for that goal that he shared with our team every day." Assistant coach Win Case will serve as the acting head coach for the rest of the season, and Carter said a national search is underway for a new coach. Davis was nearing the end of his fifth season at the helm in Oxford. Entering the weekend, Ole Miss is 10-18, 2-13 in the SEC -- tied with LSU for last place in the conference. Davis went to Ole Miss after 16 seasons as the head coach at Middle Tennessee, where he went to three NCAA tournaments in his final six seasons. Potential candidates to replace Davis at Ole Miss include FAU's Dusty May and North Texas' Grant McCasland, and it has also been mentioned by industry sources as a potential landing spot for Chris Beard. |
| Parents of shooting victim rip Alabama and Nate Oats for letting Brandon Miller play | |
| DeCarla Cotton said it's "unimaginable" that Alabama allowed basketball star Brandon Miller to play the day after law enforcement testified that Miller delivered the gun used to kill Cotton's 23-year-old daughter. In a preliminary hearing Tuesday in Tuscaloosa, police testified that Miller brought the gun used in the Jan. 15 killing of Jamea Jonae Harris, which led to capital murder charges against then-teammate Darius Miles and Michael "Buzz" Davis. Miller has not been charged. On Wednesday, Miller scored 41 points and led second-ranked Alabama to a 78-76 victory over South Carolina. "It's just unimaginable, and it's like his life is just going on,'' Cotton told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. "He took a brief pause and it didn't stop. It's like, OK, slap on the wrist and go play ball. "They're worried about his career, but what about this this 5-year-old boy (Harris' son, Kaine). He's the true victim in all this. He won't have a mother anymore to influence his growing up and who he's going to be.'' Miller, a freshman, is a candidate for national player of the year and has been projected a Top 5 pick for the NBA draft in June. He has helped lead Alabama to a 24-4 record and No. 2 ranking in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. "When somebody says bring a gun to them, what do you think they're going to do with it?'' Cotton said. "And if there was no gun, she would not be dead.'' |
| Butch Thompson calls it 'the right thing' to flip Auburn-USC series | |
 | As a head baseball coach, Butch Thompson said a portion of his duties are to be a part-time weatherman. So, with Los Angeles pulled up on his weather app, the Auburn skipper saw the forecast early in the week for Los Angeles, where his team was set to travel to that weekend -- nearly 100% chances of rain Friday and Saturday. He texted USC head coach Andy Stankiewicz on Monday, and a day later, their programs saw their upcoming series flip locations, going from the City of Angels to the Plains. "I did just get a video before sitting down with you, about 5-10 minutes before," Thompson said Thursday. "It's hailing in Los Angeles. It happens like one out of every four years, so just more evidence that everybody's doing the right thing." Initially a three-game slate and nearly 2,000-mile trip to Los Angeles got rerouted Tuesday night, with the Trojans making the trek to Plainsman Park to play No. 17 Auburn in a three-game series that starts 6 p.m. CDT Friday. The series will be the first-ever meeting of both squads, with the 12-time national champions coming to the Plains after a 3-1 start. |
| Fight on: It's all USC can do to end baseball's long drought | |
| Twenty-five years have passed since Southern California won its 12th, and most recent, national title in baseball. Once the gold standard, the Trojans are two decades into a down cycle that has seen the program go through four coaches since Mike Gillespie, the last tie to the glorious Rod Dedeaux era, was forced out. Since 2006, USC has made the NCAA Tournament once and has had a winning record in Pac-12 play just twice. The Trojans finished last in 2022 and are picked 10th in coach Andy Stankiewicz's first year. "It's been disappointing, to say the least, to see what's happened," said former major league star Fred Lynn, one of the program's beloved figures who won national titles all three years he was with the Trojans in the 1970s. "I'm a glass-half-full guy and hopeful things can turn around. I don't want to look at the standings of wherever we're playing -- the Pac-12, Big Ten -- and see us at the bottom. That's so foreign to me and hard to watch." The 58-year-old Stankiewicz has a deep understanding of USC's traditional place in college baseball -- the Trojans have twice as many national titles as any other school -- and he appears to be an ideal fit. He grew up in suburban Los Angeles and watched as Dedeaux stacked up the last of his 11 national titles in the 1970s. He had hoped to play for the Trojans, but it was Pepperdine that offered a scholarship. The Trojans opened the season with a three-game sweep of Marist before losing a mid-week game to UC Irvine. They head to Auburn this weekend to play a Tigers team that has appeared in two of the last three College World Series. It will be a measuring-stick series for the Trojans. |
| Mizzou makes tennis coaching change, MU's 5th change under Reed-Francois | |
 | Missouri Director of Athletics Desiree Reed-Francois has made another coaching change in her year-and-a-half tenure at MU. Missouri announced Thursday that it has fired head tennis coach Chris Wootton, marking the fifth coaching change Reed-Francois has overseen during her time in Columbia so far. MU's AD now turns the reigns of the tennis program over to Bianca Turati, who will serve as the program's interim head coach for the rest of the 2023 season. SEC play begins on March 3 for the tennis team. Turati played collegiately at Texas, earning two All-American nods during her Longhorns career. She also played professionally for three years before joining Missouri as an assistant coach in January. Reed-Francois isn't a stranger to changes. So far, she has hired new head coaches for volleyball, cross country, women's golf and men's basketball. Her hiring of Dennis Gates in the men's basketball program is an example of her prowess in making coaching hires, as Gates has brought the Tigers to a 20-win season and to the cusp of an NCAA Tournament berth. While the change in the men's basketball program was Reed-Francois' biggest decision to date, coaching changes within the different Olympic sports is an example of how MU's AD is shaping the program into how she specifically wants to see it from a coaching perspective. |
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