| Tuesday, May 9, 2023 |
| Commencement ceremonies planned throughout the month | |
 | The clock is ticking down the days of another school year and, as a result, colleges and schools in Lauderdale County are holding commencement ceremonies beginning this week and continuing throughout the month. Here are the details of when and where graduation ceremonies will be held so make plans accordingly. Mississippi State University-Meridian will kick off graduation celebrations with its spring commencement slated for 10 a.m. Thursday at the MSU Riley Center in downtown Meridian. Altogether, 204 students will receive their diplomas at the ceremony, including the inaugural class of 19 Physician Assistant (PA) Studies students, nine honor graduates, eight Riley Scholars and one Stephen D. Lee Scholar. On Wednesday night, MSU-Meridian will host a graduation recognition dinner for the PA students, which will include the graduate long white coat robing as well as recognition of the preceptors, Pi Alpha honor society inductees and the recitation of the PA Oath. |
| Mississippi succeeding in irrigation efficiency efforts | |
 | Technology allows Jeremy Jack to implement management practices on Silent Shade Planting Co. in Belzoni that were impossible 15 years ago, and water use efficiency is just one way his operation has improved. "I was telling some of the new guys on the team that when I was a kid growing up on the farm, we worked so hard, really hard, and we didn't accomplish anything," Jack said. "We've made great changes in the last 20-25 years since I've been farming, and I like to show people how far we've come." Jack farms in the Mississippi Delta, home of the majority of the state's row crop farmland. There, water for irrigation is primarily drawn from the underground alluvial aquifer. With declining water levels in the aquifer, the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute is one of the agencies primarily focused on reversing this trend by adopting more efficient water use practices. Jason Krutz, director of this center at Mississippi State University, said research and Extension Service staff try to develop agronomic strategies to improve yields within irrigated and nonirrigated environments. "We look at systems, tools and practices that make us more productive. We examine the technology, tools and approaches to irrigation, trying to get the timing and delivery right," he said. Although Mississippi receives significant annual rainfall, irrigation of cropland is necessary because much of the rain in Mississippi does not fall during the growing season. |
| Education: Oktibbeha high school seniors welcome to apply for Starkville Community Theatre scholarship | |
 | Applications for the Robert G. and Mary Eleanor Anderson Scholarship are open until May 19. The Anderson Scholarship, which is sponsored by the Starkville Community Theatre, was started in 2007. It honors two SCT charter members who made substantial contributions to the organization and its performances over many years. The scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors in Oktibbeha County who will attend college during the 2023-24 school year. They must major in theatre arts, performance, directing or theatre education. High school counselors and the main circulation desk of the Starkville Public Library have the necessary application materials. Completed applications must be received by Paula Mabry, the Anderson Scholarship chair, by May 19 at paula.mabry@gmail.com. Scholarship selection committee members include Alice Carol Caldwell and Marsha Williams, and this year's winner will be announced later in May. |
| Revenue collections stay high in Mississippi, 3.5% over April estimate | |
| Mississippi state revenues exceeded legislative estimates yet again during the month of April. Total revenue collections for the month of April 2023 are $35,148,318, or 3.48% above the sine die revenue estimate. Fiscal year-to-date revenue collections through April 2023 are $637,014,667 or 11.20% above the sine die revenue estimate with two month remaining in the fiscal year. Fiscal year-to-date total revenue collection through April 2023 was $384,349,074, or 6.47% above the prior year's collections. The FY 2023 Sine Die Revenue Estimate was $6,987,400,000. April FY 2023 General Fund collections were $8,395,988 or 0.83% above April FY 2022 actual collections, with Sales tax collections for the month above the prior year by $11.2 million and Corporate income tax collections above the prior year by $50.1 million. Individual income tax collections for the month of April were below the prior year by $51.3 million. "The April revenue estimates further demonstrate that the Mississippi economy is growing, and we are continuing on a trajectory of sustained economic prosperity for our state," said Speaker of the House Philip Gunn. |
| WICKER: Yazoo Pumps proposal essential for economic development in South Delta | |
| Sen. Roger Wicker said Friday he believes the approval and implementation of the latest floodwater management proposal for the Yazoo Backwater Area will be "major" for economic development in the area. Representatives from the U.S. Army Department of Civil Works, Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife spent Thursday and Friday in the Vicksburg area presenting the plan to the public. Taking a three-pronged approach, the proposal includes a 25,000 CFS pumping station, non-structural solutions such as ring levees and buy-outs, and federal agreements including follow-up monitoring. "My hat is off to the Corps of Engineers and other agencies for working on this," Wicker said. "This is a major step in the economic development of this region. I'm so proud to have worked with the Administration and other members of the Congressional delegation." The potential for flood mitigation in the area could open the door for a variety of projects in the South Delta region -- an area with little infrastructure to support economic development. The main highway through the region, U.S. 61, is reduced to two lanes between Leland and Vicksburg. There is no rail access in the area or port access despite its proximity to the Mississippi River. Portions of other main thoroughfares, especially in the hardest-hit areas, were reverted back to gravel from traditional asphalt pavement following the 2019 Yazoo Backwater Flood. |
| Governor Tate Reeves declares May 8-12 as Mississippi Economic Development Week | |
| Governor Tate Reeves has declared Monday, May 8 through Friday, May 12 as Mississippi Economic Development Week. The proclamation from Reeves comes on the heels of a calendar year that saw a record $6 billion in economic development for Mississippi, including a $2.5 billion project in Lowndes County that has been dubbed as the state's largest-ever. "I encourage all citizens to recognize the contributions of economic development organizations and the importance of building and maintaining a robust economy," Reeves wrote in the proclamation shared on social media. On top of Mississippi Economic Development Week, residents across the state are also celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week and National Charter Schools Week. |
| How will the end of ballot harvesting affect local elections? | |
| "It's all about who can get people out to vote," said Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens. "When (Republicans) come out with stuff like that, it's going to motivate the base." Mickens -- who is a candidate for District 3 Justice Court judge in the current county election cycle -- is talking about Senate Bill 2358, which goes into effect July 1. The bill is designed to combat so-called "ballot harvesting," in which political operatives allegedly collect and handle large numbers of absentee ballots. Under SB 2358, only election officials; Post Office employees; "any other individual who is allowed by federal law to collect and transmit United States mail;" family members, household members or caregivers of the person to whom the ballot was mailed; and a "common carrier who transports goods from one place to another for a fee" may handle mail-in ballots. Absentee ballots are available by mail or for early in-person voting to voters who are 65 or over; any voter who has a temporary or permanent physical disability; or any person who is that person's caretaker; or any voter who will be away from home on election day, including college students. Before this law's passage, anyone who was over 18 years old could provide a witness signature on an absentee ballot for a voter who was permanently or temporarily disabled, or illiterate. While Lowndes County elections haven't swung wildly in recent years due to absentee volume, Columbus city elections have been known to hinge on them. |
| Animal tranquilizer emerging as latest deadly drug addiction mix | |
| It's the new silent killer in Mississippi. Since 2020, the state has seen at least 27 overdose deaths from the animal tranquilizer xylazine, either alone or combined with fentanyl, said Col. Steven Maxwell, director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. "It's a crisis," he said. "We're not experiencing the crisis as much as places like Philadelphia, Atlanta, San Francisco and Los Angeles, but we are experiencing a crisis with regard to the lacing of fentanyl with other drugs, such as xylazine." One concern about making xylazine a controlled substance is how it might affect veterinarians, who have used the sedative for half a century, said Bill Epperson, professor and head of the Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine at Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. The drug is typically used for pain relief and to "calm fractious animals," he said. "There is not a good substitute for xylazine in large animal general practice." Given that veterinarians have used xylazine responsibly for decades, the drug should still be used "to support the legitimate practice of veterinary medicine," he said. "We are strongly in favor of harsh penalties for those suppliers engaged in illicit activity." |
| Auditor: Jackson operating at massive loss due to lack of water billing, decline in population | |
| The State Auditor's office has released an analysis of Mississippi's capital city showing a concerning financial situation for Jackson and its residents. The situation details issues spanning over the last two decades that are connected to the city's population loss, increasing expenses, and a substantial amount of unpaid water bills. "While my office is legally prohibited from auditing cities, cities like Jackson are audited by private CPA firms," State Auditor Shad White said. "We can, however, analyze the results of city audits. Our analysis of Jackson's audits shows serious and fundamental financial issues that have to be straightened out. Every concerned taxpayer should be reading this report." Despite a population loss since 2003, Jackson's revenue continues to increase. Continued revenue increases are being outpaced by expenses. There has been an explosion of unpaid water bills. The city's accounting treats many of these bills as if they will never be paid. The city is not collecting all its water bills, and if it does not collect water bills, it does not have the revenue to fund day-to-day operations. There has been a large increase in water connections added by the city despite population loss. "Jackson is our state's capital, and we cannot have a strong state without a strong capital," White added. "Cities in other Southern states, like Atlanta in Georgia or Birmingham in Alabama, are growing fast and fueling the economies of their states. Jackson can generate growth for Mississippi, but not until it gets its fiscal house in order." |
| Investigation into welfare money steered to Brett Favre wins Pulitzer for Mississippi Today reporter | |
| Anna Wolfe of Mississippi Today won a Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting for an investigative series that uncovered new evidence into the extent of former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant's involvement in the state's massive $77 million welfare scandal. This is the first Pulitzer Prize for the nonprofit digital newsroom, which has already won several national awards in recent years. Mississippi Today was launched in 2016 as a statehouse watchdog. In Mississippi Today's writeup of the launch, founder Andrew Lack (and former NBC News chairman) was quoted as saying he and those involved in the project "have great aspirations for Mississippi's future, and believe that competitive, world-class journalism is an essential piece of that puzzle." "The Backchannel" -- as Wolfe's series is called -- revealed how Bryant used his office and influence to exploit an already troubled welfare system for personal business. Bryant was Mississippi's governor from 2012 to 2020. In the official announcement, Marjorie Miller -- the administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes -- said Wolfe's reporting "revealed how a former Mississippi governor used his office to steer millions of state welfare dollars to benefit his family and friends, including NFL quarterback Brett Favre." |
| Brett Favre calls for Fox News boycott over Carlson exit | |
 | Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre showed his support for conservative media pundit Tucker Carlson, calling for a boycott of Fox News weeks after the news network parted ways with the conservative host. "I'm with Tucker," Favre wrote in a tweet Monday. "Time to boycott Fox until they come to their senses and let the man speak." In the tweet, the 53-year-old former quarterback posted a two-minute video clip that featured former Fox News host Megyn Kelly discussing her own point of view on Carlson's ouster, followed by a highlight reel of Carlson's segments as Metallica's "Sad But True" plays in the background. Fox News announced two weeks ago that it had parted ways with Carlson. Carlson's departure came days after the network settled a defamation lawsuit brought up by Dominion Voting Systems. A source close to Carlson told Axios that the former host is planning to use his allies to attack his former employer in an effort to force the network to let him go of his contract, allowing him to work for a rival company or start his own media outlet. |
| Debt limit veterans look for hopeful signs in Tuesday's meeting | |
 | President Joe Biden's meeting with congressional leaders Tuesday on the debt limit could lay the groundwork for staff to start negotiations or, at the least, kick off a series of Oval Office conversations, according to former congressional aides who navigated similar standoffs in the past. The White House meeting comes a little over three weeks before the federal government could run out of borrowing room and be unable to pay all its bills on time. The "x date" could be as soon as June 1, according to Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen, who in an interview with CNBC on Monday warned of "economic catastrophe" and "financial chaos" if action isn't taken in time. Some former Democratic and Republican aides said in interviews that the best-case scenario on the path to an agreement would involve Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., tapping key aides at Tuesday's gathering to begin looking for consensus. Others said there could be a shift in tone toward dealmaking. But there could be a range of outcomes, with several aides warning the worst case would be if Biden and McCarthy leave the meeting and slam each other publicly, without setting up future meeting dates. "What will really be disturbing, I think, to markets and to others is if it's not clear when or if they're gonna meet again," said Neil Bradley, a former McCarthy aide who served as deputy chief of staff to then-House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., during the 2011 debt limit fight. During that standoff, talks went down to the last day before a deal was cut. |
| Rand Paul riles his GOP colleagues again -- this time over TikTok | |
 | Rand's got a new stand: Banning TikTok will backfire on the GOP with young voters. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who's shown repeatedly that he'll stretch chamber rules to their limits in order to be heard, is warning the rest of the GOP about the electoral price it might pay for yanking one of their favorite apps. And as Congress splits over banning TikTok, Paul's argument is the latest bad sign for Republican China hawks who want to rein it in. When it comes to the Chinese-owned TikTok, lawmakers are divided into three camps --- none of them traditionally partisan. One group of national security hawks, led by House Republicans, wants to ban the video app as quickly as possible. Others in both parties want to address data privacy more holistically without singling out TikTok. Then there's Paul, who aligns with progressives in opposing a ban. As the outspoken Kentuckian sees it, Republicans could "continuously lose elections for a generation" if they alienate young people by trying to ban an app that claims it has 150 million users in the U.S. Paul added in an interview that his GOP colleagues may not have "thought that through," connecting it to what he described as his bigger worries about the constitutional and other legal ramifications of government-mandated TikTok limits. "We are in a political world," Paul said. "We shouldn't be completely oblivious to the fact that a lot of young people are on there and it is, frankly, their freedom of speech." |
| Nancy Mace, a 'Caucus of One' in the G.O.P., Says She's Trying to Change Her Party | |
 | It was just after Representative Nancy Mace, Republican of South Carolina, had fired off a blunt text to the No. 3 House G.O.P. leader -- featuring two f-bombs and four demands that needed to be met to gain her vote for the party's debt limit plan -- that she experienced a momentary flash of dread. "Now I'll look like a flip-flopper," Ms. Mace worried aloud. Speaker Kevin McCarthy was planning within hours to hold a vote on his proposal to lift the debt ceiling for a year in exchange for spending cuts and policy changes, and Ms. Mace had just published an op-ed declaring herself a hard no. Now the second-term congresswoman from a swing district, who had already established something of a reputation for publicly breaking with her party but ultimately falling in line behind its policies, was privately negotiating her way to yes. Ms. Mace would, in fact, vote for the bill after meeting with Mr. McCarthy and extracting several promises from him, including to hold future votes on two of her top priorities: addressing gun violence and women's issues related to contraceptives and adoption. She anticipated criticism for the turnabout, but consoled herself with the fact that she had leveraged her vote to force her party to take on issues she cared about. "This is a way I can drive the debate," she said as she walked back to her office. "It's a way of using my position to push those issues." It was a typical day for Ms. Mace, 45, who represents Charleston and the Lowcountry along South Carolina's coast, and whose political profile -- she is a fiscal conservative but leans toward the center on some social issues -- puts her at odds with the hard-right Republicans who now dominate the House. |
| Health panel recommends women get screening mammograms at age 40 | |
 | Women should start getting screening mammograms at the age of 40, rather than 50, according to new draft recommendations from an influential national health panel, which found that starting breast cancer screening 10 years earlier could save thousands of lives per year. The draft recommendations, issued Tuesday by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, state that women who are between ages 40 and 74 should have screening mammograms every two years. The guidance would apply to cisgender women and everyone else assigned female at birth. The new advice is a change from current guidelines, which formally advise starting biennial screening by age 50 but suggest women in their 40s discuss the benefits and risks of mammography with their doctors and come to an individual decision. Recent evidence shows more women in their 40s are getting breast cancer, with the number of newly diagnosed women increasing about 2 percent each year, said John Wong, an internist and professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, who is on the task force. The panel now estimates that by starting screening earlier, doctors can detect breast cancers earlier, saving more lives. "It is now clear that screening every other year starting at age 40 has the potential to save about 20 percent more lives among all women, and there is even greater potential benefit for Black women, who are much more likely to die from breast cancer," Wong said. |
| Tuition increasing at several Mississippi universities | |
 | Five of the state's eight public universities are increasing tuition costs for their students. The IHL board says that inflation played a major role in the decision to increase costs, and that in-state tuition will increase by an average of $169 per year this Fall. Some of the universities have been steadily increasing tuition yearly since before the pandemic. Steven Holley is the vice chancellor for administration and finance at the University of Mississippi. He says his university is seeing significant growth, and that often comes with higher costs that can be offset by a slight increase. "In fact, almost all Southeastern conference schools [enrollment numbers] are going up by significant percentages." he said. "So when you have more students to teach, you need more teachers." Holley says UM will be increasing its in-state tuition by 2 percent. A representative of Mississippi State says that the increased tuition cost is still reasonable compared to average costs regionally. |
| Michael Knowles lambasts 'transgenderism,' 'wokeness' during campus appearance | |
 | Conservative political commentator and Daily Wire host Michael Knowles spoke at the University of Mississippi on Thursday, May 4 in an event put on by the campus chapter of Young Americans for Freedom. To a full house of students, faculty, and community members that were overwhelmingly enthusiastic about his appearance, Knowles devoted the majority of his speech to anti-transgender rhetoric and discussion of conservative values. The acceptance of "transgenderism", according to Knowles, is one of many political efforts made by liberals in order to manipulate common symbols. He argued the liberals are "perverting" and "manipulating" symbols to sway society's view of the world and its comprehension of fundamental concepts in their favor. There were no visible protestors at the event. In fact, Knowles frequently referenced Ole Miss as if it was the last bastion of the "normalcy" he repeatedly mentioned in his speech. During his April 18 appearance at the University of Pittsburgh, the resistance to his appearance was so strong it received national media attention. Protestors went as far as to light a body dummy with a picture of Knowles' face on it on fire. |
| ICC students from Fulton and Hamilton accepted into rural physicians scholarship program | |
 | Two students at Itawamba Community College (ICC) have been accepted into the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program (MRPSP). ICC identified the students as Emma Grace Allen of Fulton and Payton Atkins of Hamilton. Allen is a biology major and Atkins majors in biochemistry/pre-medicine. They will both transfer to Mississippi State University this fall. The MRPSP offers scholarships to medical students. In return, students agree to practice in underserved rural areas of Mississippi. They receive other benefits, like early assurance status into the School of Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. |
| William Carey University to establish primary care institute | |
 | William Carey University's College of Osteopathic Medicine was awarded a $20 million infrastructure grant last week to further expand its offerings in medical education and workforce development. The infrastructure grant, announced Friday, was given through AccelerateMS to create an Institute of Primary Care. "We are extremely grateful for this impactful grant. The institute will be a beacon to transform and improve health care for all of our Mississippi communities," said Dr. Italo Subbarao, dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine. The Institute of Primary Care will enhance the college's mission to increase the number of primary care physicians in rural and underserved areas in Mississippi and the Gulf South. The institute will train student doctors and primary care resident physicians, help community physicians and other healthcare providers advance their training and certifications, and provide a medical education space for advancements related to primary care. The $20 million Mississippi Health Sciences Training Infrastructure Grant funds are allocated from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund program, which is part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Under 2022 House Bill 1006, AccelerateMS is responsible for the management, oversight, and monitoring of these funds. |
| Alabama HBCU withdraws from US News & World Report rankings: 'Flawed' | |
 | Stillman College is pulling out of one of the nation's most popular college rankings, which officials called "flawed" and "misleading." The private liberal arts college in Tuscaloosa is the first historically Black college to publicly announce its withdrawal from the annual U.S. News and World Report, officials said Monday. Stillman's departure follows recent pushback from smaller colleges, as well as criticism from the nation's schools chief. Stillman College President Cynthia Warrick said the popular ranking put lower-resourced schools -- and HBCUs -- at a disadvantage, and can present a false picture of schools' work with students. "Even though we've got these students getting PhDs and getting great jobs and starting their own businesses and we're producing teachers and our Honda Quiz Bowl team won a national championship, we don't get any credit for that," Warrick said in an interview with AL.com. "If the data were more fair, then you'd have more HBCUs higher in the ranking system because of the outcomes they produce," she added. Most of Stillman's students are African American, female and eligible for Pell grants, and the college has over 100 students who are parents. "Stillman has found that the circumstances of poverty challenges these students to make decisions that call them in and out of enrollment," Warrick said. "Yet, Stillman remains committed to them. How does U.S. News measure our commitment? I opine that it does not." |
| Scholarship established for A&M student who died just short of graduation | |
 | Maddie Hall was the kind of person who lit up a room and wasn't afraid to speak her mind, either. A member of the 2021 Texas A&M University meat judging team, Hall was slated to graduate this week with a degree in animal science and then planned to attend Tarleton State for her master's degree. She died suddenly on April 28, though. According to a source, Hall died from a medical issue. "She was very, very lively," said Jennifer Wyle, Texas A&M's meat judging team coordinator. In Hall's honor, funds are being raised in hopes of establishing the Maddie Hall Meat Judging Scholarship. Wyle said she hopes they can raise $25,000. If that mark is met, a scholarship can be established in Hall's name through the Texas A&M Foundation and a $1,000 scholarship would be awarded annually to an A&M student. During Hall's time on the A&M meat judging team, she won the 2021 AMSA Rachel Hamilton Spirit Award, which is selected by team members for showing outstanding team spirit. Wyle said she hopes this new scholarship in Hall's name can be given to future Hamilton Spirit Award winners. Originally, Wyle said she thought raising $5,000 would be a good goal and allow a $500 scholarship to be awarded for 10 years. A $5,000 donation came in on Monday and now the funds are about halfway to $25,000. "I didn't pursue the Foundation route from the start because we didn't think we could get to $25,000," Wyle said. "Now maybe we will." |
| Texas committee proposes changing bills banning tenure, DEI | |
 | Last month, Texas lieutenant governor Dan Patrick called the State Senate's passage of four higher education bills "the strongest pushback on woke policies in higher education nationwide." One of these bills was Senate Bill 15, which would ban transgender people from playing on sports teams matching their gender identity. The others were the triad of SB 16, which would force universities to fire professors who "attempt to compel a student" to adopt a belief that any "social, political or religious belief is inherently superior to any other"; SB 17, which would ban what that legislation defines as diversity, equity and inclusion activities; and SB 18, which would end tenure for future professors. The Texas House of Representatives, though, hasn't yet passed Patrick's touted bills. And, on Monday, the House Higher Education Committee discussed a proposed new version of SB 18 that wouldn't end tenure, but rather would etch tenure rules into law. "The one about tenure, I mean, really just codifies what we're currently doing," said Jeff Blodgett, president of the Texas Conference of the American Association of University Professors. He provided copies of the new "committee substitute" for SB 18 after John Kuempel, chair of the House Higher Education Committee, didn't respond to Inside Higher Ed's requests for comment. Kuempel, like Patrick, is a Republican. |
| Naloxone aids harm reduction amid opioid epidemic | |
 | While driving home from work several months ago, University of Missouri pre-medical student Chris Rundle noticed an individual slumped over on the side of the road. He stopped and went to help the unconscious man. Rundle didn't know the exact cause of the man's condition, but he would later learn he was witnessing an opioid overdose. He called 911 and performed CPR until paramedics arrived and used naloxone to resuscitate the man. Naloxone is a life saving medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. Still, Rundle lamented that the easy-to-use medication isn't more readily available and better-known in Missouri, a state that experienced 1,581 fatal opioid overdoses in 2021, including 34 in Boone County, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' Drug Overdose Dashboard. "You're never going to be able to really get rid of the opioids in our community. It's going to be really tough," Rundle said. "But the first step is going to be being able to save those individuals that do have an overdose." In a historic step on March 29, the Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan, a 4 milligram naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray, for over-the-counter, nonprescription use. People need no formal medical training to administer naloxone, and Narcan packages come with quick start guides explaining how to give someone a dose. |
| Minnesota lawmakers reach deal for free college tuition | |
 | Tuition at Minnesota's public colleges would be free to residents whose families earn less than $80,000 annually, starting in the 2024-2025 academic year, under an agreement reached by legislative negotiators. If the full House and Senate accept the language, which would be part of a broader higher education budget bill, qualifying Minnesotans would no longer have to take on debt to get a public college degree, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis reported. The "North Star Promise" free tuition program would cost about $117 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1, including startup costs. After that, it would cost about $49.5 million annually, according to the agreement reached Monday night. "We've been seeing declining enrollment on all campuses," said Senate Higher Education Committee Chair Omar Fateh, a Minneapolis Democrat. "If we don't do something quick, we're at risk of shutting down some campuses. ... I see this bill as an enrollment driver." But Rep. Marion O'Neill, of Maple Lake, the only Republican on the conference committee that crafted the agreement, said she was "completely frozen out of all discussions." |
| U. of Memphis one of 8 schools selected for $10 million EPA grant | |
| The University of Memphis is one of eight universities that will partner with international research nonprofit RTI Institute in creating an environmental justice center that will serve communities across eight states. The work will be fueled by a $10 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Agency. The environmental justice center will aim to "help advance environmental justice by supporting individuals living especially in under-resourced and underserved settings in Memphis and the State of Tennessee," according to a release from U of M. Part of that support will be providing education and training that is localized for individual communities that are disproportionately and adversely impacted by environmental hazards like contaminated drinking water or subpar air quality. The work of the center will not be limited to Memphis and Tennessee; states that fall under the EPA's Region 4 -- including parts Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and six Tribal Nations -- will also benefit from the work of RTI and university researchers. Other universities that will partner with RTI and the U of M are University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, University of South Carolina, Alabama A&M University, Florida A&M University, Jackson State University and North Carolina Central University. |
| Unemployment for recent college grads is the lowest in a generation | |
| The blockbuster April jobs report released last week by the Bureau of Labor Statistics had good news on a lot of fronts for workers, including those about to enter new jobs and professions after spending most of the pandemic in college. The class of 2023 was sent home freshman year in the midst of COVID-19 shutdowns. The job market they face as graduating seniors is more than fully recovered, with employers edgy about a possible recession, but still desperate to hire. Unemployment for 20- to 24-year-olds fell to 5.4% in April, the lowest it's been since 1969. The class of 2023 is entering a job market "that is much stronger than it was just one year ago, stronger than it was before the pandemic even began," said Elise Gould at the Economic Policy Institute. After years of virtual recruitment, many employers showed up on campuses this year, said Mary Gatta at the National Association of Colleges and Employers. "They are planning to hire 3.9% more graduates than they did from the class of 2022," Gatta said. |
| As Politicians Target Higher Ed's Diversity Efforts, HBCU Students Worry About Their Campuses | |
 | As Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida spearheaded a campaign this spring against higher ed's efforts to create diverse and inclusive campuses, Florida A&M University students were among his most vocal critics. Friday marked the end of a legislative session in which the state's conservative politicians zeroed in on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs as pernicious forces that they believe must be eradicated from public colleges. This year and last year, the lawmakers also aimed to restrict teaching about race. One of DeSantis's priorities has been the sweeping higher-ed reform bill initially known as HB 999, which would restrict colleges' spending on DEI programs and give the State University System's Board of Governors more control over education on the system's 12 campuses. That bill ultimately moved forward as SB 266 and passed the Legislature last Wednesday; DeSantis has yet to sign it into law. If enacted, the bill would also ban course curricula and campus activities that "are based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent" in American institutions. As many students at historically Black colleges and universities see it, the recent actions of DeSantis and other Republican politicians across the country diminish the plight of Black Americans, which directly affects HBCUs. If it becomes illegal for colleges to promote diversity and inclusion, the students wonder, what consequences might that bring for Black institutions? |
| Chinese students cooling on U.S. higher education | |
| A U.S. college education, once a status symbol for Chinese families, appears to be losing its appeal as many consider alternative destinations, experts tell Axios. China has been the top country of origin for international students in the U.S. for more than a decade, making it a key source of revenue for many American universities and colleges. The educational exchange between the two countries has also long been a pillar of U.S.-China relations. The overall number of Chinese students, including those enrolled at U.S. higher education institutions or on Optional Practical Training (OPT), nearly tripled over the last decade, from less than 130,000 in the 2009-10 academic year to more than 370,000 in 2019-20, according to the Institute of International Education (IIE). Last year, there were about 290,000 Chinese students studying in the U.S. --- still the largest international student body in the country. But it was an 8.6% decline from the previous year, according to IIE. By comparison, Indian students approached 200,000 last year, which was a 19% increase from the year before. The number of undergraduate students from China dropped about 13% last year, but the U.S. did see a nearly 4% increase in Chinese graduate students compared to the previous year. Chinese students contributed nearly $15 billion to the U.S. economy in 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Many U.S. schools, especially large public universities, have become increasingly dependent on Chinese students, most of whom pay full tuition. |
| Scammers Cheated Student-Loan Borrowers Out of Millions, FTC Says | |
 | Two separate schemes that allegedly defrauded student-loan borrowers of $12 million after promising them debt relief have been halted by a federal court, the Federal Trade Commission said Monday. Two companies falsely claimed they were affiliated with the Education Department and told borrowers they would take over the servicing of their student loans, regulators said in a complaint filed in federal court in California last month. A judge last week froze the assets of the companies and their owners and put a temporary restraining order in place before a court can consider the cases. While the alleged loan-forgiveness schemes began in 2019, the FTC said in its complaint, there has been a proliferation of fraudulent activity targeting borrowers since President Biden's announcement last August that he would seek to cancel as much as $20,000 in student-loan debt for qualified borrowers. Federal courts froze the implementation of the plan last November, and the Supreme Court heard arguments regarding its constitutionality in February. A ruling is expected by the end of the high court's term in June. "As Americans struggle with massive student-loan debt and uncertainty around the prospect of forgiveness, scammers are looking to cash in," said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. |
| Funding woes at the Education Dept. threaten federal student aid agenda | |
| After Congress refused to give more money to the federal student aid office last year, higher education experts warned of potential disruption to efforts by the Biden administration and lawmakers aiming help student loan borrowers and others paying for college. Now experts say those worries are coming to pass. The student aid office is delaying or curtailing plans to help millions of Americans ease back into the routine of paying their student loans after a three-year suspension brought on by the pandemic. The funding crisis is forcing the Office of Federal Student Aid to make sacrifices, including cuts to customer service hours and outreach, that experts worry could place already vulnerable borrowers at higher risk of falling behind on their payments. The Education Department had sought to increase FSA's $2 billion budget by a third for the current fiscal year, but in the end, the funding was kept flat. And with House Republicans seeking to roll back education spending to 2022 levels, the fight for additional dollars in the next budget promises to again be fierce. "Restarting repayment requires significant resources to avoid unnecessary harm to borrowers, such as cuts to servicing," an agency spokesperson said in a statement to The Washington Post. "We continue to urge Congress to fully fund President Biden's FY24 budget request, which would provide critical resources to FSA." |
SPORTS
| Lopez Ramirez, Levi Lead Bulldogs Through First Round of Regional Action | |
| Mississippi State women's golf carded the first 18 holes of the NCAA Westfield Regional on Monday. After the opening round of play, the Bulldogs are in second place (8-Under Par, 280) and one stroke back of Tulsa (9-Under Par, 279). The Bulldogs held strong throughout the opening round of play from The Club at Chatham Hills behind the dynamic duo of sophomore Julia Lopez Ramirez and Hannah Levi. Heading into the turn, the Bulldogs sat tied for third before making a climb up the leaderboard in the final nine of the opening round to build a cushion against Michigan (5-Under Par, 283) and Iowa State (2-Under Par, 286). Lopez Ramirez continues to shine in her sophomore year, carding another round in the 60s to open up regional play. Lopez Ramirez sunk six birdies in the first round to secure her 24th career round in the 60s (5-Under, 67) to lead the opening round. Lopez Ramirez is now tied for rounds in the 60s behind all-time Bulldog great Ally McDonald Ewing for the most in program history. Senior Hannah Levi has been scorching this spring and that narrative continued on Monday. Levi rolled in five birdies throughout the day, including three straight on holes 5-7 to secure her 9th career round in the 60s with a 4-under par (68) performance. Levi is in a three-way tie for second and is currently one stroke back of Lopez Ramirez for the lead. |
| Bulldogs Open SEC Tournament Tuesday Against Missouri | |
| Mississippi State will begin the postseason this week in Fayetteville, Arkansas, at the SEC Tournament. The Bulldogs will be the No. 12 seed and are scheduled to play No. 13-seed Missouri at 6:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, May 9. Tuesday-Thursday games of the tournament will be broadcast on SEC Network with the broadcasts switching to ESPN2 on Friday and Saturday. State and Missouri have met just once before in the tournament in the 2015 bracket in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The teams did not meet this season, but the Bulldogs took two out of three games in the 2022 series in Starkville. MSU has won its opening game in four consecutive SEC Tournaments, including every year under head coach Samantha Ricketts. With a win, State would advance to face No. 5-seed Alabama at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The next game on the docket if the Bulldogs advance is against host, No. 4-seed Arkansas at 4 p.m. on Thursday. The NCAA Tournament Selection Show is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on Sunday, May 14. The 64-team bracket will be revealed live on ESPN2. |
| Diamond Dawg Gameday: host Memphis | |
| The Bulldogs return to action with a midweek matchup against the Memphis Tigers on Tuesday. First pitch for the contest is scheduled for 6 p.m. The game is set to be broadcast on SECN+. It will also be carried on the Mississippi State Sports Network powered by Learfield along with a live audio stream via HailState.com/Listen. The Tigers are led by first year head coach Kerrick Jackson. Jackson was previously head coach at Southern University (2018-20). Memphis enters the midweek matchup with a 26-22 record, while flaunting a five-game win streak, including a win over #25 Wichita State. They are coming off a sweep of South Florida, the first sweep of a conference series since May 4-5, 2013, when the Tigers were members of Conference USA. The Memphis pitching staff enters the contest with a 4.96 ERA. The Tigers bat .256 as a squad. They are led by Logan Kohler, who bats .317. The Dawgs and the Tigers meet for the 84th time on Tuesday. State won the last matchup in Memphis by a score of 10-4. |
| Athletes at Iowa, Iowa State under investigation for possible online sports gambling | |
| The state's Board of Regents said Monday that it is aware of an ongoing investigation related to allegations of online sports gambling by athletes at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, which would be a violation of NCAA rules. "The Board of Regents and the universities will fully cooperate with any investigations related to these concerns," the Regents told the Des Moines Register in a statement. "We are closely monitoring the situation and have confidence that university administrators at each institution will take all necessary steps to ensure ongoing compliance." The University of Iowa said in a Monday-afternoon statement that 111 individuals had been flagged in the investigation, including 26 student-athletes in baseball, football, men's basketball, men's track and field and wrestling, plus one full-time employee in the UI athletics department. According the UI, leadership was first notified on May 2 of "potential criminal conduct related to sports wagering" and possible NCAA violations. On Thursday, it received a list of individuals "alleged to have participated in sports wagering." On Friday, it alerted those student-athletes that they would not be allowed to compete in upcoming competitions. Speculation about the sports-wagering investigation began to swirl publicly that day, when four Iowa baseball players were mysteriously missing from the dugout for a weekend series against Ohio State. |
| Bidens to host UConn, LSU basketball teams at White House | |
| President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, plan to welcome the men's and women's NCAA basketball champions to the White House later this month. The University of Connecticut Huskies men's team beat San Diego State 76-59 in April to secure its fifth national title. The Louisiana State University Tigers women's team won its first championship by beating the University of Iowa 102-85. The invite to LSU became a source of controversy this year after the first lady said in a speech that the defeated Iowa women's team should also come to the White House "because they played such a good game." In recent decades, the White House has usually hosted only champions. LSU star Angel Reese tweeted a link to a story about Jill Biden's remarks. " A JOKE," she wrote, along with three rolling-on-floor-laughing emojis. On a podcast shortly after, Reese said her team should instead celebrate their title with former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama. Reese later told ESPN during an interview that she would go to the White House because she wants to do "what's best for the team." The team visits are scheduled for May 26. |
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