| Tuesday, September 12, 2023 |
| College students help train future service dogs at Mississippi State | |
 | College students are helping train future service dogs at Mississippi State University. Puppies with a Purpose is a campus organization affiliated with the Guide Dog Foundation. The organization allows students to train dogs in basic commands and help them socialize in different environments. After anywhere from 8 weeks to 14 months, the dogs return to New York to the Guide Dog Foundation to receive their formal training. Puppies with a Purpose President Audrey Crocker said a college setting can be beneficial for the dog's training. "These dogs are trained to understand college life so they are really good at settling in public places. When we go to class, they settle underneath our feet and fall asleep. It is also really good on campus for socialization purposes. There are a lot of weird things they will see here that they will not see anywhere else," said Crocker. Dog Raiser Kaidence Ham agreed that a college campus helps the dogs become calmer in certain situations. The other important part of the organization is advocating for and educating the surrounding community. They aim to teach the Starkville community how to behave around guide dogs. "We advocate for service dogs in the Starkville community and educate people on how to handle service dogs they see in public. The idea is that you are not supposed to interact with a service dog when they are in public. You are supposed to ignore them and act like they are not there so they can work efficiently. That is not something that most people know about so we work to educate our public to make sure these dogs have good access rates and people act respectfully around them," said Ham. |
| Loviza to be honored as 2023 Alumni Fellow at Mississippi State University | |
 | Vicksburg Warren School District Board of Trustees member, Joe Loviza, will be honored as a 2023 Alumni Fellow on Sept. 29, sponsored by Mississippi State University's Alumni Association. As an Alumni Fellow, Loviza will be asked to participate in informal conversations with faculty and students and will be publicly recognized for his achievements and service to the field of education. The program allows faculty, students and others to benefit from the expertise of former students who have excelled in their chosen fields. The program has been a highlight of the fall for over 25 years. The ceremony will take place the weekend of Sept. 29-30. Loviza is a longtime supporter of MSU and the College of Education, where he earned three degrees and served as an adjunct faculty member for 12 years. After graduating from Hinds Community College in 1960, Loviza received bachelor's and master's degrees in education from MSU in 1967 and 1971, respectively. He later earned an Education Specialist degree from MSU in 1976. He was the first employee of the Hinds Community College Vicksburg-Warren campus, where he served 20 years as director and later as dean. Following his retirement, Loviza served as mayor of Vicksburg from 1993 to 1997. |
| MSU hiring childcare professionals statewide | |
| Individuals interested in working with young children and families are encouraged to apply for job openings with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral at MSU Extension is hiring program associates and office associates in several counties statewide. MSCCRR employees work throughout the state to build a stronger support network for children and provide early childhood resources, referrals, family engagement activities, and more. Team members are employees of the MSU Extension Service. Employee benefits include health insurance, tuition remission, life insurance, Public Employees' Retirement System of Mississippi retirement plan, dental and vision insurance, and paid personal and medical leave. For more detailed information about openings and to apply, visit MSU's job website at https://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu. |
| Remembering 'the fog of war' on 9/11 | |
 | Everybody has a story to tell when it comes to where they were on September 11, 2001. But some were closer to the tragedy than others. Lt. Gen. Howard Cross, retired adjutant general of the Mississippi National Guard, told his story on Monday afternoon to the Starkville Rotary Club, describing his role in arranging the country's air defenses from Andrews Air Force Base's Crisis Action Center on that day. Cross said he started the day in the Pentagon dining room, where he was working as the commander of the Mississippi Air National Guard and as advisor to four-star General Don Cook. From there, he was supposed to fly from Andrews Air Force Base to Toledo, Ohio to help with training F-16 fighter pilots. But that plan quickly changed. "As we drove out, Flight 11 impacted the (World Trade Center's) North Tower," Cross said. "As we got in the airplane, getting ready to get on it, a car pulled up with a captain. And he said... 'Sir, you need to come to the command post. Something's happened. They're scrambling jets.'" At first, Cross said, some assumed the flight crashing was an accident. But once Flight 175 crashed into the WTC's South Tower, it was evident the country was under attack. |
| Education: SOCSD welcomes church leaders for annual Pastoral Breakfast | |
| On Thursday morning, more than 65 faith leaders from across Oktibbeha County gathered with Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District administrators at Bridgeway Church for the annual Pastoral Breakfast, hosted by the district Superintendent's Office and Dr. Tony McGee. The event saw faith leaders from many denominations enjoy a delicious homemade breakfast prepared by volunteers from Bridgeway Church before an informal program. "We appreciate you, and we need you," Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee shared with the audience in his opening remarks. McGee reflected on the pastoral group's tradition of visiting various schools around the community on Wednesday mornings to pray for students, families, teachers and school officials. "It's comforting and encouraging to see you all join together in a circle outside each school to pray, and not just for SOCSD schools, but Mississippi State, Boys and Girls Club, Starkville Academy and Starkville Christian -- every school in our community," McGee said. "It seems like there's power in praying in a circle," he continued as he encouraged the diverse group to join hands in a circle to bless the meal. Attendees at the Pastoral Breakfast heard a short message from Edward Williams, a Huddle Leader with Fellowship of Christian Athletes who also works part time at Starkville High School serving as a mentor for students. Williams' message to the group was one of simple encouragement to keep on engaging fueled by the power found in their faith. |
| Expert: COVID surge in Mississippi 'does not appear to be worrisome' | |
| The number of COVID-19 cases across the Magnolia State is on the rise once again, with weekly totals in August nearing this year's highest record. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of cases throughout the U.S. has grown at an increased rate over the past month, with Mississippi having one of the highest COVID-19 hospital admissions levels in the nation. The CDC reported that five Mississippi counties near the Alabama border had over 20 hospital admissions for COVID-19 per 100,000 population at the end of August. In total, the counties -- which included Neshoba, Kemper, Newton, Lauderdale, and Clarke -- all had approximately 40 new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 within seven days. Since then, the number of cases in the state alone has jumped to nearly 2,000 before dropping again at the start of September. President-Elect of the Mississippi State Medical Associations Board of Trustees, Dr. Jennifer Bryan, explained that those contracting the most recent strand of the virus are not exhibiting severe symptoms. "It does not appear to be worrisome in any way like when we look back at historical data from previous years when we saw just the nightmare surges. That's not what we are talking about," Bryan stated. "We're seeing that, in general, a milder form of the virus." |
| How far will current funding get Mississippi in the broadband build out? | |
| If you're one of the thousands of Mississippians still struggling to connect to high-speed internet, here's some information for you. The latest federal grant is expected to get the state closer to its goals of getting you connected. "A five-year plan that we should be sending off in the next week or so," explained Sally Doty, Director of the Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi. The BEAM office estimates there are 171,000 locations still unserved with no federal funding already attached. But Mississippi's rural geography means the price tag to try and get the gold-standard fiber to everyone isn't always feasible. "For instance, we have consultants who are assisting us with data modeling, and there was one particular county, I can't remember off the top of my head, one particular county had three locations, each of those locations cost $300,000 to reach," noted Doty. "Now, that is an extremely high-cost location." In comparison, it usually takes around $5,000 dollars to run fiber lines to a location. For those high-price spots, they'll ask companies to look to alternatives. "Instead of fiber, it might be more appropriate to have fixed wireless," added Doty. "It might be more appropriate to assist them with satellite coverage." The good news is that with the combination of all the funding streams and their timelines, most, if not all, of those unserved locations should get service by 2028. |
| Biloxi casino's parent company is latest victim of cyberattack on the Mississippi Coast | |
 | Another major business had to shut down some of its computer systems after hackers targeted MGM Resorts International, parent company of Beau Rivage Resorts and Casino in Biloxi. The casino is open and operating, said spokeswoman Mary Cracchiolo Spain. The company's website and email were taken down, along with other systems in the cyberattack, the company said. MGM Resorts said in a statement Monday evening that casino floors are operational and, "We continue to work diligently to solve this issue." Multiple processes were created to allow the casinos to operate manually during computer system interruption, such as hotel check-in and check-out through the front desk. Meanwhile, Singing River Health System in Jackson County has been dealing with a cyberattack for weeks. The cyberattack was detected Aug. 19, and the health system promptly launched an investigation to determine the extent of the attack. Patients told the Sun Herald that some procedures were postponed and doctors were documenting visits with paper records. "We understand the concerns of our patients and the community, and we want to assure everyone that we are dedicated to addressing this incident with the highest level of attention and expertise," said Laurin St. Pe, interim CEO. He reported that Epic, the electronic medical records system, recently was brought back online. |
| Local lawmakers open to, but skeptical of, Medicaid expansion | |
 | Several Northeast Mississippi representatives say they're open to the idea of Medicaid expansion after incoming House Speaker Rep. Jason White said he plans to consider it, although some lawmakers remain skeptical on committing money to the program. White, who will wield considerable power if chosen as speaker by fellow House Republicans in January as expected, told Mississippi Today last week that a conservative version of Medicaid expansion is possible. This is a notable break from previous statements by GOP state leaders, including outgoing speaker Rep. Philip Gunn and Gov. Tate Reeves, both of whom have stood firmly against Medicaid expansion. White's public openness to some form of Medicaid expansion is "a great indicator as to whether or not there will be more done," Tupelo's District 18 Rep. Jerry Turner told the Daily Journal. Turner has served on the House Medicaid committee, which he said held only one or two meetings last session. "Anything we do further would be more discussion than what we've had in the past," Turner said. Turner did not commit to supporting Medicaid expansion himself but said he agreed with White the issue is worth looking into and would be glad to attend hearings. Fellow Republican Medicaid committee member and District 19 Rep. Randy Boyd was more critical, although still open to debate. "I'm willing to look at anything," he said, but added he was wary of committing the state to funding insurance for more people without a guarantee the federal government would continue to match most of the cost in the future. "If we've held out this long, there's no need in doing it." |
| 'It was all about the flag': Outgoing Rep. Nick Bain reflects on election loss | |
| After losing the Republican primary by just 26 votes, State Rep. Nick Bain is attributing his defeat to his vote in a landmark decision to change Mississippi's state flag. Bain, who was seeking a fourth term as the representative for House District 2, was unseated by challenger Brad Mattox --- whose campaign harped on the fact that the lawmaker used his vote to change the flag in 2020, which did not resonate well with some voters in the north Mississippi district. "It was all about the flag. I had two opponents come out, and they were upset from the get-go about the reason and the fact that I voted to change the Mississippi state flag," Bain said on Monday's episode of The Gallo Show. "Let me say, unequivocally, I would do that a thousand times out of a thousand. It was the right thing to do, and we did it the right way." The Corinth attorney claims to have experienced scrutiny from voters while on the campaign trail. From having doors slammed in his face to residents alleging that he betrayed his race with his vote to move on from the Confederate-themed flag, Bain said he was met with harsh criticism from a large number of his constituents. "On the flip side of that, I had a whole lot of people up here, in Corinth especially, who were grateful, who were thankful for [me] doing that and realized that it was the best thing for Mississippi." "I said back in 2020 that I could lose my seat over this, but it was the right thing," Bain said. |
| GOP senators: Next move to avert shutdown is on McCarthy | |
 | The Senate plans to fire up old-fashioned floor debate this week on bipartisan funding bills, but that technically does nothing to address the biggest problem on Congress' plate: avoiding a government shutdown. The first move there, GOP senators say, is up to Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The Senate will take its first procedural votes Tuesday on a nearly $280 billion government funding package that has broad bipartisan support. Leaders hope the legislation will display a united front amid the spending standoff with House Republicans, as the two chambers snipe over a deal that will keep the government's lights on past a Sept. 30 deadline. Congressional leaders agree they'll need a stopgap bill to accomplish that, but House conservatives are already agitating to make passage of such a funding patch impossible without major concessions that will never reach President Joe Biden's desk. Still, Republican senators want to see McCarthy pass his version first -- and even Democrats acknowledge they're waiting to see the speaker's next move. "We've got to let the House give it a college try. If they fail, we'll have to do something," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C) said Monday night. Case in point: The House Freedom Caucus plans to hammer home its funding demands with conservative groups outside the Capitol on Tuesday afternoon. |
| McCarthy Embraces Impeachment Probe, Faces Fight With Conservatives on Spending | |
 | House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) is moving to assuage conservatives' demands for an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, just as he also juggles dissident Republicans' demands to dig in his heels on federal spending and risk a government shutdown. McCarthy plans to tell Republicans this week that he supports opening an impeachment inquiry into Biden, following through on remarks he made earlier this year, according to a person familiar with his plans. He will also need to iron out how he plans to craft legislation to keep the government open beyond the end of the month, with just three weeks to quell a brewing uproar from a dissident group that alleges he broke promises to them and making public threats to potentially derail the effort. With the House set to resume legislative business after a nearly 50-day break, insurgent House Republicans have begun making a case that they will tolerate a government shutdown, or even make a move to vote on ousting McCarthy as House speaker, if they don't get a clear win in the funding fight. Among others, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R., Fla.) has spent months criticizing McCarthy, saying that he hasn't passed all 12 annual spending bills on an individual basis and has relied on gimmicks to reduce the price tag of fiscal 2024 spending bills to 2022 levels. "We've got a lot in September to do," McCarthy told reporters late Monday night, insisting that he wasn't worried about his ability to pass the spending bills. As for Gaetz and other critics, McCarthy said that he was "not at all" worried about a push to strip him of his gavel. McCarthy's office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. |
| Threats like AI-aided bioweapons confound policymakers | |
 | In June, a group of students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University with no scientific background showed they could design a deadly new pandemic outbreak in an hour by using chatbots powered by generative artificial intelligence models. Using ChatGPT-4 designed by OpenAI, Bing by Microsoft, Bard by Google and FreedomGPT, an open-source model, the students learned how to obtain samples and reverse engineer potential pandemic-causing candidates, including smallpox, according to a study the students wrote about the effort. "Our results demonstrate that artificial intelligence can exacerbate catastrophic biological risks," warned a pre-publication print of the study titled "Can large language models democratize access to dual-use biotechnology?" That kind of danger is among risks that the White House, U.S. lawmakers and foreign officials are working furiously to prevent. The European Union Parliament in June adopted draft legislation called the EU AI Act that would require companies developing generative AI technologies to label content created by such systems, design models to prevent generation of illegal content, and publish summaries of copyrighted data used in training the models. But it largely avoids dealing with large threats like bioweapons, according to some U.S. officials. |
| Jill Biden calls swearing in of the 1st woman national archivist 'momentous' | |
 | First Lady Jill Biden saluted Colleen Shogan, the first woman to be sworn in as national archivist, saying on Monday that democracy's power is "made real with access to history, unfiltered and uncensored." Shogan, a former government and politics professor at George Mason University, heads the National Archives and Records Administration, which maintains billions of documents -- including the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Louisiana Purchase, Harriet Tubman's Civil War pension claims and Thomas Edison's patent for the lightbulb. During a formal swearing-in ceremony, Biden noted that the nation's historic documents were once held by George Washington and later by the State Department, before being entrusted to the National Archives, founded by Congress in 1934. "The history of a democracy belongs to its people, and we must preserve it with care for future generations," the first lady said. "As far back as the Constitutional Convention, our leaders recognized the power of our founding documents and the importance of keeping them safe and accessible." "This experiment in democracy hinged on the people, and their ability to claim their rights and hold their elected officials accountable," Jill Biden said Monday. "That power could only be made real with access to history, unfiltered and uncensored." Shogan said that "these documents aren't just pieces of parchment. They are living promises to hold our government accountable." |
| FDA approves COVID shots from Moderna and Pfizer | |
 | The Food and Drug Administration approved a new round of vaccines against COVID-19. The vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer and its partner BioNTech were approved Monday for people 12 and older and under an emergency use authorization for children ages 6 months to 11 years old. "Vaccination remains critical to public health and continued protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death," said Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, in a statement. "The public can be assured that these updated vaccines have met the agency's rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality. We very much encourage those who are eligible to consider getting vaccinated." The vaccines target the omicron subvariant called XBB.1.5, which is no longer the most common strain in circulation. The vaccine makers and FDA say that the vaccine should still provide good protection against COVID. Recent studies support that. "The data so far suggest that the new COVID vaccines should be really quite effective against even the new emerging variants that we have seen come up in the last weeks," Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of the Brown School of Public Health who served as the White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator. "So I'm actually quite optimistic this new vaccine is going to be protective." |
| California lawmakers vote to end travel ban to states with anti-LGBTQ+ laws | |
| California may soon lift a ban on state-funded travel to states with anti-LGBTQ+ laws and instead focus on an advertising campaign to bring anti-discrimination messages to red states. California started banning official travel to states with laws it deemed discriminatory against LGBTQ+ people in 2017, starting with Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee. Since then, the list has grown to include a total of 26 states, most of them Republican-led, following a surge of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation these past few years. The prohibition has prevented elected officials, state workers and university scholars from traveling to more than half of the country using the state's money. That has posed a significant challenge to sports teams at public colleges and universities, which have had to find alternative funding sources to pay for their road games in states like Arizona and Utah. It has also complicated some of the state's other policy goals, like using state money to pay for people who live in other states to travel to California for abortions. The reversal on the travel ban comes amid intense political battles across the country over transgender rights, including efforts to impose bans on gender-affirming care, bar trans athletes from girls and women's sports, and require schools to notify parents if their children ask to use different pronouns or changes their gender identity. |
| USM Foundation logs nearly $12.7M in gifts in fiscal year 2023; fundraising campaign hits 97% | |
| Through the support of private philanthropy from 2,850 Southern Miss alumni and friends, gifts made through the USM Foundation totaled nearly $12.7 million in fiscal year 2023, including approximately $11.4 million in outright gifts and pledges and $1.3 million in planned gifts. More than $11 million was disbursed for scholarships, academic programs and other support, including a record-high 2,430 privately funded scholarships awarded, totaling approximately $5.5 million. Publicly launched in March 2022, "Give Wing: The Campaign for Southern Miss" rests on three priority pillars: student success, academic excellence and innovation and discovery. It encompasses academic and athletic initiatives. As of June 30, generous alumni and friends have embraced the tenets of "Give Wing" with $145.6 million raised, reaching 97% of the fundraising goal. "The remarkable generosity of Southern Miss alumni and friends is awe-inspiring, and I am so proud of the impact their investment has on our students and programs," said Stace Mercier, executive director of the USM Foundation. "The culture of philanthropy is growing, and our Golden Eagle community is stronger than ever. It is truly an honor to work with donors to connect their interests in meaningful ways to our university." |
| USM Foundation receives record-breaking donations | |
 | The University of Southern Mississippi awarded a record-breaking number of scholarship money this past school year. The university gave out more than $5 million to students through donations from alumni and friends. USM Foundation Executive Director Stacie Mercier said with a population of more than 14,000, some students are going to need help. Mercier said it is important to give pell-eligible and first-generation students a chance to earn an education. "So many of our kids have to work their way through school, and just having that opportunity for that scholarship. Sometimes it's not always about the dollar amount of that scholarship, but that somebody believes in their potential and wants to help them along," said Mercier. |
| Blanton named a member of Southern PR Hall of Fame | |
| The Southern Public Relations Federation, known as the Southeast's premier organization for public relations professionals, inducted Caron K. Blanton into the Southern Public Relations Hall of Fame on Monday. Blanton, of Mississippi, has spent more than 25 years serving and bringing honor to the profession at the regional and national levels. Amongst her many accomplishments, Blanton holds a national credential, the Accreditation in Public Relations. The APR is overseen and managed by the Universal Accreditation Board, a select group of PR professionals representing the corporate, military and educational sectors from nine large market organizations across the U.S. An exemplar of the SPRF Code of Ethics, Blanton has served as a past president of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi-Central Chapter and a past president of the PRAM state chapter. She served SPRF in a number of positions, including as president in 2013. Though Blanton recently retired from educational public relations, she has remained active in the field of communications by taking a position as senior communications specialist for Entergy. Her Entergy nomination gave these accolades: "It's a given (that) not even a hurricane will keep her from committing her whole self to this latest endeavor." |
| MCC works to meet students' mental health needs | |
 | From feelings of isolation and hopelessness for the world around them to the stress caused by academic challenges and social pressures, a mental health crisis is growing among college students nationwide. Reports of anxiety, depression and thoughts of suicide were already increasing among young adults before the COVID-19 pandemic and have only continued to climb in the following years. Today, more than 60% of college students meet the criteria for at least one mental health problem, according to a Healthy Minds survey of 96,000 students from 133 U.S. campuses taken during the 2021-22 academic year and published back in March. Of the students surveyed, 44% reported symptoms of depression, 37% said they experienced anxiety and 15% said they were considering suicide, which is the highest rate in the 15-year history of the survey. Like many colleges in the state, Meridian Community College is making students' mental health a top priority. "We know now more than ever our students are going through much more than we did when we were in college -- especially coming off of COVID," Deanna Smith, dean of student affairs at MCC, said in a recent news release on efforts MCC is taking to address students' mental health. "We want to do everything we can to help students be successful, and part of that is taking care of their mental health as well," she said. |
| Trace Adkins to perform at Northwest Mississippi Community College | |
| Country music star Trace Adkins will be making a stop at Northwest Mississippi Community College as part of his "Somewhere in America Tour." Adkins, who hit the country music scene hard with his 1996 release of Dreamin' Out Loud, has charted over 20 singles on the Billboard charts. The "You're Gonna Miss This" singer is set to perform in the Heindl Center on Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m. "We are thrilled to present country music legend, Trace Adkins, at the Heidl Center," Heindl Center director Kerry Goff said. "Trace's signature deep baritone voice has been thrilling audiences for decades, and we can't wait for our patrons to see him in the intimacy of our venue." In recent years, Adkins has released various remixes of his hit song "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" on top of collaborating with other artists such as Blake Shelton, Snoop Dogg, Stevie Wonder, and Keb' Mo'. |
| The 'science of reading' swept reforms into classrooms nationwide. What about math? | |
| For much of her teaching career, Carrie Stark relied on math games to engage her students, assuming they would pick up concepts like multiplication by seeing them in action. The kids had fun, but the lessons never stuck. A few years ago she shifted her approach, turning to more direct explanation after finding a website on a set of evidence-based practices known as the science of math. "I could see how the game related to multiplication, but the kids weren't making those connections," said Stark, a math teacher in the suburbs of Kansas City. "You have to explicitly teach the content." As American schools work to turn around math scores that plunged during the pandemic, some researchers are pushing for more attention to a set of research-based practices for teaching math. The movement has passionate backers, but is still in its infancy, especially compared with the phonics-based "science of reading" that has inspired changes in how classrooms across the country approach literacy. Experts say math research hasn't gotten as much funding or attention, especially beyond the elementary level. Meanwhile, the math instruction schools are currently using doesn't work all that well. The U.S. trails other high-income countries in math performance, and lately more students graduate high school with deficits in basic math skills. Advocates say teaching practices supported by quantitative research could help, but they are still coming into focus. "I don't think the movement has caught on yet. I think it's an idea," said Matthew Burns, a professor of special education at the University of Missouri who was among researchers who helped create a Science of Math website as a resource for teachers. |
| UGA Pet Health Center expanding exam rooms, kennel space and more with $5 million grant | |
 | The Pet Health Center at the University of Georgia is expanding by almost two thirds to provide more training opportunities and more room to take care of their canine clients. The Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia last week approved the renovation for $5.5 million, $5 million of which is coming from the Stanton Foundation. "We are thrilled that the Stanton Foundation has chosen to partner with the UGA CVM in expanding our student's experience in the principles and practice of Spectrum of Care," Lisa K. Nolan, dean of UGA's College of Veterinary Medicine, said in a statement. "We are pleased that their visionary gift will allow us to grow and reconfigure our current Pet Health Clinic for this purpose." The Pet Health Center, 125 Veterinary Loop, Athens, was built in 1973, according to the Board of Regents agenda, and is used by fourth year students at the College of Veterinary Medicine as a rotation and by the community as a veterinary practice, mostly taking care of dogs. The current building is hitting its capacity, however, limiting both the training and veterinary service opportunities. The center is currently about 7,825 square feet and the expansion will add roughly 5,000 more square feet, including eight new exam rooms, new kennel space and remodeled surgery and dentistry suites. |
| A&M Faculty Senate discusses academic freedom | |
 | Following a series of summer controversies, the Texas A&M University Faculty Senate met Monday for the first time during the fall 2023 semester and discussed new possible approaches to ensuring faculty's academic freedom as well as processing complaints against faculty. Over the summer, Texas A&M failed to hire Kathleen McElroy to lead the university's new journalism department, while it was learned that university administration placed Texas A&M pharmacy professor Joy Alonzo on two weeks of paid leave for comments made during a lecture. In response to these administrative decisions, A&M's Faculty Senate's task force on academic freedom and faculty protection presented its current proposals to address faculty concerns. During the beginning of the meeting, Faculty Senate speaker Tracy Hammond said that while she was still disappointed in the university for the events that took place, she had faith in the people who make up the university. "I still love Texas A&M, and if anything, the passion of the faculty, students and staff with their rallying cries, with everyone stating, 'This is not who we are. These actions do not align with our core values and our core values define us at Texas A&M,'" Hammond said. "We don't always get it perfect, but if you step back and maybe look out a window or two I argue that we have done a surprisingly, amazingly good job." However, Hammond added that the current moment was key to ensuring the university remains on the correct path into the future. |
| With new Title IX rules likely delayed, students push for other solutions | |
 | When he ran for president in 2020, Joe Biden pledged to take bold action to strengthen Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the federal gender-equity law that prohibits sex discrimination at federally funded colleges and universities and provides guidance for their handling of student reports of sexual misconduct. Biden said he would "immediately" overturn changes to Title IX made by the Trump administration, which narrowed the definition of sexual harassment and added new measures to ensure the due process rights of students accused of misconduct, among other changes. Biden also said his administration would reinstate 2011 guidance that instructed institutions to investigate and adjudicate all student reports of sexual misconduct. But more than two and a half years after Biden took office, advocates for survivors of sexual violence and other students are waiting for the president to keep his promises. The Biden administration's final rules were supposed to be issued in May, but the department delayed them until October, another deadline the department doesn't appear likely to hit. That's partly because staff members have to review and respond to nearly 250,000 comments submitted in response to the draft rule. Advocates are urging the department to adhere to its October deadline, but they acknowledge that could be a challenge for an understaffed and underfunded agency. |
| Canada, in Policy Shift, Weighs Capping Student Visas | |
| The Canadian government is considering capping the number of international students it allows into the country as it scrambles to address a growing housing shortage. The move would mark a shift by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has made boosting immigration central to his economic agenda. The pivot comes amid increased criticism that he has failed to deal with the housing shortage that is driving up home prices in the Group of Seven country with the lowest number of dwellings per capita. The number of foreign students at Canadian universities and vocational colleges is set to hit record levels this year. Government ministers have said that the numbers are increasing demand for housing, causing rents to rise in cities and towns already struggling to house existing residents. Canada's immigration minister, Marc Miller, said at a cabinet retreat held last month that the government was considering several options to curb the influx of foreign students, including "the potential for looking at a cap." "The micro-inflationary pressure that international students present in certain areas of the country, notably in big cities, is real," he said. When Trudeau became prime minister in 2015, there were 352,325 student-visa holders in Canada, according to government statistics. Last year, the number jumped to 807,260, a 130% increase. Canada's institutions of higher learning have been aggressively courting foreign students. Those from countries such as India, China and the Philippines pay much higher tuition than Canadian citizens, said Sergio Karas, a Toronto-based immigration lawyer. |
SPORTS
| How Mississippi State football's Zach Arnett, Kevin Barbay took accountability vs. Arizona | |
 | Despite coming out victorious, Mississippi State football coach Zach Arnett and offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay have been criticized for their work during last Saturday's game against Arizona. Both have since taken accountability publicly. Arnett mentioned in his postgame media conference that he didn't have a good enough plan for the contest. He also said players overcame his coaching. On Monday, he went into more specifics. Arizona got the ball late in the first quarter while trailing 14-0. The Wildcats put together a 19-play drive. However, it ended with safety Shawn Preston Jr. forcing a fumble that was returned 23 yards to the MSU 41-yard line. The Bulldogs had a chance to stretch the lead. Instead, Arnett asked Barbay to run some clock to give his defense a breather. It ended with a missed 41-yard field goal. Arizona responded by scoring a touchdown just before halftime. "If I can do that all over again, I would've told us to be super aggressive," Arnett said. "You've got a chance to firmly take all the momentum in that game. You just caused a big play to prevent a score. ... Yeah, your defense has to go back off really tired, but it's worth the trade-off of the momentum and the three scores. I very poorly managed that situation. I'll own up to the team and tell them it's completely my mistake. I should've told the offense to be super aggressive." |
| Jett Johnson Named SEC Defensive Player of the Week | |
| Mississippi State football's Jett Johnson was named the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week for his strong defensive efforts in State's 31-24 victory over Arizona on Saturday. Johnson, a native of Tupelo, Miss., earned his first career SEC Defensive Player of the Week honor after filling up the stat sheet. Johnson led Mississippi State in tackles (11), sacks (1) and interceptions (2) while also tying for the team lead in tackles for loss (2). Johnson, who earned his eighth career double-digit tackle game, also tied his career high for sacks in a season with two. He grabbed a pair of interceptions, one in the first quarter and one in the fourth, for his first career multi-interception performance. Through the first two weeks of the season, Johnson is tied for the SEC lead in interceptions while ranking fifth in total sacks (2) and 12th in total tackles (17). Johnson and the Bulldogs will return to Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 16, when they host No. 14 LSU. Kickoff against the Tigers is set for 11 a.m. with SEC Network's signature traveling show, SEC Nation Presented by Regions, airing live from The Junction from 9-11 a.m. on SEC Network. |
| Mississippi State at South Carolina Set For 6:30 p.m. Kickoff | |
| Mississippi State's road contest against South Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 23, is slated for a 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff on SEC Network. The matchup will be the 17th meeting between Mississippi State and South Carolina, the first since 2016. The Bulldogs won the last meeting in the series, 27-14, in Starkville back on Sept. 10, 2016. Mississippi State will be in action this Saturday when it hosts No. 14 LSU. Kickoff against the Tigers is set for 11 a.m. on ESPN. |
| Former Mississippi State standout Brent Rooker finds niche in Oakland | |
| Before landing in Oakland, Brent Rooker had bounced around the big leagues. After making his Major League debut in 2020 with Minnesota, the Mississippi State product also played for San Diego and Kansas City. However, Rooker, 28, has now found a home with the A's, earning his first trip to the MLB All-Star Game earlier this season and emerging as one of their most consistent bats. "It's been a good spot," Rooker said. "I came into the season hoping to win a spot at spring training and playing time. I was able to do that and have had some success, put together a pretty good year. It was what I was looking for in terms of getting an opportunity to play and try and establish myself as a guy who can compete and produce in this league. I think I've done a good job of that." Through 120 games this season, Rooker is hitting .240 with 23 home runs and 57 RBI, numbers which helped make him Oakland's lone representative at the All-Star Game in July. "It was a dream come true obviously," he said. "It was overwhelming, the best thing possible. It was unexpected. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and something I will never forget." Of course, MSU fans remember the Memphis area native well from his time in Starkville. After redshirting as a true freshman in 2014, Rooker's star only rose from there. "I loved it (at State)," Rooker said. |
| Alabama Athletics 'disgusted' at reports of Texas fan harassment in Bryant-Denny Stadium | |
 | The University of Alabama has addressed the acts of spectators who verbally and physically harassed Texas football players and their parents during Saturday night's game. "We are disgusted by reports of vile language and inappropriate behavior Saturday night. To be clear, we condemn this behavior and it will not be tolerated in our venues. It is not representative of UA or our values. We expect all attendees to act with class and respect towards others. Fans are strongly encouraged to report issues to our security resources on-site. Gameday and delayed reports are appropriately addressed and anyone found to be in violation of our rules and expectations will be promptly removed and may be banned from future events," UA Athletics released in a statement to AL.com. Videos posted on social media Sunday showed racist and homophobic slurs directed at the Longhorns as the visitors began to celebrate its 34-24 victory over then-No. 3 Alabama. At least two parents of Texas players also detailed their "nightmare" interactions with spectators inside Bryant-Denny Stadium on social media. Angie Wisner, mother of Texas freshman running back Tre Wisner, was in attendance and said parents were spat on. She confirmed to AL.com that spectators threw beer cans and water bottles |
| Meet the woman behind Deion Sanders' 'Coach Prime' business empire | |
| It's less than an hour after Colorado, a 20 1/2-point underdog, shocked No. 17 TCU -- and the entire college football establishment -- and disbelief hangs over Amon G. Carter Stadium. A few hundred yards away, Constance Schwartz-Morini sits in the back of a black SUV heading to a private airport, sifting through her smartphone as hundreds of congratulatory messages pour in. Schwartz-Morini is one of the few leaving TCU who isn't the least bit surprised at what she witnessed. A Colorado team that finished 1-11 last year, newly led by NFL legend Deion Sanders, underwent the biggest roster overhaul in college football history and just defeated an opponent that played for the College Football Playoff national championship last season. A New Yorker with a deep Rolodex of sports contacts, Schwartz-Morini is Sanders' business partner and manager, and much like Colorado's new head coach, is like nothing college football has seen before. Snoop Dogg calls Schwartz-Morini "a consigliere." Sanders calls her "a visionary" and a "pit bull in pumps." Colorado athletic director Rick George calls her "unique," and says she has both Sanders' and Colorado's "best interest in mind." In the car, one of the first calls she makes is to Sanders, fresh off of his first FBS victory, led by his son Shedeur, who threw for a school-record 510 yards. The call is brief. The tone is celebratory. Schwartz-Morini informs him that during the broadcast, Sanders was featured in three national commercials -- an Aflac ad co-starring Nick Saban; a new campaign for California Almonds; and a third, for KFC, which included his entire family. It was a big day for Colorado, Deion Sanders and his brand. |
| After Suspending Its Football Coach, Michigan State Faces Fresh Questions About Its Culture | |
 | Michigan State University suspended its head football coach, Mel Tucker, on Sunday, less than 24 hours after USA Today published a story detailing a sexual-harassment complaint against him. The charge was filed with the university in December. A hearing on the complaint is scheduled for early October, but the university said it was suspending Tucker now because the situation had changed. Tucker was officially suspended for "unprofessional behavior and not living up to the core values of the department and university." Brenda Tracy, a prominent sexual-assault survivor and advocate, filed the complaint with the university, claiming Tucker masturbated while talking on the phone with her in late 2022, USA Today reported. In internal documents shared with the newspaper, Tucker did not deny the incident took place, but said the phone sex was consensual. Tracy and Tucker met when MSU officials invited Tracy to speak to the football team in the aftermath of the Larry Nassar sexual-abuse scandal. Interim President Teresa Woodruff, Athletic Director Alan Haller, and some MSU board members were aware of the complaint and investigation but not all the details. MSU has a history of sexual-assault scandals, most notably the Nassar case, in which a gymnastics doctor abused athletes for decades under the guise of providing medical treatment. Around the same time, the former dean of the school of College of Osteopathic Medicine was convicted of felony charges of using his power to harass female students. More recently, the dean of the business school was demoted over allegations he didn't report an accusation of sexual misconduct when he learned of it. News of yet another scandal about alleged sexual impropriety raises big questions -- again -- about the way Michigan State is being run. |
| Mel Tucker denies harassment claims, calls MSU hearing 'ridiculously flawed' | |
| Suspended Michigan State head football coach Mel Tucker adamantly denied claims that he sexually harassed Brenda Tracy, a sexual assault awareness speaker, in a statement Monday and called an upcoming hearing about the claims "a sham." Tucker, in a statement issued Monday through his attorney Jennifer Belveal, said he developed an "intimate, adult relationship" with Tracy and that her claims that he harassed her are "completely false." He said an upcoming hearing to assess whether he violated university policy is "ridiculously flawed and not designed to arrive at the truth." Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller suspended Tucker without pay Sunday night after details of the claims against the coach were made public in a story written by USA Today. Tracy, who operates a nonprofit company that tries to raise awareness about sexual misconduct, especially among college athletes, told university investigators that Tucker sent her gifts, asked if she would date him if he wasn't married and masturbated while on the phone with her without her consent, according to details reported by USA Today on Sunday. Tucker took issue with the upcoming hearing, saying it's designed for infractions involving students and prevents him the chance to present evidence or make substantial arguments that would show his innocence. The hearing is being conducted as part of the university's relationship violence and sexual misconduct policy, which applies to students and employees. |
| Revenue-sharing with major college football players seems 'inevitable.' How could it be done? | |
| When one of college football's top coaches makes a point of letting the world know he believes his players should essentially be paid, it gets a lot of attention. "When student-athletes call it a game, corporate-types call it a business," Michigan's Jim Harbaugh said not long after the season began. "When the student-athletes call it a business, the corporate-types call it a game." Overhauling the collegiate sports model to allow athletes playing at the highest levels of college football to share in the billions television networks are paying conferences for the media rights to their games is an idea gaining traction. Especially in the court of public opinion. Even 10 years ago, suggesting players get a cut of the massive TV deals that fuel athletic departments would have been met with incredulity by those who work and follow college sports. Now, Harbaugh is not even the only high-profile coach in the Big Ten Conference to advocate publicly for revenue sharing with players. Penn State's James Franklin took a similar position in an interview with The Associated Press earlier this year. The four biggest conferences have media rights deal of various lengths worth more than $20 billion, with football driving most of that value. Skyrocketing coaches' salaries, an arms race of spending on athletic facilities and, most recently, drastic, revenue-driven conference realignment have made it harder to defend not giving college athletes a bigger piece of the pie. "It can harm or eliminate some of the arguments that have been made in the past as to why college athletes shouldn't be paid," said Mit Winter, a Kansas City-based sports attorney. |
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