| Tuesday, January 9, 2024 |
| Education: Scouts honor UM's Bianco and MSU's Lemonis on Jan. 16 with the Distinguished Citizen Award at Cadence Center reception, dinner | |
 | The Natchez Trace Council of the Boy Scouts of America will jointly honor University of Mississippi Head Baseball Coach Mike Bianco and Mississippi State University Head Baseball Coach Chris Lemonis as winners of the Distinguished Citizen Award from the council at a reception and dinner at the Cadence Conference Center on Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. For tickets or information, contact Rick Wise at (662) 842-2871 or (662) 260-2565 or rick.wise@scouting.org or visit natcheztracecouncil.org. Individual tickets begin at $250 for two and there are table sponsorship opportunities available. "These outstanding coaches brought great honor to Mississippi and to the institutions they represent," said National Trace Council President Sid Salter of Starkville. "Mike Bianco and Chris Lemonis are also extremely outstanding men and role models for youth that flourish in Scouting. This is an opportunity to recognize these fine men and support Scouting in our communities from the Tennessee line to the Golden Triangle." Former Distinguished Citizen winners include U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, author and producer Sam Haskell, former BancorpSouth President Aubrey Patterson, acclaimed author John Grisham, MSU President Mark Keenum, Ole Miss football great Archie Manning, former governors William Winter and Haley Barbour, former U.S. Senators Trent Lott and the late Thad Cochran, former council presidents Felix Black, Henry Brevard, Rob Leake, Bud McCarty, Jack Reed Sr. and J.C. Whitehead, and MSU broadcaster Jack Cristil. |
| Education: MSU agriculture education major selected for national ambassador program | |
| An undergraduate Mississippi State University student is stepping onto the national stage as a National #TeachAg Ambassador. Hannah Grace Childress, a senior agricultural education, leadership and communications major from Thorsby, Alabama, joins 12 other students in agricultural education from across the nation for the outreach role. An initiative of the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) the National #TeachAg Ambassador Program participants share their individual narratives with prospective students considering agricultural teaching careers. "Agricultural education majors have such diverse backgrounds, and we have so much to learn from each other," Childress said. "I'm really excited to work and serve with the other ambassadors and get to know them and their experiences." Childress learned about MSU's agriculture education program during the 2021 National Future Farmers of America Convention and Expo. Associate Professor OP McCubbins in MSU's School of Human Sciences said ambassadors gain access to a network of professionals and peers, specialized training sessions and chances to interact with diverse audiences. Participation in events like the National FFA Convention also opens doors to meet industry leaders and gain exposure in the field. |
| Supervisors discuss introducing building codes | |
| The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors is exploring adding building codes and code enforcement to its comprehensive plan. At its work session meeting Monday morning, the board approved reaching out to representatives of Slaughter and Associates -- the Oxford-based firm that originally crafted the 20-year plan in 2014 -- to discuss how best to amend the document. The plan serves as a guidepost for the growth of Oktibbeha County from 2015 to 2035, but Board President Marvell Howard said it was always intended to be a "living document" that could be edited if necessary. Large changes to the plan are not expected. District 1 Supervisor Ben Carver said the plan "looks great. ... There's only 5-10% that needs to be adjusted." Monday's meeting was intended as a crash course in getting Carver and District 4 Supervisor Pattie Little -- both newly-elected -- up to speed with the state of Oktibbeha County. The meeting lasted four hours, with a number of topics discussed, including animal control enforcement, the county's current bond indebtedness and with the topic of introducing a building code being the most discussed. The board did not take action Monday on specific changes to the comprehensive plan. |
| 'Mississippi's Time': Reeves' inauguration includes parade, ball Tuesday | |
 | It's set to be a busy day in downtown Jackson as Governor Tate Reeves will officially be sworn in to begin his second term as governor after Tuesday's inauguration. The theme of Governor Reeves' second inauguration is "Mississippi's Time," a callback to Governor Reeves's saying throughout his re-election campaign: "Mississippi has momentum, and this is Mississippi's Time." The events will last throughout the day and will go into the night. The schedule of events includes the inauguration at the Mississippi State Capitol at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. The parade begins at 2 p.m. in Downtown Jackson. There will be an open house from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Governor's Mansion. And to cap off the day's events, the Celebrate Mississippi Inaugural Ball will be held at the Mississippi Trade Mart from 7 to 11 p.m. |
| Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann is considering running for governor in 2027 | |
| Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann is actively considering running for governor in four years, making him the first statewide official to openly express interest in campaigning for the state's highest office in 2027. In an interview with Mississippi Today on Monday afternoon, Hosemann said he is currently focused on finishing his second term as lieutenant governor, but he would evaluate over the next four years if he should make a bid for the Governor's Mansion. "First of all, I've got to do my own job," Hosemann said. "That's the main thing. People hired me to work for four years. I think I've positively affected the trajectory of this state. And if people think I can continue to do that, then we'll be glad to see about governor." Hosemann, 76, recently won a second term as the state's lieutenant governor, a position which carries enormous influence over the Capitol's legislative agenda. The Mississippi Constitution limits lieutenant governors to serve only two terms, so Hosemann cannot seek reelection to his current post. While Hosemann is now stating his interest in the job publicly, several GOP politicians are almost certain to consider running for the office, too. If multiple GOP statewide officials clamor for the job in 2027, it would set up a crowded Republican primary with the potential to create rancorous debate, openly splinter the majority party and cause state agencies to clash. |
| Exclusive: House Speaker Jason White has two key agenda items in new role | |
 | If there is anything Mississippi House Speaker Jason White hopes to accomplish this legislative session, it's reforming the state's role in providing new opportunities for K-12 schools and possibly expanding healthcare to the "working poor." White told The Clarion Ledger that while he hopes to help craft new legislation for students and the healthcare industry, he won't be ignoring the inputs of the house's Democratic minority, consisting of 40 of the 122-member house. "I have to have buy-ins from our Democratic friends across the aisle on those two issues. It affects their people just like it affects my constituents, and I want them to have a seat at the table," White said. "I want them to be part of the solution." White said the major issues facing the legislature this session are making sure that education in the state's K-12 schools provide more workforce development curriculum, as well as options for students to pick where they want to receive those classes. Republican Rep. Rob Roberson, who serves Oktibbeha County, said he has been working with White for eight years, often sitting with him in general sessions of the house and on drafting bills from time to time. Roberson said as the 2024 session gets underway, White's pragmatic attitude and willingness to listen to opposition will set him apart from his predecessor, former House Speaker Philip Gunn, who chose not to run for reelection this past year. "Speaker Gunn was an excellent leader, but he was very one-track minded once he got on in a direction, and I see Jason as being more willing to hear all of the concerns on an issue," Roberson said. |
| Lawmakers share top priorities for 2024 session | |
 | There are 174 members in the Mississippi legislature, and all of them have things they want to see accomplished over the next four months. Republican leaders in the House and Senate have been vocal about the need to improve Mississippi's lowest-in-the-nation labor participation rate, which is at 53.8%. Senator Briggs Hopson, a Republican from Warren County, says that many employers in the state are looking for skilled workers and lawmakers need to help create an environment that gets more people in the workforce. "We've got some folks that aren't seeking jobs that are able to work, and we need to make sure they've got the training and the push and the drive to get them employed," Hopson said. Democratic Representative Chris Bell of Hinds County says that expanding Medicaid to the state's working poor is a top priority, and that this issue isn't just about health care, it also affects workforce development. Representative Zakiya Summers, who represents parts of Hinds and Rankin counties, says she's excited for her second term. She thinks this is the year some of her top priorities, like establishing online voter registration and changing the conversation around tax relief, could get done. Summers also says that the new leadership in the House gives her confidence that lawmakers will be able to work more on a bipartisan level this session. |
| Newly elected lawmakers reflect back on first week of the legislative session | |
| The first week of the legislative session is officially in the books. Lawmakers are now gearing up for week two. District 72 State Representative Justis Gibbs reflected on this past week, saying it was an experience he's not taking for granted. "Voters put their trust in me. They put their faith in me to come up here and work diligently on their behalf [and] to make sure that the priorities that we talked about during the campaign are actually addressed here," said Representative Gibbs. The Hinds County representative is one of 32 newly elected lawmakers, seven in the Senate and 25 in the House. Also being sworn in for the very first time last week is State Representative Zachary Grady, who represents District 115 on the Coast. "It's been very exciting," Representative Grady expressed. "We officially elected our new speaker and speaker pro tempore, and our leadership here is so passionate about serving the people of Mississippi." Grady and Gibbs both said there are some pressing issues they want addressed during this session. "Workforce development, that we make sure that we can expand Medicaid coverage here in the state of Mississippi," the District 72 Representative said. "Also, voting rights, making sure that we exercise our right to vote in the most accessible way possible, something that I also care about as a young legislator. We're looking forward to the work that we have to do here." "Healthcare and education are always big topics, and I believe they are going to be addressed this term," the District 115 Representative said. "Marine resources are always a big thing for us at home living on the coast, and also insurance. We want to do the best we can to help out the people in Mississippi with those insurance costs and create a better quality of life." |
| Nearly $6 million made available to boost Mississippi's food supply chain | |
| A partnership between the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce and the United States Department of Agriculture will provide nearly $6 million to strengthen the state's food supply chain. Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced that the two government agencies entered into a cooperative agreement to administer the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program in Mississippi, which supplies the funding to boost the food supply chain. The purpose of the RFSI Program is to assist states in building resilience in the middle of the supply chain and strengthening local food systems by creating new revenue streams for producers. The goal in mind is to create additional and better processing options for local producers. "Having a strong, resilient food supply chain is crucial for our food security," Gipson said. "This partnership with USDA will provide the State of Mississippi a strategic opportunity to strengthen our state's food supply chain and increase marketing opportunities for our farmers while increasing consumers' access to local foods." Eligible foods under the USDA grant guidelines include specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products. Meat and poultry, wild-caught seafood, exclusively animal feed and forage products, fiber, landscaping products, tobacco, and dietary supplements are excluded under the USDA grant guidelines. |
| Army Corps downplays spillway openings that killed dolphins and oysters, Coast group says | |
 | The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is downplaying the devastating impacts of its flood prevention protocols on the Mississippi Sound, representatives of the Mississippi Sound Coalition say. Oyster reefs have yet to recover from the prolonged opening in 2019 of the Bonnet Carré Spillway that released Mississippi River floodwaters into Lake Pontchartrain and the Sound. The Army Corps follows a protocol established in 1928 to control Mississippi River flooding of New Orleans, but excess river water disturbs the balance of salt and freshwater that oysters and other aquatic species need to thrive. "We don't have an oyster population left in the Mississippi Sound and it's because of the Bonnet Carré Spillway," Robert Wiygul, an environmental attorney who represents the coalition, said during a news conference Monday. Under court order, the Army Corps has completed a crucial report for the National Marine Fisheries Service that says river water discharges can kill oysters, but prolonged Bonnet Carré discharges are "unlikely to have long term impacts to oyster reefs" that also serve as nurseries and habitat for other aquatic species. Armed with $1.475 million in funding from the state Legislature, the coalition is funding environmental and economic studies on how floodwater management impacts the Mississippi Sound. Also, at the coalition's urging, Sen. Roger Wicker helped pass legislation in late 2022 that directs the Corps to study ways to reduce flooding on the lower Mississippi River and reliance on the Bonnet Carré for flood relief. |
| Brandon Presley, courted by national Democrats to run for U.S. Senate, will not run against Sen. Roger Wicker | |
| Brandon Presley, the former Democratic nominee for governor and former public service commissioner, will not run for the U.S. Senate in 2024, clearing the way for another Democrat to challenge Republican incumbent Roger Wicker. "I'm not some election hopper looking for somewhere to land in public office," Presley said in a Monday statement to Mississippi Today. "While I appreciate the confidence and encouragement I have received, I have zero interest in running for the U. S. Senate." If Presley, a native of Lee County in north Mississippi, had challenged Wicker, a Tupelo resident, it would have set up a bitter competition that pitted two north Mississippi candidates against one another. Presley was the recent Democratic nominee for governor who raised a significant amount of campaign cash and narrowly lost the race to incumbent Republican Gov. Tate Reeves. The race between the two was the closest governor's race in two decades. National Democrats attempted to recruit the former utility regulator to join the race, but Presley ultimately ruled against it. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, attempted to recruit Presley to run against Wicker and even visited the former utility regulator at his home in Nettleton, according to a person familiar with the matter. |
| Wicker calls failure to disclose Defense Secretary's medical complications an indictment of the Biden Administration | |
| Senator Roger Wicker (R) is raising concerns over the Department of Defense "deliberately" withholding the medical condition of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin from not only the public, but from the National Security Advisor, Congressional officials and President Joe Biden. It has come to light that Secretary Austin was reportedly admitted to the hospital on New Year's Day. The reason given was complications from an "elective medical procedure." However, multiple reports now say Austin and the Department of Defense did not inform National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan until January 4, who then brought President Biden up to speed. Senator Wicker, the senior U.S. Senator from Mississippi and the highest-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said on Saturday that while he was glad to hear Secretary Austin is in improved condition, "the fact remains that the Department of Defense deliberately withheld the Secretary of Defense's medical condition for days." Wicker said such actions are "unacceptable," saying it is a defiance of the law. Wicker said this episode further erodes trust in the Biden Administration, "which has repeatedly failed to inform the public in a timely fashion about critical events such as the Chinese spy balloon and the withdrawal from Afghanistan." |
| Pinkins announces campaign for US Senate | |
 | Ty Pinkins on Monday announced his campaign to run for the United States Senate and said he hopes to focus on three key issues during his campaign: healthcare, education and the economy. "I am running because I am concerned about the direction in which our country is going," Pinkins said during a press conference at the Mississippi State Capitol Building. "Families are struggling to make ends meet because life is more expensive for Mississippians. Women's reproductive rights are under attack by politicians and unelected judges, and our very democracy is being threatened by those who wish to tear down the institutional safeguards provided by our Founding Fathers that have guided us for centuries." Pinkins previously announced his bid for the Senate in January 2023, but also ran for Secretary of State this past year against Republican incumbent Michael Watson, replacing Democratic candidate Shuwaski Young, who dropped out in August due to health reasons. Pinkins is also an attorney, Army veteran and native of Vicksburg. He previously worked as an attorney at the Mississippi Center for Justice from 2020 to 2022 and in 2015 founded the Pyramid Project, a youth organization that provides mentorship and development opportunities. If Pinkins wins the Democratic nomination, he will face off against the Republican nominee on Nov. 5. Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker announced his candidacy last year. |
| Unfinished 2023 business dominates start of 2024 session | |
 | As the calendar turns to a presidential election year with control of both chambers in play, Congress and the White House are facing a full slate of leftovers from 2023, headlined by a stalled emergency supplemental spending request and looming deadlines to keep the government open. Sunday's announcement of a topline agreement between House Republicans and Senate Democrats means that appropriators know the maximum amount they can spend to fund the government for the rest of this fiscal year. But they are still haggling on how to apportion that among 12 bills covering various departments and agencies, let alone navigate a thicket of contentious partisan policy riders. "The bipartisan funding framework congressional leaders have reached moves us one step closer to preventing a needless government shutdown and protecting important national priorities," President Joe Biden said in a statement supporting the deal, which would allow $886.3 billion for defense and $772.7 billion for nondefense programs. The enactment of an unusual bifurcated continuing resolution in November set up multiple funding deadlines. Funding for departments and agencies covered by four appropriation bills was extended through Jan. 19, with the balance running through Feb. 2, or Groundhog Day. |
| 'In Charleston, you know the power of truth,' Biden says in denouncing Trump, Jan. 6 lies | |
 | The same sort of hateful deceit that fueled the white supremacist massacre of nine Black parishioners at Emanuel AME Church in 2015 still poisons American politics today, much of it spread by Donald Trump, President Joe Biden said from the pulpit of the historic church Jan. 8. In a sermon-like speech that marked the start of his 2024 reelection bid, Biden connected the racist lies that fed the Charleston tragedy to the recent resurgence of political violence that climaxed at the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot -- it, too, fueled by falsehoods. "The lies that led to Jan. 6 are part of a broader attack on the truth in America that we all have seen before," Biden told hundreds of attendees who packed Mother Emanuel to capacity. Biden, speaking from the same pulpit that once hosted W.E.B. Du Bois and Martin Luther King Jr., forcefully denounced the former president as the leader of that assault. He compared Trump's false claim contending the 2020 presidential election was stolen to the Lost Cause mythology which claimed the South's cause behind the Civil War was a heroic one and which formed the basis of the Emanuel shooter's hateful ideology. The Charleston visit included meeting with the families of victims of the Emanuel shooting and Polly Sheppard, one of the five survivors. Yet the main thrust was to shore up his base. Black voters are once again crucial to Biden's prospects in November and, more immediately, to delivering him an overwhelming victory in the Feb. 3 first-in-the-nation South Carolina Democratic presidential primary that he hopes will give him a shot of momentum at the start of his campaign. |
| Austin leaves intensive care amid growing scrutiny of Pentagon secrecy | |
 | Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, whose failure to disclose his need for emergency hospitalization has ignited a firestorm, was moved out of intensive care on Monday, as Democrats and Republicans intensified their calls for accountability, and senior officials at the White House and Pentagon struggled to defuse the uproar. Austin, 70, remains under doctors' supervision at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland. He was taken there by ambulance Jan. 1, while in "severe pain" with undisclosed complications from a Dec. 22 medical procedure that included an overnight stay, administration officials said. But their halting explanation of the situation, and Austin's lack of transparency about what led to his health crisis, have only amplified the scrutiny following revelations that Austin's senior staff declined to disclose the issue to the White House for days. The Pentagon said Monday night that it remains unclear when he may be released but that officials intend to provide daily updates so long as he remains at Walter Reed. Critics, including political allies, have chastised the administration for its secrecy surrounding Austin's medical situation, with many noting the calamity that could have occurred with the United States actively, if indirectly, involved in two wars and the recent rise in attacks on U.S. forces deployed in the Middle East. Internally, some frustrated officials have complained, too, saying the handling of the incident showed "unbelievably bad judgment" on Austin's part. Officials have said that President Biden retains confidence in Austin and has no plans to replace him. |
| Say it ain't snow. Iowa's forecast is terrible and it's impacting the campaign. | |
 | The current forecast in Iowa could best be described as frigid bordering on terrible. Which isn't ideal for our nation's political class that is set to descend on, or already decamped to, the Hawkeye State. Extreme temperatures and snow storms are set to turn the first-caucus state into a bitterly cold mess. Between six and 12 inches of snow are expected across a wide swath of the state Monday and Tuesday. All but seven of Iowa's 99 counties are under a Winter Storm Warning. And then... it will just get worse. Beginning on Saturday and running through next Monday, temperatures will plunge, with lows below zero and daytime highs only in the single digits -- which could result in the coldest Caucus Night weather since the modern nominating system began in 1972. The pile up of extreme temperatures and a snowstorm is already causing last minute headaches for Republican campaigns crisscrossing the state. "Forecast now is for 7 degrees," said David Kochel, a Republican strategist from Iowa who has advised national campaigns, in a text message. "That's just bone-chilling cold. Definitely can impact turnout. Caucus attendees tend to be older than the average voter in a general election, so it might be even more pronounced. Not sure it will help/hurt any specific candidate vis a vis the field but generally, it's my sense that lower turnout is unhelpful to Trump." |
| Trump's Presidential Immunity Appeal Opens New Campaign Front | |
 | The legal reckoning for Donald Trump enters a critical stretch Tuesday as a Washington federal appeals court began considering the former president's claim that he is immune from prosecution on charges he plotted to overturn the 2020 election. Trump was present at the courthouse mere blocks from the Capitol and is expected to sit in on a hearing Thursday in his civil-fraud case in New York, with the Iowa caucuses less than a week away. Though Trump isn't required to be there, his presence in court reflects how his legal defense has merged with his presidential ambitions as he seeks to capitalize on a torrent of criminal jeopardy and cast himself as the target of politicized prosecutions. His approach appears to be resonating, at least among Republican stalwarts. He enters the GOP primary season with a prohibitive lead in the polls and a 2024 calendar filled with opportunities for more legal sparring, including at the Supreme Court. "What you're about to see in a whole variety of different cases are some very direct challenges to some basic ideas we have about the rule of law and whether or not people who assume high office retain personal responsibility and accountability for wrongdoing," said Frank Bowman, a professor emeritus at the University of Missouri. "This is foundational stuff." For Trump and his legal team, the arguments before a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit come with high stakes. His success or failure, and the timing of any decision, could dictate when his federal election-interference trial begins -- or whether it proceeds at all. |
| Mississippi University for Women set to change name to Mississippi Brightwell University | |
| On Monday, the Mississippi University for Women, or MUW, announced it would be changing the school's name to Mississippi Brightwell University (MBU). The change comes after a 2022 survey that sought responses for the potential change through a formal naming process. MUW said the new name is based on the motto, "We study for light to bless with light." "Our distinguished faculty -- beacons of enlightenment and a wellspring of knowledge -- collaborate with each of our students one-on-one. They inspire, cultivate and guide them towards monumental achievements, fostering an atmosphere of encouragement and leadership," said the MUW naming process website. For many who refer to MUW as "The W," university leaders did not want to choose a name that would take away from the long-held alma mater. They also indicated that The W will live on in the newly proposed Women's College, an initiative that will go before the Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) board in February for approval. Over 4,300 people completed the survey that was split into five groups: alumni, faculty and staff, students, prospective students and the community. The survey asked a series of questions related to the university's standing, one of which touched on the potential new naming of MUW. In that question, alumni, the group that participated the most in the survey, indicated they would prefer a new name that represented the school's location, with 67.2 percent supportive of "University of Northern Mississippi" (UNM). |
| A Mississippi university proposes dropping 'Women' from its name after decades of also enrolling men | |
 | Mississippi University for Women announced a proposal Monday to rebrand as Mississippi Brightwell University, with officials saying the new name is supposed to reflect the diversity of the public institution that has been enrolling men since 1982. Men make up about 22% of 2,230 students at MUW -- a school nicknamed "The W." President Nora Miller announced in 2022 a university a task force to examine a name change, months after the university's Deans Council sent her a letter saying the current name presents "challenges." Miller said in a news release Monday that the new name was inspired by the university's motto, "We study for light to bless with light." If legislators approve the change, it would take effect July 1. |
| Mississippi University for Women plans to change name to Mississippi Brightwell University | |
 | On Monday, Mississippi University for Women announced its new proposed name as Mississippi Brightwell University, a move university leaders expect to be approved by the state Legislature. The announcement comes after a 15-month-long process and multiple constituent conversations. "The rebrand is intended to better mirror the university's current vision, mission and the dynamic times we are living in, providing a more apt representation of our diverse and vibrant student body," said President Nora Miller. Founded on the principles of innovation and equality, Mississippi Brightwell University represents the visionaries who dared to illuminate the possibilities derived from equitable education. Miller said, "We continue to unlock opportunities for inclusivity and prosperity." The rebrand, which will not be official until July 1, communicates the university's values as a first-choice university and its competition for top students, funding, and opportunities for outreach and research. With the recent announcement of the university's proposed Women's College, "We will continue to celebrate our history as the first state-supported college for women and our continued mission of providing educational and leadership opportunities for women," Miller added. The Women's College is expected to be approved in February by the Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning. |
| Mississippi University for Women to change name to Mississippi Brightwell University | |
| Mississippi University for Women has announced it will change its name to Mississippi Brightwell University, pending approval by the state legislature. The announcement was made by President Nora Miller at Spring Convocation. It follows a 15-month-long process and multiple constituent conversations. "The rebrand is intended to better mirror the university's current vision, mission and the dynamic times we are living in, providing a more apt representation of our diverse and vibrant student body," Miller said. The rebrand, which will take effect July 1, 2024, was inspired by the university's motto: "We study for light to bless with light." "Our motto epitomizes the enduring essence of a supportive, inclusive and empowered community," Miller said. "Our distinguished faculty -- beacons of enlightenment and a wellspring of knowledge -- collaborate with each of our students one-on-one." Throughout the naming process, the themes of "empowerment" and "enlightenment" were constants, Miller said, pointing to the university's honorary societies Torch and Lantern, that also reflect the theme. She also highlighted the nursing pinning ceremony where graduates light their lanterns representing nursing care as a source of reliability, goodwill and warmth. |
| Proposed new name for MUW: Mississippi Brightwell University | |
| After two years of discussions, surveys and focus groups, the Mississippi University for Women announced Monday morning the proposed new name for the school will be Mississippi Brightwell University. President Nora Miller revealed the new name during the university's spring faculty and staff convocation in Poindexter Hall. The new name will be introduced for legislative approval in the current session. Should the name be approved, Miller said it will take effect in July. "We hope this can be addressed relatively early during the session to give us time to be ready for July 1," she said. As of press time Monday, a bill had not been introduced to the legislature for the name change. Dist. 15 Sen. Chuck Younger, R-Lowndes County, told The Dispatch he was unsure when that would happen. The university's announcement of the new name on their Facebook page garnered mixed reactions, with more than 500 comments in less than three hours. More than 100 commented on The Dispatch's Facebook post on the proposed name. A few commenters praised the university for choosing a less exclusive name, an outpouring of others panned the proposal, raising concerns the new name strayed too far from The W's tradition or saying Brightwell sounds like the name of a "cult," "private elementary school" or "rehab center." MUW Communications Director Tyler Wheat said rebranding campus signage should cost roughly $65,000. Recurring costs like advertising, stationary and other branded assets will be included in annual budgets, he said. |
| UMMC School of Dentistry to provide free services at the end of the month | |
| The University of Mississippi Medical Center's School of Dentistry will be offering free dental treatment to underserved residents at the end of the month through the beginning of February. From Monday, Jan. 29 through Thursday, Feb. 1 the school will be celebrating Dental Mission Week to raise awareness of issues related to access to dental work and to provide care for vulnerable populations that include uninsured minor children and adults --- including military veterans. Free services provided are cleanings, extractions, fillings, root canals for front teeth only, oral cancer screening, and oral hygiene education. In addition to providing necessary care to Mississippians, Dental Mission Week will promote dental education. Students will learn how to become servant leaders in their communities as they gain hands-on experience, not just in dental procedures, but in making their patients feel welcome and comfortable. "Dental Mission Week is just one way the School of Dentistry can express its compassion for life, love, and humanity for others," Melody Longino, the school's manager of ambulatory operations and Dental Mission Week coordinator, said. The application deadline is Friday. Applications are also available at the School of Dentistry or from a local Veterans Affairs facility liaison. |
| Spring semester at U. of Alabama: What to know as students return to Tuscaloosa | |
 | Nearly 39,000 University of Alabama students will return to the Tuscaloosa campus this week as spring semester begins. Classes are scheduled to start Wednesday. No classes will be held Monday because of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Here's a guide to the 2024 spring semester at the Capstone: When is spring break? The weeklong break is set for the week of March 11 through March 15. No classes will be held during those days. UA offices will close at 5 p.m. March 8 and reopen March 17. Tuscaloosa City Schools and the Tuscaloosa County School System will also be on spring break that week. When is Honors Week? UA's weeklong recognition of student academic achievements will be held April 1-5. Honors Week will culminate with the Tapping on the Mound ceremony on Honors Day, which is April 5, and recognizes outstanding students and faculty. No classes will be held that day. Details about the ceremony will be released at a later date, but the ceremony is traditionally held on the mound at the west side of the Quad. When is graduation? Classes end April 26 and final exams are scheduled for April 29 through May 3. Spring commencement ceremonies will be held May 3-5 at Coleman Coliseum. |
| Auburn University Marching Band wins national Metallica competition | |
 | The Auburn University Marching Band has been rewarded for its innovative Metallica-themed halftime show. The AUMB won the first ever Metallica Marching Band Competition, earning the top spot as well as the fan favorite vote in the college category, to take home $85,000 in prizes such as musical instruments and equipment for school programs. The marching band was one of more than 450 schools to participate in the inaugural contest put on by the legendary metal band. "Back in April, we challenged marching bands across the country to create performances incorporating our music into their shows. The response blew us away," Metallica said in an Instagram post announcing the winners. "Massive thanks to all who brought our music to their marching band programs, and congratulations to all the winners!" Auburn was selected as the winner of the Collegiate Division 1 category, winning the grand prize of $75,000, with an additional $10,000 from being selected as the fan favorite in the college category. Under the direction of Dr. Corey Spurlin, the band put together a Metallica-themed halftime show for the 2023 football season. In order to enter the contest, marching bands had to submit videos of their groups performing one of 13 Metallica songs. |
| Prepare for launch: U. of Florida announces plans for space research institute | |
 | The University of Florida has announced a plan to put more than $2 million toward the launch of a space-related research institute. UF was awarded $130 million in funding from the Florida Legislature in 2023 and President Ben Sasse chose to put most of it toward strategic initiatives that will advance interdisciplinary scholarship and enhance the student experience. The Space Mission Institute will be managed by UF Research and receive $2.5 million of these funds to create a hub where scientists and scholars at UF can conduct research, collaborate and innovate. Programs such as the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, the College of Pharmacy and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, among others, will utilize the hub. "Imagine a hub that brings together experts from across UF to revolutionize the way we approach space travel and exploration," said Sasse in a news release. "The Space Mission Institute will be an incredible resource for UF, and it will help us work closely with the brightest minds of our time to solve some of the world's biggest problems. As the state of Florida's flagship university, UF has an important role to play in this sector." The university said it has over 100 faculty members who conduct space research as well as faculty leaders who are nationally recognized in major National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) fields. |
| How much do U. of Kentucky employees make in 2024? | |
 | The top-paid employees at the University of Kentucky work for UK Athletics, university administration and UK HealthCare, according to the newest available salary information for the university. The 2023-24 salary database, obtained by the Herald-Leader through an open records request, shows the annual salary information for all university employees. Just over 100 employees earn more than $500,000 per year. Nearly 24,900 employees were included in the database. The two top-paid employees are assistant football coaches Liam Coen and Brad White, who earn $1.7 million and $1.5 million respectively. The top-paid university administrators are Provost Robert DiPaola and Eric Monday, executive vice-president for finance and administration. Both are also co-executive vice president for health affairs. DiPaola earns $1.3 million annually, and Monday earns $1.2 million annually. The average salary for UK employees is $74,527. The median salary is $58,400. |
| U. of Missouri System achieves second-highest credit rating from two agencies | |
 | The University of Missouri System has the second-highest credit rating from Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's Global Ratings, according to a news release. Both ratings agencies also said the system has a stable outlook. Moody's cited the system's good revenue diversity and economies of scale in granting the UM System its Aa1 rating. Standard & Poor's cited the system's extremely strong enterprise risk profile, granting a AA+ rating. In giving the rating, S&P said the system is characterized by solid full-time enrollment, healthy retention and above-average student quality. The decisions acknowledge the system's commitment to financial stewardship, said Ryan Rapp, UM System executive vice president for finance and operations, in the news release. "These ratings recognize the hard work of our universities and our health care system," Rapp said. The ratings also were highlighted by Mun Choi, system president. "These strong credit ratings reflect our commitment for stewarding the resources we receive from Missourians to achieve excellence and impact for the state," Choi said. "Our four universities and MU Health Care are thriving and well positioned to continue delivering on our mission of student success, research breakthroughs and meaningful engagement." |
| Wisconsin's Warning for Higher Ed | |
 | Declining enrollments. Changing demographics. Tightening budgets. And, above all, an "evolving student marketplace." All these elements led Jay O. Rothman, president of the University of Wisconsin system, to announce in October that the system was closing one two-year campus and ending in-person instruction at two others. More closures may be on the horizon, as Rothman ordered university leaders to examine the financial viability of the remaining 10 two-year campuses. "It's time for us to realign our branch campuses to current market realities and prepare for the future," Rothman said in a statement that day. "The status quo is not sustainable." Questions about the status quo of higher education are on the minds of college presidents, professors, and politicians nationwide. The demographic cliff is here, forcing consolidations at K-12 schools as the numbers of anticipated high-school graduates, and therefore college students, are set to plateau in just a few short years. The share of high-school graduates who go to college has also dropped, especially in Wisconsin, where the college-participation rate is lower than the U.S. average and in neighboring states. Excluding the flagship in Madison, enrollments at Wisconsin's 12 four-year and 13 two-year public colleges sank from a high of nearly 140,000 students in 2010 to 111,195 in the fall of 2022. A report from last spring predicted that overall enrollment minus the flagship would drop to just over 95,000 by 2030. What's happening in Wisconsin has set off alarm bells about what's to come nationwide. |
| At Florida's only public HBCU, students are wary of political influence on race education | |
| A core mission of Florida A&M University from its founding over a century ago has been to educate African Americans. It was written into the law that established the school along with another college, in Gainesville, reserved for white students. At Florida's only public historically Black university, some students now fear political constraints might get in the way of teaching parts of their history. A law signed last spring by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, blocks public colleges from using taxpayer money on diversity programs. It also forbids instruction of theories that "systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities." The new law, part of broader GOP efforts to rein in campus efforts on equity and inclusion, has spurred protests on campus. Some students say they are watching for signs the new guidance will affect teaching of topics related to race and American history. The university, founded in 1887, hosts about 10,000 students at its campus a few blocks from the state capitol. The new law has made Florida a difficult learning environment for students and faculty of color, said Marybeth Gasman, a Rutgers University historian whose research focuses on historically Black colleges and universities and systemic racism in higher education. "I've talked to some FAMU faculty who have basically told me that they're keeping their head down because they're afraid they're going to lose their jobs," Gasman said. "If I were in Florida, I would probably be concerned as well." |
| Workforce Development, State Funding Among Higher Ed Leaders' Policy Priorities | |
 | As many state legislatures return to session this month, lawmakers are expected to tackle various higher ed issues, including economic and workforce development, college costs, calls for increased funding, and hot-button topics such as diversity, equity and inclusion programs and free speech and hate speech. Policy experts anticipate these key issues will converge in statehouses across the country. "Each state is obviously going to have its own way that these interests converge within the context of their governments and institutions, but most states are going to have similar types of challenges," said Ben Cecil, senior education policy adviser at Third Way, a center-left think tank. A new report released by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association on Jan. 4 confirms such predictions. Its findings, based on a survey of state higher education officials' top policy priorities for the new year, indicate they share many of the same concerns. They identified as their prime concern offering and creating academic programs that address local, regional and statewide economic and workforce development needs. State funding levels and ensuring colleges provide the educational benefits that students pay for and expect were listed as their second and third priorities, respectively. "Governors and legislators are always looking for ways to grow the state's economy," said Tom Harnisch, vice president for government relations at SHEEO and a lead author of the report. "So higher education has a key role in helping them meet the state's economic development needs." |
| The FAFSA rollout has been rough on students. The biggest problem is yet to come | |
 | College hopefuls are already waiting longer than usual for their financial aid offers this year, due to the delayed release of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). But what applicants may not realize is that this year's FAFSA also comes with a big mistake -- one that will lower the amount of federal financial aid many receive unless it's remedied soon. The U.S. Department of Education is wrestling with whether to fix this mistake in time for this year's financial aid applicants. A last-minute FAFSA change of this magnitude could further delay college aid offers, but it would also mean many students would qualify for more help. More than 17 million students are expected to fill out the FAFSA this year, in hopes of getting help paying for college. The form had a shaky, first-week "soft launch." Normally released on Oct. 1, the latest FAFSA was repeatedly delayed, and many applicants have struggled to access or complete the form online since it was intermittently opened to the public, three months late, on Dec. 30. This year's FAFSA is the result of a sweeping (and labor-intensive) update from prior versions of the form that was mandated by Congress three years ago. And lawmakers told the Education Department to use a new, more generous formula to protect more of a family's income from being used to determine financial aid eligibility. They also told the department to adjust its math for inflation. Let's call this one partially checked ... because the department didn't do that last bit, adjusting for inflation – a failure first reported by The Washington Post. |
| A Financial-Aid Form Is Upending College Decisions | |
| Students and families will have to complete the already stressful process of choosing what college to attend under tighter deadlines and greater uncertainty than ever this year. The source of this heightened anxiety is a change by the Education Department intended to speed up and simplify how families qualify for financial aid. Delays rolling out the revamped Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or Fafsa, meant the aid applications, which normally begin in October, couldn't open until late December. Then technical glitches during the soft launch of the online form further exasperated families and schools. In the past, colleges would receive data from the Fafsa days after the application is filed. Information from the new form won't be available to colleges until late January at the earliest, leaving many financial-aid offices unable to assist families until then. Students who applied to college early and have already been accepted by the school of their choice are facing a time crunch: They might not get their full financial-aid packages until March or later, which is after some colleges' early-decision deadlines. Early-decision applicants are generally committed to attend if they are accepted, though can back out if the family can't afford to pay. Early-action applicants, like regular-decision applicants, often have until May to make a decision. "This is the time of year where campuses are usually sending out our preliminary aid offers in order to recruit students to our campus," said Brad Barnett, financial-aid director at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. |
| Congress focuses on China risk at U.S. colleges and universities | |
| Last year ended with a flurry of Congressional reports focused on China's state-sponsored influence and technology transfers at U.S. colleges and universities. Various recommendations made in the reports and pending measures reflect concerns with the Chinese Government's use of open research environments in the United States to circumvent export controls and other national security laws. Accordingly, Congressional proposals seek to limit access to research, expand U.S. Government oversight of partnerships with Chinese research institutions, and increase enforcement efforts. These measures raise the potential for changes that may significantly impact colleges and universities in the new year. Various laws intended to protect national security apply to U.S. colleges and universities. These laws include export controls administered under the Commerce Department's Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the State Department's International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which require licenses for exports, re-exports, and in-country transfers of certain physical items, software, and technology. These laws also include sanctions administered by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and other national security controls, further discussed below, which can restrict the involvement of foreign entities and individuals in research environments. Among other things, these laws prohibit certain transactions and focus on foreign funding, awards, and other means by which foreign interests can influence and control research performed by U.S. colleges and universities. |
SPORTS
| 'It was some lack of mental discipline': Rebounding a point of emphasis for Bulldogs after tough loss | |
| Above all else, Chris Jans' teams are built on toughness, and a big part of that is success on the boards. So after Mississippi State was outrebounded by a smaller South Carolina team in Saturday's 68-62 road loss, the Bulldogs (11-3, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) are stressing physicality on the glass as their schedule difficulty increases this week. "It's talked about a lot daily already, so that was very disappointing," Jans said Monday. "Prior to the game, I wouldn't have thought that would have been the problem. We were trending in the right direction. At the same time, so were (the Gamecocks). ... We were aware of that and tried to get our guys to understand that they were coming." With star post player Tolu Smith back, MSU is at full strength and armed with one of the SEC's strongest and deepest frontcourts, having added Jimmy Bell Jr. in the transfer portal as a reinforcement. But Smith, who dealt with foul trouble all day long against South Carolina and picked up his fifth personal in the final minute, had just four rebounds in 20 minutes, while Bell had none in 19 minutes of action. MSU has regressed to the middle of the pack in the SEC in overall rebounding, and the Bulldogs will need to emphasize crashing the glass heading into home games this week against Tennessee and Alabama, who checked in at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively, in the latest NET rankings. The No. 5 Volunteers (11-3, 1-0) played the 14th-strongest non-conference schedule in the country, picking up big wins over Wisconsin, Syracuse and Illinois. Their three losses came consecutively in late November, all against ranked teams -- Tennessee fell to No. 1 Purdue and then-No. 2 Kansas at the Maui Invitational, then lost on the road to a North Carolina team that has since entered the top 10 in the ACC/SEC Challenge. |
| FBI notified about threats toward CFP members after FSU exclusion | |
| Executive director Bill Hancock said the College Football Playoff has contacted the FBI in response to threats he said were directed at himself, CFP staff members and selection committee members following this year's controversial exclusion of undefeated ACC champion Florida State. Hancock declined to say specifically what the CFP has done to protect committee members and staff, but said it has "taken steps" since Selection Day on Dec. 3. "We've stayed ahead of it," Hancock said following the CFP's annual meeting prior to Monday night's CFP National Championship Presented by AT&T between No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Washington. "We've been in contact with the FBI just to say, 'We got this. We got a threat on my house. We want you to know about it and tell us what should we do about it?' Most of us did." Mississippi State president Mark Keenum, who is the chair of the CFP's board of managers, said he thought the committee got it right. "They don't have to do this, and they followed their process to a 'T,' and I do believe they got it right," said Keenum, who leads the group of 11 presidents and chancellors who control the CFP. "We have the best four teams in the playoff, and as evidenced tonight, we have the best two teams playing for the national championship. "Is there disappointment when your team doesn't make it into the playoff? Absolutely, and I feel for them, but to castigate or criticize or threaten people that were just doing their job, the process and following it, I thought was very unfair." |
| CFP officials in contact with FBI over threats made after Florida State snub | |
| College Football Playoff officials have been in contact with the FBI over threats to its own employees and members of the CFP selection committee over Florida State being left out of the playoff, CFP executive director Bill Hancock said. All CFP selection committee members received "profanity-laced emails and calls" and some received threats on their homes and families, Hancock told reporters Monday from the site of the national championship. Hancock says the CFP is "totally disappointed" at accusations and vitriol from politicians in the state of Florida over FSU's snub, including conspiracy allegations that have stoked the fires. "It's ridiculous," Hancock said. "Every NCAA sports committee receives criticism from the teams left out. I've been doing this for 35 years now. I've seen it and understand it, but this one ... I haven't seen anything like this one." Extra security was assigned to CFP selection members since the final rankings were released, Hancock said. Hancock spoke to reporters in downtown Houston, where CFP leaders -- both conference commissioners and their corresponding presidents -- met for several hours at their annual gathering. They made progress on multiple topics. CFP officials delayed a vote to adopt what's described as a 5+7 expansion playoff model at the behest of the Pac-12. But CFP chair Mark Keenum would be "shocked," he said, if in the next two to three weeks leadership does not approve the move from 6+6 to 5+7 for 2024. |
| CFP committee received death threats after Florida State exclusion, Hancock says | |
| Some College Football Playoff selection committee members and staff members received death threats in the wake of the controversial decision to exclude unbeaten Florida State, executive director Bill Hancock said on Monday. He added that the CFP had been in contact with the FBI and local enforcement agencies. Hancock said those who received threats did so against their homes and offices, and all members of the selection committee received "the disgusting, profanity-laced emails and phone calls." He did not specify what the CFP has done to protect committee members and staff -- or if there were any proactive measures taken -- but said the organization has "taken steps" to protect people since Selection Sunday, on Dec. 3. The bracket for the new 12-team CFP might include five conference champions and seven at-large teams when it debuts next season. But it's not locked in just yet, CFP officials said. "I would be shocked if we do not have a 5+7 format for this coming playoff," said Mississippi State president Mark Keenum, the chair of the CFP board of managers. "I just think out of respect for our colleague and the Pac-12, they asked for a bit more time for us to consider it. We as a board thought that was a reasonable request and granted that." The CFP management committee, made up of the 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, on Nov. 9 voted to approve the recommendation of a move to 5+7. But it needed a unanimous vote from the CFP Board of Managers to go into effect, and Washington State president Kirk Schulz is the Pac-12's representative. He was not prepared to vote yes, Keenum said, instead requesting more time to work through affairs alongside Oregon State leadership. |
| College Football Playoff committee assigned security after involving FBI over Florida State fan threats | |
| Members of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee were assigned security protection over threats from Florida State fans after the undefeated ACC champion Seminoles were left out of the four-team bracket. CFP executive director Bill Hancock explained as much Monday following the an annual meeting held hours before the CFP National Championship. "We are terribly disappointed with the vitriol that has been directed towards the committee and others," Hancock told reporters. "It is ridiculous because the committee are high-integrity people and don't react to any outside influences. It's been terribly disappointing." Hancock said the FBI was notified shortly after the Dec. 2 announcement of the CFP bracket as Florida State loyalists protested being left out in favor of Alabama. Politicians in the state only enflamed matters with rhetoric suggesting a conspiracy against the Seminoles. "Is there disappointment when your team doesn't make it into the playoff? Absolutely," said CFP Board of Managers chairman Mark Keenum, president at Mississippi State. "And I feel for them. But to castigate or criticize or threaten people who are just doing their job ... is very unfair." Hancock said he did not think the threats would dissuade persons from serving on the 13-member committee. |
| College Football Playoff delays tweaking 12-team format to decrease spots reserved for league champs | |
| The College Football Playoff delayed reducing the number of spots reserved for conference champions from six to five in the upcoming 12-team format on Monday, though the change is expected to be in place next season. CFP Board of Managers chairman Mark Keenum, the president of Mississippi State, said the Pac-12 representative, Washington State president Kirk Schulz, requested the delay. Keenum said he expected the board to circle back on the issue in a few weeks. "I'd be shocked if we weren't a 5-7 playoff for this coming football season," Keenum said. For now, the playoff format for the next two years has spots reserved for six conference champions and six at-large selections. The expected change to five spots for champions and seven at-large spots was prompted by a wave of conference realignment and the state of the Pac-12, which will lose 10 of its 12 members to other Power Five leagues this summer. Oregon State and Washington State plan to keep the Pac-12 running as a two-team conference next year as they try to rebuild the league. The Beavers and Cougars have a scheduling agreement with the Mountain West in place for next season. "They're going through some issues legal issues that they're working on right now," Keenum said, without providing details. "They want to get all their issues resolved." Keenum said the CFP hopes to have a new media agreement in place soon. The expanded format for the next two years requires a new deal for the extra four games added to a system that currently includes three playoff games and four of the so-called New Year's Six bowls. |
| Sources: College Football Playoff, ESPN discuss 6-year rights contract | |
| The College Football Playoff and ESPN are in the midst of negotiations to maintain the network as the sole rights holder of the event for the next eight years, sources told ESPN on Monday. The deal would include the final two years on the current CFP contract plus a new six-year agreement for the next iteration of the playoff, sources told ESPN. If ESPN remains the sole rights holder, it would be a significant change from what the 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick had originally wanted, as all had been in agreement that multiple broadcast partners -- a model similar to what the NFL has -- would be best for college football. While nothing has been finalized and negotiations are ongoing, sources indicated that ESPN is considering paying approximately $1.3 billion for the rights to the new six-year deal starting in the 2026 season. ESPN declined to comment. ESPN is the sole rights holder in the current, 12-year contract, which expires following the 2025 season. The CFP will expand from four to 12 teams this fall. CFP executive director Bill Hancock said the organization is no longer in the exclusive negotiating window with ESPN. "I have to say, this is a negotiation, and so I'm not going to be able to tell you much about it," Hancock said. "We're happy with where we are and not quite to the finish line yet." |
The Office of Public Affairs provides the Daily News Digest as a general information resource for Mississippi State University stakeholders.
Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.
