| Friday, January 12, 2024 |
| When can we stop worrying about rising prices? The latest inflation report offers no easy answers | |
 | Tired of thinking about inflation's impact on your wallet? You're not alone. But like it or not, higher prices continue to be an economic and -- with the presidential race -- a political issue as we enter the early months of 2024. The Conversation asked two financial economists, D. Brian Blank at Mississippi State University and Appalachian State University's Brandy Hadley, what they make of the inflation report that dropped on Jan. 11, 2024, and whether there might be a time before too long when we can all stop worrying about increasing costs. |
| MLK Day to feature marches, speakers, service | |
 | Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday recognizing the work of one of the civil rights movement's pivotal leaders and the lessons of service he left behind. Counties in the Golden Triangle will commemorate the occasion with several events including marches and volunteer opportunities. The Oktibbeha County chapter of the NAACP has scheduled a march scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on the end of Washington Street that will culminate at Unity Park on Dr. Douglas L. Connor Drive for a program at 2 p.m. Chapter president Yulanda Haddix told The Dispatch on Thursday that this year's theme is "thriving together through the struggle of justice." Newly-elected tax assessor/collector JoHelen Walker -- the first African American woman to be elected to the post -- is the keynote speaker. Unity Park will add two new honorees, George Washington Chiles and Earnest Henry Jones Jr., for their contributions to advancing civil rights, equality and unity in the county. Since 2018, the Unity Park Committee has honored 12 other citizens, adding their names to the park at Dr. Douglas L. Connor Drive. Mississippi State University will host its annual Breakfast and Day of Service starting at 8 a.m. with the meal and a 9 a.m. program at the Mill at MSU Conference Center on 100 Mercantile Lane. The keynote speaker is MSU alumna Camille Scales Young. |
| Cotton District Arts Festival pushed to spring 2025 | |
| Art lovers will have to wait until April 2025 for the next Cotton District Arts Festival. Earlier this month, the Starkville Area Arts Council announced on social media that the nonprofit will forgo its annual festival celebrating art and music in 2024, in order to return the festival to spring. Starting in 2025, CDAF will be planned annually for the third Saturday in April. SAAC Executive Director Mary Switzer said the arts festival was hosted in the spring until 2021, when concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the festival date to the fall. But after hearing feedback about the fall festivals, both through conversations and surveys, Switzer said the organization's Board of Directors and the CDAF Planning Committee made the "tough decision" to return it to spring. "A lot of people let us know they enjoyed it more in the spring," Switzer said. "We sent out surveys. We talked to people. We talked to vendors. And the majority of people said they preferred the festival in the spring." Committee chair Libbi Bryant Havelin also cited public feedback as the main reason for the festival moving "back where it started." "We all know how hectic fall schedules are, especially in a college town," Havelin wrote to The Dispatch in a text message. "We felt the fact that we couldn't have a set date in the fall really hampered not only our vendors' success, but the overall success of the festival. Having the event in the fall is also very challenging for our already overburdened city services." |
| National Weather Service issues warning of 'bitter cold' across US | |
 | The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a warning that a bitter cold arctic blast will move in across the United States over the weekend, adding to an already stormy January across the country. Arctic temperatures will move in from the West, affecting the northern Rocky Mountains and northern Plains beginning Thursday evening into Friday. The cold temperatures will move south and east through the Plains and Midwest over the weekend, where temperatures could reach daily cold records in the South-central U.S. on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, the NWS predicted. Parts of Texas and the interior Southeast could experience wind chills below zero early next week. Over the weekend, wind chills in the Rockies and northern Plains will be below negative 40 degrees. "This will pose an increased risk of frostbite on exposed skin and hypothermia," the NWS said in an advisory, adding that if people must travel, they should do so with a cold survival kit. The polar vortex air typically stays 15 miles to 30 miles above the Earth, but last week there was a minor disruption increasing the chances for cold air outbreaks, Amy Butler, an atmospheric scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told Nexstar, The Hill's parent company, in a statement. The Southwest Power Pool, which oversees electric reliability in 14 states, has declared multiple advisories for energy operators ahead of the storm, which may bring a "higher than normal risk of outages." |
| Planet's most abnormally cold air to surge into Lower 48 states | |
 | Stunning cold is beginning to crash southward from the Arctic into the Lower 48 states. It could break hundreds of records this weekend into early next week. The bitter cold will arrive in the wake of another blockbuster storm sweeping the nation. The Arctic blast will produce the planet's biggest negative temperature anomalies over parts of the western and central United States, in some places up to 60 degrees below normal. It will make for icy NFL playoff games in Kansas City and Buffalo this weekend and frigid Iowa caucuses Monday, and could test the Texas power grid. On Friday morning, the cold had already begun to invade large parts of the western and central United States. It is poised to turn even more frigid over the weekend. Many major population centers will endure at least two to three days of severe cold, with temperatures at least 30 degrees below normal and dangerously low wind chills, between the weekend and early next week. "We call it 'life-threatening' for a reason," wrote the Weather Service office serving St. Louis on X, formerly Twitter. "Temperatures of this magnitude will cause harm if caught outdoors unprepared. Take it seriously. This kind of cold does not happen very often." This cold air outbreak is coming off a very mild start to winter, so it will come as a shock. Much of the northern contiguous United States has observed temperatures about five to 10 degrees above average since Dec. 1. |
| Has Entergy learned lessons from past major storms? Company braces for arctic weather | |
 | In June 2023, Entergy CEO Haley Fisackerly said issues that left hundreds of thousands of Mississippians without power after a string of storms ripped through Mississippi presented lessons to be learned. Many of those lessons could be put to the test this week as the National Weather Service is forecasting arctic temperatures and the potential of wintry weather, such as ice, sleet and even snow beginning Monday and lasting through Tuesday. Any ice or snow could put power lines in peril and test Entergy's response to the situation. Newly elected Central District Public Service Commissioner De'Keither Stamps said his office has already been in touch with "multiple public utilities" about the impacts of a winter storm early in the week. He said the drought Mississippi has suffered through the past several months could be the biggest underlying factor if snow and ice begin to accumulate. "All of these trees that you see that are brown and are dying or are already dead, those are the ones that could come down first if we get any ice. People just haven't had the time across the state to deal with that just yet," Stamps said. "And that is something that Entergy and the other utilities don't have a lot of control. If it is in the right-of-way, they generally maintain it, but dead or dying trees on private property are everywhere and Entergy can't make folks cut the trees." |
| Transportation officials prepared to keep commuters safe during upcoming cold snap | |
| Officials with the Mississippi Department of Transportation are gearing up for a cold snap expected to hit the state early next week. Forecasts from the National Weather Service predict hard freezes with morning lows in the single-digits in portions of north Mississippi and daytime highs in the 30s with precipitation ranging from snow to freezing rain. Those in the central and southern portions of the state are predicted to experience low temperatures in the teens, posing the risk of frozen-over or icy roads. In response to the forecasts, MDOT crews have prepared equipment by installing salt spreaders on trucks and making sure all response vehicles are fueled and running properly. Crews have stockpiled salt, sand, and asphalt slag piles. "MDOT workers are standing by, closely monitoring the weather updates from the National Weather Service, and are ready to respond to treat roadways to keep motorists as safe as possible during this winter weather event," MDOT Executive Director Brad White said. Crews north of U.S. 82 plan to begin pre-treating roadways starting Saturday. If the roads are already wet, granular salt can be applied to help prevent the formation of ice by lowering the freezing point of water. Sand and slag can also be spread to help improve traction in slushy conditions. |
| Senate announces committee picks Thursday | |
| After a tree dedication ceremony honoring former House Speaker Philip Gunn, lawmakers in the Mississippi Senate met to announce which legislators will serve as chairs for committees, as well as who would serve on them. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, who is also the president of the Senate, told lawmakers he and his staff had worked long to choose who would head up the 41 committees, and who would better serve on what boards. "We have spent hundreds of hours working on these assignments," Hosemann said. "My decision in these appointments is to place Senators in the best position to serve the State of Mississippi and the citizens who sent us here; secondly, where they are best positioned to serve the Mississippi Senate, and finally, to honor each Senator's committee preferences where it was feasible to do so. We have a great team, and I'm ready to get to work on the challenges and opportunities awaiting us this term." Legislators are chosen for committees based on a number of factors, including experience, preference and the Senate president's judgment, according to Senate rules. |
| Mississippi Senate Committee Chairmen Named | |
| Moving into the next term, a few chairmanships will change in the Mississippi Senate, but the leaders of big committees such as Appropriations, Education and Medicaid will remain the same as they were for the previous four years. "We have spent hundreds of hours working on these assignments," Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann said in a statement. Hosemann is the appointing authority for committees in the Mississippi Senate as the President of the chamber. Hosemann, a Republican, named 10 Democrats as chairmen of the 41 Senate committees. In 2020, Hosemann appointed 13 Democrats to chairmanships in the chamber's then 43 committees. Of note, Senator Briggs Hopson (R) continues as Appropriations chairman while Senator Juan Barnett (D) stays on as chairman of Corrections. Senator Dennis DeBar (R) retains his chairmanship of Education while Senator David Blount (D) is over Gaming. The new Government Structure Committee established this session is being chaired by Senator Chris Johnson (R). |
| New chairman in Mississippi Senate will shape proposals to revive an initiative process | |
 | A new committee leader in the Mississippi Senate will influence whether the state revives a way for people to circulate petitions to put issues on the statewide ballot. Republican David Parker of Olive Branch was appointed Thursday as chairman of the Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency Committee. He replaces Republican John Polk of Hattiesburg in that role. Moments after Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann announced senators' committee assignments for the four-year term, Parker told The Associated Press that he will start thinking about proposals to create a new initiative process. Although Parker did not mention putting restrictions on campaign spending to collect signatures on petitions, he said: "I don't like when people outside of Mississippi come into Mississippi and try to change the way we think." Mississippi had an initiative process for decades until the state Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that the process was no longer valid because it required people to gather an equal number of signatures from outdated congressional districts. During the 2022 and 2023 legislative sessions, the House and Senate disagreed on details for a new initiative process, so the issue remains unresolved. The change in the Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency Committee chairmanship was one of a few that Hosemann made in Senate leadership positions. |
| Hosemann makes Senate committee assignments, keeping most of his leadership team intact | |
| Most of the key chairs from the past four years will remain in place under the committee assignments announced Thursday by Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann. Hosemann had his committee assignments read to the members, as is the custom, Thursday before the Senate adjourned for the weekend. Republican Briggs Hopson of Vicksburg will remain as Appropriations chair, and Republican Josh Harkins of Flowood will continue as Finance chair, two powerful committees with jurisdiction over budget and tax policy. Despite criticism from former state Sen. Chris McDaniel, who unsuccessfully challenged him in last year's Republican primary election, Hosemann, as is the custom of past Republican lieutenant governors, continued to appoint some Democratic committee chairs -- most notably Hob Bryan of Amory as the influential Public Health chair. Bryan, the longest-serving state senator in the chamber, told Mississippi Today that he had not thoroughly analyzed the full list of committee chairs, but he believed Hosemann appointed qualified people to lead the committees. "I have great confidence in the presiding officer of the Senate," Bryan said of Hosemann. Jennifer Branning, R-Philadelphia, who maintained her post as chair of the Transportation Committee, said, "Certainly diversity is not a bad thing. I do think the lieutenant governor recognizes the talent in this chamber. He has made a good effort to capitalize on the talent we have here." |
| Gov. Tate Reeves orders Mississippi flags flown at half-staff in honor of fallen deputy | |
 | Flags across Mississippi are flying at half-staff today as the state honors George County Deputy Jeremy Malone. Malone was shot and killed Jan. 4 after he pulled over Rickey Labaron Powell for a tag violation. According to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the shooting happened around 5:15 p.m. in the parking of a Dollar General store on Mississippi 98, near the intersection of Brushy Creek Road in the Rocky Creek community. Malone was shot as he approached the vehicle. Malone had just gone on duty about 45 minutes before his killing, newly-elected Sheriff Mitchell Mixon said last Friday. The sheriff never thought for a minute that would be the last time he saw Malone alive. "We were looking forward to working together," Mixon said. "He was excited. He just loved law enforcement. Other than his wife and three daughters, this would be the next love he had." Flags across the state will fly at half-staff until sunset Friday, under an order from Gov. Tate Reeves. |
| Lack of resources prevents Mississippi from participation in Summer EBT program | |
| Mississippi is one of 15 states that will not participate in the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program that was made permanent by the federal government. According to representatives from the Mississippi Department of Human Services, the state is not able to adequately implement the program this year due to a lack of resources. MDHS said in a statement: "After conferring with the Mississippi Department of Education, both MDE and Mississippi Department of Human Services lack the resources, including workforce capacity and funding to support a Summer EBT Program." This was also confirmed by a representative from MDE. Initially, Democratic Congressman Bennie Thompson attempted to target Governor Tate Reeves (R) as the one who opted out of the program. "Shame on Tate Reeves for refusing essential food assistance for eligible children during the summer," said Thompson in a release. However, confirmation from MDHS and MDE indicate that a lack of resources and funding to draw down the federal dollars were the issue for the Magnolia State. "Mississippi already has longstanding programs in place that help feed children during summer months. It's disingenuous for Representative Thompson to insinuate that children won't get the support they need by not participating in something that was originally intended to be a temporary pandemic-era program," said Shelby Wilcher from the Governor's office. |
| Mississippi opts out of federal summer food program, Reeves cites opposition to 'welfare state' expansion | |
| Gov. Tate Reeves' office says Mississippi won't participate in a federal summer food program for children because of his desire to reject "attempts to expand the welfare state." But officials at the state's welfare agency that Reeves oversees, which participated in a similar federal program earlier in the pandemic, offered a different reason for opting out of the program: a lack of state resources to administer it. The Summer EBT program would provide the families of students who receive free or reduced lunch during the school year with electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that can be used to purchase groceries in the summer. For each eligible child, families would receive $40 per month for a total of $120. "Both (the Mississippi Department of Education) and (the Mississippi Department of Human Services) lack the resources, including workforce capacity and funding, to support a Summer EBT Program," said Mark Jones, a DHS spokesperson. Republican governors in some other states have also said they chose not to participate in the program because of their opposition to expanding federal benefits, according to Chalkbeat. The Mississippi Department of Education said it would continue to administer the Summer Food Service Program, which serves meals on-site in low-income communities. |
| New Biden Admin. rule could cut faith-based foster care providers out of helping children | |
| Thousands of Christian families across the nation open their homes freely to help serve children in the foster care system. Yet, even as the system struggles to serve upwards of 600,000 children annually, new rules for foster care providers could cut those Christian families out of helping over what a group of Republican U.S. Senators are calling "the Biden administration's radical transgender agenda." Six U.S. Senators recently signed a detailed letter asking Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to immediately rescind an Administration for Children and Families (ACF) proposed rule that could force foster care agencies and families to exit the foster care system if they do not comply. The rule, titled Safe and Appropriate Foster Care Placement Requirements for Titles IV-E and IV-B (88 Fed. Reg. 66752), aims to force foster care providers to affirm a child's sexual orientation as deemed by the child, instead of their biological sex, as well as refer to the child by a name other than their given name or his or her biologically correct pronouns. If the providers do not comply, they will no longer be eligible to offer their foster care services to children, according to the proposed ACF rule. Specifically, the rule would require foster care providers to "utilize the child's identified pronouns, chosen name, and allow the child to dress in an age-appropriate manner that the child believes reflects their self-identified gender identity and expression." Mississippi's junior Senator, Cindy Hyde-Smith, is among the group of Republican lawmakers challenging the rule. Joining the six Senators in opposing this new HHS rule is 19 Attorneys General from the across the nation, including Mississippi's Lynn Fitch. |
| House Republicans shy away from Trump and Rep. Elise Stefanik's use of term 'Jan. 6 hostages' | |
 | Former President Donald Trump's controversial and provocative claim that Jan. 6 Capitol riot defendants are "hostages" has been echoed by some -- but only some -- of his Republican allies in Congress. In a series of interviews conducted by CBS News, Trump's congressional supporters, including some who have endorsed his 2024 White House candidacy, largely declined to endorse Trump's use of the word "hostages." In campaign stump speeches over the past month, Trump has argued the defendants who are imprisoned for their roles in the attack on the U.S. Capitol are "hostages," and he has openly talked about offering pardons for the defendants. GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, who oversees House Republican messaging as the House GOP conference chairwoman, also used the term "hostages" when describing Capitol riot defendants during an appearance on "Meet the Press" earlier this month. When pressed by CBS News about whether they, too, would characterize Jan. 6 defendants as "hostages," after Trump and Stefanik did, several House Republicans declined to use the term. Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, a former chair of the House select Jan. 6 committee, said Trump's use of the term is dangerous and could provoke future attacks. He told CBS News, "I spent two years of my life looking at (the Capitol attack) and there's nothing about this that resembles a hostage situation. It was an insurrection, as close to a terrorist attack on the United States Capitol as possible. To equate these individuals with hostages is clearly way out of bounds. Those people just need to quit it. It'll say to some sick people that it's all right to attack your government." |
| Rule adopted on do-over vote after GOP rebels meet with speaker | |
 | Rebellious House conservatives allowed the leadership's floor agenda to get back on track Thursday after they buttonholed Speaker Mike Johnson to try to get him to renegotiate the bipartisan spending deal to seek deeper cuts. One day after members of the Freedom Caucus and other conservatives derailed unrelated legislation on the House floor in a protest vote, Johnson met in his office for more than 90 minutes with key lawmakers from his party's right flank in an effort to broker a compromise. While the speaker said he didn't make any commitments, the GOP holdouts were at least happy enough with what they heard to flip their votes to "yea" on the same rule Thursday. "We're having thoughtful conversations about funding options and priorities," the Louisiana Republican told reporters after the meeting. "While those conversations are going on, I've made no commitments. So if you hear otherwise it's simply not true." The rule governing debate on two Congressional Review Act resolutions that would kill regulations from the National Labor Relations Board and Federal Highway Administration, as well as a bill related to government payments into settlement agreements, was adopted on a 211-202 vote. Only Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., voted "no," while Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, switched his vote to "present." On Wednesday, a dozen GOP lawmakers voted against the rule, out of anger over Johnson's spending deal and lack of movement on border restrictions. But the new talks threatened to upend a hard-fought agreement and derail final appropriations for the fiscal year that began last October. |
| U.S. military launches strikes on Houthis in Yemen, a major escalation in Middle East conflict | |
 | U.S. warplanes, ships and submarines along with British fighters attacked sites in Yemen Thursday associated with Iranian-backed Houthi rebels who have been firing dozens of drones and missiles into Red Sea shipping lanes. The strikes represent a significant escalation of the U.S. involvement in Middle East fighting amid Israel's war in Gaza. They followed the 27th Houthi attack since late November earlier Thursday. In recent weeks, the Pentagon has also attacked Iranian-backed militants in Iraq and Syria who have targeted U.S. troops there with rocket attacks. "Today, at my direction, U.S. military forces -- together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands -- successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world's most vital waterways," President Joe Biden said late Thursday. The president said the response of the international community to the Houthi attacks has been "united and resolute." The Biden administration has sought to contain fighting in the Middle East to Gaza, but Iranian-backed groups throughout the region have increased their attacks. The Houthis say their assaults are aimed at stopping Israel's war on Hamas. But their targets increasingly have little or no connection to Israel and lie in the thick of major commercial trade routes linking Asia and the Middle East with Europe. |
| Trump's latest about-face: He now says 2020 election was 'long over' | |
 | In the months after the 2020 election, Donald Trump leaned on his campaign to launch ad blitzes and legal challenges to the results, insisting to his supporters that the election was " a long way from over." He even told state and federal courts he was suing in his capacity as a political candidate. Now, in a bid to derail criminal charges, he's saying the opposite. At least six times in the past two weeks, Trump has declared that the election was " long over" by the time he began pushing state officials and then-Vice President Mike Pence to overturn his defeat. It's a new piece of rhetoric that's meant to bolster Trump's assertion of "presidential immunity" from his criminal charges for interfering with the transfer of power. He wasn't a candidate anymore, Trump's new theory goes, so he must have been doing his job as president to ensure elections are fair. But there's a problem: It flies in the face of the legal arguments Trump made three years ago, during his frenetic push to subvert the election results. Even after the votes had been counted and certified, Trump filed lawsuits contesting the results -- and he claimed he was doing so not as the outgoing president, but as a candidate. It's even what he told the Supreme Court in a Dec. 9, 2020 brief filed by his lawyer at the time, John Eastman. "He seeks to intervene in this matter in his personal capacity as a candidate for reelection," Eastman wrote. The contradiction could cause headaches for Trump and his current lawyers. |
| Trump's Hold on Rural America Is Key to His Resilience | |
 | Republican voters in Hancock County largely rejected Donald Trump eight years ago, giving him less than a fifth of the vote in the GOP caucuses. As recently as a year ago, some party faithful here and elsewhere in Iowa seemed eager to move on, saying they were tired of the former president's chaos and liabilities. Now Trump appears poised to win this county Monday and claim victory in Iowa's caucuses, powered largely by his overwhelming support among rural voters who see him as the best candidate to advance a populist conservative agenda. That pattern has played out in similar places across the country, helping explain why Trump has a hold over the Republican Party and is the nomination front-runner. Trump arrives at the caucuses that kick off 2024 nominating contests with baggage that would likely stop any other politician. He faces 91 criminal charges related to everything from his handling of classified documents to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. He has used language that echoes Adolf Hitler. And he led his party to election losses in 2018, 2020 and 2022. In Hancock County, none of that matters to many GOP voters. The fact that so many damning allegations against Trump have been aired is a strength, they say, because it suggests he's unlikely to be derailed by a new tarnishing revelation. Many GOP voters here think Trump is most likely to achieve their ultimate goal -- defeating President Biden -- because he is a proven commodity and ties or beats the incumbent in general election polls. |
| State lawmaker believes MUW should consider other options for name change | |
| By now you may have heard that the Mississippi University for Women is considering a name change. Mississippi Brightwell University was the proposed change of name. However, that proposal is coming with mixed reviews. "I think it would be incumbent on the staff, and the president to kind of take a pause, pivot, and really assess if this is what they want the name to be," said State Representative Kabir Karriem. Representative Karriem said alumni from all across the country are reaching out to him about the Mississippi University for Women wanting to change its name. University leaders made the announcement Monday, an announcement Karriem said some are for and others are against."It's an array of, range from the meaning of Brightwell, to they want a name that has reference to what the institution is, 'The W,' University for Women," said Karriem. Karriem's District is in Lowndes County, which is where MUW is located. The lawmaker said he supports a name change, just not the current name being proposed. "It's very important that we take the feedback from the alumnus and the legislators so we all can feel great about 'The W' and this great institution," said Karriem. "We're just looking to see what the possibilities are." |
| Mississippi University for Women puts pause on name change | |
 | WCBI News learned that Mississippi University for Women may have hit the pause button on the university name change. President Nora Miller announced the proposed change Monday at the Spring Convocation on the campus of MUW. After months of surveys and focus groups, the new name was revealed as Mississippi Brightwell University. There was immediate debate online and in communities with strong ties to the W. The newly proposed name change dropped "women" from the title and eliminated the "W" as the nickname. Pushback against the new name was swift and came from multiple generations of alumni. Some alums were against any name change. Others just did not understand the connection that the proposed name might have to the historic university. To change the name of the university, a lawmaker would have to present a bill in the state legislature. That bill would then have to be approved by lawmakers and signed into law. The Columbus area delegation seemed willing to help change the name but wanted more options. "I think it will be incumbent on the staff, the president, to take a pause, pivot, and really assess if this is really what the name is to be, Brightwell University. I think it might be time for us to change the name. And I am in support of a name change. I just think Brightwell, with all the debate and robust conversation, might not be the name at this particular time," said Representative Kabir Karriem, (D) District 41. |
| W President: Brightwell name could change | |
| Mississippi University for Women may well get a new name this summer, but not even university president Nora Miller is certain anymore what it will be. Miller told The Dispatch on Thursday she still supports the proposed Mississippi Brightwell University moniker, but she "wouldn't rule out" that changing by the time a bill is filed with the legislature. The legislature must approve a name change for MUW. If it happens this session, the new name would take effect July 1. "We are definitely resolved to change the name," Miller said. "We're fortunate with this being a 120-day session. It gives us a little bit of time before the bill has to drop." Sen. Chuck Younger, R-Lowndes County who represents District 17, plans to sponsor the bill in his chamber to change the university's name. He told The Dispatch on Wednesday he fully supports the name change, but that Mississippi Brightwell University was not set in stone as the new name. Speaking to The Dispatch on Thursday, Younger said he was "not at liberty to say" if or how the university's administration would recommend a different name. "Personally, I would like to see something that starts with a 'W' so we can still call it the W, but we're just going to have to wait and see," he said Thursday. |
| High school students interested in healthcare invited to free, in-person event at UMMC | |
| The University of Mississippi Medical Center is inviting high school juniors and seniors interested in healthcare careers to save the date for an outreach program called Exploring Health Care Pathways. The free event will be held in the School of Medicine on the UMMC campus from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on February 24. It offers 11th and 12th graders across Mississippi the opportunity to learn more about healthcare professions from faculty, staff, and students representing UMMC's various health science schools. They will also discuss Information about admission requirements, educational background for each program, and funding opportunities. Exploring Health Care Pathways is the creation of the Office of Admissions and the Improving Primary Care for the Rural Community through Medical Education (IMPACT the RACE) Program at UMMC. |
| USM to host 18th MLK prayer breakfast/scholarship awards Jan. 15 | |
 | The birthday of Dr. Martin Luther, King Jr. will be celebrated with an annual event at the University of Southern Mississippi. The 18th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast and Scholarship Awards Program will be held at 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 15 at USM's Thad Cochran Center. The event is hosted by the Mu Gamma Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. As part of the program, scholarships will be awarded to 10 outstanding high school students and several community leaders will be recognized. The event is free. "We want to recognize the significance of (Dr. King's) leadership and his life for what he did in reference to civic service and call to humanity and especially around the efforts to unify this great America," said event chairman Eddie Holloway. The prayer breakfast and awards program starts at 7:30 a.m. |
| Mississippi Dept. of Education outlines 'Marathon Achievement' in State Superintendent's report | |
| The Mississippi Department of Education is touting the many educational achievements recorded in the Magnolia State over the past decade in its Annual State Superintendent's Report for 2023, outlining the state's "Marathon Achievement." "Mississippi has so much to be proud of regarding the success of our public schools," said Interim Superintendent Dr. Ray Morgigno. The report shows assessment scores for the prior school year were at a record high of 52.6 percent of students scoring proficient in math, 46.7 percent doing so in English, 59.4 percent scoring proficient in science, and 71.4 percent reaching that mark in U.S. History. Third grade initial passing rates in reading also saw an increase to a record-setting 76.3 percent. The state education department reports that more high schoolers are earning their diploma, as the graduation rate increased to 88.9 percent -- an all-time high. However, the dropout rate did inch up a half of a percentage point to 9 percent. State Senator Angela Hill (R) said she is glad the legislation she worked on a decade ago is showing results. "With the input of my sister, who taught many years in both regular education and exceptional education, we crafted a good common sense Third Grade Literacy Based Promotion Act that was based on the science of reading, the way the brain processes information into long term memory, and other best practices," Senator Hill told Magnolia Tribune. "We looked at other model bills across the country and incorporated what we believed to be the necessary components for success in Mississippi." Hill said former Florida Governor Jeb Bush was instrumental in getting the bill adopted in Mississippi. |
| U. of South Carolina plans to remove 200,000 books from its campus library | |
 | Thousands of books could soon disappear from the shelves of Thomas Cooper Library at the University of South Carolina. Part of a "materials project," university librarians will embark to remove some 200,000 books in the coming months and years. The goal is to free up space in the library or to get rid of materials that are in poor condition or do not serve USC's research and teaching mission, according to the university. "Increasingly fewer patrons have been browsing our stacks, and circulation of our print collections has declined dramatically," the project's web page reads. "With growing enrollments, we need more space for students, for classrooms, and for other academic support initiatives." While it plans to remove the books over the next several years, the university will start withdrawing some "low-use" materials in February, according to an email obtained by The State. These materials represent about 25% of items held onsite, and are "demonstrably" not serving the USC community, the university claims. Some of the books will be transferred to the custody of other university departments; others will be moved into storage. But those that have been damaged will be recycled, said university spokesman Jeff Stensland. "Libraries routinely rotate out books that are damaged or that haven't been checked out in a very long time, some of which will go to a storage annex," Stensland said. |
| Texas A&M partners with U.S. Space Force | |
 | The United States Space Force has partnered with Texas A&M University to lead its Space Strategic Technical Institute for In-Space Operations (SSTI-ISO), according to a university press release. The $37.6 million, five-year project will be run by Texas A&M but will also include collaboration from over 50 students and researchers across several other universities. The project hopes to combine the expertise of faculty, students and laboratories to develop new technologies for in-space defense, according to the university. The other universities involved in the project include the University of Southern California, the University of Texas at Austin, Purdue University, Carnegie-Mellon University, the University of New Mexico, the University of Texas at El Paso, Prairie View A&M University and the Southwest Research Institute. |
| Oklahoma is the latest state to target DEI programs. What's next? | |
| Standing behind a lectern emblazoned with the words, "Defunding Discrimination," Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed an executive order intent on "eliminating and dismissing" diversity, equity and inclusion programs in state offices and agencies, which would include public colleges. The Republican governor said it was a move to "take politics out of education" and end "six-figure salaries to DEI staff." Instead, the governor said educational institutions across the state should widen their focus on getting students college and career ready. Oklahoma has now joined other states, like Florida and Texas, that have moved to limit DEI programming in higher education institutions. Proponents of DEI say courses and trainings have a crucial role in fostering understanding and inclusivity in academic and work settings. "People are tired of talking about things that divide us," Stitt said after he signed the order in December. "Let's just help our kids. Don't worry about what they look like or how they identify. Let's just help kids get ready for the workforce." The wider ramifications of dismantling DEI programs in Oklahoma and other states have not been felt yet, said Paulette Granberry Russell, the president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education. But she fears it will only affect the level of services offered to students from nontraditional backgrounds. |
| U. of Missouri's new campus safety app lets students report to first responders | |
 | Mizzou Safe is a new campus safety app for smartphones. It has safety features including location sharing, push notifications, real-time reporting and text-to-911. Mizzou Safe is available as a free download in the Apple App and Google Play stores. It's powered by AppArmor, A Rave Mobile Safety company. It's used at university campuses around the country, to facilitate reliable communication between students and first responders during emergencies. Campus officials have started a communications rollout to ensure students, faculty, staff and others on campus are familiar with the app's capabilities. The choice of the app was the result of collaboration among stakeholders, said interim Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Angela Taylor in a news release. It will help students feel more secure, said Miyah Jones, president of the Missouri Students Association. "As a student and student leader, I'm so happy to see university departments continuing to work in partnership to promote safety on our campus," Jones said. "It shows Mizzou cares about our security and is eager to provide added safety." University students, employees and alumni are encouraged to download the tool to report non-emergency incidents, make emergency calls or texts to 9-1-1, receive MU Alerts, virtually walk home with a friend and access campus resources or safety plans. |
| Students Protested the Police. The University Called the Cops. Faculty Members Want Answers. | |
 | When Emory University students started protesting on a Monday afternoon last April, the scene was calm. Their activism targeted a police-training facility planned for construction in an urban forest a few miles outside of downtown Atlanta. On Emory's quad, a couple hundred students filtered in and out throughout the day; they sat in the grass, sang songs, and dyed shirts. Several faculty members who stopped by described it as "kumbaya." Then some of the students decided to camp out overnight. Tensions between students and administrators escalated. In the early morning hours, nearly a dozen Atlanta police officers showed up, and the students were threatened with arrest. Administrators said they shut down the event over concerns about campus safety. Students said calling in Atlanta police officers made them feel unsafe -- especially because the protest was about the Atlanta police. In the months since, Emory faculty members have gotten involved, saying the incident exposed flaws in the university's protocol for handling protests. They weren't satisfied with the progress of the official investigation into administrators' actions. So this fall, they started their own. The professors' investigation -- conducted by the Faculty Senate for Emory's College of Arts and Sciences -- has led to a proposed motion of no confidence in the dean of campus life, and demands that administrators apologize and vow never again to call the Atlanta police to a nonviolent demonstration. Emory's leaders have told the faculty to stand down and let the university inquiry run its course. That review will be done soon, according to the professor leading it. |
| UVa's Alderman Library reopens after 3-year, $141M renovation | |
| The University of Virginia's main library reopened its doors on Monday after a three-year, $141 million renovation. The name, however, is still under construction. "Our dean, most of the library staff and a lot of UVa staff are really hoping for a new name," UVa Library spokeswoman Elyse Girard told The Daily Progress. Alderman Library is named after the university's first president, Edwin Alderman who served as the university's chief executive from 1905 to 1931. The Alderman name has come under scrutiny in recent years, however, due to his involvement with the eugenics, a movement devoted to improving the human species through the control of hereditary factors. Alderman led the charge to transform UVa into a "leading eugenics research center," according to a 2018 university report on the school's history of racism. A committee made up of library staff was formed in 2019 to look into Alderman's connections to eugenics. "Based on what we learned from that we thought that considering a new name to go along with this building would be the best," said Girard. Girard and others in the UVa community are hoping to see the library's name changed to Shannon Library, in honor of UVa's fourth president, Edgar Shannon. Shannon served during a politically tumultuous time in the university's, and country's, history. During his tenure from 1959 to 1974, Shannon admitted the first female undergraduates in 1970, pushed to increase Black admissions and endorsed a student-led protest against the Vietnam War. |
| Jewish Students Say Harvard Has Enabled Antisemitism on Campus | |
| A group of Jewish students sued Harvard University, saying it allowed the school to become a bastion of antisemitism. The six students said in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Massachusetts federal court that they felt unsafe on campus because Harvard didn't punish antisemitic student protesters and faculty members. Harvard has been embroiled in controversy since the Israel-Hamas war began in October. Pro-Palestinian students have repeatedly protested on the Cambridge, Mass., campus. Its former president, Claudine Gay, drew criticism for initially failing to condemn Hamas after its attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and later resigned in part over the furor. The students' lawsuit said Harvard has allowed students to carry out antisemitic protests and let professors intimidate students who object to antisemitism in the classroom. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Alexander Kestenbaum, a master's student in the divinity school, and five unnamed students in the law and public health schools. The lawsuit said Harvard violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars programs that receive federal funding -- including Harvard -- from discriminating on the basis of race, color or national origin. They also said the school wasn't enforcing its own nondiscrimination policy. "What is most striking about all of this is Harvard's abject failure and refusal to lift a finger to stop and deter this outrageous antisemitic conduct," the lawsuit said. |
| Some Americans will get their student loans canceled in February as Biden accelerates his new plan | |
| The Biden administration will start canceling student loans for some borrowers starting in February as part of a new repayment plan that's taking effect nearly six months ahead of schedule. Loan cancellation was originally set to begin in July under the new SAVE repayment plan, but it's being accelerated to provide faster relief to borrowers, President Joe Biden said Friday. It's part of an effort "to act as quickly as possible to give more borrowers breathing room" and move on from their student debt, the Democratic president said in a statement. Borrowers will be eligible for cancellation if they are enrolled in the new SAVE plan, if they originally borrowed $12,000 or less to attend college, and if they have made at least 10 years of payments. The Education Department said it didn't immediately know how many borrowers will be eligible for cancellation in February. Biden announced the new repayment plan last year alongside a separate plan to cancel up to $20,000 in loans for millions of Americans. The Supreme Court struck down his plan for widespread forgiveness, but the repayment plan has so far escaped that level of legal scrutiny. Republicans in Congress tried unsuccessfully to block the new repayment plan through legislation and a resolution last year. The new plan offers far more generous terms than several other income-driven repayment plans that it's meant to replace. |
SPORTS
| Jessika Carter's big night leads Mississippi State women's basketball to win vs Arkansas | |
 | Mississippi State women's basketball waited longer than it hoped to get its first SEC win, but it finally came Thursday with a 66-63 victory at Arkansas. The secret for coach Sam Purcell? Get center Jessika Carter going. Carter recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 22 points and 19 rebounds. During Purcell's two-season tenure, MSU is 17-0 when Carter records a double-double. She capped her night with a block on a crucial possession with six seconds left and MSU up by two. Fellow All-SEC candidate Jerkaila Jordan did her part in getting Mississippi State (14-4, 1-2 SEC) in the win column after a two-game skid. Despite playing on a bad ankle, Jordan scored 17 points to go along with five rebounds, three steals and two blocks. In three conference games, she's averaging 21 points per game. Arkansas (13-5, 1-2) was without guard Taliah Scott, who leads the conference with 22.3 points per game. In her first game against the Razorbacks since transferring from Arkansas to Mississippi State in the offseason, Erynn Barnum had four points. She had a team-best plus/minus of plus-13. |
| Women's Basketball: Jessika Carter's legacy game carries Bulldogs past Arkansas for first SEC win | |
| Jessika Carter had not been herself through Mississippi State's first two games in Southeastern Conference play. The Bulldogs' veteran center was held to a combined 14 points in losses to Vanderbilt and South Carolina, and with Erynn Barnum also struggling, MSU's post presence was in dire need of improvement heading into Thursday night's road test against Arkansas. Up against the SEC's leading rebounder in Saylor Poffenbarger, Carter did everything the Bulldogs asked of her and more, tallying 22 points and 19 boards to help MSU withstand a furious Razorbacks rally and grab a 66-63 victory. With the Bulldogs (14-4, 1-2 SEC) leading by two in the closing seconds, Carter blocked Samara Spencer's layup on a drive to the basket, and as Spencer fell to the floor, the ball deflected off the Razorbacks' guard and out of bounds, securing MSU's first conference win of the season. Carter and Barnum -- who was returning to face her former team for the first time after spending four years at Arkansas -- each had four points as the Bulldogs opened the game on a 10-0 run and scored 14 of their 16 first-quarter points in the paint. The Bulldogs return to Humphrey Coliseum on Sunday to host rival Ole Miss for a 4 p.m. tip. |
| Miss. State stymies Arkansas' late rally | |
| Mississippi State held off a second-half rally from the University of Arkansas women's basketball team and survived with a 66-63 victory Thursday night at Walton Arena. After falling behind 34-22 at halftime, the Razorbacks (13-5, 1-2 SEC) rallied to take the lead twice in the fourth quarter but could not maintain the advantage. Mississippi State closed the game's final 2:31 by outscoring Arkansas 7-2, helped by five points from star center Jessika Carter during the sequence. Carter finished with 22 points and 19 rebounds, both which were game highs. Mississippi State (14-4, 1-2 SEC), which has been ranked as high as No. 21 by The Associated Press this season, secured its first win in conference play. The Bulldogs lost to Vanderbilt and at top-ranked South Carolina to open their SEC slate. Mississippi State took a 10-0 lead less than five minutes into the game and forced the Razorbacks to take a timeout. Arkansas missed its first six shots, five of which came from beyond the arc. It was a return to Walton Arena for Mississippi State forward Erynn Barnum. The former Little Rock Central standout played for Arkansas from 2018-23 and was a second-team All-SEC selection with the Razorbacks last season. Barnum scored 4 points on 2-of-10 shooting in 21 minutes. |
| What Wednesday night's win over No. 5 Tennessee means for Chris Jans, Mississippi State | |
| Over the last month-plus, Chris Jans has not shied away from talking about that unshakable blemish on Mississippi State's resume. The Bulldogs' second-year head coach knew the loss to Southern on Dec. 3 would not define their season, but he was also fully aware that his team would need to win an extra game or two in Southeastern Conference play where advanced metrics would not favor MSU. Wednesday night's 77-72 triumph over No. 5 Tennessee was an enormous step in that direction, representing Jans' biggest victory since he arrived in Starkville. The Bulldogs took down the Volunteers with defense and physicality, combined with just enough outside shooting and the reliable post play of their now-healthy big man, Tolu Smith. "That loss is going to be a part of us. I said it immediately after the game, and it's not going away and we understand that. There's nothing we can do about that now," Jans said. "Now we're searching for bigger wins. ... Opportunities are great, but you have to take advantage of them. You have to win. It's fun talking about it, that you have opportunities, but you have to get it done and you have to win those games so you can have those signature wins." The win lifted MSU (12-3, 1-1 SEC) up seven spots in the NET rankings, to No. 27, and the Bulldogs picked up their first Quadrant 1 win of the season -- in other words, a high-quality win that will carry immense weight when the time comes to select the NCAA Tournament field. |
| Mississippi State Introduces State Lounge And Other Fan Experiential Elements At Humphrey Coliseum | |
| Fresh off the men's basketball program's victory against No. 5 Tennessee inside a raucous Humphrey Coliseum, Mississippi State Athletics announced Thursday the introduction of State Lounge, a new pregame gathering area for fans to socialize before and during men's and women's basketball games. State Lounge is in the Mize Pavilion Lobby and open for all remaining men's home games two hours before tipoff and one hour before arena doors open. It will open for women's home games one hour before tipoff when arena doors open. The area is anchored by a new State Style team store location on one side and an array of seating and televisions featuring college basketball games on the other. This will also mark the introduction of Okolona-based 1817 Brewery to Humphrey Coliseum as the first and only craft draft beer option offered exclusively at State Lounge. "Consumer behavior continues to evolve in the live events space, and now you're seeing fans want social areas inside the arena to meet with friends, watch other games and connect over their passion for Mississippi State Athletics," said Director of Athletics Zac Selmon. "It's important that we continue to innovate the fan experience here on campus, and we're excited to bring State Lounge to our passionate Bulldog basketball fans and supporters." Fans have experienced numerous upgrades following the $50 million Humphrey Coliseum renovation. |
| The Braves committed to 20 seasons in Pearl. That's exactly how long they stayed. | |
| Mississippi sports columnist Rick Cleveland writes: The Mississippi Braves are moving to Columbus, Georgia, after this coming season, and I can't say I am shocked. That's because I can't begin to tell you how many times I have been to M-Braves games at Trustmark Park over the past two decades when empty seats outnumbered warm bodies by at least five to one. Let's put it this way: I am not nearly as shocked as I was on April 1, 2004, when we first got the news that the Atlanta Braves were moving their Class AA minor league franchise to Pearl from Greenville, S.C. At first, I thought the news was an April Fool's joke. Both the New York Mets and the Houston Astros had moved Class AA franchises out of the Jackson area because of financial woes stemming from lack of ticket-buying customers. Con Maloney, who was Mr. Baseball in mid-Mississippi, had tried everything he knew to try to make minor league baseball work at Smith-Wills Stadium in the capital city. Despite several championship teams and a world of talent that came through here, it just did not interest enough fans. ... Speaking at a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Pearl Mayor Jake Windham said the city, Rankin County and state officials had done all they could to keep the Braves at Trustmark Park. "We are sad to see them go," he said. Windham also said every effort will be made to bring another minor league franchise to fill the void. On a positive note: Trustmark Park, has been well maintained. It looks virtually brand new and is a really nice minor league ballpark. The negative: If an Atlanta Braves minor league franchise didn't draw well enough here, who would? |
| Experimental baseball rules requested by SEC approved | |
| The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Wednesday approved two experimental baseball rules for the 2024 season requested by the Southeastern Conference. One requires the batter to be in the batter's box and alert to the pitcher with 8 seconds remaining on the 20-second visible action clock for SEC games only. The other experimental rule permits a pitcher or relief pitcher an unlimited number of warmup pitches during the time between innings (120 seconds) or during a pitching change (150 seconds). Again, this would be used during SEC games only. Panel members also indicated that if other conferences would like to use these two specific experimental rules in conference games, the requests would be met favorably. Current action clock rules require the batter to be alert to the pitcher with 10 seconds remaining. The rationale for the experimental rule request was to reduce the amount of time a batter is alert to the pitcher and prevent a batter from being "frozen" by the pitcher. And since the time between innings is being regulated with a visible clock, providing strict limits regarding the number of warmup pitches is unnecessary. The current rule limits the number of warmup pitches between innings to five for pitchers who were in the game the previous inning, and eight pitches when a relief pitcher enters the game. |
| 'Dabo is our guy,' Clemson president declares as Alabama job opens | |
| As rumors swirl about Dabo Swinney's potential candidacy for the Alabama job, Clemson's president has a message about the school's longtime football coach. "Dabo is our guy," Jim Clements said Thursday. Clements, Clemson's president since 2013 and a prominent supporter of Swinney and the Tigers football team, was at the State House in Columbia on Thursday for a press conference to announce a new agreement with between the University of South Carolina, Clemson and technical colleges about credit transfers of core classes. He spoke briefly with a reporter from The State about the possibility of Swinney, Clemson's two-time national championship-winning coach of 15 seasons, replacing the legendary Nick Saban at Alabama after Saban announced his retirement Wednesday. Swinney, 54, has long been rumored as a potential replacement for Saban, 72, because of his track record at Clemson as well as his extensive ties to the state as well as the Crimson Tide program. Swinney grew up in Pelham, Alabama, and was a three-year letterman for the Crimson Tide at wide receiver under coach Gene Stallings from 1990-92. While there, he was part of Alabama's 1992 national championship team. He also started his coaching career at Alabama and worked there from 1993-2000 as a grad assistant, tight ends coach and wide receivers coach. Swinney is in the second year of a 10-year, $115 million contract signed in fall 2022 and made $10.75 million last year. The deal includes an "Alabama clause" that makes it 1.5 times more expensive for Swinney to leave Clemson for Alabama's coaching job versus any other school. |
| NCAA penalizes FSU football; assistant gets 3-game ban for violations | |
| The NCAA on Thursday announced significant penalties for the Florida State football team -- including two years' probation and disassociating with its NIL collective for one season -- for violating rules on using name, image and likeness offers as a recruiting inducement. In addition, an FSU assistant coach, which sources confirmed to ESPN as offensive coordinator Alex Atkins, was suspended three games for his involvement. The university also must disassociate with a specific booster for three years. Those penalties mark the first time the NCAA has severed the relationship between a school and its NIL collective as part of an infractions case. It also is the first time the NCAA has punished a school, coach or collective for using NIL as an inducement. The NCAA didn't identify Atkins by name, but it said that the assistant coach drove a prospect to a meeting with the head of the program's most prominent NIL collective during the prospect's official visit to campus. At the meeting, the booster offered the prospect $15,000 per month and encouraged him to play for the Seminoles. Investigators didn't find that head coach Mike Norvell had committed any violations. The penalties are considered Level II violations by the NCAA, which are major infractions but not as serious as Level I violations. |
| What Florida State's NIL violations mean for NCAA, college sports | |
| The NCAA finally made its move on Thursday night, coming down with penalties against Florida State for NIL violations. The term NIL -- which stands for name, image and likeness -- became a catchall term in the summer of 2021 after the NCAA installed its interim policy for athletes to start profiting from endorsement deals. Shortly after, booster-funded NIL collectives were born, raising funds to attract and retain top talent. Up until Thursday night's announcement, collectives were operating fearlessly. Nearly 200 of the organizations exist, with college football's blue bloods operating on multi-million budgets. Offering top high school prospects lucrative financial packages has become commonplace. The NCAA has struggled over the past 30 months to come down on institutions and boosters with penalties. The Miami women's basketball program was leveled sanctions last winter for impermissible contact with the Cavinder Twins. But Florida State offensive coordinator Alex Atkins being dealt a two-year show cause and three-game suspension is the most drastic step by the NCAA to govern NIL activity. It's the first related to a recruiting inducement in the NIL Era, too. Thursday night's news was a sign the NCAA is going to enforce its rules and not allow for "chaos" -- even if it has become more business-like. Speaking to a range of NIL collective leaders on Thursday night, they echoed frustrations and described the NCAA's move as a joke. |
| Former Georgia football staffer alleges in court filing alcohol use in recruiting activity | |
 | Former Georgia football recruiting analyst Victoria 'Tory' Bowles, who sustained serious injuries in a crash nearly a year ago, alleged in a court filing Thursday in Gwinnett County that program staffers regularly drove recruits and guests after drinking alcohol at Athens bars and restaurants. That conflicts with the UGA Athletic Association contention that recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy was not permitted to drive a rented SUV during a night of drinking and partying after a national championship celebration last year. LeCroy and football player Devin Willock were killed in an early morning crash on Jan. 15, 2023 after police alleged LeCroy and Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter were racing at more than 100 miles per hour. Bowles is suing the UGA Athletic Association and Carter, now an NFL rookie, and others in a civil lawsuit in Gwinnett County state court. Bowles' attorney says the crash would have been avoided if not for UGA athletics "negligent entrustment," of the SUV to Lecroy, who police said drove with more than double the legal blood alcohol level. The amended complaint said coaches and staff "regularly" drank alcohol at coach Kirby Smart's house during recruiting events and returned recruits families and guests back to their lodging using school-owned SUVs. UGA athletics said in a statement: "We are reviewing the amended complaint, but we dispute its claims and will vigorously defend the Athletic Association's interests in court." |
| Arizona will not cut sports under plan to shore up financial difficulties | |
| The University of Arizona will not cut any sports as it tries to shore up financial difficulties prior to the school's move from the Pac-12 to the Big 12. Arizona athletic director Dave Heeke posted a financial update on Thursday outlining the department's plans to make up for a revenue shortfall following the COVID-19 pandemic. "All our work to bolster the position of Arizona athletics as a premier athletics department comes at a cost," Heeke said. "Like many premier programs across the country, we are facing financial challenges, which we have already begun to address." Under the plan, Arizona athletics will continue a hiring freeze that started this fall and will pause all major construction projects once a new golf center is completed. The department also is paring back budgets in areas that do not impact the health and wellbeing of student-athletes and seek growth in key revenue streams and areas of investment. Arizona's athletic department was given a $55 million loan during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic that hasn't been paid back "fast enough," according to the Arizona Daily Star. The department's struggles are part of a wider budget shortfall for the entire university. |
| NCAA takes step toward determining if new tier of Division I where athletes can be paid is possible | |
| The NCAA on Thursday took the first step toward determining whether President Charlie Baker's idea to create a new subdivision in which schools directly pay athletes can become a reality. The Division I Board of Directors asked policy makers to evaluate a proposal Baker made last month in a letter to members. Baker said he wants the association to create a new tier of Division I sports for highly resourced schools that would require them to offer at least half their athletes a payment of at least $30,000 per year through a trust fund. The first-year president also proposed allowing all Division I schools to offer unlimited educational benefits to athletes and to enter into name, image and likeness licensing deals with athletes. "I can't say where it's going to go or how it's going to end, but I think it's an important conversation to have," said Georgia President Jere Morehead, chairman of the D-I board. The proposal now goes to the Division I Council, a group made up mostly of athletic directors and conferences commissioners. "This will give the D-I Council the opportunity to involve (other) conference commissioners, athletic directors, college presidents, and then come back to us with updates as they will plan to do at our April meeting," Morehead said. Morehead stressed that no matter what the NCAA does to change the model for college athletics, especially at the very top where high-profile sports such as football and basketball generate billions of dollars for schools, the enterprise still needs a federal law to provide some antitrust protection. |
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