| Wednesday, March 27, 2024 |
| MSU's T.K. Martin Center to benefit from Jersey Mike's Month, Day of Giving campaigns | |
 | Mississippi State's T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability is partnering with Starkville's Jersey Mike's Subs for the national restaurant chain's 14th annual Month of Giving fundraising campaign. Throughout March, customers may round up the total of their orders as donations at checkout or through Jersey Mike's mobile app. The campaign will culminate with the Day of Giving on Wednesday [March 27], when 100% of the day's sales at Starkville's Jersey Mike's will benefit the center. The restaurant is located at 831 MS-12 Suite A, next to Zaxby's. "We are thrilled to partner with Starkville's Jersey Mike's for the third consecutive year," said Kasee K. Stratton-Gadke, executive director of the Mississippi Institute on Disabilities, which houses the T.K. Martin Center. "Our goal is to reach $10,000 this year, and with Jersey Mike's commitment to local charities, the T.K. Martin Center can continue its mission to empower individuals with disabilities across Mississippi. By supporting us, the community contributes to making a lasting impact on lives and fostering a more inclusive future. We invite everyone to support us throughout the month of March." |
| How age-friendly universities can improve the lives of older adults | |
 | By 2030, more than 1.4 billion people across the globe will be at least 60 years old. This number will shoot up to 2.1 billion by 2050. At this point, there will be more people age 60 or older than people between 10 and 24. These dramatic demographic shifts prompted the United Nations and World Health Organization to declare the 2020s the decade of healthy aging. The creation of a more age-friendly world includes basic things like improving health care access. But one critical component is often overlooked: taking college courses in your 50s, 60s or beyond. These opportunities to learn later in life have been associated with a host of positive health outcomes. These include being less socially isolated and staying sharp mentally. Institutions of higher education play a unique role in shaping an aging world. In 2012, a group of interdisciplinary scholars met to establish the 10 principles of an age-friendly university. In 2014, these efforts expanded to become the Age-Friendly University Global Network, a collective of more than 120 colleges and universities across the world. At Mississippi State University, where one of us works, the focus on learners at all stages of life is growing. The new College of Professional and Continuing Studies develops and supports both credit and noncredit programs for nontraditional students. We are also working with the city of Starkville, Mississippi, where one of us is located, to ensure it is an attractive destination for retirees. And we offer extension programs across the state that are of interest to many older adults, such as the master gardener program, which involves 40 hours of educational training in consumer horticulture. |
| Researchers receive $1 million federal grant to tackle economic and marketing gaps in U.S. aquaculture industry | |
| In a bid to strengthen the trajectory of the U.S. aquaculture industry, Virginia Sea Grant and a consortium of researchers led by Virginia Tech secured a federal grant of nearly $1 million to address critical economic and marketing gaps. Awarded through a competitive funding opportunity offered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Sea Grant, the funds will support the establishment of the Aquaculture Economics and Markets Collaborative over the next two years. The collaborative draws expertise from institutions across the nation, including Virginia Tech, Mississippi State University, Texas A&M University, University of Hawaii at Hilo, University of Maryland, University of Alaska, Morgan State University, Maine Aquaculture Association, University of Guam, and University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, to address the multifaceted challenges facing the domestic aquaculture industry. Project co-principal investigator Ganesh Kumar of Mississippi State University said the collaborative effort aims to empower the aquaculture industry through increased access to comprehensive economic and market research to understand dynamic markets and support the U.S. in becoming a more significant player in the global aquaculture market. This research builds upon the existing groundwork established by previous NOAA Sea Grant-funded initiatives to capture the latest economic contributions of U.S. aquaculture. |
| 'Texas will be the launchpad for Mars': Governor announces board of directors for Texas Space Commission | |
| Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday visited NASA to announce the board of directors for the newly-created Texas Space Commission with the goal of making The Lone Star State the leader in "advancing the next generation of human space exploration" as "we return to the stars with renewed zeal." "Texas will be the launchpad for Mars" Abbott said, "And as we look to the future of space, one thing is clear. Those who reach for the stars, do so from The Lone Star State, the great state of Texas." The Commission is governed by a nine-member board of directors, who will also administer the legislatively created Space Exploration and Aeronautics Research Fund to provide grants to eligible entities. The goal will be to promote innovation in the fields of space exploration and commercial aerospace, "including the integration of space, aeronautics, and aviation industries into the Texas economy," the governor said. Board members include: Brian Freedman of Friendswood is president of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership. He is the vice chairman of Wellby Financial and a board member and former chairman of the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mississippi State University. |
| Wastewater study calls for $9.5M in critical upgrades | |
 | A long-awaited report on the city's wastewater treatment plant recommended Starkville Utilities invest $43.8 million in facility upgrades over the next 15 years or so. Of that, about $9.5 million in upgrades are needed immediately and another $6 million should shortly follow, according to the report. Wes Cardwell, project lead with Garver Engineers, presented his findings during a more than 90-minute work session that followed a special-call aldermen meeting. The city commissioned the study in March 2023. Built in 1979, the plant was designed to handle an annual average of up to 5 million gallons per day. Since then, Cardwell said, the city's population has grown by 60%, and the facility has reached, and in some years exceeded, that gallon load. By 2044, Cardwell estimated the annual average will rise to 6.8 million gallons per day, meaning without upgrades, the aging and overloaded plant would struggle to treat wastewater to permissible contamination levels before discharging it to Hollis Creek. The biggest ticket item in Package A, the aerators, will replace six aerators installed in 2019 that failed. The city is suing several companies involved in that project in a case that has been moved to federal court, City Attorney Berk Huskison said. Starkville Utilities General Manager Edward Kemp said the plant is using temporary aerators until the new ones are in place. Cardwell said the utility should bring on no more than 100,000 gallons in additional daily use to the system (he estimated that's what 1,000 people would use) until the permanent aerators came online in late 2025/early 2026. |
| New bill could give city crack at Clayton Village water territory | |
| A bill Rep. Rob Roberson plans to file next week could open the door for Starkville Utilities to provide water service in areas in the city limits that rural water districts aren't adequately serving. The local and private legislation would only apply to Starkville, and it would put on notice three rural water associations currently certificated to provide water to city residents. Utilities have certificated monopolies in their service areas, with the Mississippi Public Service Commission overseeing rural power and water associations. When a city annexes territory, those rural utilities still hold their certificate unless they surrender it. Roberson, R-Starkville, said his bill, if made law, would allow the PSC to "find" if a water association inside Starkville could adequately cover its territory. If it cannot, then Starkville Utilities can take over the territory in question as long as it is inside the city limits. "The city would be required to pay (the) water association for any assets that are in the ground," Roberson said. "... It gives water associations the opportunity to cover what they can rather than figure out how to cover what they can't." In a special-call meeting Tuesday morning, the board of aldermen approved a resolution supporting Roberson's bill. The premise, as Roberson and city officials noted, is Clayton Village Water Association's embargo on new service. The state Department of Health's Bureau of Public Water Supply ordered the association to halt new connections in 2023 because it is 8% over capacity. |
| Attempt to bring a casino to Jackson dies in the House after a flurry of opposition | |
| Members who serve on the House Ways and Means Committee were informed Tuesday by Chairman Trey Lamar (R) that the recently dropped HB 1989, which have allowed the construction of a single casino on the Pearl River near downtown Jackson, would not be taken up by the committee. A flurry of activity stirred around the Capitol early Tuesday morning as State Representatives and those in the gaming industry pushed back on the measure. The bill, which was authored by Lamar, would have authorized the Department of Finance and Administration to establish a loan program that would assist with the project's development, and specifically instructed that the casino be near the downtown area of Jackson, within 6,000 feet of the Capitol. State Representative Oscar Denton (D), who represents House District 55 in the Vicksburg area, said allowing a casino to be in Jackson would be detrimental to the economic impact those businesses bring to his area. There are currently four casinos located in the Vicksburg area along the Mississippi River. State Representative Kevin Ford (R), who also represents parts of the Vicksburg area, echoed Denton's sentiments in opposition to the development. Ford said 7% of the workforce in his area is employed by the casino industry in Vicksburg. Any ripple effects could be problematic for his constituents. Ford indicated there was overwhelming support among Republicans in the House not to let the legislation move forward at this time. |
| Quick death for Mississippi bill that sought casino site in capital city of Jackson | |
 | A Mississippi House leader said Tuesday that he won't move forward with a bill to allow a casino in the capital city of Jackson -- a proposal that would have been a dramatic change in a decades-old a state law that limits casinos to areas along the Gulf Coast and the Mississippi River. But, even as House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Trey Lamar made the announcement that will likely kill the bill for this year, he offered encouragement to people who might invest in a casino just over 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) from the state Capitol building. "Don't give up," Lamar said. Lamar filed the bill Monday, but then decided not to bring it up for vote Tuesday after House Republicans met privately and decided there were not enough votes to pass the bill. Republicans hold a majority in the 122-member House. Some Democrats also said they would oppose a new casino site. Rep. Robert Johnson of Natchez, the House Democratic leader, said a Jackson gambling site would hurt casinos along the Mississippi River, including in his hometown. "The coast may survive it," Johnson said. "But there's no way anybody else could survive it." |
| How much compromise are lawmakers willing to make on changes to education funding? | |
| Compromise is the name of the game at the State Capitol for hot-button issues. However, there are still questions about whether the two chambers will find that when it comes to education funding. The current education funding formula known as MAEP isn't an option for the leader of the Mississippi House. "It's going to be a strong House position because of the votes and we won't retreat from our ideas about INSPIRE being the funding formula for the future," said Speaker Jason White. "And I think you're gonna see the House is going to be willing to down that hill and fight for that." That House plan is getting another boost from Governor Tate Reeves, who has endorsed the plan via social media. Sen. Brice Wiggins is on the Senate Education Committee. "We end up in disagreements," said Wiggins. "It's not surprising because we agree there's an issue; it's how do we solve that issue?" He thinks keeping an objective formula in place for the base student costs is important. "As I understand the House plan, that's taken that away...there is no such thing," added Wiggins. "And it becomes basically a free-for-all, as is so much of the appropriations process." "When they came up with their first base student cost, it was basically pulled out of thin air," said White in reference to MAEP. "You've got to start somewhere. We started with the $6,650 base student costs. Yes, we did come up with what we felt was a good base of student calls that covered the basic needs of students and then added the weights on top of it." |
| Expansion of oyster farming a bust so far, but the Legislature is giving it another try | |
 | After five years without an oyster season, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources was poised to lease thousands of acres of public water bottoms to private businesses for growing and harvesting oysters. But the private leasing program that the state Legislature approved in 2023 failed to work, said Sen. Mike Thompson, who introduced the legislation that passed in 2023 and is now offering amendments to the bill. The bill with amendments has passed the Senate and is now in the House Marine Resources Committee. The changes will give the Department of Marine Resources, which manages oyster reefs, more discretion in awarding leases. Under the 2023 law, leases were to be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Proposed amendments would allow the DMR to select the most experienced applicants and take into account their financial ability to plant reefs that will grow oysters, an expensive undertaking. "It's a new program for DMR," Thompson said. "It's more important to me that the collective 'we' get this right than to try to get it in a hurry." The DMR was working to offer leases under the 2023 law, but Thompson said the process was too focused on being fair to everyone and did not pull in enough workable proposals. Also, leases were required to be for squared areas but water bottoms don't always conform to that shape. |
| Democrat arrested for having stolen trailer. What do party members say about his future? | |
 | The same day Mississippi House Rep. Keith Jackson, D-Preston, turned himself in on charges of possessing stolen property, former Democratic Secretary of State and Congressional candidate Shuwaski Young called for Jackson's resignation Monday afternoon. Young, who is from the same district as Jackson, encompassing parts of Neshoba, Kemper, Lauderdale and Winston counties, told the Clarion Ledger Tuesday if Young were to resign and a special election is called to replace him, Young would consider running to fill the House seat. "This is about an opportunity for the people of District 45 to have the type of representation that they need in a type of person in office," Young said. "If he resigned, and if (Republican) Gov. Tate Reeves calls a special election as soon as possible within the guidelines of law, that would be something that I would constantly think about and pray about." Jackson's removal does not appear to have broader support among Mississippi Democrats. On Monday, Jackson turned himself in on a felony charge of receiving stolen property exceeding $1,000, but no more than $5,000 in value. He was released just a few hours later. He's accused of having possession of a stolen log trailer and using it in his business. Despite Young's call for Jackson to give up his seat, Democratic leadership in both the House and Mississippi Democratic Party Chair Rep. Cheikh Taylor-Starkville, said they intend to stand behind their fellow lawmaker and let the courts settle the matter. |
| FBI names new special agent in charge in Jackson | |
 | Robert A. Eikhoff has been named as the special agent in charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office in Mississippi by Director Christopher Wray, according to an FBI press release. Jackson's field office covers the state of Mississippi. The news release states Eikhoff most recently served as a section chief in the Operational Technology Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. "Mr. Eikhoff joined the FBI as a special agent in 2004 and was assigned to the Columbia Field Office in South Carolina, where he investigated public corruption and civil rights violations," the release states. "He transferred to the Washington Field Office in 2008 and worked on the first squad dedicated to investigating terrorists' use of the internet." In 2016, Eikhoff was promoted to lead a team of investigative and analytic professionals in the Washington Field Office that investigated counterintelligence-related computer intrusions. Four years later, Eikhoff was selected to serve as one of the Washington Field Office's assistant special agents in charge, overseeing the Human and Signals Intelligence programs and Language Services. In 2022, Mr. Eikhoff was promoted to chief of the Cyber Operations Section of the Operational Technology Division at Headquarters, leading the FBI's primary computer and vehicle network exploitation and covert infrastructure operations. Eikhoff predecessor was Jermicha Fomby, who announced his official retirement from the Jackson FBI at a December 2023 press conference. |
| Mississippi needs to help clean up state-owned abandoned properties in Jackson, city council says | |
| The City of Jackson is littered with abandoned properties that have been forfeited to the state due to nonpayment of taxes and many have fallen into disrepair, creating public health hazards. The Jackson City Council wants something done about it. Currently, the city has 2,431 state-owned tax forfeited properties, according to the Secretary of State's office, that is charged with keeping track of all the properties. The tax-forfeited lands are then held by the state's Public Lands Division and put up for sale. According to the secretary of state's map, a majority of Jackson's state-owned abandoned properties are located in Wards 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Discussion on the matter occurred during the council's Tuesday meeting, with Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes bringing the topic up after an agenda item called for the city to spend $3,499 fixing state-owned property "that constitute a menace to public health, safety and welfare." Overall, the council reluctantly approved spending $37,730 on cleaning up five state-owned properties. Two were in Ward 5, one in Ward 3, one in Ward 6 and one in Ward 7. Ward 6 Councilman and Council President Aaron Banks requested the total dollar amount the city has spent in the past five years "to show what we are spending on state-owned properties." He then proposed sending a letter to state lawmakers "so that they can bear some responsibility" and get "maybe some type of reimbursement." |
| Wicker championing legislation to create grant program for rural medical providers | |
| Legislation has been introduced at the federal level to create a nationwide grant program to assist medical providers in rural areas of the country. Sen. Roger Wicker, a Republican from Mississippi, and Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, have crossed party lines to try to close the physician shortage in rural, underserved areas by increasing the number of community-based training opportunities for medical students in these regions. Rural areas historically need more physicians, and research shows that those who train in these areas are more likely to stay and practice. However, only 20 percent of physician training happens in settings outside of academic hospitals. "We must increase the available training opportunities for medical students in rural and underserved areas. My legislation would place medical students in rural areas so they can get exposure and experience. The hope is that through this exposure, medical students will stay in rural areas post-medical school. An added side effect is that this provides some relief to providers while medical students are training there. This is a win-win-win for everyone," Wicker said. The new grant program, formed under the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), would facilitate long-term, sustainable physician practices in high-need communities by preparing medical students to serve these communities after graduation. |
| US agency calls for audits of AI systems to ensure accountability | |
 | The National Telecommunications and Information Administration on Wednesday issued a report calling for establishing a system of audits for artificial intelligence systems that would ensure transparency as well as hold tech companies accountable for potential risks and harms. The Artificial Intelligence Accountability Policy Report stemmed from more than 1,400 comments the agency, which is part of the Commerce Department, received last year from companies and advocacy groups about creating an accountability system for artificial intelligence technologies. "The report calls for improved transparency into AI systems, independent evaluations of those systems, and consequences for imposing new risks," Alan Davidson, NTIA's administrator and assistant secretary of Commerce, told reporters Tuesday. The NTIA recommendations would likely feed into decisions Congress and the executive branch make in the coming months on how to devise regulations and laws for artificial intelligence systems. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., has held a series of briefings for lawmakers on AI with the goal of drafting legislation. In February the House launched a bipartisan task force on AI led by Reps. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., and Ted Lieu, D-Calif. A legislative framework proposed by Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., last year would hold AI systems accountable by creating a new federal oversight agency that "should have the authority to conduct audits" and issue licenses to companies developing AI systems used in high-risk situations such as facial recognition and others. |
| Supreme Court to anti-abortion activists: You can't just challenge every policy you don't like | |
 | The Biden administration's effort to preserve expanded access to the abortion drug mifepristone found more traction among the conservative justices than many observers expected. Three members of the court's right flank expressed doubts about the legality and even the wisdom of allowing a coalition of anti-abortion medical groups to challenge the Food and Drug Administration's conclusions about the safety of mifepristone, the pill used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions. The Supreme Court arguments Tuesday morning provided windows not only into how the conservative-dominated court may rule in this legal showdown, but on other thorny issues likely to come before the bench in the months and years ahead. Roughly 90 minutes of grappling over those issues also produced some unusual and noteworthy moments. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar gave Justice Amy Coney Barrett a mini medical lesson on how to detect an ectopic pregnancy. Justice Samuel Alito threw pointed rhetorical questions at the attorney for the abortion pill manufacturer Danco, asking if the company was part of the case because they want to "make more money." And Justice Brett Kavanaugh -- a potential swing vote -- remained silent nearly the whole time, repeatedly passing when given a chance to ask a question. The case could shape not only abortion access nationwide but the power of the FDA going forward to regulate all drugs. And while most justices appeared skeptical of the strength of this particular challenge -- the court appeared open to future arguments that could curb the ability to terminate a pregnancy. |
| In mifepristone abortion pill case Supreme Court judges seem skeptical | |
 | A Supreme Court bitterly divided two years ago over the right to an abortion appeared to find something close to unity Tuesday as conservative and liberal justices took turns picking apart the arguments of a small group of anti-abortion doctors seeking to roll back access to the widely used abortion drug mifepristone. If lawyers for the group expected kid gloves from the court's dominant conservative wing, they may have left Tuesday's arguments feeling bruised. For example, Justice Neil Gorsuch, a Donald Trump appointee who voted in 2022 to overturn the constitutional right to an abortion, groused that "a handful of individuals" were trying to make health policy for the entire country. The case, Gorsuch said, "seems like a prime example of turning what could be a small lawsuit into a nationwide legislative assembly on an FDA rule or any other federal government action." Tuesday's arguments were a big speed bump for a crucial abortion case that had so far sailed through lower courts with key arguments intact. The case sent shock waves across the medical and legal worlds last year when a Trump-appointed district judge in Amarillo, Texas, suspended the FDA's 20-year-old approval of mifepristone. The right-leaning 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in Louisiana restored the FDA's approval but upheld other parts of his decision -- setting the stage for a high court showdown that saw strident anti-abortion and abortion rights protesters facing off on the streets outside. |
| Why Vice President Harris is seen as critical to Biden's reelection campaign | |
 | Vice President Kamala Harris is on a mission to court a distinct part of the Democratic base. "She's really been mobilizing a lot of the voters that we need ... like young people, women, voters of color," said Sheila Nix, Harris's chief of staff for the 2024 reelection campaign. These groups were all critical to President Biden's victory in 2020, but polls suggest his support among young voters and voters of color is slipping. Some Democrats see Harris, a 59-year-old Black and Asian woman, as being better able to motivate these key blocs by leaning into her personal experience and perspective than the 81-year-old Biden. So she's not just traveling the country for the president, as a vice president typically would in an election year. She's tasked with trying to re-engage voting groups that Democrats desperately need to win reelection. Harris has been crisscrossing the country talking about issues that'll energize those core constituencies, and she frames it all as a part of a broader fight for freedom. This past month, Harris has discussed marijuana legalization at the White House with rapper Fat Joe, toured a clinic that provides abortions in Minnesota -- a first for any president or vice president -- and visited the bullet-pocked classroom in Parkland, Fla., where a gunman killed 14 students and three staff members in 2018. Despite the assumption that Harris might be able to reactivate key voters, she, like Biden, has had persistently low approval ratings in polls. |
| Trump is selling 'God Bless the USA' Bibles for $59.99 as he faces mounting legal bills | |
| Former President Donald Trump is now selling Bibles as he runs to return to the White House. Trump, who became the presumptive Republican nominee earlier this month, released a video on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday urging his supporters to buy the "God Bless the USA Bible," which is inspired by country singer Lee Greenwood's patriotic ballad. Trump takes the stage to the song at each of his rallies and has appeared with Greenwood at events. "Happy Holy Week! Let's Make America Pray Again. As we lead into Good Friday and Easter, I encourage you to get a copy of the God Bless the USA Bible," Trump wrote, directing his supporters to a website selling the book for $59.99. The effort comes as Trump has faced a serious money crunch amid mounting legal bills while he fights four criminal indictments along with a series of civil charges. Trump was given a reprieve Monday when a New York appeals court agreed to hold off on collecting the more than $454 million he owes following a civil fraud judgment if he puts up $175 million within 10 days. Trump has already posted a $92 million bond in connection with defamation cases brought by the writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexual assault. Besides a King James Version translation, it includes copies of the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the Pledge of Allegiance, as well as a handwritten chorus of the famous Greenwood song. |
| Kosciusko man becomes 3rd Mississippian charged in Jan. 6 riot in Washington | |
| A 48-year-old Kosciusko man was arrested Tuesday on charges related to his alleged conduct during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, federal officials reported in an email. Donald Walker was arrested by FBI agents on Monday in Jackson on a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia. He made his initial court appearance in U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Mississippi. Walker was charged with a felony offense of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder and misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining and disorderly conduct in a restricted building or grounds and parading, picketing and demonstrating and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, the email said. "His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election," officials reported. To date, more than 1,358 people have been charged for crimes related to the riot at the U.S. Capitol, including more than 486 charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. Walker is not the only Mississippian charged in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. |
| Ronna McDaniel's NBC Dismissal Shows How Election Denial Weighs on GOP, Media | |
 | The decision by NBC News to cancel its on-air-analyst contract with former Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel is a stark reminder of how election denialism remains a divisive and burdensome topic for the GOP as it fights to win the White House and other contests this year. That weight is also on members of the media who try to present both sides in a presidential race expected to be fiercely competitive and featuring one participant -- former President Donald Trump -- who continues to insist falsely that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Navigating that terrain, as both McDaniel and NBC discovered, is tricky given the fact that polls show as many as a third of Americans think President Biden wasn't legitimately elected. That number surges to close to two-thirds among Republicans who have participated in some of this year's caucuses and primaries. McDaniel, whom NBC dismissed just days after announcing what was believed to be a three-year deal valued at nearly $1 million, has had her share of Trump-associated ups and downs. Trump elevated her to the national stage, but she was still booted by him from the RNC even after years of kowtowing. She then crossed him by suggesting Biden was fairly elected and got booted again, by NBC. "It's an indication that, going forward, that if you are a messenger of election denialism that you may not maintain the credibility to be given a voice in many places in the public square," said Rob Stutzman, a GOP consultant who has done work for the third-party No Labels movement. "The awful lie of the election being stolen is going to continue to limit who will take them seriously in the future." |
| Biden Is Building a 'Superstructure' to Stop Trump From Stealing the Election | |
| For years, Donald Trump has made it abundantly clear that if he doesn't win the 2024 presidential election, he is willing to cheat and steal it. Since President Joe Biden's inaugural address, according to sources with intimate knowledge of the situation, Biden and his inner circle have been drawing up meticulous plans and creating a large legal network focused on wargaming a close election finish, in which the former president and Republican Party launch a scorched-earth, Big Lie-fueled crusade. Long before Trump began leading in battleground-state polling -- and years before he was a declared 2024 candidate -- the ex-president and many of his influential allies were already busy plotting ways to tilt the election in his favor. These yearslong efforts, conducted both secretly and out in the open, have already yielded tangible results for Trump and the conservative election denier movement. These wide-ranging operations have alarmed the Democratic Party elite, who aren't just worried about Biden's sagging poll numbers. Numerous Democratic lawmakers, operatives, Biden campaign advisers, and administration officials tell Rolling Stone that if the president does ultimately beat Trump this November, the election will be exceedingly close. Top officials in both the Trump and Biden camps are expecting an uncomfortably tight election outcome in November, sources in both campaigns have told Rolling Stone on numerous occasions over the past year. |
| 783 million people face chronic hunger. Yet the world wastes 19% of its food, UN says | |
| The world wasted an estimated 19% of the food produced globally in 2022, or about 1.05 billion metric tons, according to a new United Nations report. The U.N. Environment Programme's Food Waste Index Report, published Wednesday, tracks the progress of countries to halve food waste by 2030. The U.N. said the number of countries reporting for the index nearly doubled from the first report in 2021. The 2021 report estimated that 17% of the food produced globally in 2019, or 931 million metric tons (1.03 billion tons), was wasted, but authors warned against direct comparisons because of the lack of sufficient data from many countries. The report is co-authored by UNEP and Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), an international charity. Researchers analyzed country data on households, food service and retailers. They found that each person wastes about 79 kilograms (about 174 pounds) of food annually, equal to at least 1 billion meals wasted worldwide daily. The report comes at a time when 783 million people around the world face chronic hunger and many places facing deepening food crises. Brian Roe, a food waste researcher at Ohio State University who wasn't involved with the report, said the index is important to tackling food waste. "The key takeaway is that reducing the amount of food that is wasted is an avenue that can lead to many desirable outcomes -- resource conservation, fewer environmental damages, greater food security, and more land for uses other than as landfills and food production," said Roe. |
| More Young People Than Ever Will Get Colorectal Cancer This Year | |
 | A report published by the American Cancer Society in January suggests that rates of colorectal cancer are rising rapidly among people in their 20s, 30s and 40s -- even as incidence is declining in people over the age of 65. "It's unfortunately becoming a bigger problem every year," said Dr. Michael Cecchini, a co-director of the colorectal program in the Center for Gastrointestinal Cancers and a medical oncologist at Yale Cancer Center. He added that early-onset colorectal cancers have been increasing by about 2 percent per year since the mid-1990s. This increase has moved colorectal cancer up to being the top cause of cancer deaths in men under the age of 50 and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in women under 50 in the United States. In fact, experts are noticing a rise in early-onset colorectal cancers around the world -- a trend that they are racing to explain. A vast majority of colorectal cancer diagnoses are still made in people 50 and older. The American Cancer Society predicted last year that roughly 153,000 new diagnoses would be made in the U.S. in 2023, of which 19,550 would be in people younger than 50. But millennials born around 1990 now have twice the risk of colon cancer compared with people born around the 1950s, while millennials' risk for rectal cancer is about four times higher than that of older age groups. |
| Baptist therapist: Nearly half of adults experience mental health disorder | |
| Working in the mental health field for more years than she'd care to admit, Baptist Behavioral Health Clinical Manager and Therapist Kim Criswell has treated all kinds of patients. On Tuesday, Criswell told the Rotary Club of Columbus that her team sees patients with severe mental illnesses, like schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, major depressive disorder and more. But she also sees patients that may just be "going through a rough patch." "Nearly half of adults, 46%, will experience some type of mental health disorder in their lifetime," Criswell said. Symptoms to watch for when it comes to mental health concerns, she said, include changes in sleep or appetite, rapid changes in mood, withdrawal from activities, drop in functioning, problems with concentration, sensitivity to sights and sounds, apathy, illogical thinking, anxiety and others. "Any of these symptoms -- one or two of these symptoms -- does not mean you have a mental illness," Criswell said. "It means that you're human. We all are. When you see multiple symptoms popping up, and they're popping up on a regular basis, that's a problem." While mental health issues may appear in a variety of ways, Criswell said it is important to destigmatize mental illnesses so more patients can get help. She shared a 2021 National Alliance on Mental Illness statistic, saying 14.1 million people or 5.5% of the total population of the United States at any given time have a serious mental illness. |
| Oxford Conference for the Book turns 30 | |
| The storied Oxford Conference for the Book returns to the University of Mississippi and downtown Oxford venues April 3-5 for its 30th-anniversary edition. A group of authors, including Willie Morris, Barry Hannah and Kaye Gibbons, convened April 2, 1993, for the first Oxford Conference for the Book to discuss "the dependence of literary arts upon practical concerns." Three decades later, the conference is the longest-running event sponsored by the university's Center for the Study of Southern Culture. This year's conference features a robust lineup, due in part to a grant from Hawthornden Foundation, a private charitable organization supporting contemporary writers and the literary arts. "We are committed to using this gift in ways that nurture both writing and reading in north Mississippi," said Jimmy Thomas, the event's director. "Furthermore, we envision this gift supporting the entire Oxford creative community. Hawthornden Foundation has presented us with an opportunity to imagine new and exciting ways of bringing the written word to Oxford and the University of Mississippi." John and Renée Grisham Writers-in-Residence past and future convene at 2:30 p.m. in the Overby Center for a poetry session with January Gill O'Neil, author of "Glitter Road," and H. Jerriod Avant, "Muscadine," moderated by Saddiq Dzukogi, assistant professor of English at Mississippi State University. |
| USM Gulf Park paving the way for medical, marine focused professionals | |
| Several of the successes happening at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) were touted during the recent Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, including a new accelerated nursing program to address the current nursing shortage in the Magnolia State as well as the ongoing work to explore and research the oceans. USM President Dr. Joseph Paul stated that the new accelerated nursing program launched in January 2023 at the Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach providing an accelerated path for students. "This distinctive accelerated pathway enables students to earn a bachelors of science in nursing so they can join the nursing workforce as soon as possible. The first cohort of students earned a 100 percent pass rate on the NCLEX exam," Dr. Paul said. The NCLEX is the exam nursing students must pass to earn licensure and ensure they are ready to practice. IHL Commissioner Alfred Rankins congratulated the university for its success with the program in its first year. |
| Mississippi agriculture department to promote Jackson State with inspection stickers | |
| A promotional partnership between the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce and Jackson State University has been established. This partnership is part of an initiative to highlight universities within the state through MDAC's Bureau of Regulatory Services inspection stickers. Each year, these inspection stickers feature the school colors of a different Mississippi university for 12 months. MDAC's Bureau of Regulatory Services is divided into area-specific divisions that regulate certain businesses within the state. The four divisions -- weights and measures, the state metrology lab, petroleum products inspection, and consumer protection -- administer these stickers throughout retail locations statewide upon passing inspection. The 2024 MDAC inspection stickers feature JSU's colors, navy blue and "Thee I Love" blue. "We're proud to have Jackson State University represented on our 2024 Bureau of Regulatory Services inspection stickers," Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson said. This collaborative effort between MDAC and institutions of higher education around the state is designed to strengthen the relationship between the agriculture community and universities, promote awareness of Mississippi's colleges, and create opportunities for both the public and students to learn more about their state agency's regulatory functions. |
| Ag Commissioner announces promotional partnership with JSU | |
| If you're a Jackson State University fan, you will soon see your school colors on display at many of the places you shop. It's part of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce initiative to promote Mississippi's universities through MDAC's Bureau of Regulatory Services inspection stickers. Each sticker represents the division within the bureau featuring the school colors of the chosen university for one year. JSU President Dr. Marcus Thompson said, "And every time an individual goes to the gas pump or perhaps the grocery store, they will be reminded of the great work Jackson State does in the community and across the state." Jackson State University's staple colors, Navy Blue and Thee I Love Blue, are featured on the 2024 MDAC inspection stickers statewide. |
| Jones College holds ribbon-cut ceremony for livestock barn | |
 | The construction of the new Jones College Livestock Show Barn is now completed. The college has the first community college livestock show team in the state, and this new facility will allow students to work with young cows, groom them and advance showmanship skills. "I do feel as a product of this show team; I will be a product member of society and the workplace where I'll be able to work with others," said Grant Goree, a live show team member. The farm sits on 190 land acres with the barn at over 8,000 square feet. It includes 14 animal stalls, a feed room, bathrooms, a kitchen, an office and a large wash rack. Members of the community and students helped with the design and construction. "We need to recognize this was built with college funds and the men and women of Jones built it and it just goes to show that we have those skills," said Dr. Jesse Smith, president of Jones College. The cost to build was over $400,000. The barn will be mainly used for the livestock team, but other agriculture programs will hold classes there as well. U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith also was present for the ceremony. |
| Northeast Mississippi Community College names Pearson as interim police chief | |
 | Northeast Mississippi Community College didn't have to look far to find an interim police chief. She was right there the whole time. Assistant Police Chief Melissa Pearson has been named the interim police chief following the unexpected death of Chief Anthony Anderson. Pearson has been with the 16-man department for the last 9 years. In a press release, the school said she has demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities and administrators are confident in her ability to uphold the high standards of safety and security that NEMCC is known for. "Pearson's dedication and experience make her the ideal candidate to step into the role of interim police chief," said school president Ricky Ford. "Her commitment to the safety and well-being of our campus community is unwavering, and I have full confidence in her ability to lead our police department during this transition period." Anderson, 61, was in his fourth year as police chief at the school. He served as the assistant police chief at NEMCC for seven years before being promoted to chief in July 2021. A long-time supporter of Tiger athletics, Anderson was watching the Lady Tigers playing in a first-round playoff game inside the Bonner Arnold Coliseum on Saturday, March 9, when he suffered a medical emergency. |
| House passes bill to increase money for private schools, but can't say how many children being served | |
| The House, with one dissenting vote, passed legislation Tuesday that would continue to provide Mississippi private schools millions of dollars from state tax credits to educate foster children and students with a chronic illness or a disability, though the author of the bill could not say how many of those children are actually being educated. The bill will increase from $18 million a year to $48 million a year the amount of money from tax credits that private schools and charitable organizations that serve foster children can receive. Half of the money would go to the charitable organizations that provide services to foster children and the other half would go to the private schools. A person can make a donation to a private school and receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit. When the bill was passed five years ago, it was touted as a method to help foster children and to save the state money by keeping them out of the state foster care system. But the legislation, when it passed, had another section providing the tax credit option to go to schools that educate children "who have a chronic illness or physical, intellectual, developmental or emotional disability" or who are economically disadvantaged. Rep. Daryl Porter, D-Summit, asked House Ways and Means Chair Trey Lamar, R-Senatobia, how many children fitting into one of those categories were being educated in the private schools. Lamar, the author of the bill, said he did not have that information but would get it to him. Lamar said the program has saved the state millions of dollars by keeping foster children out of the state system. He said it had helped countless children. "It has been a very successful tax credit program," he said. |
| Birmingham-Southern College closing May 31 as loan bill fails to gain support: 'This is a tragic day' | |
 | After a long fight for a loan from the Alabama legislature, Birmingham-Southern College announced Tuesday that it will close its doors on May 31. "The Board of Trustees voted unanimously today to close the College after a 2024 bill designed to amend the 2023 legislation that established the loan program on which our future depended failed to win sufficient support in the Alabama House of Representatives. Without that funding, the College does not have the resources to continue," a letter from the Rev. Keith D. Thompson, the chair of BSC Board of Trustees, states. "This is a tragic day for the College, our students, our employees, and our alumni, and an outcome so many have worked tirelessly to prevent. We understand the devastating impact this has on each of you, and we will now direct our efforts toward ensuring the smoothest possible transition for everyone involved." Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, represents the Bush Hills area near the college and, for more than a year now, has worked on legislation to help give the school a lifeline. She told AL.com Tuesday morning that it was unlikely that a revised loan bill will pass through the House when lawmakers come back from spring break next week. "If they had to vote on the bill today, I can honestly tell you they would not have the votes in the House," she said. |
| A Small College Tried and Failed to Convince Lawmakers to Save It. Now It's Closing. | |
 | Birmingham-Southern College, a private liberal-arts institution plagued by more than a decade of financial problems, will close its doors at the end of May, the college announced Tuesday. The announcement follows an unsuccessful 18-month effort to keep the college afloat through a state loan program. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to close the 168-year-old college after the institution exhausted efforts to secure a $30-million loan through a state program that was created in June 2023 as a result of the institution's advocacy, said Daniel B. Coleman, the college's president. The decision to shutter Birmingham-Southern comes just a year after trustees voted to keep the college open, while fighting for a lifeline from the state government. At the time of the vote, the board had received assurances from state lawmakers that the college would "be positioned" to receive $30 million in bridge funding when the Distressed Institutions of Higher Learning Revolving Loan Program Act passed, according to the college's closure announcement. With the expectation that the college would have a clear path to receive the loan, it enrolled students and refilled faculty and staff positions for the fall, according to the announcement. Now, students set to graduate after the spring of 2024 are left stranded. Scholarships offered by the college will not transfer to other institutions. Faculty members will be without jobs by the end of the summer. The college will "offer as much help as possible for employees," its closure announcement stated, but it did not give any specifics, and a spokesperson for the institution declined to comment further. |
| Faculty vote against motion questioning provost's legitimacy | |
| At their Tuesday, March 26, biannual meeting, the Auburn University faculty voted against a motion submitted by Michael Stern, associate professor of economics, regarding the legitimacy of Vini Nathan's position as provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. The proclamation, which was introduced at the Oct. 24, 2023, meeting identifies potential discrepancies, according to Stern, in the search process for the provost position when it was last conducted. Initial advertisements for the position said the interim provost, who at the time was Nathan, would not be eligible for the permanent position. University faculty met via Zoom at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26. Stern's proclamation was the only action item slated for a vote. The voting system was conducted via an "honor system," according to Lisa Kensler, the faculty senate chair. In the proclamation, Stern alleges Nathan, "...should not be considered the legitimate provost of Auburn University" based on the language used in the advertisements for the position as well as university press releases. Prior to assuming the interim provost position, Nathan served as dean of the College of Architecture, Design and Construction. |
| A better bug spray, with a chemical from grapefruit? LSU gets $550k to try. | |
 | A team of LSU researchers has been awarded the largest National Science Foundation Partnership for Innovation grant in the university's history for their work to develop a new insect repellent they say is better than DEET, LSU announced Tuesday. The $550,000 grant will go to LSU chemical engineering professors Kerry Dooley and Mike Benton and biological sciences professor Roger Laine, who are working to more inexpensively synthesize an FDA-approved organic chemical that is known to deter mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, wood ticks, fleas, termites, lice and fire ants. The active ingredient they are researching is nootkatone, found in grapefruit skin, Alaska yellow cedar trees and other plants. Cutting the cost of nootkatone synthesis will make any products with the compound affordable to the general public and potentially help fight tropical diseases. According to Laine, few new insect repellents have entered the market since DEET, which is currently available in most insect repellent sprays and creams. However, a mosquito test showed that nootkatone at a 5% concentration in rubbing alcohol was superior to DEET, which usually needs to be administered at a greater than 20% concentration. Though research shows nootkatone is an effective repellent, it is prohibitively expensive to purchase in its pure form. |
| Vanderbilt faces backlash after pulling Israel-divestment vote from student ballot | |
 | Vanderbilt University students are protesting Tuesday after an amendment to the Vanderbilt Student Government Constitution, which would prevent student government funds from going to certain businesses that support Israel, was removed by administration officials from a student ballot in late March. Nearly 30 students crammed into the halls of Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier's office to hold a sit-in, along with over 30 more students on the steps outside, despite threats of suspension and possible removal from the building. The student amendment, which garnered over 600 signatures -- well above the required amount to be put on the student ballot -- followed guidelines from the national Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement to prohibit the spending of funds on businesses deemed "complicit" in Israel's post-1967 occupation of part of Palestine. It was proposed by Vanderbilt's Divest Coalition, a conglomeration of around 20 student organizations and over 1,000 students. Vanderbilt administration told The Tennessean in a recent statement that the "student-led effort to pass a resolution proposing Vanderbilt Student Government adopt boycott, divestment and sanctions tactics did not move forward because of potential conflict with federal and state laws." The statement said any activity relating to boycotts from the university could make the university "ineligible for new state contracts and could have existing contracts voided." |
| Texas comptroller speaks on Bush Presidential Library's economic impact | |
 | As a part of his "Good For Texas Tour," Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar visited College Station on Tuesday to discuss the economic impact of local presidential libraries, including the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library. As one of three presidential libraries in Texas, the Bush Library and Museum plays a large role in local tourism and employment opportunities. In 2023, the library employed 1,102 people, featured a $113.2 million Gross Domestic Product and a $196.9 million output. "I wanted to specifically focus on three presidential libraries because of the economic impact and historical significance," Hegar said Tuesday. "The regional economy and the state economy is attributed to [the library] being right here in College Station, and the economic impact is roughly $130 million." Museums such as the Bush library cater to both locals and tourists and Hegar said their impact on the economy was initially surprising. As a A&M graduate, Hegar said the historical impact the libraries have on communities is just as important to him as their economic footprint. "I graduated here in '93," he said. "As a graduate, having that ability as a student to be able to hear different speakers, to see part of that history ... it's extremely unique." The other Texas presidential libraries are the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin and the George W. Bush Library in Dallas. With College Station being a rapidly growing town, having a tourism anchor, such as the library, assists in overall economic growth, Hegar said. |
| Kyle Rittenhouse Campus Appearances Spark Outrage | |
 | When Kyle Rittenhouse came to speak at the University of Memphis last week, protesters filled the venue, booing and shouting at him as he took the stage. Rittenhouse, best known for killing two people during unrest concerning police brutality in Kenosha, Wisconsin, when he was 17, was sponsored by the conservative organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA); Memphis was the second stop on a four-campus circuit. His talk, entitled "The Rittenhouse Recap," centers on "themes related to individual rights, self-defense, and the importance of upholding the rule of law," Turning Point spokesperson Aubrey Laitsch told Inside Higher Ed in an email. According to Turning Point, Rittenhouse's talks do not comprise an official tour; rather, members of TPUSA chapters at four colleges reached out and invited him to campus in conjunction with the release of his book, Acquitted, which came out last fall. Rittenhouse, who was acquitted of all five homicide and reckless endangerment charges on the grounds that he acted in self-defense, is a highly controversial figure. Many on the right see him as a hero who defended himself from a "violent mob," while critics view him as emblematic of white vigilante violence against people of color and their allies. His campus appearances have inspired backlash from students who argue not only that he makes their campuses less safe for student of color, but also that he brings nothing valuable to an academic setting. |
| UC Berkeley parents hired private security, fearing for their kids | |
 | For 17 days, a private security force patrolled UC Berkeley on foot and on bicycles but did not step onto the campus or coordinate with campus police. The SafeBears ambassadors made their rounds throughout the night and into the early morning, wearing bright yellow uniforms but carrying no weapons. But the highly rated university did not deploy the extra security detail. They were paid for by parents concerned for their children's safety while attending the college during a spike in crime. And the university is not happy about it, saying parents should instead be donating to bolster the campus security team. The program ran from March 6 to 23 and was formed in response to what SafeBears organizers see as an inadequate response from the university to a growing crime problem in and around the school. The parent group paid roughly $42,000 for six unarmed guards to patrol around the student housing and south of the campus. "There were some requests for service, escorts or directions. But really the number one service these guys provided was just their physical presence being a deterrent to crime," said SafeBears founder Sagar Jethani, who is a Southern California resident and father to two UC Berkeley students. University officials have not exactly welcomed the SafeBears effort with open arms, saying in a statement that the program "raises a number of concerns including the training and experience of individuals hired by such firms." UC Berkeley law professor Jonathan Simon is skeptical about the SafeBears ambassadors program, telling the San Francisco Chronicle it "seems more like a stunt than study." |
| Should college essays touch on race? Some feel the affirmative action ruling leaves them no choice | |
| When she started writing her college essay, Hillary Amofa told the story she thought admissions offices wanted to hear. About being the daughter of immigrants from Ghana and growing up in a small apartment in Chicago. About hardship and struggle. Then she deleted it all. "I would just find myself kind of trauma-dumping," said the 18-year-old senior at Lincoln Park High School in Chicago. "And I'm just like, this doesn't really say anything about me as a person." When the Supreme Court ended affirmative action in higher education, it left the college essay as one of few places where race can play a role in admissions decisions. For many students of color, instantly more was riding on the already high-stakes writing assignment. Some say they felt pressure to exploit their hardships as they competed for a spot on campus. Amofa was just starting to think about her essay when the court issued its decision, and it left her with a wave of questions. Could she still write about her race? Could she be penalized for it? She wanted to tell colleges about her heritage but she didn't want to be defined by it. "For a lot of students, there's a feeling of, like, having to go through something so horrible to feel worthy of going to school, which is kind of sad," said Amofa, the daughter of a hospital technician and an Uber driver. This year's senior class is the first in decades to navigate college admissions without affirmative action. The Supreme Court upheld the practice in decisions going back to the 1970s, but this court's conservative supermajority found it is unconstitutional for colleges to give students extra weight because of their race alone. |
| House's Office of Diversity and Inclusion Shutters | |
| The U.S. House Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) has been closed. The shutter is the result of changes to legislative branch appropriations in a bill passed March 22 by the U.S. House of Representatives. "On behalf of ODI, it has been an honor to serve you as our office worked to ensure that the United States Congress embodied a qualified and representative workforce that reflected the country's vast tapestry," said ODI Director Dr. Sesha Joi Moon in a statement following the bill's passage. ODI reported a $4.5 million annual operating budget for FY23. The office was established in March 2020 to help create and cultivate a representative and qualified congressional workforce reflective of the American people. Within three years of its inception, the office had referred over 6,441 resumes for consideration to hiring managers and helped roughly 730 jobseekers land congressional careers, according to the 2023 ODI Annual Report. ODI's tasks are expected to transfer to the Office of Talent Management within the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, which will get a share of nearly $325 million for compensation and expenses of officers and employees, according to the appropriations bill. |
| Citing FAFSA Mess, Colleges Want Relief From New Gainful Rule | |
| As colleges and universities scramble to process student financial aid applications and send out award letters, institutions want more time to comply with reporting requirements in the Education Department's new gainful employment and financial value transparency rule. The rule aims to provide prospective students with more information about whether college programs pay off. The department will calculate whether graduates of programs can afford their yearly debt payments and whether they make more than an adult in their state who didn't go to college---and then publish the results. Programs at for-profit colleges, as well as nondegree programs in any sector, could lose access to federal financial aid if they fail either of those tests. When others fail, the department will inform students and families that those academic offerings could lead to adverse financial consequences. In order to provide that information to families, the department is requiring all colleges and universities to report more program-level information, including the total cost of attendance and the amount of private education loans disbursed to students. Institutions will need to submit two years' worth of data by July 31 unless the department opts to push back the deadline. A delay is what college administrators and their representatives in Washington, D.C., say they need. Institutions have too little information at this point about how to comply with the reporting requirements, they say, and their staffs are already stretched thin from dealing with the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA), whose launch has been plagued by technical issues and delays. |
| Student loan forgiveness plan approved for public service workers | |
 | Getting through college can be tough, but paying for it can be even tougher. The loans taken out to pay tuition for those four or five years can follow you for many more. But some public service workers won't have that hanging over them for long. Recently, President Joe Biden approved a student loan forgiveness plan for thousands of people. "At some point, we have all had to have some kind of help in some form of our life," said Patrick Henderson, Health and Human Sciences Principal at Starkville High School Patrick Henderson is the health and human sciences principal at Starkville High School. He said he knows just how much of a help loan forgiveness will be for public service workers. "It is huge, I have heard numerous people that said it took them a long time to pay their debt when they finished school. So, it is huge, and being able to support your family. When a man goes to work every day, he has the hope of being able to support his family, own some automobiles, and live the American dream, so it will be huge in helping that," said Henderson. Henderson said the loan forgiveness will mean a lot to him personally as well. "When I started working on my doctorate degree, I did have to take out some loans to continue my degree. It will be big to me, any time you can have $40- to $50,000 forgiven, that will always be big. It will be big in my household as well," said Henderson. |
| Veteran federal Judge Tom Lee was the right jurist for a tough job | |
| Columnist Sid Salter writes: Mississippians watched along with the rest of the nation to see whether justice would prevail in the so-called "Goon Squad" cases in which six white former Rankin County law enforcement officers pleaded guilty to torturing and terrorizing two Black men for hours after breaking into a home without a warrant. The victims, Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker, were handcuffed, beaten, abused, and sexually assaulted with a sex toy. Jenkins had a gun placed into his mouth by one officer who pulled the trigger, leaving the victim with a lacerated tongue and a broken jaw. Federal prosecutors argued that there was a strong racial component behind the attack. The defendants included former Rankin County Sheriff's deputies Brett McAlpin, Christian Dedmon, Hunter Elward, Jeffrey Middleton, Daniel Opdyke and former Richland police officer Joshua Hartfield. Their guilty pleas received, the six former lawmen faced Senior U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee, the 82-year-old veteran of a few months shy of 40 years on the federal bench in Mississippi's Southern District, for sentencing. Over those years, Lee has managed any number of high-profile, high-pressure cases without flinching. Judge Lee is the scion of a family of distinguished Mississippi jurists from Scott County |
SPORTS
| Diamond Dawgs Take Down Samford in Extras | |
| The Mississippi State Diamond Dawgs defeated the Samford Bulldogs by a score of 9-5 in 10 innings. The Maroon and White's bats stayed hot as they accumulated 11 hits and hit three home runs, including the go-ahead homer by Bryce Chance in the top of the tenth inning. Pico Kohn drew the start tonight and put in two innings of work. He gave up one hit, one earned run, and three walks while striking out three. Cam Schuelke had the longest outing of his MSU career, going 3 2/3 innings. He only gave up one hit in that span and struck out three. Tyler Davis closed the game and secured his second win of the season. He only gave up one hit in two innings of work while striking out five. The Diamond Dawgs continued to stay hot offensively as Dakota Jordan and Hunter Hines led the way tonight. Jordan went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a home run, and Hines went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a home run. Jordan and Hines hit back-to-back home runs, which tied the game in the top of the fifth. David Mershon and Chance came up big in the clutch. Mershon recorded a hit and two RBIs, and Chance went 1-for-2, with his one hit being a home run, all in the top of the tenth. The Maroon and White are back in action on Friday as they take on the Florida Gators in Gainesville, Fla. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast on SECN+. |
| Mississippi State baseball rallies in 10th inning, beats Samford | |
| Through nine innings Tuesday, Mississippi State baseball's lone run production at Samford came from its stars. Dakota Jordan had an RBI double in the first before sending a two-run home in the fifth. First baseman Hunter Hines had a foul-out in the first to score an unearned run before a solo shot to go back-to-back with Jordan four innings later. However, with the game entering extra innings tied at five, the rest of the lineup got an opportunity to come through. Fueled by a home run to left-center field from Bryce Chance, it did. No. 23 Mississippi State scored four runs in the additional inning, helping secure a 9-5 road victory. Chance's solo shot came with one out in the 10th. That sparked a rally that featured a two-out, two-run single from David Mershon. That gave Jordan a chance to tack on another run, which he did with a single up the middle. In the bottom half of the frame, Mississippi State (18-8, 3-3 SEC) got a scoreless inning from Tyler Davis -- his second of the game en route to becoming the winning pitcher of record. Entering the contest, Samford (16-8, 3-0 Southern Conference) was No. 86 in the RPI – a ranking metric used by the NCAA selection committee. |
| Early Mississippi State spring football takeaways, including new quarterback Blake Shapen | |
| Coach Jeff Lebby was sporting a white hat, wearing it backwards as he watched the Mississippi State quarterbacks go through drills Tuesday. Defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler was on the opposite end of the field, throwing his hands in a circle as he motioned for players to rotate between stations. As they tended to their jobs, music blared from the speakers surrounding MSU's practice fields while whistles echoed from the turf. The sounds of spring football practice have returned to Starkville, but they've come with a new cast ahead of the 2024 season. Former coach Zach Arnett and much of his staff are gone while Lebby, a first-time head coach, and his assistants have taken over a program hungry for success after a five-win campaign in 2023. One week into their first spring session, there's plenty to shore up and implement for the Bulldogs. However, some answers have been provided regarding a program overcoming dramatic change. Here's what we've learned about Mississippi State through four practices. |
| Unpacking 2024 NFL Draft prospects at Mississippi State football's Pro Day | |
| The message from Mississippi State linebacker Jett Johnson has been simple to his friends and teammates as they prepare for the NFL Draft. "For three months, just eradicate distractions," Johnson tells them. "Really lock in. Don't be drinking, chasing women and all that. It can change our life if we just lock in for three months." Johnson, meeting with reporters after Mississippi State's on-campus Pro Day on Tuesday, joked that those activities weren't part of his every-day routine. But as players embark on the transition from college to the NFL, focusing on what the pre-draft process can do for them is important. It's especially pivotal for players, such as Johnson and many of his teammates, who aren't guaranteed to hear their names called when the NFL Draft begins on April 25. A clean slate, paired with quality offseason workouts and strong interviews with teams, could help their chances, though. |
| Fifteen NFL Draft hopefuls perform at Mississippi State football Pro Day | |
| Jett Johnson had excellent advice for all NFL Draft prospects who have finished their college football careers and are solely focused on training for the next level. Mississippi State's former standout linebacker spent most of the winter training in Miami, a city known for its vibrant nightlife and multitude of potential distractions, but he offered an important bit of wisdom for those in his position. "For three months, just eradicate distractions," Johnson said. "Really lock in. Don't be drinking, chasing women and all that. It can really change our life if we just lock in for three months." Johnson was one of 15 players from the 2023 Bulldogs who worked out at MSU's Pro Day on Tuesday at the Palmeiro Center in the hopes of hearing their names called in next month's draft. Scouts from all 32 NFL teams were present, leading the players through speed, strength and agility drills. Along with fellow linebacker Nathaniel "Bookie" Watson and defensive lineman Jaden Crumedy, Johnson spent six years with the Bulldogs' program, playing under four head coaches and three defensive coordinators. That constant change can be difficult to deal with, especially in the age of the transfer portal, but the trio has become familiar with all kinds of defensive schemes and formations, which should help each of them adapt quickly if and when they reach the pros. |
| Mississippi State Soccer Announces Summer Camp Dates | |
| Mississippi State Soccer is thrilled to announce the schedule for its highly anticipated 2024 summer camp schedule. These camps offer an exciting opportunity for young athletes to enhance their skills, learn from experienced coaches, and immerse themselves in the world of soccer. With a variety of camps tailored to different age groups and skill levels, there's something for every aspiring soccer player. These camps provide participants with the opportunity to develop their skills in a fun and supportive environment under the guidance of Mississippi State Soccer's experienced coaching staff. Whether players are looking to refine their technique, improve their speed, or showcase their talents, these camps offer the perfect platform to take their game to the next level. Registration for all camps is now open, and spaces are limited. To secure your spot or to learn more about Mississippi State Soccer's summer camps, please visit hailstatecamps.com/soccer/ or contact assistant coach Kat Stratton at kstratton@athletics.msstate.edu. Per NCAA rules, sports camps are open to any and all entrants (limited only by number, age, grade level, and/or gender). Representatives of our athletics interests (boosters) cannot pay camp registration fees or provide other expenses for a prospect to attend camp. Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or group affiliation, age, disability, or veteran status. |
| MSU's Jordan Ware snags consecutive Runner of the Week awards | |
| Mississippi State track and field star Jordan Ware chased down a second consecutive Southeastern Men's Runner of the Week award on Tuesday. The Memphis native ranks first in the nation in the 200m, ranks fifth in the 100m, and is a member of the 4x100m that ranks 13th in the 2024 outdoor season performance list. He is also the only freshman to boast two top SEC times for a second straight week. Ware also won first place in three events at the Bulldogs Alumni Relays, and highlighted the weekend with a first place 100m time of 10.22, a 200m time of 201.18w, and was a leg in the winning 4x100m relay with a time of 39.72. On Monday it was announced that the MSU track and field team achieved a program-best ranking at third in the first week of the USTFCAAA rating index. |
| New Mississippi College football coach believes Choctaw program has great potential | |
| New Mississippi College head football coach Mike Kershaw spent the last five seasons as wide receivers coach at Rice University. When the opportunity to become a head was made available, he jumped at the chance. "I really feel like Mississippi College is a place that's ready to explode, so that's kind of the main reason I took this area," he said. Kershaw is no stranger to Mississippi, he played for and later coached at Delta State, leading the team to a Gulf South Conference championship as quarterback in 1998, and the NCAA Division-II National Championship semi-final coaching quarterbacks, wide receivers, and safeties in 2006. Kershaw also recruited in the Magnolia State while at Rice. "I know a lot of the coaches around here in high school, I know the recruiting area really well, so that's another reason why I took this job, because it's a great area to attack, to get the talent pool, and so that's why I think Mississippi is going to be great for us," Kershaw said. Kershaw is already sowing the seeds to improve the Choctaw program, and put a spotlight on Mississippi athletes. In June, MC will host a football camp open to kids in the classes 2025-2028, portal players, and JuCo players with eligibility. Included in the list of teams in attendance are Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Florida, and USC. |
| Lane Kiffin, transfer portal king, predicts spring chaos in 'really stupid system' | |
| More transfer portal chaos is brewing, Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin predicts. At his weekly news conference Tuesday, Kiffin was asked whether he believes the spring transfer portal window -- set to begin on April 16 -- will be more active than we've seen in previous years. In the transfer portal era, the winter window has seen the bulk of the action. Kiffin is bracing for that to change, he said. "Obviously, because they can transfer multiple times," Kiffin said. "Here, again, just a really stupid system. But, hey, good for the players -- maybe. It's good for them financially. I don't know that it's really good for them that they can leave every time something goes wrong, they're just gonna run no matter what." Ole Miss just signed the top transfer portal class in the country. Kiffin has constantly criticized college football's transfer setup while acknowledging that the Rebels benefit from it more than most. Speaking in the context of college football as a whole, rather than just his own program, Kiffin thinks there will be more examples of players transferring in the winter, collecting an NIL check, and then moving again in the spring for more money without having played a snap. "Maybe it just happened with a high-profile player," Kiffin said. "I'm going to go somewhere in January. I'm going to get their money. I'm going to have never played a down as a transfer, and I'm going to go back in right after spring ball into the portal and go somewhere else and get their money. So I mean, you can say yeah, good for the players, but is it?" |
| Auburn baseball's Butch Thompson fears for Birmingham-Southern players: 'Take care of those kids' | |
| Auburn University's head baseball coach Butch Thompson was still processing the news that Birmingham-Southern College will close on May 31 when he spoke to reporters Tuesday night. For Thompson, whose ties to the Birmingham college stretch back more than 30 years, it was like learning of someone's long-expected death. "Kinda stunned all day, although it's like somebody passing and you know they're probably gonna pass, but until it happens, you know," Thompson said. "I was sad about that today." Thompson pitched for BSC in 1991-1992, after playing two years at a Mississippi community college. He graduated with a history degree and served as assistant coach at BSC from 1994-1996 and again from 1998-2001. "There's a baseball team up there, student-athletes up there," Thompson said at a press conference. "There's people that have given a lot to that, that won't exist." Thompson said he spoke to BSC baseball coach Jan Weisberg and feared for the student-athletes facing uncertainty after lawmakers failed to pass a bill to provide $30 million to keep BSC open. "Where are they gonna go? Where are they gonna transfer? What are they gonna do? How are these kids going to get their degrees?" |
| How former Alabama coach Nick Saban is settling into retirement | |
| The stress level of former Alabama football coach Nick Saban is down exponentially these days, though there are some harrowing moments. Like when his 3-year-old grandson, James, joins him on the golf course. "The challenge is keeping him out of the sand traps," Saban said. "He likes to play in the sand. That's about the most stress I've had." The legendary coach's meticulous attention to detail and unmatched work ethic during his 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa produced six national championships (after he won one at LSU), 123 NFL draft picks -- including 44 first-rounders -- and a new standard in college football. But it left little time for anything else. Remember, Saban once reportedly complained about the national title game costing him a week of recruiting time. So how has Saban adapted to his new life? It's something his closest confidants, family members and Saban himself are still coming to grips with. "The biggest change for me as a person is that I lived my whole life for the last 50 years being in a hurry," Saban told ESPN. "It was, 'Hurry up to go here. Hurry up to go there. Don't be late for this meeting. You've got another meeting in an hour. What are you going to say to the staff? What are you going to say to the team?' I mean, it was just deadline after deadline after deadline. Even when I was driving to the lake to go on vacation, I'd be in a hurry, and for what? But that's just how you were built." |
| 'He will return.' Barnhart confirms Calipari will be back as Kentucky coach next season | |
 | As expected, John Calipari will return as Kentucky's basketball coach next season. Calipari and athletics director Mitch Barnhart had their end-of-season meeting Tuesday afternoon, and UK confirmed Tuesday night that the Hall of Fame coach will remain with the Wildcats. "As we normally do at the end of every season, Coach Calipari and I have had conversations about the direction of our men's basketball program and I can confirm that he will return for his 16th season as our head coach," Barnhart said in a statement. On his weekly radio show Monday night -- four days after another upset loss in the NCAA Tournament -- Calipari made it clear that he fully intended to be back at Kentucky for the 2024-25 season. Calipari wrapped up his 15th season as UK's head coach last week with a loss to 14-seeded Oakland in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, marking the second time in the past three postseasons that the Wildcats have suffered an upset loss to a heavy underdog in their opening game of March Madness. The loss to Oakland came two years after 15-seeded Saint Peter's beat Kentucky in the first round of the 2022 tournament. UK has not advanced past the first week of the NCAA Tournament since 2019, and the Cats have not made it to the Final Four since 2015. This recent run of postseason futility led a vocal segment of the Kentucky fan base to call for the removal of Calipari, who still has five years and $44.5 million remaining on a 10-year deal signed in 2019, following his 10th season in charge of the program. If Barnhart and other decision-makers at the university had opted to fire Calipari, the 65-year-old coach would have been owed more than $33 million, paid over the next five years. |
| ESPN pursuing Jason Kelce in latest 'Monday Night Football' pregame shake-up: Sources | |
| ESPN is planning another "Monday Night Football" pregame shake-up, according to executives with knowledge of the network's plans. A year after a complete makeover of the set under the stewardship of Scott Van Pelt, Robert Griffin III's spot is in jeopardy, while the network is aggressively pursuing retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce for Monday nights. ESPN is not alone in going after Kelce as NBC, CBS and Amazon Prime Video all have interest. Meanwhile, Hall of Fame wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald's part-time role on ESPN's "Monday Night Countdown" is in limbo, according to executives. Fitzgerald appeared on about one-third of the shows during the season. His contract was up in February and has not been renewed yet. ESPN informed Fitzgerald that they wanted to see how the rest of their MNF pregame lineup shapes up before making a final decision on a new deal. Full-timers Marcus Spears and Ryan Clark are expected to return on "Countdown," alongside Van Pelt. Michelle Beisner-Buck will remain the feature reporter. While ESPN continues to pursue Bill Belichick, Belichick has told networks he is disinclined to be part of a regular studio show, according to officials briefed on the talks. ESPN could combine with Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions and NFL Films to secure the legendary coach for a broadcasting role. While Belichick is sought after, Kelce's decision is viewed as the linchpin of the NFL TV free-agent season. CBS has several openings on "The NFL Today" with Nate Burleson, Bill Cowher, Boomer Esiason and Phil Simms unsigned for next year. James Brown and JJ Watt are inked for the upcoming season, though Watt may continue as a part-timer. |
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