| Friday, May 3, 2024 |
| Electric-autonomous shuttle buses coming to Mississippi State this fall | |
 | Mississippi State University is preparing to introduce an electric-autonomous passenger shuttle system to campus and the community this fall. With deployment by Beep, Inc., a leading provider of autonomous and electric shared mobility solutions, the system will be the first of its kind in the Magnolia State as well as the Southeastern Conference. Two shuttles, each seating up to 11 passengers, including an attendant, are slated to be available for riders come September as part of a pilot project to evaluate how the autonomous vehicles complement other modes of campus transportation. Two routes are planned to shuttle students between the core of campus, key housing points, and popular entertainment destinations. "We are excited to announce this special project which is going through several layers of approval, including the Mississippi Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration," Jeremiah Dumas, MSU executive director of transportation, said. "Safety is the highest priority, as it is with any method of transportation." MSU officials hope this will open the door for the university to partner with other institutions to form a research consortium and expand the study period to further test the use of autonomous vehicles in rural-urban settings. |
| Cicadas make rare double emergence | |
| What in the world is that noise? Is it an alarm? A siren? At up to 100 decibels, the noise can be as loud as a lawnmower or motorcycle, or even a jackhammer or jet engine. And this year the noise will be even louder. In the world of insects, the cicada makes the loudest racket, and this year a special phenomenon will occur that will add to the symphony. Annual cicadas emerge every year. Dr. Blake Layton, an Extension Entomologist Specialist at Mississippi State, says that Mississippi has about 20 species of annual cicadas, and they vary considerably in size, appearance and sound. Periodical cicadas emerge every 13 years and only in certain areas. There are three broods of periodical cicadas, all black with orange wings and red eyes. According to Layton, Mississippi is the only state where all three broods occur. This year, Brood XIX periodical cicadas, also known as the Great Southern Brood, will appear. "Brood XIX is the largest of all broods, with cicadas emerging in 15 states, including Mississippi," says Layton. "But they will only be found in about 17 counties on the northeast side of the state." Layton explains that Brood XXII will emerge in 2027, and Brood XXIII in 2028. Even though we won't experience the double emergence here, there will be plenty of cicadas taking their party above ground in Mississippi with both annual and periodical cicadas emerging. "Individual cicadas can sing pretty loudly," says Layton, "and population densities can exceed one million cicadas per acre, so the combined songs of this many cicadas can drown out backyard conversations." |
| 200 wiener dogs but only one winner | |
 | The Starkville Derby is about to bark back. For the second time, hundreds of dachshunds will be racing in the Cotton District on Saturday. Last year, the derby drew more than 20,000 attendees, dog lover and event organizer Alden Thornhill said, but this year is going to be even bigger than the first. "We have 200 dogs signed up, and we're just expecting a great tail-wagging good time on Saturday," Thornhill said. The derby will be taking over Maxwell Street, Page Avenue, Colonel Muldrow Drive and part of University Drive early Saturday, with check-in starting for racers at 7 a.m. and festival grounds opening for attendees at 8 a.m. At about 9 a.m., Thornhill said, there will be a kick-off with a flyover by Circle S Aviation, a performance of the national anthem by the Trebull Dawgs, and a bugler calling racers to their posts. Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State men's basketball guard and the derby's grand marshal, will also help to kick off the races. By 9:10 a.m., dachshunds will be off to the races, with dogs zooming -- or not -- down a 100-foot green track. Viewers will be able to watch the action this year through a 20-foot wide "weenie vision" Jumbotron, Thornhill said. Michele Anderson, executive director for OCHS, told The Dispatch in an email that the organization's annual budget is $800,000, with more than 50% of that coming from donations. The funds from the derby will go directly to help more than 5,000 animals that come through OCHS's doors each year, she said, including paying for vaccines, preventative care and spay and neuter surgeries. |
| New education formula would bring more money to area districts | |
| If a bill approved by the Mississippi Senate Saturday is signed by the governor, school districts in the Golden Triangle will receive state funding increases. House Bill 4130 being signed would result in Columbus Municipal School District getting a 17% increase, Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District getting a 4.6% increase, Lowndes County School District getting a .42% increase, and West Point Consolidated School District getting a 4.4% increase from their fiscal year 2024 budgets, according to data Rep. Rob Roberson provided The Dispatch. The bill borrows from the House's original funding proposal, the Investing in the Needs of Students to Prioritize, Impact and Reform Education (INSPIRE) bill, which Roberson, R-Starkville and chair of the House Education Committee, originally introduced. He told The Dispatch the new formula will better benefit Mississippi schools in the long run. "All in all we got a very good formula out, and ... it's focused on our students," he said. " I think we're all going to be far better off with (it) than anything we've dealt with in the past." The new formula, named the Mississippi Student Funding Formula, would replace the Mississippi Adequate Education Program that has been in place since 1997 and distribute funds with a focus on students' needs. |
| Medicaid expansion effort collapses in Republican-led Mississippi Legislature | |
 | Medicaid expansion efforts fizzled and died Thursday in Republican-led Mississippi because top lawmakers could not agree on a final proposal to send to the House and Senate. This was the first year that expansion has received serious legislative discussion in Mississippi, which is one of the poorest states in the U.S. and has some of the worst health outcomes. Any plan would have needed to pass with at least a two-thirds vote -- a wide enough margin to survive an expected veto from Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, who refers to Medicaid as "welfare" and says he does not want more people to enroll. House Medicaid Committee Chair Missy McGee, a Republican, pushed for expansion and said she was disappointed the issue died. "We did the very best we could to get it across the finish line, and I'm sad that it looks like we're ending the session without something for the hardworking, low-income Mississippians," McGee said. Mississippi House and Senate leaders missed a Thursday night deadline to file a final plan, and that killed the issue for the four-month session that is drawing to a close. Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann told reporters that passing Medicaid expansion would be the first order of business during the 2025 legislative session. |
| Medicaid Expansion Can Wait For Trump Presidency, Lt. Gov. Hosemann Says | |
| Mississippi can wait to expand Medicaid until former President Donald Trump is reelected, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann told reporters on Thursday. The House and Senate failed to reach a compromise on Medicaid expansion after Hosemann, the Senate president, and other Senate leaders insisted on tethering it to work requirements that President Joe Biden's administration is unlikely to approve. The Republican Senate president said he's spoken with leaders from Louisiana, Arkansas, Iowa and North Carolina, who have all applied for work requirements to expand Medicaid in their respective states. "What we were doing is following what they thought was the appropriate thing. Now, if they don't approve it, quite frankly, President Trump approved 13 of these before President Biden took them away," Hosemann told reporters on Thursday. "So in November, where we have an election where we got the president of the United States as a Republican, then it would have sailed through. Instead, I got to wait until next January to apply, so we could've been over that step." The Senate is determined to keep a work requirement in the Medicaid expansion bill, which the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services must approve before more Mississippians could receive access to health care. Trump's administration approved 13 states' work requirements for Medicaid expansion, but President Joe Biden's administration denied the waivers when the states reapplied during his term. |
| Mississippi Republicans revive bill to regulate transgender bathroom use in schools | |
| Mississippi's Republican-led Legislature completed a last-ditch effort Thursday to revive a bill to regulate transgender people's use of bathrooms, locker rooms and dormitories in public education buildings. Lawmakers pushed the proposal through the House and Senate in the final days of their four-month session after negotiations between the chambers broke down Monday on an earlier proposal. Republicans said they received a flurry of messages urging them to bring the bill back to life. "This probably, to a lot of our constituents and to a lot of people in this chamber, is probably the most important bill that we brought up," said Senate President Pro Tempore Dean Kirby, a Republican. The legislation would require all public education institutions to equip their buildings with single-sex restrooms, changing areas and dormitories. People would only be allowed to enter spaces that correspond to their sex assigned at birth, regardless of their appearance or any procedures they've had to affirm their gender identity. Those who violate the policy could be sued, but schools, colleges and universities would be protected from liability. Democrats said the bill would put transgender people at risk. They also criticized Republicans for spending time on the issue as other legislative priorities remained unfinished. |
| Mississippi high court declines to rule on questions of public funds going to private schools | |
| The Mississippi Supreme Court has declined to rule on whether the state is violating its own constitution with a program that would spend $10 million of public money on infrastructure grants for private schools. The justices on Thursday ruled 7-2 that an advocacy group lacked legal standing to sue the state. Parents for Public Schools "failed to sufficiently demonstrate an adverse impact that it suffers differently from the general public," the majority wrote. Because of that finding, justices said they would not rule on the larger constitutional question about public money going to private schools. In a dissent, Justice Leslie King wrote that Parents for Public Schools has proper legal standing because it represents parents of public school students. King also echoed the group's main argument -- that the Mississippi Constitution "forbids funds to be appropriated to schools that are not free." The Republican-controlled Mississippi Legislature voted to create the $10 million grant program in 2022, using part of the federal money that the state received for pandemic relief. The grants were to be funded with part of the money that Mississippi received from the federal government for COVID-19 pandemic relief, and private schools each could receive up to $100,000 for broadband, water or drainage projects. |
| Mississippi Supreme Court nixes challenge to private school infrastructure program | |
| On Thursday, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled against a special interest group, Parents for Public Schools, in its attempt to stop a program that allows private schools to apply for infrastructure grants from the state. Writing for the majority in a 7-2 decision, Justice Bobby Chamberlin said Parents for Public Schools lacked standing to pursue its lawsuit because it "failed to sufficiently demonstrate an adverse impact that it suffers differently from the general public." At issue in the underlying case was a question of whether the grant program violated a clause in the Mississippi Constitution which prohibits direct appropriation of state dollars to any school that is not free. While the case did not involve a school choice program, it was framed by some advocates as a test run on whether the Supreme Court might some day permit or strike down a education scholarship accounts that allow students to decide whether to attend public or private schools. |
| Supreme Court ruling sidesteps issue of spending public money on private schools | |
| The Mississippi Supreme Court in a 7-2 ruling found that Parents for Public Schools does not have legal standing to challenge the constitutionality of the state Legislature sending public money to private schools. The opinion, released Thursday, did not address the issue of whether the $10 million appropriation made in 2022 by the Legislature to private schools was constitutional. Justice Robert Chamberlin of Southaven, writing for the majority, concluded Parents for Public Schools did not have standing to bring the lawsuit, in part, because harm to the public schools could not be proven. Chamberlin wrote that the public education advocacy group says the legislative appropriation "will adversely affect the funding of public schools by legislating a competitive advantage to the independent schools who will receive the funds. This alleged future harm, however, is speculative and not sufficient to meet even Mississippi's permissive standing requirements." Coloring the ruling of the majority at least in part, is that the funds appropriated to the private schools were federal COVID-19 relief funds and not state money. The office of state Attorney General Lynn Fitch had argued that the case should be dismissed because of lack of standing. |
| Levi's distribution plant in Madison County to close, forcing mass layoffs | |
 | After more than 40 years in Madison County, the Levi's Distribution Center on Denim Way in Gluckstadt near Canton will be closing. More than 450 people could lose their jobs, officials confirmed. A new plant was recently built in Kentucky and the company plans to move most of the Mississippi operations to the Bluegrass State, sources confirmed. Levi's had not given local officials this information before this announcement, but Madison County Economic Development Director Joey Deason said his group will deal with the fallout. "It is very unfortunate that Levi's is closing after more than 40 years in the marketplace," Deason said. "They have been great corporate citizens for all of that time. Obviously, we will work with the company and help the employees find new jobs. We will continue to reach out to Levi corporate." While there is no timeline for the closure, Levi's is required to give local and state officials at least 60 days notice before they can lay off more than 100 people. "I am confident with the recent announcements of Amazon and Clark Beveridge and some of our other Industries starting up, that we will be able to work with the employees and help them find other opportunities," Deason said. "We will reach out and coordinate between us, Mississippi Department of Employment Securities and Levi's to put together a plan and strategy and see if there is an end date in mind." |
| Medgar Evers to be honored with Presidential Medal of Freedom | |
| Civil rights icon and Mississippi native Medgar Wiley Evers will posthumously receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Evers, a World War II veteran, was assassinated on June 12, 1963, in the driveway of his Jackson home. After returning from war, Evers held several leadership roles in civil rights groups. He recruited volunteers, led demonstrations, and organized voter registration drives. The civil rights hero even staged boycotts of gas stations that refused to welcome Black customers. In recognition of his role in the civil rights movement, he was posthumously awarded the NAACP Spingarn Medal for outstanding achievement and featured in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest U.S. civilian honor awarded to individuals who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." The current president is tasked with selecting awardees with President Harry S. Truman giving out the first Medal of Freedom recipient in 1946. Each member of Mississippi's congressional delegation paid homage to the late Evers after it was announced that he would be receiving the award. |
| Biden calls allies India, Japan 'xenophobic' at fundraiser with Asian American donors | |
 | President Joe Biden urged Asian countries to be more welcoming of immigrants, arguing to Asian American donors Wednesday evening that doing so would boost regional economies -- but he also awkwardly referred to several key allies as "xenophobic." "You know, one of the reasons why our economy is growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants," Biden said at Washington, D.C.'s Mayflower Hotel, according to a pool report. "We look to -- the reason -- look, think about it. Why is China stalling so badly economically? Why is Japan having trouble? Why is Russia? Why is India? Because they're xenophobic. "They don't want immigrants. Immigrants are what makes us strong," the president said a couple hours after Donald Trump used a campaign rally to push his anti-migration policy proposals. "Not a joke. That's not hyperbole. Because we have an influx of workers who want to be here and want to contribute." Biden's remarks came several weeks after Japan's leader, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, was at the White House for discussions on a range of issues and a state dinner. Biden and Kishida announced new steps intended to deepen U.S.-Japanese ties economically, diplomatically and militarily. The comment also came amid a tiff with Kishida's government over the proposed acquisition of U.S. Steel by a Japanese firm; Biden has forcefully said he opposes the transaction, arguing that the United States needs to produce its own steel. Biden also has courted India, trying to keep Prime Minister Narendra Modi from drifting into closer relations with both China and Russia. U.S. officials consider India and Japan key allies in the Biden administration's efforts to isolate Beijing economically and militarily in the Indo-Pacific region. |
| Jobs report today: Employers added 175,000 jobs in April, unemployment rises to 3.9% | |
 | U.S. payroll growth slowed substantially in April as employers added 175,000 jobs amid high interest rates and stubborn inflation, while average pay increases fell to a three-year low. The unemployment rate rose from 3.8% to 3.9%, the Labor Department said Friday. Economists had estimated that 250,000 jobs were added last month, according to a Bloomberg survey. Employment gains for February and March were revised down by a total 22,000. And while job creation in April was still solid by historical standards, the report portrays a broadly cooling labor market that should be welcomed by a Federal Reserve seeking to curtail high inflation. The economy added a monthly average of 269,000 jobs the previous three months and 251,000 in 2023. Despite the pullback in April, "Overall, the numbers are strong," Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su said in an interview. She added that many economists expected a sharper slowdown in job growth because of high inflation and interest rates. "Everybody bet against this kind of outcome," she said, adding the solid showing indicates that President Biden's policies aimed at aiding middle-class Americans are working. |
| Covid lessons remain unlearned as avian flu infects cattle, hospitals say | |
 | Hospital leaders say the health system won't be ready if the avian flu that's infected American dairy cattle becomes widespread among humans. In discussing a hypothetical scenario, the hospitals have struck a different tone than the Biden administration. It says the risk is currently low to most people and that agencies are closely monitoring for any sign of danger to Americans. Still, hospital officials told POLITICO they're dismayed that they don't feel better prepared, just four years after Covid-19 caught them unawares. They're not confident that the health care system -- including the government agencies that have wound down Covid responses -- can avoid the missteps around tests, bed space and communication that plagued the last public health emergency, should this strain of flu, H5N1, become more of a threat. The H5N1 virus has mainly caused mild illness among the animals and isn't currently spreading between humans, as far as health leaders know. There has been one confirmed case of avian flu in a person amid this outbreak: a farmworker in Texas, whose only symptom was conjunctivitis, from which he recovered. That suggests there's little risk of widespread infection at the moment, according to infectious disease experts. But it's difficult to predict whether it could mutate and trigger a public health emergency, they add. |
| UMiss for Palestine protest met with opposition on campus | |
 | Approximately 30 protesters gathered in the University of Mississippi Quad to demonstrate their support for Palestine on Thursday, which attracted hundreds of onlookers -- some of which taunted in opposition with American flags and "USA" chants. Jana Abuirshaid, a sophomore public health and Arabic major -- and participant in the protest -- said she recognized protests at other universities, such as Columbia University, the University of Southern California and the University of California at Los Angeles, in reaction to the Israel-Hamas war. The protesters wanted to send a message of solidarity. "I want people to know that we are here," Abuirshaid said. "There are people that support Palestine, and there are people that are against the genocide. (Our message is that) even if it feels like you're the only one you're not isolated." Videos taken by The Daily Mississippian show many of the counter-protesters chanting, "We Want Trump," "Boo" and singing the Star-Spangled Banner. At approximately 1:15 p.m., the protesters were escorted out of the Quad after water bottles were thrown at them and to the School of Applied Sciences. Many in the crowd at the Quad followed the protesters. By approximately 2 p.m., much of the crowd had dispersed. |
| Ole Miss students evacuated off campus after pro-Palestine protest escalated | |
 | Several dozen students were peacefully evacuated off of the University of Mississippi campus after a pro-Palestine protest turned into a shouting match between the protestors and counter-protestors. Approximately 50-60 protestors gathered to protest Israeli military responses in Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel on the Quad of the Ole Miss campus Thursday afternoon. The event quickly escalated with more than 200 counter-protestors flooding in from different parts of campus within an hour and started to throw objects and shout at the protestors. With the counter-protestors outnumbering the pro-Palestine protestors, shouts of "Terrorists" drowned out the equally passionate shouts of "Free, free Palestine." Police intervened quickly, moving the growing crowd to behind the campus' clock tower, in front of the School of Applied Sciences. The police led the pro-Palestine protestors into the building. Jacob Batte, director of media relations for the University of Mississippi, confirmed that the pro-Palestine protestors had been safely evacuated on buses. He could not confirm whether the protestors were students. Batte did confirm that the protest was not organized under any of the university's registered student organizations. |
| Anti-Israel protest on Ole Miss campus shut down in less than hour | |
| A mostly peaceful protest was held on the campus of the University of Mississippi by a group going by the name UMiss for Palestine Thursday afternoon. Social media posts on Instagram said the protest was scheduled to take place at 12:30 Thursday in the Circle on the campus of Ole Miss, but a previously planned event at that location forced the protest to be moved to Paul Johnson Commons. The group of protesters shouted "Free, Free Palestine," while marching to the protest area cordoned for them. They were followed by counter-protesters who shouted "USA, USA, USA." Some profanities were heard. About halfway through the hour long protest, an impromptu rendition of the Star Spangled Banner rang out from the much larger crowd of counter-protesters. What started as a small group of about a dozen anti-Israel protesters grew to several dozen as the nearly hour long event transpired, but the counter-protestors always had larger numbers. Gov. Tate Reeves said via Facebook Thursday morning that extra law enforcement was brought on campus to ensure a peaceful event transpired. "I am aware of today's scheduled protest on the campus of Ole Miss. Mississippi law enforcement is also aware. And they are prepared. Campus police, City, County, and State assets are being deployed and coordinated. We will offer a unified response with one mission: Peaceful protests are allowed and protected – no matter how outrageous those protesters views may seem to some of us. But unlawful behavior will not be tolerated. It will be dealt with accordingly. Law and order will be maintained!" Reeves said in the statement. |
| 'It wasn't equal:' Counter-protesters overwhelm pro-Palestinian students at the U. of Mississippi | |
| Police disbanded a pro-Palestinian student protest at the University of Mississippi less than an hour after it officially started when counter-protesters threw a water bottle and other items at the protest, prompting the protesters to respond in kind with water. When police removed the pro-Palestinian students from the Quad, a grassy area behind the library, the largely white male students roared. "Nah, nah, nah, nah, hey, hey, hey, good bye," the counter-protesters chanted. The confrontation was in reaction to a largely peaceful protest held by a group called UMiss for Palestine that called on the university to divest from companies tied to Israel, a common demand at student protests across the country in the wake of the Israel-Hamas War. The university has said it doesn't have any direct investment in Israeli-based companies, and that no arrests were made or injuries reported. Nationally, about 2,000 arrests have been made, according to AP. It was the first pro-Palestine protest at a Mississippi university since students at Columbia University set up an encampment about two weeks ago. |
| Protest on UM campus has a few tense moments; no arrests | |
| About 30 people gathered on the University of Mississippi campus Thursday protesting Israel's attacks on Gaza, and demanding the school's divestment from companies linked to Israel's military campaign. They were met with hundreds of counter-protestors and more onlookers as students spilled out of their classes to gather to watch the protest that took place behind the J.D. Williams Library. The student protestors were calling for the university to stop funding companies that profit or engage in Israel's ongoing military campaign and occupation, as well as calling for a cease-fire and the end to "genocide." The counter-protestors shouted insults at the protestors, telling them to go "home." Some held Trump 2020 banners and American flags. One counter-protestor had a "Come and Take it" flag while another flew a "Don't Tread on Me" banner. One student said, "They bombed us first." The protestors held signs that said "Stop the genocide," "Jesus was a Palestine," and "Cut all ties with Israel." The protest was scheduled from 12:30 to 2 p.m.; however, it ended about 30 minutes early after counter-protestors started throwing food, water bottles and drinks at the protestors. University police set up barricades separating the protestors and counter-protestors. While there were a few tense moments when people from either side got too close to each other, there were no arrests made during the protest. |
| Q&A: Bobby Carter on leading Tiny Desk, his time at Jackson State, early career advice | |
 | NPR's "Tiny Desk Concerts" has a new series host and producer -- Bobby Carter. A St. Louis native, Carter took a journey down South on his way to NPR, getting his start in radio at Jackson State University. Now, the 25-year radio veteran looks to the future of Tiny Desk. The Gulf States Newsroom's Maya Miller recently chatted with Carter about bridging the gap between music and news and his advice for young people hoping to become journalists. "Well, I'm a DJ first. I learned how to DJ when I was in high school. Once I caught the DJ bug, I knew very early in my sophomore, junior year in high school that I wanted to do something in radio, or something with music. I knew that I wanted sound to be a part of my life. With JSU, that was really just the foundation for me, in terms of learning radio. When I was at WJSU, I learned how to work the board. I was learning how to speak on air, just learning all of the ropes of radio and figuring out my voice and the technical side. Obviously, a lot has changed since the summer of 1999, in terms of technology, but it was the foundation for me. It was a start," he said. |
| NEMCC tuition remains unchanged for 2024-25 academic year | |
 | At a time when it seems the cost of everything from gas to groceries to higher education is on the rise, it is a surprise when a price tag looks the same as it did a year ago. Northeast Mississippi Community College is keeping tuition unchanged for the 2024-25 academic year. At its regularly scheduled monthly meeting April 9, the college's board of trustees voted unanimously to approve a recommendation from Northeast president Ricky G. Ford to hold steady the tuition cost per semester for the fourth consecutive year. "I want to commend the Board of Trustees for its commitment to maintain our tuition rate constant for the fourth consecutive year," Ford said. "Their decision to do so reflects our institution's dedication to affordable access to higher education while recognizing the financial pressures many families face." Ford did propose, and the Board approved, all program fees be increased by 5%, an increase he believes is essential to ensure Northeast continues to provide its students with high-grade educational resources, cutting-edge technology and access to enriched academic environments. Tuition per semester (based on 12-21 semester hours) at Northeast for the 2024-25 academic year stands at $1,825 for Mississippi residents. For students who live outside the state of Mississippi, tuition is $3,465, and for international students, tuition is $3,700. |
| Ivey approves creation of Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences | |
 | Gov. Kay Ivey gave final approval for the creation of the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences on Thursday. The initial bill, HB163, passed unanimously in the House in April, and it passed the Senate by of vote of 28 to 3 earlier Thursday. The purpose of the school is to grant educational opportunities to high school students in science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine and healthcare sciences fields. It's part of an effort to "address the chronic healthcare workforce shortage" in the state, the legislation states. "The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences is coming to Demopolis!" Ivey said. "Students from all over Alabama will soon benefit from an education at this specialty high school and then go on to bolster our healthcare workforce. The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences is yet another way our state is leading the nation in innovative education solutions." The school is set to begin operations in 2026. Students will be able to earn certifications and diplomas in various medical fields in addition to a high school diploma. This will be the Alabama's fourth specialty school, after the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science, the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering, and the Alabama School of Liberal Arts. |
| An LSU student just signed with big country label. Now he'll tour with his uncle Tim McGraw | |
 | The fans and the music come first. That's the best advice rising country singer-songwriter Timothy Wayne recalls his uncle giving him -- advice that stands among many career nuggets the LSU sophomore has taken to heart after securing his first major record deal. Who's Wayne's wise uncle? Country superstar and Louisiana native Tim McGraw. McGraw is not only mentoring his nephew, he's taking him on the road. Wayne will be one of the opening acts for six dates on McGraw's "Standing Room Only Tour," performing in Philadelphia on June 20; Baltimore on June 21; Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 22; Phoenix on June 27; Los Angeles on June 28; and Sacramento, California, on June 29. "I'm the baby act," the personable Wayne said last week on campus at LSU, explaining that in those cities he'll take the stage first, followed by main opener, CMA award winner Carly Pearce, and then, Uncle Tim. Baby act or no, this is Wayne's first tour of any kind. He's planning to soak in the experience. When Wayne returns to LSU in the fall to continue pursuing his history degree, he will have plenty of material for his "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" paper. Between his studies, his involvement with Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and his songwriting, he will also handle his new relationship with Universal Music Group Nashville. |
| UK university senate to call for vote of no confidence in President Capilouto next week | |
 | The University of Kentucky university senate will consider a resolution of no confidence in President Eli Capilouto at its meeting on Monday. The vote comes after months of disagreements with the president over the role of the senate, and a vote from the board of trustees last week that will restructure the university's governance. Under the new structure, the university senate loses its policy-making power and moves to an advisory role, which faculty members have said removes their role in shared governance. Though staff and student groups support the changes, faculty members have said they worry about the long-term implications of the moves. A "resolution of no confidence" has been added as an agenda item for the university senate's meeting on Monday, the last meeting of the semester. The resolution also calls on the board of trustees to "redo the process of shared governance reform" to address the senate's concerns, and to develop new recommendations. "The UK Board of Trustees unequivocally supports President Eli Capilouto and the work of the UK community to meet Kentucky's needs," board of trustees chair Britt Brockman said in a statement. "We respect those among our faculty who are speaking out. That is a hallmark of a healthy community. But we will keep going. The efforts underway are too important. They are supported by the UK community. And they align with our mission to advance this state in everything that we do. The UK Board of Trustees has full confidence in President Capilouto." |
| Police arrest demonstrators on U. of Tennessee campus | |
 | University of Tennessee and Knoxville Police Department officers arrested nine demonstrators on campus around 9:30 p.m. Thursday. They were brought to the campus police station and were released soon after. Seven of those arrested were students, two were community members. Pro-Palestine demonstrators had peacefully gathered on campus for most of the day May 2, and were in talks with school administrators over demands the university identify and divest from assets with ties to Israel. Throughout the day, administrators posted signs and distributed flyers about campus rules and a Tennessee law against camping after 10 p.m. on state property, a move by the Tennessee legislature designed to limit political demonstrations. Officers set up fencing after the arrests around the College of Law lawn on Cumberland Avenue, where demonstrators had gathered all day with protest signs. Those who were arrested were released soon after. "UTPD confirmed to me that the students have been released without any legal penalty but will receive notice of disciplinary action from the institution. Those who are not students were cited for trespassing and have been released," defense attorney Mike Whalen told Knox News. |
| Bush 41 Locomotive unveiled in soon-to-open presidential library exhibit | |
 | Forty-one days before what would have been the 41st president's 100th birthday, the George & Barbara Bush Foundation unveiled the Union Pacific 4141 Locomotive at the Bush Library and Museum's new pavilion building. At 15 feet tall and 74.3 feet long, the 420,000-pound SD70ACe locomotive was unveiled Tuesday morning in front of a small crowd inside the soon-to-open pavilion building in College Station. The locomotive spent years in service in Union Pacific's fleet before gaining national exposure in the former president's Funeral Train. Since it was delivered to the Bush Museum in March 2021, the 4141 Engine had been covered with a protective tarp to prevent any damage to the machine while the pavilion was built around it. The new exhibit will open to the public June 13 and feature not only the white and blue Air Force One-inspired locomotive, but also one of the Marine One helicopters used during Bush 41's presidency. Before the unveiling, Andrew Card, former secretary of transportation under George H.W. Bush and current Bush Foundation CEO, spoke about the importance of the new exhibit and thanked everyone involved for helping finish the building ahead of schedule and under budget. "We are 41 days away from the big celebration of 41-100," said Card, who also served as George W. Bush's chief of staff. "The 41-100 is celebrating the 100th birthday of President George H.W. Bush. And believe it or not, his conscience is with us all the time. ... We're making sure the legacy of President Bush lives on for a thousand years plus." |
| UT-Austin's Jay Hartzell praised by GOP leaders as university presidents nationwide take heat over protest response | |
| The call for state police to help wrangle protesters came from the university's own president, Jay Hartzell. Across campus, many had assumed that Gov. Greg Abbott deployed the intense show of force on April 24, as he'd been vocal about his opposition to the pro-Palestinian protests elsewhere. But Hartzell told a state senator he called for backup because he was unwilling to let the University of Texas at Austin become the next Columbia University, which was making headlines as protesters erected encampments across campus. "[Protesters] indicated their desire to mimic what happened at Columbia and elsewhere, which we are doing our best to avoid for obvious reasons. Our police force couldn't handle it alone," he said in an April 25 text with State. Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, first reported by the Austin American-Statesman. That was music to many Texas Republicans' ears. "President [Hartzell] is exactly the right man at the right time to lead our state's flagship university," said state Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, in a social media post that derided the hundreds of "radical and feckless" faculty members who signed a letter of no confidence over Hartzell's protest response. UT-Austin has joined the ranks of other universities in the national spotlight as hoards of protesters have been recorded being dragged, pepper sprayed and tear gassed by officers wearing riot gear. But Hartzell's strategy, which so far has netted more than 130 arrests, has prevented encampments or building occupations that have forced presidents of other elite universities into protracted negotiations with students. This refusal to cede any ground earned him rare praise from Republican officials in an environment where university presidents are increasingly becoming punching bags for conservatives angry over their handling of pro-Palestinian protests. |
| UVa student protest diminishes in size as it enters its third day | |
| A student-led protest at the University of Virginia remained peaceful but had noticeably diminished in size as it entered its third day Thursday. UVa's demonstration stands in stark contrast to how larger anti-Israel protests have unfolded across the country and the commonwealth. As of Thursday evening, there were roughly 40 protesters on UVa Grounds, mostly concentrated near the chapel adjacent to the university's landmark Rotunda. The crowd included students, faculty and Charlottesville community members rallying in support of the Palestinian cause. Attendance Thursday was roughly half of what was seen the day prior and nowhere near the size of the hundreds-strong demonstrations and encampments at other schools. The itinerary Thursday included qigong exercises and group yoga. UVa graduate students from multiple departments circulated through the so-called liberated zone throughout the afternoon offering assistance to student protesters with papers and studies. Spring semester classes ended Tuesday, and many students are now preparing for final examinations. |
| Republicans question FSA chief in private meeting after news he'll step down in June | |
| Republican senators questioned a top Biden administration official about the bungled rollout of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, during a private meeting on Capitol Hill on Thursday. According to the Education Department and the lawmakers, the meeting happened nearly a week after the federal agency said Richard Cordray, the chief operating officer at the Federal Student Aid office, plans to step down later this summer. The lawmakers huddled for about a half-hour on Thursday afternoon with Cordray and one of his deputies, Melanie Storey, in Ernst's office, the senator told USA TODAY. She said Chuck Grassley, the other Republican senator from Iowa, was also there, along with Sens. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., and Pete Ricketts, R-Neb. In an interview after the briefing, Ernst said she was disheartened when Cordray acknowledged to the group that the implications of the rollout could be felt by some students for years. Last week, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said Cordray would be leaving the Education Department in late June after the conclusion of his three-year term. "I always hate to see someone leave on a sour note," Ernst said. "I feel for him. But unfortunately, as I pointed out to him, the department has had three years to get this right and they were unable to complete the task." The Education Department said Cordray met with lawmakers primarily to discuss changes to financial aid for families with farm assets and small businesses, and the agency hopes to find ways to address their concerns. |
| What the 'Antisemitism Awareness' Bill Could Mean for Higher Ed | |
 | Debates over what precisely constitutes antisemitism have ramped up since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in early October, as colleges nationwide have grappled with growing unrest among students and faculty. Now Congress is adding its voice to the conversation. The House voted 320 to 91 Wednesday to codify a broad definition of antisemitism into federal civil rights law -- one that some in higher education worry could have a chilling effect on free speech on campus. The vote was bipartisan, as was the opposition: 133 Democrats joined 187 Republicans to vote yes. Supportive lawmakers, concerned about the wave of campus protests and allegations of antisemitic incidents and chants, said the legislation was necessary to protect Jewish students. "Congress should not only establish a firm commitment to the basic definition of antisemitism, but it ought to speak with clarity: this is wrong," Representative Marc Molinaro, a New York Republican, said of the campus protests and rising antisemitism. "Perhaps if we had said that decades ago, we wouldn't see the escalation that we're seeing today. Perhaps if college presidents simply accepted responsibility for the safety and security of their Jewish students, we wouldn't see the violence we have today." |
| Universities prepare to prevent pro-Palestinian protest disruptions of graduation ceremonies | |
| With student protests over the Israel-Hamas war disrupting campuses nationwide, several major universities are intent on ensuring that commencement ceremonies -- joyous milestones for graduates, their families and friends -- go off without a hitch this weekend. It won't be easy. Colleges are hiring extra security, screening attendees at venues and emphasizing that significant disruptions by pro-Palestinian protesters won't be tolerated. At the same time, they're pledging to honor free-speech rights by designating protest zones. Students booed and yelled "free Palestine" while the University of Utah president spoke Thursday night at commencement. He paused his speech to ask those who were protesting to leave or be removed. Outside the ceremony in Salt Lake City, a group of about 50 people were rallying. There was one arrest. "Milestone is a perfect word," said Ken Burdick of Tampa, Florida, describing his daughter's graduation Saturday at the University of Michigan. He hopes the big day goes untarnished. "People can exercise their First Amendment rights without disrupting or creating fear," Burdick said of protesters. Here's how some schools are planning to balance things. |
| Metal detectors. No banners, flags or clear bags. Expect heightened security at university commencements after protests | |
 | Madelyn Gamble's journey to graduation at Indiana University has been bookended by forces beyond her control. Gamble spent freshman year taking online university courses amid the Covid-19 surge. She didn't meet anyone in her graduating class until sophomore year. And now protests in response to the Israel-Hamas war have detracted from the completion of her senior year. The information systems major hasn't been on campus since last week, when, she said, the situation started "to get out of hand." "We started college in a time of a lot of instability, where no one really knew what was going on," said Gamble, a native of Washington state. "We started in instability and we're ending in instability." From New York to Los Angeles, traditional university graduation ceremonies -- many beginning this weekend -- will take place on the heels of escalating confrontations over the war in Gaza, with police entering campuses to make mass arrests and rip apart encampments. A time of sun-drenched pomp and circumstance, esteemed speakers, academic robes and decorated mortarboards arrives amid anxiety and exasperation for graduates, faculty and university officials grappling with safety concerns over potential disruptions. In a message to graduates and their families, Indiana University this week said it has implemented additional security measures and will have designated areas for protests outside the ceremonies. "Inside the venue staffers will respond to disruptions, beginning with warnings and requests to respect the importance of the celebrations for our graduates and their families," the university said. |
| Young Democrats warn Biden he must quickly change course | |
 | Young Democratic voters are sounding the alarm and warning President Biden that his reelection bid could be in jeopardy if he doesn't change course on the issues that matter most to them, including the war in Gaza. While they have soured on Biden on a range of issues from cost of living to climate issues, the rash of protests at college campuses around the country has been the latest point of contention with the president. "He will lose the election if he decides to roll the dice and assumes that Gaza isn't at the top of minds right now," said Elise Joshi, the executive director of Gen-Z for Change -- which was once run under the name TikTok for Biden. Joshi added that the last six months have seen "an increasing pace of concern" about the president. The crisis in Gaza has been a tipping point for many young voters, and some polls have shown support dissolving for Biden. Biden was critical of the recent protests on college campuses Thursday, condemning vandalism and trespassing, adding that protesters at Columbia University and other campuses had the right to demonstrate peacefully. "In moments like this, there are always those who rush in to score political points," the president said in a speech at the White House. "But this isn't a moment for politics. It's a moment for clarity. So let me be clear ... violent protest is not protected. Peaceful protest is." Joshi blasted Biden’s comments, calling them “shameful.” |
| A New Issue Flares in the 2024 Race: Campus Protests | |
 | Protests and arrests on college campuses exploded into the forefront of the presidential race this week, opening up a new line of attack for Republicans and forcing President Biden to directly address an issue that has divided the liberal wing of his party. With Donald J. Trump largely stuck in a New York City courtroom for one of his criminal trials, Republicans have tried to use the protests as a political cudgel and a literal backdrop to attack Mr. Biden, casting him as weak and unable to keep control of the country. For weeks, the White House has largely resisted wading into the fray, steering clear of the protests engulfing campuses over Israel's war in Gaza. Never one to be swept up in student movements, Mr. Biden had left any comments about the rapidly evolving situation to press officers, for the most part. His White House conducted no public outreach to university administrators or to protesting students. But as clashes on some campuses became increasingly destructive and arrests mounted across the country, Mr. Biden increased the distance between himself and some of the more radical activism on campuses. In remarks on Thursday, he struck a balance between defending free speech and describing what he saw as the limits of acceptable protest. Critics in both parties have urged the administration to do more. |
| Trump lurches into vacuum created by Biden's days of silence on campus protests | |
| Protests on college campuses related to the Israel-Hamas war and humanitarian crisis inside Gaza that turned violent this week handed President Joe Biden a political headache and former President Donald Trump a new attack line. The unrest showed the risks of being the incumbent and allowed Trump to -- once again -- push his hardline views as disrupter in chief. Biden and his campaign aides have mostly dismissed criticism from Arab American groups for months over his "ironclad" backing of Israel. Meanwhile, thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed in Israel's brutal response i to Hamas' Oct. 7 attack that killed more than 1,000 Israeli citizens. Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, jousted with a number of reporters Wednesday over the protests -- but she never directly addressed them nor gave a clear reason why Biden had not publicly done so. Biden's seeming goal of avoiding ownership of the campus violence and his silence, which ended with previously unannounced remarks Thursday morning from the White House, created a vacuum at the start of the week -- one that Trump seemed happy to fill. As Biden was out of public view for four days after headlining a Washington gala on Saturday evening, he drew fire from all sides -- including Arab American groups who have led anti-Biden vote drives in swing states during the Democratic primary. |
| Poll: Nearly Half of Adults Oppose the Pro-Palestinian Protests at Colleges | |
| The pro-Palestinian protests on many college campuses are dividing opinions -- especially between younger and older adults -- with nearly half of those responding to a new online survey opposing the demonstrations and a third saying university leaders have not responded harshly enough. More than a third of adults responding (34 percent) strongly oppose the protests, while another 13 percent are somewhat opposed, according to YouGov, a global opinion and data company based in London. In comparison, 12 percent "strongly support" and 16 percent "somewhat support" the demonstrations, according to the online three-question survey of more than 9,000 adults. YouGov releases topical, daily questions -- including these three -- across their social media channels and website. The organization warns people to be cautious with the results, as anyone can answer the question, across multiple platforms, and people with a specific interest in a topic can skew results. The first survey question, weighing opposition to the protests, showed significant differences when broken down by age, with younger people more sympathetic to the protests. Only 12 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds strongly opposed the protests, while 45 percent of 45- to 64-year-olds and more than half (56 percent) of adults 65 and older were staunchly against them. |
| Colleges Have a New Source of Protest on Their Hands: Irate Parents | |
 | Colleges already have a student revolt on their hands. Now their parents are rebelling, too. Parents paying as much as $90,000 for their sons and daughters to attend elite universities are angry and frustrated with colleges' responses to the Gaza protests---on both sides of the political divide. Whether their kids are protesting, counterprotesting or trying to stay out of it, parents are demanding that schools do more to keep them safe and learning. "They are not getting the education they expected and paid for," says Zev Gewurz, a Boston real-estate lawyer whose daughter is a senior at Barnard College in New York City. Parents are preparing to push back financially. They are requesting tuition refunds where classes have been canceled and contacting college counselors to ask how to get their money back. Parents are also threatening not to donate in the future. College officials say they are trying to keep students safe, adding security measures while also trying to respect students' rights to demonstrate. But tensions have exploded in the past few days. The tensions are further fraying the relationship between colleges and parents. They add to a drumbeat from more families questioning the value -- and hefty price tag -- of a college education. The re-evaluation is especially significant for college seniors, whose four years were disrupted by Covid. Part of families' ire stems from the years of work that many put in even before college, with well-off parents hiring tutors and counselors to try to boost their children's chances of landing a spot at a coveted university. |
SPORTS
| Diamond Dawgs Set For Top 25 Showdown With Alabama | |
| The Mississippi State Diamond Dawgs welcome the University of Alabama Crimson Tide for a key SEC series this weekend. The three-game set showcases the No. 16 Diamond Dawgs against the No. 23 Crimson Tide. First pitch is set for Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. The series will also be carried on the Bulldog Sports Network powered by LEARFIELD, along with a live audio stream via HailState.com/OnDemand. Alabama heads to Starkville 28-16 overall and 9-12 in the SEC. The Tide is fourth in the SEC West with their 9-12 SEC record. Alabama is 5-8 in away games this season. Leading Alabama's offense is led by Gage Miller. In 171 plate appearances Miller has recorded 66 hits, 47 RBI, 18 home runs, 10 doubles and two triples this season to earn a .386 batting average. Greg Farone leads the Tide's pitching staff with a 3.10 ERA. Farone has appeared in 12 games with 11 being starts. He has put in 52.1 innings of work and has a 4-1 record on the season. Mississippi State is 116-82 all-time when playing Alabama at Dudy Noble Field. The Tide and Diamond Dawgs faced off in a three-game series last year in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Where the Dawgs took two out of three. |
| What to watch, keys to victory for Mississippi State baseball against Alabama | |
| After cracking the top 25 in the latest RPI rankings following Wednesday night's Governor's Cup victory over Ole Miss, No. 16 Mississippi State returns to Dudy Noble Field this weekend for a three-game series against No. 23 Alabama. The Crimson Tide (28-16, 9-12 Southeastern Conference) have played well at home in SEC action, taking series from Tennessee, South Carolina and Arkansas. But the road has not been kind to Alabama --- the Tide were swept at Georgia and Kentucky before taking two of three last weekend at Ole Miss. Alabama has five starting position players batting .320 or better, led by Gage Miller, who carries an impressive .386/.483/.784 triple slash with 18 home runs and more walks than strikeouts. Justin Lebron, TJ McCants and Will Hodo also have gone deep at least 10 times, and catcher Mac Guscette is hitting .364, albeit without much power. Greg Farone, Zane Adams and Ben Hess have combined to start 32 of the Crimson Tide's 44 games, but while Farone and Adams have given Alabama a chance to win most of the time, Hess cannot say the same. Farone (52 1/3 IP, 3.10 ERA) is the staff ace, and Adams (44 2/3 IP, 4.43 ERA) has been solid, but Hess, despite solid strikeout numbers and an opponents' batting average of .226, has a 7.31 ERA in 44 1/3 innings. "They've played really good baseball of late. So have we," Bulldogs head coach Chris Lemonis said. "It's a big weekend for both of us. Should be a packed house at The Dude, I would imagine, this weekend." |
| State Set For Regular-Season Finale At Nusz Park | |
| Nusz Park is set to host a battle of the Bulldogs to close the regular season. No. 20/19 Mississippi State will host No. 14/12 Georgia for three games beginning Friday afternoon. With a busy weekend in store in Starkville, all three games are set for earlier times than normal. Friday's game is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT, and Saturday will begin at noon. Both of those games will air on SEC Network+. Sunday's regular-season finale will begin at 11 a.m. and be broadcast nationally by the SEC Network. Friday night is Bark in the Park and the only day of the year that pets are allowed in Nusz Park. Dog owners must sign a waiver upon arrival and must remain on the outfield deck. A small fenced in dog park area will be available in the outfield as well. Friday night will also see the senior members of State's support staff recognized prior to the game. Saturday is Senior Day with a graduation ceremony beginning at 11:10 a.m. The traditional senior recognitions for student-athletes will begin at 11:35 a.m. Sunday closes the weekend with Samoan Heritage Day in honor of senior Matalasi Faapito as well as teammates Leilani Pulemau and Kiarra Sells and head coach Samantha Ricketts. |
| What to watch, keys to victory for Mississippi State softball against Georgia | |
| For as well as Mississippi State has played at times this season, the Bulldogs still have not won a Southeastern Conference series at home. MSU drew an extremely challenging home slate, losing two out of three to Texas A&M, Florida and Tennessee, and it will not get any easier with No. 14 Georgia visiting Nusz Park this weekend to conclude the regular season. UGA (37-13, 11-10 SEC) is one game ahead of MSU in the conference standings, and playing at the hitter-friendly Jack Turner Stadium, Georgia leads the SEC with 78 home runs. Jayda Kearney and Sara Mosley are responsible for 17 and 16 of those long balls, respectively, and Sydney Kuma also has an OPS better than 1.000. Dallis Goodnight, Ellie Armistead and Jaiden Fields round out one of the SEC's deepest lineups. Lilli Backes (15-5, 2.48 ERA in 132 2/3 IP) is the biggest workhorse in the circle for UGA, but Madison Kerpics (11-2, 2.73 ERA, 66 2/3 IP) and Shelby Walters (8-6, 3.29 ERA, 93 2/3 IP) have also put in quality work. Georgia does not strike out many batters, and keeping the ball in the yard has been an issue at times. Here are three keys to victory for MSU (31-16, 10-11) as State looks to get back into contention to potentially host an NCAA regional. |
| St. Clair Finalist For NIL Awards Female Athlete Of The Year | |
| Mississippi State's Brylie St. Clair has been chosen as one of eight finalists for the Female Athlete of the Year Award at the Influencer NIL Summit's NIL Awards. Student Athlete NIL announced its 2024 nominees, recognizing exceptional achievement by student-athletes, brands and institutions during the third year of name, image and likeness activities. The Female Athlete of the Year award honors the student-athlete that has exhibited the best use of their name, image and likeness. Judges consider student-athletes that have best leveraged their NIL across multiple activations, platforms and campaigns to create maximum impact for their partners. St. Clair is one of two softball athletes among the finalists, joining Oklahoma's Jayda Coleman. "NIL was such a foreign concept when it first came out," St. Clair said. "Now that I know more about it and how it boosts your social media, it's honestly just improved my life for the better, and I'm very thankful for the opportunities that I've had. The support I have received at Mississippi State has helped me secure many NIL deals. It has been an honor to showcase the school that has given me so much." The fifth-year outfielder from Sand Rock, Alabama, gained notoriety on social media where she has more than 400,000 combined followers. She has partnered with brands in the beauty, cosmetics and fashion industries while also reaping the benefits of licensed apparel. |
| No. 15 MSU Set To Host Hornets In NCAA First Round | |
| For the second consecutive season and fourth time since 2018, No. 15 Mississippi State is set to host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Championships on its home courts. The top-seeded Bulldogs will play the second match of the Starkville Regional against No. 4 seed Alabama State on Friday at 1 p.m. Second-seeded Georgia Tech - ranked 30th nationally - will take on No. 3 seed and 37th-ranked Middle Tennessee on Friday morning at 10 a.m. to start things off at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. "The NCAA Championships is obviously the most important tournament of the year," said MSU head coach Matt Roberts. "It features the best teams in the country and ultimately determines the national champion. We are extremely proud to be hosting this event. It will give our awesome fans a chance to see two days of outstanding college tennis on our campus." MSU enters the NCAA Championships with a 17-7 overall record and finished third in Southeastern Conference play at 9-3. The Bulldogs have won six of their last eight matches but are coming off a 4-2 loss to then 24th-ranked South Carolina in the quarterfinals of the SEC Championships in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on April 19. The winner of Friday's matches moves on to the second round set for Saturday at 1 p.m. at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. In the case of inclement weather, matches will be moved inside the adjacent Rula Tennis Pavilion. |
| Georgia baseball coach Wes Johnson responds to accusations of pitcher doctoring ball | |
 | A Georgia baseball pitcher accused by opposing fans on social media and by the opposing coach of using a foreign substance in a game last Saturday will be available for the Bulldogs this weekend to play, according to coach Wes Johnson. Reliever Christian Mracna didn't make the trip to Kennesaw State Tuesday for what the team said at the time was an "illness." That came three days after Mracna was captured on video by Barstool Texas A&M in the Georgia bullpen going into a corner and with his back turned apparently working on his glove. Another video taken from the SEC Network video showed him touching the top of his glove with fingers of his pitching hand between pitches. Mcracna struck out six batters in two innings pitched for his first save of the year in a 5-4 Georgia win in the second game of a doubleheader in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M coach Jim Schlossnagle suspects Mracna broke rules by applying a foreign substance. "Certainly appears that way," Schlossnagle said in a text to The Associated Press on Tuesday. "It's part of the game ... wish we would've caught it." Georgia coach Wes Johnson responded Thursday afternoon when told about Schlossnagle's comments. "Guys, I'm going to make a blanket statement," Johnson said. "I don't have time in my day to deal with online subjective distractions. We teach our players to play by the rules. That's just where I'm at." Georgia had declined comment about Mracna or any communication with the SEC on the matter before Johnson's comments Thursday. |
| Mizzou admin expects athletic department to operate close to black, require financial support | |
 | With Laird Veatch's tenure as Missouri's athletic director starting Wednesday, university administration has set clear fiscal goals for him: boost revenue while limiting expenses. Forecasting a continued rise in the money associated with power-conference college sports, MU administration also seems prepared to become more invested -- financially and in terms of oversight -- in how Mizzou athletics handles its money. Tangibly, that means direct institutional support from the university to the athletic department will remain in play and the UM System Board of Curators' intercollegiate athletics committee will keep its focus on Mizzou sports' finances. Mun Choi, the president of the UM System, fell short of prescribing a specific benchmark for athletic department finances when speaking with reporters last week. Asked by the Post-Dispatch whether there are internal goals of finishing in the black, he said, "It's hard to tell right now." "While we want to make sure that we operate as close to the black as possible," Choi said, "we know that the future of college athletics -- if you look at institutional support at all the other universities -- it's going to require more institutional support." Mizzou reported to the NCAA that it received $22.8 million of direct institutional support -- a category of revenue that includes money given or loaned to athletics by the university -- during the 2023 fiscal year, which ran from July 2022 through June 2023. |
| Athlete Transfers Are on the Rise. So Is the 'Grueling' Work That Makes Them Possible. | |
 | Twenty college athletes wanted to transfer to a new campus. Could they? It fell to Ronald Moses to help sort it out. Last Friday, Moses, an executive senior associate athletic director who works in athlete welfare at Old Dominion University, met with three or four athletes who wanted to transfer from the Virginia campus. They needed to track down their transcripts and syllabi so his counterparts at their next institution could determine which of their credits could count toward curricular requirements at their new campus. Sometimes that means figuring out why there may be a hold on a transcript. Did they pay for their parking pass? Is there some other fee they still owe? Then he met with Old Dominion's recruitment coordinator for athletic teams about potential incoming transfer students -- 16 or 17 in total -- who would be visiting over just that weekend alone. They went student by student to determine which of their credits would count at Old Dominion, and who might need to take classes over the summer to get up to speed. It was a typical spring day for Moses, who is responsible for monitoring the academic lives of Old Dominion's athletes. But the job isn't what it used to be. In 2021, the National Collegiate Athletics Association's top division abandoned a rule that made athletes in certain sports ineligible to play in the first year after transferring. Since then, college athletes have been transferring much more frequently. Other recent developments -- new rules and the introduction of name, image, and likeness (NIL) payments, among other things -- have added fuel to the fire. |
| Sources: New college athlete compensation model may cost power schools $300M each over 10 years | |
| A bag slung over his shoulder and luggage in his hand, Baylor football coach Dave Aranda hustled down the main staircase at the Hyatt Gainey Ranch after the annual Big 12 conference meetings. He buzzed through the lobby for a quick hello and then jettisoned out the door with a destination in mind. "I'm going to see the (Arizona) Cardinals," he said, smiling. "Got to learn how to do all this!" A college coach or administrator visiting a professional sports organization is not necessarily groundbreaking. But Aranda's visit -- presumably to learn more about roster management and pay scale -- is indicative of the times. The college sports industry is moving closer to the inevitable: a direct athlete-compensation model. As industry executives continue to negotiate with plaintiff lawyers in the House antitrust case, details of a future compensation model -- a necessary piece to any settlement agreement -- continue to emerge. Those who shared details were granted anonymity as they were not authorized to speak about a proposed settlement that continues to undergo changes. While negotiations are active and have been for as many as eight months --- not a new revelation within the industry -- concepts of the proposed new model are becoming more formalized as leaders work to meet a deadline set by attorneys. Money figures are becoming clear: For those in the power conferences, the price tag is steep. |
| Sources: NCAA could pay over $2.7B to settle antitrust suits | |
| The NCAA's national office might be footing the bill for a settlement expected to be more than $2.7 billion in the landmark House v. NCAA lawsuit and other related antitrust cases, in hopes of reshaping and stabilizing the college sports industry, sources told ESPN on Thursday. Sources told ESPN this week that parties have proposed the NCAA's national office -- rather than its individual member schools or conferences -- would pay for the settlement of past damages over a period of 10 years. The NCAA payments would be paid to former college athletes who say they were illegally prevented from making money by selling the rights to their name, image and likeness. The settlement would come with a corresponding commitment from conferences and schools to share revenue with athletes moving forward, sources said. The settlement would establish a framework for power conferences to share revenue with their athletes in the future. Sources have told ESPN that schools are anticipating a ceiling of nearly $20 million per year for athlete revenue share moving forward. (That figure is derived from a formula that's expected to be, per sources, 22% of a revenue metric that's still being discussed, which is set to be based on various revenue buckets. It would be up to the schools to share that much.) The dollar value and timing, sources cautioned, is not set and could change due to the myriad variables involved in the case. |
| The most important element in House case settlement? Protection from further lawsuits | |
| The most consequential outcome in an anticipated settlement of the landmark House v. NCAA antitrust lawsuit won't be the hefty bill for the NCAA, which could exceed $2.7 billion paid over the next decade. Nor will it be the creation of a framework for a long-awaited revenue-sharing model, which has long been viewed as an inevitability among industry leaders at least for the power conferences. As a settlement that will shift the tectonic plates of college sports nears -- with potential details first reported by ESPN and Yahoo Sports -- here's the most important component to watch for: Protection from further lawsuits. The only way for an expected settlement to be sustainable long-term is for the deal to be merely the first move in a two-step process that staves off continued antitrust lawsuits against the NCAA. There are only two ways for that to occur: The NCAA could finally secure its long-sought antitrust exemption from Congress. Or it could open the door to athlete collective bargaining, where, much like in pro sports, athletes would negotiate compensation and benefits as part of a union. "A settlement has to lead to involving the athletes in the schools and conferences that are going to share the revenue with them," one industry source told On3. "That's the only way the new deal can be decided in a way that's sustainable." |
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