| Friday, August 30, 2024 |
| MSU documentary recalls first sporting event post 9/11 | |
 | In the aftermath of the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, much of the world stopped, fearing the worst and pondering what could be next. A new Mississippi State University Films documentary tells the story of the first major post-9/11 sporting event held in the U.S. -- the 2001 Southeastern Conference football game between the Bulldogs and the South Carolina Gamecocks. The MSU Films documentary, titled "9/20," makes its national television debut on the SEC Network at 7 P.M. CT on September 11. It will be immediately available for streaming here following the broadcast. "Told through archival footage and interviews of those who made the game happen both on and off the field, MSU filmmakers examine a watershed moment when Americans turned to sports as a momentary escape from tragedy and a return to normalcy," the university stated in its announcement of the documentary film. As the film recalls, the Bush White House contacted then-SEC Commissioner Roy Kramer, urging him to move forward with the game after sporting events had been canceled since the terrorist attack. MSU states that to ease Americans' anxiety, security at Davis Wade Stadium and the entire MSU campus was heightened to new levels for the game. "Once you actually got on that field and held that enormous American Flag... nobody cared if you were a Republican or a Democrat, or a Mississippi State fan or South Carolina fan," said former Bulldog quarterback Wayne Madkin in the film. "At that particular time, it was bigger than all of us. And we were Americans." |
| Mississippi State University-Meridian Opens First Direct-Entry, Accelerated Master's in Nursing Program | |
| Mississippi State University has opened the Magnolia State's first direct-entry, accelerated Master of Science in Nursing program on its Meridian campus starting with the fall 2024 semester. The program prepares students who hold non-nursing bachelor's degrees for the National Council Licensure Examination. Students will complete 58 credit hours of coursework over 12 months; graduates are then eligible for the NCLEX-RN examination and licensure as a registered nurse. "Research tells us that people that come to nursing after having lived experiences, perhaps in another field, are very focused, self-directed adults and they tend to stay in the workforce longer because they have more resilience," Mississippi State University School of Nursing Dean Mary W. Stewart told the Mississippi Free Press on July 11. "... Our goal is to is to welcome those histories and those backgrounds and then build on those graduate-level competencies -- such as systems thinking, quality and safety for patients, quality improvement -- using evidence-based research to guide practice." Mississippi State's nursing school is housed in downtown Meridian in the historic Rosenbaum Health Sciences Building. The Riley Foundation gave $6.1 million for renovations to the building which will feature a state-of-the-art interprofessional simulation program, six clinical exam rooms and six medical-surgical rooms to provide hands-on training. The school has high-fidelity simulation spaces, traditional practice areas and assessment labs on the first and second floors. |
| Three Mississippi schools have rebranded their DEI divisions | |
| Universities and companies around the country have DEI divisions. DEI stands for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. But some Mississippi officials are raising a red flag to say the offices at the state's universities are not doing what you'd expect. Auditor Shad White called attention to concerns about DEI divisions at the state's universities in a 2023 report. He said they're sharing controversial ideology with students that's being funded by the taxpayers. Mississippi State takes issue with the Auditor's assessment. "What Shad White describes on the political stump is not what we're doing at Mississippi State University," said MSU Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter. "I don't think it's what we're doing at the other universities in Mississippi. But you know, he's entitled to his opinion. He's not entitled to his facts." MSU says they're helping connect students to resources and improve access to groups like veterans, first-generation students and those coming out of the foster system. Ole Miss echoed similar sentiments in a recent statement, saying its new division is designed in part to address the steady decline in the number of Mississippi high school graduates enrolling in higher education. |
| Mississippi's summer drought impacts pastures, crops | |
 | Close to half of Mississippi is in a moderate to severe drought. Mike Brown, the state climatologist and Mississippi State University (MSU) professor of meteorology said much of the northern two-thirds of the state has been fluctuating between drought and being okay. "The recent warm temperatures, lower humidity and lack of precipitation has pushed us into a drought," Brown said. "The final severity will depend upon when and how much rain we receive in the next three to four weeks." Officials said this year's drought was made worse by the drought of 2023. "While precipitation returned to normal in most locations toward the end of the year and early into 2024, normal was not enough to offset deep soil moisture loss from 2023," Brown said. "We need to have several months of 110 to 125% of normal rainfall in order to recharge our deep soil moisture." According to the MSU Extension Service, pastures and hay fields may have struggled the most in this summer's dry weather, and their quality has dropped in recent weeks. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated 27% of pastures are currently in very poor or poor condition. Of these pastures, 37% are in fair shape, 33% are good and just 3% are in excellent condition. Rocky Lemus, forage specialist with the MSU Extension Service, said hay production is 40% below normal since only two hay cuttings have been achieved under the drought conditions. |
| Second school bus rear-ended in the Golden Triangle this month | |
 | A blue Ford Mustang struck a Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District bus Thursday morning, according to police, marking the second time this month a Golden Triangle school bus has been rear-ended. Starkville Police Department Public Information Officer Brandon Lovelady said the accident happened at about 7:30 a.m. on Hospital Road near the North Jackson Street intersection. Lovelady said both drivers were evaluated for injuries at the scene, and neither had to be taken to the hospital. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, he said. SOCSD Communications Director Haley Montgomery told The Dispatch in a text message no students were on the bus at the time of the accident. Earlier this month, a Caledonia woman was arrested after rear-ending a Lowndes County School District bus while driving drunk. A second LCSD school bus was side-swiped by a vehicle with a trailer traveling next to it on the same day. Montgomery encouraged drivers to be hyper aware when school buses are on the road. Getting students to and from school safely is a top priority for the district, she said. |
| Traveling over Labor Day weekend? Have a back-up plan for cancellations and delays, and be patient | |
 | Many children have gone back to school in the U.S., and the days are getting shorter, but there is still one more excuse to use the swimsuits and beach towels before packing them up: Labor Day. Airports, highways, beaches and theme parks are expected to be packed for the long holiday weekend as a lot Americans mark the unofficial end of summer the same way they celebrated the season's unofficial start: by traveling. The Transportation Security Administration anticipates screening more than 17 million people between Thursday and next Wednesday -- a record for the Labor Day period. AAA says bookings for domestic travel are running 9% higher than last year for the holiday weekend, while international trips are down 4%. American Airlines plans to have its largest Labor Day weekend operation ever and expects a 14% increase in passengers compared to last year. "Not everyone travels for Labor Day, not compared to July 4th or Thanksgiving -- those are the most popular ones," says Aixa Diaz, a spokesperson for AAA. "But certainly Labor Day offers people a way to get away for a final weekend of the summer. You've got people who are either taking the three-day weekend or perhaps taking off the whole week before Labor Day." |
| MHP readies for Labor Day weekend travel enforcement period | |
| The Mississippi Highway Patrol will be out on the roadways in full force during the Labor Day weekend. The statewide travel enforcement period will begin Friday at 6 a.m. and conclude Monday at midnight. With traffic expected to be up by nearly nine percent compared to last Labor Day, according to AAA, the Mississippi Highway Patrol is encouraging motorists to take extra precautions. The enforcement period will include high-visibility patrols and safety checkpoints over the Labor Day weekend to ensure safe driving across the state. For MHP officers patrolling the roadways, the emphasis will be on deterring speeding, impaired or distracted driving, minimizing fatal crashes, and promoting seatbelt usage. "Looking into the upcoming holiday weekend, safety remains a top priority for us," Lt. Colonel James Ivory said. "As you gather with your family and friends, and with the kickoff of college football, our roads are expected to be busy. Let us all make a conscious effort to drive safe, wear your seatbelt, and be smart on this holiday weekend." |
| Main Street site visit to help direct revitalization effort | |
 | Meridian Main Street Association is set to welcome special guests next month as experts in real estate redevelopment come to the Queen City to assist with revitalization efforts. Advisors from the real estate and economic development firm Place + Main Advisors, a firm specializing in revitalization and redevelopment, will be in town Sept. 23 to gather information and meet with leaders in Meridian's downtown revitalization effort. Matt Schanrock, director of Meridian Main Street, said he was looking forward to meeting the advisors and getting their thoughts on the local revitalization efforts. "This is one of the main things that they do, and it's really cool," he said. "(I'm) really looking forward to it." While in town, the advisors will tour four downtown properties and use their observations and expertise to provide Meridian Main Street with ideas to revitalize and repurpose the buildings, Schanrock said. Currently, he said, the advisors are set to tour The Meridian Star building on 22nd Avenue, the old McKee Glass Service on 19th Avenue and the former Jean's Restaurant building on Front Street. "The fourth one, we're still kind of up in the air on what we're going to do," he said. |
| Gulf States Canners expanding in Clinton | |
| The Mississippi Development Authority announced Thursday that Gulf States Canners is expanding its canning facility in Clinton. Gulf States Canners has been a part of the Clinton business community since 1972, serving as a local producer of canned and bottled products for Coca-Cola bottlers. According to MDA, the expansion project is a $40.8 million investment by the company and will create 19 jobs. The modernization of facilities will increase efficiency and capacity while adding a new PET bottle production line for Coca-Cola sparkling products and Dasani water bottles. Mark Shorter, General Manager for Gulf States Canners, said in a statement that the expansion marks a significant milestone in the company's history and underlines its long-term commitment to the Clinton community and their employees. Governor Tate Reeves said the company has been a valued business partner to Mississippi for more than 50 years. "It's exciting to see that the company is not only thriving, but also expanding its operations and bringing new jobs to the City of Clinton," Reeves said in a statement. "Every company's success drives further growth in our state, and projects like this are investments in our local communities and the future of Mississippi." MDA noted that the agency is providing assistance through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive, or MFLEX, program. |
| Biden administration approves Mississippi's $1.2 billion internet access plan | |
| Mississippi's plan to spend $1.2 billion in federal money to expand broadband internet access statewide has received approval from the Biden administration. The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration on Thursday announced it has approved Mississippi and South Dakota's initial proposals for the $42-billion federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment state grant program. BEAD is the cornerstone of the Biden administration's "Internet for All" initiative. The state grant program is part of $62 billion included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for expanding internet access. The approval allows Mississippi to request $1.2 billion and go from planning to action on the BEAD program. South Dakota was cleared to request $207 million. The award was based on the number of homes and businesses lacking high-speed internet and estimated costs of expanding it. Mississippi has an estimated 300,000 unserved and 200,000 underserved homes and businesses. Sally Doty, director of broadband expansion for Mississippi, in a statement said: "This approval in the BEAD program means we are one step closer to connecting all remaining unserved and underserved locations in the most rural areas of Mississippi. These are large construction projects that require a good deal of time for buildout and require careful evaluation and monitoring, but incredible progress is now being made." |
| Mississippi AG sues PBMs for role in opioid epidemic | |
 | Mississippi is suing Pharmacy Benefit Managers for their alleged role in the opioid epidemic. On Thursday, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch filed suit against several Pharmacy Benefit Managers, or PBMs, for contributing the proliferation of opioids in the United States, including Mississippi. According to the complaint filed in Hinds County Chancery Court, Fitch's office argues that PBMs had a pivotal role in proliferating addictive prescription drugs to market through facilitating the movement of drugs from manufacturers and insurers to pharmacies in Mississippi. "(PBMs) had a central role in facilitating the oversupply of opioids through conduct that has the intended purpose of ignoring the necessary safeguards for purposes of increasing the prescribing, dispensing and sales of prescription opioids, part of the complaint reads. In a press release issued Thursday evening, Fitch said it is the role of her office to make sure these companies are held responsible for their alleged part in the opioid epidemic. The release also mentions a Federal Trade Commission report released earlier this year that calls out PBMs for their enormous size, scope and business practices. Since she took office, Fitch has attached the state onto several national lawsuits with pharmaceutical companies who were found responsible for amplifying the opioid epidemic. |
| Mississippi lawmakers examine in-person early voting in joint hearing | |
 | State lawmakers from both chambers heard testimony about the security of early voting and its popularity among the electorate during a hearing at the state capital on Wednesday. During the 2024 legislative session, Senate Elections chair, Jeremy England, proposed legislation that would allow Mississippians to vote up to 15 days before election day at their circuit clerk's office. The bill passed in his chamber, but was never taken up in the House. England says he's going to revive that effort in 2025 because the policy just makes sense in the fast paced society. "Mississippians are hard working people and sometimes we work far away from where we live," England said. "We go where our best jobs are and to have to try to vote between seven and seven on a Tuesday, it's not convenient." Multiple election commissioners from across the state attended the hearing, some driving six hours to be there. The general sentiment among those commissioners was that early voting is coming to Mississippi eventually, but lawmakers need to get it right. And that local governments shouldn't bear the cost of implementing early voting. After the hearing, England said he expects early voting to pay for itself, and even save money in some areas. In-person early voting is currently in place in 47 states, with Mississippi, Alabama and New Hampshire as the only remaining holdouts. England hopes that helps motivate lawmakers to make Mississippi the 48th state to put that process in place. |
| Revitalizing Jackon: Lawmakers listen to stakeholders on abandoned, state-owned properties | |
| While no official action was taken, blighted and abandoned properties were the issue discussed Thursday during the first meeting of The Select Committee on Capital and Metro Revitalization. The committee is made up of 19 members from the Mississippi House of Representatives who are looking for ways to improve the Jackson Metro area. Committee members listened to speakers from the Mississippi Secretary of State's office, the Jackson City Council, the Jackson Police Department, Capitol Police, the Jackson Redevelopment Authority, Great City MS Foundation and the Hinds County Sheriff's Department. All spoke about their respective roles dealing with abandoned or blighted properties, as well as providing some solutions about how best to tackle the issue. Committee members then plan to take what they learned and make legislative changes during the Mississippi Legislature's next session. What was clear during the meeting is that more state funding is needed to tackle the approximately 7,000 state-owned tax forfeited properties in Mississippi. Of that, 1,971 are located in Hinds County. And in the county, 1,821 are located in the City of Jackson. Tax-forfeited lands are held by the Mississippi Secretary of State's Public Lands Division, who keeps track of the properties and then puts them up for sale. |
| Farm-State Politics at Farm Show: Optimistic About Farm Bill, House Ag Chair Bashes Harris-Walz Campaign | |
| Farm-state politics and policy took center stage Wednesday as the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and the USDA secretary took center stage at the Farm Progress Show. Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Pa., the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, was asked by a reporter about what would change if Vice President Kamala Harris were to win the White House. "I don't think anything is going to be different. In the end, she's flipping on everything she said she was going to do and now she's really copying President Trump's talking points on everything," Thompson said. Thompson added he served with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in Congress, adding "I consider him a friend, but Tim was pretty far left when he was in the House and on the Ag Committee and then he went off the rails when he went to Minnesota to become governor." Thompson also criticized Walz for describing farm country as "the land of rocks and cows," adding "and that was not meant as an endearing description." Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also spoke at the Farm Progress Show, and highlighted challenges with farm income while defending the administration on trade even as the agricultural trade deficit widens. |
| Farm Progress Show: Statewide and national leaders discuss farm bill | |
| The Iowa Progress show is known first for its massive farming equipment, but on Wednesday, it also served as a stage for both statewide and national politicians to discuss the most recent farm bill. Iowa Reps. Ashley Hinson, Zach Nunn and Randy Feenstra all participated in a panel about the Farm Food and National Security Act alongside Pennsylvania Rep. Glenn Thompson. Thompson, the chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, said it's been a frustrating time for the House, which passed a version of the bill. And it's because the Senate has not yet taken any action on the bill he said is supported beyond being bipartisan. "Quite frankly, tri-partisan, because we heard from the producers and processors of what their needs are," Thompson said. "And that's really only reflected in this legislation." But U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said that while he supports signing a farm bill, there's still some work to be done. "But I think, frankly, we're going to have to get practical about this. We're going to have to make sure that we know exactly how many resources are available," Vilsack said. |
| Nutrition programs for older adults face service cuts | |
 | Programs that feed older, homebound adults are instituting waiting lists amid budget crunches, rising costs of food, growing demand for their services and funding cuts from the government. Combined with the end of COVID-19 era aid, local groups are finding that they can no longer serve the same number of people, resulting in difficult decisions about next steps. "This is a huge challenge for our network," said Josh Protas, chief advocacy and policy officer at Meals on Wheels America, a national organization that supports local organizations delivering meals to homebound individuals, mainly older adults. Meals on Wheels is among the groups pushing for funding increases through the appropriations process for programs funded under the Older Americans Act, a decades-old law first signed by President Lyndon Johnson to support adults as they age in their communities. The population is getting older. Over the next decade, people 65 and older will represent 22 percent of the population, compared to 17 percent in 2022. They are at a unique risk for going hungry because of fixed incomes, social isolation, lack of access to transportation and health conditions that make it difficult to cook or shop for groceries. Almost 7 million seniors were "food insecure" -- or didn't have enough to eat -- in 2022, and more than 9 million could be by 2050, according to Feeding America. Congress has recognized the need for more funding for the programs. But budget pressures have made that difficult. |
| Harris and Walz talk Cabinet hires and a viral DNC moment: 4 CNN interview takeaways | |
 | In her first interview since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris chose to bring her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz along for the ride. Dressed in a grey monochromatic suit and her trademark pearl necklace, Harris talked about her evolution on a number of progressive policy positions she was aligned with as a California senator and as a presidential candidate in 2020 and her openness to appointing a Republican to her Cabinet among other topics in a sit-down interview with CNN anchor Dana Bash. With 67 days to go until election, Harris had been criticized for not having had press conferences or interviews with reporters more than a month after she took the baton from President Joe Biden when he dropped out of the race. The interview got a tiny bit testy when Bash asked Harris if she still supported fracking after saying in 2019 "there's no question I'm in favor of banning fracking." Harris seemed irritated at the question and responded by saying she had made it clear on the 2020 vice presidential debate stage that she would not ban fracking if voters elected Joe Biden to the White House. Bash reframed the question asking what had made her change her mind "at the time." "Let's be clear. My values have not changed," Harris said before talking about how the Inflation Reduction Act included investments in clean energy and creating more than 300,000 new jobs in the industry. |
| Trump has history sparking outrage for incidents around veterans even as military voters backed him | |
| The reported altercation at Arlington National Cemetery involving Donald Trump's staff was far from the first time that veterans or the families of service members have criticized the former president for words or behavior they saw as disparaging. Since his first run for the White House, Trump has picked fights with the military and veterans that no other major U.S. politician would, dating back to 2015 when he dismissed the late Sen. John McCain's military record because McCain had been a prisoner of war. Trump's allies argue he supports service members while reserving the right to lash out against his critics. "I think that if you want to know how Donald Trump values and honors those who've served, and particularly those who've given the ultimate sacrifice, I think you can just talk to these families and they have a much better read on this issue than anybody who has a grudge against Donald Trump," said Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Trump's running mate, on Monday. Monday's incident at Arlington National Cemetery took place as the former president visited the graves of some of the 13 U.S. service members killed in the Kabul bombing during the 2021 U.S. evacuation of Afghanistan. The Army says a cemetery official was "pushed aside" by Trump campaign aides while trying to prevent them from filming and photographing in Section 60, the burial site for military personnel killed while fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. |
| Arlington National Cemetery meant to be 'neutral zone,' says military chaplain | |
 | Arlington National Cemetery remains at the center of controversy after one of its staff members tried to prevent former President Donald Trump's team from filming and taking photos in the cemetery. The incident occurred earlier this week, when Trump appeared at Arlington to observe the three-year mark since 13 U.S. service members were killed in a deadly attack in Afghanistan during the U.S. withdrawal. The cemetery is mostly reserved for deceased U.S. veterans from all military branches. The event Trump attended was held in Section 60, an area reserved for service members killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. The U.S. Army, the military branch in charge of managing the grounds, says federal law and other regulations prohibit political activities at the cemetery. The grounds are considered sacred and hallowed, and Rev. David Peters, a retired military chaplain and Episcopal priest who has conducted services at Arlington, said this is because the cemetery is meant to be a space set apart to remember those who died in service. "It's kind of like a neutral zone for a lot of things like religious ideology and politics and other things, because we want to honor the way these young people served our country in a time of great conflict," Peters said. When he heard of the Trump team's altercation with an Arlington staff member, which NPR was first to report, Peters thought about the young troops buried in the cemetery. "It reminded me of what those graves mean for all of us as Americans, that these young people went far away from their homes to serve their country in this way and give their lives in a sacrificial way. And they should never be exploited for any reason, for any ideology, political or religious," Peters said. |
| Selling America: The Army's fight to find recruits in a mistrustful, divided nation | |
 | Only about 9 percent of young people say they are likely to consider military service, down from 16 percent in the early years of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, according to Defense Department surveys. Pentagon officials blamed some of the recent drop on the hot job market. But they also knew that the low unemployment rate couldn't explain the totality of the problem. Trust in all American institutions -- the Supreme Court, Congress, police, public schools -- has in recent years plummeted, according to Gallup. The armed forces, though still relatively popular, have not been immune: In 2023, about 60 percent of Americans said they had a "great deal" of confidence in the military, the lowest percentage since 1997, Gallup found. "There's a relationship between that propensity number and a lot of what you see in surveys about trust in institutions, pride in country and levels of patriotism," said Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth in an interview. With the end of the Cold War, the Army got smaller, more selective and isolated from the rest of the country. "We're closing in on ourselves," Wormuth worried. Today, 81 percent of Army recruits come from military families. In Pentagon surveys, young Americans and their parents said they knew little about the armed forces. |
| Arthur Brooks shares the secret to happiness at Fall Convocation | |
 | University students, faculty, staff and administration gathered in the Sandy and John Black Pavilion on Tuesday, Aug. 27 for Fall Convocation. This year's keynote speaker was Arthur Brooks, author of "Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier." Brooks' book is the selection for the common reading experience, a tradition started in 2011 in which first-year students are provided and read the same book before the start of the school year. Brooks shared ways to make the college experience and life more meaningful through happiness. Although most people describe happiness as a feeling, Brooks said that happiness is tangible and that there are techniques that can be used to help people happier. "You want to add people and memories to the things you like. That's the point here in college, to do things together with your new friends and the people that you love," Brooks said. Brooks encouraged students to find their own definitions of happiness by asking themselves, "Why are you alive?" and "For what would you give your life?" Brooks also implored students to take the opportunity while on campus to discover the answer. |
| Tuition: $9,400. Dorm Room Interior Designer: $10,000? | |
 | For some students, the days of racing to Bed Bath & Beyond the day before college starts, clutching a 20-percent-off coupon to snag a colorful crate and a snap-on desk lamp, are long gone. Today, a wave of undergraduates -- especially in the southern states -- are hiring interior designers to completely makeover their dorm rooms at a cost of thousands of dollars per room. And the students are spending nearly double the amount they did just a decade ago, even if they don't arrive on move-in day with a professional designer by their sides. This year, according to the National Retail Federation, college students spent about $87 billion, a drop from the high of $94 billion last year, but significantly more than the $48 billion they spent in 2014. This equates to an average of $1,365 per student, the group reports. When she began her freshman year at the University of Mississippi, where the tuition is $9,400 for in-state students, Lesley Lachman was taken aback by the dorm rooms, which she described as "completely not doable to live-in." So this year, Ms. Lachman, 18, joined forces with Essentials with Eden, an interior design company focused on dorm rooms. Eden Bowen Montgomery, the founder and owner of Essentials with Eden, got the idea for her dorm-focused design company after her freshman year at Ole Miss. By the time she graduated in 2021 with a degree in integrated marketing communications, Ms. Montgomery had already started her business. This year, she had more than 200 dorm clients, requiring 25 seasonal employees. She charges about $10,000 per room ($5,000 per student) for the full service, which requires Ms. Montgomery and her team to arrive on move-in day and put together the rooms from scratch. |
| Meet Joe Petraro, age 11, student at LSU who wants to make sports for everybody | |
 | When Joe Petraro was about eight years old and attending school in New York, he was placed in special education by his school district because teachers and administrators assumed he needed it. At the beginning of the school year, his teacher, Mrs. Sardi, noticed that even though Joe appeared to be zoning out in class, he knew all the answers. The traditional classroom just might not be the best place for him to thrive. "School feels like a jail," Joe said. "You're locked up, surrounded by these gates, all the doors are locked. You can't move around -- you have to ask for the hall pass. It's not good for your health." After being tested and reevaluated, adults in Joe's life figured out that he has Tourette's Syndrome, and he's super smart. He skipped fourth grade, transferred to an online hybrid school which allows students to move at their own pace and proceeded to speed through middle and high school in two years. Over the summer, he started as a student at LSU through their virtual program where he is studying sports management in hopes of making sports inclusive for everyone. "He feels like there should be no barriers -- everyone should be able to play," Joe's mother, Anne Petraro said. According to Christina M. Bourg, the executive director of marketing & partnerships LSU Online & Continuing Education, the asynchronous classes are taught by the same professors who teach in-person across LSU's campuses and provide the same quality of education that LSU provides with opportunities to interact with classmates through online discussion forums. |
| UF terminates several allies of former UF President Ben Sasse | |
 | At least six political allies of former University of Florida President Ben Sasse have been terminated by the university following his abrupt departure in July. While Sasse announced on July 18 that he would resign his position after just 17 months on the job, questions have remained about the job status of those he brought with him to Gainesville from his time as a Republican Nebraska Senator in Washington., D.C. The Sun, through a public records request, obtained the personnel files for eight of those individuals, including six of his former Senate staffers and two former Republican officials. Records show two of Sasse's three former Senate staff members hired by the university in mid-March 2023 to serve as advisers to the president received courtesy notices that their temporary appointments would not be renewed, and that they will both continue to work remotely through Nov. 1. Kari Ridder, who lives in Nebraska, has an annual salary of $122,400. Kelicia Rice, who lives in Virginia, has an annual salary of $138,000. A third staffer, Raven Shirley, initially was hired as a transition adviser but was promoted on May 8 to an executive assistant position with an annual salary of $126,000. Shirley received a notice of non-reappointment on July 31 with her last day on Aug. 1. Under a university regulation that requires three months' notice of termination, Shirley will be paid a lump sum of three months' salary, or $31,500. |
| Conley Avenue closure may delay new U. of Missouri parking model | |
 | The unexpected closure of the Conley Avenue parking structure might delay the University of Missouri's implementation of a new parking model. A demand-based parking model was initially scheduled to go into effect no sooner than January 2025, according to MU's Parking and Transportation website. With this model, rates for parking permits would be divided by tiers based on how sought-after a particular parking structure is. "We decided to pause the conversation around the transition," said Sarah Chinniah, MU vice chancellor for business operations and strategic initiatives, at Thursday's MU Faculty Council meeting. The decision, she said, was due to "an unexpected series of events at Conley (Avenue parking structure)." Before beginning any discussion about transitioning to a model based on "flexibility and choice," she said, a serious examination of parking availability must happen. "And that's a big question mark," Chinniah said. MU Parking and Transportation announced Aug. 17 that the Conley Avenue parking garage will be closed for maintenance until further notice. MU spokesperson Christopher Ave said a contractor noticed an abnormality on the west side of the parking structure while doing planned maintenance. Additional testing revealed "some of the cables were relaxed rather than at proper tension," Ave said. |
| After diversity pushback, some faculty feel left in dark at North Carolina's flagship university | |
| Keely Muscatell always told prospective students they could study anything they dreamed of at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Now, with many diversity programs across the state's public university system at risk of elimination, she isn't so sure. "We've had some really, really sad and difficult conversations within my lab," the UNC psychology professor said. "Can we, in good conscience, continue to try to recruit and advocate that people go to graduate school here? Especially people of color?" The UNC Board of Governors took the major step in May of revoking a diversity policy spanning its 17 institutions -- meaning roles will be reassessed and possibly eliminated. Republican General Assembly leaders encouraged and then applauded the move. House Speaker Tim Moore previously decried DEI efforts as wasteful spending and "wokeness" to indoctrinate students. "At the end of the day, let the students have the free exchange, but don't allow coercion of ideas and don't allow folks to be marginalized," he said in April. The new policy commits the schools to free speech, academic freedom and institutional neutrality -- values UNC System President Peter Hans calls necessary to prevent institutions from taking political stances. The Associated Press spoke with several UNC-Chapel Hill faculty members who reported feeling uninformed on the sweeping policy's implementation. Many, like Muscatell, say the lack of campuswide guidance raises concerns about what's next. |
| U. of Virginia Suspends Tours Criticized for Emphasizing Ties to Slavery | |
| The University of Virginia said on Thursday that it had suspended a longstanding campus tour service, but said the move was unrelated to complaints that the tours cast a negative historical spotlight on the school, particularly its relationship to slavery. The tours, aimed primarily at prospective students and their families, were run by student volunteers. For several years, the tour organization, the University Guide Service, has been the focus of criticism from an organization of conservative alumni called the Jefferson Council, which has argued that the volunteer guides have alienated prospective students by providing a "woke version of U.Va. history." A university spokesman, Brian Coy, said the decision to pause the work of the guide service had nothing to do with that criticism. Instead, he said, the university was concerned that the group had insufficient capacity to operate the required number of tours and that the information provided during the tours wasn't consistent. "Some of the tours have been excellent and comprehensive, and others have been found to be in need of work," Mr. Coy said, adding that tour guides hadn't always shown up. The Jefferson Council is an organization of conservative alumni who say their mission is to preserve Thomas Jefferson's legacy as the founder and architect of U.Va. One of the group's main complaints was that the guides emphasized how Mr. Jefferson was a slaveholder while downplaying his more positive contributions as a founding father and the nation's third president. |
| Report: Belonging a Key Factor in Student Retention | |
 | Despite colleges and universities enrolling more diverse student populations now than ever before, there continue to be inequities in completion and retention. Belonging and student experience are two key factors to student retention and completion, particularly for students from historically minoritized backgrounds, and investing in these kinds of interventions can help them get across the finish line, says Diane Cheng, vice president of research and policy at the Institute for Higher Education Policy. A new brief from IHEP highlights belonging and student experience–focused interventions with proven outcomes in aiding academic achievement, supporting student mental health and promoting completion of postsecondary degrees. A student's sense of belonging is their sense of being connected, academically and socially, to their community, according to the report. The student experience, or the day-to-day experiences students have on campus and with the institution, can include interactions and communications between instructors, administrators, staff and peers. Often, belonging interventions are implemented at the institutional level, but the work can be supported by federal policymakers, Cheng says. This can be done by providing institutions with the resources to scale and evaluate initiatives through the Post-Secondary Student Success Grant or by implementing the Postsecondary Student Success Recognition program. |
| A stark social divide: Adults without college degrees more likely to have no close friends, survey finds | |
 | Nearly all U.S. adults used to have close friends. In 1990, the share of the population that said they didn't was low and roughly the same no matter one's education level: just 2% for people with college degrees and 3% for those without. But a recent survey suggests that share has risen overall, particularly among those who did not graduate from college -- creating a kind of class divide in people's level of social engagement and connection. Nearly a quarter of U.S. adults with a high school diploma or lower education level said they had no close friends. The number was even higher for Black adults in that group: 35%. Just 10% of those with college degrees said the same. The findings come from a survey of around 6,600 adults conducted by the Survey Center on American Life, a nonprofit that researches how people's lives are shaped by culture, politics and technology. "Our social fabric seems to have two layers now," said Daniel Cox, the center's director and a co-author of a report published this week summarizing the findings. "It has one for college-educated folks that seems to be relatively intact, and then one for those without college degrees, which seems to be in tatters." The findings come amid a documented rise in social isolation nationwide. Around 30% of adults say they've felt lonely at least once per week over the past year, and 10% say they're lonely every day, according to a January poll from the American Psychiatric Association. |
| About One in Four Faculty Members Are Unionized, Study Finds | |
 | A new report by the National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions provides a data-driven snapshot of higher-education unions across the country. The report, released on Thursday, revealed that about one in four faculty members were represented by unions as of January 1, 2024. The 402,217 unionized faculty spanned 600-plus colleges in 30 states and the District of Columbia, an increase of 7 percent from 2012. The growth in unionized graduate-student workers, boosted two years ago by the largest strike in American higher-ed history, was much sharper. The report said 64,424 graduate students were unionized in 2012; that number was up to 150,104 workers by 2024 -- a 133-percent increase. The report, "Directory of Bargaining Agents and Contracts in Institutions of Higher Education," is based on data collected from 902 higher-education collective-bargaining units at public and private nonprofit institutions. That's about 95 percent of the higher-ed bargaining relationships in existence. The center is based at the City University of New York's Hunter College. |
| Higher Ed Unionization Has Surged Since 2012, Bucking U.S. Labor Trends | |
| Higher education unionization has been surging. Story after story of successful union drives has suggested this. But a new report, which collected data on more than 95 percent of the collective bargaining relationships between academic workers and their institutions, finally provides national figures for the phenomenon. The biggest boom was among graduate student workers. In 2012, the first year of the study period, they had about 64,400 unionized employees among their ranks. But, by early 2024, that number surged to 150,100. That's a 133 percent increase, and 38 percent of grad workers are now unionized. The number of unionized faculty members rose more slowly, from roughly 374,000 in 2012 to 402,000 in January, when the study ended -- around a 7 percent increase. That means more than one in four faculty members are unionized, according to the report from the National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions. The National Center's data does show that higher education's unionization trends are diverging from what's happening off of campuses. While the share of faculty members and grad workers who are unionized has risen, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says the proportion of American workers overall who are unionized dropped from around 13 percent in 2012 to just 11 percent in 2023. The report also shows changes in who's seeing the most unionization: The main action has moved to private, nonprofit colleges and universities. |
| Mississippi is investing in the future of agriculture with AI | |
| Lisa Barker writes for the Magnolia Tribune: Agriculture today, like other economic sectors, is being reshaped by the latest technologies. Productive farming now requires mastery of the latest innovations, including artificial intelligence. Unlike many states, Mississippi is incredibly well-positioned to lead the way in incorporating AI technologies into farming. We are already seeing farmers across the Magnolia State adopt AI technologies in their everyday workflows, and the results have been astounding. By further embracing artificial intelligence innovations in agriculture, Mississippi is charting the future of technology-supported farming techniques. ... In October, for example, Mississippi State University opened an interdisciplinary research center, the Agricultural Autonomy Institute, to perform advanced research into using technology, particularly artificial intelligence and AI-powered robotics, to increase the efficiency of farming techniques. Its investments like this one at Mississippi State will pay dividends for Mississippians for years to come and help our economy flourish in the coming years. ... With the support of some of the country's best AI innovators, Mississippi's agricultural sector is well-equipped to become the foremost smart farming example for America, and the world. Yet we must support this continued work, by ensuring our state's leaders continue to encourage an environment where AI innovators and our state's ambitious and world-renowned farmers can continue to test and grow their work. |
SPORTS
| Mississippi State, Lebby begin new chapter against an EKU squad seeking first win vs. SEC | |
| Eastern Kentucky at Mississippi State, Saturday, 5 p.m. CT (SEC+, ESPN+): Jeff Lebby begins as Mississippi State's third head coach in as many seasons, aiming to lift the Bulldogs from a 5-6 finish in 2023 that included the firing of Zach Arnett after starting 4-6. Eastern Kentucky seeks its first win against a Southeastern Conference in nine tries and its first against an FBS team since beating Bowling Green 59-57 in a seven-overtime thriller two years ago, which tied for the second longest game in Division I history. MSU's offense vs. EKU's defense. The Bulldogs have switched from a pro-set scheme to the spread offense under Lebby, the former Oklahoma coordinator, who will call plays. MSU averaged 328.6 yards per game last season to rank 101st in FBS. More important is how 11 new starters will execute that system with former Texas Tech quarterback Blake Shapen debuting behind center. The Colonels are more experienced by comparison but face a huge challenge slowing down MSU after yielding 476.4 yards per game in 2023 and ranking 120th of 122 FCS teams. MSU has won seven consecutive openers since 2017, including three in a row at home. |
| Mississippi State vs. Eastern Kentucky: Who has the edge? | |
| Mississippi State opens the 2024 season against Eastern Kentucky at 5 p.m. Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium. Here's who has the edge at each position between the Bulldogs and the Colonels. Blake Shapen will make his first start for MSU after three years at Baylor, and his skills make him a good fit in head coach Jeff Lebby's up-tempo, spread offense. His results with the Bears were mixed, but he's a solid veteran signal-caller when healthy. EKU added Matt Morrisey from Western Illinois, another veteran coming off a strong 2023 season. Morrisey is a good pocket passer but does not offer much in the way of mobility. Even with Seth Davis out for the season and Jeffery Pittman not with the program for now, the Bulldogs have a deep running back room, adding Davon Booth from Utah State and Johnnie Daniels from the junior college ranks to complement Keyvone Lee, who arrived last year from Penn State. For the Colonels, Joshua Carter returns after rushing for 714 yards and four touchdowns on 120 attempts last fall. He'll likely get the lion's share of the carries Saturday. Sophomore Kyle Ferrie is back as MSU's starting kicker, with former UCLA kicker Nick Barr-Mira shifting over to punter. Coleman, Daniels and Booth will all handle return duties. EKU kicker Patrick Nations is on the UAC preseason all-conference first team, and he was 19-for-25 on field goals in 2023 with a long of 49. Ferrie's long was also 49 yards, and he finished his freshman year 16-for-22 on field goals. |
| Mississippi State football vs EKU score prediction, scouting report in Jeff Lebby debut | |
| Jeff Lebby's debut has arrived, his first opportunity to earn a win as Mississippi State football's new coach. He represents a lot of change for the Bulldogs, who fired coach Zach Arnett after going 5-7 in 2023. Fifty-three newcomers are on the team, the 16th most among FBS teams, headlined by Baylor quarterback transfer Blake Shapen. Kickoff against Eastern Kentucky at Davis Wade Stadium is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday with streaming available on SEC Network+. The Colonels went 5-6 last season. "I think there's going to be a ton of emotion," Lebby said. "I do. I don't think there's any doubt about it. You build up to this point. It being Year 1, Season 1 and laying the foundation, our guys are going to be incredibly excited to play." Saturday will be the first time Lebby showcases the Mississippi State offense against an opponent. In the spring game, Shapen threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns in one half. Wide receiver Kelly Akharaiyi -- a UTEP transfer who had 1,033 receiving yards last season -- is out with an injury, but MSU has other capable receivers that it shouldn't be too impactful against Eastern Kentucky. |
| Dawgs Victorious Over Tennessee Tech On Senior Night | |
| Mississippi State (4-1-0) honored ten seniors on senior night with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tennessee Tech (0-4-1). Aitana Martinez-Montoya scored the lone goal, securing the win for her senior class in front of a sea of Maroon and White at the MSU Soccer Field on Thursday. The game-winning goal came just past the hour mark in the 63rd minute when Martinez-Montoya sent in a one-timer for her second goal of the season. The goal was set up by an impressive combination of passes from Kennedy Husbands and Hannah Johnson. Husbands threaded a perfectly timed pass to Johnson, who then delivered a precise flick to Martinez-Montoya, allowing her to slot the ball past Tennessee Tech's goalkeeper from 20 yards out. State dominated the match, outshooting Tennessee Tech 18-2, with seven of those shots on target. The Dawgs relentless attack put the Golden Eagles under constant pressure, especially in the second half, where they fired 10 shots compared to the Golden Eagles' single attempt. Despite the persistent offensive efforts, Tech's defense, anchored by their goalkeeper, held strong for much of the game, recording six saves. However, it was the Bulldogs' resilience that ultimately paid off. Mississippi State will look to carry this momentum into Sunday afternoon when the Dawgs host South Alabama at 1 PM to celebrate the great Bulldogs of the past with the culmination of Alumni Weekend. |
| Soccer: Martinez-Montoya powers Mississippi State past Tennessee Tech | |
| Aitana Martinez-Montoya knew the goalkeeper would not be expecting her to go for goal on her first touch. With Mississippi State locked in a scoreless battle against Tennessee Tech in the second half, freshman Kennedy Husbands dished a short pass to senior Hannah Johnson, who flicked the ball backward to Martinez-Montoya as the Golden Eagles' defense closed in. The senior from Spain, standing well outside the 18-yard box, one-timed it and had the presence of mind to direct her shot toward the left side of the goal, where it bounced once and found the corner of the net. Martinez-Montoya's 63rd-minute strike lifted the Bulldogs to a 1-0 victory Thursday night as they rebounded from their first loss of the season Sunday at Wake Forest. "Hannah got that ball, she just slid it to me," Martinez-Montoya said. "I saw the goalkeeper was a little bit shifted to her left, and I was just like, 'If I take a touch, she's not going to have enough time to make a save.' So I just went for it, and it worked really well." MSU (4-1-0) dominated from start to finish and could easily have put the match away in the first half, but Tennessee Tech (0-4-1) defended well in the box, and goalkeeper Maggie Conrad made five saves. The Bulldogs had an 18-2 edge on shots and took seven corner kicks to the Golden Eagles' one. |
| Cristil Society to support Mississippi State Athletics | |
| Mississippi State Athletics and the Bulldog Club announced the formation of the Cristil Society, which a philanthropic giving group dedicated to enhancing the student-athlete experience at the university. The Cristil Society has been named in memory of the legendary voice of the Bulldogs, the late Jack Cristil. He was a cornerstone in MSU radio booths for over 50 years. According to university officials, contributions to the Bulldog Club will provide resources for 16 sport programs and more than 400 student-athletes. Investments can be designated toward the holistic student-athlete experience, facility enhancements and scholarships. "In this ever-changing landscape of college athletics, some key things will remain the same at Mississippi State," Director of Athletics Zac Selmon said. "We will provide transformational experiences. We will equip our young people with tools for life. They will earn college degrees and we will keep winning at the forefront in all that we do. I am thrilled we will have the opportunity to celebrate and recognize loyal and committed Bulldog Club members who go above and beyond to join us in this mission. We are proud to be able to honor Mr. Cristil who also went above and beyond for Mississippi State University, as it is a worthy cause." |
| Dak Prescott reveals he stopped listening to Jerry Jones media comments: 'Doesn't really hold weight with me' | |
| The Dallas Cowboys are in a race to sign Dak Prescott to a contract extension, maybe having a deal done before the regular season begins. Once CeeDee Lamb was signed, all attention and questions turned to Prescott's situation, leading to some quotes from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Jones is always strategic in how he speaks to the media, usually attempting to work the negotiation through words. Prescott is not having any of it, though. On Thursday, Prescott revealed he has stopped listening to what Jones says in public. "I stopped, honestly, listening to things (Jerry Jones) says to the media a long time ago," Prescott said via Jon Machota of The Athletic. "It doesn't really hold weight with me." This comes off the backs of Jones discussing Prescott's contract situation, explaining why a deal has not been done yet. People have questioned whether Dallas has faith in Prescott to be the franchise quarterback moving forward, hence little movement on getting a new deal. Jones revealed nobody is a bigger fan of Prescott than him, claiming there is no extension because of the Cowboys situation -- nothing to do with his on-field performances. |
| Provine, Hinds CC, MSU And NFL Alumnus Tommy Kelly Brings His Football Experience To Lanier, Begins First Year As A Head Coach | |
| Tommy Kelly was a standout basketball player at Provine High, a star defensive lineman at Hinds Community College and Mississippi State and played in the NFL for 11 seasons. He knows football. Now, the 43-year-old Kelly will get his first try as a high school head coach. Kelly begins his first season at Lanier High, a Jackson Public School rival of his alma mater. Kelly replaced Michael Ashford, who had been at Lanier since 2017. Ashford was unable to continue to coach due to health reasons. "It was always my lifelong dream to be a coach," said Kelly, who was a defensive line coach for seven seasons and defensive coordinator for five of those seasons at Provine and the defensive line coach at Copiah-Lincoln CC last season. "I knew when I was playing in high school either I'm going to coach football or basketball because I played both sports growing up. Former Jackson Public Schools athletic director Daryl Jones hit me up and asked if I wanted to talk about the Lanier football program. I told them I would love the opportunity to turn around the program and change the culture." Co-Lin head football coach Glenn Davis is a big Tommy Kelly fan. He has seen him grow up since Kelly was in high school at Provine, was on the football staff at MSU when Kelly was playing for the Bulldogs, and watched Kelly became an NFL star with the Raiders. "I think Tommy will do a great job at Lanier, especially since he is from Jackson and he can tell kids about growing up there, things he's seen on a daily basis and how he made good decisions and worked hard to make it as an NFL player and became the largest contract for a defensive tackle in NFL history at that time," said Davis. |
| SEC to require injury reports for conference games in football, basketball, baseball | |
 | The SEC will soon begin issuing weekly injury reports for conference games, the league office announced Thursday. Football, men's and women's basketball and baseball will participate in the postings, which will begin this season. There are no SEC vs. SEC games this week, though Kentucky plays South Carolina in Week 2. "This availability reporting policy is intended to reduce pressure from outside entities seeking participation information and represents a commitment of our 16 institutions to provide enhanced transparency to support efforts to protect our student-athletes and the integrity of competition," said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. Injury reports have been required in professional football for decades, as a way to safeguard the integrity of the game in regards to illegal gambling. Sports gambling became legal in several states in 2021, with betting on college sports skyrocketing ever since. The SEC becomes the third FBS conference to adopt an injury-reporting system, after the Big Ten did so in 2023 and the MAC has announced plans to do so this year. Schools can be fined for failing to provide accurate or timely reports. Penalties will range from $25,000 for a first offense to $100,000 beginning with a third offense in football, and $15,000-$25,000 in basketball and baseball. |
| ESPN unveils nostalgia-tinged SEC on ABC theme song | |
| When SEC football fans flip to ABC to watch their favorite teams play beginning this season, they'll be greeted with a familiar tune. On Thursday, ESPN unveiled the theme song for the SEC on ABC, a musical score that's a reworked version of ESPN's college football theme song from the late 1990s and early 2000s. The song was put together by composer Bob Christianson, who, among other things, created ESPN's famous theme song for its NHL coverage. ESPN and the SEC signed a 10-year media rights agreement in 2020 that takes effect beginning this season. ESPN and its various offshoots were already airing SEC games, but the new deal ropes in ABC, which will broadcast SEC games on its weekly "Saturday Night Football" slot for the first time and will also carry the SEC championship game. "By reaching into the past and connecting with the present, ESPN is bringing a touch of tradition to a new era of televised SEC sports," SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement. "This re-orchestrated composition will enhance the presentation of SEC football on ABC by bringing a bit of nostalgia to the SEC's new Saturday television experience." Those moves come as the SEC takes on a less prominent role with CBS, the network with which the league was synonymous for decades. Instead, the SEC's customary spot in the mid-afternoon kickoff window on CBS will go to the Big Ten. |
| Businesses in Booneville are getting ready for football season | |
 | Local businesses in Booneville say they see an increase in sales when football season starts. Thursday was the first football game of the season for the Northeast Mississippi Community College Tigers. They took on the East Central Warriors at home and folks were ready to go support. While folks are ready to go support the sports teams, they also get ready to shop. "It brings a lot of younger people especially to shop for game day outfits and just the community always supports us during that time," says Brianna Mason. Mason is an employee at Jessie K's Boutique, and she adds, "It makes me happy to see familiar faces come in and shop and people from out of town that new at Northeast to come shop with us." Martha George who works at Grace Shop says they have definitely noticed folks walking through their doors a lot lately. "This is a busy month. We've been busy the last 2,3 weeks. We can tell that school has started back. We're selling cheerleading sets for the little girl, we're selling jerseys for the little boys, so yes, we've been pretty busy," says George. |
| MDOT kicks off Road to Game Day 2024 | |
| Gearing up for the season requires a game plan, and through the "Road to Game Day" campaign, the Mississippi Department of Transportation is sharing its playbook to get you to kickoff safely. To avoid congestion on a game day road trip, drivers can download the free MDOT Traffic mobile app; it gives users real-time access to tools that show road conditions and traffic alerts. The alerts are interactive, providing users with more information at their fingertips. Drivers can also access this travel information by visiting MDOTtraffic.com. Traffic in Oxford is expected to be congested this weekend with a busy first Ole Miss home football game on Saturday against Furman. On the eve of the Rebels' opener, a concert will be held at the Pavilion that features two former Ole Miss student-athletes: Brett Young and Josh Kelley. Young pitched for the Rebels in 2000, while Kelley was on the men's golf team in 2000-01. In addition, Mustache The Band will bring their popular 90s country party to the lineup. MDOT's main goal is to keep drivers and passengers safe in vehicles and roadside workers safe along highways. With more traffic on game days, it's important to use extra caution and drive smart. |
| Manziel to be guest picker on ESPN's College GameDay | |
 | Texas A&M Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel will be the guest speaker on ESPN's College GameDay this Saturday when the Aggies open the season against Notre Dame at Kyle Field. Manziel won the Heisman in 2012, the Aggies' first season in the Southeastern Conference. He threw for 4,114 yards with 37 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He added 759 yards rushing on 144 carries with nine more scores. Manziel became the first freshman to win college football's most coveted award. He won it over Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o and Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein, who is in his first season as A&M's offensive coordinator. No word on whether Te'o will be at the game. ESPN's Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, and Desmond Howard will be on the set along with former Alabama head coach Nick Saban who is in his first season with the group. Manziel beat Saban and Alabama 29-24 in Tuscaloosa, in one of the 2011 season highlights. Alabama and the Crimson Tide got revenge the following year with a 49-42 at Kyle Field with GameDay on hand. GameDay will be at Aggieland for the seventh time and will be at Aggie Park for the first time. |
| Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders first college football player to sign NIL deal with Nike | |
| Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders has become the first college football player to sign an NIL deal with Nike. He follows in the footsteps of his father, Deion Sanders, who has signature Nike cleats. Shedeur Sanders finished his first season at Colorado with throwing for 3,230 yards and 27 touchdowns. He also threw just three interceptions despite being sacked 52 times in 2023. Full terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the quarterback signed a footwear and apparel deal with Nike. Because Colorado is a Nike school, Sanders could hypothetically wear any unique Nike apparel or cleats in-game. One of the NIL stars of college football, he touts over 2.5 million social media followers. Sanders has been cashing in on NIL since 2021. Working closely with SMAC Entertainment and Constance Schwartz-Morini, he's signed with Gatorade, launched his own barbecue sauce, been tabbed as the BRADY brand's long-term ambassador and promoted Mercedes Benz. Nike has yet to go all-in on NIL in college football. The sportswear giant has been aggressive in basketball, signing names like Bronny James, Juju Watkins and Caitlin Clark. And earlier this week, the Jordan Brand signed a multi-year partnership with USC's Zion and Zachariah Branch. |
| Pay the College Athletes, but How? House Claimants May Get Postcards | |
| Attorneys for the NCAA, power conferences and athletes represented by the House, Carter and Hubbard antitrust litigations are preparing for a Sept. 5 hearing before U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken. The lawyers will argue for preliminary approval of their multibillion-dollar settlement, and court filings submitted this week shed light on how -- if Wilken preliminarily approves the settlement -- colleges will notify current and former athletes about how they could be paid. The proposed process is intended to comply with Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. This rule requires Wilken to ensure the settlement, and its associated procedures, are "fair, reasonable and adequate." The attorneys request she order the NCAA and conferences to direct their member schools to provide a settlement administrator with "reasonably ascertainable information regarding the names and last-known contact information (addresses and/or email addresses) of NCAA Division I student-athletes who meet the criteria" for applicable settlement classes. One way to notify class members of the settlement will be through a postcard. The notice is intended to be straightforward, non-confusing and understandable to an ordinary person (i.e., someone without a law degree should get the gist). The proposed postcards seem to leave little room for misunderstanding, including by explicitly saying "you will not be able to sue" if the person takes no action. |
| National College Players Association says it opposes $2.8 billion NCAA-House settlement | |
| A week before a critical hearing in the NCAA-House antitrust settlement, the National College Players Association announced Thursday that it stands in opposition of the settlement. The NCPA, a pro-labor union membership organization started in 2001, is against the approval of the settlement terms, most notably citing the agreement's intent to curtail the millions of dollars flowing to athletes from booster-led NIL collectives. NCPA executive director Ramogi Huma, an athletes rights leader and decades-long prominent critic of the NCAA, announced the news in a statement, referring to the settlement agreement as "unjust" and harmful for current and former athletes. "The NCPA will work to get this settlement rejected so that parties can come up with a fair settlement or go to trial," Huma said in the statement. The lead plaintiff's attorneys in the House case, Steve Berman and Jeffrey Kessler, as well as college leaders involved in the negotiations, continue to express confidence in the judge granting preliminary approval of the settlement. The settlement may still need codification from Congress to grant the NCAA and conferences authority to police outside, third-party NIL payments, and it offers little in the way of a solution when or if athletes are deemed employees -- a concept that may be significantly impacted by the results of the November U.S. presidential and Senate elections. |
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