| Wednesday, October 9, 2024 |
| MSU Solar Facility: Providing sustainable energy and learning opportunities | |
 | Mississippi State University has found a way to use a four-acre field between R.L. Jones Circle and Blackjack Road to reduce the campus' carbon footprint and save energy consumption, while also saving money. The largest solar, on-campus facility in the Southeastern Conference, is energizing Mississippi State as part of a 30-year renewal energy efficiency project. The 3,420 solar panels installation was fully operational this summer. "The impetus for the project was to continue seeking ways to be more sustainable by diversifying the means in which energy is produced," said Saunders Ramsey, director of MSU's campus services. "The project was funded internally, but the savings generated from the project will pay back the internal funds. We're taking innovative action now to generate renewable, sustainable power right here on campus. It's an exciting time and a mission that the entire campus community can champion." Another possible outcome of the university's solar-energy commitment is the creation of student learning opportunities. |
| Temporary road closures scheduled during fall break | |
 | Portions of Stone Boulevard, George Perry Street and Barr Avenue will be closed Oct. 10-13 to complete necessary utility work for two major capital projects. The portion of Stone Boulevard in front of Ballew Hall will close as workers install underground electrical service for the Jim and Thomas Duff Center. Drivers should use Bully Boulevard, President's Circle and Creelman Street as a detour route. Traffic gates will remain open. The intersection of Barr Avenue and George Perry Street across from Old Main Academic Center also will close for underground electrical work at Azalea Hall. Drivers and pedestrians are urged to plan alternate routes to avoid the designated road closures. Please contact the Facilities Management Service Desk at 662-325-2005 with questions. |
| CLW, 4-County raise local power rates following TVA wholesale price increase | |
 | Columbus Light and Water and 4-County Electric Power Association customers will see a local rate increase on their November power bill in addition to that of the Tennessee Valley Authority's wholesale price hike, all of which went into effect Oct. 1. The two utilities both announced a local rate increase on top of the TVA hike, with 4-County charging an extra 2.34% and CLW charging an extra 2%, plus a $2.50 customer charge. The TVA board in August approved a 5.25% increase to the wholesale price it charges utilities. Through Fiscal Year 2027, TVA is investing $16 billion to build new infrastructure and ensure its existing assets stay reliable. The rate change is driven by this growth and will fund ongoing construction and energy development. The percentage increase for wholesale power does not directly reflect the exact percentage a local utility bill will increase. On top of the 5.25% increase from TVA, 4-County Electric Power Association is raising its rates for similar reasons. In a statement to The Dispatch, CEO Brian Clark said additions to the system are a response to growth within TVA's local service territory, especially with larger commercial members coming to the area. Starkville Utilities customers will only see the TVA’s increase on their electric bills, with no local rate hike, General Manager Edward Kemp told The Dispatch. |
| MEC Hobnob Event Coming October 31 | |
| Business and political leaders from across the state will take part in the annual Mississippi Economic Council (MEC) Hobnob on Thursday, October 31, at the Mississippi Coliseum. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. MEC Executive Director Scott Waller explained more about the annual event. "Hobnob is really about creating an opportunity for people to network that's built around the political spectrum," said Waller. "We've always noted it's the second largest political event in the state each year behind the Neshoba County Fair. Last year we had close to 1,500 people that participated throughout the day." The event, usually held before general election features political candidates, can be likened to the Neshoba County Fair, but with air conditioning. Waller noted with the upcoming presidential election, this year is a bit different. "There are very few elections that are taking place outside of the senatorial race and a few judicial races and things of that nature. We've extended an invitation to both Senator Wicker and his opponent, Ty Pinkins," said Waller. This being the 75th year of the MEC and part the MEC, Leadership Mississippi is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Waller has been part of the MEC for nearly two decades and has been the President and CEO for the past eight. He is only the fourth president of the organization. |
| Five years after disaster, Coastal Mississippi wants more of a say in Spillway openings | |
 | In no uncertain terms, the double-opening of the Bonnet Carré Spillway in 2019 was a disaster for the Mississippi Sound. Over the course of an unprecedented 123 days, roughly six trillion gallons of Mississippi River floodwaters bound for New Orleans was instead redirected down the Spillway, a decades-old flood control structure built and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, after they were federalized by Congress in the wake of the Great Flood of 1927. According to Joe Spraggins, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, the 6 trillion gallons of Mississippi River water that made its way into the Sound in 2019 "essentially reduced salinity throughout the estuary to zero, or near-zero." That's especially dangerous in estuaries like the Sound, home to species who are adjusted to the relative mixing of both fresh- and saltwater best known as brackish. That's especially the case for species like oysters, who live on-bottom and can't relocate away from impacted areas. With salinity levels bottomed-out as a result of the overwhelming freshwater intrusion from the Spillway, an estimated 95% of the estuary's oyster population was wiped out. 2018 remains the last time a wild oyster was harvested from Mississippi waters -- once the most productive in the world. A recent report published by the Mississippi State University Extension Service shows a long-term economic impact of more than $30 million, now more than five years after coastal residents began to face the full brunt of the openings. |
| It's beginning to look a lot like Buc-ee's as construction ramps up in South Mississippi | |
 | It took months to prepare the foundation for one of the biggest Buc-ee's stores in the country, and now signs of progress are obvious along the Menge Avenue intersection of I-10 in South Mississippi. Just over a year after the groundbreaking, the walls are up and the 74,000-square-foot building has the distinctive facade of a Buc-ee's travel center. The supports for the fuel pumps are in place along with poles to support the massive awnings covering the 120 fueling stations. Crews are working seven days a week. The company says it's planning to open the $50 million Harrison County location in the spring of 2025, but isn't ready yet to name a firm date. While work speeds along at Buc-ee's, construction of the Menge Avenue overpass of I-10 is being completed. The Mississippi Department of Transportation doesn't have a date when the contractor will finish the work. Traffic lights are in place and still covered, the south approach to the bridge still needs to be paved, and safety features installed. Harrison County committed $15 million to redesign and rebuild the interchange at Exit 24 to handle the thousands of cars expected to leave I-10 to fill up with gas and Buc-ee's Beaver Nuggets and other treats. |
| Salad Days Produce expanding operations in Flora with $8.18 million investment | |
| A major producer of hydroponically grown produce is expanding in Madison County. Salad Days Produce, which grows head lettuce in a water-based nutrient solution instead of soil, plans to create 12 new jobs at its Flora location with an $8.18 million investment. A female-owned local business that specializes in growing pesticide-free produce, Salad Days Produce can serve restaurants and other food-service companies with a variety of lettuce year-round. The operations expansion includes the addition of a new 65,000-square-foot temperature controlled-environment agriculture facility in Flora Industrial Park to the company's current 21,000-square-foot facility in the same city. Salad Days Produce will be able to serve larger grocery chains and regional produce distributors by increasing its current production capacity by a factor of eight. "This new state-of-the-art facility will solve the capacity issue we've had," Salad Days President Leigh Bailey said. Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive program. Madison County also is assisting with the project. |
| Popular Belhaven shop has changed locations. Here's where you can find it | |
 | A new chapter has begun for the popular retail shop Beans and Bananas. After nearly a year in the town center of Belhaven, owner Emily Pote has moved the store to the second floor of Banner Hall in Jackson, where Fresh Ink once was. Beans and Bananas opened anew this week. The original store was a general store theme with snacks, deli products, toys, home goods, and more. Pote has scaled down for the move to Banner Hall. "This summer, we started to change our business model to not include food," said Pote, a Mississippi native, and a Mississippi College graduate. "To be perfectly honest, we just had too much space. So, as we looked to reinvent ourselves, we landed in Banner Hall." Pote had worked at Lemuria Books after graduating from MC and moved to the Belhaven neighborhood, where she has been ever since. She has worked in consulting and even was on the ground floor of starting the Coffee Prose coffee shops in Midtown and Highland Village. "We're sad to not be in Belhaven anymore, but we are excited to still be here," Pote said. While the business model has changed to a certain extent, Beans and Bananas still has open-ended play for kids, and Pote has expanded her "tweens' section as well as a modified gift section for adults. |
| How Waffle House helps Southerners -- and FEMA -- judge a storm's severity | |
| Golden hashbrowns, gravy-smothered biscuits and crispy waffles with a hearty helping of maple syrup are among the classic Southern comfort foods. But when hurricanes tear through Southeastern towns, the hot meals and bold yellow signs of the local Waffle House provide another kind of comfort. If a Waffle House stays open in town, even in a limited capacity, neighbors are reassured that the coming storm is unlikely to cause devastation. A closed location of the dependable diner chain has come to indicate impending disaster. The metric is known as the Waffle House Index. What might sound like silly logic has become one of the most reliable ways for Southerners -- and even federal officials -- to gauge a storm's severity and identify communities most in need of immediate aid. About two dozen Waffle House locations remained closed in the Carolinas and the chain's home state of Georgia on Tuesday, nearly two weeks after the states were among those battered by Hurricane Helene. Several other locations were open but serving a limited menu. As Hurricane Milton barrels toward Florida communities still recovering from Helene, many Waffle House locations along the Gulf Coast, including those in Tampa, Cape Coral and St. Petersburg, have closed in preparation. Milton was upgraded back to a Category 5 storm Tuesday as it churned toward Florida's west coast. |
| Federal court returns to downtown Aberdeen | |
 | After a wait of more than six years, the city of Aberdeen is home to federal court again. Closed in February 2018 because of mold, a leaking roof and other issues, the Thomas G. Abernethy Federal Building held its grand re-opening with a dignitary-filled ceremony Tuesday morning. "We can't extend our thanks far enough or deep enough to the judges and staff and everybody who helped bring this back," said Monroe County Supervisor Rubel West. Local leaders said the return of the federal court will bring people back to the downtown and boost the local economy. Current District Judge Sharion Aycock said the first time she walked into her office in 2007, there was a white 5-gallon bucket in the middle of the room to catch the water from the leaking roof. On top of that, the ancient heating and cooling system could not be regulated, leaving her jury box freezing cold while the jury room across the hall was blazing hot. But it wasn't until mold started appearing all over the three-story building that GSA officials agreed to do something. The mold forced the building to be condemned and the judges, their support staff, and all the attorneys who spent their days there left. As a way of thanking the public for being patient, the judges through open the doors of the building to let people wander around the back rooms and judges' chambers that few people normally get to see. |
| State treasurer: Mississippi made $375M from investments last year | |
| When it comes to investment returns, surplus revenue and rainy day funds, State Treasurer David McRae told the Rotary Club of Columbus that Mississippi is in the best shape it's been in since 1992. "We made $375 million in investment returns for the state of Mississippi (in Fiscal Year 2024), and that is a record," he said during the club's meeting Tuesday at Lion Hills Center. The state has also maintained a AA credit rating for the last four years, McRae said. That allows it to borrow money at lower interest rates, which in turn drives economic development, he said. "That allows for economic opportunities all around the state," he said. "It attracts businesses to come here, which at the end of the day, helps us with our revenue." McRae said his main concern lately is how the national economy, interest rates and inflation might affect the state's economy. It's imperative to maintain the state's strong financial footing to avoid that being an issue, he said. "Things are looking good (financially), so we can weather the storm of what happens nationally," he said. "However, eventually that will take effect in Mississippi, so we need to be on good financial footing." While Mississippi's financial health is in good shape, McRae said the Public Employees' Retirement System is one area that should be reformed. "PERS needs to be evaluated and looked at," he said. "... The main reason I care about PERS so much is that it is ... the main problem with our credit rating and one day it's going to kill our credit rating." |
| State GOP political director speaks to Covington Republican Party | |
 | The political director of the Mississippi Republican Party gave his take on the upcoming general election, during a gathering of members of the Covington County Republican Party Tuesday night. Ty Martin was the keynote speaker for this meeting of the Covington County GOP at the Collins Train Depot. Martin spoke about grassroots efforts to get out the vote and addressed the importance of voter turnout in swing states. He believes national House and Senate races will most likely be decided on election night, but results in the presidential race could take a while to sort out. "A lot of people ask me, 'Do you think we'll know the election results on November 5th?' I don't think we are," Martin said. "There are a lot of counties that don't start counting absentee ballots until the day of elections, in these big counties, so I don't think we'll know the presidential results." He added, "I think we'll know what the U.S. Senate will look like for sure, I think we'll know what the House will look like, but I don't think we'll know what the presidential election will look like until at least a couple of days after." |
| Big push on to get Mississippians to vote in upcoming election | |
| We are less than a month away from the 2024 presidential election. Both Republican and Democratic leaders in Mississippi are trying to rally voters to the polls in a race that is drawing closer. "We know in the state of Mississippi we are doing the work and actually helping some other states as well," said Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Cheikh Taylor. "We know it is important to show that Mississippi has a good showing as far as the Democratic vote, but it's also more important to win, so we have been helping other states in battleground states such as Georgia, to help (Vice President Kamala) Harris get elected." Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said voters should ask themselves if they are better off now than they were four years ago. "I think for the majority of Americans, they are going to answer that with a resounding, 'No,'" Reeves said. "They have to understand all of that inflation, all of the rise in prices are a direct result of the policies of the Biden-Harris administration, and Americans really can't stand four more years of it." |
| Odds favor a new farm bill by end of year, says Vilsack | |
| Time is running out for Congress to agree on the new farm bill, now a year overdue, but a "common sense, reasonable, practical" package is still possible, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Tuesday, declaring himself an optimist. "I think there's better odds than not that we get it done," he said at a White House conference. "The reality is this has got to be done before the end of the year," said the secretary. The Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture committees are engaged in discussions -- "a good sign." In Vilsack's view, the major question was how large an increase was possible in crop subsidy spending. Progress on the farm bill has been deadlocked for months. The Nov. 5 general elections could help resolve the impasse by deciding which party will control Congress. In 2018, for example, House Republicans conceded on their proposal for large SNAP cuts after the mid-term elections gave Democrats a majority for the new session. The lame duck session approved the resulting agreement, and President Trump signed it into law in December. Vilsack discussed the farm bill outlook during a "Farmers and Ranchers in Action" event to trumpet Biden administration initiatives in rural America, such as expanding access to high-speed internet service and road, bridge, and river navigation projects. About 100 farmers and state agriculture officials attended the session on the White House grounds and at USDA headquarters. |
| How Johnson is navigating Trump -- and his first real campaign | |
 | At a rally here in Arlington, Texas, last weekend, Speaker Mike Johnson took a selfie video of himself and roughly 500 people cheering and sent it to Donald Trump. At a campaign event about 500 miles south in Harlingen, the speaker whipped out his famous Trump impression. And before the former president hosted a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania -- returning to the scene of the July assassination attempt -- Johnson tried to call him on the phone with a group of Republican lawmakers for moral support. Trump later called Johnson back, when the speaker was talking with POLITICO in the back of an armored SUV weaving through the Dallas suburbs. Johnson paused mid-sentence and answered, gabbing like old friends with Trump on various topics, including the major football upset that happened earlier that day (Vanderbilt beating then-No. 1 Alabama) and a 2019 Louisiana State University game they attended together. The former president was a constant presence as Johnson traveled across Texas for three campaign events in Dallas, Harlingen and Seguin -- illustrating that the embattled speaker is tightly aligned with the GOP presidential candidate in the final month of the campaign. It serves a dual purpose for Johnson: helping him guide the political winds that will decide whether he keeps his House majority and getting him in Trump's good graces right as Johnson might need his backing to remain speaker. |
| Not everything will run perfectly on Election Day but US elections are remarkably reliable | |
| On Election Day, some voting lines will likely be long and some precincts may run out of ballots. An election office website could go down temporarily and ballot-counting machines will jam. Or people who help run elections might just act like the humans they are, forgetting their key to a local polling place so it has to open later than scheduled. These kinds of glitches have occurred throughout the history of U.S. elections. Yet election workers across America have consistently pulled off presidential elections and accurately tallied the results -- and there's no reason to believe this year will be any different. Elections are a foundation of democracy. They also are human exercises that, despite all the laws and rules governing how they should run, can sometimes appear to be messy. They're conducted by election officials and volunteers in thousands of jurisdictions across the United States, from tiny townships to sprawling urban counties with more voters than some states have people. It's a uniquely American system that, despite its imperfections, reliably produces certified outcomes that stand up to scrutiny. That's true even in an era of misinformation and hyperpartisanship. "Things will go wrong," said Jen Easterly, the director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. None of these will mean the election is tainted or rigged or is being stolen. But Easterly said election offices need to be transparent about the hiccups so they can get ahead of misinformation and attempts to exploit routine problems as a way to undermine confidence in the election results. |
| More Americans Identify as Republican Than Democrat. Here's What That Means for the Election. | |
 | Beneath the headline results in many polls, something unusual has turned up with big implications for politics: More voters are calling themselves Republicans than Democrats, suggesting that the GOP has its first durable lead in party identification in more than three decades. The development gives former President Donald Trump an important structural advantage in the November election. But other factors could prove more important to the outcome. Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris still leads narrowly in many polls, in some cases because she does well with independent voters. Bill McInturff, a GOP pollster who works on NBC News surveys, first noticed in May that more voters were calling themselves Republicans. "Wow, the biggest deal in polling is when lines cross, and for the first time in decades, Republicans now have the national edge on party ID,'' he wrote. He called the development "the underrecognized game-changer for 2024.'' Gallup also found more voters identifying as Republican than Democratic, by 3 points in its July-to-September surveys. It was the first time that the GOP had an advantage in the third quarter before a presidential election in Gallup surveys dating to 1992. Pew Research Center found the GOP with a 1-point lead this spring in an extensive, 5,600-person poll it conducted to create benchmarks for its other surveys. As with Gallup and NBC polls, each party's share of voters included people who call themselves independents but also say they consistently lean toward one party. |
| Supreme Court sounds ready to back regulation of 'ghost guns' | |
 | The Supreme Court appeared ready to allow the Biden administration to regulate so-called ghost guns during oral arguments Tuesday, as the justices turned to food and furniture analogies to weigh whether a federal firearm law covers gun parts kits. A Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives rule from 2022 requires that sales of those gun parts kits comply with federal rules for commercially made guns, such as serial numbers, background checks and recordkeeping. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar told the justices that the government has the authority under the Gun Control Act of 1968 because the kits are hardly a collection of parts since they are sold as nearly complete weapons with instructions to finish them. The Biden administration finalized the rule in 2022 amid a surge of unregistered firearms. The case hinges on just how close a product can be to a working frame or receiver, which is the housing for the firing mechanism and barrel of a firearm. The justices are expected to issue a decision in the case, Garland v. VanDerStok, before the conclusion of the term at the end of June. |
| Applications now open for MDAH research fellowships | |
| The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) is welcoming applications for three prestigious fellowships for 2025. Each competitive fellowship provides a stipend of $5,000, which can be utilized for a minimum of two weeks of research at MDAH next summer. n collaboration with the Eudora Welty Foundation, the Eudora Welty Research Fellowship is awarded annually to a graduate or doctoral student from an accredited institution. This fellowship enables recipients to conduct research using the Eudora Welty Collection and related materials at MDAH. The Medgar and Myrlie Evers Research Fellowship, offered in partnership with the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute, is intended for a graduate student or early-career faculty member within five years of their academic journey. This fellowship provides access to the Medgar Wiley and Myrlie Beasley Evers Papers at MDAH. The Religion in Mississippi History Research Fellowship aims to promote the exploration of the extensive archival collections related to religious history in Mississippi at MDAH. This fellowship is part of MDAH's Religion Initiative, supported by funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. It is available to graduate or doctoral students at accredited institutions interested in conducting primary source research in MDAH's rich archival resources concerning religious history in Mississippi. |
| Jackson State University receives a $2 million grant to establish a cybersecurity program | |
| Cyber threats against power grids have increasingly become a critical concern for companies and government officials. Without adequate cybersecurity, power could become interrupted or hacked by outside forces. A $2 million dollar grant from the Entergy Charitable Foundation will fund the creation of the Critical Power Grid Security Lab at Jackson State University. This lab will train students to enter the workforce as cybersecurity experts in nuclear, energy, electricity and natural gas sectors. This new initiative could help train students to protect power grids from getting hacked. Haley Fisackerly is the president and chief executive officer of Entergy Mississippi. "This is a great partnership between Entergy, Jackson State and to help the region," he said. "It's an opportunity to focus on a critical area that we need in our workforce today. We're all dependent on technology. We use it in every aspect of our business. And we hear a lot about cyber threats. Today this partnership, the funding will go to create a lab, internship opportunities, and to give students real world experience so they can enter the workforce." The president of JSU, Marcus Thompson, said the grant represents another step forward for the university. "This gift will have a lasting impact on the lives of our students and the future of the energy sector," he said. "Looking ahead, this lab will not only benefit Jackson State University and our students, but will also play a critical role in shaping the broader energy landscape. And as we address growing global concerns about cyber security, we are preparing our students to lead the charge in securing the power grids and infrastructure that fuel our nation." |
| Belhaven University Names New Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing | |
| Belhaven University has appointed Suzanne Sullivan as Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing, effective November 15, 2024. Sullivan, a seasoned admissions professional with over three decades of experience, brings a deep passion for Christian higher education and a proven track record of success."No one knows Belhaven better, is more perfectly equipped, and has the wisdom and energy to take the vice president's role with us -- we won't miss a step in the transition," said Dr. Roger Parrott, President of Belhaven University. "I look forward to her serving with our administrative team and the privilege of working with her as she continues to grow our enrollment and expand our reach." Sullivan currently serves as Belhaven University's Associate Vice President for Enrollment, overseeing both traditional as well as online admission and online student services. Since she started working with our online program in 2015, the enrollment has doubled. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Mississippi State University and a Master of Business Administration from Belhaven University. |
| Alabama, Auburn students face off in effort to beat hunger | |
 | The University of Alabama and Auburn University are again facing off for an annual rivalry: But this time, the schools are competing to beat hunger. Through Nov. 21, both campuses will compete to raise money and supplies to help address food insecurity in Alabama. "Beat Auburn Beat Hunger is a collective effort by UA students, faculty and staff, and community members to support the West Alabama Food Bank's mission of fighting food insecurity," said Kennedi Preston, president of the Alabama chapter. The food drive is a student-run event, created in 1994, where students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members fight hunger and poverty in the state. Since its first year, UA and Auburn have raised more than 8 million pounds of food for Alabamians in need, according to the organizations. On Monday, Gov. Kay Ivey delivered remarks at a kickoff event in Montgomery and made the first donations to both Alabama and Auburn. In Alabama, about 17% of adults face food insecurity. And 1 out of 4 children in Alabama face food insecurity, according to the state Department of Public Health. |
| U. of Arkansas-Fayetteville names members to provost search committee | |
| Fourteen people have been named to the search committee who will help find a new provost at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. J.F. Meullenet, senior associate vice president for agriculture research, director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and immediate past interim dean of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, and Life Sciences, will serve as the search committee chairperson. Provost Terry Martin announced in May he was leaving the position to return to teaching. He is preparing to return to a full-time role as a professor of electrical engineering in June 2025. The next provost will continue to advance student success initiatives, augment the research enterprise and ensure that the university is an employer of choice, according to UA. The provost reports directly to Chancellor Charles Robinson and works closely with the leadership of each of the university's colleges and schools to advance the university's strategic priorities. "Terry Martin has exemplified what it means to be a servant leader -- always putting the needs of our students, faculty and staff first in every decision he's made as provost," said Robinson in a news release. "As we search for his successor, we seek someone who shares his commitment to serving others and ensuring that student success remains at the heart of everything we do." |
| Historic Holmes-Hunter Academic Building dedicated on UGA campus | |
 | The University of Georgia held a ceremony Oct. 4 to dedicate the completion of renovations to the Holmes-Hunter Academic Building located next to the historic Arch on north campus. The building in 2001 was renamed in honor of Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault, the first African American students to attend the university. Hunter and Holmes attended as undergraduates on Jan. 9, 1961. "They faced incredibly challenging circumstances, but fortunately for them -- and for us -- their determination to succeed carried them through, and they blazed a trail for the many students who would follow them," UGA President Jere Morehead told the gathering. The renovations included restored historic features, improved accessibility and a courtyard that pays tribute to Hunter and Holmes. The $30 million project was approved in 2021 by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents and supported by a $15 million gift from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation. Others contributors included Georgia Power Company and Regions Bank. |
| Gainesville community comes together at U. of Florida to commemorate Oct. 7 attacks on Israel | |
 | Members of the Gainesville community gathered Monday evening in the University of Florida's University Auditorium to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attacks on Israel. Among moderate police presence, "no protest" signs and strict security protocols, attendees joined in prayer and song for an event marked by commemorative performances and speeches. A focus on strength, solidarity and a fervent support for Israel's soldiers defined the "Evening of Heroes" event sponsored by a coalition of campus groups like Chabad UF, the UF Bud Shorstein Center for Jewish Studies, Students Supporting Israel, the Jewish Federation of North America, Tivkah and Chabad on Campus International. "The atrocities from Oct. 7 are just unimaginable," said Rabbi Berl Goldman, co-director of Chabad UF. "[This] event is to show solidarity, unity and support of Israel, to honor the heroes and to bring positive memory to those that lost their lives on Oct. 7 and since. We hope the community gets strength and Israel gets strength from this event." Throughout the week, both Jewish and pro-Palestine campus groups had planned different events to observe the anniversary of the conflict's escalation, although critical weather conditions and UF's cancellation of classes as Hurricane Milton approaches might mean that many of them don't get to take place. |
| Florida Colleges Cancel Classes, Brace for Milton | |
 | Colleges in west and central Florida canceled classes for part of the week as they prepared for Hurricane Milton, a Category 4 storm that's expected to slam into Tampa on Wednesday night and move across central Florida. Milton would be the second storm to hit the state in the last two weeks. The last hurricane, Helene, killed more than 220 people across six states. Milton could be similarly catastrophic, officials say, and poses an unprecedented threat to the Tampa region. The mayor of Tampa warned residents to evacuate or "you are going to die." The University of South Florida, which has campuses in St. Petersburg, Tampa and Sarasota, canceled classes through at least Thursday and closed the residence halls at all three campuses. Students who live on campus and needed a safe place to stay were moved to a shelter six miles away. As of Tuesday afternoon, USF was planning to hold classes asynchronously on Friday. Hillsborough Community College will also be closed through Friday, along with the University of Central Florida. UCF officials added that assignments will be suspended until Monday. The campus residence halls remain open for students who don't have anywhere else to go. The University of Florida closed its campus Wednesday and Thursday. |
| Federal judge dismisses Florida lawsuit challenging accreditation system | |
| A federal judge last week dismissed Florida's lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Education's accreditation requirements, though the ruling allows the state to revise its complaint. Florida sued the Education Department last year, arguing that federal accreditation requirements violate the Constitution by giving private agencies "unchecked power" to determine educational standards at colleges. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra, a Biden appointee, rejected Florida's arguments. "The State's objection to the requirement that they comply with standards set by private agencies to receive federal dollars from its students simply fails to state a claim," Becerra wrote. The lawsuit in part focuses on Florida's past disputes with the accreditor for its colleges, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The complaint alleged that SACSCOC has routinely wielded its power "to interfere with the sovereign prerogatives of Florida." Florida has until mid-October to file an amended complaint. Lawyers with the state attorney general's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. |
| Texas A&M seeks to solve a 'physics problem' with tunnel concept | |
 | Texas A&M University has a "physics problem." Because of the number of students going to or from class at any time, it is physically impossible to get from the front end of main campus to the west end in 20 minutes, the amount of time between classes. As the campus continues to grow, so too will the problem of trying to get everyone where they need to be on time. But according to Texas A&M Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President Peter Lange, it's possible a solution could be on the way, or underway as the university is exploring the idea of a system of tunnels built by the Boring Company that would allow people to move around campus and might help with above-ground traffic. "The tunnel would be 14 feet in diameter," Lange said. "In the feasibility studies we took a look at a possibility of what we're calling the Aggie Loop. We based the Aggie Loop on our two heaviest ridership routes, route one and three. Route one is our campus circulator and route three goes out toward White Creek." The tunnel would be built 30 feet below ground, following the on-campus street system, with a combination of above-ground and below-ground stations. The tunnel system would use Tesla X and Tesla Y vehicles to carry passengers through the tunnels at 40 miles per hour. |
| UT College of Liberal Arts dean says Hartzell is blocking her from second term in post | |
| University of Texas President Jay Hartzell will not allow the dean of the College of Liberal Arts to pursue a second term in the leadership post, according to an email obtained by the American-Statesman. In a Wednesday afternoon email, Dean Ann Stevens told college leaders that Hartzell told her "I did not have a grand enough vision for the college," which she disputed. "While I disagree with that assessment, it is clear that he and I have different values and different goals for the college," she told Liberal Arts leaders. The College of Liberal Arts has nearly 800 faculty members and serves about a fifth of UT's almost 54,000 students. Stevens' term will expire August 2025. The dean's news comes after multiple high-level leadership changes at UT in the past several weeks, including sudden resignations from UT's police chief and the university's provost. UT's vice president for research leadership resigned effective in August 2025, and a new vice president for marketing and communications started in September after a department restructuring in which 20 people were laid off. |
| U. of Missouri students celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at vibrant Culture & Cuisine event | |
 | The Shack, inside the University of Missouri Student Center, is normally a casual spot for students to grab burgers or play pool in between classes, but on Tuesday night, the back room transformed into a vibrant space for celebration. Students filled the room to honor Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, with tacos catered from Taqueria Don Pancho. The event, Culture & Cuisine, was organized by the student-led Campus Activities Programming Board, and also featured free beads and candy, masks for students to adorn and colorful decorations. "I was super eager and impatient waiting for this to happen," said Peyton Weiler, a culture and diversity programming co-chair for CAPB. "But now seeing everyone kind of enjoy themselves --- it's really exciting for me." Weiler's co-chair, Farheen Khan, said she was excited to see such high turnout, because part of the culture and diversity committee's mission is to showcase the diversity of cultures on MU's campus. "It's their student dollars that are funding these types of events, and they're just as much part of campus as anybody else," Khan said. "And it's really important to get to celebrate that." |
| Here's What Voters Want the Next President to Do for Higher Ed | |
 | Vice President Kamala Harris' recent shoutout to apprenticeships and other alternatives to four-year college degrees may have surprised those who are accustomed to the Democratic Party's longstanding promotion of "college for all." Her call on employers to focus more on the skills applicants have acquired than the diplomas they've earned further signaled a shift in the Democratic Party's messaging on the value of a college education. Those messages, delivered during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania last month, likely drew more grimaces than cheers from higher-education leaders already worried about enrollment declines and increasing skepticism about the value of a four-year degree. But they probably resonated with registered voters who responded to a survey commissioned last month by Jobs for the Future, a national nonprofit working to better integrate education and the work force. The results, released last week, showed that 84 percentof respondents said it was somewhat or very important for the next president, in their first 100 days, to expand apprenticeship programs and facilitate hiring based on skills rather than degrees. By similar margins, they wanted the next president to provide better guidance on education and training options that lead to jobs with wages that can support a family. Several Republican governors, meanwhile, have questioned whether the government should be subsidizing liberal-arts and humanities degrees that don't have an immediate career application. Donald Trump's running mate, JD Vance, has declared college professors "the enemy" and colleges elitist and hostile to conservatives, even as his Ivy League pedigree helped elevate him out of poverty and a troubled upbringing. |
| Harris Holds Massive Edge Over Trump Among College Students. It's Even Bigger in Swing States. | |
| A whopping 57 percent of college students say they're going to vote Democratic this November---and President Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the race seems to have made a substantive impact on that number. Forty-two percent of those prospective Harris-Walz voters said they are more likely to vote now that the ticket has changed, according to the results of a new Inside Higher Ed Student Voice flash survey, in partnership with Generation Lab. A total of 1,012 college students across the United States responded to the survey in the last week of September. (The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.) In addition to whom they plan to vote for, the survey also measured what students see as the key issues dictating how they plan to cast their ballots. Far more said their decision in November will be influenced by the economy and cost-of-living concerns than by hot-button issues like student debt and the Israel-Hamas war. The survey also asked whether students intend to vote in the district where they live permanently versus the district where they go to college and why, with responses largely indicating that they plan to vote wherever they find the process easier. When asked for the top three issues that are influencing their votes in this election, the most common responses by far were the economy and cost of living -- selected by more than half of those surveyed -- and reproductive rights, at 45 percent. Well behind in third place was the future of democracy, which about a quarter of students selected as a key factor in their choice. |
| Election-year rhetoric on U.S. crime doesn't exactly match the numbers in crime data | |
| Columnist Sid Salter writes: On the stump and in the presidential campaign ad wars, crime remains a hot topic election-year rhetoric on crime doesn't exactly match the numbers in federal crime data. And to no one's surprise, both Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris have bent crime data numbers to fit their campaign narratives. The most recent crime data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation shows that violent crime and property crime dropped in the U.S. in 2023 after rising during the pandemic years. The FBI's latest national crime report shows murders and intentional manslaughters were down 11.6 % while property crime was down 2.4%. Overall, the FBI reports crime down 3%. Stateline, the nation's largest state-focused nonprofit news organization, reports in an examination by criminal justice journalist Amanda Hernandez that the presidential campaign reflects narrative from competing data sets. Violent crime has become a major issue in the 2024 presidential race, with former President Donald Trump claiming that crime has been "through the roof" under the Biden administration. Last week, Hernandez wrote: "On the campaign trail, Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has cited findings from a different source -- the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics' National Crime Victimization Survey -- to argue that crime is out of control. |
SPORTS
| Mississippi State's offense becoming more comfortable playing slow | |
| The offense Jeff Lebby has always coordinated, and the offense Mississippi State's head coach installed in spring practice and fall camp, was all about hustling to the line of scrimmage and snapping the ball before the defense could get set. But when the Bulldogs faced their toughest opponent yet at No. 1 Texas on Sept. 28 -- with a true freshman quarterback starting for the first time, no less -- MSU slowed things down considerably. Realizing that possessing the ball for as long as possible was their best hope to pull off the upset, the Bulldogs snapped the ball every 28.73 seconds of game time in which they had the ball, by far their slowest pace of the season. "Tempo is unique. Not every team can do tempo, so we pride ourselves on being able to do tempo," tight end Justin Ball said. "But at the same time, we know we need to be a well-rounded offense, so being able to slow down sometimes, we own it. We were able to do it at Texas pretty successfully. Now we have to make sure we finish in the red zone and put points on the board." With MSU (1-4, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) traveling to face another top-5 opponent in Georgia this weekend, slowing the game down may again be on the menu, as much as it goes against the identity of Lebby's offenses at his previous coaching stops. "It really is more of a week-to-week thing," Lebby said. |
| Jeff Lebby believes Kirby Smart is 'as good as there's ever been' | |
| Although Mississippi State and Georgia will be enemies on the field Saturday, MSU head coach Jeff Lebby wasn't shy to praise UGA headman Kirby Smart. On Monday, Lebby raved about Smart's success during his tenure at the helm of Georgia. "As good as there's ever been," Lebby said of Smart. "As he's gotten to Georgia, and now you look at what he's done over his tenure, it really is second to none. The amount of success he's had, the years that he's put back-to-back-to-back -- again, it really is the standard right now in college football. "He's had a ton of success. To me, he's done it in a way that has been built to sustain developing high school kids, signing great high school football players from the south and mixing in different pieces positionally. But he's got a blueprint that is proven and it's worked." Since taking over at Georgia in 2016, Smart has led the program to a 98-17 overall record, two SEC championships and two national titles. For his efforts, he's been named the SEC Coach of the Year three times. It's difficult not to simply admire Smart's success but, on Saturday, Lebby will attempt to make a stain on the 48-year-old head coach's jaw-dropping résumé. If Mississippi State could stun Georgia, it'd certainly relieve some of the building pressure around the program. Kirby Smart knows Mississippi State is hungry for an upset and isn't overlooking the matchup. "I've got a lot of respect for Jeff Lebby, his offense and what he's done, where he's been and the people he's worked for in his career," Smart said. |
| State Soccer Achieves Highest Rankings In Program History | |
| Mississippi State soccer continues to make history in 2024, earning its highest rankings ever across multiple national polls. The Bulldogs are now ranked No. 4 by both United Soccer Coaches and TopDrawerSoccer, and have reached No. 3 in the NCAA's RPI rankings. After a strong start to the season, State's rise in the rankings reflects the program's consistent performance on the pitch, building on the momentum from back-to-back 10-win seasons under head coach James Armstrong. The Bulldogs' stellar defensive play and ability to secure marquee wins have solidified their place among the nation's elite in 2024. These accolades come on the heels of a historic week for the Bulldogs, which also saw two players earn Southeastern Conference Player of the Week honors for their performances in a 1-0 victory over then top-ranked Arkansas. Ally Perry, named SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, leads the conference in shots per game (4.64) and ranks second in total shots with 51. On the defensive side, Maddy Anderson earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Mississippi State looks to continue its historic season as they head to Athens to take on Georgia on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. CT. |
| Perry and Anderson awarded SEC weekly honors for Friday performances | |
| Mississippi State soccer standouts Ally Perry and Maddy Anderson were recognized by the Southeastern Conference with weekly awards for their performances against Arkansas on Friday. Perry, the goalscorer in MSU's 1-0 victory, was named co-SEC Offensive Player of the Week while Anderson was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week. The Bulldogs (10-1, 4-0 SEC) climbed up to No. 3 in the NCAA's RPI rankings after defeating No. 1 ranked Arkansas. The Razorbacks (9-1-1, 4-1 SEC), the nationwide leader in goalscoring, were held to just five shots all game, registering only one shot on target against the Bulldogs. "It's incredible, getting rewarded for everything we've worked for the past summer and spring building up to this," Perry said after the win. "It's a rewarding feeling getting the success we've achieved through our hard work." MSU has been a defensive juggernaut this season, and a huge part of that has been the high-intensity tactical approach and the experience in the team. At the heart of that is Anderson, the team's dependable goalkeeper for several years who plays behind a solid defensive unit. She kept a clean sheet for the 10th time this season, making a huge second-half save to hold onto the lead and eventually secure the win against the top-ranked Razorbacks. The Bulldogs will hit the road for their next SEC fixture this week, facing Georgia (6-3-4, 2-1-2 SEC) at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. It's the first road test since the Bulldogs won 2-0 at Oklahoma in the SEC opener, and the team has been focused on it since the sun rose on Saturday. |
| Education: Resurfacing underway at SHS tennis courts | |
| Anticipated renovations to the Starkville High School tennis complex took a step forward last week as work began on resurfacing the tennis courts. Located to the west of Yellow Jacket Stadium, the courts serve as home to Jacket Tennis as well as a shared space for community play. In an effort to support healthy endeavors and recreation for the community as well as promote tennis as a local sports opportunity, the courts on the SHS campus are available for use by the general public except for Yellow Jacket practice and home match times. The resurfacing of the courts is a three-way partnership between Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, the city of Starkville and the Starkville Community Foundation. Each entity funded one-third of the project and have shared in planning the renovations. The tennis courts see a steady stream of community members on mornings and weekends for team and individual play, and they are also often used for not-for-profit lessons as well as camps for budding players provided by the Jacket Tennis coaching staff. The resurfacing project is currently in progress and is anticipated to be completed before the start of the high school tennis season. Meanwhile, a portion of the courts are still available for use by the community. |
| Barry Switzer, The King of Norman, is still unapologetically himself at 87 | |
| Across the street from Oklahoma's campus, and a mile from the football stadium that bore witness to his legendary career, Barry Switzer sits in his home office at an ornate desk with his name on the front underneath an OU logo. Around him, commemorative footballs line the shelves, mementos of a time when he became known as "The King," winning three national championships and 12 Big Eight titles. There's a replica Lombardi Trophy celebrating the Dallas Cowboys' 1995 championship in Super Bowl XXX, when Switzer became one of three men -- alongside Jimmy Johnson and Pete Carroll -- to win championships in college and the NFL. With the Sooners, he won 66% of his games against ranked teams and battled Tom Osborne's Cornhuskers and Darrell Royal's Longhorns -- as well as the NCAA -- during his career. He doesn't go down without a fight. That's why, on a Friday afternoon before his Sooners play their first SEC game against Tennessee, Barry Switzer isn't thinking about the Vols as much as he's contemplating his own future. |
| Between Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, will Florida fans make it to Neyland Stadium? | |
 | The Tennessee-Florida football matchup is always one of the most-anticipated games of the season. But with Hurricane Milton hurling toward Florida and with East Tennessee still recovering post-Hurricane Helene, will Florida fans even make it to the Neyland Stadium stands? Milton, an intense Category 4 storm on the cusp of growing to Category 5 on Oct. 8, is expected to make landfall the night of Oct. 9 along the west-central coast of Florida near the Tampa and Sarasota areas as an "extremely dangerous" hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center. The University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, is slightly northwest of the projected path, but the storm's aftermath could impact travel to the Oct. 12 game in Knoxville. Millions of Florida residents were following evacuation orders Oct. 8 and trying to avoid Hurricane Milton, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida reported. Portions of Florida's main highways, including interstates 75 North, 4 East and 10 West were clogged by slowly moving traffic. Any Florida fans driving to Knoxville also should be mindful of long lines at gas pumps and even empty gas pumps along the journey. Fuel and other supplies already were running low, USA TODAY reported Oct. 8. |
| NCAA cracking down on weapon gestures toward opponents in college football | |
| College football is on high alert for players flashing make-believe guns at an opponent. That happened Saturday when freshman edge rusher Dylan Stewart, who sacked Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart for a loss of eight yards on third down, stood over him and pretended to shoot his opponent with a repeating firearm. Stewart was called for unsportsmanlike conduct and South Carolina was penalized 15 yards. The flag did not deter Stewart, who celebrated the same way -- he got off three shots of his pretend shotgun -- a few minutes later after stopping Rebels runner Matt Jones for a 4-yard loss. No penalty was called on that play. At Minnesota, defensive back Justin Walley broke up a pass in his team's 24-17 win over then-No. 11 Southern California, then lifted up his shirt as if he were showing a handgun sticking out of his waistband. Walley was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for what the official said was "simulating brandishing a gun." "There's a list of automatic unsportsmanlike conduct fouls. One of them in our rule book is simulating firing of a weapon," Steve Shaw, the NCAA's national coordinator of officials, told The Associated Press by phone Tuesday. "That's not really a judgement call." |
| NCAA Scores Legal Win in Tennis Prize Money Spat With Reese Brantmeier | |
| Within hours of U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken preliminarily approving a multibillion-dollar settlement in the House, Carter and Hubbard antitrust litigations, the NCAA landed another win Monday when U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles denied University of North Carolina tennis player Reese Brantmeier's motion for a preliminary injunction. Brantmeier asked Eagles to prohibit the NCAA from enforcing its prize money rules against college athletes who participate in individual sports while her antitrust case against the association is pending. Brantmeier sued the NCAA in March in what she hopes will become certified as a class action on behalf of herself and other Division I athletes in individual sports. Those sports are tennis, golf, swimming, track and field, wrestling, gymnastics, skiing, fencing, women's bowling, indoor and outdoor cross country, women's triathlon, women's equestrian, rifle, and skiing. Brantmeier argues the NCAA and its member schools are engaged in a price-fixing conspiracy that artificially deflates earning opportunities for individual sports athletes. Brantmeier also asserts the NCAA has used amateurism rules to engage in a group boycott of athletes who accept prize money. But as Eagles explained, a preliminary injunction is an "extraordinary remedy." In finding that Brantmeier's arguments came up short, the judge offered several reasons. |
| A 'Super League' for Big-Time College Sports? | |
| The continuing turmoil in big-time college athletics -- driven by the decline of amateurism and players' success in winning the right to be compensated, virtually nonstop conference realignment that has blown up traditional rivalries in the chase for big television payouts, and doubts about the National Collegiate Athletic Association's viability -- could ultimately lead in many directions. More intervention from Congress. Athletes who are paid directly by colleges and possibly even treated as employees. Ever-greater separation of the haves from the have-nots. Which of these come to pass is far from certain, but the latter is likeliest. And a news report from Yahoo Sports on Tuesday suggests that one possible scenario is gaining steam: the creation of a 70-team "super league" that would incorporate football programs from the four existing "power conferences" (the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12 and Southeastern) under a common umbrella. The new league, pitched by a private equity firm made up of former Disney executives, would be fueled by private capital and distance itself more fully from the other 60-some colleges that compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision, in ways that could be politically contentious and further disrupt existing relationships between their universities. |
| For Big Ten ADs, SEC meet-up offers a chance to hash out the issues that just mean more | |
 | When the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors hired Tony Petitti as commissioner in spring 2023, it mandated he work closely with Southeastern Conference counterpart Greg Sankey and thaw the icy relationship between the collegiate sports superpowers. Two weeks into the job, Petitti visited Sankey. Now, 18 months later, Petitti and Sankey have found enough common ground to encourage their schools to discuss mutual interests. This week, league brass and athletic directors from every school will meet for a summit in Nashville, Tenn. Among the topics up for discussion include the $2.78 billion House v. NCAA settlement, the College Football Playoff and nonconference scheduling for football and basketball. "There are just so many commonalities between the two conferences," said Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork, who previously served in the same role at Texas A&M and Ole Miss. "We have the biggest brands. Obviously, our TV packages are comprehensive in nature. Our stadiums are packed. "Given where we are with the overall landscape of college athletics, those who see things in a common way, to me we need to get together, and we need to discuss how we chart the course, while also understanding there's the legal landscape that we have to pay attention to and understanding what we can and can't talk about." From television ratings to revenue, everything involving the Big Ten and SEC matches their mottos. They're really big, and it just means more. That holds true for this week's summit. Never before have the two most powerful entities met holistically to discuss how they can work together in an "intentional way," as Bjork said. |
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