| Thursday, October 10, 2024 |
| Mississippi universities adapting to workforce, employment needs | |
 | Representatives with each of Mississippi's four public research institutions of higher learning presented information on how they can help improving the workforce participation rate in the state during a recent meeting of the Senate Labor Force Participation Study Group. At Mississippi State, there is a focus on providing online distance learning opportunities to working adults to increase their earning potential, said Dean of the College of Professional and Continuing Studies Dr. Susan Seal. Seal told lawmakers that MSU has noticed a decline in the average age of those taking online courses, dropping from 32 to 28-years-old due to increased interest. She added that MSU offers 130 online programs. "As we all know, the workforce is changing probably faster than it has in a long time with AI coming at us and all the different things happening," Seal said. "If you had a degree from 10 to 15 years ago there's a good chance you need to re-skill for the new jobs, the jobs in a new economy." According to information Seal presented from the Chronicle of Higher Education Reports, Mississippi's rate of 30.1 percent beats the national average of 26.7 percent adults 25 and older who hold a high school diploma. However, neighboring states have higher percentages. Louisiana sits at 33.3 percent while Arkansas' rate is 33.9 percent. When it comes to adults in that age group who hold higher education degrees, Mississippi's rate of 13.8 percent for bachelor's degree holders lags behind the national average of 20.2 percent. However, more Mississippians -- 10.2 percent -- hold an associate's degree than the national average of 8.6 percent. |
| Responders Turn to Drones Amid Hurricane Helene Recovery, Milton Preparations | |
| As Americans in the Southeast attempt to return to normalcy in the wake of Hurricane Helene and prepare for impending Hurricane Milton, which is expected to make landfall near Tampa, Florida, Wednesday night, drone operators are doing everything they can to help. "While helicopters are invaluable for their range and payload capabilities, drones complement these assets by offering quicker, more cost-effective deployment," Skydio, one of the largest U.S. drone manufacturers, told FLYING. Also assisting with post-Helene recovery efforts are pilots, engineers, and scientists from Mississippi State University's (MSU) Raspet Flight Research Laboratory. Raspet, backed by Project JUSTICE -- a program within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate designed to learn about uncrewed systems by sending them on real-world missions -- is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) with a massive UAS called Teros. "Once a hurricane has passed over an inland area, the water it leaves behind is constantly moving, and that movement can be difficult to predict, especially in places where trees and other barriers might obscure water from satellite imagery," said Jamie Dyer, a geosciences professor at Mississippi State and associate director of the university's Northern Gulf Institute (NGI). NGI experts tracked Helene through the Gulf of Mexico and Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. Using Teros' sensors and cameras, they collected real-time data and visuals on the movement of floodwaters, beaming it to federal entities like FEMA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). |
| Mississippi State University's Drones Aid FEMA's Hurricane Relief in Georgia | |
| Mississippi State University's drones are flying a little further away from Starkville than usual, as they're being deployed to Georgia for hurricane relief efforts in support of FEMA's Hurricane Helene response. With funding from the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate's Project JUSTICE, MSU's pilots, engineers and scientists from the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory and the Northern Gulf Institute deployed to Georgia Sept. 29 for UAS flights over impacted areas in the Southeast. According to the press release, "(b)y outfitting Raspet's large uncrewed aircraft with sophisticated sensors and cameras, MSU personnel provide real-time data and visuals on where floodwaters are moving to partners like FEMA Region 4 and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration." "I am extremely proud that MSU's UAS capabilities are supporting our federal partners as they carry out critical missions to protect lives and property," said Bryan Farrell, interim director of the Raspet Flight Research Lab. "This deployment comes after years of collaboration and successful training exercises. These efforts highlight the many ways large UAS can support emergency response, and how our research centers here at MSU work together to deliver new capabilities to our stakeholders. The effort not only provides immediate data for decision-makers, but the lessons learned influences future research directions." |
| Mary Means Business: New cafe opening this month in former 929 spot | |
 | Starkville has a new coffee shop opening on Main Street. High Ground Coffee LLC, 106 E. Main St., will open shop this month in the former 929 location. General Manager Matthew Ellis will run the coffee shop and Odyssey Game Room, a family-friendly board game spot located downstairs from the coffee shop. "My dream was to open a board game cafe," he said. "My two passions are board games and coffee. This opportunity came forward and the high ground owners have been great to work with." Ellis said the ownership includes several silent investors. Ellis said with renovations near completion, they expect to open by Oct. 17. Those renovations include new tiling along the counters, renovated patio, new light fixtures and bathrooms. "It'll look like a totally different place," he said. Ellis said the new coffee shop will have "top of the line" equipment and ingredients, including Cuvee coffee beans from Austin, Texas. High Ground will offer various coffee drinks, loose leaf and iced teas, energy drinks, sandwiches, salads, baked goods and more. |
| Gulf State Canners investing $40.8 million on expansion in Clinton | |
 | Gulf States Canners is expanding at its canning facility in Clinton. The project is a $40.8 million investment and will create 19 jobs. Gulf States Canners, which recently announced the project, 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. This expansion and modernization project includes modifying the existing facility to increase efficiency and capacity and adding a new PET bottle production line for Coca-Cola sparkling products and Dasani water bottles, according to a statement. Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive, or MFLEX, program. Accelerate MS, the city of Clinton and the Hinds County Board of Supervisors are also assisting with the project. Mark Shorter, general manager for Gulf States Canners believes the economic benefit for the entire Jackson metro area will be significant. This is another economic development win for Clinton Mayor Phil Fisher, who has announced he will not seek re-election. Continental Tire and Milwaukee Tools have added operations in Clinton during Fisher's tenure. |
| Inflation slowed again in September, CPI report shows. Will the Fed keep cutting rates? | |
 | Inflation hit a fresh three-year low in September as another drop in gasoline prices offset a rise in used car and auto insurance costs but price gains slowed less than expected and a gauge of underlying price increases picked up. The latest pullback likely should still keep the Federal Reserve on track to lower interest rates by a more measured quarter percentage point next month after its initial half point reduction in September juiced the stock market. Overall consumer prices increased 2.4% from a year ago, down from 2.5% in August, according to the Labor Department's consumer price index, a wide-ranging gauge of goods and services costs. That's the smallest increase since February 2021 and the sixth straight pullback, leaving inflation modestly above the Fed's 2% goal. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy items and is watched more closely by the Fed, increased 0.3%, similar to August. That nudged up yearly core inflation to 3.3% from 3.2% the prior month. Food and energy prices are often more volatile because they respond to the sharp price swings of global commodities such as oil and wheat. The Fed prefers to focus on more sustained price changes that reflect consumer and business demand and can be affected by interest rates. After slashing a key interest rate by a half point in September, Fed officials signaled they'll likely lower it by a quarter point at each of their final two meetings this year as long as inflation continues to soften. That would reduce the rate from about 4.8% to about 4.3%. |
| Annual state revenues creep above $1.8 billion in September | |
 | State revenues in the month of September came in $14.3 million above what was expected, and revenues are up more than $40 million than was expected by this time in the state's fiscal year, which runs July 1 through June 30, 2025. In September, the state collected $714,049,450 in taxes and other revenues, which is $11,061,210 more than was what was collected in September 2023 ($702,988,240). Fiscal year to date, the state has collected $1,840,218,577, compared to $1,827,934,005 by September 2023. Fiscal Year 2024 began July 1, 2023, ended June 30, 2024. Legislative Budget Office revenue reports reflect earnings from the previous month and fiscal year-to-date figures. In Fiscal Year 2024, state investments' interest rates made up for a large chunk of revenue losses stemming from income tax cuts currenting being phased in. So far this fiscal year, taxes have brought in $1,762,699,609, and investments and other revenues generated $77,518,968. State personal income taxes, as reported by the Legislative Budget Office, amounted to $583,781,603 for the fiscal year so far, which is 2.59% more than by the end of September 2023 ($569,052,241). |
| Weddle set to be sworn in as appellate judge Friday | |
 | The chief justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court will swear in former District Attorney John Weddle as an appellate judge Friday afternoon. The investiture ceremony for the newly appointed Mississippi Court of Appeals judge will be held Oct. 11 at 3 p.m. in the large courtroom on the second floor of the Lee County Justice Center at 200 West Jefferson Street in downtown Tupelo. State Senator Daniel H. Sparks of Belmont will give welcoming remarks. Weddle's father, the Rev. William S. Weddle, will give the invocation. Senior First Chancery District Chancellor Jacqueline Mask will speak. The oath of office will be administered by Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Randolph. Weddle was pointed by the governor to fill the vacancy left by the June retirement of Judge Jim M. Greenlee. Weddle's term will begin on Oct. 14. |
| Mississippi Medicaid director resigns for job in private sector | |
| Mississippi Division of Medicaid Director Drew Snyder will leave his current role for a position in the private sector. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves' office announced Wednesday afternoon the news of Snyder's departure, which will happen on Oct. 31. The office also said in a press release that Cindy Bradshaw will be taking over the Mississippi Division of Medicaid's top spot. "Drew Snyder is a talented and dedicated public servant who has driven positive, lasting change in our state's Medicaid program," Reeves of Snyder in the press release. "I appreciate his acumen and his exemplary leadership and wish him continued success in the next chapter of his career." Snyder recently during a Joint-Legislative Budget Committee hearing said the agency was in the best "fiscal shape." "Working with the Division of Medicaid team, health care professionals, state leaders, and other partners to enhance value and elevate quality in the Mississippi Medicaid program has been the most rewarding experience of my career," Snyder said. "I'm pleased with the progress that has been made, and I'm optimistic about what can be accomplished in the years ahead for the betterment of Medicaid members and Mississippi's economic health." Bradshaw has been serving as Medicaid's Deputy Executive Director for Eligibility since April 2023, and she was previously a state insurance administrator. |
| Mississippi leaders hope to capture momentum with upcoming nuclear summit | |
| The Mississippi Public Service Commission announced the upcoming MPSC Nuclear Summit, giving industry leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders a chance to discuss the future of nuclear energy and its role in the state's energy landscape. The summit is set for Tuesday, October 22, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Woolfolk Building in Jackson. Anyone interested in learning more about the current state of nuclear energy in Mississippi, along with its innovative technologies, benefits, and challenges, is invited to attend. "Mississippi has the potential to be a leader in nuclear energy, and this summit will serve as a platform for meaningful dialogue about its future," MPSC Commissioners Chris Brown, De'Keither Stamps, and Wayne Carr said in a joint statement. "We are committed to exploring safe, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions that will benefit our communities, the economy, and the environment, as we work to shape the future of nuclear energy in our state." Entergy's Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in Port Gibson is the state's only nuclear power plant, though expansions have made it the largest single-reactor nuclear power plant by generating capacity in the U.S. The plant now generates around 17% of Mississippi's electricity every year. |
| Republicans Appear Poised to Take Control of Senate, New Poll Shows | |
 | Control of the Senate appears likely to flip from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party this fall, as one of the nation's most endangered Democrats, Senator Jon Tester of Montana, trails his Republican challenger in his bid for re-election, according to a new poll from The New York Times and Siena College. Mr. Tester, who first won election to the Senate in 2006, is winning over moderate and independent voters and running far ahead of the Democrat at the top of the ticket, Vice President Kamala Harris. But as of now, that does not appear to be enough to survive in Montana, a conservative state where former President Donald J. Trump is ahead by 17 percentage points and where control of the Senate hangs in the balance. Tim Sheehy, a wealthy Republican businessman and a former Navy SEAL who has never held public office, leads Mr. Tester 52 percent to 44 percent, the poll shows. Mr. Sheehy's lead is a seven-point advantage without rounding. Democrats currently hold a 51-seat Senate majority. But with Republicans already set to pick up a seat after the retirement of Senator Joe Manchin III, an independent from West Virginia who caucuses with Democrats, the party cannot afford to lose additional seats. In fact, the party's only hope is to secure a 50-50 split and to have Ms. Harris win the White House, allowing her running mate, Tim Walz, to provide the crucial tiebreaking vote as vice president. |
| Inside Trump's push to win over the 'bro' vote | |
 | Donald Trump is betting that support from young men will help propel him to the White House. And he's getting an assist from a crew of pro-Trump millennial pranksters who are capitalizing on college football tailgates, Tinder and even the "Hawk Tuah Girl" podcast. The Nelk Boys, digital content creators and hosts of the popular "Full Send" podcast, are mounting a multi-million-dollar voter registration push aimed at turning out young men. They plan to sign up voters at a "Send the Vote" music festival later this month that will feature a performance by pro-Trump rapper Waka Flocka Flame, and at a pair of Penn State football games. They will also promote the registration drive on dating apps and advertise on highly-listened to, male-friendly podcasts. t's the latest effort in an all-out campaign by the former president to turn out young men, a demographic his campaign views as critical to his election given the overwhelming support Kamala Harris is expected to receive from young women. The question the Trump operation faces, however, is whether it can turn out a subset of voters his allies concede are uncertain to cast ballots. "The question is, will that podcast fan, that College GameDay fan, that USC fan, will they actually get up on November 5th and go and vote?" said John Shahidi, the president of Full Send and the co-founder of Send the Vote. "That's the big question right now that we want to start emphasizing on and putting pressure on." |
| The Evangelicals Calling for 'Spiritual Warfare' to Elect Trump | |
 | Lance Wallnau, a self-styled prophet in a fast-growing evangelical movement, came down off the stage to lay his hands on people who had requested prayers. Then he explained why re-electing Donald Trump is essential to save America. "Don't think for a moment that it isn't possible for this country to veer off course and go over a cliff in November," Wallnau told about 2,000 people gathered under a tent in late July. "It's quite possible, and the only thing that can arrest that is an activated, catalyzed body of Christian patriots." Wallnau, 68 years old, is one of the most important figures in the New Apostolic Reformation, an influential movement in evangelical Christianity that blends direct experience of the Holy Spirit with a call to engage in politics as a form of "spiritual warfare." He opposes abortion and same-sex marriage, but his main goal is to elevate Christians to greater influence to transform society. Wallnau's "Courage Tour" events, equal parts tent revival and political mobilization, are part of his strategy to help put Trump back in the White House. On a recent weekend, JD Vance, Trump's running mate, appeared at a Wallnau event in the swing state of Pennsylvania. "If Christians aren't out there voting, Christians aren't going to have a voice in this country," Vance told the crowd. Social media has propelled the growth of the New Apostolic Reformation and thousands of other charismatic nondenominational churches by spreading their brand of gospel and linking the churches in a loose network. |
| Elon Musk Is All In on MAGA. Donald Trump's Supporters Are Loving It | |
 | On Saturday, October 5, former president Donald Trump returned to Butler, Pennsylvania, for a rally less than three months after the assassination attempt on his life at the same location. This time, Trump appeared onstage with billionaire and X owner Elon Musk. Trump's supporters loved it. A day before the campaign event, Musk posted on X that he would be in attendance. The excitement about his presence was palpable: On the road leading to the rally location, an electronic billboard flashed an image of Musk's face and a rocket ship with text reading "In Musk we trust!" On a side road, where hundreds of attendees parked their cars, a Tesla cybertruck sported two Trump flags on the back. As Musk took the stage, he was greeted with cheers. Thousands of people took out their phones to film him. Musk called on Trump's supporters to register to vote, saying, "Get everyone you know, and everyone you don't know. Drag them to register to vote." And Trump supporters in Butler who spoke to WIRED said that, although they'd been planning to attend the rally regardless of Musk's presence, they were excited to have him in the MAGA fold. Some had even come from out of town to attend the event. Musk's appearance at the rally was part of a larger get-out-the-vote effort from the billionaire and X owner. Over the past few months, Musk has gone all in for the Trump campaign and Republican candidates all over the country, spending millions of dollars. This comes at a time when Republican strategists have raised concerns about the Trump campaign's lack of ground game, which appears to have been largely left to outside groups like Musk's America PAC. |
| In a time of fraught polarization, some companies are trying to stay out of politics | |
| "It is not the role of the institution to render opinions." That lines comes from a statement on institutional neutrality signed off by the University of Pennsylvania's senior leadership. Officials there made it clear: No more public statements about sociopolitical matters. Deeply polarized responses to the Israel-Hamas war are central to this, but colleges are not alone in shifting into neutral. Other organizations are opting to stay quiet rather than taking sides or commenting on major political issues. That's a very different energy than has been the norm for the last five years or so. "There was a real rise in CEOs speaking up and taking positions on everything from climate change to immigration to human rights," said NYU's Alison Taylor, who heads up the Ethical Systems think tank. Yet studies show many employees -- often younger employees -- don't want to work for companies that remain silent on key matters, from structural racism to climate change. And keeping politics in the brand can work, depending on the company. "Because people will see that fits with the brand and that's who I want to spend my money with," said Eric Van Steenburg, a professor of marketing at the Jake Jabs College of Business at Montana State University. "For smaller companies -- maybe a startup or a company that has began building its brand on something like -- they want to be the company of climate change, or they want to be this company of entrepreneurship." |
| W professor gets $1M to study gecko toe pads | |
| Suction cups don't work in a vacuum, so you can't use them in space. Tape works well unless it's on a wet surface. Magnets require metal to stick. As many advances as humans have made in the field of adhesives, no product works quite as well as nature's adhesive: gecko toe pads. "We have lots of different ways to stick things together, but none of them work the way gecko pads do," said Travis Hagey, associate professor of biology at Mississippi University for Women. "They all have limitations, right? ... Nature found a totally different way to do it." Over the next five years, Hagey will build on his career of studying gecko toe pads as he undertakes a research project that could eventually inspire new forms of adhesives. He is one of 500 recipients of the U.S. National Science Foundation's CAREER Award. Designed specifically for early-career faculty, the grant will provide Hagey a little more than $1 million to fund research into gecko toe pads and how they work. The award, he said, is evidence that high level research can be conducted at regional universities like The W and not just research institutions. "It kind of shows that ... professors at (primarily undergraduate institutes) can do this kind of research," he said. "MUW is capable of this. Mississippi is capable of this kind of research." |
| Ole Miss mathematics group earns national award during inaugural year | |
| The Association for Women in Mathematics has honored the University of Mississippi with its 2024 Student Chapter Award for Community Outreach. The award was presented Aug. 8 at the Mathematical Association of America's MathFest 2024 event in Indianapolis. It celebrates work the student organization completed in the spring during its first-ever Sonia Kovalevsky Day events and a research symposium. Mathematics doctoral candidate Gauree Wathodkar founded the Ole Miss chapter of AWM during the 2023 fall semester. More than 100 student chapters are active nationwide, so landing the award after just one year is a source of pride, Wathodkar said. "It happened in one year," she said. "That is the happiest thing for a founder, right? I thought that I would graduate before something like this happened, but I got to see that, and the big reason is our team of officers." |
| Academic counselor indicted for enticement of a child | |
 | Lauren Kennamore, an academic counselor for the University of Mississippi's School of Journalism and New Media, was indicted Tuesday on one count of enticement of a child. Union County Sheriff Jimmy Edwards said Kennamore was indicted by a grand jury on Oct. 8 and booked into the county jail, WTVA 9 reports. According to the indictment, the alleged crime occurred earlier this year. Before becoming an academic counselor at the university, Kennamore was employed as a teacher at the West Union Attendance Center in Myrtle, Miss. According to Edwards, she was fired as a result of the incident. The university placed Kennamore on leave today, according to Director of News and Media Relations Jacob Batte. Kareem Russell, assistant dean for student services for the School of Journalism and New Media, sent an email informing students that he will temporarily serve as the academic counselor for those that were previously assigned to Kennamore. |
| USM celebrates renewal of NOAA Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute | |
 | The Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute (OECI) has been renewed for five more years by NOAA Ocean Exploration. According to officials, the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) will continue collaboration with the other members of the OECI, including the University of Rhode Island, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the University of New Hampshire, and the Ocean Exploration Trust. The collaboration will continue the successful partnership for five more years. "The renewal of this award is an opportunity for USM to continue to grow and contribute to ocean discovery and lead the development of new blue technologies to understand our oceans for the benefit of Mississippi and the Nation," said Dr. Kelly Lucas, Vice President of Research. "This award continues USM's ability to provide world-class opportunities for students in Mississippi to explore the ocean." The Ocean Explorers Program, funded by the OECI, provides an inclusive environment for future ocean explorers and scientists by welcoming students from minority-serving institutions, including Tuskegee University and Jackson State University (JSU). |
| Panda Express opens at Southern Miss | |
| The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) will welcome a new dining option on campus as Panda Express opens Monday, October 14 in The Powerhouse. Panda Express features Mandarin and Szechuan wok-cooked entrées, as well as sides for lunch and dinner. According to university officials, the new Panda Express will be one of the meal exchange locations for students with unlimited meal plans, including the Black & Gold and To The Top VIP plans. "We are thrilled to welcome Panda Express to our campus this semester," said Charles Dorsa, District Manager of Aramark. "In selecting new dining options, we carefully considered feedback from students and other members of the University community to ensure the best fit. Our priority is to provide a diverse and varied selection of cuisines, and Panda Express is a fantastic addition to the Southern Miss." |
| DSU and MDCC Collaborate to Expand Educational Opportunities | |
| Delta State University and Mississippi Delta Community College have announced the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding aimed at broadening educational opportunities and increasing graduation rates for students at both institutions. This partnership represents a pivotal step forward in fostering academic collaboration and providing stronger support systems for students in the Mississippi Delta region. "This MOU signifies a crucial collaboration between Delta State University and Mississippi Delta Community College. By joining forces, we are better equipped to offer our students the resources and support they need to succeed both academically and professionally," says Dr. Daniel J. Ennis, President of Delta State University. As part of this MOU, Delta State University will expand the new Phi Theta Kappa Community College Residential Award announced in August, when a similar MOU was signed between Delta State and Northwest Mississippi Community College. This scholarship will be available to MDCC students who are active Phi Theta Kappa members in good standing. In turn, MDCC will work closely with Delta State to promote this scholarship, ensuring that MDCC students are well-informed about the various academic programs and opportunities available at Delta State University. |
| Collaboration between Mississippi sheriff's office, community college aims to educate inmates | |
| The Tate County Sheriff's Office has partnered with Northwest Mississippi Community College to educate inmates and train them to become part of the workforce once released. Mississippi's three-year recidivism rate, the percentage of former prisoners who are rearrested, is 36.8% -- or 23rd in the nation. Studies show that the more highly educated inmates are, the less likely they are to be locked up multiple times. According to Tate County Jail Administrator Chad Wicker, prisoners, on average, have up to a seventh-grade education level. Wicker, who newly-elected sheriff Luke Shepherd tabbed to oversee the detention center's operations, determined that something needed to be done to shut the revolving door of returning inmates while also addressing workforce needs. "North Mississippi is kind of a hub for distribution with warehouses in DeSoto County and all over the Marshall County area, so we created what we call distribution studies or distribution class for the inmates where they can get a certification in forklift and OSHA and basic concepts of distribution, so when they get out, they can get a job and become a productive taxpaying citizen -- which is the goal of what we're trying to do," Wicker said on Good Things with Rebecca Turner. |
| An LGBTQ Studies Minor at Texas A&M Drew Complaints. Now Dozens of Programs Could Be Eliminated. | |
 | After criticism from Republican lawmakers and right-wing media outlets, Texas A&M University at College Station may disband its nascent minor in LGBTQ+ studies and over four-dozen other minors and certificate programs. The changes are being made through a new process that administrators say was created to review minors and certificates that enroll few students. Per the university, those that don't meet a certain enrollment threshold may be subject to "inactivation." But some faculty members allege that the process violates academic norms by subverting faculty authority over the curriculum, and say that it represents yet another troubling instance of political influence on their campus. The speaker of the Faculty Senate wrote a letter to the president and provost last week, arguing that the review of minors was "deeply flawed and lacked meaningful input from many stakeholders." The 52 minors and certificates under review make up about one-sixth of the 320 total offered by the university. A Texas A&M spokesperson told The Battalion, the student newspaper, that the university wouldn't provide a list of the programs until changes have been finalized. |
| 'Strive for excellence': How a $70M restoration will return the UT Tower to its former glory | |
| On the west clock face of the University of Texas Tower -- a treasured Longhorn landmark that was once the city's tallest building -- a cricket rests on a hand. Individual light bulbs create the clock face's glow, and mechanical technology that clicks every 30 seconds powers the hand forward. The tower opened in 1937 to be the university's main building and library. Decorated with seals of the world's greatest universities and names of the Western world's renowned thinkers, the tower represents the tireless ambition that has propelled UT forward for a century. Steel bookshelves literally reinforce the building's structure, and the institution has still not reached the building's massive capacity for books. View the iconic landmark from Interstate 35 or U.S. 290, and the gold paint chipping off the clocks' edges, the bumpy observation deck, and the burnt-orange rust on the building's side and windows can't be seen. But to passersby on the Forty Acres, the aged features can obscure the tower's most notable design elements and the excellence it represents to alums, students and UT leaders. Now, after 87 years, university administrators have committed to undertaking the largest reinvestment in the landmark since it was built. Starting in November, the tower will undergo a $70 million, multiyear restoration. The goal is for the project to finish by August 2027, restoring the building to its "former glory," UT President Jay Hartzell said. |
| U.of Missouri researcher awarded $8 million in grants for bullying prevention | |
 | One University of Missouri researcher's team was awarded $8 million in grants to combat bullying. Chad Rose, an associate professor in the MU Department of Special Education and the director of the Mizzou Ed Bully Prevention Lab, is leading a team of scientists to investigate how to reduce bullying in schools. The team has received two grants at $4 million each from the U.S. Department of Education to further their research. The first grant will evaluate the effectiveness of the K-5 Second Step program, according to a news release. The program used in schools promotes social-emotional learning. Elementary students from kindergarten to fifth grade are given weekly lessons to learn social and communication skills like appropriately interacting, asking for help, collaboration skills and self and social awareness, Rose said. This program, Rose said, teaches kids these skills in hopes of reducing bullying involvement. Rose has been involved in bullying prevention work for 18 years now. He conducted previous research that suggests students with disabilities experience more bullying than students without disabilities. He also collaborated with a Boonville middle schooler to start a program in which students become counselors that other students can turn to instead of turning to an adult. He has done further research on social exclusion and rumor spreading. |
| Prestigious U.S.-Ireland Scholarship Paused Amid Funding Woes | |
| Last month, 12 American students flew across the Atlantic to begin the prestigious George J. Mitchell scholarship program in Ireland and Northern Ireland. They are living in cities and towns including Cork, Belfast and Dublin, studying subjects like biotechnology, history and engineering. But they could be the last cohort in the program, as organizers announced earlier this year that they had paused selection for coming years because of funding difficulties. The program sent its first students to the island in 2000, in the wake of the Good Friday Agreement, which forged peace after decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles. Named for then-Senator George J. Mitchell, who led the talks, it has brought nearly 300 students to Ireland since its inception. The scholarship covers the full cost of tuition for a year, accommodation and a stipend for living expenses and travel. Mr. Mitchell, in an emailed statement, said he had recently met with the 25th class of Mitchell scholars and hoped the program would continue. "They are smart and thoughtful future leaders. They care about service and giving back, which is a central purpose of the scholarship program," he said. "It's an important part of maintaining the relationship between the United States and Ireland." |
| Changing How Higher Ed and Industry Drive Innovation | |
 | Innovation districts -- traditionally created through collaborations between cities, industry and research universities -- are evolving to keep pace with rapid advancements in technology and an increasing need for social impact. But even as the makeup of innovation hubs changes, the agglomeration of intellectual creativity, a permeable relationship between higher education institutions and local communities, and business-friendly governmental polices remain at the center of successful knowledge economies, education and industry leaders have said. Speaking at Times Higher Education's World Academic Summit, Faye Bowser, vice president for higher education at Siemens, said the technology conglomerate is moving away from singular relationships with universities and toward fostering ecosystems around the world that include start-ups, research institutes and universities all focused on regional needs that link to global impact. In the U.S., innovation districts, epitomized by coastal hot spots in Silicon Valley and Cambridge, Mass., are popping up in unexpected regions. One of Siemens's four research ecosystems in the United States, for example, is located in Atlanta, and includes partnerships with the Georgia Institute of Technology, Virginia Tech, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and North Carolina A&T State University. Being a destination for talent is part of what makes innovation districts thrive. "Many people in Europe do not fully appreciate the relocation of talent and capital that's happening in the United States right now," Daniel Diermeier, chancellor of Vanderbilt University, told the summit, held at the University of Manchester in England. |
| The FAFSA debacle has followed college students into the school year | |
 | Brenda H. almost didn't make it to her first day of college. She tried to apply for financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) four times, but encountered glitch after glitch – including a widespread bug that impacted students whose parents or spouses don't have Social Security numbers. Brenda's parents are both undocumented, which is why Brenda requested we keep their last name out of this story. It wasn't until her fifth attempt this spring that Brenda was finally able to submit her FAFSA. The delay meant she committed to a college -- California State University, Northridge -- without knowing if she could afford it. "I was entering college blind," she says as she thinks back to that decision. When her financial aid package finally came, she says she was speechless. "My mouth dropped to the floor." There were only a few weeks left before school started, and her award offer was much lower than she had planned for. "I was mad at FAFSA," she says. "So I went in blind, I went in confused, and I went in angry." The FAFSA debacle has followed students like Brenda into the school year, as the repercussions of months-long delays from the last financial aid cycle continue to play out. |
| Competitive race for supreme court | |
| Mississippi newspaper publisher and columnist Wyatt Emmerich writes: The presidential election is less than a month away but there are not many significant statewide races. ... There is one significant, competitive race of interest to Northsiders: The District One, Position Three race for state supreme court justice, currently held by incumbent Jim Kitchens, who is 81 years old. Normally, incumbent supreme court justices don't face opposition, but Kitchens age and his reputation as being a plaintiff's advocate may hurt his Republican support. Judicial races are non-partisan but that doesn't prevent the word getting spread about the underlying political views of the candidates. ... Kitchens faces three serious opponents: Neshoba County State Senator Jenifer Branning, Byron Carter from Byram and Ceola James from Vicksburg. ... Kitchens' biggest challenger is three-term State Senator Jenifer Branning from Neshoba County. Sun food columnist and good friend Lisa Ireland brought Branning by the Sun offices to meet me and I was indeed impressed. ... A State business grad with an Ole Miss law degree, Branning has practiced general law for 20 years in Philadelphia. That experience, combined with her years as a lawmaker, makes Branning well qualified to be a supreme court judge. In the midst of such a career, Branning has raised three young men with her husband Chancy. Now that's impressive. |
SPORTS
| Is Mississippi State football's offense evolving? Analyzing the latest from Jeff Lebby | |
| For the first time since Week 1, it felt like Mississippi State football definitely had the correct game plan against Texas. It didn't lead to a win, a 35-13 defeat, but it was a competitive loss on the road to the No. 1 team in the country that brought more encouragement than disparity. That offensive game plan was a sidestep from first-year coach Jeff Lebby's mojo. Hired from Oklahoma for his offensive wizardry, Lebby's offense spreads defenses out and keeps them on their toes with a high tempo. Against Texas, it did the opposite. MSU (1-4, 0-2 SEC) might again this week when it plays another daunting road game at No. 4 Georgia (4-1, 2-1) on Saturday (3:15 p.m, SEC Network). Could this be Lebby adjusting MSU's offensive pillars on the fly? Or is it just a matchup-based attack? "For me, it's all about what the thing is that creates an advantage, and that's going to be week-to-week moving forward in understanding what we're getting on both sides of the ball and special teams," Lebby said Monday. "It is. It's up to me and our staff to put us in a position to have a chance to go win the game. We'll continue to look at that. I've said it forever: The ego part of it, you got to set it aside, know exactly who we want to be, but what gives our football team the best chance to go have success is what matters." |
| What to watch for: Mississippi State at No. 5 Georgia | |
| Following a bye week, Mississippi State is back in action Saturday with a trip to No. 5 Georgia at 3:15 p.m. Central Time (4:15 p.m. local) on SEC Network. UGA has won two national championships already this decade and is in contention for another this fall, though Georgia did fall at Alabama on Sept. 28 in an instant classic, coming all the way back from a 28-point deficit only to lose by a touchdown. Last week, UGA rebounded with a win over Auburn in its first Southeastern Conference home game. The bye week came at an ideal time for MSU, in between back-to-back road games against top-5 opponents. Mississippi State trailed top-ranked Texas by just one score at halftime before the Longhorns pulled away late, and head coach Jeff Lebby's team was able to control the ball and win the turnover battle. True freshman Michael Van Buren will make his second start this week in an environment just as hostile as his first. Safety Isaac Smith, who leads the SEC in tackles, is back this week after missing the Texas game, but running back Keyvone Lee and defensive lineman Kalvin Dinkins remain out. |
| Georgia football injury report: Five players listed for Mississippi State game | |
 | Georgia football's official availability report for Saturday's 4:15 p.m. game against Mississippi State has been released by the SEC. This is the fourth game week for Georgia under the conference's new reporting policies. The SEC releases daily reports Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and another 90 minutes before kickoff on game day. Georgia has five players listed on this week's report, not including the biggest news of the week for the Bulldog's roster that came Wednesday when coach Kirby Smart announced that wide receiver Colbie Young is suspended indefinitely after his arrest Tuesday. Here's a rundown of where Georgia stands on the report. The SEC does not specify why a player is listed, but injuries have previously been reported. |
| No. 4 State Soccer Set For Road Battle At Georgia | |
| The fourth-ranked Bulldogs are set to travel to Athens to face Georgia in a Southeastern Conference showdown on Thursday. State enters the contest on the heels of a historic 1-0 victory over No. 1 Arkansas in their previous match, a win that cemented their status as one of the nation's elite programs. State, now 10-1-0 overall and undefeated in SEC play at 4-0-0, is seeking to extend their seven-match winning streak and remain perfect in the conference. Georgia, sitting at 6-3-4 overall and 2-1-2 in the SEC, are the reigning SEC Tournament Champions and look to continue a strong season. State's defense, led by standout goalkeeper Maddy Anderson, has been nearly impenetrable this season, allowing only two goals through 11 matches. Anderson, who ranks third all-time in SEC shutouts with 34, has posted nine clean sheets in 2024 and continues to lead a Bulldogs back line that has been nothing short of dominant. Offensively, Ally Perry has been the focal point, leading the team with seven goals, including the game-winner against Arkansas. Perry's ability to create chances and convert key opportunities has made her one of the most dangerous players in the SEC. State's strong midfield anchored by Macey Hodge and Ilana Izquierdo have been key contributors this season. Georgia enters Thursday's match with momentum, having secured a point in each of their last four conference matches. They have been particularly strong at home this season, boasting an unbeaten record when scoring first. |
| Study: 'Angry bettors' behind growing abuse of NCAA athletes | |
| Abuse by "angry sports bettors" is one of the most common types of harassment college athletes receive, making up at least 12% of publicly posted social media abuse, according to a new analysis conducted on behalf of the NCAA. The NCAA partnered with data science company Signify Group, which analyzed social media accounts for more than 3,000 college athletes, approximately 500 coaches, 200 event officials and 165 teams during the 2024 College Football Playoff, men's and women's basketball tournaments, men's and women's College World Series and volleyball and gymnastics championships. The NCAA, which will publish the full findings Thursday, released an excerpt on sports betting to ESPN on Tuesday. The analysis flagged 743 abusive or threatening messages referencing betting or match-fixing allegations, with 73% of them occurring during March Madness, the most popular event with American bettors. Women athletes received approximately 59% more abusive messages than men, the analysis found. The issue occurred even in sports that are less popular with gamblers, including softball, where 24% of abusive messages flagged were from angry bettors. The NCAA emphasized that the analysis covered only public-facing threats, not private messages, where, according to Signify executives, harassment is likely worse. Eighteen of the 38 states that offer legal sports betting, as well as the District of Columbia, prohibit licensed sportsbooks from offering college prop bets, a ban the NCAA supports. Gambling regulators in states with such bans have reported fewer issues of harassment. |
| SEC means more ... upsets? Three top 10 teams fall, led by Vanderbilt's vanquishing of Alabama | |
| Lane Kiffin wasn't ready to talk about his own game yet. The Mississippi coach fixated instead on the final moments of Vanderbilt's stunning upset of then-No. 1 Alabama. "Sorry, I mean this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing going on," Kiffin told reporters after the Rebels' win over South Carolina. "Better watch, you're probably not ever going to see this again." The Southeastern Conference's biggest shakeups haven't come courtesy of newcomers Oklahoma and Texas so far, but from more unlikely culprits. Think Kentucky over Mississippi, Arkansas over Tennessee, Texas A&M over Missouri. And the ultimate shocker: Vanderbilt toppling the mighty Crimson Tide for the first time in 40 years. Three Top 10 SEC teams fell last weekend, two of them to unranked league brethren, and the Rebels had lost to Kentucky a week earlier. Arkansas and Vandy took down SEC powers, and their fans stormed the field. Chances are, both schools will deem the six-figure fines from the league worth it. All these upsets -- coupled with the seventh-ranked Tide's win over No. 5 Georgia -- have left Texas sitting pretty at No. 1 heading into Saturday's Red River Rivalry with fellow Big 12 defector No. 18 Oklahoma. Pretty, but hardly comfortably given how things have been going in the SEC. The SEC just means more ... upsets? Any time there are upsets, coaches can polish off the well-worn cliches about not overlooking anybody and tout the strength of the SEC. Or talk about the impact of the transfer portal as the ultimate quick fix. |
| Inside Vanderbilt football goalposts march to river: Obstacles, honky-tonks and a police escort | |
 | After the initial shock wore off of Vanderbilt football's upset over No. 1 Alabama on Saturday, the students on the field gradually came to one conclusion. The goalposts were coming down, and they were going to end up in a river. Throwing the goalposts in the river was an iconic celebration that Tennessee fans did after the Vols beat Alabama in 2022. But the riverfront in Knoxville is just a few blocks away from Neyland Stadium, and the fans marched the goalposts through campus and fraternity row. The closest access to the Cumberland River from FirstBank Stadium is 2 1/2 miles away. The students would have to take the goalposts down West End Avenue, through its merger with Broadway, through throngs of tourists and bachelorette parties on Lower Broadway on a Saturday night. There was some skepticism among students that they'd be able to make it all the way to the river. That started with getting the goalposts down in the first place. Of the more than 28,000 fans in attendance, most were Alabama fans. The field-storming celebration consisted of primarily students, and it was a struggle to bring the goalposts down. It took nearly 10 minutes before the students started to dislodge the posts in the south end zone and five more minutes before they finally brought them down, passing it among the crowd. Eventually, the goalposts did end up in the Cumberland, and the students didn't stop until they had completed the journey. "When you go to a school that's so tight-knit, and I know Vandy markets itself as a really tight-knit, close community," Vanderbilt senior Kostas North said. "That is a perfect example of that actually coming to fruition." |
| 'New level of fan experience.' What Kentucky fans can expect from LED floor at Big Blue Madness | |
 | Last weekend, seven large flatbed tractor trailers took off from a warehouse in Indianapolis toward Lexington. Inside those seven trucks were media servers, electrical mechanics, venting units and flooring for an up-and-coming innovation in athletic flooring technology -- ASB GlassFloor. Not only will Friday's Big Blue Madness in Rupp Arena mark the official debuts of new University of Kentucky basketball coaches Kenny Brooks and Mark Pope, it will also showcase, for one night only, an interactive hardwood alternative. Billed by UK Athletics as a "revolutionary floor, designed to enhance player performance and provide fans with a more immersive experience," the ASB GlassFloor is, according to the company, an "odorless" and "ceramic-dotted" floor that uses "eco-friendly, and durable materials like glass and aluminum" with LED lights capable of lasting at least 100,000 hours. The flooring technology was previously put to use for the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, the 2024 Basketball Champions League Final and the 2023 FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup. The company hopes its product will someday serve as the norm for athletic competition -- as opposed to an all-star showcase or fan engagement event such as Big Blue Madness. ASB GlassFloor allows for video display, advertising and collaborative graphics not possible with the traditional hardwood courts familiar to basketball and volleyball fans. |
| New NIL company raises red flags for consumer finance experts | |
| A new company co-founded by former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins is offering college athletes upfront cash in exchange for a portion of their name, image and likeness deals, an arrangement some consumer protection experts and financial advisers say could prey on young athletes. The company, Nilly, offers athletes upfront payments ranging from $25,000 into the hundreds of thousands, said Perkins and his co-founder, Wall Street veteran Chris Ricciardi. In return, Nilly gets the exclusive rights to use or sell the athlete's name, image and likeness for up to seven years, and the company and its investors receive between 10% and 50% of the player's NIL earnings during that time period. While other companies sell investors a stake in athletes' future professional salaries, Nilly says it is the first and currently only company to offer cash advances on college NIL dollars. Several agents, athletic department employees and others who work in the college sports industry told ESPN they were unaware of any other company that was paying college athletes in exchange for a cut of their NIL earnings. The NCAA has allowed college athletes to make money through endorsement deals since July 2021. College sports leaders have said the new and largely unregulated opportunities could leave athletes vulnerable to exploitation. |
| NCAA eliminating National Letter of Intent | |
| Historic changes are coming to college sports. The NCAA Division I Council approved Wednesday to eliminate the National Letter of Intent program. The changes come as the NCAA undergoes its most seismic changes to date. The House v. NCAA settlement would permit schools to pay athletes more than $20 million annually, spurring the NCAA and its leaders to rethink their amateurism rules. The National Letter of Intent (NLI) program started in 1964 and is the binding agreement signed by recruits for generations. Instead, financial aid and scholarship agreements are expected to be used. The entire NLI will not be ditched, however, as the recruiting rules around the program will still be commonplace. When athletes enter the transfer portal and move schools, most just sign an athletics aid agreement. For years, the NLI has been under the purview of the Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA), which pushed for the change in recent months. The National Letter of Intent will not exist but similar written aid offers are not going away. While the House v. NCAA settlement still faces a months-long process to be approved, a new binding document between a school and athlete will need to be created with the introduction of revenue sharing which spurred the elimination of the NLI. |
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