| Friday, October 11, 2024 |
| MSU research helps commercial agriculture labor shortage | |
 | There's a labor shortage in commercial agriculture around the country. However, Mississippi State is doing research on spray drones and other unmanned aircraft systems to help with the problem. "What we're seeing is the earliest of those large UAS type of operations, and the benefits for the state's agricultural industry is going to be tremendous," said Madison Dixon, the associate director for MSU's Agricultural Autonomy Institute. MSU held a seminar Wednesday on spray drones and UAS in commercial agriculture. The university partners with private and government organizations to access technology and research on how to improve it for customers. Dixon says having this type of technology is a huge benefit to farmers. "They're filling a tremendous need. They're creating new job opportunities. They're not taking anyone's job and they're not replacing people," said Dixon. Dixon is excited to see how UAS contributes to commercial agriculture. "I'm passionate about it because it's bigger than just me. It's a very huge benefit for the state and I'm excited to play a role in maximizing that benefit for the state and for its citizens and its economy," said Dixon. |
| Breaking barriers in agriculture: Alyssa Miller leads the way for women in weed science | |
 | In a field traditionally dominated by men, Alyssa Miller is forging her own path as a trailblazer in weed science. A PhD student at Mississippi State University, Miller is working to improve herbicide options for sweet potato farmers in Mississippi, a mission she tackles with passion and determination. "I'm currently working with over 10 different herbicides, trying to get some new chemistries approved for sweet potato production," Miller explained. "Farmers in Mississippi have so few herbicide options, and that can really affect their crop yields. I want to change that." Originally from St. Louis, Miller has spent six years in Starkville, dedicating herself to solving real-world agricultural challenges. "It's more than just research; it's about making a tangible difference for the people who grow our food," she said. But Miller's journey isn't just about the science -- it's about breaking down barriers. In a field where women are often underrepresented, Miller is part of a growing wave of women changing the face of agriculture. "There's more women than you'd think, especially now. In my lab group, almost everyone getting their master's or PhD is a woman," she said. |
| MDAC Releases Agritourism-Themed Podcast Episode in Conjunction with Agritourism Month | |
 | The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) was proud to host the sixth episode of its Freshly Picked podcast series, titled "Field of Dreams: Harvesting Fun with Mississippi Agritourism," which was released publicly today at 9:30 a.m. This agritourism-themed episode spotlights local guests Stanley Wise, owner of Wise Family Farms and president of the Mississippi Agritourism Association; Benton Moseley, owner of Moseley Meadows Farm; and Amber Dauzat, extension agent with Mississippi State University (MSU) and secretary of the Vardaman Sweet Potato Festival. "This episode was particularly exciting for us because October is designated as Agritourism Month in Mississippi," said Podcast Host and Editor of MDAC's Mississippi Market Bulletin Claude Nash. "Whether you're interested in farm-to-table education, outdoor adventures or the sweet side of agriculture, this episode is for you! Listeners will also hear about upcoming festivals, the Genuine MS® branding program and even some tasty sweet potato recipes." Dauzat brought a unique perspective to the conversation with her extensive knowledge of agricultural event planning. In addition to her daily duties as an MSU extension agent, she assists with the promotion and preparation of the annual Vardaman Sweet Potato Festival. |
| MSU uses high voltage lab to research real-life scenarios like natural disasters | |
 | Mississippi State University students are looking to find new ways to fix the problems some electrical companies are dealing with right now. The Paul B. Jacob High Voltage Laboratory is one of the largest university-operated labs in North America. Students can test all forms of electrical products in the industry, like cables, breakers and transformers used at substations. Students can also recreate lightning strikes, solar radiation and other real-world scenarios, like the two hurricanes that just hit the Southeast. "How can we prevent those storms from doing as much damage and make sure people have reliable electricity very quickly once the storm does hit?" lab director Dr. David Wallace said. |
| Teros Aids FEMA Response to Hurricane Helene | |
| In an October 8th press release, Mississippi State University released details about their deployment of the Teros UAS to Georgia for flights over areas impacted by Hurricane Helene. Derived from the Xenos Motorglider, the Teros UAS was developed by Sonex and Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation to fulfill a variety of government and civilian MALE (Medium Altitude, Long Endurance) UAS missions. MSU's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory owns and operates two Teros uncrewed aircraft, which have been flown for a number of research and training applications since 2022. By 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. Capable of flying for more than 20 hours and built with a 44-foot wingspan, the Teros can effectively carry large payloads that feed data and video to emergency operations commands. "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, MSU geosciences professor and NGI associate director. "UAS allow us to see in better detail where water is going and which areas will be impacted by flooding, which is vital information to have during a crisis event. Additionally, the data we collect will improve the river forecasting models that local, state and federal officials rely on." |
| Mississippi Ranks Fifth in West Nile Cases, Experts Discuss Disease-Prevention Efforts | |
| Mississippi ranks fifth for West Nile virus cases in the U.S. for 2024, with four known deaths. The deaths have involved people with severe preexisting health conditions, the Mississippi State Department of Health confirmed to the Mississippi Free Press on Oct. 2. At least 45 Mississippians have contracted West Nile this year, MSDH reports. West Nile cases are slightly higher in Mississippi this year compared to last year partially because of the drought the state endured in August, Mississippi State University entomologist and extension professor Dr. Jerome Goddard told the Mississippi Free Press. Having dry weather means standing water is thick, "soupy" and full of "organic material" like grass and dirt, in which mosquitoes like to lay their eggs, he said on Sept. 11. Ditches and malfunctioning septic tanks and sewer pipes can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes along with old tires and buckets, the entomologist added. "So when it's dry, there's more West Nile than when it's wet. If it rains a lot, you have less West Nile," Goddard said. Mississippi State Health Officer Dr. Daniel Edney said the Mississippi Gulf Coast and areas around the Mississippi River are seeing higher numbers of mosquitoes this time of year. West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis are at their peaks in late summer and early fall, about July through October, he said. Goddard said most mosquitoes die in the winter because they are cold-blooded, meaning they need to get warm from the sun to survive. |
| No petition filed to force OCH sale to ballot | |
 | Thursday's deadline for signatures opposing the county's sale of OCH Regional Medical Center came and went with no petition, clearing the way for supervisors to start searching for a buyer. Supervisors voted in September to move forward with requesting proposals to sell the hospital to a private health care system. Citizens who oppose privatization had until Thursday to force a referendum on the matter by submitting a petition with 1,500 signatures of registered voters. Voters overwhelmingly chose to keep OCH county-owned in 2017 when supervisors last tried to sell the hospital. But this time, no petition was submitted, Circuit Clerk Tony Rook confirmed to The Dispatch. Board President and District 3 Supervisor Marvell Howard wasn't surprised by the lack of opposition. "I think there's a different mindset than the last time (in 2017), and I think it's because the public, health care providers, the board of supervisors and even the board of trustees realize that we're probably fighting a losing battle," Howard told The Dispatch on Thursday. Howard said he and Board Attorney Rob Roberson will meet with Raymond James Financial Services and the Butler Snow law firm Friday to start developing the RFP. At that time, they will determine a timeline for approving and releasing it, he said. Finding a buyer committed to quality health care is the main priority, Howard said. Community support and engagement from the health care system is also something the board will be looking for. |
| Mississippi to showcase 'Birthplace of America's Music' float at 2025 Rose Parade | |
| Mississippi will be on display during one of the most popular New Year's Day celebrations in the U.S. Officials with Visit Mississippi announced that the Magnolia State will have a float in the upcoming Tournament of Roses -- commonly known as the Rose Parade. The float is titled "Birthplace of America's Music" and pays tribute to iconic musicians Elvis Presley and B.B. King. Representing Mississippi on the float will be Governor Tate Reeves and some popular homegrown talent from the music ranks. "On the front of the float is going to be Elvis. On the back is going to be B.B. King," State Rep. Greg Haney of Gulfport said on MidDays with Gerard Gibert. "The governor and his family will be on it. I heard Chapel Hart and another Mississippi artist is going to be on there." The 136th Rose Parade will kick off on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at 10 a.m. CT and will run until noon. Tennis icon Billie Jean King was named the parade's grand marshal and will participate in pregame ceremonies during the 111th Rose Bowl Game. In addition to the Mississippi-themed float on display, Jackson State University's marching band, the Sonic Boom of the South, is set to perform at the world-famous event. |
| Music Industry Veteran Marty Gamblin Passes | |
| Beloved music industry executive Marty Gamblin passed away on Wednesday (Oct. 9). He was 80. Gamblin spent more than 40 years in the music business, during which time he worked closely with famed songwriter/performer Jim Weatherly and Glen Campbell's publishing firm, where he influenced the career of Alan Jackson and more. A native of Philadelphia, Mississippi, Gamblin started his career in high school and junior college booking R&B groups at local venues. He attended Mississippi State University and left to work as as a tour manager, promoter and booking agent at Vivace Music, where Weatherly was a client. Gamblin moved to Nashville in the late '70s to open Weatherly's publishing company, Rip Keca Music. Artists including Ray Price, Charley Pride, Bob Luman and many more recorded Weatherly's songs during Gamblin's tenure, but his biggest hit came with Gladys Knight & the Pips' recording of "Midnight Train to Georgia." The tune hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won the 1974 Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus. Gamblin became the President of Glen Campbell Music Group in 1982, where he would manage the careers of Alan Jackson, Bryan White, Dorothy Moore, Pearl River and Ruby Lovette. The company notched 16 No. 1 hits in his 20-year tenure through his representation of their writers' catalogs, including Jackson's "Don't Rock the Jukebox" and "Chattahoochee," Jimmy Webb's Grammy-winning "Highwayman" Randy Travis' "It' Just a Matter of Time." He was honored with a marker on the Mississippi Country Music Trail in 2019. |
| Majority of Mississippi school districts allow students access to cellphones. That could change | |
| The Mississippi Senate's Mental Health Task Force recently held a hearing where lawmakers discussed possible legislation to curb cellphone use in schools. The move, legislators contend, largely centers around concerns over mental health in K-12 students and distractions in the classroom. As previously reported, at least 15 states have enacted laws that ban or restrict students' use of cellphones in public schools, or at a minimum, recommend local school districts enact their own bans or restrictions, according to an Education Week analysis published in June. State Senator David Parker (R), chairman of the task force, told Magnolia Tribune cellphone use is creating a crisis that is reflected in countless areas. "I expect our task force to recommend that cellphone use be restricted during these key moments in education," Parker said. "We continue to look at best practices to achieve this goal and hope to have a legislative method to help achieve this goal." To aid in their discussion, the Senate task force requested that the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) survey all school district superintendents about their student cellphone use policies and practices. MDE's cellphone survey drew responses from 125 of the state's 138 school districts. Magnolia Tribune obtained the results of the MDE August 2024 school district survey through a public records request. |
| Fate of Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport yet to be determined | |
| The outcome of a lawsuit challenging the governance of the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport remains to be determined. U.S. District Court Judge Carlton Reeves recently allowed the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority's motion to amend its complaint to include two current members of the airport authoirty's board of commissioners as intervenors in the case. In April, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the airport authority's appeal as moot because none of the original intervenors were still on the board. The lawsuit dates to 2016 when Phil Bryant, who was governor at the time, signed Senate Bill 2162 into law. The law amended the Mississippi Code to abolish the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, which operates the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport, and replace it with a regional board known as the Jackson Metropolitan Area Airport Authority. Josh Harkins, a Republican senator who represents District 20 (Rankin County), was among authors of Senate Bill 2162. He's frequently heard the bill referred to as "the state taking over the airport," but "the state isn't taking over anything," he said. The gist is to expand the make up of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority and make sure its members have knowledge and expertise that would bring value to the board, he said. |
| Federal judge questions motives behind EPA's public meetings | |
| A federal judge on Thursday attempted to get to the bottom of what spurred on two community meetings called by the Environmental Protection Agency to discuss Jackson water. The meetings were slated for Thursday and Friday this week, with the EPA and U.S. Department of Justice seeking information on the improvements being made to the water system, as well as the mid and long-term future of it. At a status conference held hours before the first session was set to get underway, U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate asked an attorney for DOJ whether the meetings were called in response to a March 2023 letter from Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba. "It seems the mayor is not a friend to the endeavor to straighten out this mess," Wingate said. "I hope I'm wrong. He's been antagonistic before, but I hope he realizes we're here to work for the betterment of the public." In his March 27 letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, Lumumba blasted Interim Third-Party Administrator Ted Henifin on several fronts, telling the regulatory leader that he would not communicate with the city and would not follow procurement rules when awarding contracts. As an officer of the court, Henifin is not bound by state procurement law. The manager has previously told WLBT that he chose Jacobs, in part, because no local firms had the capacity to do the work. Henifin told Wingate that several of the topics the EPA is seeking comment on, mirror the mayor's statements, including the EPA's desire to hear from residents about "communications improvements" they'd like to see implemented. |
| Trump is pushing falsehoods. Some Republicans are worried about the fallout. | |
 | Donald Trump is relying more than ever on easily debunked and often bizarre conspiracy theories and rumors -- often to the frustration of even his fellow Republicans. In the final weeks of the campaign, the former president has been toggling between outlandish claims about Haitians and other migrants, false descriptions of the federal response to recent hurricanes and incorrect statistics about the economy and crime. It's become a regular feature of his rallies that he will likely reprise Friday in Aurora, Colorado, where he's expected to rail against Venezuelans in the city -- who have been the subject of social media-fueled rumors about an alleged wave of criminal activity that local police and officials say are overblown. Even Republican Mike Coffman, the Aurora mayor, cast doubt on Trump's characterization of immigration's impact on the city. "The reality is that the concerns about Venezuelan gang activity have been grossly exaggerated," Coffman said in a statement to POLITICO. "The incidents were limited to several apartment complexes in this city of more than 400,000 residents." It's become a defining throughline of this general election. In the past, Trump has undermined the security of elections, pressed falsehoods about his own election loss in 2020 and spread misinformation about Covid-19 cures. Even among Republicans, frustration with Trump's disinformation has grown. Doug Heye, a former spokesperson for the Republican National Committee who hails from Helene-ravaged North Carolina, has taken to X in recent days to smack down some of the more unfounded rumors there. |
| Brett Favre, a Personal Injury Lawyer and a 30-Second Pitch for Trump | |
 | A 30-second ad, being run by a Florida trial lawyer named Dan Newlin in support of former President Donald J. Trump's campaign, stars Brett Favre, the former N.F.L. quarterback who won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers. It began appearing in Pennsylvania over the past few days. Mr. Newlin said he expected to spend $2.5 million to $3 million on the ad as part of a $10 million television advertising buy in the state. The Favre ad will run frequently during weekend sports and news programs, he said. This ad is roughly what you would expect if your friend who does not work on Madison Avenue decided to moonlight in presidential advertising -- with the exception that it features one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Mr. Favre, wearing a serious expression, a buzz cut and a sky-blue polo shirt, speaks directly to the camera in what could be his living room. Over his right shoulder are shelves holding family photos and pottery; over his left is a glimpse of trees and possibly a patio. The only graphic that appears identifies him as "Professional Football Hall of Fame QB." The most interesting part of the spot is at the end. Viewers are shown a huge blue image reading "Trump 2024" and informed that "Dan Newlin is responsible for the content of this advertisement." Dan who? The viewer is given no information about Mr. Newlin, save for the toll-free number of his law firm. |
| Obama blasts men for finding 'all kinds of excuses' to avoid voting for a female president | |
 | Former President Obama joined the campaign trail for the final stretch Thursday with some "truths" for men, especially Black men, who he said were not delivering the enthusiasm for Vice President Kamala Harris that they did when he was running for president. He told a group of campaign volunteers in Pittsburgh they have "a choice that is clear" between someone who "grew up like you, knows you," understands the same struggles and triumphs and has concrete proposals to make life better, and "someone who has consistently shown disregard, not just for the communities, but for you as a person." Obama said he had a problem with men who are "coming up with all kinds of excuses" to sit out the election or vote for former President Trump. "Part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren't feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you're coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for that," he said. He said it was not acceptable that some men are "thinking about sitting out or supporting somebody who has a history of denigrating you, because you think that's a sign of strength, because that's what being a man is? Putting women down?" The comments underscore the urgency Democrats are feeling in an election that remains a virtual toss-up with less than a month to go. Pennsylvania is the biggest of seven battleground states that are neck and neck in the polls and likely to decide the election. |
| When the Hurricane-Relief Worker Turns Out To Be a Neo-Nazi | |
 | The fit, helpful strangers who descended on Horseshoe Beach, Fla., after Hurricane Helene were a welcome sight. The men swiftly chopped through downed trees and cleared mounds of debris for distressed residents in the small gulf-coast town west of Gainesville. These weren't typical disaster-relief volunteers. They were members of Patriot Front, an organization branded by the Anti-Defamation League as a white-supremacist group. Neo-Nazi groups aggressively escalating their activity in recent months across the U.S. have seized upon a potent new recruiting tool: the surging tide of misinformation surrounding hurricanes. The contentious U.S. presidential race that has sharply politicized the storms is providing a new opening for hate groups that were already on the rise. Hurricane falsehoods about government malfeasance have spread rapidly on social media, often seizing on the hot-button debate of immigration by claiming relief funds are being diverted to migrants or favor minority victims over white applicants, which the Federal Emergency Management Agency denies. Exploiting public confusion, grief and communication breakdowns, white supremacist groups are now showing up in vulnerable storm-ravaged communities in Florida and North Carolina. They blend in among the many legitimate church or other charity workers that have rushed in to help. But these militia groups offer aid while filming propaganda videos that both amplify falsehoods about the government response and help the groups remake their image as patriotic civic organizations for men. |
| Darpa Thinks Walls of Oysters Could Protect Shores Against Hurricanes | |
 | On October 10, 2018, Tyndall Air Force Base on the Gulf of Mexico---a pillar of American air superiority---found itself under aerial attack. Hurricane Michael, first spotted as a Category 2 storm off the Florida coast, unexpectedly hulked up to a Category 5. Sustained winds of 155 miles per hour whipped into the base, flinging power poles, flipping F-22s, and totaling more than 200 buildings. The sole saving grace: Despite sitting on a peninsula, Tyndall avoided flood damage. Michael's 9-to-14-foot storm surge swamped other parts of Florida. Tyndall's main defense was luck. That $5 billion disaster at Tyndall was just one of a mounting number of extreme-weather events that convinced the US Department of Defense that it needed new ideas to protect the 1,700 coastal bases it's responsible for globally. As hurricanes Helene and Milton have just shown, beachfront residents face compounding threats from climate change, and the Pentagon is no exception. Rising oceans are chewing away the shore. Stronger storms are more capable of flooding land. In response, Tyndall will later this month test a new way to protect shorelines from intensified waves and storm surges: a prototype artificial reef, designed by a team led by Rutgers University scientists. The 50-meter-wide array, made up of three chevron-shaped structures each weighing about 46,000 pounds, can take 70 percent of the oomph out of waves, according to tests. But this isn't your grandaddy's seawall. It's specifically designed to be colonized by oysters, some of nature's most effective wave-killers. |
| TikTok knows its app is harming kids, new internal documents show | |
 | For the first time, internal TikTok communications have been made public that show a company unconcerned with the harms the app poses for American teenagers. This is despite its own research validating many child safety concerns. The confidential material was part of a more than two-year investigation into TikTok by 14 attorneys general that led to state officials suing the company on Tuesday. The lawsuit alleges that TikTok was designed with the express intention of addicting young people to the app. The states argue the multi-billion-dollar company deceived the public about the risks. In each of the separate lawsuits state regulators filed, dozens of internal communications, documents and research data were redacted -- blacked-out from public view -- since authorities entered into confidentiality agreements with TikTok. But in one of the lawsuits, filed by the Kentucky Attorney General's Office, the redactions were faulty. This was revealed when Kentucky Public Radio copied-and-pasted excerpts of the redacted material, bringing to light some 30 pages of documents that had been kept secret. NPR reviewed all the portions of the suit that were redacted, which highlight TikTok executives speaking candidly about a host of dangers for children on the wildly popular video app. The material, mostly summaries of internal studies and communications, show some remedial measures -- like time-management tools -- would have a negligible reduction in screen time. The company went ahead and decided to release and tout the features. |
| Faculty Senate considers Barnes & Noble deal | |
 | The University of Mississippi Faculty Senate held a meeting in the School of Law on Tuesday, Oct. 8 -- their first in-person meeting since COVID-19 restrictions were put in place -- to discuss a number of policies. They discussed the establishment of an Anti-Retaliation Policy Ad Hoc Committee, which would oversee the protection of faculty against retaliation for reporting workplace misconduct. They also considered updating senate bylaws, naming new committee members and other changes. The most contentious topic discussed at the meeting was the proposal of a deal with Barnes & Noble called First Day Complete, a deal that would change the way both undergraduate and graduate students buy their textbooks as soon as next semester. Students typically are able to purchase textbooks from the online bookstore or in-person based on their final schedules. With the First Day Complete program, students would be charged a flat rate based on credit hours, regardless of whether a class requires a textbook or not. Although students would have the option to opt-out of this program, it would require them to personally email Barnes & Noble each semester. Many senate members expressed their opposition to this program, citing concerns about research-based courses, internships and other classes where textbooks may not be used. Some members also expressed that the opt-out policy was too hidden and that many students would be oblivious to it. |
| Southern Miss oral history center launches podcast about Mississippi in World War II | |
| The University of Southern Mississippi's Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage launched a new longform podcast about Mississippians in World War II. The 10-episode first season of the "Voices of Our People" podcast covers World War II from the Pearl Harbor attack to Armistice Day. The podcast consists of oral histories from Mississippians who experienced the war on the homefront and overseas, as well as storytelling from historians at USM's Dale Center for the Study of War and Society. Mississippi musician and media personality Bill Ellison serves as the host. "By combining the insights of our state's leading scholars with the memories of those who lived it, the 'Voices of Our People' series attempts to contextualize our shared experiences with the goal of gaining a more grounded view of history," said Ross Walton, who leads digital production and preservation at the oral history center and hosts its other podcast called "Mississippi Moments." The 20th anniversary of the USM center's "Mississippi Moments" podcast inspired Walton to create a new podcast using the oral history center's extensive collection of oral histories from World War II. |
| A&M Chancellor Sharp goes for one last trip 'Around Texas' | |
 | If there was one person in Texas who has personified the Asleep at the Wheel song "Miles and Miles of Texas" it might be Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp. Sharp has seen miles and miles of Texas in recent years as host of the podcast "Around Texas" looking at the many ways A&M and the state of Texas interconnect. The show has covered a wide variety of topics from ranching to the oil industry, small town barbecue joints and efforts to increase the number of electrical linemen in the state just to name a few. "I can't go anywhere in the state now without somebody saying, 'Oh yeah, I saw the show about such and such,'" Sharp said earlier this week. "It's just interesting stuff about A&M and it gives people of Texas a better sense of the width and breadth of what the A&M System does." As has been the case in each of the four previous seasons, there will be 12 episodes this season dealing with stories about Texas A&M System's impact on Texas. Among the highlights of this season will be a look at how Texas A&M-Kingsville University is leading the way in trying to help the wild ocelot population recover in the United States, the legacy of President George H.W. Bush at Texas A&M on the occasion of what would have been his 100th birthday this year, Texas A&M's Breakaway Bible study and the rekindling of the football rivalry between A&M and the University of Texas. |
| U. of Missouri preparing for upcoming re-accreditation process | |
 | The University of Missouri is once again going through its reaccreditation process. MU's Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs Candace Kuby discussed the university's next steps with the MU Faculty Council on Thursday. The university has an upcoming visit from the Higher Learning Commission in early February to achieve its reaffirmation of accreditation. Kuby said one of the purposes of the accreditation process is to create better structures on campus. "It's just really a self-study and a way of us making sure that every so often we have conversations to see if we are meeting the learning objectives and outcomes in our programs," Kuby said at the meeting. Kuby said accreditation is necessary to receive federal funding for research and student aid - and ensuring students can transfer credits across universities. To achieve reaffirmation of accreditation, the university needs to meet five criteria: demonstration that it operates under a clear and public mission, acts with ethical and responsible conduct, provides a quality education, assesses the quality of its programs and services, and uses resources to support its educational offerings. |
| Where Are the White Students? | |
 | For more than a decade, college officials have watched their incoming classes steadily shrink, nudging them closer and closer to an enrollment cliff that experts say campuses could be tumbling off in the next year or two. Civil-rights advocates, higher-education officials, and politicians have long tussled over how best to boost the college-enrollment rate for students of color and reconcile with the sector's racist past. With affirmative action now banned and diversity efforts being dismantled, much of the recent national focus has been on how to legally keep the doors open for students from underrepresented minority groups and make sure they have the tools to succeed. But in a twist that's caught even some demographers by surprise, it's the white students colleges have typically relied upon to fill their seats whose numbers are plummeting the fastest. Over the last decade, undergraduate enrollment of white students has dropped more than that of any other racial group, according to federal data, a Chronicle analysis, and several outside experts. The effects continue to be felt in college classrooms. Since 2018, enrollment among white undergraduates has dropped by 19 percent across all sectors, compared with 11 percent among Black students. The drop in white enrollment is nearly three times the almost 7-percent decline among college students overall, according to Doug Shapiro, executive director of the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. The disparity has significantly worsened since the pandemic, as minority enrollment has begun to stabilize while white enrollment continues to slide. |
| State Lawmakers Call for Rethinking Federal Role in Higher Ed | |
 | The cost of college continues to rise. The student debt crisis has gained national infamy. A bachelor's degree no longer guarantees a stable career. And the demographic cliff has enrollment numbers plummeting just as colleges and universities are relying more heavily on tuition for financial health. Collectively, these issues represent a growing sense of national anxiety about the purpose and value of America's higher education system. Colleges across the country are in the middle of an existential crisis, and state policymakers are noticing and looking to be more involved in addressing the underlying issues. But they want the federal government to leave accountability measures to them, according to a new, three-part report released Thursday by the National Conference of State Legislatures' Task Force on Higher Ed. In addition to suggesting that the Education Department and Congress leave accountability to the states, the task force expressed skepticism about student loan repayment and forgiveness programs and proposed investing more in state grants and maintaining the Pell Grant. State lawmakers do, however, want the federal government to collect and publish more data about how students fare in college programs. The task force, which included legislators from both parties across 32 states, also dived into the debate over how to determine whether a degree pays off for a student. |
| College campuses remain largely peaceful, even as widespread protests mark war anniversary | |
| Colleges were bracing for what pro-Palestinian students nationwide intended to be a "Week of Rage" marking the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war. But the demonstrations across the country proved to be much tamer than touted, as institutions implemented new restrictions to crack down on large-scale protests. Students and faculty on college campuses from coast to coast held antiwar protests -- including lectures, study sessions, vigils and walkouts -- to mark the anniversary of the now-spiraling conflict in the Middle East. They were the first major demonstrations since the encampments last school year that roiled campuses and captivated lawmakers in Congress, and unfolded in the final weeks of a razor-thin presidential election where the youth vote will be crucial. Colleges seemed more prepared to handle actions this week than earlier this year when many campuses were caught flat-footed by antiwar encampments that lasted for weeks and resulted in vandalism and the arrests of thousands of protesters. They imposed stricter policies to curb certain activities, including requiring permits, limiting when students can protest and banning encampments. Some institutions boosted security on campus and even sought to cancel events on Oct. 7 to prevent potential conflicts among students. |
| Pro-Palestinian Columbia University group calls for armed resistance: 'violence is the only path' | |
 | A group of pro-Palestinian students at Columbia University are scaling up their rhetoric against Israel, calling for "liberation by any means necessary, including armed resistance." In a statement posted to Instagram Tuesday, Columbia University Apartheid Divest rescinded its apology made in April on behalf of a member who told school officials, "Be grateful that I'm not just going out and murdering Zionists." The student, Khymani James, issued an apology at the time, saying in a video shared by Columbia University Apartheid Divest, "Those words do not represent CUAD. They also do not represent me." Now, the protest group is apologizing to James. On the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attacks, the Columbia student group disseminated newspaper copies with the headline, "One Year Since Al-Aqsa Flood, Revolution Until Victory," and posted an essay calling the assault a "moral, military and political victory," the New York Times reported. Several Jewish students at Columbia have spoken out online about the fear they now face on campus. "If something violent (at Columbia) happens today, let me make it very clear: The administration is at fault," senior Eliana Goldin wrote in a post on X Monday, Oct. 7. "They know the credible threat to Jewish students, and they're still playing both-sidesism." |
| Racism was called a health threat. Then came the DEI backlash. | |
 | David R. Williams and Rachel Hardeman are population health researchers at different universities with one thing in common: Both have been added to a right-wing "watch list" for teaching about and researching the ways racism affects health. At the American Academy of Dermatology, some members proposed "sunsetting all diversity, equity and inclusion programs," arguing DEI has evolved into a political movement filled with perceived antisemitism that labels people as oppressed or oppressor -- a proposal that failed at the annual meeting in March. And grant-making organizations that awarded millions of dollars to investigate racism as a threat to public health are now asking some researchers to stop using the word "racism." A growing number of U.S. institutes created to explore the nexus between racism and health -- and the researchers who preside over them -- are finding themselves under attack, their missions and funding in peril barely four years after the nation had what many called its "racial reckoning." "It's very taxing. This anti-DEI movement creates a climate of fear," said Chandra L. Ford, a professor at Emory University and founding director of the Center for the Study of Racism, Social Justice & Health. In her case, Ford said she was told by a funder who gave her money to study racism "not to use that terminology after the project was underway, after the funder signed on to it, after the proposal was approved and after the project is already ongoing." |
SPORTS
| No. 4 State Soccer Defeats Georgia In Thrilling SEC Showdown | |
| A pair of second half goals propelled No. 4 Mississippi State to a 2-1 victory over Georgia in Athens, improving their overall record to 11-1-0 and maintaining an ever-important 5-0-0 mark in Southeastern Conference play, securing three more points in the standings on Thursday. The game began with an unexpected challenge for State, as Georgia's Margie Detrizio found the net just 1:20 into the match, assisted by Hannah White to put UGA up 1-nil, marking the first time a conference foe had scored versus State's defense. The early goal marked only the third allowed on the season and the first since August 25th at Wake Forest. Despite this early setback, Mississippi State demonstrated resilience and tactical prowess as they went into the locker room facing a deficit for the first time in 2024. State came into the second half determined to not only find the equalizer, but also the game winner. Zoe Main broke through for the Bulldogs, drawing a foul in the box while bobbing and weaving with five Georgia jerseys to earn a penalty kick for the Maroon and White. After VAR assistance, the kick was awarded and Aitana Martinez-Montoya made her way to the spot to convert at the 52:23 mark, leveling the score at 1-1. This pivotal goal reinvigorated State, who continued to press for the lead. As the match approached its final moments, State showed just why the sport is considered the beautiful game. A textbook build up allowed Ilana Izquierdo to deliver the decisive blow, scoring in the 85th minute via service from Hannah Johnson. |
| Soccer: No. 4 Mississippi State earns come-from-behind victory at Georgia | |
| An early shock to the system put Mississippi State in unfamiliar territory Thursday night in Athens. But the No. 4 Bulldogs were hardly rattled. Georgia struck quickly for a goal in the second minute, the first time MSU conceded in roughly 637 minutes of game action. Mississippi State battled back, though, equalizing on an Aitana Martinez-Montoya penalty kick and converting the winner with less than five minutes remaining. MSU defeated UGA 2-1 to remain atop the Southeastern Conference table. State's defense was uncharacteristically caught napping early when Georgia's Hannah White slotted a pass to a streaking Margie Detrizio, who took one touch and fired a near post shot into the top corner of the net. There was nothing MSU goalkeeper Maddy Anderson could do as State trailed for the first time since Aug. 25. MSU (11-1-0, 5-0-0 SEC) was the stronger side for most of the first half after that, with Hannah Johnson hitting the woodwork in the final minute before the break. Early in the second half, Zoe Main received the ball near midfield surrounded by five defenders, but dribbled her way through all of them before being taken down from behind in the box by Kiera Staude. After consulting video review, the officials awarded MSU a penalty, which Martinez-Montoya buried to tie the score. |
| Five keys for Mississippi State's game at No. 5 Georgia | |
| Mississippi State (1-4, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) is back from its first bye week of the season and faces another top-5 opponent on the road this weekend, traveling to Sanford Stadium for a battle with No. 5 Georgia (4-1, 2-1) on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. Central Time (4:15 p.m. local) on SEC Network. UGA has appeared in the last three SEC Championship Games and won national titles in 2021 and 2022. A slower-paced offense worked well for Mississippi State at Texas two weeks ago --- MSU possessed the ball for 21 minutes in the first half, allowing the visitors to stay within one score. Georgia's defensive front is just as good as that of the Longhorns, though, so the MSU offensive line will need to keep having success in run blocking. If State falls behind by two or three scores early, though, that approach will have to go out the window. If the offensive line can protect true freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren -- far easier said than done -- MSU can win some of its matchups downfield between its receivers and UGA's secondary, a group that has given up some explosive plays in recent weeks. MSU has to be close to perfect in order to pull off an upset of this magnitude, especially on the road. That means keeping penalties to a minimum, taking care of the football and capitalizing in the red zone, a tall order against an excellent red zone defense. |
| Jeff Lebby shares how hectic weekend in SEC impacts Mississippi State's preparation | |
| After one of the wildest weekends in recent memory in the SEC, there are probably a handful of teams wondering if they can salvage their season by being the next Vanderbilt. Mississippi State is one of them. But coach Jeff Lebby is being careful to caution his players not to get too far ahead of themselves. In fact, if they want to spring that kind of upset, they need to be methodical about their approach. "I think for us it's still about what we do with our time and how we practice, how we meet, how we walk through," Lebby said this week. "That is, to me, what it's all about. And that is what will give us a chance to go play the best ball that we've played, is focusing on us and making sure we're doing everything we can to be the best version of us Saturday at 3:15 in Athens. And that is, without a doubt, the goal." Mississippi State doesn't have to wait long for its Vanderbilt-like opportunity. The Bulldogs will travel to No. 5 Georgia this weekend to take on another set of conference Bulldogs. ew would expect an upset; Mississippi State opened as a 34.5-point underdog. But they play the games for a reason. And Lebby believes his squad has made some bye week improvements. "We got very specific with some things that we had to get cleaned up, both sides of the ball and special teams," Lebby said. |
| One Phone Call and a Whole Lot of Pride: Stone Blanton's Journey Back to Mississippi | |
| The Monday morning started out just about like any other at Madison-Ridgeland Academy – a coffee pot brewing in the corner of an office, a few students making their way to class. The halls were inundated with cheerful students following a big Friday night win. The signs from the weeks prior were still hung up throughout the halls and the stadium. The school was neck deep in football season, after all, and it's a special time of year. In the administrative offices, faculty probably found themselves catching up over each other's weekend plans. Then, the phone rang. An administrator picked it up. It was a woman, a mother to be more specific. Her son was on the team that played against MRA last week. He was on kickoff return, and she had a bone to pick. "How could you let someone that age, that size, play high school football?" the woman asked. Her son had been on the business end of a kickoff return hit that undoubtedly let him know the difference between normal high school athletes and the one who hit him. Someone needed to tell her the reality of the situation. "Ma'am, I have bad news," the administrator replied. "He's just a junior, so you're going to have to see him again next year." The player that delivered the blow was none other than 4-star middle linebacker Stone Blanton, and he's been delivering those same hits ever since. Blanton played two seasons at South Carolina before ultimately hitting the transfer portal and coming back home, and according to him, there's been no looking back. "It's meant the world to me," said Blanton. "[Mississippi State] is kind of a place where I've always wanted to play growing up. I was a Mississippi State fan growing up, so to be able to play here feels like I'm home. I have a lot of friends, a lot of family that are close or nearby. It just makes this an awesome experience. I love the coaches, I love the players. I couldn't have asked for a better situation to come into." Click. |
| Coach Smart focused on 'pride' as No. 5 Georgia prepares for SEC test vs underdog Mississippi State | |
| Kirby Smart doesn't believe he needs to use last week's shocking wave of upset losses by four highly ranked AP Top 25 teams as motivation for No. 5 Georgia in Saturday's visit from underdog Mississippi State. "No, we don't rely on the motivation of others," Smart said. "I don't know. I just don't think that's a great way to go about things. We're really focusing on pride in performance this week." Vanderbilt's shocking 40-35 upset of No. 1 Alabama was the most notable among teams ranked in the top 11 that lost to unranked teams. Also, No. 9 Missouri lost to No. 25 Texas A&M. A win by Mississippi State (1-4, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) over Georgia (4-1, 2-1) would rank among the biggest of the many surprises this season. BetMGM lists Georgia as 33 1/2 point favorites. Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby also wants his players focused on themselves, not on other teams. "I think for us it's still about what we do with our time, how we practice, how we meet, how we walk through," Lebby said. Georgia defensive back Malaki Starks says he won't be overlooking the underdogs in the matchup between the SEC's two Bulldogs. "I think records and numbers can be deceiving," Starks said. "They're a really good team, very explosive, and very well-coached. They're coming off a bye week, and their last two games they played their best ball. So, they're coming into this week with a really good head of steam." |
| Georgia football vs. Mississippi State: Score prediction, scouting report | |
 | Georgia football is a nearly five-touchdown favorite on Saturday at home against a Mississippi State team that's lost four straight -- including to Toledo. Ho-hum. This isn't the kind of game that will light a fire under a Bulldog fan base that coach Kirby Smart wants to see more from after offering a rare critique for their energy level at homecoming last week. Ah, but unranked Vanderbilt just stunned Alabama and Arkansas took down Tennessee in top 5 upsets last weekend. "What's going on in our league just shows you have to be ready to play each and every week," said Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, the former Georgia offensive line coach. Smart said he's not leaning into those results as motivation for his team. "We don't rely on the motivation of others," Smart said. "I just don't think that's a great way to go about things. We're really focusing on pride in performance this week." Instead, Smart shared this with his team: "If they're doing a Netflix documentary on you this week, who would you want to watch it? And would they approve? Would you send it to your parents, would you send it to an NFL team if they did a Netflix documentary on your performance, your pride, and how you practiced this week?'" That worked when Georgia practiced Tuesday because he said it was as good a practice as they've had. Of the upsets last week, he said of the sport now: "The margins are tighter. Everybody's got the ability to go get people's backups." |
| New owners of Old Waverly, Mossy Oak golf properties plan millions in improvements | |
| When 1976 U.S. Open winner Jerry Pate first saw the spot that would eventually become Old Waverly Golf Club, it looked very different than it does today. It was October 1985. The club's founder, the late George W. Bryan Sr., invited Pate to come see the land he was considering turning into the course. "We flew down and rode through some timberland and some old peanut fields and farmland ... and looked at this property, and I said, 'We can build a great golf course for you here,'" Pate told The Dispatch Tuesday. Pate, along with Bob Cupp, designed the Old Waverly Golf Course, and the club opened in 1988. The next year, Pate founded his own design firm that went on to create many other notable golf courses. But his connection to Old Waverly -- and his friendship with the Bryan family -- didn't end there. Pate is the co-chair of the Golf Clubs of Mississippi LLC, a group of golf investors that recently purchased the Old Waverly Club and Mossy Oak Golf Course, according to an Oct. 4 press release from the club. "This is a love for all of us," Pate said. "And I don't want to go through who the investors are, but they're some really fine people that love golf and they love Old Waverly, and they want to keep it as one of the finest clubs in the country, especially in the South." |
| With college sports at tipping point, one thing is clear: The SEC and Big Ten are in control of the change that awaits | |
| The two most powerful people in college athletics shared a room here Thursday after an unprecedented joint meeting of their school athletic directors. Seated at a nondescript table before a dozen media members, commissioners Greg Sankey of the SEC and Tony Petitti of the Big Ten answered questions for nearly an hour about the ballyhooed gathering of their top leaders. They couldn't have looked more dissimilar -- Sankey, in his blue-checkered sport coat, white-collared shirt and dress shoes; Petitti, in white Nike kicks, a sweater pullover and black ankle socks. Their competing fashion styles aside, their similarities brought them to this place: the Grand Hyatt in the busting capital of country music, where administrators of the nation's most powerful and richest leagues gathered for a somewhat historic meeting. While no decisions were made, all of the topics expected to be discussed at this seven-hour summit Thursday were discussed: the future format of the College Football Playoff; a regular season football and basketball scheduling arrangement between the two leagues; and a post-House settlement governance and enforcement entity. Over the near hour-long meeting with reporters in a second-floor conference room, the two men shared details of the talks as their athletic directors hustled out of the main lobby entrance below. But what was left unsaid here is perhaps more jarring than anything said. Put simply: The SEC and Big Ten plan to reshape college athletics. They are the drivers of the car now, the operators of the machinery, the captains of the ship. |
| SEC, Big Ten say 12-team playoff rollout 'has to go incredibly well' before considering changes | |
| The leaders of the SEC and Big Ten want to see how the first year of the expanded College Football Playoff works before deciding what comes next. They met Thursday with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti to go over the changing landscape of college athletics. College football's 12-team playoff format, which debuts this season, was at the top of the list. Sankey made clear the presidents and athletic directors want to see how this works first and didn't spend much time talking about "what ifs." "This just has to go incredibly well," Sankey said. "This has to be a successful launch. This isn't the time to talk about governance in '26 or the format in '26. But the immediate implementation is in front of us." There's a chance two teams will be added in 2026 when ESPN's six-year, $7.8 billion contract to televise the playoffs begins. The conferences have made little secret about someday wanting more than the single automatic bid they'll be allotted this season and next. They have spoken about wanting more guarantees, and less unpredictability, most of which would stem from the selection committee that begins posting its rankings on Nov. 5. Sankey said leaders scoured through the legal details about the playoff, and he spent hours on calls with SEC lawyers detailing the final points of what that CFP agreement looks like. Athletic directors were updated on those issues. |
| SEC, Big Ten meet, show united front against private equity | |
| Following an "unprecedented" meeting between the SEC and Big Ten on Thursday, the commissioners of both conferences addressed multiple weighty issues facing college athletics and strongly pushed back on recent pitches from private equity groups to help offset increased expenses that will result from the NCAA's expected House settlement. It was an important united front from two of the most powerful people in college sports, as any drastic changes that would include private equity are unlikely to garner national support without the backing of the SEC and Big Ten. "I have yet to see a single thing in any plan that I've learned details about that contains things that we couldn't do ourselves and our A4 colleagues as well," Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said. "At the end of the day, there's a strong commitment that you have the ability to do all of this ourselves. "... The notion that college football is broken -- what we do is broken -- is just not right." In February, the SEC and Big Ten announced the formation of a joint advisory group, and this one-day meeting at the Grand Hyatt was a continuation of that -- albeit with legal counsel present to make sure both conferences weren't crossing any lines that could be construed as collusion. "Our legal counsel is very skilled at this point in defining the boundaries of what we can talk about and what we cannot talk about," SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said. |
| As super league proposals emerge, Big Ten, SEC remain on course | |
| In a conference room on the fourth floor of the Grand Hyatt on Thursday, the two most powerful men in college athletics led an unprecedented moment. Greg Sankey and Tony Petitti brought together 34 athletic directors from the Big Ten and SEC for a roughly seven-hour meeting to discuss the state of college sports. As private equity circles college football and landscape-altering proposals are leaked, the real Super League met. The SEC and Big Ten are established at the top of the sport. The two conferences now have the sport's top brands and most lucrative TV deals. They're also poised to land the most teams in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff which begins in December. As one SEC athletic director told On3 after the meeting there is "never a dull moment." And with the House v. NCAA settlement expected to usher in revenue sharing in less than nine months, the two richest conferences are expected to lead the pack. The Big Ten and SEC have no plans of ceasing power. Thursday's meeting in Nashville was the latest sign of how the two conferences will play vital roles in reshaping the next era of college sports. "It's no coincidence that both these efforts ramped up their public relations schemes around our meeting," the SEC commissioner pointedly said about recent proposals. "There are coincidences in life. I also don't think it's coincidental that they've chosen to comment on both Tony and I." |
| SEC, Big Ten rail against private equity proposals: 'We have the ability to do all of this ourselves' | |
| Recent proposals by private equity firms investing billions of dollars into college football have yet to sway SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten counterpart Tony Petitti to their side. And they probably won't, either. As part of a historic summit between college sports' powerful conferences, league officials and every school's athletics director met Thursday to seek areas of cooperation. The primary topics for discussion included the House settlement fallout, NCAA governance issues, the upcoming College Football Playoff and future scheduling. However, the commissioners fired with both barrels toward efforts related to reorganizing college football. "I have yet to see a single thing in any plan that I've learned details about that contains things that we couldn't do ourselves and do with other colleagues," said Petitti, who included leagues beyond the Big Ten and SEC. "I don't see anything that's proprietary that anybody holds, that we would need, that someone else controls to do what they're talking about. It's basically schedule more good games, and reorganize the way you play those games, like in terms of just tiering or going across and redoing divisions. Some say conferences can survive. Some say you don't need conferences. At the end of the day, I think there's a strong commitment that we have the ability to do all of this ourselves." |
| Former LSU player Greg Brooks Jr. files lawsuit against school, medical center for negligence that led to emergency brain surgery | |
| Greg Brooks Jr., the former LSU football player and team captain whose career ended after the discovery of a brain tumor last fall, is suing the school and its affiliated medical center for negligence. Brooks is accusing coaches of inaction and trainers of misdiagnosis as well as levying claims against the surgeon who operated on him. The 13-page lawsuit, filed in August in East Baton Rouge Parish and obtained on Thursday by Yahoo Sports, unearths unreported details of the timeline of events last year related to Brooks' unexpected turn of events -- from a star safety in the SEC with NFL aspirations to a now "permanently disabled" man who still, a year after surgery, cannot walk. The suit details the start of Brooks' symptoms while at football practice last August to his emergency brain surgery in September -- a story that gripped the country last year. He participated in two football games before an MRI scan discovered the brain tumor. In the legal filing, Brooks accuses the coaching staff of encouraging him to practice and play while ill by threatening his starting position, and he levies claims against team trainers for not appropriately diagnosing his condition and refusing, for weeks, to recommend him to a neurological specialist. |
| Colorado has become Coach Prime University, sort of. Not everyone thinks that's OK. | |
| Shortly before kickoff this year at Colorado home football games, the stadium starts to buzz with various celebrity guests and crew for "Coach Prime" Deion Sanders. Some wear badges on the sideline in the shape of sunglasses. It's called a "Prime Pass." Some lug video equipment up the elevator with shirts that say they are part of the "Coach Prime" documentary film crew. Others stroll on the field with credentials that say they belong to SMAC Productions, part of a talent agency in Los Angeles that features Sanders as a client. Each has a role in the show these days at the University of Colorado, a public school that has made a series of highly unusual moves to accommodate it and elevate this football coach as the public face of the university. Many of those moves have paid off. Sanders has led the Buffaloes to a 4-1 start in his second season and will again take his team to the national stage Saturday night against Kansas State on ESPN. But some are still skeptical about the list of accommodations for Sanders' football program, including a big change last year in the acceptance of transfer players and even a ban this year on a journalist Sanders didn't like. "People have lost their damn minds on this campus," said Roger Pielke Jr., a CU Boulder graduate and longtime professor. USA TODAY Sports compiled a list of changes that have been made for Sanders' benefit and discussed them with longtime observers of higher education, as well as new CU Boulder chancellor Justin Schwartz, who oversees the campus including the Buffaloes' athletic department. |
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