| Wednesday, October 30, 2024 |
| Homecoming week at MSU is packed with activities | |
 | Mississippi State University's homecoming events are this week, starting Oct. 30 and ending Nov. 3. With traditions like the Longest Table, the Homecoming T-Shirt Swap & Soire and the homecoming court presentation during the Saturday football game, MSU offers many opportunities for its current students to fellowship and celebrate. For most, high school homecoming is remembered as a week-long endeavor filled with dress-up days and fun activities. However, Mississippi State University also has plenty of its own fun-filled homecoming traditions. From current students to alumni, all can participate in MSU's traditions that spark nostalgia and pride for those this campus has touched. Student Association Vice President Lucy Mellen, a senior majoring in environmental geoscience and political science, said that the SA plans an event for every day of homecoming week in hopes of continuing these traditions. Mellen mentioned the Longest Table event at the YMCA Plaza and the Homecoming T-Shirt Swap & Soire on the Drill Field. One of the most known homecoming traditions is the homecoming court presentation, which occurs annually during the homecoming football game. This year's homecoming game is on Nov. 2 in Davis Wade Stadium, where the Bulldogs will take on the University of Massachusetts Minutemen. Mellen said the homecoming court's debut on the field is her favorite homecoming tradition. |
| John Deere, Mississippi State Join Forces to Research Autonomy | |
| Mississippi State is partnering with John Deere through a master research agreement, establishing a framework for the university's Agricultural Autonomy Institute to help develop technology to automate critical steps in the production of cotton and other crops. "There has been a lot of interest in automating a variety of farming processes because the skilled labor needed to carefully operate modern equipment is increasingly hard to find," said Alex Thomasson, AAI director and head of MSU's Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. "An advantage of autonomous systems is that they don't get tired or distracted." MSU Assistant Professor Hussein Gharakhani is the project's principal investigator. A scientist in the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, or MAFES, who has worked with AAI since its inception, Gharakhani has focused his research solely on agricultural autonomy -- the concept of machines that independently perform tasks traditionally requiring manual labor. "Operating agricultural equipment in certain applications requires intense focus and attention to detail," said Gharakhani. "Imagine operating in such a situation all day, and you'll understand how easy it would be to lose concentration and start making costly mistakes." The company's agreement with MSU also highlights the need for more agricultural machinery research to be conducted in the South. |
| MSU receives funding for duck tracking project | |
 | Mississippi State University received $30,000 from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks paired with an anonymous donation to fund a duck tracking research project. The allocated funding was awarded for the first year of the project and could be recommended on a yearly basis. James Callicutt, with MSU, gave a presentation on the project at a MDWFP commission meeting last week. He said the project will study fine scale habitat selection through GPS transmitters affixed to early arriving mallards. Callicutt said they really wanted to study mallards who arrive this time of year. "We hope to glean a lot of important information to give us a snapshot of how they are using the landscape to inform wetland management, how we can better manage WMAs and moist soil units," Callicutt said. "We have strong roots with MDWFP and we have a good idea of what the agency is looking for. As an extension faculty member, I hope the research will translate to have strong management implications." Mississippi State University commonly serves as the unofficial research arm for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Callicutt said technology has advanced and they hope to get more information they might not have been able to get before. |
| MSU professor receives first College of Education endowed professorship | |
 | Mississippi State's Kristin Javorsky is making history as the first faculty member to receive an endowed professorship within the College of Education. An associate professor in the Department of Teacher Education and Leadership, Javorsky is the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Susan McLaren Brooks Endowed Elementary Education Professorship. It was established by the family of the late Laren Brooks to honor the memory of the devoted Mississippi school teacher. "I am deeply grateful to the Brooks family for their generous support in establishing the Dr. Susan McLaren Brooks Endowed Elementary Education Professorship," said Teresa Jayroe, dean of the College of Education. "This endowment will allow Dr. Javorsky to further her impactful work in advancing literacy across our state. The Brooks' generosity is a testament to the value of education and the power of community support in shaping the future of our students. We look forward to seeing the positive influence this professorship will have on our elementary education students for years to come." "Everything we do in life stems from knowing how to read," Javorsky said. "It takes an entire community to raise our readers. Teachers need empowerment, and families need support to promote literacy." |
| Fighting antibiotic resistance at the source -- using machine learning to identify bacterial resistance genes and the drugs to block them | |
| Mississippi State University's Abdullahi Tunde Aborode writes for The Conversation: Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health problem around the world. When bacteria like E. coli no longer respond to antibiotics, infections become harder to treat. To develop new antibiotics, researchers typically identify the genes that make bacteria resistant. Through laboratory experiments, they observe how bacteria respond to different antibiotics and look for mutations in the genetic makeup of resistant strains that allow them to survive. While effective, this method can be time-consuming and may not always capture the full picture of how bacteria become resistant. For example, changes in how genes work that don't involve mutations can still influence resistance. Bacteria can also exchange resistance genes between each other, which may not be detected if only focusing on mutations within a single strain. My colleagues and I developed a new approach to identify E. coli resistance genes by computer modeling, allowing us to design new compounds that can block these genes and make existing treatments more effective. |
| Starkville School District expands STEM programs, inspires students from kindergarten to high school | |
 | The Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District (SOCSD) is working to help boost students' interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) through new programs designed to inspire and prepare students from kindergarten through high school. This approach aims to provide students with critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Recently, the district held its Jacket Thrive Fall Intersession, an event where students got the opportunity to participate in STEM camps that mixed creativity and technical skills with hands-on activities. The event featured two camps, "Beginner Coding and Robotics" for second through fourth graders and "Challenge Accepted!" for students in fifth through eighth grades. Through a range of interactive projects, students explored topics from basic coding to robotics, working together to build balloon-powered vehicles and program LEGO creations. As students progress into middle and high school, they encounter more specialized STEM options. At Partnership Middle School, STEM-oriented clubs, including an engineering club supported by Mississippi State University, provide an entry point for students interested in further exploration. The high school offers dedicated pathways in engineering, digital media technology, and construction, and this year introduced a two-year pathway in digital media technology, exposing students to fields like broadcasting and podcasting. |
| Owners of W & W Farm explain how they have benefited from tourism | |
 | Animals, a hay maze, barrel rides, space jumps, and a swing set for kids, that's what C & W Farms is all about, and with no rain the past couple of weeks, conditions have been just right for Fall family fun. "We have had bigger crowds on the weekends that we have been open, we have had field trips that we have not had to reschedule, which we had to do that last year a few times because of the weather", said Lynn Connor, Co-owner of C & W Farm. "It has been great that we have not had to try to reschedule and try to fit everyone in, since we have a short season." When it came to choosing a location for the farm, Co-owner of C & W Farms Lynn Connor said the thirty-acre pumpkin patch was the perfect spot. "It is convenient for where we are at, and it is family land", said Connor. "So, it was just kind of sentimental also, but we have room to grow and do more things that we want to do for years to come." "During the week, we get the school kids out here and do field trips", said Rick Connor, Owner of C &W Farm. "On the weekends, their parents can bring them out here, and I like to see families together and kids getting outside and actually interacting with people, and I think it is good for our communities" |
| Where has all the rain gone? Bone-dry October strikes much of US | |
| A bone-dry October is pushing nearly half of the United States into a flash drought, leading to fires in the Midwest and hindering shipping on the Mississippi River. More than 100 different long-term weather stations in 26 states are having their driest October on record, through Sunday, according to records by the Southern Regional Climate Center and Midwest Regional Climate Center. "This is on pace for a record dry October," said Allison Santorelli, acting warning coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland. This includes the Southeast, some of which experienced deadly flooding just the month before in Hurricane Helene. In June, less than 12% of the country was experiencing drought. Now it's almost 50% and growing, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. That fits the definition of "flash drought," which is different than normal slowly developing dry spells, said U.S. Department of Agriculture meteorologist Brad Rippey. The Mississippi River, a major transporter of crops, is at levels so low that shipping loads have to be constrained, Rippey said. It may hurt the transporting of agricultural products, but luckily for farmers the flash drought came in after harvesting corn and soybeans, Rippey said. |
| $4.9M rail expansion looks to make port more attractive | |
 | The Lowndes County Port has received $2.9 million in federal infrastructure funds for a $4.9 million rail expansion into the southern side of its property. The money is a portion of $59.5 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding awarded to the state by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Port Director Will Sanders told The Dispatch the federal money will cover the balance needed to complete 6,700 feet of additional rail track that will connect the entire east bank, and hopefully, make the port a more attractive option for potential clients in the future. "We're using it to attract potential prospects," he said. "It's basically just adding infrastructure to our existing port that we don't have now. It's just one more incentive we can use (to market the port)." The current rail spur at the port comes in on the northern side of the property, cuts through the Logistics Services Inc. building and ends on the other side of the facility. Instead of stopping midway, Sanders said, the new rail will stretch all the way down the east bank, tying it to the other side of the Island. In April, the port secured part of the funding for the new rail spur with a $1.5 million grant from the Mississippi Department of Transportation. Sanders said he found out last week that another grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission for $500,000 was awarded to the port for the project. |
| Upskilling the Magnolia State's workforce | |
| The Magnolia State is leading the nation with the first statewide AI initiative, the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN), led by Dr. Kollin Napier. After earning an associate's degree in information systems technology from Jones College, Napier earned undergraduate, graduate and doctorate computer science degrees from Mississippi State University (MSU), with a focus on AI, cybersecurity, and software engineering. His career began at MSU, advancing from software apps developer to software architect. An employee of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC), Napier was named director of MAIN in January. |
| This aircraft can fly without a pilot. See how Mississippi center impacts uncrewed flight | |
 | Uncrewed aircraft is an up-and-coming industry, with NASA bringing cutting-edge technology to Stennis Space Center in Hancock County. Stennis and Skydweller Aero have reached an agreement for Skydweller to operate its solar-powered autonomous aircraft in the space center's restricted airspace. It is one of the NASA center's strategic goals, officials said in a news release. "There are few locations like NASA Stennis that offer a secure location, restricted airspace and the infrastructure to support testing and operation of various uncrewed systems," Stennis Director John Bailey said. "Range operations is a critical area of focus as we adapt to the changing aerospace and technology landscape to grow into the future." The restricted airspace covers more than 100 square miles and up to 6,000 feet high for uncrewed aircraft. The height for propulsion testing and other operations is 12,000 feet, according to NASA. The agreement stems from the Reimbursable Space Act and marks the first between Stennis Space Center and a commercial company that takes advantage of the center's ability to support testing and operation of uncrewed systems. |
| Economy grew 2.8% in the third quarter. How it could affect Fed interest rates | |
 | The economy grew solidly again in the third quarter, bolstering the belief that the U.S. can dodge a recession and raising the odds the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates more modestly in the months ahead. More sturdy consumer and business spending gains more than offset a drop in housing construction and a widening trade deficit. The nation's gross domestic product, the value of all goods and services produced in the U.S., expanded at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 2.8% in the July-to-September period, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. That's down slightly from a 3% increase in the second quarter and 2.9% for all of 2023. The report is the final broad snapshot of the economy before a historic election in which it has become a top issue. While economic growth has been healthy under President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, Americans continue to rankled by high inflation the past few years. And 46% said Trump had a better approach on the economy, compared with 38% who favored Harris, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll this month. "Overall, the U.S. economy appears to be doing just fine," economist Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics wrote in a note to clients. He added, however, that Wednesday's report doesn't reflect the effects of Hurricanes Helene and Milton that hit the Southeast in late September and early October as well as the Boeing workers strike that began in September. |
| Why the Mississippi Supreme Court races matter. Tight contests could alter balance, rulings for years | |
 | While this year's congressional races might not provide drama in Mississippi, whoever wins the two state supreme court races could change the court's political parity, setting a tone for the next eight years. In the two races, five candidates are vying for one of Mississippi's Central District Supreme Court seats, and two are campaigning for a seat in the court's Southern District. Whoever wins will be on the court for eight years, double that of any state lawmaker or elected statewide official, and they will have a hand in the state's highest appellate court decisions. Cliff Johnson, the director for the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center and civil rights attorney who has argued before the court, said depending on who wins, it could reduce the court's political parity and result in less diverse and robust decisions from the court. "Whenever you have philosophical, ideological balance on a court, you're going to get more robust discussions on a wide range of issues," Johnson said. "There are important decisions on which judges change their position, and so I think all of us should value that kind of philosophical and ideological diversity, so that the judicial opinions that a court produces are more carefully crafted and take into consideration a wider range of opinions." However, Johnson said the political makeup of the Mississippi Supreme Court becoming slightly or more conservative does not mean he and other like-minded civil rights attorneys can no longer make effective arguments. |
| Senator Stabenow 'Holds The Keys' to the Farm Bill Getting Done in 2024 | |
| According to Washington-based sources, Senate Ag Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) holds the key as to whether a farm bill can be completed this calendar year. The unknown is whether Stabenow can work out a deal with the other farm bill players–Senate Ag ranking member John Boozman, House Ag Chair G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) and House Ag ranking member David Scott (D-Ga.). Some say that could be at least possible after elections. Results of the Nov. 5 elections, whenever they come, will likely help determine the odds of a farm bill yet this year. Some say Stabenow would like another farm bill completion for her legacy items as she is not running for re-election. Others say she already has billions of dollars in additional conservation funding via the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA/Climate Act) and adequate food and nutrition funding without a new farm bill, especially relative to the Thrifty Food Plan. While seen as a win-win for Democrats and Republicans, in the final farm bill Democrats must be content on funding and policy issues relative to food and nutrition and conservation, and Republicans must be satisfied relative to getting most if not all of the increase in reference prices contained in the House Ag Committee-passed measure. Some long-time Washington contacts still give the odds of a farm bill this year at only 15%. This group thinks a new farm bill will be part of an already busy agenda for a new Congress and new White House in 2025. |
| Election-related cases land at Supreme Court, maybe a bit late | |
 | The Supreme Court faces a handful of election-related cases ahead of Election Day, but election experts said the justices are unlikely to upend voting rules so close to an election. The justices on Tuesday dispensed with two of the four cases tied to the 2024 election in front of them -- with possibly more cases on the way -- and upsetting the status quo would go against years of practice by the court, experts said. The remaining emergency petitions are set to be fully briefed by the end of the week, leaving just days for the justices to act before Tuesday's elections. Derek Muller, a law professor at the University of Notre Dame , said the Supreme Court generally avoids stepping into high-stakes litigation surrounding the elections, but that may not always be possible. During a call with reporters Tuesday, Sylvia Albert, the director of voting and elections for Common Cause, said that her organization is involved in some of the ongoing lawsuits around voting across the nation and that courts should not upset the status quo so close to an election. "There is clear law to protect voters from these kinds of attacks," Albert said, referring to the admonition against last-minute changes. |
| Supreme Court allows Virginia effort to strike possible noncitizen voters | |
 | A divided Supreme Court cleared the way Wednesday for Virginia officials to remove about 1,600 voters from the state's registration rolls less than one week before the presidential election. Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) asked the justices to intervene after two lower courts blocked his efforts to cancel the registrations of voters who could be noncitizens -- an issue Republican officials have seized on nationally to energize supporters even though noncitizen voting is extremely rare. Youngkin signed an order in August to expedite the removal of registered voters whose driver's license applications indicated or suggested that they were not U.S. citizens. The effort was opposed by the Justice Department and immigrant rights groups, who said eligible voters were being kicked off the rolls because of outdated or erroneous information. As is typical in emergency situations, the Supreme Court's brief order did not explain the majority's reasoning. The three liberal justices -- Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson -- noted their dissent, saying they would have denied Youngkin's request to allow the voter purge. The high court is increasingly being drawn into election-related disputes as voters begin casting ballots ahead of next week's contest between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris. |
| Mississippi state party leaders discuss efforts with one week till election day | |
| There's no hesitation when you ask state party leaders what will drive Mississippians to the polls this election cycle. "It's going to be the presidential election," said Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Cheikh Taylor. "I mean, it's a presidential ballot, and you're going to have a high turnout because of that," noted Mississippi Republican Party Executive Director Rance Bilbo. History bears that out. There was a more than 100,000 voter difference from 2016 to 2020 in Mississippi, despite the fact that both were presidential election years. However, 2020 also included medical marijuana and state flag measures. This go-around, there are down-ticket items like congressional and judicial races the parties are reminding voters about. Although Mississippi is considered a red state, the GOP says that's where they have to make sure voters don't sit at home. "I tell everyone, as I travel the state, the worst thing Republicans do is get complacent," added Bilbo. "We have to run like we're 20 points down. It's going to be a tight race. I encourage every Mississippian to go out and vote because their future, their kids, and their grandkids depend on it." Governor Tate Reeves has shared a similar message in recent posts to his social media accounts, including videos of him speaking to voters. Democrats say the last-minute change at the top of the ticket has added to voter engagement. |
| Trump will campaign in Wisconsin with Brett Favre, who's linked to a Mississippi welfare scandal | |
| Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will crisscross several swing states on Wednesday, passing each other in Wisconsin, where the former president is scheduled to appear in Green Bay with a onetime local icon, retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre. A longtime supporter of Trump and other Republicans, Favre spent most of his career with the Green Bay Packers, winning the NFL's Most Valuable Player award three times and a Super Bowl. But the Pro Football Hall of Famer has been in the news lately for a welfare scandal in his home state of Mississippi. Favre, 55, is not facing any criminal charges, but he is among more than three dozen people or groups being sued as the state tries to recover misspent money. Favre has repaid just over $1 million he received in speaking fees funded by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program. Mississippi Auditor Shad White, a Republican, has said Favre never showed up for the speaking engagements. White also said Favre still owes nearly $730,000 in interest. Favre has posted and reposted social media messages supporting Trump and criticizing Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee. "In all the elections I've seen over my lifetime, I've never seen one where there was so much hate," Favre posted Monday on X. "It's certainly sad to see." |
| RFK Jr. claims Trump pledged to give him 'control' of HHS, USDA | |
 | Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Monday that former President Donald Trump has promised him "control" of HHS and the Department of Agriculture, according to a video obtained by POLITICO. Speaking at a virtual event, the former presidential candidate said "the key that President Trump has promised me is control of the public health agencies, which are HHS and its sub-agencies, CDC, FDA, NIH, and a few others ... and then also the USDA." Kennedy did not specify whether he was referring to the HHS secretary post. An appointment of Kennedy to a cabinet position like HHS secretary would require Senate confirmation, which could be a significant hurdle given his vaccine skepticism and other controversial positions. Kennedy, who mounted a Democratic primary, then a long-shot independent presidential bid before endorsing Trump this summer, might be more able to accomplish his goals in a White House job that does not require Senate confirmation. Steven Cheung, Trump campaign communications director, said that "formal discussions of who will serve" in a Trump administration are "premature." Cheung didn't deny Trump promised Kennedy control. Jerome Adams, the surgeon general during the Trump administration, told POLITICO it is unlikely Kennedy could be appointed to lead a major health agency, given his rhetoric on vaccines, but added that he could still have an outsize influence on an administration's health policy in an advisory role. |
| Biden sets off a firestorm with his response to Trump rally comedian's Puerto Rico comments | |
 | President Joe Biden ignited Republican fury Tuesday night when he weighed in on racist jokes at Donald Trump's Madison Square Garden rally Sunday. At the event, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico "a floating island of garbage." He also made crude, offensive and racist comments about Latinos and Black people. On Tuesday, during a video call for Latino voter outreach, Biden defended the Puerto Rican community and appeared to criticize either Trump supporters or Hinchcliffe. "They're good, decent, honorable people," Biden said, referring to the Puerto Rican community. "The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it's un-American. It's totally contrary to everything we've done." The White House quickly turned to damage control mode, with spokesman Andrew Bates saying in a statement that Biden "referred to the hateful rhetoric at the Madison Square Garden rally as garbage." The White House also sent around a transcript in an attempt to show that Biden was not saying that Trump supporters were "garbage" but that he tripped over his lines and meant to say he was condemning Hinchcliffe's remarks specifically. Still, the controversy diverted attention away from what was supposed to be a big night for Vice President Kamala Harris, who was about to deliver her major "closing argument" speech at the Ellipse in Washington -- the spot from which Trump delivered his speech before his supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. |
| Nikki Haley Says She Is 'on Standby' to Campaign for Donald Trump | |
 | Nikki Haley, Donald J. Trump's last rival standing in the fight for the Republican nomination earlier this year, once again had sharp words of criticism for his campaign on Tuesday, saying that the rhetoric surrounding his effort was driving away the women and minorities he needs to put him over the top in battleground states. Nevertheless, she said she was "on standby" to campaign for the man she endorsed after a bruising primary season. n an interview on Fox News, Ms. Haley directly criticized the Trump campaign over racist and misogynistic remarks by speakers at a rally in Madison Square Garden on Sunday. "I think it's harmful," Ms. Haley said of a speaker at the rally who described Puerto Rico as a "floating island of garbage." She added that "they also need to look at how they are talking about women." She continued: "This bromance and this masculinity stuff, it borders on edgy to the point that it's going to make women uncomfortable. You have got affiliated PACs that are doing commercials about calling Kamala the 'C word,' or you had speakers at Madison Square Garden, you know, referring to her and her 'pimps.' That is not the way to win women." Ms. Haley has repeatedly offered advice and criticism to Mr. Trump and other Republican candidates from the sidelines, saying in an interview on Fox News last month that Mr. Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, "need to change the way they speak about women." |
| Nikki Haley Has Made Her Peace With Donald Trump. Not All of Her Supporters Have. | |
 | Nikki Haley has made clear she plans to vote for Donald Trump, even after a combative Republican presidential primary where she was the last major challenger left sparring with him. But the former South Carolina governor's pitch for unity these days isn't for everyone. The former president hasn't campaigned with Haley, despite her offering dates when she was available. Trump also has continued to be dismissive of her White House run, breaking from the tradition of trying to win over supporters of primary opponents. Haley's strongest backing came from suburban areas where presidential elections are often decided, meaning suburbanites are especially valuable voters. Bernard McGorrey, a 64-year-old information-technology worker who lives in suburban Philadelphia, said he was unlikely to vote for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, but also hesitant to support Trump, after backing him in 2016 but not 2020. "I may write her name in," the Republican said of Haley, whom he backed in his state's primary in April. Harris meanwhile is aggressively courting Haley supporters, but where they land remains a significant question in an election that is shaping up to be tight. There is little public polling to suggest what they will do after having expressed opposition to Trump in the primary. |
| Treasury issues rule to block US investors from helping China develop advanced military technology | |
| The U.S. Treasury Department, seeking to keep the Chinese military from gaining an edge in advanced technologies , issued a rule Monday to restrict and monitor American investments in China in artificial intelligence, computer chips and quantum computing. The finalized rule arises from an executive order issued in August 2023 by President Joe Biden. The order sought to limit the access that "countries of concern'' -- specifically China including Hong Kong and Macao -- have to American dollars to fund technologies that could be used, for example, to break codes or develop next-generation fighter jets. It will take effect Jan. 2. "U.S. investments ... must not be used to help countries of concern develop their military, intelligence and cyber capabilities''' said Paul Rosen, assistant Treasury secretary for investment security. He noted the investments can mean more than just money: they can deliver "intangible benefits,'' including managerial help and assistance finding top talent and tapping other sources of financing. Blocking China's high-tech ambitions is one of the few issues that enjoys broad support in Washington from both Republicans and Democrats. |
| US-China tech war seen heating up regardless of whether Trump or Harris wins | |
| The U.S.-China tech war is all but certain to heat up no matter whether Republican Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris wins the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election, with the Democrat likely to come out with targeted new rules and Trump a blunter approach. New efforts to slow the flow of less-sophisticated Chinese chips, smart cars and other imports into the U.S. are expected, alongside more curbs on chipmaking tools and highly-prized AI chips headed to China, according to former officials from the Biden and Trump administrations, industry experts and people close to the campaigns. In her bid for the U.S. presidency, Democrat Harris has said she will make sure "America, not China, wins the competition for the 21st century," while Republican candidate Trump has pitched ever-increasing tariffs as a cure-all that includes combating Chinese technological advancement. In short, the battle to keep U.S. money and technology from boosting China's military and artificial intelligence capabilities is bound to escalate under either Harris or Trump. Should Harris win the election, her approach would likely be more targeted and coordinated than Trump's, people close to both administrations say. For example, she is likely to continue working with allies much like the Biden administration has, to keep U.S. tech from aiding the Chinese military, Harrell said. A Trump administration, on the other hand, may move more quickly, and be more willing to punish recalcitrant allies. |
| Voting officials face an 'uphill battle' to fight election lies | |
 | Last week, a video began circulating on X, formerly Twitter, purporting to show a person in Pennsylvania ripping up ballots marked for former President Donald Trump and leaving alone those marked for Vice President Harris. The person curses the former president multiple times and at one point says, "Vote Harris." The video is a fake. The envelopes and ballots shown don't match what that county actually uses to vote. U.S. officials said it was created and spread by Russia to sow doubt in the election. But the incident showed what has been clear for some time now: Online in 2024, the deck is stacked against voting officials, maybe even more so than in 2020. The phony video was viewed hundreds of thousands of times shortly after it was posted. A statement from Bucks County debunking it three hours later was shared on X fewer than 100 times. "They're fighting an uphill battle," said Darren Linvill, co-director of Clemson University's Media Forensics Hub, which tracks election influence campaigns. "I'm sure that they often feel like they're trying to put their finger in the dike before it bursts." Linvill traced the video back to a Russian propaganda operation, first identified by Clemson, that has also spread faked videos targeting Harris and her running mate Tim Walz in recent weeks. With less than a week left of voting, the election cycle has entered a fraught stage in which rumors, misleading claims and conspiracy theories are surging. |
| America's Top Archivist Puts a Rosy Spin on U.S. History -- Pruning the Thorny Parts | |
| The Biden appointee in charge of the nation's most treasured documents has over the past year ignited a behind-the-scenes fight over the telling of American history. U.S. Archivist Colleen Shogan and her top advisers at the National Archives and Records Administration, which operates a popular museum on the National Mall, have sought to de-emphasize negative parts of U.S. history. She has ordered the removal of prominent references to such landmark events as the government's displacement of indigenous tribes and the incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II from planned exhibits. Visitors shouldn't feel confronted, a senior official told employees, they should feel welcomed. Shogan and her senior advisers also have raised concerns that planned exhibits and educational displays expected to open next year might anger Republican lawmakers -- who share control of the agency's budget -- or a potential Trump administration. She was tapped for the job at a sensitive time for the agency---days before federal agents searched former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in 2022, spurred by the Archives' discovery that Trump had taken home classified records. Republicans accused the agency of abusing its authority and targeting the former president. GOP lawmakers grilled Shogan about alleged partisan leanings during her confirmation hearings. Shogan has since overseen a host of changes to exhibits planned in a roughly $40 million makeover of the National Archives Museum. |
| ECCC, Mississippi University for Women partner on accelerated degree | |
| A new program will allow East Central Community College students to get three different degrees with the help of Mississippi University for Women. On Tuesday, the two institutions of higher learning announced a "3+1+1" agreement to offer students in select career and technical education programs an accelerated pathway to earn an associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree in five years. The memorandum of understanding includes 17 degree options for students, such as business management technology, culinary arts, marketing, and information technology. The process includes three years of study at ECCC and two years of study at MUW. "We are excited to announce this partnership with ECCC that strengthens our commitment to providing accessible education and opens new pathways for students," MUW President Dr. Nora Miller said. "Together, we are dedicated to fostering academic growth and ensuring that our graduates are well prepared for the workforce." "This agreement opens doors for our students to gain both practical skills and advanced academic credentials, preparing them for leadership roles and competitive job markets," ECCC President Dr. Brent Gregory added. "We are thrilled to partner with The W to make this incredible opportunity available." |
| USM professor to study Fort Rosalie in Natchez | |
 | A University of Southern Mississippi (USM) School of Humanities faculty member and a former colleague will conduct a special history study of Natchez and the Fort Rosalie military garrison. Thanks to a $120,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Interior's National Park Service (NPS), the study will look at the city and the fort's intersection with native peoples and enslaved Blacks. Dr. Max Grivno, associate professor of history in the School of the Humanities, and Dr. John Winters, will assemble an interdisciplinary team of scholars to complete the project in the coming years. Grivno has worked previously with NPS, including from 2019-22 as co-principal investigator on the study of the Forks of the Road slave market in Natchez. Fort Rosalie was the military garrison constructed by the French in the early 1700s and maintained by the British, the Spanish, and Americans into the early 1800s. It was the scene of the 1729 Natchez Revolt by the Natchez tribe and was a center for the economic and social life of the community for the better part of a century. |
| Will Mississippi schools join the cellphone ban bandwagon? | |
| Many state lawmakers want to take action on teen mental health and say they believe restricting cellphone use in schools is a solution. But opinions and research on the topic are mixed. Among those who oppose a full ban: Two high school students from opposite ends of the state. Kate Riddle, a senior from Lafayette County School District, told Mississippi Today that her social media experience has always been "positive and uplifting." "Social media can be a positive or negative tool; it just depends on how you use it," she said. Riddle said she uses it for communication, news and entertainment. Crosby Parker, a junior from the Gulfport School District, also said social media hasn't had a "tangible impact" on his mental health and that he uses it on a "need-to basis" to talk to friends. Neither supports a full cellphone ban. But Riddle acknowledged that "phones are an immense problem in school districts and finding a way to navigate the challenges that they will bring in the coming years is vital to the success of all." Earlier this month, the state youth mental health task force released their recommendations. Among them was that all school districts implement policies on cellphones and social media use in classrooms. At the same time, Rep. Sam Creekmore, R-New Albany, a task force member, is drafting a bill to ban cellphones in schools statewide with possibly leaving it up to each of the state's 144 school districts to determine how to do that. |
| Grounded & Groundbreaking: Auburn University announces its 10-year strategic plan | |
| On Monday, Oct. 7, the Office of the President announced Auburn University's 10-year strategic plan in a campus-wide email. The 44-page brief titled Auburn University Strategic Plan 2035: Grounded & Groundbreaking, outlines Auburn University's future actions into five goals for the next decade to advance and establish itself as an ideal higher education institution. In an initial letter before the plan, President Christopher B. Roberts stated Auburn University is at a pivotal point for advancement, thanked the Auburn Family for its support and requested continued engagement. "Our 10-year plan outlines a vision that charts the course for our future," said President Roberts. "Your commitment will help lead our beloved university to achieving our aspirational goals." The plan has three pillars cited from Roberts' 2023 Installation: create the best student-centered experiences, increase scholarship and improve extramural funding and promote a culture where all feel welcome. A committee, including the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost, started planning in September 2023 and crafted five overarching goals to achieve these pillars. |
| Filmmaker discusses 25th anniversary of Bonfire collapse | |
 | Nov. 18 will mark the 25th anniversary of the Bonfire stack collapse that killed 12 people and injured 27 more at Texas A&M University. Controversial filmmaker Charlie Minn, who made a documentary about the incident five years ago, is back in town for a special showing of "The 13th Man." It begins a one-week run at Premiere Cinemas in Bryan on Friday. He will speak and hold a question-and-answer session at the Friday showings. On Tuesday, he spoke to students in A&M assistant professor Ashley Aschenbeck's sports communications class about the tragedy, his other projects, and inspiring moments in the world of sports. While introducing Minn, Aschenbeck gave her students a brief understanding of the significance of Bonfire. "It's specifically potent because it's the first time we've played Texas [in football] in a really long time," she said of the schools' renewing their rivalry Nov. 30. "And there was a lot of talk about whether we would bring back the Bonfire this year, after 25 years. After a lot of conversations, interviews and surveys, basically [A&M leaders] decided that they would not. So we decided that Bonfire will never return to campus the way it once was. And all of you were not even born when the last Bonfire took place, when the Bonfire fell. But if you were a student who graduated before 25 years ago you would have very strong memories about Bonfire because it was such a huge event." |
| Texas A&M Is the No. 1 College in the State | |
| Texas A&M University is the highest-ranked school in the state, followed by Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin, in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. ranking. Texas A&M is ranked 28th nationally, with Rice 29th and Texas at Austin 41st. Two of the state's top four colleges are in Houston -- Rice and the University of St. Thomas, fourth in Texas and 210th nationwide. And the University of Texas has two schools in the state's top 10 -- Austin and Arlington, sixth in the state and 216th in the country. Our ranking measures how well each college sets graduates up for financial success. We look at how much a school improves students' chances of graduating and their future earnings, balancing these outcomes with feedback from students on college life. We don't measure reputation, nor the college's own finances. |
| Beyond school colors: How college-town hotel amenities draw guests | |
| Blue-and-white plaid upholstery. Reclaimed parquet flooring. A front desk clad in basketball-style leather. An oversized statue of Jonathan the Husky. For a fully branded hotel guest experience near the University of Connecticut's flagship campus, the Graduate by Hilton Storrs Hotel is the only game in town. An expansion and thorough renovation in 2020 transformed the aging Nathan Hale Inn into a quaint-but-chic celebration of UConn's New England roots and national sports prowess. The Storrs Hotel is one of nearly 40 on- or near-campus hotels in the Graduate by Hilton brand, which the hospitality giant bought for $215 million earlier this year. Graduate by Hilton is one of several hospitality groups overweight on -- or entirely devoted to -- college-town properties, including Brick Hospitality Group, Charlestowne Hotels and Scholar Hotels. Amid fluctuating enrollment and changing guest preferences, these brands are leaning on evocative decor, tailored stay-and-play packages and locally sourced talent to attract students, families, sports fans and other campus visitors. "Intertwining the elements of a fun and energetic campus lifestyle along with a safe and welcoming environment [...] builds a level of excitement and school spirit for the student and reassures their parents that their child will be well taken care of," said Gareth Brown, vice president of operations at Charlestowne Hotels. College-town hotel concepts are as varied as the schools they support, and they continue to evolve as the ground shifts beneath both industries. |
| Do I really need that student loan? The latest college tuition trend. | |
| Americans love to grouse about the rising cost of college. But consider this: The average in-state student at a public university now pays only $2,480 a year in net tuition and fees. Tuition, of course, is only one item on the list of college expenses. Room and board can cost more. But the full cost of attending a public college is falling, rather than rising, after you adjust it for inflation. The average net price in tuition and fees for an in-state student at a four-year public college has plummeted by 40% in a decade, after inflation, from $4,140 in 2014-15 to an estimated $2,480 in 2024-25, according to a new report from the College Board. "The notion that the cost of college is out of control is not accurate," said Mark Becker, president of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. "And the College Board data show that." The figures represent the average net price of college tuition and fees for a first-time student, after you deduct grants, scholarships and other discounts and account for inflation. Falling college prices, however, is not the trend that grabs most of the headlines. Applicants swoon whenever someone runs a new list of most expensive colleges: the ones that charge more than $70,000 a year in tuition and fees, or more than $400,000 in total costs over four years. But those are "sticker" prices, and research suggests most students don't pay them. Elite colleges often pledge to meet the financial needs of every student. Colleges routinely offer discounted rates to attract worthy students. |
| The AAUP's New President Is Not Staying Neutral | |
 | On April 10, 2023, Rutgers University faculty went on strike for the first time in the institution's 257-year history. But they were far from alone. Joining them were the postdocs and counselors in their union, plus academic workers from two other unions -- an uncommon alliance of multiple types of higher education workers in a single, huge walkout. Altogether, the labor organizations called thousands of people off the job simultaneously across all three Rutgers campuses. Todd Wolfson, a Rutgers associate professor and president of the union representing faculty, grad workers and postdoctoral associates, and counselors, was a leader in uniting the three unions for the strike and preparing the ground for it. Ironically, though, he'd have to leave the Rutgers campuses just as it was beginning. On the eve of the strike, Governor Phil Murphy had called representatives of the workers and university leadership to the statehouse in Trenton to negotiate an end. But before Wolfson left the flagship Rutgers–New Brunswick campus that first day of the strike, he took up the mike in front of hundreds of ralliers. Wolfson, a critic of the "bureaucrats" and "business people" who he says have taken over higher education, referenced Rutgers' central administration building in his speech to the crowd, according to a video of the demonstration. "Let's make sure that the folks in Winants Hall in their little fancy spot over there can hear us, OK?" he said. The crowd cheered, and he started a call-and-response chant. |
| Harris to spend election night at Howard University | |
 | Vice President Harris will spend election night at Howard University, her alma mater in Washington, D.C., a source familiar told The Hill. Harris primary home is in California, but she has chosen to stay on the East Coast as her whirlwind campaign concludes. When in Washington, she lives at the Naval Observatory, which is the home of the vice president. Howard is one of the nation's historically Black colleges and universities. Harris graduated from the D.C. school in 1986, with a degree in political science and economics. While there, she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha. The vice president's campaign has prioritized outreach to Black voters in the weeks before Election Day, while polling has indicated that former President Trump is making gains with that voting bloc. A New York Times and Siena College poll earlier this month indicated Harris had 78 percent of support from likely Black voters; 15 percent of likely Black voters said they would choose Trump. That marks gains for Trump, after President Biden won 92 percent of Black support in 2020. Harris has struggled with young Black male voters, in particular. |
| Betsy DeVos, who resigned Trump's administration on January 6, pumps money into Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC | |
| Betsy DeVos, former president Donald Trump's secretary of education, and her family have pumped money into Elon Musk's super PAC despite the fact she resigned from his administration in protest of his actions on January 6. DeVos was the second cabinet member to resign in response to Trump's actions and the riot at the US Capitol. "There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation, and it is the inflection point for me," she wrote at the time in her resignation letter. "Impressionable children are watching all of this, and they are learning from us." But according to Federal Election Commission reports from America PAC, the pro-Trump super PAC run by the Tesla and SpaceX executive, DeVos contributed $250,000 to the committee. The most recent FEC summary spanned the period between October 1 and 16. Musk has become one of the most outspoken supporters of the former president. DeVos has been the longtime critic of public schools and supporter of charter schools and school vouchers to direct public education dollars to private schools. She has previously called for the abolition of the Department of Education. She recently told The Detroit News earlier this year that she would work in the Trump administration again "only if it was with the goal of phasing out the Department of Education as we tried to do through budgetary process in the first administration". |
| The truth is that Mississippi's 'nonpartisan' judicial elections remain tacitly partisan | |
| Columnist Sid Salter writes: Mississippi judicial races are supposed to be non-partisan -- meaning that candidates don't run under the cloak of any political party. The 2002 case Republican Party of Minnesota v. White drew a bright line that judicial candidates had free speech rights that states were not free to constrain through so-called "announces clauses." By law, Mississippi has nonpartisan elections for the state Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and all chancery, circuit and county court judges. Mississippi's 198 Justice Court judges are the only judges elected in openly partisan races. Despite the laws prohibiting partisan judicial elections in the state, voters can readily ascertain the partisan and philosophical stances of judicial candidates. A check of the campaign finance rolls establishes just as quickly who the major financiers of the state's political parties are supporting among the candidates. Often, the wink-and-nudge of "nonpartisan" judicial elections gives way to all but open political acknowledgment of the partisan leanings of the candidates and the political parties. The current round of judicial elections has been no exception. |
SPORTS
| Mississippi State Soccer Achieves Historic Rankings, No. 1 In TopDrawerSoccer Poll | |
| Mississippi State soccer continues to soar to unprecedented national heights, reaching the program's highest-ever rankings entering the final week of the regular season. This week, the Bulldogs are ranked No. 2 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll and No. 1 in the TopDrawerSoccer Poll. Additionally, State sits at No. 3 in the NCAA Soccer RPI rankings, solidifying their reputation among the nation's elite teams. The Bulldogs' rise comes in a season marked by firsts and program records, as Mississippi State captured its first-ever regular season SEC Championship on Sunday. The title reflects a season of resilience, strong team chemistry, and one of the stingiest defenses in the country. Mississippi State's defense has been the backbone of this historic campaign, allowing the fewest goals per game in the nation while posting multiple clean sheets against tough competition. Led by a cohesive backline and standout performances in goal, the Bulldogs' defensive prowess has been key. Equally impressive has been their ability to strike when it counts. The Bulldogs have found ways to convert key opportunities into goals, earning hard-fought victories and keeping them atop the SEC standings for much of the season. |
| No. 2 Bulldogs Set To Conclude Regular Season At South Carolina | |
| Fresh off winning its first SEC Regular Season Championship, the No. 2 Bulldogs are set to close the 2024 regular season on the road with a highly anticipated match against South Carolina. The original matchup was postponed to Wednesday, October 30, at Eugene E. Stone III Stadium in Columbia due to weather and will now serve as the regular season finale. The Bulldogs, currently holding a 15-1-0 overall record and a flawless 9-0-0 mark in SEC play, have already made history this season with record-setting performances and now aim to add a final regular-season win to their resume before the postseason. South Carolina, brings an 8-1-7 overall record and a 5-1-3 mark in SEC play into the match. The Gamecocks are coming off a 2-1 victory over Auburn, led by standout senior forward Catherine Barry. Barry, who netted her 12th goal of the season and 45th career goal in the win, has been a driving force for South Carolina's offense this season. The Gamecocks also boast a solid defensive record, allowing an average of 0.94 goals per game and proving to be a formidable opponent on their home field. Setting the tone early has proven crucial, and the Bulldogs will look to maintain this trend in Columbia. |
| Purcell talks returners, transfers, and staff in Starkville Rotary visit | |
| Mississippi State basketball is set to tip off next week, with the women's team beginning Year 3 under head coach Sam Purcell. It's a year of big changes for Purcell, who spoke about those changes during his visit to Starkville Rotary Club at the Hilton Garden Inn on Monday. Purcell, a man of positive messages, has had a slogan for each season in Starkville. This year's message is, "Own It," a message not just about embracing challenges on the floor, but embracing the game throughout its evolution in today's college athletics. "There's a lot of good in the game, and that's what I choose to focus on," he said. Purcell highlighted the accomplishments in his first two seasons and the returning talent, and he celebrated the culture around not just his program but MSU athletics in general. "I've got a program where we value women's athletics," Purcell said, giving a shoutout to James Armstrong and the women's soccer team on their recent SEC championship. "We're top 20 in the country in attendance for nine straight years. We own it. It's huge to have that support, things you take for granted, that's why I want people to own it." The strong attendance record has continued for the team throughout some ups and downs since Vic Schaefer's departure for Texas in 2020. This season, lower bowl season tickets are sold out and upper-level general admission season tickets are still for sale. The Bulldogs face Memphis at home in their season opener on Nov. 7. It's a matchup Purcell admitted is much more difficult than previous season openers, and asked for the same level of support that he's seen in big games at The Hump during and before his time as head coach. |
| MSU Esports brings back the Esports Egg Bowl victory | |
| The Mississippi State University esports team is, once again, bringing home the golden egg with a nail-biting 4-3 victory over Ole Miss esports in the annual Esports Egg Bowl. Taking place at the David H. Nutt Auditorium at the University of Mississippi, the Bulldogs set off early Sunday morning for a full day of competition in seven games. The ultimate victor is determined by the winner of the majority. This year, College Football 25 made its debut in the Esports Egg Bowl. Staying true to the Egg Bowl spirit, Ole Miss and MSU faced off in a digital version of Vaught Hemingway Stadium. Both teams balanced their offensive and defensive stats, compelling the players to depend more on skill and strategy. MSU Esports triumphed over the Landsharks with a score of 48-28. Notably, MSU executed a stunning 97-yard pick-six before the half. This victory gave MSU Esports another lead, making the overall score 2-1. Everything came down to Counter-Strike 2, another first-person shooter title. MSU flawlessly secured their victory, nearly blocking Ole Miss's ability to win a single match. The game ended in a shutout victory of 2-0, securing the Esports Egg Bowl win for MSU Esports. |
| Jeff Lebby analyzes how Michael Van Buren has handled learning as a freshman | |
| True freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren probably didn't expect to play much this season after signing to Mississippi State along with senior transfer Blake Shapen. Who also joined the Bulldogs this offseason with over 5,000 passing yards and 30 touchdowns in his college career. But when Shapen went down with a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 4 against Florida, the keys to Mississippi State's offense were handed to Van Buren. Who's yet to lead the Bulldogs to a win this season, but has definitely not looked like a freshman so far this season. "He's handled it in a really good way," head coach Jeff Lebby said during his weekly press conference. "Again, I think people outside the building have been very quick to talk about how incredible he is, while he's gotten challenged inside the building every single day. That will continue to happen." In his first four career starts Van Buren has scored 10 total touchdowns. Completing 57.2% of his passes for 1,101 yards with plenty of room to grow and learn from one of the brightest offensive minds in college football. "I'm coaching that position every single day, and we have to make sure that we take out the plays that are really bad and create productive plays when a picture isn't perfect," Lebby explained. "And so I thought the dude played incredibly tough, I thought he fought his butt off. He made some unbelievable plays, but then his bad plays were ones that we gotta take out of our game." |
| 'We have to score every drive': MSU's defensive struggles put extra pressure on offense | |
| Nearly every football coach, and Mississippi State's Jeff Lebby is no exception, likes to talk about playing "complementary football." But it's hard to win that way when one side of the ball is barely pulling any weight. Through five Southeastern Conference games, the Bulldogs (1-7, 0-5 SEC) have allowed either a touchdown or a field goal on 36 out of 54 drives, not counting kneel-down situations. Arkansas scored seven touchdowns and three field goals on 12 drives last Saturday, with MSU forcing just one three-and-out and one turnover. With those numbers, the offense knows it will need to score just about every time it has the ball, and that can lead to desperate decision-making and a general lack of rhythm. "We have to score every drive," said Kevin Coleman, the Bulldogs' leading wide receiver. "The goal is to score touchdowns. Last game, we had too many turnovers, came up short too many times. We have to score. We had too many opportunities. Some games are going to be shootouts. Some games our defense is going to play not the best, but it's our job on the offensive side to put up points." |
| Georgia Southern Athletic Director Jared Benko leaving Statesboro for role at Auburn | |
| After four and a half years as Georgia Southern's athletic director, Jared Benko is leaving Statesboro to become the deputy AD at Auburn. Benko is returning to Auburn after working for the university in 2015-2016. Benko was hired in Statesboro in March of 2020, beginning his role on April 1st. In his four years as AD, Georgia Southern Athletics saw the most successful fundraising campaigns in department history, including more than $10 million raised via donations in multiple years. He helped oversee the beginning of Eagle Nation Collective, which is the department's Name, Image, and Likeness campaign for student-athletes. Benko spearheaded the construction of the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center, the new basketball arena that is set to open next month. Paulson Stadium saw significant upgrades in his time at Georgia Southern. This will be a return to the SEC for Benko. Before his time in Statesboro, Benko worked four years at Mississippi State as the athletic department's CFO. In that time, he worked under current Auburn AD John Cohen. This move reunites the duo. |
| He's the world's tallest teen -- and is set to make college basketball history | |
| Walking from his apartment to classes and then to the University of Florida's basketball facility, Olivier Rioux poses for dozens -- sometimes hundreds -- of pictures a day. Vertical shots, of course. Rioux won't fit in the frame any other way. At 7 feet, 9 inches (2.4 meters), Rioux is the ultimate BMOC. He's actually the Biggest Man On Campus -- any campus. The Florida freshman, a happy-go-lucky Canadian who owns a spot in the Guinness record book as the world's tallest teenager, also will make basketball history when he plays for the 21st-ranked Gators this season. The cheerful guy known as "Oli" will become the tallest to play college hoops, supplanting 7-foot-7 Kenny George of UNC Asheville (2006-08). He's 2 inches (5 centimeters) taller than former NBA giants Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol, and 3 inches taller than popular big men Yao Ming, Tacko Fall and Shawn Bradley. Rioux has worked hard to prepare for Division I basketball, but no one expects him to be a star at this level, certainly not right away. The Gators do expect Rioux to be a fan favorite, beginning with their season opener against USF on Monday night. Coach Todd Golden predicts it will be like nothing he's ever experienced, with chants for Rioux late in games. "That one we can see coming from a mile away," Golden said. "About 95% of my conversations with random people about our team are about him. It's the first time we've been ranked since 2019 and it's like, 'Hey, Coach, we're really excited to see Oli out there this year.' And I get it, man. He's a very unique individual." |
| At a retirement home in Oklahoma, a coach's radio show transcends time | |
| As a Monday in late summer skittered on toward 6 p.m., a robust 87-year-old named Jody Hayes returned to her retirement-village apartment and began a process many find close to sacrosanct. She reckoned her daily calendar fulfilled. She summoned her pajamas. She poured a glass of wine. She reached the utopia of her balcony. She sat. Only then did she glimpse a well-known face down below, headed into the complex. Only then did she remember that she had forgotten to jot down the newfangled occasion she had meant to attend, failing to record it among her green ink for meetings, her red for doctor's appointments, her purple for the personal/social. Now she had to do something tiring. Now she had to decide. Toward a fourth-floor ballroom went Mike Gundy, for 20 seasons the football coach at neighboring Oklahoma State University, and in the late 1980s a quarterback there to boot. Of all things, Gundy would do his weekly radio show every Monday this season not in a restaurant or a bar or a store but in a roomful of retirees. He would field questions during commercial breaks from the residents of Legacy Village. He would dwell amid the bursts of laughter, as when one elderly man with a gravelly voice prepared to ask something from beneath a coaching visor. "You look good in that visor," Gundy said. "I'm for hire," the man replied. In the shopworn tradition of the coach's weekly radio show, a concept that has long helped fans weather the interminable voids between games, here had come an original, yet not just that. Here had come something beyond a novelty, beyond some adorable awwww, something with a noteworthy depth unmistakable in the voices of the residents. |
| Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark talks kickoff times, injury reports, state of the league | |
| Brett Yormark believes no program should be left behind. So the Big 12 commissioner is making it his mission to visit all 16 of the conference's campuses during the football season, even if it means double-dipping on some weekends. The "Four Corners" schools --- Arizona, ASU, Colorado and Utah --- are of the highest priority. They're the newest members of the league. Yormark visited Tucson on Saturday, Oct. 26, for the UA-West Virginia game. He's already been to Tempe and Salt Lake City. He'll head to Boulder for the Buffaloes' regular-season finale vs. Oklahoma State on the day after Thanksgiving. "I'm on pace to see every school at least once," Yormark said about an hour before kickoff between the Wildcats and Mountaineers. "I wanted to get to the Four Corners schools to embrace their fan base, get a sense for how they do things on game day. So far, so good." Yormark's next stop on Saturday, Nov. 2, is Waco, Texas, for the Baylor and TCU game. But first he sat down with the Star at Arizona Stadium to talk all things Big 12 football, from kickoff times to availability reports to the conference's place in the ever-changing landscape of collegiate athletics. |
| What player organizations want from House settlement | |
| The NCAA and Power Four conferences continue to preach a path forward that involves help from Congress. That said, not everyone is thrilled with the idea of aid from Capitol Hill or a preliminary approval of the proposed settlement in the House, Hubbard and Carter antitrust cases. "We oppose the settlement, and the conferences and the schools have done a masterful job of throwing out breadcrumbs for the media long before the settlement was actually made public and analyzed," said Ramogi Huma, executive director of the National College Players Association. "There's a lot of cheerleading around [it] right now, but the reality is that this would be terrible for athletes." A settlement in House would, in the conference's eyes, help create a streamlined governance system that would enable college sports to create rules and regulations around the payment of athletes. It also serves to show Congress the enterprise is attempting to rectify years of court losses by creating a system that is, in theory, fairer to athletes who were barred from being paid for decades. Those efforts, too, would theoretically entice lawmakers into creating an antitrust carve-out that would enable college athletes to collectively bargain without being deemed employees under the eyes of the law (non-employees cannot collectively bargain under federal law). That, at least in part, is where some of the varying entities representing players' rights now and into the future are concerned. |
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