| Thursday, November 7, 2024 |
| Veterans Day program this Thursday to feature patriotic 41st Army Band music | |
 | The annual Veterans Day Program at Mississippi State University is this Thursday [Nov. 7] at 2 p.m. on the Drill Field. The 41st Army Band will feature an hour of patriotic music beginning at 1 p.m. prior to the program -- which features remarks by MSU President Mark E. Keenum -- and play during the ceremony that honors veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice. The band is the musical ambassador for Mississippi Army National Guard. Following the event, a 3 p.m. public reception with refreshments will be held at the Colvard Student Union Art Gallery, the site of a special November exhibit "Student Salutes: A Visual Tribute to MSU Veterans." Open through Nov. 14 on the Union's second floor, the display features MSU student mixed-media art pieces honoring university alumni who served in the armed forces. Along with the student work, memorabilia spanning the history of the university is presented by University Archives, Mississippi Political Collections and Manuscript Collections. Regular gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. |
| $1.2 million grant awarded to Mississippi State research team for high school AI program | |
 | An interdisciplinary research team at Mississippi State has received a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to promote artificial intelligence competency among high school teachers and students in the Magnolia State. The grant funds a three-year program that will offer hands-on machine learning experiences to Mississippi high school computer science teachers and students, focusing primarily on underrepresented populations in STEM and rural areas in the state. 15 teachers and 60 students will be included project, funded by the NSF Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers program. The research team and undergraduate MSU mentors will partner with participants to train image models using machine learning and creating systems that are able to perform "intelligent vision tasks." Three yearlong cohorts of students and teachers, who will be able to attend a summer camp at MSU as a part of the project, will create a smart device each semester, culminating in a showcase the following summer. |
| Mississippi State receives $1.2 million to promote AI competency among high school students | |
 | A Mississippi State University (MSU) interdisciplinary research team received a $1.2 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to promote AI competency among high school students in the state. According to university officials, the three-year grant project will offer innovative, hands-on machine learning experiences to high school computer science teachers and students. It will focus on underrepresented populations in STEM and rural areas across the state. The project, which includes 15 teachers and 60 students, is funded by the NSF Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers program. MSU's research team and undergraduate mentors will engage participants by preparing image data, training image models using machine learning and creating systems that can perform intelligent vision tasks. Each yearlong cohort of students and teachers can attend a summer camp at MSU and create a smart device each semester, culminating in a showcase the following summer. |
| BRIDGES Expands Opportunities for Underserved Students | |
| In an effort to increase under-represented student participation in research, Mississippi State University (MSU) introduced the BRIDGES Undergraduate Research Program in 2022. The initiative stemmed from the findings of a Student Success Task Force committee, which revealed that many students were eager to engage in high-impact experiences like undergraduate research but faced opportunity barriers due to the need to maintain jobs or the inability to forgo paid opportunities. Recognizing research as a valuable pathway to degree completion and career readiness, MSU created BRIDGES to offer a solution: the opportunity to participate in research while receiving financial compensation. BRIDGES, which stands for Building Relationships that Intentionally Develop Generations of Excellent Scholars, is held each spring semester. The program launched with 13 students in 2022, expanding to 31 by 2024. Looking ahead to spring 2025, BRIDGES will offer 40 research opportunities across a variety of MSU centers and institutes. Participating MSU centers, such as the Center for Cyber Innovation and the Advanced Composites Institute, offer meaningful real-world research experiences working on cutting-edge projects. "A huge component of the undergraduate research experience is communicating the results of their work through presentations, including creating research posters for the university's Undergraduate Research Symposium," says MSU Vice President for Access, Opportunity and Success, Ra'Sheda Forbes. These experiences help participants build professional networks and acquire skills that are critical to academic and career success. |
| Detecting foreign material in meat, poultry processing | |
| The detection of foreign material is always a priority in the meat and poultry processing industry. The US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has strict guidelines on the presence of foreign material on broiler meat, with any product contaminated with foreign material to be segregated and decontaminated or discarded accordingly. "Detection of foreign material is important in processing poultry to guarantee the safety of the product, meet the legal requirement and to consumer health," said Dongyi Wang, assistant professor of food science at the University of Arkansas. "Presumably, undiscovered foreign bodies like plastic, metal, or other organic material may injure the consumers and lead to product recalls; erode the company's reputation; and entail heavy costs." That's why effective detection systems are needed to ensure quality control and maintain consumer trust in the brand. Each processing plant will have its own procedures in place for monitoring foreign contamination and removing the contaminant from production. "Testing for foreign materials with X-rays is standard procedure," said Hudson Thames, PhD, assistant professor of poultry processing at Mississippi State University. "The detectors utilized now have an impressive sensitivity to the point that materials around 1 mm to 2 mm in size can be detected. It does depend on what material it is though. Calcified bone and metal are much easier to detect at smaller sizes." |
| Full Interview: MSU professor reacts to Trump victory | |
 | Video: WTVA anchor Craig Ford spoke with Brian Shoup, a political science professor at Mississippi State University, about President-elect Donald Trump's victory. |
| Starkville family receives new home for Thanksgiving | |
 | A Starkville family has something extra to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Twana Hubbard and her family received the keys to their new home November 6, at a special dedication ceremony. The Hubbard Home was the 2023 Maroon Edition House representing a partnership between Mississippi State University and the Starkville Area Habitat for Humanity. The Maroon Edition build brings students, employees, and retirees from MSU together with Habitat volunteers and the family to construct the home. For MSU students it's chance for them to leave their mark on the community that will last beyond their graduation and their time in Starkville. "We're all in this together. That this is a community, and we have an opportunity and an obligation to help each other. For our students, I hope that they see this as an opportunity to extend themselves beyond themselves, to have a way to really, meaningfully pour into someone else's life," said Dr. Regina Hyatt, Vice President of Student Affairs. |
| Mary Means Business: Starkvegas Bar and Grill open | |
 | The vacant building on Highway 12 didn't stay vacant long. Starkvegas Bar and Grill, 211 Hwy. 12, takes the place of the former Mexican restaurant Guadalajara which closed in August. Stephen Ellis of Starkville is listed as the registered agent and manager of the bar and grill on the Mississippi Secretary of State webpage. I could not reach the owner by press time on Wednesday, but the Instagram account notes that the bar and grill had its soft opening Oct. 31. "Whether you're catching up with friends over drinks, craving a mouthwatering brunch, or indulging in some delicious soul food classics, we've got you covered," the description online reads. Be on the lookout for more information. ... Moving to Columbus... Friendly City Books is moving! The bookstore that opened in 2019 will be open at its current location at 118 Fifth St. N. until the end of the year. In 2025, the shop will reopen at 423 Main St. FCB owner Emily Liner said the shop decided to move locations for a larger space. "Our lease is ending at the end of the year, and the new building presents an exciting opportunity for us to better serve our community, with more room to hold events in our space," Liner said. |
| New Delta economic development project pays homage to moonshining legend | |
 | Legendary moonshiner Perry Martin died in 1968 and so did the decades of illegal distribution of the his spirits he engineered from the tiny hamlet of Rosedale along the Mississippi River in the Delta. Now, Rosedale native Jack Coleman and his wife Elizabeth are putting together an business project for Rosedale that might be the biggest economic development project since the town's river port was built 50 years ago. Coleman, moved back to the Mississippi Delta after a career as an attorney in Washington D.C. with the purpose of creating opportunity for their neighbors in the Delta and establishing the Delta as a premier region for the distilling industry. Rosedale Distilling Company is an unprecedented investment in the Delta, with the company committing $17 million now to redevelop historic buildings and create new jobs for the community, with another anticipated $6 million within eight years. Coleman expects to create 57 jobs and attract more than 40,000 visitors a year to the small town in Western Bolivar County. "Jack and I and our equity investors are excited to bring this transformative project to the Delta, and we really appreciate our partners," Elizabeth Coleman said. "We have great local partners in the City of Rosedale, Bolivar County, Mississippi Development Authority, South Delta Planning & Development District, and the Mississippi Heritage Trust. It has taken a strong collaboration to bring this dream to fruition." |
| Crystal Springs fish house to be featured on popular Food Network show | |
| Crystal Springs' Shivers Creek Fish House will appear on national television this month. The popular catfish spot is poised to host Food Network's America's Best Restaurants' roadshow on Friday, November 22. The show will film on location from 3 to 6 p.m. Fan-favorite dishes will be displayed during the show's airing. Shivers Creek boasts its seafood dishes, po'boys, and homemade desserts. Audiences across the map will also hear from restaurant owner Dustin Malley, who will highlight the eatery and the local Crystal Springs community. "We're humbled by this amazing opportunity and would like to thank all of our awesome customers for your support," an excerpt from a social media post by Shivers Creek Fish House reads. Shivers Creek Fish House has been recognized by Mississippi Magazine for its excellent catfish and outdoor dining. The restaurant champions that it only serves "100% fresh never frozen" Mississippi farm-raised catfish. |
| Civil rights organizations push for rehearing in 30-year-old murder trial | |
| Despite the Mississippi Supreme Court preventing Willie Jerome "Fly" Manning from returning to court with an opinion issued in September, Manning's defense is once again petitioning for a rehearing, this time with the support of a pair of civil rights organizations. The Innocence Project, a national litigation and public policy organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people through DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system, and the American Civil Liberties Union, a national civil rights nonprofit, filed amicus briefs Monday and Tuesday to support Manning receiving a rehearing in his 30-year-old double homicide conviction. Manning was convicted in 1994 of the murders of Jon Steckler and Tiffany Miller, two Mississippi State University students, that occurred two years earlier. While Manning was convicted and sentenced to death in 1994, he was granted a stay of execution in 2013, just four hours before he was set to die. The Supreme Court issued a 5-4 majority opinion Sept. 16 that denied Manning leave to proceed in circuit court or to file other petitions for post-conviction relief, partially because some of the "new" evidence was included in a prior petition for relief in 2013. "Petitioner has had more than a full measure of justice," the opinion reads. "Tiffany Miller and Jon Steckler have not. Their families have not. The citizens of Mississippi have not. Finality of justice is of great import in all cases." |
| New healthcare organization launched | |
| A coalition of Mississippi Healthcare providers announced Monday a formal collaborative focused on providing sustainable solutions to challenges facing access to care. The Mississippi Healthcare Collaborative brings together representatives of the state's leading acute and trauma care hospitals, rural hospitals, mental health providers and primary care providers. "Our mission is clear: to create a healthier Mississippi," said Kent Nicaud, President & CEO of Memorial Hospital, and Chair of the Collaborative's board. The diverse group of providers unites representatives from facilities offering state-of-the-art hospital-based procedures to those operating in rural clinics serving low-income communities. Founding members include Community Health Centers Association of Mississippi, Forrest Health System, George Regional Health System, Memorial Health Systems, Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Merit Health, Mississippi Rural Health Association, North Mississippi Health Services, Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center, Singing River Health System, South Central Regional Medical Center, Universal Health Services (Alliance Health Center, Brentwood Behavioral Health System, Diamond Grove Center for Children, Gulfport Behavioral Health System, Parkwood Behavioral Health System), and University of Mississippi Medical Center. Drew Snyder, former executive director of the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, will serve as Chief Health Policy Officer of the Mississippi Healthcare Collaborative. |
| Optum audit shows possible law violation, lower payments to independent pharmacies | |
| The findings of a recent audit of a major company that manages prescription benefits revealed it may have violated Mississippi law. The review of Minnesota-based Optum's business practices by the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy indicated that the company paid independent pharmacies in Mississippi rates lower than chains and Optum-affiliated pharmacies for the same prescription drugs. The audit uncovered over 75,000 instances in which Optum-affiliated pharmacies' lowest payments for a prescription drug were higher than at unaffiliated pharmacies in one year, including chain and independent drug stores. Mississippi state law prohibits pharmacy benefit managers from reimbursing their affiliate pharmacies, or ones they own, at higher rates than non-affiliate pharmacies for the same services. In some cases, patients footed the bill: consumers were almost twice as likely to pay the full cost of a prescription drug claim without contributions from their insurance plan at independent pharmacies than at affiliated pharmacies. The Board of Pharmacy will hold an administrative hearing based on the alleged violations of Mississippi law on Dec. 19. Board staff declined to answer questions about the audit or its findings. |
| Lumumba, Owens and Banks expected to be arraigned on Thursday in Jackson bribery scandal | |
| Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, and Jackson Councilman Aaron Banks are expected to be arraigned in federal court on Thursday for their alleged roll in a bribery scandal that has rocked the Capital City. Approximately two weeks ago, sources told Magnolia Tribune that the trio of elected officials had been indicted and would face their initial hearing after the election. Owens and Banks were spotted last Friday at the Thad Cochran Federal Courthouse in Jackson. Lumumba was spotted in the courthouse on Monday. Criminal defendants in white collar and public corruption cases are frequently allowed to negotiate the terms of their surrender and initial appearance instead of facing public arrest. On Wednesday, Mayor Lumumba preempted his arraignment with a public video statement in which he asserted his innocence and suggested he was the victim of political persecution. The investigation into Lumumba's role in the bribery scandal was conducted by the Biden Department of Justice and the prosecution is being overseen by Biden appointed U.S. Attorney Todd Gee. Prior to his appointed, Gee served as the Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Section of the United States Department of Justice -- essentially heading up public corruption cases. |
| Massive corruption scandal at Jackson City Hall: Mayor, DA, councilman all indicted | |
 | In a shocking turn of events in the Jackson bribery scandal, three local leaders have been indicted on federal charges: Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks and Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens. Lumumba, who announced his indictment in a video statement Wednesday, will be joined at the Thad Cochran United States Courthouse by Banks and Owens on Thursday. The mayor, councilman and DA are all scheduled to appear at a court hearing at 1:30, according to court documents. The three leaders will face Magistrate Judge Lakeysha Greer Isaac. Owens is facing eight felony counts, Lumumba is facing five felony counts, Banks is facing two felony counts. Lumumba, Banks and Owens indictments follow former Ward 2 Councilwoman Angelique Lee's guilty plea in August. Lee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery after accepting nearly $20,000 in "cash, deposits and other gifts." Two months later, Sherik Marve' Smith, the second conspirator, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery as well. Smith's guilty plea revealed that two more Jackson elected officials were involved in the bribery scandal. |
| Guest sees brighter days ahead following election results | |
 | U.S. Rep. Michael Guest, R-Brandon, who represents Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District, sees brighter days ahead after federal elections Tuesday put Republicans on the path to take both the U.S. Senate and Presidential office come January. The congressman has represented the third district since 2018 and was elected to another two-year term in Tuesday's election after running unopposed. "I think what we saw last night was a mandate on behalf of the American people," he said. "Not only did President Trump win the electoral vote, but he is winning the popular vote. We were able, the Republicans, to flip the Senate, and it looks like there are several additional seats which may be in place still as we allow the votes to be counted and I'm confident the Republicans will have the House." Controlling the White House and both chambers of Congress will give the Republican Party a greater ability to move its agenda forward, Guest said, but it will also come with higher expectations for elected officials to make good on their promises. The American people voted for a change, he said, and work must begin now to bring that to them. In the new term, Guest said he plans to continue to fight for the Mississippi Air National Guard 186th Air Refueling Wing at Key Field to receive the U.S. Air Force's new KC-46 tanker aircraft, a selection process that has been ongoing for several years. |
| Mississippi enjoys strong bonds with Trump. Republican leaders detail how the state will benefit | |
 | Mississippi is positioned to benefit from Donald Trump's presidency, party leaders in the state said Wednesday as they savored the former president's victory, a new Republican majority in the U.S. Senate and a potential trifecta if the House majority holds. "For Mississippi, it's really going to be big and important," former U.S. Sen. Trent Lott said. "This is a happy day for me. I'm excited with the results." Lott, former Republican Gov. Haley Barbour and Mississippi Republican Party Chairman Mike Hurst each noted that U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith will gain prominent committee assignments under a Trump presidency. With Republicans' return to power, Wicker is poised to become chairman of the Armed Services Committee, while Hyde-Smith could secure a subcommittee chairmanship on the Appropriations Committee. As appropriations chairman after Hurricane Katrina, Sen. Thad Cochran, known as "the quiet persuader," secured billions in disaster relief for Mississippi and the Gulf. Former Gov. Haley Barbour, who at one time chaired the national Republican party, said he expects Mississippi's economy will benefit from a Trump presidency, most notably in the oil and gas, and military sectors. Barbour has been campaigning hard for Trump and worked on a successful strategy to draw in Hispanic support, even though he wasn't that crazy about the candidate. "He's not my cup of tea," Barbour said, "but I've supported him every time because he's so much better than the alternative." |
| What could the impact of another Trump presidency be in Mississippi? | |
| Mississippi overwhelmingly voted for Donald Trump. Now, we're looking ahead to how that could shake things up for other positions of power. Republican strategist Henry Barbour explains it will take time to sort the voting data and see if certain groups like African American men or Latinos voted in higher numbers for Donald Trump Tuesday. That's because exit polling doesn't exist in Mississippi. Barbour says it will require looking at specific precincts and each of those demographics to get those types of details you're seeing out of other states. "I expect that we did just like the rest of the country," noted Barbour. "The country really wanted change and that became apparent." Meanwhile, several Mississippi Republicans have maintained close relationships with Trump. "For Cindy Hyde Smith, she'll have an opportunity to go up in the ranks in the Senate," explained Barbour. "But also, there's a lot of talk that President Trump, a good friend of hers, would like for her to serve in the cabinet at USDA." But Barbour says Hyde-Smith isn't the only name being brought up. Tate Reeves' name is being circulated as a potential member of the administration. Barbour says that would be a decision he'd have to make but if he chose to accept a federal position, it would set more movement in motion. |
| Trump carries Lowndes, leads Harris in Oktibbeha | |
| Republican President-elect Donald Trump appears to have carried the two largest counties in the four-county region in Tuesday's general election, as well as the state of Mississippi. Trump easily crossed the 270 electoral vote threshold early Wednesday to win the presidency. He currently stands at 295 electoral votes, compared to Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' 226. He also leads in Arizona and Nevada, though those states have not yet been called. With voter turnout down across the board compared to 2020, Trump won Lowndes and leads in Oktibbeha County, while Harris took Clay and Noxubee. Trump carried Lowndes County by a 12,884 (53.4%) to 10,827 (44.8%) margin, with the circuit clerk's office reporting 63.43% turnout. In Oktibbeha County, Trump leads by a 8,694 (49%) to 8,580 (48.4%) margin, with the circuit clerk's office reporting 53.61% turnout. Turnout was down more than 4,600 voters from the 2020 general election, when Biden beat Trump by 5.4%. Republicans also lead in down ballot races Tuesday in Oktibbeha County, with Wicker beating Pinkins by a margin of 9,284 (52%) to 8,064 (45.5%) in the U.S. Senate race, and Kelly defeating Black 1,051 (77%) to 292 (21%) in the 1st Congressional District race. |
| How Trump Won the Economy-Is-Everything Election | |
 | The experts said the economy was doing great. Everyday Americans disagreed. Roughly 40% of voters said the economy was their top issue, far outstripping any other issue, and those voters favored Donald Trump by 60% to 38%. Many weren't thinking about the streak of robust economic growth or the Federal Reserve's potential soft landing when they voted, but their grocery bills and out-of-reach ambitions. Americans are still feeling sticker shock from higher prices on everything from cleaning supplies to a cup of coffee that followed the pandemic. Their anger about the economy extended beyond prices to encompass wider discontent and anxiety over the future. Many Americans are frustrated that they can't afford to buy a home or start a family. Fewer believe that the American dream is achievable. "We are so tired. Everyone we know is so tired, like somebody's foot has been on the American people's chest for the past four years," said Amanda DiAntonio, a 36-year-old hair stylist who lives in Henderson, Nev., and voted for Trump. "Literally everything, parenting, eating, working, just our daily grind has been so hard," she said. She has resisted increasing prices on the inflation-weary customers of her salon, she said, even though she is paying more for supplies like foil and toner. |
| 'Unprecedented and powerful mandate': The contrast between 2016 Trump and 2024 Trump | |
 | Donald Trump's 2016 transition was slowed because, as he admitted at a pre-Christmas rally that year, he didn't think he would win. Eight tumultuous years later, the president-elect sounded Wednesday like he's ready to get to work planning his second improbable term. "America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate. We have taken back control of the Senate," a raspy-voiced Trump said at his victory party in West Palm Beach, Fla., in the early morning hours. To the dismay of Democrats from sea to shining sea, Trump's "mandate" declaration will be hard to rebut, particularly after he won the Democrats' "Blue Wall" states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin for the second time in three elections, made headway in Democratic-heavy states and is on track toward being the first GOP presidential nominee in 20 years to win the popular vote. In the end, voters appeared unimpressed by the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, who tried selling an upbeat picture of the country's future, and were undeterred by her warnings that Trump was a threat to the Constitution and America's democratic system. |
| In Trump's Win, G.O.P. Sees Signs of a Game-Changing New Coalition | |
 | Republicans have sounded alarms for more than a decade about the limits of their overwhelmingly white party. To stay competitive for the White House, strategists warned, they would need to bring more Black, Latino and other voters of color into the fold. On Tuesday, Donald J. Trump showed how it could be done. His victory over Vice President Kamala Harris was decisive, broad and dependent on voters from core Democratic constituencies. Results showed that Mr. Trump continued his dominance with the white, working-class voters who first propelled his political rise. But he also made modest gains in the suburbs and cities, and with Black voters, and even more significant inroads with Latinos. Mr. Trump's performance did not suddenly transform the Republican Party into the multiracial alliance of working-class voters that some strategists say is necessary for survival in the rapidly changing country. But he nudged it in that direction. At a time when the nation is sharply divided -- particularly between rich and poor, and between those with and without a college degree -- even incremental shifts were enough to sweep Mr. Trump back into power and put him on track to win the popular vote. Conservative strategists who have pushed the party to broaden its appeal pointed to the changes as proof of concept. Democrats, who have long relied on the support of minority voters, agonized over the trends. |
| Trump's win may extend conservative control of Supreme Court for decades | |
 | President-elect Donald Trump's election victory, combined with the Republican takeover of the Senate, may extend conservative control of the Supreme Court for another two decades. For much of the last four years, progressives focused their energies on proposals to expand the size of the court or impose term limits on the current justices. These ideas to restructure the court depended on Democrats winning sweeping power in both the White House and the Senate. Instead, Republicans will be in charge and positioned to preserve the conservative grip on the high court long after Trump leaves Washington. The two oldest justices are also its most conservative jurists. Clarence Thomas, 76, joined the court 33 years ago and would become the longest-serving justice in the court's history early in 2028. Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., appointed in 2006, is 74. If Vice President Kamala Harris had won the election, there was little chance they would have chosen to retire and have their seats filled by a liberal. But conservative analysts think it is quite likely Alito or Thomas or both will retire during Trump's second term. Retirements by Alito or Thomas would allow Trump to appoint one or two far younger conservatives, likely selecting from those he appointed to the federal appeals courts during his first term. |
| Dems rage against Biden's 'arrogance' after Harris loss | |
 | Democrats are directing their rage over losing the presidential race at Joe Biden, who they blame for setting up Kamala Harris for failure by not dropping out sooner. They say his advancing age, questions over his mental acuity and deep unpopularity put Democrats at a sharp disadvantage. They are livid that they were forced to embrace a candidate who voters had made clear they did not want -- and then stayed in the race long after it was clear he couldn't win. "He shouldn't have run," said Jim Manley, a top aide to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. "This is no time to pull punches or be concerned about anyone's feelings. He and his staff have done an enormous amount of damage to this country." According to interviews with nearly a dozen officials and party operatives, Biden squandered valuable months only to end in disaster on the debate stage. And by the time he decided to pass the torch, he had saddled Harris with too many challenges and far too little time to build a winning case for herself. The fresh anger at Biden came as Democrats devolved into a round of recriminations following Tuesday's decisive loss to Donald Trump, with officials struggling to explain why a majority of the electorate voted Republican for the first time in 20 years. |
| Massie for Secretary of Agriculture? Kentucky Congressman addresses talk of Trump admin role | |
 | Fourth Congressional District Rep. Thomas Massie, R-KY, said Wednesday he's open to taking a new role in the incoming Donald Trump administration, potentially leading the Department of Agriculture. "President Trump's resounding victory secured a mandate for big ideas like reversing chronic disease, conserving our land and empowering American farmers," Massie said in a statement first released to The Herald-Leader. "His campaign unified many neglected constituencies, from the Amish who just want to be left alone to grow healthy food, to parents who want more access to nutritious food for their families." "I stand ready and willing to help the President with any part of his bold agenda to focus on the health and well being of Americans, but I have received no commitments or offers from President Trump's team, and any discussion of the transition are premature," Massie continued. The speculation over Massie began with Joel Salatin, an iconoclast author and speaker in the farming community who calls himself "The Lunatic Farmer." The potential development spread quickly on X, the social media website owned by Trump ally Elon Musk. |
| Election Denial Conspiracy Theories Are Exploding on X. This Time They're Coming From the Left | |
 | It took just minutes for the conspiracy theories about the 2024 US presidential election to flood Elon Musk's X platform after Donald Trump was announced as the winner in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The number of posts casting doubt on the election results and calling for a recount exploded on Wednesday morning, according to data from research company PeakMetrics. At noon Eastern time, posts on centibillionaire Elon Musk's X platform peaked at 94,000 posts per hour. Many of the posts received significant amplification on X, with numerous posts reviewed by WIRED receiving more than 1 million views. Gordon Crovitz, the CEO of NewsGuard, told WIRED that the term "Trump cheated" was trending on X on Wednesday morning. "There are 92,100 mentions of 'Trump cheated' on X since midnight," Crovitz said. The exact details of the conspiracy theories are still being ironed out by those promoting them, but for the Harris supporters sharing them, her loss was reason enough to indulge in pushing baseless disinformation about the election being stolen. Meanwhile, the massive pro-Trump election denial movement that sprung up in the wake of the 2020 election remained virtually silent on Wednesday morning, in comparison to the flood of content it shared in the days and weeks leading up to the election. |
| Ole Miss, State post record enrollments as more students pursue college in Mississippi | |
| The University of Mississippi posted its second consecutive record-breaking enrollment this fall, according to figures released Monday by the governing board of the state's eight public universities. "Our growth reflects the University of Mississippi's position as a thriving destination of choice for higher education," Chancellor Glenn Boyce said in a press release. Not to be outdone, Mississippi State University also celebrated an all-time-high in enrollment of more than 23,000 students. The land-grant university enrolled more minority, international and veteran students this year than last, according to a press release that also noted it is the state's only institution of higher learning to experience enrollment growth for nine of the last 10 years. "We're focused on higher education at MSU being unequivocally accessible and are dedicated to ensuring every Bulldog student is on their path to a degree, including those who start at a community college or who have been out of college for a while," President Mark Keenum said in the release. Rounding out the state's three largest universities, the University of Southern Mississippi's enrollment held just about steady at 13,170 students, gaining half a percentage point over the previous school year. Overall, nearly 80,000 students are attending public universities in Mississippi, according to IHL's figures. |
| MUW holds 'Day of Destress' on campus for students | |
| MUW provides resources for students to destress. Not only is it the day after election, but it is also National Stress Awareness Day. MUW had massage chairs, an oxygen bar, and more for students. Asia Duren, MUW's Director of student life said they always want to support their students. "School is tough, society is tough. They're dealing with a lot especially at like this pivotal time in their lives, so we said what can we do to help them," said Student Life Director Asia Duren. "You 're just sitting there and breathing in all the tropical scents and it really just helps to clear your mind and calm the senses just really help you just thoroughly relax," said MUW student, Mary Monohan. |
| The Morning After: Republicans Ride High, Democrats Feel The Blues | |
 | Students at the University of Mississippi shared differing reactions to former President Donald Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election -- feelings of cheer, dread and indifference swept through campus. Campus was quiet post-election. Still, many students showed their support for Trump on campus by wearing memorabilia t-shirts and red-colored outfits. Donning a bright red MAGA hat, Carter Reynolds, a sophomore secondary education major from Cincinnati, felt relieved after the election. "I think it was fair, and obviously I'm happy (Trump) won. There are good things to come from this," Reynolds said. "When I was in eighth grade, I went to Washington, D.C., with my grandpa and got this hat for him and one for myself, and I felt like today was a good day to wear it." Wearing blue and red Gucci sneakers, Lucy Huthnance, a sophomore elementary education major from Houston, showed off her post-election pride on her way to work. "I voted for Donald Trump, so I am feeling very confident in our future. ... I was nervous before because going into education, there was a lot more at stake than maybe other careers. ... I was very excited and just felt very patriotic in general," Huthnance said. |
| USM president talks college with Jasper Co. juniors, seniors | |
 | Dr. Joe Paul met with about 200 kids Tuesday at Jones College's Jasper County Center. Jasper County was the president's second stop after speaking with students at West Jones High School. The conversation focused on topics like academics, careers and life after high school. Paul said it is important for USM to reach the students before they walk across the stage. "I think the uniqueness of Southern Miss is you've got a major college experience," said Paul. "You've got a Carnegie research university with the highest quality in academics, but where the class size is just 22. So, major college experience, best academics, full student life, but in an environment where you don't get lost in the crowd." |
| WCU hosts annual Pine Belt College Fair | |
| Students. It was all part of WCU's annual Pine Belt College Fair. "This is really important for me, because I want to be a nurse and I don't know which school I want to go to, so having these different options here and seeing which school has the best program really, really helps me out," said Armyah Williamson, a senior at Magee High School. More than 1,300 students attended, to learn more about colleges and universities from Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Arkansas. Recruiters from most branches of the Armed Forces also participated. "We do love William Carey and we definitely want them to consider us and hopefully, we're their first choice, even, but, there are other great institutions here and maybe, they fit a student better," said Wes Dykes, associate vice president for recruitment at William Carey University. Students from 15 different schools were at the college fair. |
| USDA sets rule prohibiting processing fees on school lunches for low-income families | |
 | The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a new rule Friday prohibiting schools from adding so-called "junk fees" on the school lunch accounts of low-income students. The rule, set to take effect in the 2027-2028 school year, stops schools from charging families that qualify for the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program fees for adding money to cashless payment options, among other charges. "While today's action to eliminate extra fees for lower income households is a major step in the right direction, the most equitable path forward is to offer every child access to healthy school meals at no cost," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a press release announcing the rule. The rule will cover families with an income under 185% of federal poverty guidelines -- approximately $57,720 per year for a family of four. The USDA pointed to a study from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that showed that families paid more than $100 million annually in fees to add money to school lunch accounts. The study estimates that low-income families pay $0.60 to payment processing companies for each $1 they spend on school lunch. |
| Art Favre's construction career began at LSU. A big donation hopes to do the same for others. | |
 | Art Favre, the co-founder of Baton Rouge-based Performance Contractors, was a member, back in 1972, of the first class of students to graduate from LSU's construction management program. In retrospect, the program had quite a start. Also in Favre's class were two other men who would also go on to be giants in their field: Pepper Rutland, who founded MMR, and Eddie Rispone, who started ISC Constructors. Favre worked for some construction companies in Baton Rouge and Houston before starting Performance in 1979. Since then, Performance, which handles industrial construction, turnaround and maintenance for clients such as ExxonMobil, Procter & Gamble, Dow Chemical and SpaceX, has grown to be one of Louisiana's largest companies, with nearly 12,000 employees and $1.9 billion in revenue last year. Over same period, LSU's construction management program has grown from a small cohort to one of the largest departments in the entire university system, with nearly 2,000 students. While Favre was leading Performance, he was also involved in the construction management program, making sure the curriculum was developing the skills graduates needed when they got into the workforce. Favre has now made a big investment in that advancement. Last month, LSU announced plans for a stand-alone building for the construction management department. Favre spearheaded the fundraising effort and put up $15 million for the $107 million project, which is expected to break ground in 2026. |
| Legal Team With Ties to Trump Investigating NSF's 'Leftist Ideology' | |
 | America First Legal Foundation, a nonprofit run by former members of President-elect Donald Trump's first administration, is suing the National Science Foundation for records related to the agency's prioritization of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. According to AFL's lawsuit, the NSF received the records request in 2023 but has failed to produce them in a timely manner, an alleged violation of the Freedom of Information Act. The suit, filed Oct. 30 in federal court, comes after Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, published a report accusing the Biden-Harris administration of politicizing science. The report claims that since Biden took office in 2021, the NSF has awarded more than $2 billion in federal funding to thousands of scientific research projects that promoted DEI or "pushed neo-Marxist perspectives about enduring class struggle," with such awards allegedly growing from 0.29 percent of all new grants in 2021 to 27 percent by 2024. The NSF did not respond to a request for comment by press time. |
| Amid the uncertainty, here's what Trump's victory might mean for U.S. science | |
| Less than 24 hours after Donald Trump (R) defeated Vice President Kamala Harris (D) and won a second term as U.S. president, science advocates are still trying to decipher what his return to the Oval Office could mean for the U.S. research community. There is no shortage of gloom about the next 4 years, given Trump's track record, the divisive campaign he waged, and the likelihood that his fellow Republicans will control both chambers of Congress. "It could be a very dark time for universities," says one higher education lobbyist, referring to the escalating attacks by Republicans on how academic institutions have handled everything from collaborations with China to pro-Palestinian student protests on campus. At the same time, another lobbyist takes consolation in the traditionally bipartisan support for science. "I don't see why the next 4 years should be any different," the research advocate says. "Trump understands the value of basic research in fueling innovation, and we're going to be looking for opportunities to take advantage of that support." The lobbyists requested anonymity because they work with both parties. There are far more questions than answers, in part because Trump and his appointees do not have full control of science funding and policy. For example, Trump will get to propose how a mosaic of two dozen federal agencies will spend some $200 billion annually on research. But Congress will have the final say. And on any particular spending or policy issue, there are factions within the Republican Party shaped by local interests, and they don't always agree. |
| Student loans, Title IX: What education policies might come out of a Trump administration | |
 | School choice will have a proponent in the Oval Office, and the federal Department of Education could be in existential danger after Tuesday's election. GOP education initiatives have been stymied at the federal level for the past four years, but that's about to change after Republicans recaptured the White House and the Senate while potentially keeping the House. President-elect Trump and the GOP will try to turn their momentum into reforms, but experts say they face some major decisions. "I'm very curious to see who Trump nominates for Education secretary and whether he goes in the direction of a culture warrior. Is he picking someone like [Moms for Liberty co-founder] Tiffany Justice, or is he picking someone who's a little more traditionally conservative? I think that will be a signal about the direction where things are going," said Jon Valant, director of the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institute. Trump's first administrative steps are likely to include pumping the breaks on Biden-era matters directly within his control, such as student loan relief and Title IX. For now, much is unknown as the president-elect did not give many details on future education policy on the campaign trail and the issue was put on the backburner during presidential debates. |
| Anxiety and Speculation in Wake of Trump's Win | |
| As the reality of a second presidential term for Donald Trump became clear Wednesday, D.C. policy circles began the work of decoding campaign trail rhetoric and Republican priorities to determine how his return to the White House could affect higher education. Speculation has run rampant in the months leading up to the election that Trump may seek to shut down the Department of Education, drawing from the conservative Project 2025 playbook developed at the Heritage Foundation, which the candidate sought to distance himself from despite clear ties to past staffers and connections to his running mate, JD Vance. In addition to abolishing the department, the plan also called for more oversight for accreditors, killing student loan forgiveness efforts, privatizing student loans and numerous other recommendations. But rhetoric and reality often diverge for the president-elect, leaving many experts speculating about his policy priorities and more questions than answers before he assumes office in 2025 after dealing Democratic vice president and electoral foe Kamala Harris a resounding defeat. Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, noted his own "anxiety" about what the election meant for higher education in an ACE webcast on Wednesday afternoon. Specifically, he cited concerns about what Trump's win could mean for oversight and regulations, student inclusion and belonging, and free speech, plus the fallout for undocumented students. |
| Trump's win could spell the end of Biden's higher education policies | |
| Donald Trump's sweeping election victory likely signals the undoing of much of President Joe Biden's efforts to reform higher education in the U.S. In his years at the helm of the federal government, Biden approved billions of dollars in student loan forgiveness, cracked down on colleges that rip students off and worked to codify new protections for LGBTQ+ students. Those efforts -- some of which sparked controversies and brought setbacks -- are among the key Democratic priorities that Trump's win threatens. The rhetoric of the former president on the campaign trail, and his actions while in office, offer ample evidence of his goals. He spent much of his first term dismantling higher education regulations set by former President Barack Obama, who was unusually hawkish on the issue of college oversight. Tuesday's election results shined a spotlight on the partisan divide between Americans with college degrees and those without them. Though it's unclear what the president-elect will accomplish with another four years in the White House, he will likely capitalize on that mandate from noncollege-educated voters to chart a far different path from Biden for America's universities, and, by extension, for the millions of people who attend college in hopes of securing the best future for themselves and their families. |
| The College-Degree Divide Is Becoming a Chasm | |
 | As analysts began digging into Donald J. Trump's dominant victory this week, a key theme from the past two presidential elections emerged yet again: College-educated voters are on an island. Exit polls released by NBC News early Wednesday suggested a widening chasm between voters with a college degree and those without. Only 41 percent of college graduates voted Republican, compared to 54 percent of voters without a degree. The 13-point college-degree gap in 2024 was more stark than 2020, when exit polls showed a 7-point divide, and 2016, when it was 9 points. Democrats increasingly see their eroding support among voters who didn't go to college as a political liability. Only half of American adults have some kind of college credential, and just one-third hold a bachelor's degree. The head of the American Federation of Teachers recently told The Chronicle that the party erred by pushing college for all. Vice President Kamala Harris explicitly moved away from college-for-all language and emphasized paths to prosperity without a postsecondary education. Matt Grossmann, director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University, urged caution in reviewing the data. "Exit polls are not currently reliable indicators of demographic-group shifts," Grossman wrote in an email. |
SPORTS
| Top-Seeded Mississippi State Set To Face No. 4 Seed South Carolina In SEC Tournament Semifinals | |
| The excitement of the 2024 season continues to build for State as the Bulldogs (17-1-0, 10-0-0 SEC) prepare for their SEC Tournament Semifinal matchup with South Carolina (9-2-7, 5-2-3 SEC) on Thursday, November 7. Set for a 3:30 p.m. CT kickoff at Ashton Brosnaham Park in Pensacola, this highly anticipated showdown pits two of the SEC's top contenders against each other, with Mississippi State looking to advance to its first-ever SEC Tournament final. The match will be featured live on SEC Network. When these teams last squared off on October 30 in Columbia, State clinched a 2-1 victory in a hard-fought regular-season finale that solidified the Bulldogs' dominance in conference play. Despite South Carolina's defensive prowess and depth, Mississippi State emerged victorious through relentless effort, strong ball control, and timely goal-scoring, setting the stage for another thrilling matchup as they now meet in postseason play. This victory marked Mississippi State's 10th consecutive SEC win, completing a perfect conference season -- a feat achieved by only three other programs in SEC history. |
| Golden goal sends Bulldogs to SEC semis | |
| Mississippi State soccer won its 14th consecutive game on Tuesday, sealing a dramatic 2-1 overtime win with a golden goal against Tennessee. Forwards Hannah Johnson and Aitana Martinez-Montoya scored for the Bulldogs, with Johnson providing an assist for the latter, and remain undefeated against Southeastern Conference opponents this season. The work on defense paid off in the second period of overtime. The Bulldogs pressed right from the kickoff, winning the ball with Johnson dribbling forward. She played a lofted pass through to Aitana Martinez-Montoya, who converted with a diving, first-touch shot to win the game and send the Bulldogs into the semi-finals. "I think the most important thing for us was to believe, we never stopped believing we had each other's backs," Martinez-Montoya said after the game. "This is this Mississippi State. That is what it takes to win in the SEC. It is just one run, just one ball. We are all about striving for greatness. All of us support one another's hard work. Now we are getting ready for the next one." The win takes the Bulldogs to the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament, where they will face South Carolina on Thursday. The match will air on SEC Network. |
| Mississippi State football: Why Jeff Lebby might rebuild like Tennessee | |
| Jeff Lebby still remembers sitting in an office grinding tape with Josh Heupel 20 years ago for Oklahoma football. Lebby, now a first-time head coach at Mississippi State, kick-started his coaching career as a student assistant at Oklahoma from 2003-06. In 2004, Heupel, now Tennessee's coach, was a graduate assistant at Oklahoma after starring at quarterback for the Sooners. Their paths have crossed multiple times since their coaching infancies at OU and will take a new twist this week when Mississippi State (2-7, 0-5 SEC) plays at Tennessee (7-1, 4-1) on Saturday (6 p.m., ESPN). It's the first time Heupel and Lebby will face each other as head coaches. The Bulldogs and Volunteers are in very different stages of program rebuilds, but, in some ways, Lebby could model Mississippi State to what Heupel has built at Tennessee. "Jeff's extremely smart, highly competitive and works extremely hard," Heupel said. "He's got a personality that allows him to have great relationships with young people, and at the same time have the traits to challenge them. I think that's why you continue to see them grow throughout the course of the season, and why he'll do a great job down there." |
| What to watch for: Mississippi State at No. 7 Tennessee | |
| Following a 45-20 win over Massachusetts last week that snapped Mississippi State's seven-game losing streak, the Bulldogs hit the road Saturday night to battle Tennessee for a 6 p.m. Central Time (7 p.m. local) kickoff on ESPN. The Volunteers, in their fourth year under head coach Josh Heupel, are in good shape to reach the 12-team College Football Playoff with their only loss coming at Arkansas in early October. Tennessee earned a signature win against Alabama and narrowly escaped at home against Florida and Kentucky to solidify its place in the top 10. Redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava completed 28 of 38 passes for 292 yards and a touchdown in the Volunteers' win last week over Kentucky. He is completing more than 65 percent of his passes for the season with just four interceptions. But this Tennessee offense flows through running back Dylan Sampson, who has 980 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns in just eight games while averaging 5.7 yards per carry. The Volunteers' defense is even scarier, allowing just 12.4 points per game and holding opponents to a mere 89.8 rushing yards per game, both second in the SEC. James Pearce Jr. and Joshua Joseph spearhead an outstanding defensive line, Arion Carter is one of the conference's best linebackers, and Will Brooks and Jermod McCoy lead the way in the secondary. |
| No. 7 Tennessee eager to score faster hosting Mississippi State for homecoming | |
| The seventh-ranked Tennessee Volunteers have one last chance to fix a nagging issue on their own field before hitting the road. Scoring before halftime. The Vols have been shut out through the first 30 minutes by Arkansas, Florida and Alabama. They rallied to beat Florida and Alabama. They managed one touchdown before halftime against Kentucky with their stingy defense keeping them close for a third straight comeback. "We need to, we want to start a lot faster than we have here in the last few weeks," Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said. "We have to take advantage of things and do the simple things at a high level. In particular, down in the red zone where we have had to kick too many field goals the last few weeks, we have had turnovers, we have gotten behind the chains, things that we control. We have to be better." Tennessee (7-1, 4-1 SEC, No. 7 CFP ) goes into Saturday night's homecoming game against Mississippi State among five one-loss teams in the Southeastern Conference. This is the Vols' last potential tune-up before a visit to No. 2 Georgia in a game that could help decide much more than just who plays for the SEC title on Dec. 7. The Bulldogs (2-7, 0-5) should provide a good opportunity for Tennessee to work out those offensive kinks. Mississippi State just snapped a seven-game skid last week against Massachusetts. First-year coach Jeff Lebby hopes his Bulldogs keep growing from experience this season. "The setting, the environment, the night game, it will be an electric atmosphere," Lebby said. "We have to do a great job of communicating and finding ways to take that out of our game." |
| Jeff Lebby 'loves' SEC punishing players for fake injuries | |
| Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby is a fan of the new rule from the SEC that punishes teams for their players faking injuries. Conference commissioner Greg Sankey released a memo on the revealing the teams will be fined up to $100,000 and the head coach will face a suspension on the third offense. It's received mixed reaction from coaches around the league such as Lane Kiffin and Clark Lea. However, Lebby is on the side that believes it will ultimately be a good thing for college football. "I'm all in favor," he said. "Love it. It's come up a ton as we've been in the middle of some games. So I love that that's where it's going." Lebby's stance on the matter makes sense and teams likely try to employ the fake injury strategy against his up-tempo style offense. Injuries force timeouts on the field that allow the defense a chance to catch its breath and prevent such offenses from gaining too much momentum. It's unclear exactly what factors the SEC will use to determine whether a player is faking an injury. It doesn't seem to be something that can easily be proven one way or the other. Sankey also said the SEC would send any video of obvious feigned injuries to the National Coordinator. However, the league office won't necessarily look at every play that could bring about some questions. |
| Mississippi State Tips Off 2024-25 Run With Memphis | |
| Mississippi State women's basketball tips off its 2024-25 run when it hosts Memphis inside Humphrey Coliseum on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 6:30 p.m. CT. Fans who are not in attendance can follow action on SEC Network+ with talent Bart Gregory and Brittany Lange or through their affiliate radio station with Jason Crowder. Live statistics will be available here at HailState.com or through the MSU.StatBroadcast.com link. Thursday will be the 33rd time that Mississippi State and Memphis has met on the hardwood. Mississippi State leads the series 10-4 in Starkville, but trails 14-18 all-time. It is only the second time since 2008-09 and in as many seasons that Mississippi State and Memphis has faced each other. Mississippi State brought home an 81-63 win inside Elma Roane Fieldhouse in Memphis, Tenn. last season on Dec. 17, 2023. Mississippi State looks to extend a five-game winning streak in the series. Memphis is 1-0 on the season after it defeated Mississippi Valley State, 89-78, on Monday, Nov. 4 inside Elma Roane Fieldhouse. Memphis is one of two American Athletic Conference programs that Mississippi State has faced under Head Coach Sam Purcell. Mississippi State is 2-0 against the conference under Purcell, both of which were played in 2023-24. |
| Jans, Mississippi State gaining comfort with faster pace of play | |
| With defense as its calling card, Mississippi State preferred to slow the game down on offense in Chris Jans' first two seasons as the Bulldogs' head coach. But now, without a post presence like Tolu Smith and led by a volume scorer at guard in Josh Hubbard, MSU is becoming more comfortable playing faster, and it showed in the Bulldogs' season-opening win Monday over West Georgia. "We've been practicing that way for quite some time," Jans said Wednesday. "I've always argued that tempo is misleading, (in terms of) possessions per game, because if you're doing a good job defensively and the other team is having a hard time getting a shot off, the game will be a lower-possession game. So I don't really care what our adjusted tempo is. But if you want to break it down to really see who's playing fast offensively, look at time of possession." "I want our team to play fast and get great shots and put pressure on the defense and score early when we can," Jans said. "But on the other end, if we don't turn them over, I want them to have to go all the way to the shot clock (buzzer) and work for open looks. The difference in length of possessions offensively and defensively is way more important to me than when people talk about what our pace is." |
| Mississippi hunters can still plant, replant deer food plots | |
| Officials with the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service said frustration is mounting for deer hunters across the state whose cool-season food plots died or never got planted due to drought conditions. "This is the second year in a row that it's been too dry," said Bill Hamrick, a wildlife associate with the MSU Extension Service. "While the rain has been scarce, some hunters and hunting clubs were able to time a mid-September food plot planting ahead of near certain rain events. In some cases, they got good seed germination but have had little to no rain since. Their plots have either died or are currently dying. Other food plots showed promise early until the armyworms showed up and destroyed them." Although it's November, Hamrick said hunters still have time to replant. Erick Larson, MSU Extension small grains specialist, recommends cereal grains, including oats, triticale, wheat and cereal rye, for hunters who want to produce vegetation that attracts deer during the hunting season. "Clover species are slower to produce growth in the fall, so late emergence will likely delay production until late winter and springtime," said Larson. "Although they may not provide much benefit this fall, clovers will provide deer with additional nutrition in spring and mutually improve growth of grasses by supplying nitrogen and enhancing soil organic matter." |
| Faking It? SEC teams warned by league about a practice to slow down high-tempo offenses | |
| South Carolina coach Shane Beamer had a final farewell for Mississippi last month as Rebel after Rebel went down on the ground with injuries, some serious, some minor, and created stoppages that slowed things down. "First of all," Beamer said after the Gamecocks' 27-3 loss on Oct. 5. "I certainly hope all those guys are OK." Sincere or sarcastic? Who's to say when Beamer quickly cut himself off and focused postgame comments on other topics. But there's no doubt he and others around the Southeastern Conference are tired of injury interruptions for players who may or may not be hurt. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey took matters into his own hands with a memo to members last week to knock it off. "As plainly as it can be stated: Stop any and all activity related to faking injuries to create time-outs," Sankey wrote in the memo, a copy of which was shared with The Associated Press. Amen, said LSU coach Brian Kelly, who called the warning shot from Sankey "timely." Sankey, Kelly said, was standing out among "people in college football in making it clear that this kind of nonsense, which is a word that was used, needs to stop. It's silly." All this was laid out to teams before the season, Beamer said. He recalled reading the rules to his coaches and players. "Here's the policy in this league, and I ain't paying the fine," Beamer told them. Ole Miss and coach Lane Kiffin have been front and center in the practice. Fans at Williams-Brice Stadium booed loudly back in October whenever a Mississippi player laid out on the field, believing they were play-acting. |
| Baylor president invites Power 4 leaders to hear from groups pitching super leagues | |
| Baylor president and Big 12 board chairwoman Linda Livingstone has sent a letter to university leaders in the ACC, Big Ten and SEC, inviting them to a summit in early December, where they can hear directly from groups pitching potential new models for college football. According to a copy of the letter obtained Wednesday by The Athletic, the "Presidents and Chancellors Summit on the Future of College Athletics" would take place Dec. 2-3 in Dallas. In recent months, two so-called college football super league models have been circulating among athletic directors and conference commissioners, Livingstone wrote. "The Big 12 Conference Board of Directors agrees there is an urgent need for the presidents and chancellors from the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten and SEC to gather in person to discuss these and other topics impacting college athletics and each of our universities," she wrote. Livingstone is a prominent presidential leader in college sports, currently serving as chair of the NCAA's Board of Governors -- the association's highest governing body. The super league models are pitched as a way to preserve certain aspects of college football and college sports in general, while ushering in a more professionalized system that organizers believe will also be more profitable for schools. Neither plan has drawn any interest from the Big Ten and SEC. |
| Republicans Won Big in the 2024 Election. So Did the NCAA | |
| Since 2019, the NCAA and power conferences have staged a sophisticated, multimillion-dollar lobbying campaign in Congress that has so far been unsuccessful. In 2025, the NCAA may finally get to cash in on those efforts. The 2024 election, which installed Donald Trump in the White House for a second term and gave Republicans control of the U.S. Senate, is a major win for the NCAA, which has been trying to get Congress to pass a law preventing athletes from being classified employees and securing antitrust protections to control compensation rules. "We've had productive, substantive conversations with members of both parties in recent months and are optimistic an opportunity exists to advance a targeted, bipartisan solution to ensure a stable, equitable, and sustainable future for college sports for years to come," NCAA SVP of external affairs Tim Buckley tells Front Office Sports on Wednesday. The governing body has said it hopes to take the House v. NCAA settlement, which would allow athletes to share revenue with schools for the first time, to Congress to use as a road map for a new law that would also include the anti-employment provisions and antitrust protections. Less than a year ago, the NCAA's business model of amateurism appeared to be on life support: The NLRB was releasing decisions in the athletes' favor, multiple court cases threatened to bankrupt the governing body, and Congress seemed unwilling or unable to save it. But the election has handed the NCAA a potential trump card. |
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