| Thursday, November 21, 2024 |
| Magnolia State's 'innovation ecosystem' includes vital role played by MSU's Office of Technology Management | |
 | With a portfolio of intellectual properties spanning new blueberry varieties to the next generation of wearable technologies, Mississippi State's Office of Technology Management is helping the Magnolia State's leading scientists patent their ideas and take them to market, all while protecting public investments in research. According to Director John Walters, OTM is a "small cog in the big engine of innovation" -- one that helped the Magnolia State's leading land-grant institution conduct approximately $319 million in Fiscal Year 2024 research and spur almost $2 billion in pre-pandemic economic impact, according to a past Emsi report. The unit is MSU's primary organization leading researchers down the path to commercialization of their work via patent, copyright and trademark, all while protecting faculty and staff patents and other intellectual properties. "Mississippi State is a leader in applied research. Our research has purpose -- an end goal of not only bringing new ideas to market but also making life better for all Mississippians," Walters said. "That $319 million in research has a multiplier effect, as research turns into products and services. Selling those products and services turns them into new investments, including jobs and salaries which buy food, necessities and luxury items -- true economic impact across the state." |
| MSU unveils $2.5 million renovation to Sanderson Center | |
 | On Nov. 13, the Joe Frank Sanderson Center hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its $2.5 million student-funded renovation project. The renovations, which began in March 2024 and were funded by the Mississippi State University student activity fee, included repurposing four racquetball courts on the second floor, generating a 7,000-square-foot, open-concept fitness space and converting a first-floor racquetball court into a bouldering cave with a MoonBoard interactive climbing wall. This is the first major renovation to the Sanderson since it opened in 1998. Regina Hyatt, the vice president for student affairs at MSU, talked about the importance of having a nearby exercise and recreational center available for students to use at their leisure. "We all know that wellbeing is such a critical part of the student experience, and having a space like this in the Sanderson Center is critical to student success," Hyatt said. "We know one of the best things that you can do for yourself to feel better is to move your body, and we have great places here in this building for this to happen." |
| Virtual workshop helps aspiring municipal candidates | |
 | Individuals who are interested in running for municipal office in 2025 have three opportunities to learn more about the roles of elected officials and the election process during free, virtual workshops. The Mississippi State University Extension Center for Government and Community Development is offering Ready to Lead: A Workshop for Aspiring Municipal Leaders in Mississippi. Workshops are scheduled for Nov. 25 and Dec. 19, 2024, and Jan. 6, 2025. Each workshop will present the same content and will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Topics include understanding municipal government in Mississippi, roles and responsibilities of elected officials, key functions of municipal government and legal requirements for running for municipal office. The election process for the 2025 Mississippi municipal elections begins Jan. 1, 2025, which marks the beginning of the qualifying period for candidates. "This workshop is designed to equip potential candidates with the essential knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions and successfully navigate the election process," said Jason Camp, an instructor with the center. "Attendees will gain valuable insights and get prepared to lead in public service and make a difference in their communities." |
| Starkville kicks off annual Holiday Bazaar at the Mill at MSU | |
 | An annual holiday shopping event kicks off in Starkville. The Holiday Bazaar opened its doors on November 20, at the Mill at MSU. 75 vendors are showcasing everything from homemade crafts to jewelry to clothing. Thousands of shoppers will are expected for the two-day event, which wraps up November 21. It's $8 for one day or $10 to attend both days. This is a fundraiser for the Starkville Main Street Association. "It's incredible. We've got so many booths with all the different Christmas items to get everybody in the mood for the Holiday shopping time this time of year. And it's a great fundraiser for the partnership and the downtown business association," said Mac Smith, Holiday Bazaar volunteer. "We get to see people in the community and just people I haven't seen in a long time, and also connect with other artist and vendors and I just think it's a super fun part of this," said Lauren Ann Cooper, a vendor for L.A. Green. |
| Mary Means Business: Orthopedic office fills final vacant Vowell's Marketplace suite | |
 | The final tenant of the former Vowell's Marketplace, 118 Hwy. 12, will open late spring 2025. Starkville's Speciality Orthopedic Group, currently located at 521 S. Montgomery St. Suite 3, announced the new location coming to Highway 12 in a press release. The new facility will be 12,715 square feet, 118 Hwy. 12 W. Suite C, and features 16 exam rooms, one procedure room, two digital x-ray systems, and more than 3,000 square feet dedicated to physical therapy. Throughout construction of the new location, the current clinic will remain open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays. The shopping center, owned by Roy Oswalt through his company 44 Properties, was officially listed for sale earlier this month. Oswalt finished renovating the former grocery store in 2023. The shopping center is currently listed for sale on Loopnet for $9 million. With more than 62,000 square feet, the shopping center includes Miskelly Furniture, Ace Hardware and soon to be Specialty Orthopedic Group. ... Also in town, Starkville Main Street Association Holiday Bazaar returns for its 52nd annual holiday event 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Mill at MSU. This year's event features various vendors from nearly 100 local artisans, craftsmen, bakers and more. |
| Six bridges deemed very unsafe, spark concern about inspections | |
| Polly Bell Road's bridge is closed until Thursday for critical repairs, just one of many bridges around Oktibbeha County found to be in unsafe condition. During the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors meeting Monday, Road Manager Victor Collins also asked to conduct bridge repairs on Harpole Road, Bethel Road, South Ridge Road, Old West Point Road and Wade Road. Polly Bell Road's bridge had issues with erosion, as a retaining wall beneath it has been losing the dirt that supports it. The surface of the road has also faced issues with wear and tear from use, Board President Marvell Howard said during the meeting. On Wednesday, Howard told The Dispatch that most of the other bridges face similar issues. "Polly Bell Road is the third bridge found in a very unsafe condition by road crews just in District 3," Howard said during the meeting. "There's a hole on top, and underneath, the headwall is completely gone. It's just a matter of time before all the material caves and somebody takes a nosedive." Most of the bridges can be repaired in-house with county staff and materials in storage, Howard said, with the contracted engineer for the county Clyde Pritchard signing off on the final product to ensure it's structurally sound. |
| Meridian adds extra security precautions downtown during the holiday season | |
 | The holiday shopping season is upon us, so the city of Meridian is adding an extra layer of security downtown. With the extra holiday traffic, shoppers, and events, city officials thought it was a good idea to place portable security cameras throughout Meridian. These cameras can help not only deter crime but also provide information for future investigations. The city has rented out two of the units for two months for around 5,000 dollars. "If we're having an event and say we have a missing person, a child gets separated from their parents. If we can put in a description of that child and the clothing that they're wearing. If the camera picks that up, it will follow that clothing until we can then locate that person. It also has a speaker system on it that we can utilize," said Director of Community Development Craig Hitt. Another perk the camera units have is mobility. The city is able to move them wherever based on events or demand. "Well, as we are entering into the holiday season, we thought it would be a good idea to contract and have these cameras available. Hopefully, it will make people feel more comfortable, but it also will give us some additional services that we wouldn't have otherwise for the events that we'll have here and downtown at Union Station or even at Dumont, where we've got a unit now," said Hitt. |
| Americans are ready to shop holiday sales amid higher prices, debt | |
 | Americans are gearing up to do their holiday shopping, retail analysts say, ready to put the grueling election cycle behind them no matter whom they backed at the polls, even as higher costs and consumer debt levels continue to tug at household budgets. Consumers will be focused on deals, selective on splurges, and hitting up discount and off-price retailers, following a "trend we have been seeing for almost two years now," said Mari Shor, a senior research analyst at Columbia Threadneedle Investments, an asset-management group. "I would describe the consumer as 'stable' but still choiceful in their spending." A key distinction of this holiday season is the recently concluded presidential race, what Shor calls "near-term noise." A national election can create decision paralysis, which affects spending patterns. Consumers often hold off on discretionary and big-ticket purchases in the lead-up to Election Day, said Patti Williams, an associate marketing professor and vice dean at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. "Uncertainty is a big driver of consumer emotions," she said. "Now, that uncertainty is largely resolved. We know who's coming into office." Though some consumers might be "spending their feelings" in the near term, Katie Thomas of Kearney Consumer Institute does not expect holiday sales to really ramp up until Thanksgiving week. Black Friday, the day after the holiday, remains the traditional kickoff to the holiday shopping season. |
| Grocery chains vie for a place on Thanksgiving tables with turkey dinner deals and store brands | |
| With Thanksgiving less than two weeks away, Walmart, Target, Aldi and other grocers are competing for a place on holiday tables with turkey dinner deals and other promotions to tempt Americans who haven't recovered from recent food price inflation. Walmart, the nation's largest food retailer, first bundled the makings of a traditional turkey feast into a meal deal three years ago. This year, the 29-item offer, which includes a frozen turkey and ingredients for side dishes, costs less than $55 and is intended to serve eight. That calculates to less than $7 per person. Target's version for four people costs $20, $5 less than the company's 2023 Thanksgiving meal, and includes a frozen turkey, stuffing mix and canned green beans and canned jellied cranberry sauce. Aldi's offers a frozen Butterball turkey with gravy mix as well as pumpkin ingredients for pumpkin pie and ingredients for side dishes like sweet potato casserole. The German-owned supermarket chain priced it for $47 and said that was less than it charged for the same items in 2019. Comparing the respective menus to determine which represents the best value is difficult since recommended serving sizes and contents vary. But the promotions, introduced earlier than ever and at a time when many households remain put off by higher prices, underscore the importance of Thanksgiving to grocers, analysts said. |
| Third time's a charm for Corinth restaurateur with Buck's BBQ and Burgers | |
| The Eddie Burger, with its thick seasoned hamburger patty and two slices of cheese and on a ciabatta bun, is a favorite among regulars at Buck's BBQ and Burgers in Corinth. It's wise to use both hands to eat it, unless diners want some of it on their shirts or in their laps. Not that the other menu items at the popular spot aren't worth a try, the daily specials in particular. Recently, it was grilled redfish; on another day it was fried frog legs. Chicken and dumplings might be served one day, a hamburger steak the next. Or a fried chicken club. Or grilled mahi. There are plenty of other mouth-watering selections on the menu, including appetizers like a cheese plate, cheese fries, nachos, smoked thighs and more. There are quesadillas, melts from barbecue to turkey to tenderloin to bologna, sandwiches, sliders, salads and, of course, the famous ribs. For owner and longtime restaurateur Buck Walden, this restaurant might be his best yet. A Corinth native, Walden grew up around food, helping family and friends cook catfish and fries. He was hooked right away. "In high school, a lot of people wanted to grow up to be doctors and lawyers," he said. But not him. "I had it in the corner of my head to do bars and restaurants." |
| Officials eyeing December opening date for Mississippi's first Topgolf | |
| Start practicing your swing because Mississippi's first Topgolf location will soon be coming to fruition after roughly three years of planning. Located off Interstate 55 in Ridgeland at Colony Park Boulevard and Sunnybrook Road, the entertainment venue has drawn an immense level of anticipation and excitement. While a specific opening date has not been announced, Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee gave us a sneak peek as to when the facility will be up and running. "That's under construction and it's supposed to open in December," McGee said. "We're excited. People are just really positive about that. We know it's going to be a tremendous benefit to the city." Topgolf is expected to anchor its host site, coined Prado Vista, with plans to feature a national grocery store, two high-end hotels, office space, retail stores, a river walk, and over 200 homes in the future. Developers also plan to use a wetland site at the location to construct a riverwalk to attract more tourists to the metro Jackson area. In all, Topgolf alone is anticipated to bring 200 hundred jobs and over $1 million in tax revenue to Madison County. |
| New Civil War museum coming to Vicksburg | |
| A new Civil War Museum is coming to the city of Vicksburg in 2028. Planning and designing are underway for Vicksburg's newest tourist attraction, an interpretive center. "The Vicksburg Military Park is the most visited cultural site in the state of Mississippi. However, the visitor center, which opened in the 1960s, lacks the space for expansion," Megan Bankston, Vicksburg Project Manager with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History said. The State Legislature has given the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park & Campaign, and the National Park Service at the Vicksburg National Military Park, $16 million to begin the creating process. Wednesday, project leaders spoke with the public about what a new museum would offer, compared to the existing Visitor's Center. "We are now in the midst of the initial concept phase. We're digging a little bit deeper, working with our good friends at Perkins and Wills, trying to understand what visitors will actually see. What is the story? What are the stories they're going to encounter as they go through the exhibits?" James Lide, Head of Content and Interpretation with Gallagher and Associates, explained. The building's architecture will mimic the rolling hills of the Delta, allowing for a more immersive experience and paying homage to how the landscape helped the Union Army succeed in Vicksburg. |
| Four-star general tours warships under construction at Ingalls Shipyard | |
 | The Commandant of the United States Marine Corps toured two warships under construction at Ingalls Shipyard on Wednesday. Four-star General Eric Smith boarded the U.S.S. Harrisburg and the U.S.S. Bougainville -- two ships that are being built as part of a $9.6 billion multi-ship contract with Huntington-Ingalls. "These are the Swiss Army knife of the fleet. They can do anything," General Smith said. "They can do power projection, they can do humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, command and control -- they can do just about anything, just like a U.S. Marine. There's nothing else like them." The Harrisburg is the 14th San Antonio-class warship to be constructed, and the first Flight II variant. The Bougainville is the third American-class warship and the first Flight I variant. Both are amphibious vessels that have flight and well decks, giving the vessels an edge in ground, water and air combat scenarios. Amid looming threats from Russia and China, General Smith said these ships are a reminder of America's might. "Ships like this are part of that deterrence strategy. These are huge deterrence factors. When you look over the horizon and you see an amphibious ready group -- one big deck and two LPDs, nothing says: I'm here and I'm announcing my presence like an RMU." |
| Independent pharmacists could risk closure by 2026 in Mississippi | |
 | When Guy Phillips opened Magic Mart Pharmacy in 1992 in the Delta, business wasn't easy. But it became profitable in time, and he expanded beyond the original Indianola location to nine pharmacies throughout the Delta. But as the years went by, the business he entered decades prior began to change in ways that are now dwindling away his profits and ability to negotiate equitable drug prices, he said. Now, he and many other independent pharmacies in Mississippi could go out of business before 2026. If that happens, it could worsen the Delta's and other region's already weakened healthcare infrastructure and cause patients to seek medication further away. For some people, they simply wouldn't get the medications due to lack of transportation, several people said. At the center of the issue are Pharmacy Benefit Managers, or PBMs, who act as middlemen between insurance agencies, companies that pay for employee health plans and pharmacies in exchange for facilitation fees. PBMs also regulate what drugs are on a list of insurance-covered products within a plan sponsor's health network, co-pays for patients at different pharmacies and reimbursements to pharmacists for selling the drugs. At least one of those PBMs have now been found to be reimbursing some pharmacies more than others in Mississippi: The ones they own, according to a recent audit. The Mississippi Board of Pharmacy last month issued an audit identifying 75,462 instances where OptumRx paid independent and chain pharmacies less than any of their affiliated pharmacy's lowest reimbursement for a prescription during a 2022 study period. |
| Mississippi's Medicaid prenatal care program was passed in the spring but is still not active | |
 | A program to increase healthcare access to low-income pregnant women that was passed through the Legislature in the spring still isn't up and running, leaving those women without covered prenatal care. The program may now require further legislative action to get off the ground. During a Senate hearing Monday, Mississippi Division of Medicaid Executive Director Cindy Bradshaw told lawmakers her team is close to a resolution with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which needs to sign off on Mississippi's presumptive Medicaid eligibility program for pregnant women. However, Bradshaw said she would prefer lawmakers act in the 2025 Session to address any changes the division has made to the program. The program was passed during the 2024 Session, and would, if active, provide newly pregnant women who aren't already on Medicaid or do not have health insurance Medicaid benefits for 60 days while their application with MDM is being processed. The issue with the program, as stated by former Executive Director Drew Snyder during a Joint Legislative Budget Committee meeting earlier this year and by a Clarion Ledger report, is that it doesn't quite jive with federal guidelines. |
| Court says it's ending dispute over Mississippi airport board but city officials disagree | |
| A federal appeals court says it is ending a long-running dispute over whether the state of Mississippi or its capital, Jackson, will control the city's airport board. The decision Tuesday by a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals could clear the way for a new board controlled mostly by state-appointed members. But city officials said Wednesday that they are "seeking a clarification" on the ruling. Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, the city council and the city attorney said in a statement that changing control of the airport board is "an unconstitutional takeover" of city property. They also said the appeals court overstepped its power by ordering the entire lawsuit to be dismissed rather than ruling only on a specific question of whether legislators could avoid answering questions in the case. On Tuesday a three-judge panel ordered a district judge to dismiss the suit, saying city-appointed airport board members failed to show they would be harmed by a change in the governing authority. "Groundhog Day has come to an end," Appeals Court Judge Edith H. Jones wrote. |
| Federal bribery investigation is another blow for Mississippi's embattled capital | |
 | Seven years ago, Chokwe Antar Lumumba swept into the Jackson mayor's office with plans to shake up local politics. At 34, he was the city's youngest ever mayor, and he campaigned on a promise of self-determination for the predominantly Black city. Now Lumumba, 41, stands accused in a sprawling corruption scandal that has also ensnared Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and City Council members Aaron Banks and Angelique Lee. Lumumba, Owens and Banks have pleaded not guilty. Lee, who resigned in August, pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing. Some officials fear the indictments could overshadow the city's efforts to improve residents' quality of life -- or undermine local leadership. "I'm just praying that the legislators and state leadership can see beyond these indictments and realize that we still need help from the state in getting some very specific things done," City Council President Virgi Lindsay said. Next year's legislative session will overlap with primaries in the mayor's race, which could be more competitive for Lumumba than either of his two previous races. Some of his popularity stems from his revered father, Chokwe Lumumba, a civil rights activist, who was known on a national stage for calling for reparations, representing Black revolutionaries and successfully defending Tupac Shakur against assault charges. |
| Mississippians ask U.S. Supreme court to strike state's Jim Crow-era felony voting ban | |
| A group of Mississippians who were stripped of their voting rights is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to strike a provision of the state Constitution that allows denial of suffrage to people convicted of some felonies. The Mississippi residents, through attorneys with the Southern Poverty Law Center and private law firm Simpson Thacher and Bartlett, filed an appeal Friday with the nation's highest court. They argue that the provision of the state Constitution that strips voting rights for life violates the U.S. Constitution's Eighth Amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishment. Jonathan Youngwood, global co-chair of Simpson Thacher's litigation department, told Mississippi Today in a statement that after filing the petition with the Court, he remains confident in the case, and the firm's clients remain committed to ensuring their right to vote is restored. In August, a three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, agreed with the plaintiffs and found that the lifetime voting ban violates the U.S. Constitution. But the full court, known for its conservative rulings, overturned the decision of the three-judge panel. Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch's office is defending the state in the appeal, and it has not yet responded to the plaintiff's petition with the U.S. Supreme Court. It's unclear when the Court will issue a ruling on the petition. |
| Farm Bill Extension Likely as GOP Rejects Stabenow's Bill | |
| Politico's Meredith Lee Hill and Olivia Beavers reported Tuesday that "House Republicans confirmed during their closed-door conference meeting Tuesday morning that GOP lawmakers are rejecting Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow's last minute farm bill push and will instead plan to pass a one-year extension of the massive bill by Dec. 31." "During the Tuesday meeting, House Agriculture Chair G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) dismissed Stabenow's newly unveiled farm bill text, calling it 'legacy protection,' according to two GOP lawmakers and another person familiar with the meeting who were granted anonymity to discuss a private meeting," Lee Hill and Beavers reported. "Speaker Mike Johnson told GOP members during the meeting that lawmakers will instead pursue a farm bill extension, according to the three people. Lawmakers have been planning to attach a one-year farm bill extension to the upcoming federal funding stopgap, amid a months-long impasse in the talks between Republicans and Democrats." "Senate Republicans similarly rejected Stabenow's farm bill just hours after she unveiled it Monday," Lee Hill and Beavers reported. Agri-Pulse's Rebekah Alvey, Noah Wicks, Lydia Johnson, Philip Brasher, and Steve Davies reported Tuesday morning that "for starters, the (Stabenow) bill doesn't include reference price increases of the size that Republicans want, and it contains no cuts to the nutrition title." The American Association of Crop Insurers said in a press release that it "strongly rejects the proposals related to crop insurance delivery. It is apparent that, following years of back-and-forth conversations, Sen. Stabenow did not take into account industry input." "Our nation's farmers and ranchers deserve a Farm Bill that strengthens, not weakens, the safety net they rely on in times of need," said Scott Graves, president of AACI. |
| Costa to challenge Scott as top House Agriculture Democrat | |
 | California Democratic Rep. Jim Costa will challenge House Agriculture ranking member David Scott of Georgia -- who has been absent recently because of health problems -- to be top Democrat on the panel next Congress. Costa is the second-highest ranking Democrat on the committee and has a long history in the agriculture sector. He announced his interest Wednesday at a California delegation meeting and has reached out to members on the committee to discuss the farm bill on Thursday, a congressional aide said. An aide to Costa said they haven't confirmed anything yet regarding the farm bill meeting. Costa declined to discuss his agenda if he becomes ranking member and said in late afternoon that he hadn't talked to Scott about the bid. Costa unsuccessfully challenged Scott to be the top Democrat in 2019. Scott ultimately won, becoming, in the 117th Congress, the committee's first African American chair. But the 79-year-old's time as top Democrat has been marked by health challenges. Scott is currently receiving treatment in Georgia for his back and will be absent from House votes until after the members return from Thanksgiving recess on Dec. 3, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday. Scott's staff didn't respond to requests for comment. |
| An Immigration Crackdown Risks Sapping Farms' Vital Source of Labor | |
 | The agriculture industry is working to avert a potential labor crunch following threats from President-elect Donald Trump to launch a mass deportation of migrants after he takes office. America's food-supply chain relies on a predominantly immigrant workforce for some of its most challenging jobs, such as picking fruit, applying pesticides on crops, operating machinery and slaughtering livestock. About two-thirds of U.S. crop-farm workers are foreign-born, and 42% aren't legally authorized to work in the country, according to a Labor Department report. Agriculture trade groups are lobbying the incoming administration for the expanded use of temporary work visas. Some farms and meatpackers are forging deeper ties with recruiters who can ensure a steady labor supply. Unions and worker-advocacy organizations are trying to educate members about their legal rights and are developing response plans to use if immigration authorities raid workplaces. In addition to the undocumented workers, those with legal status are worried about being forced to leave the U.S. Operators of meat plants and dairy farms have long grappled with the government over immigration policy in a bid to keep food supplies humming. They are now warning about changes in the law roiling an already tight labor market. Having a smaller pool of workers would likely prompt companies to raise wages, but that could result in higher food prices, executives said. |
| 'Black mark': Lawmakers seethe over Ethics' Gaetz report imbroglio | |
 | Matt Gaetz is plunging the House into chaos, again. Members of the House Ethics Committee deadlocked over whether to release the findings of an investigation into the former Florida lawmaker, who is Donald Trump's pick for attorney general. The inaction is triggering outrage among Democrats, who argue the committee is dragging out the process, while Republicans remain furious that Gaetz put them in this position. In a bid to force the release of the Ethics report, which is expected to cover several allegations, including that Gaetz had sex with a minor, Democratic Reps. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) and Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) are offering motions that would open up the decision to the full House. Conservative allies of Trump and Gaetz are threatening retribution over such a move, but several Republicans are still insisting they want the report to come out. In a manifestation of the tumult, expelled Rep. George Santos, the recent subject of another Ethics Committee report, stopped by the Capitol to get in on the action, threatening to yell at Chair Michael Guest (R-Miss.) in defense of Gaetz. "If he runs away from me, I'll go stand in front of his office and scream at him, through his door," Santos said, standing outside the Capitol looking for Guest. The havoc is the latest illustration of how Trump's looming return to Washington is shaking the foundations of Capitol Hill and forcing Republican lawmakers to make a series of immediate, high-stakes calls about the integrity of the legislative branch. |
| House speaker Mike Johnson steps into transgender bathroom controversy in Congress | |
 | Facing a conservative backlash surrounding how to handle the first transgender member elected to Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday established a new bathroom policy on Capitol Hill. "All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings -- such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms -- are reserved for individuals of that biological sex," Johnson said in a statement. "Women deserve women's only spaces." As speaker, the Republican from the northwest Louisiana town of Benton is in charge of the U.S. Capitol grounds and the surrounding office buildings. Johnson can determine how spaces are used. Later on Wednesday, when talking to reporters in the halls of the Capitol, Johnson added: "We're not anti-anyone. We're pro-women, and I think it's an important policy for us to continue. It's always been the, I guess, an unwritten policy, but now it's in writing." Conservatives are reacting to the Nov. 5 election of Democratic Rep. Sarah McBride, of Delaware, who will be the first transgender member of Congress. McBride joins the House in January when the majorities in both chambers will be Republican. As a state legislator and congressman, Johnson also has opposed carving out any special privileges for transgender people and supported legislation to limit transgender care. |
| Most of the country shifted right in the 2024 presidential election | |
 | The country largely shifted to the right in this presidential election from where it was four years ago. In 2020, President Biden won six of the seven most closely watched states, but this year, they all shifted toward President-elect Donald Trump. What's more, Trump is on track to win the popular vote this time, when Biden won it by 7 million in 2020. The suburbs have become increasingly diverse and populous. More than half of voters in 2024 were in suburban areas, according to exit polls. They have become swing areas, home to some of the most closely targeted House seats, and a good barometer of who will win the presidential election. The winner in the suburbs has won 11 of the last 12 presidential elections, dating back to 1980. And this year that was Trump, 51%-47%, according to exit polls. Vice President Harris was hoping she could turn out women in the suburbs in key swing states to get her across the finish line. But that didn't happen. Trump, for example, won white suburban women by 7 points, as well as white suburban men -- by 27. So there were some split kitchen tables, but not enough to help Harris win. |
| Musk, Ramaswamy lay out plans for 'mass' federal layoffs, rule rollbacks under Trump | |
 | Tech entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy said Wednesday that their brand-new government efficiency panel will identify "thousands" of regulations for President-elect Trump to eliminate, which they argue will justify "mass head-count reductions" across government. The pair, who were named co-chairs of the panel last week, laid out their plans for the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. "The two of us will advise DOGE at every step to pursue three major kinds of reform: regulatory rescissions, administrative reductions and cost savings," they wrote. "We will focus particularly on driving change through executive action based on existing legislation rather than by passing new laws." Musk and Ramaswamy pointed to several recent Supreme Court decisions that have taken aim at the power of the administrative state, arguing that a "plethora of current federal regulations" exceed agency authority and could be on the chopping block. Slashing regulations should allow for "at least" proportional cuts to the government workforce, they argue. DOGE also hopes to take aim at "unauthorized" federal funding, which could impact everything from veterans' health care and opioid addiction treatment to NASA, The Washington Post reported. |
| Google Selling Chrome Won't Be Enough to End Its Search Monopoly | |
 | To dismantle Google's illegal monopoly over how Americans search the web, the US Department of Justice wants the tech giant to end its lucrative partnership with Apple, share a trove of proprietary data with competitors and advertisers, and "promptly and fully divest Chrome," Google's browser that controls more than half of the US market. The government also wants approval regarding who takes over Chrome. The recommendations are part of a detailed plan that government attorneys submitted Wednesday to US district judge Amit Mehta in Washington, DC, as part of a federal antitrust case against Google that started back in 2020. By next August, Mehta is expected to decide which of the possible remedies Google will be required to carry out to loosen its stranglehold on the search market. But the tech giant could still appeal, delaying enforcement of the judge's order years into the future. On Wednesday, Google president Kent Walker characterized the government's proposals as "staggering," "extreme," "a radical interventionist agenda," and "wildly overbroad." He wrote in a blog post that the changes being sought "would break a range of Google products -- even beyond Search -- that people love and find helpful in their everyday lives." He also asserted the privacy and security of Google's users would be put at risk. Among people who have worked for Google or partnered closely with the company, there's little agreement on whether any of the proposed remedies would significantly shift user behavior or make the search engine market more competitive. |
| 'Bold change': Mississippi College students react to future changes for school | |
 | The president of Mississippi College spoke to WJTV 12 News about what's next for the institution after a big announcement. As the college approaches its bicentennial in 2026, they will shift the direction of the school with a name change and by ending their football program. "We are going to change our name to Mississippi Christian University. It's a big bold change that we believe is strategic and allows us to take our place on the national stage. So, our vision is academic excellence and a commitment to the cause of Christ. We will continue to do that and do it well. What it allows us to do is focus more of our resources on that core vision of this institution," said Dr. Blake Thompson, president of Mississippi College. The announcement shocked many, and students shared mixed emotions about the changes. "It definitely is going to change that like atmospheres on Saturdays and stuff, because it was like one of the main things to do, like tailgating and then going to a football game," said one student. "I knew that MC was known for its Christian atmosphere. I think if they wanted to make MCU a thing because they wanted to show more of our Christian appearance out there, I think that's up to them," said another student. |
| President of MC speaks about the changes coming to the college | |
| Some students, alumni, and supporters of Mississippi College continue to ask questions about the name change to Mississippi Christian University and why the football program is being cut. WLBT spoke one-on-one with MC's President Dr. Blake Thompson about the changes and why they are necessary. Dr. Thompson has been president of Mississippi College since 2018. In that time student, enrollment has gone up, and there is visible growth around and near the campus. Thompson says it was time for change. Dr. Thompson said, "This conversation's been going on long before I was here. Over decades, the conversation has been ongoing about what is the right name, what is the right future for Mississippi College." The name change to Mississippi Christian University will allow MC to use its current logo and identity. Dr. Thompson says the priority is always the students, families, and alumni they serve. "As we're nearing our Bicentennial, our 200th Anniversary, the oldest institution of higher learning in Mississippi, we decided it was time. It was time to be bold, it was time to take that next step, really a step onto the national stage. This idea has been talked about a long time and we were ready to do it," Thompson said. |
| 'Be quiet': LGBTQ people at Auburn search for community after campus spaces close | |
 | Whenever Eric Burkholder, an assistant professor at Auburn University's physics department, feels "out of sorts," as he says, a student will point to a pillow in his office that reads, "The horrors persist but so do I." For the past few months, Burkholder has been the faculty adviser for the Sexuality and Gender Alliance Group. Many of his LGBTQ students and fellow faculty members have displaced from community spots and say they feel unwanted because of the anti-DEI legislation that began in October. The law prohibits state institutions from using public funding for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives focusing on gender, race, and sexual orientation. Now, those topics are considered "divisive concepts." Auburn's DEI office closed in July. The Pride Center, a casual and colorful space housed in the centrally-located Haley Center, never reopened for the fall semester. Dakota Grimes, a chemistry graduate student, is president of the student organization. and said all the resources LGBTQ students have come to rely on now are scattered. "While those resources still exist, now they're decentralized," Grimes said. She said the Pride space was lovely, and she enjoyed going there when she had time. Now students like her feel displaced. |
| Will universities' reforms head off anti-DEI legislation? A leading KY Republican hopes the General Assembly takes action in 2025 | |
| The University of Kentucky and several other postsecondary institutions have disbanded DEI offices ahead of the anticipated legislation, but despite the reforms, Louisville Republican Rep. Jason Nemes says he hopes the General Assembly will take action on the controversial issue next year. The House majority whip is careful to differentiate between what he sees as admirable programs to help historically disadvantaged groups and DEI programs he considers anti-Western civilization and "woke." He offered an example of the latter. "My son goes to a university and he had to actually tell his pronouns before he could register for class. That's absolute garbage that needs to stop. That's not what Kentucky is. That's the kind of DEI things I'm talking about," he told WUKY Monday. "I'm not talking about helping groups that have traditionally been left behind like African-Americans, to a large extent, obviously. There's been been redlining. There have been legal requirements that have kept them behind. And so those kinds of programs are laudable, to help people have been left behind. But that's not what I talk about when I talk about DEI." One of the failed DEI bills from this year would have barred public universities from spending "any resources" on DEI offices or initiatives. Whether a 2025 bill will mirror language from the 2024 bills or go further remains to be seen. |
| Republicans Target Social Sciences to Curb Ideas They Don't Like | |
 | Several years ago, to attract more students, Jean Muteba Rahier spiced up the name of his introduction to the anthropology of religion course. He called it Myth, Ritual and Mysticism. Now Dr. Rahier, a professor at Florida International University in Miami, believes the name was perhaps too provocative for higher education in the Sunshine State. Dr. Rahier's class, which was flagged as having "unproven, speculative or exploratory content," was one of nearly two dozen courses university trustees voted in September to remove from a core set of classes that students must choose from to graduate. The slashing of core classes across the state, which has often been based on course titles and descriptions, is meant to comply with a state law passed last year that curbed "identity politics" in the curriculum. The law also bars classes from the core that "distort significant historical events" or that include theories that "systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States." Florida has become a testing ground for a raft of conservative policies meant to limit or expunge what Republicans describe as "woke" indoctrination in the state's schools and colleges. Faculty and student critics have said this latest effort infringes on university autonomy and could reduce students' exposure to courses they believe are necessary for a well-rounded education. Academic freedom advocates worry it marks a new, more organized approach. Rather than trying to regulate what a professor can and cannot say -- a legally questionable tactic -- the new strategy is taking aim at entire courses. |
| Athens judge imposes maximum sentence in Lake Riley murder case | |
 | Jose Antonio Ibarra was led out of the Clarke County Superior Courtroom in handcuffs and chains Wednesday afternoon to begin serving a life sentence somewhere behind bars in a Georgia prison. The 26-year-old Venezuelan who entered the U.S. illegally, will not be leaving the country if the sentence imposed by Western Circuit Superior Court Judge Patrick Haggard remains intact. In a rare Superior Court bench trial, Haggard listened to three days of testimony. Then after the state and defense rested their cases Wednesday, Haggard announced that he had determined Ibarra was guilty. The verdict and the sentence brought tears of relief to the family and friends of Laken Riley, the young nursing student who was brutally slain after she was confronted in a forest on the University of Georgia campus. The verdict came nine months after Riley, 22, was slain on Feb. 22 as she jogged along a path at the UGA intramural fields in a forest near Lake Herrick. She had transferred from UGA into the nursing program of Augusta University in Athens with a goal of working in the medical field. The slaying prompted UGA to invest millions in additional security measures. And it garnered national political attention as it was wrapped into the heated issue of immigration. |
| UT System will expand free tuition and fees to all undergraduates whose families make $100,000 or less | |
| The University of Texas System is expanding its free tuition program so undergraduate students whose families make $100,000 or less will receive free tuition and fees starting next fall. A committee of the UT Board of Regents gave preliminary approval to expand the Promise Plus Program on Wednesday. The full board will take a final vote Thursday. Once approved, the system will send $35 million directly to the universities to support the expansion which will apply to eligible students at all nine universities. "To be in a position to make sure our students can attend a UT institution without accruing more debt is very important to all of us, and as long as we are here, we will continue our work to provide an affordable, accessible education to all who choose to attend a UT institution," Board Chair Kevin Eltife said in a statement. Students must be Texas residents enrolled full-time in an undergraduate program and apply for applicable state and financial aid to qualify. The expansion is the latest move by the regents to make college more affordable for students. |
| U. of Missouri housing, dining rates set to increase by summer 2025 | |
 | Student housing and dining rates are set to increase by summer 2025 after the University of Missouri System Board of Curators approved the measure at a meeting Wednesday. Several other initiatives were approved that will also directly affect students, faculty and staff on MU's campus. With a unanimous vote, the curators approved an increase to the student housing and dining rates for all four universities that will go into effect for the 2025 summer session. While the rates are increasing at all four universities, MU will see the biggest change, with a 6.6% increase. This will raise the room and board plan by $817, bringing it to a total of $13,130 for an academic year. UM System President Mun Choi said the reason MU had a higher increase in housing and dining than the other universities is part of a plan to give more autonomy to the campuses to "make the decisions that make sense for their university." Additionally, this change will make MU's rates the highest in the UM System, a spot that was previously held by UMKC. |
| Optimism, Concern Follow Trump's Decision to Tap Former WWE Exec as Education Secretary | |
 | When President-elect Donald Trump wanted to find his next education secretary, he turned not to state officials with a record of overhauling education, but rather to a former wrestling executive with a short résumé in the sector. It's a move that shocked some analysts while delighting Republican lawmakers and conservative groups. Other politicians and education experts alike are withholding judgment until Linda McMahon is formally nominated. Reactions to McMahon's selection centered on her background as cofounder and CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment and what her lack of education policy experience could mean for the future of the department. "Absurdity when spoken aloud sounds like, 'Let's put the lady that led mostly faux entertainment wrestling in charge of our nation's school system,'" said Shaun Harper, a professor of education, public policy and business at the University of Southern California and an opinion contributor to Inside Higher Ed. But others say that McMahon's business background will be an asset to the agency. To former education secretary Margaret Spellings, who served under President George W. Bush, McMahon's selection "makes a lot of sense." "When people say, 'Well she's not a teacher,' I say, 'The department is not a school,'" Spellings told Inside Higher Ed. "The department is essentially a big bank. It's a management job." |
| Fighting 'gender confusion' and DEI: What to expect from Trump's Education secretary pick | |
| Donald Trump could have picked from a range of fire-breathing state superintendents, policy wonks or former governors to lead an Education Department he wants to abolish. But the president-elect tapped a billionaire donor with no classroom experience to manage federal education policy. Again. Linda McMahon -- at first glance -- appears a lot like her predecessor, Betsy DeVos. The Trump transition co-chair and former pro wrestling executive would bring a wealthy outsider's view to the department. The country's largest teachers' union has even dubbed her "Betsy DeVos 2.0." But McMahon is largely a blank slate when it comes to her views on education and the fiery culture war issues DeVos embraced, such as restricting transgender student rights. "I really would prefer if everyone would take a deep breath, wait to see how McMahon talks about her views and approach to the role, and then let's have the conversation," said Frederick Hess, education director at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. Her nomination would install a Trump loyalist into the position who, unlike some of the president-elect's other nominees, could sail through a Senate nomination. She served as the head of the Small Business Administration during Trump's first term after a landslide bipartisan confirmation vote. |
| APLU Statement on the Nomination of Linda McMahon For Secretary of Education | |
| Association of Public and Land-grant Universities President Mark Becker Wednesday issued the following statement on President-elect Trump's announcement that he intends to nominate Linda McMahon for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. "APLU congratulates Linda McMahon on her nomination as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. APLU and the public and land-grant university community look forward to discussing with Secretary-designate McMahon ways to ensure all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable postsecondary education institutions that prepare students for the workforce and advance the nation's long-term economic competitiveness. The nation's future depends on America continuing to be the world leader in higher education. Public research universities are a critical contributor to that leadership and stand ready to partner with the incoming administration to advance American prosperity. Public research universities provide the most affordable and reliable path to the middle class and beyond for millions of students each year – educating teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers, and other professionals who help advance a thriving society. .... Critical to the success of these institutions is a partnership with the federal government and we stand ready to serve as a resource to Secretary-designate McMahon to strengthen the impact of public research universities in service to the public." |
| Indicted officials refuse to resign | |
| Mississippi newspaper publisher and columnist Wyatt Emmerich writes: The recent indictment of Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba and Jackson Councilman Aaron Banks raises many questions. First of all, it is disturbing that Owens continues as the DA, responsible for prosecuting drug dealers, while this indictment is hanging over his head. Owens is innocent until found guilty, but this evidence presented in the indictment seems overwhelming. Presumably, Owens will negotiate a plea bargain. Let's hope this occurs sooner rather than later, hopefully before the end of the year. If Owens clings to power, this could anger the feds and hurt his pleas for leniency. Owens should comprehend this and resign, but his past actions don't indicate an inclination toward rational behavior. The same is true of Lumumba and Banks. They need to resign ASAP as did Angelique Lee. How can they continue to lead the city properly with this indictment hanging over their heads? Their insistence in staying in office is yet another sign of stupidity combined with arrogance. |
SPORTS
| Women's Basketball: Purcell Earns 50th Career Win As Mississippi State Handles Mercer, 81-44 | |
| Head Coach Sam Purcell earned the 50th win of his career when Mississippi State women's basketball handled Mercer, 81-44, inside Humphrey Coliseum on Wednesday. Purcell is the fastest head coach to reach 50 wins at Mississippi State, achieving the feat in 73 games, which is eight faster than the next. With the win, Mississippi State improves to 5-0 on the season and 22-1 in non-conference home games under Purcell. Graduate student guard Jerkaila Jordan posted the 12th double-double of her career with 15 points and 11 rebounds on 6-12 from the field and 3-4 from three in 23 minutes, while junior guard/forward Debreasha Powe added 13 points on 5-7 from the field and 3-5 from three in 25 minutes. Powe's three threes made from behind the arc placed her within the top 10 in program history in career threes made, now at 121, which passed Stacie Farris, who was previously in 10th at 120. Following the five-game homestand, Mississippi State will be on the road for the first time this season when it faces Jacksonville in the inaugural 2025 WBCA State Farm Showcase at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 2:30 p.m. CT. |
| Women's Basketball: Mississippi State shows no mercy on Mercer in blowout win | |
| Former Mississippi State assistant coach Michelle Clark-Heard returned to Humphrey Coliseum on Wednesday night as the head coach at Mercer, and her ex-boss, Sam Purcell, made sure it was a rude welcome home. The Bulldogs limited their fourth straight opponent to under 50 points and have held all five teams they've played to under 30 percent shooting, defeating the Bears 81-44. "We're watching film, we're trying to find every advantage we can," Purcell said. "That stuff matters to us. That's culture, that's DNA. We train hard, we work hard, and we're a multiple defensive team. I always say there's bad coaches out there if you only play one style, and that's not who we're going to be. We can press, we can trap, so it makes it a nightmare for our opponents." Mercer did not make a 3-pointer until there were less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter, finishing 1-for-17 from behind the arc. MSU (5-0) made more than half of its field goals and was 10-for-22 from deep, outscoring the Bears 44-14 in the paint. The Bulldogs will not play in Starkville again until Dec. 29, following eight straight games away from The Hump. They are back in action Sunday against Jacksonville in Orlando, Florida, a neutral-site game that is part of the inaugural WBCA Showcase. |
| Mississippi State vs Mercer: Final score in women's college basketball | |
| Mississippi State women's basketball cruised to a fifth win Wednesday night in as many games to begin the 2024-25 season. The Bulldogs (5-0) bolted past Mercer (2-3) for a low-stress 81-44 win at Humphrey Coliseum. MSU's defense was strong again, now limiting four straight opponents to less than 46 points. Third-year coach Sam Purcell became the fastest coach in program history to reach 50 wins. It was a wire-to-wire victory for Mississippi State, who led by as many as 22 points in the first half. Madina Okot and Jerkaila Jordan each scored 15 points to lead MSU. The game was also a return to Starkville for Mercer coach Michelle Clark-Heard, who was an assistant coach with Mississippi State last season. Former MSU player Blessing Freeman (2002-06) is also an assistant coach with Mercer. MSU plays Jacksonville (3-2) on Sunday (2:30 p.m. CT, NBC Sports) in Orlando, Florida for the WBCA Classic. |
| Another big third quarter leads to 81-44 blowout for Bulldogs over Mercer | |
| Whatever is being said in the halftime locker room appears to be working for Mississippi State's women's basketball team. The third quarter has become the Bulldogs' most emphatic frame with an average of 25 points per game during those 10 minutes. That continued in a big way on Wednesday as the Bulldogs scored 32 points and pushed Mercer far beyond their reach in a 81-44 win. "I can't say enough about Debreasha Powe, Jerkaila Jordan and my team. I'm trying to create a special team, not individuals. I told them for one time in their life to enjoy this," coach Sam Purcell said. "They talk before I get in (the locker room) and there's a poise and an attitude. Maybe I should do that in the first quarter." State outscored the Bears 32-7 in that quarter as the Bulldogs took a 38-18 lead at the half and nearly doubled it. With defense being the constant for four quarters against Mercer, it was the offense that picked up the pace. The Bulldogs had just one turnover that quarter and had a barrage of threes to help push that lead out. Junior center Madina Okot also helped extend that lead as she scored eight points relatively early. Okot finished the game with 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting, eight rebounds, two blocks, two steals and two assists. It was the fourth double digit scoring affair for the Kenyan standout in her first five games in the states. |
| What to watch for: Mississippi State vs. No. 23 Missouri | |
| Following a bye week, Mississippi State is back home for the final time this season as the Bulldogs battle Missouri for a 3:15 p.m. kickoff Saturday on SEC Network. The Tigers, in their fifth season under head coach Eliah Drinkwitz, won 11 games last year and entered this fall feeling good about their chances to reach the 12-team College Football Playoff. But blowout road losses to Texas A&M and Alabama damaged Missouri's resume, and a heartbreaking defeat last week at South Carolina ended the Tigers' playoff hopes. The Tigers are 7-3 overall and 3-3 in the SEC. Missouri is No. 23 in the College Football Playoff rankings and just outside the AP Top 25 and the AFCA Coaches Poll, receiving 56 and 44 votes, respectively. The teams have only met twice since the Tigers joined the SEC in 2012, with MSU winning both. The Bulldogs beat Missouri 51-32 in Starkville in 2020 and also won in Columbia in 2015. The Tigers' two wins both came in the 1980s. The Tigers are unbeaten at home but just 1-3 on the road, with their lone win coming against Massachusetts. Missouri went back and forth with South Carolina last Saturday -- the Tigers took the lead on a 37-yard pass from Brady Cook to Luther Burden III with a minute and 10 seconds remaining, but the Gamecocks won it on a touchdown of their own with 15 seconds left. |
| Utah win gives Mississippi State valuable experience moving forward | |
| Mississippi State overcame its first real adversity of the season Sunday, coming back from an 11-point halftime deficit to defeat Utah in Southaven. That experience, head coach Chris Jans said, will be critical for the Bulldogs in difficult moments later in the year. "Glad we won the game, but equally important is we got something in the tank," Jans said. "I didn't know how they would respond. I knew what I wanted them to do, I knew what all of us in the fan base wanted them to do, but we'll use that. We'll be in a situation like that, either at halftime or a media (timeout) huddle where we'll talk about that game. We'll talk about (how) we've been there, done that." The Bulldogs travel to Dallas on Friday night for a battle with the Mustangs (4-1), who have won all four of their home games comfortably and lost by 11 at Butler last Friday. SMU is led by first-year head coach Andy Enfield, who spent 11 seasons at Southern California and reached five NCAA Tournaments with the Trojans, including a run to the Elite Eight in 2021. "It's going to be the first (team) we've played thus far that has big-time size," Jans said. "Not just who they start but who they come off the bench with. They have quality size up and down their roster, and we haven't faced that all year long. We don't have that in our practices. It'll be different. The court will be shrunk. It'll feel smaller at times for us than it normally does." |
| Inside Mississippi College football shutdown: Tears, transfer rules and immediate interest in players | |
| Mike Kershaw was just as surprised as the players. Mississippi College football had just concluded its season on Saturday. The coaches had plans to take recruiting trips this week. On Monday afternoon, Kershaw was called into a meeting with athletic director Kenny Bizot and was told the board of trustees had discontinued the program, effective immediately. The assistant coaches were informed next, then a team meeting was called to break the news to the players. What was once a storied program in Mississippi is now extinct. Players are without a team and coaches are unemployed without warning. "It's pretty devastating to these guys, and there wasn't very many happy people in that room," Kershaw told the Clarion Ledger. "Some of them expressed their concerns and their feelings to the athletic director, and there was a lot of tears. Then, there's a lot of uncertainty at this point." Mississippi College players and coaches have taken to social media to express their reactions to the news. So did Kershaw, who said in a statement that his priority is finding new teams for his players. So far, he and his coaching staff are following through with that. On Tuesday, Kershaw posted a link on X, formerly known as Twitter, to a spreadsheet of 81 Mississippi College players who are looking for new teams. He told the Clarion Ledger that "50 or 60" coaches have contacted him since Monday with interest in the players. The players do not need to enter the transfer portal because the program no longer exists, Kershaw said, so teams are free to contact the players. |
| Penn State Wins Industry-Shaping Trademark Trial Over Logo Use | |
| A case that threatened to upend the marketplace for college sports apparel ended Tuesday when a federal jury in Pennsylvania ruled in favor of Penn State in its lawsuit against online retailer Vintage Brand. Penn State proved that Vintage Brand, which sells vintage T-shirts, throwback hats, retro tees, socks, magnets, koozies, mugs, cutting boards and similar products associated with sports teams, infringed PSU's trademarks by selling products bearing the school's imagery without permission. The jury awarded Penn State $28,000 in damages, but the verdict's real value is in a judicial finding that infringement occurred. That finding upholds a longstanding relationship between trademark law and college sports merchandise. Penn State sued in 2021, noting that Vintage openly sells products that "free ride" off the university's fame by using logos and imagery. Consumers may have wrongly believed they found a licensed seller for products that Penn State sells. The products at issue were sold from 2018 to 2021 and, according to Vintage, generated less than $25,000 in revenue. Those products used Penn State-connected historical images and accompanying trademark. Penn State v. Vintage Brands has been a focal point of attention among intellectual property law professors over the last few years. Of particular interest has been Vintage's defense and how it could disrupt conventional understanding of trademark law. |
| Man pleads guilty to 2022 murders of three Virginia players | |
| A former University of Virginia student pleaded guilty Wednesday to fatally shooting three football players and wounding two other students on the Charlottesville campus in 2022. Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., 25, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated malicious wounding and five counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. A four-day sentencing hearing is scheduled to begin Feb. 4 in Albemarle County Circuit Court. Jones faces a maximum punishment of five life terms plus 23 years, according to a statement from UVA. Authorities said Jones opened fire on a charter bus as he and other students arrived back on campus after seeing a play and having dinner together in Washington, D.C. Authorities had not released a motive. Jones was a former member of the Virginia football team at the time of the shooting. A witness told police that he had targeted specific victims. Football players Lavel Davis Jr., D'Sean Perry and Devin Chandler were killed, while a fourth member of the team, Mike Hollins, and another student, Marlee Morgan, were wounded. The shooting erupted near a parking garage and set off panic and a 12-hour lockdown of the campus until the suspect was captured. |
| Maui Invitational returns to a Lahaina still grappling with raw emotions left by deadly wildfire | |
| Three generations of TJ Rickard's family lost their homes in the deadly Maui wildfire more than a year ago, and he and his extended family still have not rebuilt. That leaves Rickard, a high school basketball coach, conflicted about next week's return of the storied Maui Invitational college tournament. Like many, Rickard is excited to have top-drawer basketball played in Lahaina's humble arena, but he worries people will think it's business as usual in his hometown. In truth, he says, Lahaina is still struggling after the fire killed at least 102 people and leveled thousands of homes. "Not even a minute drive away from where they play, there's houses that are burned down that are still waiting to be rebuilt," said Rickard, the boys head coach at Lahainaluna High School. Many residents are excited about the local exposure to high-caliber competition and the economic boost the Maui Invitational will bring. But there's also a fear that travelers might show disrespect by wandering into the Lahaina burn zone and taking photos of the devastation, or trigger unpleasant memories with questions about that catastrophic day. The Maui Invitational will bring eight of the NCAA's best men's teams -- including two-time defending champion UConn -- to Lahaina's 2,400-seat gymnasium for three days. |
| The Controversy Roiling College Volleyball Just Keeps Growing | |
 | Before its women's volleyball team competes in the conference tournament next week, San Jose State University hopes to secure another win -- in federal court. A judge for the U.S. District Court of Colorado will consider Thursday whether to disqualify a player on the San Jose State squad from postseason play at the emergency request of a collection of current and former players and an associate head coach, who are suing San Jose State and its conference. The lawsuit claims the player, Blaire Fleming, "is male and identifies as transgender," and that the Mountain West Conference and San Jose State acted illegally in allowing her to compete, among other things. Just this week, several congressional Republicans called on the conference to bar Fleming from play and Utah State University asked to join the lawsuit -- the latest escalations in an already heated conflict. The San Jose State team has received hate mail and police have presided at games. Players in the conference are divided on whether it's safe or ethical to play against Fleming. Coaches of the four opponents that have forfeited their matches against San Jose State have been called bigots by critics and heroes by supporters. Politicians, including President-elect Donald J. Trump, have seized on the drama. The magnitude of the debate between coaches, players, administrators, and state lawmakers illustrates the emotional and political stakes of a national debate in which both sides are fighting for their idea of an equal playing field. |
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