| Friday, January 3, 2025 |
| MSU Films production documenting youth suicide impact airing on MPB next week | |
 | An Emmy-winning MSU Films production exploring youth suicide in the Magnolia State will air on Mississippi Public Broadcasting next week. One-hour presentations of "Decision Point: Mental Health and Youth Suicide in Mississippi" are scheduled beginning 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6, 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8, and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12. "Decision Point" is a blend of short films "Justin" and "Mariah" emphasizing the lasting effects of youth suicide -- the second-leading cause of death for young Mississippians aged 10-22 -- and the animated short "The Stuff of Nightmares," which details nightmares' impact on adolescents. Produced by Senior Documentary and Special Projects Producer James Parker and University Television Center Director David Garraway, "Justin" won a 2023 Southeast Emmy, while the Parker- and Creative Manager Hal Teasler-produced "Stuff of Nightmares" received the same accolade last year. "Justin" also netted a 2023 Southeast Emmy for Mississippi State Professor of Psychology Michael Nadorff, director of the university's clinical Ph.D. program, and Associate Clinical Professor Emily Stafford, MSU Psychology Clinic director, who used a portion of approximately $2 million in grant funding to produce the miniseries aimed at preventing youth suicide. |
| Newton County Junior Livestock Show | |
 | The Mississippi State Extension Service in Newton County played host to the county Junior Livestock Show. There were nearly 20 kids involved in this year's competition. Each one of them showed off their animals for judges in hopes of advancing to the next round of competition. "They work extremely hard. Their little hands are in the cold, in the heat all year long, to get these animals ready to show and present to the public. So, they learn a lot about hard work and just determination to get it done. And make it work and then to put it on display for the public is pretty awesome," said MSU Extension Agent for Newton County Shani Hay. Preparing for a competition like this takes a lot of hard work, but the things they are able to learn are well worth the challenge. "Well, agriculture is the main income in the state of Mississippi, and we have a major agricultural university with Mississippi State University. Having kids come up through the program understanding agriculture, understanding where your food comes from and being producers. It also teaches them about business and how to be an entrepreneur. Learn about record keeping, and it teaches them so much about life," said Hay. Thursday's winners will go on to compete in Jackson in the district competition, and if they win there, they will head to compete at the Dixie National Rodeo. |
| Starkville mayor's race already has three contenders | |
 | The city is already facing a three-way mayoral race in the coming election, with aldermen incumbents also filing Thursday to run in almost all wards. Mayor Lynn Spruill filed paperwork to run for her third term, facing the former Fire Chief Charles Yarbrough and computer science teacher Brenna Betts. All three are running as Democrats. Spruill, 72, is a Starkville native who graduated from Mississippi State University. She was the first woman to qualify as a United States Naval carrier pilot. She also served as a councilman and then Mayor of Addison, Texas from 1985 to 1993. She has been a Starkville business/property-owner for more than 25 years. Yarbrough said if he is elected, he will be looking into the city's ordinances, including requirements around businesses maintaining sidewalks and landscaping, as a way to help small businesses. Betts, 25, is originally from Brunswick, Georgia, and is a graduate of MSU, with a master's degree in teaching. She teaches AP computer science, physical science and algebra at Starkville High School. She spent a year working for the Parks and Recreation Department as a liaison to the city government. |
| When will polar vortex reach Mississippi? Arctic blast to bring freezing temps next week | |
 | How soon will the polar vortex reach the South? An Arctic Express cold snap is set to hit the southern U.S. in the first full week of January. How could that affect Mississippi? Here's what we know. According to AccuWeather, temperature drops could make this the coldest January on record since 2011 across the U.S. Most of Mississippi will see temperatures that feel like 10-20 degrees from Jan. 8-10, and the northernmost parts of the state will have lows that feel like 0-10 degrees. Over the next two weeks, overnight temperatures in central and south Mississippi could drop well below freezing with some daytime highs in the 40s and 50s. AccuWeather meteorologists said a dip in the jet stream will start in the coming days, pushing frigid air from the Arctic into the South. Temperatures might drop 12-25 degrees below average in some parts of the country, particularly in the central U.S. That region, including Memphis, is at risk of subzero temperatures. This is expected to be a multi-day event affecting large portions of the country in the first full weeks of the new year. Most of Mississippi can expect temperatures 10-20 degrees below normal, leading to subfreezing but not subzero weather. Currently, precipitation chances are staying low overall. Most of the state can look for rain and thunderstorms on Sunday, Jan. 5. The Jackson area also has a risk for isolated tornadoes. |
| NWS updates weekend tornado numbers, confirms 27 touched down in Mississippi | |
 | The National Weather Service provided an update on the weekend storms that struck portions of Mississippi, noting the Magnolia State saw 27 tornadoes touch down on Saturday alone. "The National Weather Service had confirmed 27 tornadoes touched down on December 28 in Mississippi and storm surveys are ongoing," the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency stated in a press release. Earlier in the week, NWS had the tornado count in Mississippi at 22 as an outbreak of twisters affected multiple southern states on Saturday and into Saturday night. According to MEMA, which continues to validate damage assessments and deploy resources, over 300 homes and 14 businesses experienced damage in Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Clarke, Franklin, Harrison, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Leake, Lincoln, Lowndes, Oktibbeha, Perry, Simpson, Scott, Smith, Rankin, Warren, Wayne, Wilkinson, and Yazoo counties. The swath of severe weather also brought with it thousands of power outages and resulted in two fatalities and 10 injuries. The fatalities came in Adams County, where a Natchez high schooler died, and in Lowndes County, where an elderly woman on oxygen lost power and could not survive the medical emergency. |
| Here comes Mardi Gras. Will attack on Bourbon Street change plans on the Coast? | |
 | Carnival season starts this weekend in South Mississippi and the terrorist attack in New Orleans on New Year's Day has South Mississippi police and krewes considering security plans for Mardi Gras parades over the next two months. King's Mardi Gras Parade rolls at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, and Biloxi's 12th Night celebration will roll at 5 p.m. on Sunday. After the New Orleans attack that killed 14 people -- including two from South Mississippi -- and injured dozens more, "Our senses will be heightened and we'll be alert," Biloxi Police Chief John Miller said. This weekend's parade to Biloxi City Hall is just a short route to close out Christmas and turn on the Mardi Gras lights. The large parades that attract 80,000 people or more to downtown Biloxi come on and around Fat Tuesday on March 4, and most every community in South Mississippi has at least one parade during Carnival. The parades are not fun to work, Miller said. People are drinking and every year he worries about kids getting too close to the floats and getting injured. Now there will be a heightened security risk shared by police and parade goers. "You've got to have an alert city and alert officers," Miller said. |
| Quality Bakery prepares for roll-out of thousands of king cakes ahead of Mardi Gras season | |
 | It's the end of the holiday season, but for local bakeries, the beginning of another. King cake season has the potential to be an enemy to any New Year's resolutions regarding healthy habits. But, nonetheless tempting, with fruit fillings, brown sugar, or Hadlee White's favorite: "I would definitely say cream cheese. Plain cream cheese," she says. Quality Bakery owners Danielle and Gordon White are making sure customers near the newest Wiggins store can try their twist on the dessert before the official start of King Cake season, which is the day of the Epiphany, on January 6th. "It's very busy but it's one of our favorite times of the year," they say. Last year, nearly 10,000 king cakes flew out of Quality Bakery doors. The standard-size cake goes for $25, with the filling of your choice. The family-owned bakery also sells a smaller version called The Hadlee, named after its fifth-generation employee. It costs $12. "It's definitely hard work," 11-year-old Hadlee says. "But it's something you can figure out. It's inspiring, and I love to be in a family business." |
| Eight qualify for Columbus office on first day | |
| Eight candidates qualified Thursday for this year's municipal elections in Columbus, with contested races now confirmed for mayor and the Ward 2 council seat. Democrats Leroy Brooks and Stephen Jones each made his candidacy official after spending weeks, even months, already on the campaign trail. Brooks, 71, is serving his 11th term on the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors and touts his experience in government as his best selling-point. "I think I'm the most qualified candidate for the mayor's race," Brooks said. "... The wisdom I've gained at this juncture in my life, I'm more steadfast." Jones, 55, has served as Ward 5 councilman since 2016, serving a brief stint on the Columbus Municipal Board of Trustees before that. He has worked as a Realtor with Re/Max for 17 years and is president of the Golden Triangle Real Estate Association. With due respect to Brooks, Jones feels he is most qualified to be mayor, and he said Thursday his administration would prioritize public safety -- specifically providing the police and fire departments more resources and interrupting the "cycle of crime" in the city. Mayor Keith Gaskin announced last year he would not seek a second term. |
| Legislators Shanks, Horhn running for Mayor | |
| Most cities and towns in Mississippi will hold municipal elections this year. Qualifying began on Thursday and runs through January 31. It is not uncommon for state lawmakers to jump into municipal races, "coming home" to lead in their local community while seeking to leverage their connections and experience at the Capitol. As of Thursday -- the first day for candidates to qualify for municipal races -- two legislators have announced their intention to run Mayor of their hometown. State Representative Fred Shanks (R) has qualified to run for Mayor of Brandon, challenging incumbent Mayor Butch Lee (R). Lee is serving in his third term as Mayor. "I think my style of leadership is what's needed in Brandon right now," Shanks, a former Alderman, told Magnolia Tribune Friday. State Senator John Horhn (D) is also running for a mayoral post, making his third bid to be the next Mayor of Jackson. He's already received the endorsement of fellow Democratic lawmakers Rep. Zakiya Summers and Rep. Earl Banks. Horhn will be among a growing list of candidates seeking the capital city mayor's office this year. Embattled incumbent Mayor Chokwe Lumumba (D) has said he would seek re-election despite being indicted on federal corruption charges in connection with a bribery scheme that involved now former Councilwoman Angelique Lee, Councilman Aaron Banks and Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens. |
| 'We're not through yet': Madison mayor qualifies for re-election | |
| Some 44 years after first taking office, Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler is seeking another term heading up the city that she calls "my passion." "In fact, I already turned in my paperwork before you got here," she said. "We're not through yet." Sitting in front of a fireplace at Madison City Hall, Butler, 71, talked about her time in office, her accomplishments, challenges, and goals for the future. If she's elected to another term, she says preventing crime will remain a top priority. She also wants Madison to provide more opportunities for young people. Butler first took office in 1981 and has since become one of the longest-tenured mayors in the United States. Under her leadership, the city has grown from just a few thousand people (Madison had fewer than 8,000 residents in 1990.) to nearly 28,000 in 2023. "Madison was a little strawberry farming community, and all we had was a main street, and a general store, and some gas pumps," she said. "It wasn't very big at all." Today, it is the tenth-largest city in Mississippi, according to biggestuscities.com, and the third largest in the metro area, behind Jackson and Pearl. As for her health, the longtime mayor is optimistic, telling WLBT she's ready for another term in office. |
| What are Mississippi lawmakers redistricting in 2025? | |
| State lawmakers will in 2025 need to address legislative redistricting and judicial redraws thanks to court orders and the 2020 U.S. Census. Some in Senate leadership are also considering throwing youth courts into the mix as the Legislature considers structural reform to the state youth court system. When the Mississippi Legislature gavels in on Jan. 7, lawmakers will have to come up with, lobby for and pass a redistricted map of state lawmakers. In 2024, a federal court ruled the state's current lines dilute Black voting power, specifically in three districts (two Senate districts and one House district). Initially, the court ordered Mississippi to have the lines redrawn by 2025. The state election commission argued the Legislature would need more time, and the court then allowed the state to redistrict in 2025. The state currently has a Black population of about 38%. As of 2024, there are 42-Black majority districts in the 122-member House (34.4%) and 15 Black majority districts in the 52-member Senate (28.8%). House Rules Committee Chairman Fred Shanks, R-Brandon, told the Clarion Ledger he believes lawmakers should wait until the end of the 2025 Session to address district changes, which according to court records, could impact more than 25% of the state's 174 districts. |
| Tupelo, County eye legislative asks with session approaching | |
 | While many hold their breaths in anticipation of holiday presents each year, officials with local counties and municipalities anxiously await gifts from the state in the form of appropriations money. This year is no exception. With the 2025 legislative session beginning in less than two weeks, Tupelo and Lee County officials are finalizing their wish lists in the hopes of gaining the funding they need to bolster work on a variety of projects. While city officials are angling for emergency service upgrades and other quality-of-life improvements for Tupelo's residents, Lee County leaders hope to snag funding for myriad projects, including expanding its juvenile detention center, renovating old county-owned property and installing more storm shelters. One of Tupelo Mayor Todd Jordan's continued efforts throughout his first term has been to replace the city's aging fire stations. With Fire Station No. 2 already replaced and work on a new Fire Station No. 5 well underway, the administration has its eyes set on replacing Fire Station No. 1. Board President and District 3 Supervisor Wesley Webb said there were a host of projects the county will ask the state to help fund, but chief among them is the expansion of the county's juvenile detention center classroom, which is currently a 600 square foot prefabricated building. |
| David Blount sees expansion to Medicaid top issue facing lawmakers when they convene January 7 | |
| The top issue facing the Legislature when it convenes this year is the expansion of Medicaid, according to one state senator from Jackson. "The Democrats have been pushing it for years," said David Blount, a Democrat who represents District 29 (Hinds County). "There was a strong bi-partisan vote in the House (of Representatives) to pass Medicaid expansion last year. I hope this is the year we get it done." Blount said the question legislators will need to answer is: Will Mississippi be the 41st state to expand Medicaid or the 50th to do so? The expansion of Medicaid would not only provide health insurance for working Mississippians but also help Mississippi hospitals that have struggled financially, Blount said. "We need to do it," he said. Blount is also an advocate for the Legislature to continue reforming the state's welfare system so there is more legislative oversight. The Legislature must ensure the state's long-term financial stability, which means no more tax cuts, Blount said. "We do not need any more tax cuts," he said. "State revenue in every state in the country is slowing down. The federal money that came to Mississippi after covid and because of the Biden administration is going away. We have to balance the budget. We have long-term challenges that we're going to have to pay for ourselves." The Legislature must protect the public retirement system and that is going to require money, he said. |
| Businessman Lane Taylor will seek Branning's state Senate seat | |
| Lifelong Neshoba County resident and businessman Lane Taylor announced Friday he will seek the state Senate seat being vacated by state Supreme Court Justice-Elect Jenifer Branning. "It is with great excitement that I announce that following prayer and careful consideration with my family I am running to serve as our next state senator," Taylor said in a release. "As senator, I will use my experience and qualifications as a small businessman along with my passion to serve others to be an effective, conservative, strong common sense leader for District 18." In addition to safety, jobs and economic issues and financial responsibility, Taylor said he is committed to keeping infrastructure a priority and sustaining the advancements Sen. Branning implemented as Transportation Committee Chair, saying that our next senator must be committed and able to work with MDOT, local leaders, and federal leaders to advance the critical road and bridge projects and sustain the advancements and projects she implemented. Taylor also thanked the many agriculture producers who encouraged his candidacy and vowed to stand with them to secure and grow the agriculture economy in District 18 and across the state, saying that he learned at a young age through FFA how vital agriculture is to our state. |
| New Farm Bill Top of Mind as 119th Congress Begins | |
| American Ag Network's Jesse Allen reported Thursday that Sam Kieffer, Vice President of Public Policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said that "once the new Congress is sworn in (today) on January 3, they've got to get to work right away. 'They need to get back to the business of doing a Farm Bill.'" "'We've been kicking the can down the road for the better part of two years,' Kieffer said," according to Allen's reporting. "'Congress also has to deal with expiring tax provisions before the end of 2025. Not to mention, there's a number of regulatory oversight opportunities for members of Congress. They also need to figure out the budget, and the current budget only goes until March.'" "'We've been working with the Trump transition since Election Day letting them know where farmers and ranchers are on policy issues and what their wants and needs might be,' says Kieffer," according to Allen's reporting. "'As we look to the new Congress, we've been hitting the ground for the last several months, getting ready to focus on the tax issues, continue the conversation on the farm bill, and make sure that the regulatory oversight opportunities get some attention paid to them.'" |
| Senate committee to hold confirmation hearing for defense secretary nominee Hegseth on Jan. 14 | |
 | President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense is expected to face his first public questioning from U.S. senators on Jan. 14. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., told reporters Wednesday that the committee is planning to hold Pete Hegseth's hearing in mid-January as the former Fox News host and veteran has visited Senate offices in an effort to rally Republicans around him. Some senators have questioned his fitness for the role amid allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct. Hegseth has told senators that he wouldn't drink while defense secretary and pushed back on the reports of misbehavior, and Trump has publicly boosted his nomination, posting on his social media platform last week that "Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!" Hegseth also attended the Army-Navy football game with the president-elect over the weekend. More confirmation hearings are expected after the new Republican Senate is sworn in on Jan. 3 and Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20. Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said he wants to confirm Trump's cabinet as quickly as possible once Trump is in office. |
| Biden honors Liz Cheney, Bennie Thompson with top civilian award | |
 | President Biden awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal to former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who led the congressional committee that investigated the Jan. 6 , 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Both were greeted with rare standing ovations as they stood with Biden to receive their awards. The ceremony marked Cheney's first appearance at a public event since she campaigned for the failed Democratic presidential bid of Vice President Kamala Harris. The duo were part of a larger ceremony honoring 20 individuals for their contributions tied to causes Biden championed. "Today we celebrate a new group of Americans dedicated to serving our Democracy and others," Biden told the audience that included current and past Democratic members of Congress, as well as friends and families of other honorees. It is the second-highest civilian honor a president can bestow and awarding it to Cheney and Thompson sends a signal. President-elect Trump has criticized the pair repeatedly, falsely accusing them of breaking the law with their investigation into his actions on and around Jan. 6. "President Biden believes these Americans are bonded by their common decency and commitment to serving others," the White House said in a statement. "The country is better because of their dedication and sacrifice." |
| Trump digs in on Johnson support as speaker showdown looms | |
 | Mike Johnson is heading toward a noon showdown over the fate of his speakership -- even as President-elect Donald Trump doubled down on his support Friday morning. The House will kick off the new Congress and move almost immediately to a vote for the speaker's gavel, with Johnson likely still short of the votes to retain the gavel with just hours to go. "Good luck today for Speaker Mike Johnson, a fine man of great ability, who is very close to having 100% support. A win for Mike today will be a big win for the Republican Party, and yet another acknowledgment of our 129 year most consequential Presidential Election!! - A BIG AFFIRMATION, INDEED. MAGA!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. Johnson told reporters on Friday morning that he still believes he will win on the first ballot -- a feat that would require him to hold the Republicans voting for another candidate to just Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who has repeatedly pledged he won't back Johnson. But Johnson's allies and critics are preparing for multiple rounds of ballots as he faces an entrenched group of hold-outs. The group of roughly a dozen members has a range of asks including commitments on slashing spending and angling for plum committee spots that would give them more power over what gets to the floor. And some have gone public with what deals he could cut to garner their votes -- exactly the type of agreements that are already sparking early warnings of blowback from other corners of the conference. |
| Biden Blocks Takeover Bid of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon | |
 | President Biden blocked the $14 billion takeover of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel of Japan in an announcement on Friday based on grounds that the sale posed a threat to national security. The decision was an extraordinary use of executive power, particularly for a president who is just weeks from leaving office. It is also a departure from America's long-established culture of open investment, one that could have wide-ranging implications for the U.S. economy. Although the politics of the move were clear, Mr. Biden emphasized that he was acting to protect national security. "It is my solemn responsibility as president to ensure that, now and long into the future, America has a strong domestically owned and operated steel industry that can continue to power our national sources of strength at home and abroad," Mr. Biden said in a statement on Friday morning. "And it is a fulfillment of that responsibility to block foreign ownership of this vital American company." Mr. Biden's move to stop the transaction could cause foreign investors to rethink the wisdom of acquiring American firms in sensitive industries that are based in politically important states. It could also roil relations with Japan, a close ally of the United States and one of America's largest sources of foreign investment. |
| America's surgeon general calls for cancer warnings on alcoholic beverages | |
 | Just like labels on cigarettes, America's top doctor is now calling for cancer risk warnings on alcohol after a report cites studies linking alcoholic beverages to more than a half-dozen malignancies, including breast cancer. On Friday, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new Surgeon General's Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk, outlining the direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control, alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity. And according to the report released by Murthy's office it increases the risk for at least seven types of cancer. In addition, the advisory calls for a reassessment of the guideline limits for alcohol consumption to account for risk of cancer, and it advises people to be aware of the ties between drinking alcohol and the increased cancer risk when considering if they should drink, or how much to drink. Only Congress can mandate new warning labels Murthy recommended, a move that ultimately needs backing from the incoming administration. |
| The American Worker Is Becoming More Productive | |
 | America is getting better at getting things done. Take Vic Viktorov, a gym owner who increased revenue at his Boston business in 2024 by 30% without adding a single salesperson to the two already on staff. Instead, he has been using an artificial-intelligence model loaded with company documents, sales materials and other information. Now, he can complete in just minutes work that used to take hours, such as writing marketing plans, email drafts and social-media posts. "It allows us to be lean, nimble and fast," said Viktorov. Productivity in the U.S., as measured by how much the average worker gets done in an hour, has been on the rise. That matters because the faster that productivity grows, the faster the economy can grow as well. The success of the U.S. economy, and why it has grown so much compared with other countries over the past century and more, has hinged on its productivity. The gains in part reflect massive changes in the U.S. economy since the onset of Covid-19. Companies learned new ways of doing things and adopted new technologies, while an upheaval in the labor market moved workers into more productive jobs. Of course, increased productivity isn't always good news for workers. |
| Ole Miss student critically injured in New Orleans truck attack | |
| An Ole Miss student is confirmed to have been critically injured in the deadly suspected terrorist attack in New Orleans on New Year's Day. The unidentified student is one of at least 30 people confirmed to have experienced bodily harm after 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a truck into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street at the French Quarter around 3:15 a.m. The attack also killed 15 people, including Gulfport native 18-year-old Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux. Jabbar, a Texas native and U.S. Army veteran, was shot and killed by police after opening fire and wounding two officers in the process. The suspect had an ISIS flag waving on the back of the truck he used to seek carnage during New Year's celebrations. Ole Miss Chancellor Glenn Boyce issued the following statement about the injury to the student and offered his prayers for everyone impacted by the attack: "I was deeply saddened to learn that one of our own students was critically injured in the violent attack in downtown New Orleans and is receiving medical care. I have spoken directly with the student's mother to extend the university's full support and convey that our campus community is thinking of them during this tremendously difficult time. We join the New Orleans community in grief. As we begin the new year with heavy hearts, let us hold our injured student, their family, the first responders, and all those affected by this tragic event close in our thoughts and prayers." |
| UGA student remains hospitalized after New Orleans terrorist attack | |
 | A University of Georgia student who was injured Wednesday in the terror attack in New Orleans remained on Thursday in a hospital. Elle Eisele, a sophomore pursuing a bachelor's degree in chemistry, was taken to the city's University Medical Center in New Orleans with critical injuries. Eisele's condition could not be determined late Thursday as an updated condition had not been released. She and a former high school classmate at the Canterbury School in Fort Myers, Florida, were among 35 injured and 14 killed in what authorities are calling a terrorist attack by a Texas man who aligned himself with the extremist Middle Eastern military group ISIS. The injuries to Eisele, her friend, Steele Idelson, now a student at San Diego State University, and the other victims has been described as a national tragedy. As a freshman at UGA, Eisele participated with other Phi Mu members in a dance marathon in early 2024 to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network Hospital. On Wednesday, University of Georgia President Jere Morehead announced on X that he had spoken to Eisele's family and shared his concerns and support on behalf of UGA. |
| Florida Board of Governors sets New Year's resolutions for state universities | |
| At its last meeting ahead of the new year, the Florida Board of Governors set several lofty strategic goals. First, the board wants to see more Florida public universities and colleges improve in the yearly U.S. News & World Report rankings by 2030. In Central Florida, members of the board want UCF in the top 50 public universities in the rankings, and FAMU in the top 100 public universities by 2030. Throughout the state, the board also wants Florida to be home to at least one top 10 liberal arts college, and top HBCU, which could be a Central Florida school. Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives & Economic Development Emily Sikes said improving Florida school rankings will make it easier to land research collaborations and increase annual giving. "That means that's two thirds of our system in the top 100. So that's, I think, an incredible goal to have as a board," said Sikes. Second, the board wants 78,000 to 80,000 bachelor's degrees awarded yearly, and 32,000 to 34,000 masters degrees awarded yearly by 2030. Sikes said this will increase the economic impact of graduates. |
| SMU's bid to split from United Methodist Church over LGBTQ+ rights heads to Texas Supreme Court | |
| A multi-year fight over whether Southern Methodist University can separate itself from the United Methodist Church is heading to Texas' highest court this month. The Texas Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in a lawsuit between the 12,000-student private university in Dallas and the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church on Jan. 15. In 2019, SMU leadership changed its articles of incorporation and declared that its board of trustees was the "ultimate authority" over the university, not the United Methodist Church. The university's articles of incorporation detail how the university is governed and by whom. The university's decision to update the documents and assert the board's sole control over the school came during a tumultuous time in the Methodist church's history. In 2019, members endorsed a ban on LGBTQ+ clergy and prohibited pastors from performing same-sex unions. It sparked a massive clash within the church, prompting thousands of conservative churches who were tired of the fight to disaffiliate and start their own more conservative church, now called the Globalist Methodist Church. SMU President R. Gerald Turner told The Dallas Morning News at the time the university was trying to break away before the church made any decisions about how to divide so it could "continue to educate everybody from all Methodist denominations and from other denominations, and people who don't believe at all." He added that he did not want the university's Perkins School of Theology to be only associated with one sect of Methodism. |
| Christian Colleges Continue to See Enrollment Growth | |
| Thirty evangelical colleges and universities saw significant enrollment growth in 2024, according to data from the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). And many of these institutions are setting records, continuing the post-pandemic rebound seen in 2023. Calvin University welcomed its largest incoming student group in a decade, with the number of first-year students up slightly over the previous fall. Asbury University had more than 2,000 students -- the largest total enrollment in the university's 134-year history. And Colorado Christian University, which surpassed 10,500 students, was named one of the fastest-growing universities in the country for the ninth year in a row. At the same time, other Christian colleges are grappling with enrollment declines and budget shortfalls. Some, including Eastern Nazarene and The King's College, have shut down. Others, including Cornerstone, Concordia, and Seattle Pacific University, have made difficult cuts. In such an environment, making sense of higher education trends is a challenge, CCCU president David Hoag told CT. CCCU leaders are all trying to figure out the best way forward with Christ-centered strategic plans. "This is a really great time for Christian higher ed," said Jennifer McChord, Asbury University's vice president of enrollment and marketing. "There are families out there in large quantities who are looking for authentic and intentional Christ-centered education." |
| Virginia's anti-hazing efforts help shape federal law | |
| Virginia's leadership in combating hazing on college campuses played a pivotal role in shaping the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act signed into law by President Joe Biden in his final days in office. The legislation aims to enhance student safety by requiring colleges and universities to report hazing incidents under the Clery Act and standardizes definitions for tracking hazing statistics across the country. The new law also mandates comprehensive hazing prevention programs for faculty and students, focusing on education and fostering a culture of respect to prevent hazing before it happens. Virginia set the stage for such measures in 2022 with the passage of what's widely known as Adam's Law, named in honor of 19-year-old Adam Oakes, a teenager from Loudoun County who died in 2021 while pledging the Delta Chi fraternity at Virginia Commonwealth University. Carried by Fairfax Democrats state Sen. Jennifer Boysko and then-Del. Kathleen Murphy, the law requires hazing prevention training at Virginia colleges and universities. Eric Oakes, Adam Oakes' father and director of the Love Like Adam Foundation, said in a statement Tuesday that the foundation's mission is to continue to strive for change to make high schools and colleges safer for students. The national Delta Chi fraternity recently agreed to a $4 million settlement with the Oakes family. |
SPORTS
| Mississippi State basketball vs. South Carolina score prediction, scouting report | |
 | Mississippi State basketball begins its SEC schedule this weekend. The conference looks as competitive as ever with nine teams ranked in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll and three others receiving votes. That includes No. 16 MSU (12-1), who hosts unranked South Carolina (10-3) on Saturday (1 p.m., SEC Network). Both teams enter the game on winning streaks. The Bulldogs have won six games in a row and were undefeated in December. The Gamecocks are winners of seven straight, also without a loss in December. Their three losses are to North Florida in the season opener, at Indiana and against Xavier on a neutral court. Josh Hubbard was Mississippi State's star freshman last season while Collin Murray-Boyles was South Carolina's. Both of them were All-SEC Freshman Team selections and have picked up where they left off. Murray-Boyles, a 6-foot-8 forward, leads South Carolina in points per game (16.6), rebounds per game (9.3) blocks (18) and steals (18). His 64.6% field goal percentage is best in the SEC among players who attempt at least five shots per game. "He's a special player," MSU coach Chris Jans said. "Probably my favorite player in the league thus far. I haven't got to see everybody obviously this season, but he can do it all." |
| Claudell Harris becoming more versatile for Mississippi State | |
| Last season, Josh Hubbard was Mississippi State's only consistently reliable outside shooter, and even though opposing teams were keying on him, Hubbard had no choice but to take over late in close games down the stretch. The Bulldogs addressed that issue via the transfer portal in the spring, adding two Southeastern Conference veterans in Riley Kugel (Florida) and RJ Melendez (Georgia), but their biggest-impact backcourt addition started his college career at Charleston Southern before playing at Boston College last year. Claudell Harris is just behind Hubbard for the team lead in 3-point percentage, sitting at .378 to Hubbard's .380. Opponents have taken notice and are respecting Harris' range, which has opened things up for Kugel and Melendez. "He's rounding into form for this year's team," MSU head coach Chris Jans said Thursday. "For him to impact (the game) in a bunch of different areas rather than just how many points he scores each game, he probably ranks in the top two or three of talking on defense for us every day, and that's invaluable for our team." |
| Source: Former Southern Miss football coach Will Hall hired by Tulane as pass game coordinator | |
| Former Southern Miss football coach Will Hall is heading back to one of his old teams. Hall has been hired by Tulane as the pass game coordinator, a source confirmed to the Hattiesburg American. The source was granted anonymity because the hiring hasn't been officially announced. Hall was the offensive coordinator at Tulane in 2019 and 2020 before being hired as the Southern Miss head coach for the 2021 season. He was fired by the Golden Eagles in October. Hall went 14-30 in three and a half seasons at Southern Miss. Southern Miss hired Charles Huff to replace Hall. Although Hall is going back to Tulane, he's doing so with a different coaching staff. Willie Fritz was the coach while Hall was there, but he left for Houston before this season. Former Troy coach Jon Sumrall now leads the Green Wave, who went 9-5 this season. |
| SEC commissioner Greg Sankey 'would hope there is interest' in CFP format changes for 2025 | |
| SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, one of the architects of the current College Football Playoff format, is "absolutely" interested in tweaking the format for the 2025 season, he said Thursday. While the CFP's format for 2026 and beyond is wide open because there is not a set contract, any changes to the current 12-team format for the 2025 season would require unanimous agreement among the 10 Football Bowl Subdivision conferences and Notre Dame. Sankey has said he would like to get through this first year of the new format before making any decisions. But as the quarterfinals wrap up, Sankey, who was attending the Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame, made clear he's ready for such discussions. "I've not had a lot of conversations yet about people's interest in adapting. I would hope there is interest," Sankey told The Athletic. "But then in '26 we've got another opportunity." The current format's seeding procedures, with byes given to the four highest-ranked conference champions, has been criticized as a flaw in the system. Sankey pointed out that the system was devised before the current wave of conference realignment, in a world where the Pac-12 existed as one of five power conferences. "We have to understand the opportunities that have been created," Sankey said. "I think the Playoff has worked. We're gonna learn and then adjust." |
| CFP semifinals by the numbers: All four teams are members of the exclusive 900-win club | |
| The College Football Playoff expanded to 12 teams to get some new blood. The final four are decidedly blueblood. The semifinals match Penn State against Notre Dame at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9 and Texas against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10. All four teams are among the eight programs with at least 900 all-time victories. By the NCAA's count, Ohio State ranks second with 976 wins, Notre Dame and Texas are tied for fourth with 961 and Penn State is seventh with 943. The four teams have combined for 18 national championships since 1936, when the Associated Press rankings started. Notre Dame has eight titles, Ohio State five, Texas three and Penn State two. |
| Dartmouth Basketball Moves to Drop Unionization Push | |
| In a move that punts the college-athlete-as-employee question to another day, the union representing Dartmouth College men's basketball players on Tuesday requested the withdrawal of its petition to the National Labor Relations Board seeking unionization for the team. The move is designed to avoid legal and political risks associated with expected personnel changes at the NLRB following the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president. Relatedly, it reflects awareness of procedural limitations for appealing an adverse agency decision on unionization to a court. The Service Employees International Union, Local 560's request was made to the NLRB Region 01 office in Boston. A request of this nature means the union voluntarily no longer wishes to proceed and informs the NLRB it doesn't want the agency's jurisdiction to enforce any rights. Withdrawal is not automatic and must be granted by the agency. The timing of the request reflects the union's desire to have it reviewed by the agency before President Joe Biden's term ends on Jan. 20. By Tuesday afternoon, the NLRB docket for the case indicated the case status had become "closed," meaning the agency considers the case resolved; a letter sent from the NLRB to the parties Monday afternoon confirmed the agency had approved the withdrawal request. |
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