| Tuesday, January 14, 2025 |
| Education brief: Local students among Mississippi State's Outstanding Teacher Intern Award recipients | |
 | Mississippi State University's College of Education is honoring eight graduates for their exceptional work as teacher interns in Magnolia State school districts. The recipients of the Outstanding Teacher Intern Award were nominated for exceeding expectations while completing internships at public schools across the state. The honorees demonstrated exemplary professionalism, performance and a high level of commitment to the teaching profession. The following are local recipients. Asia Ellis, a fall 2024 music education graduate from Starkville, taught in the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District; Grace Massey, a fall 2024 special education graduate from Columbus, taught in the Lowndes County School District and Taylor Fulgham, a fall 2024 elementary education graduate from Columbus, taught in the Webster County School District. |
| Wild at Heart Rescue, Mississippi State University retrieves data from eagles | |
 | Video: Dr. Scott Rush from Mississippi State University came to Wild at Heart Rescue to collect data from eagles at the facility. |
| Education: Mastering irrigation: Free training equips Mississippi growers for success | |
| The Mississippi State University Extension Service and the National Center for Alluvial Aquifer Research, or NCAAR, are hosting a Master Irrigator course this month. Registration is open for the free course, which teaches Midsouth growers how to improve water use efficiency, boost on-farm profitability and save water. The hybrid format includes self-paced online modules that must be completed by Jan. 31 with a two-day, in-person training session scheduled for Feb. 12 and 13 at the Capps Center at the MSU Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville. Jeremy Jack, who owns and operates with his family Silent Shade Planting Company headquartered in Belzoni, incorporated the course into his management team's continuing education schedule last year. "This type of learning opportunity is just what producers need to be able to grow and develop their management team," Jack said. "As farms continue to grow, there will be an increasing need for in-depth mid-management farm operations training. MSU Extension set the bar high with the Master Irrigator course." Jack said the course provided an excellent opportunity to cross train his management team. Drew Gholson, the NCAAR's coordinator, assistant professor and MSU Extension irrigation specialist, said in establishing the Master Irrigator program, researchers' goals are to offer hands-on training for research-backed programs. |
| Education: Overcoming the odds: SOCSD celebrates an A-rating and a new semester at Winter Convocation | |
| "The odds may be great, but you are greater," said Rev. Jessie King, superintendent of Leland School District, as he spoke to Yellow Jacket staff Jan. 6. "You are the change. You are the hope. You are the reason that the next generation will thrive." Overcoming the odds was the theme as Yellow Jacket teachers, administrators and classroom support staff gathered for the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Winter Convocation ahead of the start of a new semester. "I'm sure there are those who didn't believe we could do it," Superintendent Tony McGee shared, reflecting on the A milestone the district achieved last year. "But a lot of hard work and passion from our team made this happen. The Mississippi Department of Education announced our district's A-rating back in September, and we believe it validates so much of what our teachers and students are accomplishing every day in the classroom, on the athletic fields and on stage." On Jan. 6, teachers rode buses and carpooled to The Mill at MSU for Winter Convocation and enjoyed a delicious luncheon along with a program that included performances by several Yellow Jacket student groups, updates from administrators and a keynote address. The highlight of the luncheon was a message from King, who is a product of the school district he now serves and a graduate of Delta State University, Mississippi Valley State University and William Carey University. |
| Cooksey named president, CEO of Great Southern Bank | |
 | Meridianite Steven Cooksey has been promoted to president and chief executive officer of Great Southern Bank effective Jan. 1, Executive Committee Chairman Jeff McCoy announced Monday. Cooksey began his career with Great Southern Bank in May 2015 as a Senior Vice-President and soon thereafter became Chief Financial Officer after a successful 16-year career as a CPA and partner with a public accounting firm in Meridian. In January 2020, he was promoted to executive vice president and CFO, and in August 2022, was elected president and chief operating officer of the bank. Cooksey graduated from Mississippi State University in 1999 and earned his Certified Public Accountant credential in March 2002. Steven is a member of the Meridian Rotary Club and serves on the board of directors for the Meridian Community College Foundation and the Meridian Symphony Association. In addition, he serves on the Banking and Finance Committee of the MSCPA. He previously served on the Adkerson School of Accountancy Advisory Council of Mississippi State University. |
| Rankin County set for big business development announcements in 2025 | |
 | One of the biggest announcements of the 2025 economic development year in Mississippi could come in the first quarter. The project, which could be valued at more than $1 billion, is expected to take place in Rankin County, where 2025 is expected to have major developments throughout the year. "We obviously can't talk about the details, but we expect a huge announcement this year," Rankin First Associate Director Regina Todd told the Clarion Ledger. "I think it could happen as soon as during the first quarter of the year." This comes on the heels of the announcement last week that Dallas-based Compass Datacenters, a multinational data center developer, is locating its next hyperscale data center campus in Meridian at a reported cost of $10 billion. While Rankin County's upcoming announcement won't quite make the $10 billion mark, it will highlight yet another economic development milestone of more than $1 billion. In 2024, Rankin County had significant growth and finished the year with the lowest unemployment rate in the state of Mississippi. |
| Buc-ee's brought economic boom to small Alabama city. Will history repeat in South Mississippi? | |
 | The interstate exit in Alabama used to be quiet. Then, six years ago, a Buc-ee's Travel Center opened. The cars have not stopped since. The giant roadside convenience store brought an economic boom to the small but growing city of Loxley, just a half-hour east of Mobile. The city's story could signal what is coming this year on the Mississippi Coast. Leaders in Loxley said the arrival of Buc-ee's caused two big changes: The traffic became a regular nuisance. But the boost of tourist tax dollars and partnership with the chain helped the city get money for parks and other amenities. "It's made a tremendous impact," said Richard Teal, Loxley's mayor. "It's meant everything to our city." It is unclear if Buc-ee's arrival in Harrison County this spring will unfold exactly the same way. The state and county anticipated more traffic and have already expanded the ramps and replaced the bridge at the Menge Avenue exit of Interstate 10, where the store is under construction. The $50 million travel center is also the first in Mississippi. The Loxley location and another coming to Lafayette, Louisiana could temper the flow of visitors that has overwhelmed other stores in recent years. But Loxley may still hold clues for the Coast's future. |
| Mississippi Civil Rights Museum nationally recognized for history education | |
 | The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum is once again being recognized as one of the top facilities of its kind in the nation. For a second consecutive year, the center located in downtown Jackson has been nominated for the Best History Museum in the United States in the USA TODAY/10Best Readers' Choice Awards. Voting will run from now until February 10 at 10:59 a.m. CT. Last year, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, which operates as one-half of the "Two Mississippi Museums" in the same building as the Mississippi History Museum, came in at No. 4 in the publication's rankings. "We are honored that the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum has been nominated again in the category of Best History Museum," Michael Morris, director of the Two Mississippi Museums, said. "This recognition comes from the collective efforts of staff and visitors to elevate this museum among top institutions in the country." Museum attendees are given an in-depth look at Black history in the Magnolia before moving to interactive exhibits that chronicle the events of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement from World War II through 1975. The top 10 winners, as ranked by USA TODAY 10Best readers, will be announced on February 19, at 11 a.m. CT. |
| Mississippi House set to take up historic $1.1 billion tax cut this week | |
| The Mississippi House of Representatives will likely move on an ambitious $1.1 billion tax cut package this week, touting enormous cuts to the personal income and grocery sales taxes and adding tax revenue and other funds to several areas of the state budget to lighten the blow. House Ways and Means Chairman Trey Lamar, the bill's sponsor, on Friday told the Clarion Ledger he plans to bring House Bill 1 to his committee early this week for a vote and pass it up to the House chamber. If it passes through the House, it will move onto the Senate where leadership is considering a starkly different plan. Because the measure is a revenue bill, House lawmakers have until Feb. 26 to send it over to the Senate. It would be phased in over a decade. Lamar said the package tackles several key areas such as completely cutting the state income tax burden on Mississippians, creating a fuel tax to pump money into road and bridge infrastructure, cutting down the sales tax on groceries and more. "It's the most transformational piece of legislation, really, in my career, maybe one of the most transformational pieces of legislation in Mississippi's history," Lamar said. Sen. Josh Harkins, R-Flowood, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee and will likely have to shepherd the Senate's approach on tax reform this year, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday morning. |
| Proposal: eliminate income tax, add 5% tax on gas, allow cities, counties to levy local sales tax | |
| House leaders on Friday unveiled a sweeping tax cut proposal that would eventually abolish the state income tax, slash taxes on groceries, increase local sales taxes and shore up funds for state and local road work. The plan would over time take more than $1 billion from current revenue. "We will Build Up Mississippi by eliminating the income tax to further our state's competitive advantage and award our workforce," House Speaker Jason White wrote on social media. "We will build up Mississippi by cutting the grocery tax in half to boost the pocketbook of Mississippians." Long a priority for House Republican leaders, the legislation would reduce the income tax rate from 4% to 3% this year. Then, it would reduce the rate by .3% each additional year until the tax is eliminated in 10 years. The plan also trims the 7% sales tax on groceries to 2.5% over time. Under current law, Mississippi's 7% sales tax is split between the state and municipalities where the tax is collected. To shore up the loss, the legislation would end the state's 18.5% sales tax diversion to municipalities, meaning the full sales tax collected will go to the state budget. To make municipalities whole, the bill adds a general 1.5% local sales tax for both municipalities and counties that the local governments can vote to opt out of. The legislation also adds a new 5% tax on gasoline sales, which would go toward the Mississippi Department of Transportation's budget for road and bridge infrastructure. |
| DPS asks Mississippi lawmakers to fund statewide cyber defense program | |
 | Public safety officials in Mississippi are asking lawmakers for more support to protect the state from cyberthreats. In the two years since a dedicated cyber unit was created in the state's homeland security office, the unit has investigated dozens of cyber attacks directed at the state's networks and businesses. As the rate and complexity of these cyber attacks continues to increase, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety is asking lawmakers to put $3.5 million into a new cyber defense software program. Sean Tindell, the DPS Commissioner, says a system like this is needed for a statewide approach to cybersecurity. "It (the new software) provides a critical defense structure in our cyber systems for the state that prevents people's personal information from being stolen and prevents schools from being hijacked and held for ransom," Tindell said. Multiple public school districts, colleges and health care providers in Mississippi have been successfully targeted with ransomware attacks in recent years. In September 2023, Mississippi-based Singing River Health Systems was hit with an attack that resulted in the theft of around half a million patient files. DPS is also asking lawmakers for funding to hire more cybersecurity experts. Tindell says having the right infrastructure in place won't help without people who know what they're doing, but hiring them is expensive. |
| Legislation filed to ban most camping on public property | |
| Weeks after the city of Jackson pulled a proposed ordinance to ban camping in public places, a state lawmaker appears to be pushing forward with his own version of the measure that would prohibit it across the state. Last week, District 61 Rep. Gene Newman filed H.B. 159, the "Public Safety for Public Property Act." The bill, which has been referred to the House Judiciary A Committee, would prohibit sleeping on public sidewalks, streets, or alleyways, or any pedestrian or vehicular entryway to a public sidewalk. Newman says he's been to larger cities across the country where he's seen the homeless encampments and doesn't believe people should have the right to camp on the streets. "It's not just a Jackson issue. It's a nationwide issue and statewide issue," he said. "Small towns are struggling with this in some places. That's why we're doing it as a state law." 2024 data provided by HUD shows there were 273 homeless people in the city of Jackson's Continuum of Care area. That area includes the city, as well as Madison County and Rankin County. Under the measure, individuals would be prohibited from camping or creating a campsite on any sidewalks, streets, highways, alleys, roads, passageways, or other public property. They also would not be allowed to sleep in any pedestrian or vehicular entrance to a public or private property next to a public sidewalk. |
| Mississippi's top doctor outlines his legislative priorities for the 2025 session | |
| During the first meeting of the State Board of Health in 2025, state health officer, Dr. Dan Edney, talks about current health concerns in the state and outlines his legislative priorities for the year. During last year's legislative session, House Bill 1725, which would have expanded Medicaid coverage for eligible, working Mississippians, died after top lawmakers could not agree on a final proposal. Dr. Edney is renewing his call to expand healthcare coverage for the uninsured patients who use county health departments. He says at least 20% of those patients are currently not eligible for Medicaid or health insurance on the open marketplace. "What I'm advocating for is to close that coverage gap in the county health departments," he said. "The health department's are public health clinics, they are not primary care clinics. We do all we can with the needs in front of us, but we're just one example of where that coverage gap is really negatively impacting the health economy of the state." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the three leading causes of death in Mississippi are heart disease, cancer and accidents. Dr. Edney says thoughtful investment including from state resources are needed to address this issue. "We have got to lean into the preventable causes of death because it is extremely expensive to the economy," he said. "In Mississippi, $25 billion a year is lost out of our economy because of just the top three causes of death." |
| Mississippi lawmakers likely waiting on Trump decision before expanding Medicaid | |
| With Medicaid expansion seemingly being on the verge of passing in Mississippi a year ago, but never making it across the finish line, many believed those talks would seamlessly convey to the 2025 session and pick up there. But now, the federal government and a level of uncertainty surrounding what healthcare as a whole might look like under a new administration is causing lawmakers nearly 1,000 miles away from Washington to virtually stop in their tracks to wait and see what President-elect Donald Trump may do. Questions that Mississippi lawmakers want answers to include but are not limited to: Is the federal match rate going to go down? Are eligibility requirements going to be tightened? Will work requirements be granted? Will it move to a block grant model? Is insurance going to be completely privatized? Will the Affordable Care Act be repealed in its entirety? According to Rep. Sam Creekmore, a Republican who serves as chair of the Public Health and Human Service Committee, the best idea would be to allow Trump and his cabinet to settle in and then ask these questions before passing any major legislation. |
| What Southeast Mississippi Mayors Want From the State Capitol in 2025 | |
| The 2025 legislative session is underway and state Capitol leaders are preparing to tackle major issues affecting Mississippians. From tax reforms to infrastructure improvements, the decisions made under the dome will have lasting impacts on communities across the state. For mayors in southeast Mississippi, these discussions are more than abstract policy debates -- they are critical to addressing their cities' unique challenges and opportunities. Many are advocating for legislation that supports local development, enhances public safety and ensures financial stability for their residents. Tax reform is high on the mayors' agenda, with discussions centering on income tax elimination and a potential reduction in the state's 7% grocery tax. While these changes could provide relief for residents, city leaders are concerned about the impact on municipal budgets, which rely heavily on tax revenue. Changes to the Public Employees' Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) are also on the minds of many mayors. The state's incremental increases in employer contribution rates have given cities some budget flexibility, but the system's long-term viability remains a concern. |
| Senate resolution would bar press access to Mississippi Senate floor | |
| A resolution filed in the Mississippi Senate would restrict press access to the Senate floor and move members of the media to the chamber's gallery to cover the news. However, the first person to decide whether the bill lives or dies through the legislative process told the Clarion Ledger he has no intentions of bringing up the legislation. Sen. Kevin Blackwell, R-Southaven, filed Senate Resolution No. 5 on Friday. If passed into law, it would restrict access of reporters from the Senate floor but allow them to record and report on the chamber from the Senate gallery above. "No person may be admitted to the floor of the Senate for the purpose of transcribing the debates and proceedings of the Senate," states Senate Resolution No. 5. "No person except for news media with proper credentials issued by the Rules Committee shall take any photograph or transcribe debates and proceedings of the Senate in the Senate Gallery while the Senate is in session." "You will have access to everything you need," Blackwell said on Monday. The Senate has for decades allowed members of the press to record the happenings of the chamber from the floor and recognized their role in facilitating public information to voters and state residents. By restricting floor access, the Senate would effectively be blocking the public from posing questions and ensuring a transparent and accountable legislative process, said Layne Bruce, Mississippi Press Association executive director. |
| Justice Branning sworn in at Ellis Theater | |
 | After months of campaigning and a tight runoff race, Justice Jenifer Branning has now moved from the state's senate to the Supreme Court. In a ceremony on Monday afternoon at Philadelphia's historic Ellis Theater, Branning was sworn in by Chief Justice Randolph. Friends, family, supporters, and even Governor Tate Reeves were there to celebrate the momentous occasion. Justice Branning said today has been a long time coming, but she's ready for what comes next as she takes on her new role. "It has been an amazing experience to get to know Mississippians all across the central district in the race for the Mississippi Supreme Court, and I'm thrilled with the honor and opportunity to represent them on the court now," said Justice Branning. "All during the year, we campaigned on the premise that Mississippians deserve constitutional conservative judges to represent them on the Mississippi Supreme Court. Now, I'm thrilled to fill that role for Mississippians, and I'm ready to get to work." Branning will be the fifth woman on the Supreme Court but the first one elected to the court. |
| USACE Vicksburg District extends timeline for publication of final Environmental Impact Statement for the Pearl River Basin, Mississippi Federal Flood Risk Management Project | |
| The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District announces the publication timeline of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Pearl River Basin, Mississippi Federal Flood Risk Management Project has been extended. This announcement follows a recent trip to Jackson, Mississippi, by Jamie Pinkham, acting assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, who toured the impacted areas and met with leaders of the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood & Drainage Control District on the important needs of the project. The FEIS is a critical document in the planning and approval process for the project. The document provides necessary information for the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to decide how to address flood risk management for the citizens of the Jackson Metropolitan area. The project goal remains to identify an implementable solution that will effectively reduce flood risks while ensuring environmental compliance. "We understand the importance of this project for the residents of Jackson and the surrounding communities," said COL Jeremiah Gipson, commander, USACE Vicksburg District. "Moving forward, we will continue to involve the community as the team remains dedicated to ensuring the project is based on sound research that prioritizes both flood risk reduction and environmental stewardship." |
| The Hottest Ticket Across Corporate America: Trump's Inauguration | |
 | Eight years ago, Donald Trump's inauguration smashed fundraising records and drew in high-dollar donors across the corporate spectrum. This month's events will make the 2017 affair look like a bake sale. Corporate interest in Donald Trump's inauguration has grown so intense in recent weeks that allies of the president-elect have been soliciting $10 million to $15 million donations to spread across various Trump groups, according to people familiar with the fundraising. Some prospective donors are even getting wait-listed for tickets, the people said. The official inauguration festivities have been at capacity since early January, according to people familiar with the planning. Some six-figure donors have asked consultants to help them in the door and have been turned away. The inauguration has raised more than $200 million so far, according to people briefed on the fundraising, and could double what it raised eight years ago. A handful of companies have made donations of more than $10 million, according to some of the people familiar with the fundraising, distributing their cash between the Trump inauguration and allied super PACs and nonprofits. Donations from McDonald's, Delta and Johnson & Johnson are the first time those companies have given to an inauguration in the last decade. "Inaugurations have long represented a bipartisan commitment to democracy and the peaceful transfer of power," a spokeswoman for McDonald's said. |
| An American tradition: Defeated candidates attending the president-elect's inauguration | |
 | In January 1981, Jimmy Carter nodded politely toward Ronald Reagan as the new Republican president thanked the Democrat for his administration's help after Reagan resoundingly defeated Carter the previous November. Twenty years earlier, after a much closer race, Republican Richard Nixon clasped John F. Kennedy's hand and offered the new Democratic president a word of encouragement. The U.S. has a long tradition of defeated presidential candidates sharing the inauguration stage with the people who defeated them, projecting to the world the orderly transfer of power. It's a practice that Vice President Kamala Harris will resume on Jan. 20 after an eight-year hiatus. Only once in the television era -- with its magnifying effect on a losing candidate's expression -- has a defeated candidate skipped the exercise. That candidate, former President Donald Trump, left for Florida after a failed effort to overturn his loss based on false or unfounded theories of voter fraud. With Harris watching, Trump is scheduled to stand on the Capitol's west steps and be sworn in for a second term. |
| 'A humbling experience': JD Vance visits family cemetery in Eastern Kentucky | |
 | JD Vance, who is set to be sworn in as vice president in one week, made a visit to Breathitt County on Monday to pay his respects to family buried in a cemetery there. "Five generations of my family are buried in a small cemetery in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky," Vance said in a statement. "It was a humbling experience to visit that gravesite today as I prepare to be sworn in next week with President Trump." Vance has regularly touted his ties to Kentucky, noting that his great-grandmother had a home in Jackson as he referenced in his national best-selling book, "Hillbilly Elegy." During his speech at the Republican National Convention this summer, Vance weaved his Kentucky roots into his address, declaring that he will ultimately be buried in the commonwealth. Vance said that the people of Eastern Kentucky represent "the source of America's greatness" and even cited Kentucky in the story of his proposal to his wife, Usha. "Honey, I come with $120,000 worth of law school debt and a cemetery plot on a mountainside in Eastern Kentucky," he said. "And I guess standing here tonight it's gotten weirder and weirder, honey." |
| President Joe Biden is coming to Charleston on Sunday | |
 | President Joe Biden will spend Sunday -- his second to last day in office -- in Charleston with the White House making the announcement this morning. No details of where the president will be were released in the short press release, only that additional information will follow. Biden has been a frequent visitor to Charleston, most recently during last year's presidential primary season. The trip would potentially be a quick turnaround given that he is expected to be in Washington on Monday for Donald Trump's inauguration at the Capitol. Biden's last visit to the region was in October when he toured the Upstate in the aftermath of the Hurricane Helene devastation where he was greeted by Gov. Henry McMaster and other state political leaders. Biden additionally has a close relationship with South Carolina Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, whom he has often credited with helping win the White House and the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination with his endorsement. Biden presented Clyburn with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in May, and during the White House ceremony Biden noted Clyburn's decades of service to South Carolina and the country. |
| Bad luck and a family matter: How a recent trip embodied Biden's shaky term | |
 | One of Joe Biden's final domestic trips was symbolic of his up-and-down presidency. It was a dish composed of all things Biden, with a solid start mixed with a heaping serving of bad luck, a dash of weirdness -- and a family matter as the garnish. There was the president in New Orleans last week, following a terrorist attack that killed 14 New Year's revelers, again acing his role as the country's consoler in chief. But when Air Force One landed in Los Angeles hours later, things began to turn south. There was no clear objective for the trip, and the schedules released by the White House were light on details. Then came the vintage Biden bad luck: High winds and wildfires canceled the trip's main event -- his remarks about national monuments, a longtime focus for the president. The White House's cryptic messaging around the trip became less murky on his final morning out West, when aides announced: "The President and First Lady are stopping by Cedars-Sinai Hospital for the birth of their great-grandchild." The longer his term went, the more time Biden has seemed to devote to his family, including numerous weekend and overnight trips to his private residence in Wilmington, Del. Then came another vintage moment from the 82-year-old Biden: a verbal gaffe. His spoken slips, including during a disastrous debate performance over the summer, led Democratic donors and lawmakers to push him to end his reelection bid. "The good news is I'm a great grandfather as of today... A 10-pound baby girl, baby boy." A reporter traveling with him filed this dispatch: "He clearly appeared to correct himself at the end but it's not clear which version is correct. Seeking clarification." None came, however. |
| Special counsel in Hunter Biden case denounces president for criticism of the probe | |
 | The Department of Justice on Monday released special counsel David Weiss' final report after his investigation of criminal allegations against President Biden's son Hunter Biden. Biden last month signed a full and unconditional pardon for his son, after earlier promising not to do so, saying "raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice." Weiss in the report called such accusations "gratuitous and wrong." "Other presidents have pardoned family members, but in doing so, none have taken the occasion as an opportunity to malign the public servants at the Department of Justice based solely on false accusations," he wrote. Hunter Biden was convicted in June of federal gun charges for lying about his addiction to crack cocaine when he purchased a gun. Three months later, he entered a guilty plea to tax offenses for failing to pay at least $1.4 million in federal taxes. Sentencing was expected in December in both cases. Weiss, a Delaware U.S. attorney appointed by Donald Trump, was retained during the Biden administration and began investigating Hunter Biden in 2019. He was appointed special counsel in August 2023. In the report, Weiss said he brought the charges independent of any politics and purely because Hunter Biden broke federal laws. "These prosecutions were the culmination of thorough, impartial investigations, not partisan politics," he wrote in the report. "Calling those rulings into question and injecting partisanship into the independent administration of the law undermines the very foundation of what makes America's justice system fair and equitable." |
| Special counsel Jack Smith's final report says there was enough evidence to convict Trump | |
 | Special counsel Jack Smith, whose office indicted President-elect Donald Trump on charges of illegally trying to stay in power after losing the 2020 election, said in a bombshell final report released early Tuesday that he believed his team had amassed enough evidence to convict Trump if the case went to trial. But Trump's election to a second term in November made it impossible for the case to go forward, Smith wrote in the 174-page report, which was dated Jan. 7 and addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland. "The Department's view that the Constitution prohibits the continued indictment and prosecution of a President is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government's proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Office stands fully behind," Smith wrote in the report. Trump and his legal team had fought to prevent the release of the report on various grounds, including saying it would interfere with his plans to take office on Jan. 20. But late Monday night, Judge Aileen Cannon in Florida denied Trump's emergency motion to prevent its release. Soon after, the Justice Department delivered it to Congress. The release of the report caps an extraordinary legal saga pitting the Justice Department -- and later the special counsel's office after Trump declared his candidacy -- against the former president. |
| Hanging Out at Starbucks? You Now Need to Order Something | |
| If you're walking into a Starbucks cafe, you now need to be prepared to buy something. Starbucks this month is rolling out a new code of conduct at its cafes across North America, aiming to improve guests' and staff's safety and experience. Included in the shift is a reversal of a nearly seven-year policy of allowing the general public to linger or use the bathroom, regardless of whether they buy a latte or a croissant. The new chain policies include adding signs banning harassment, violence, threatening language, outside alcohol, smoking and panhandling in its stores, according to employee notices viewed by The Wall Street Journal. The new code of conduct for customers is part of the coffee giant's effort to make its stores more hospitable, as it seeks to reverse a slide in customer traffic and falling sales. "There is a need to reset expectations for how our spaces should be used, and who uses them," Starbucks North America President Sara Trilling said in a letter sent this week. Executives said customers need a clean, safe environment, and that employees have also shared concerns about the chain's open-to-all approach. The chain said the new policy for company-owned cafes would take effect Jan. 27 at its more than 11,000 North American stores. Code-of-conduct signs will state that cafes, patios and restrooms are for customers, those accompanying them, and employees, according to the company communications viewed by the Journal. |
| Education: Early admission available for high school seniors to The W's Nursing Program | |
| High school seniors now have the opportunity to secure early admission into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Mississippi University for Women. The recent launch of the Freshmen Early Acceptance Program provides high school seniors the opportunity to secure early admission, giving them a head start on their journey toward a successful career in healthcare. "Our college is excited to embrace this new entry option," said Brandy Larmon, dean of the Vandergriff College of Nursing and Health Sciences. "We know the value of a liberal arts foundation in developing critical thinking, communication and other skills, so we look forward to securing spots for those students within our programs." The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program prepares nurse generalists who are leaders in the promotion and maintenance of health and the improvement of healthcare outcomes across all settings at the local, state, national and global levels. The Vandergriff College of Nursing and Health Sciences is home to more than 900 students and is composed of the Department of Associate of Science in Nursing, the Department of Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program, the Department of Graduate Nursing, the Department of Health and Kinesiology and the Department of Speech-Language Pathology. |
| UM to hold MLK Day of Service events | |
| The University of Mississippi community will honor the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. through its annual MLK Day of Service and a memorial dinner and celebration. The UM Division of Access, Opportunity and Engagement invites students, staff, faculty and community members to improve the community together on Jan. 20. Volunteers will check in at noon at the Jackson Avenue Center for a free lunch and kickoff event. Then they will be dispatched to various sites around the city and Lafayette County to participate in service projects until 5 p.m. The goal is to inspire participants to uphold King's ideals through meaningful service to their community, said Kathryn Kidd, DAOE assistant director of community partnerships. On Jan. 17, the university is also hosting its memorial dinner at the Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union ballroom. The free event takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and features Gloria J. McEwen Burgess, an award-winning poet and civic leader, as the keynote speaker. |
| From Faulkner to Foodways: Ole Miss's Center for the Study of Southern Culture | |
| In his book The World's Largest Man: A Memoir, noted author and Mississippi native Harrison Scott Key gives a sibylline definition of the South. "The South is a strange place," he writes, "one that can't be fit inside a movie, a place that dares you to simplify it, like a prime number, like a Bible story, like my father." Perhaps nowhere is this more true than in Mississippi. Most readers will be more familiar with the oft-repeated William Faulkner quote: "To understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi." We like this quote so much, in fact, that you'll find it on stickers, T-shirts, and tea towels all over the state. We like it because we believe it to be true. Mississippi, in many ways, is a microcosm of the rest of the South. The things that are true of the South are, in large part, especially true of Mississippi, for better or worse. The University of Mississippi in Oxford -- where Faulkner spent most of his life -- is therefore a fitting home for the Center for the Study of Southern Culture. The center was the first of its kind dedicated to the study of the U.S. South. Founded in 1977, it opened in the fall of that year with a three-day symposium on Eudora Welty that featured Welty herself. |
| USM partners with Mississippi College for accelerated law degree | |
 | Monday afternoon, Southern Miss signed an agreement with Mississippi College School of Law to help future lawyers get into the workforce a little early. Through the new partnership, students can attend USM for three years majoring in political science, legal studies, and criminal justice, and then be admitted early into law school. Students' first year of law school would become their senior year, and they're out of law school a full year early. "So it turns a seven-year process into six for students," said USM President Dr. Joe Paul. "It saves them an entire year of tuition and cost of living, and gives them one more year in the workplace, early entry to start to earn a living. So it's a, it's a great program for students that show up at Southern Miss that are serious about becoming attorneys." "Southern Miss serves the state of Mississippi and serves students in Mississippi," said Mississippi College President Blake Thompson. "We as a law school, the only law school in the state capital, we think of ourselves as serving the state of Mississippi as well. We're producing the next generation of Mississippi's attorneys." |
| USM raises awareness about human trafficking | |
 | January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and the University of Southern Mississippi is taking action to raise awareness. USM's Center of Human Trafficking Research and Training has partnered with community groups and state agencies. They will work to collect data and educate the public, schools and victim services. Their goal is to recognize and assist trafficking victims. Officials with the center said Mississippi is particularly vulnerable to sex and labor trafficking, due to economic hardship and natural disasters. Familial trafficking, where victims are exploited by family or friends, is the most common form in the state. "What we know about Mississippi is that potentially there's a lack of opportunity for gainful employment and also we have natural disasters. So, one of the largest labor trafficking cases here in the United States occurred right after Katrina, where Indian guest workers came in to help with the oil rigs out in the ocean. So, it's an unfortunate situation where there's an amalgamation of risk factors within the state of Mississippi that can heighten and perpetuate this crime," said Dr. Kimberly Hogan, with the USM Center of Human Trafficking Research and Training. |
| Jones College highlights ONE Step Program, enrollment | |
| Monday was the first day of the spring semester at Jones College and they're highlighting the ONE Step program and enrollment. The ONE Step Program is designed specifically for adult students who work full-time. The program offers one academic class for up to four semesters at no cost to the students and also offers credit hours for professional experience. all academic courses qualify for the program. "Our one-step program has probably tripled in size since the spring of 2024," said Amanda McLeod, Vice President of Enrollment Management. "It's really an excellent program just to get your foot in the door, ease back into college and it's something that we're really excited about. we're seeing a lot of nontraditional students take advantage of it." The college will be enrolling students throughout this Friday, January 17th. |
| Schools brace for clash with immigration officials ahead of Trump term | |
 | K-12 schools across the U.S. are gearing up for potential efforts to shield their students as the incoming Trump administration sets its sights on deporting millions of people. Administrators and teachers' unions are looking to build relationships and provide resources for students and families without legal status as President-elect Trump has pledged the largest mass deportation in history, floating the end of policies barring immigration raids at schools and places of worship. School officials and advocates are ensuring staff understand the rights to privacy that immigrant students have and how to tackle other issues that may arise such as slipping attendance as undocumented families fear the worst. Trump's incoming "border czar" has said he plans to revive family detention centers, and that halfway homes may be necessary for U.S. citizen children with non-citizen parents. Hundreds of thousands of undocumented students attend public schools across the U.S., and many more are U.S. citizens with undocumented parents who could find themselves lacking a guardian or in legal limbo if Trump follows through with his promises. |
| Laken Riley Act Could Have Implications for Higher Ed | |
 | Approval of U.S. visas -- which has historically been up to federal officials in Washington -- could soon be put in the hands of state attorneys general, creating immense uncertainty for colleges, universities and the international students and scholars they serve. It all depends on whether the Senate passes the Laken Riley Act, an immigration measure that Republicans have championed as one of their first actions of the new 119th Congress. Named after an Augusta University nursing student who was murdered in Athens, Ga., early last year by an undocumented migrant with a criminal record, the bill's primary aim is to introduce harsher detention policies. But another section of the legislation that has largely flown under the radar could impact visas for lawful, documented individuals applying to work or study in the States. This particular provision of the eight-page bill would expand the power of state appointees, allowing them to sue the federal government and seek sweeping bans on visas from countries that won't take back deportees. This includes countries such as Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador that are south of the U.S. border and frequently a part of immigration debates, but it could also apply to countries like China and India, which colleges often depend on for large swaths of their international student population. |
| The Supercomputer Transforming the U. of Florida Into an AI Hub | |
| Far from the high-profile tech hubs on the West Coast, a college town in north Florida's swamplands is pushing forward to distinguish itself as an AI research destination. Last month, the University of Florida's Board of Trustees approved a $24 million investment to upgrade UF's supercomputer, HiPerGator. When NVIDIA, the AI computing company that built the machine, delivers the fourth-generation model to campus later this year, it will make Gainesville the home of one of the globe's fastest supercomputers amid an international AI arms race. "This investment is doubling down on what we think is a successful model the state and nation need in developing the workforce in artificial intelligence," said Elias Eldayrie, UF's chief information officer. "As unique as the technology is, it will be complemented by a unique intellectual environment with scholars from across different disciplines who will use it for research and teaching and learning." The new HiPerGator is UF's latest move in a decade-long campaign to position itself as a leader in computational research and AI education. It secured the first version of HiPerGator in 2013 and came out with a second in 2015. In 2020, UF hired 100 new faculty members focused on AI research, and HiPerGator made building that research workforce easier. Faculty have also integrated the use of HiPerGator into dozens of courses at UF and throughout the state's university system. |
| Georgia legislative session returns; First senate bill goes after trans athletes | |
| The Georgia legislature opened its 2025 session Monday -- and the first bill dropped in the senate was a bill restricting transgender schoolchildren in sports settings. Critics of the bill say it solves a nonexistent problem. "I'm really disappointed that once again the majority party has decided to attack really vulnerable children," said state Sen. Kim Jackson (D-Stone Mountain). Transgender Georgians and their supporters had a strong presence at the capitol during the session's first day -- fully aware that many Republicans view transgender athletes as a priority issue. Among other things, Senate Bill 1 would "prohibit males from participating in interscholastic and intercollegiate competitions on teams designated as female..." Over the summer, Republicans led a study committee that highlighted a national collegiate swimming competition that took place at Georgia Tech which included a transgender athlete. Republican Greg Dolezal led the committee and wrote SB 1. "It will establish clearly in Georgia law that males are not allowed to compete in female sports in the state of Georgia," said Dolezal. |
| Texas A&M announces four finalists for Corps Commandant | |
 | Texas A&M University's Corps of Cadets has moved closer to finding the 47th commandant in its history. The university's corps commandant search committee, led by University Chief of Staff Susan Ballabina, released the names of four finalists who will visit the A&M campus starting next week. The four finalists are Capt. (Ret.) William H. Baxter, Lt. Gen. J.W. Bierman, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Gregory J. Lengyel and Maj. Gen. (Ret.) John J. Nicholls. Two of the finalists, Lengyel and Baxter, are former A&M students and were in the Corps of Cadets. The Corps' 46th commandant, Brig. Gen. Patrick Michaelis resigned his post last August to move into a new role at the university as special assistant to President Mark A. Welsh III. Lt. Gen. Loyd S. "Chip" Utterback has served as interim commandant since August. If Bierman or Nicholls is selected as the next commandant, they would be the first Corps commandant who was not a former Corps member since Col. Haydon L. Boatner was commandant from 1948-51. Boatner was an alum of Tulane and the United States Military Academy at West Point. |
| Wait, Freshman Enrollment Actually Increased Last Fall | |
 | After further review, freshman enrollment increased last fall. On Monday, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center announced that a "methodological error" had affected its previous calculation of the number of first-year students enrolling this past fall. In October, the center published its annual preliminary report stating that freshman enrollment had declined 5 percent compared with the fall of 2023, the first drop since the start of the pandemic. That eye-popping finding prompted a furious bout of hand-wringing about the impact of last year's federal-aid crisis, not to mention the future of higher education. But those numbers -- based on data provided by 50 percent of colleges -- were wrong. Doug Shapiro, the center's executive director, said in a written statement on Monday that the methodological error "caused the mislabeling of certain students as dual-enrolled rather than as freshmen, and as a result, the number of freshmen was undercounted, and the number of dual-enrolled was overcounted." That error also affected the center's recent analysis of enrollment of 18-year-old freshmen this fall. Shapiro said further research revealed that freshman enrollment had, in fact, increased this fall, but he did not say by how much. A spokesperson for the center declined to share more details via email on Monday, saying only that the center would release its Current Term Enrollment Estimates report, with data on freshman enrollment, on January 23. |
| McDonald's sued over scholarships for Hispanic and Latino students | |
 | Activists who oppose affirmative action are suing McDonald's in federal court, alleging that the fast-food giant's scholarship program for Hispanic and Latino high-schoolers is racially discriminatory. Filed Sunday in Nashville by the American Alliance for Equal Rights, the lawsuit comes shortly after McDonald's announced an overhaul of its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, joining a growing list of big-name firms such as Meta and Amazon that have rebranded policies and moved away from programs based on race and identity. Citing a "shifting legal landscape," McDonald's said last week that it would end representation goals and supplier diversity efforts and would refer to its diversity team as its "Global Inclusion Team" going forward. The company also said it would pause surveys that assess the company's progress on its diversity efforts, such as the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. But these changes did not go far enough, AAER's complaint alleges. "When corporations say they will replace controversial and polarizing programs with more neutral ones, it does not always mean the company has undergone any meaningful changes," Edward Blum, president of AAER, said Monday in a statement. "It is our hope that McDonald's immediately pauses this scholarship program so it can be opened to all under-resourced high school students regardless of their ethnic heritage." |
| Biden's parting gift: Student loan debt relief | |
 | In the waning days of Joe Biden's presidency, his administration announced on Monday that it will provide student debt relief to 150,000 borrowers. Almost 85,000 attended schools that defrauded their students; 61,000 have total and permanent disabilities; and 6,100 are public service workers. "Since Day One of my Administration, I promised to ensure higher education is a ticket to the middle class, not a barrier to opportunity, and I'm proud to say we have forgiven more student loan debt than any other administration in history," Biden said in a statement. Education Department officials said that "many" borrowers had already been notified that they received relief, and some will be notified in the coming days. Officials declined to specify whether this would be the last student debt relief announcement. President-elect Donald Trump's transition advisers and outside allies have been discussing ways to unwind the various Biden-era initiatives that offered new or easier paths to loan forgiveness. During Trump's first administration, then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos denied nearly 130,000 applications for borrower defense, a process that allows borrowers who were defrauded by their schools to seek loan forgiveness. The Public Student Loan Forgiveness program, which forgives student loans for public service workers who've met certain requirements, had a 99 percent denial rate in 2017, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. |
| Colleges Expect Less Red Tape Under Trump, More Input on Policies | |
| As Donald Trump returns to the White House, academics have expressed a catalog of concerns about the vulnerability of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, student loan forgiveness policies and academic freedom. But while the president-elect is expected to ramp up scrutiny of academia, policy experts say that certain executive actions could benefit colleges and universities as employers. The potential rewards for institutions will vary, with private for-profit institutions likely to see the greatest gains. The incoming administration is expected to roll back regulations for colleges and universities, which should provide some benefits. Institutions also could see a boost if the administration changes union or compensation rules. Plus, the protection of certain tax credits could benefit colleges that provide health insurance and promote charitable giving. "We forget sometimes that institutions are major employers. In many cases, they may be the largest employer in the state," said Sarah Spreitzer, vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education. "In the labor and employment area, this administration coming in is likely to be more favorable to institutions than to employees." |
| (dot) Gov: What Trump's Plans Mean For The Department of Education | |
| 1A Podcast: You've probably heard President-elect Donald Trump say he plans to close the Department of Education. It's the smallest of the cabinet-level federal agencies, with just over 4,000 employees. Its 2024 budget was $275 billion. That's 4 percent of all federal funding. Trump's plans to completely shutter the department are unlikely to happen. He may, however, make big changes to it, shifting many of its responsibility to other agencies. But what are those responsibilities exactly? And who carries them out? As part of our series on federal workers, dot Gove, we're diving into the Department of Education today to talk about its functions and what the future president's plans for it mean for the American people. |
| State Support Top Priority for Public University Leaders | |
| State higher education leaders say their top priority for 2025 is ensuring robust operating support from state governments, according to the latest annual survey from the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association. Respondents listed economic and workforce development as their second-highest priority for the new year, with 94 percent classifying it as important or very important. The third-highest priority for public higher ed executives is state financial aid programs, followed by restoring confidence in higher ed's value, student success and completion, college affordability, and declining enrollments. While state higher ed funding grew in 2022–23 thanks to infusions of federal pandemic relief money, it's beginning to contract as budget surpluses shrink. Last year, operating support was No. 2 on SHEEO's priority list, and in 2023, it ranked fourth. "With some states already having to make tough budget decisions, I think we'll continue to see headlines around operating support, state funding for financial aid programs, and the conversation around college affordability and the value proposition," Tom Harnisch, SHEEO's vice president for government relations, wrote in a statement accompanying the survey results. |
SPORTS
| Five Things To Know: No. 15 State-No. 1 Auburn | |
| Another top 15 matchup awaits Mississippi State men's basketball as the Bulldogs travel to No. 1 Auburn on Tuesday evening at Neville Arena. The Bulldogs (14-2, 2-1 SEC) are in the midst of four consecutive games against Associated Press Top 25 opponents. The only other time State has played four straight versus ranked foes was in 1999-2000 against No. 7 Auburn, No. 22 LSU, No. 6 Tennessee and No. 22 Vanderbilt from 01/29/2000 to 02/09/2000. The Bulldogs check in at No. 15 in this week's AP and at No. 18 in this week's USA Today Top 25 rankings which were released on Monday. Program high rankings for the Maroon and White was No. 14 in the AP and No. 13 in USA Today polls on 01/06/2025 under Coach Chris Jans. Auburn has won nine of the last 11 meetings between the two programs going back to the 2016-17 season. The Bulldogs will face a ranked Auburn squad for the sixth straight time. State was able knock off No. 8 Auburn, 64-58, at Humphrey Coliseum last season. Josh Hubbard hit the go-ahead three-pointer inside the final minutes. The Bulldogs also emerged with a 92-84 victory over Auburn in 2018-19 during the last ranked vs. ranked matchup between the two programs. State's last victory on the Plains was a 78-71 triumph in 2014-15. |
| Scouting report: What to know about Mississippi State ahead of matchup with Auburn | |
 | Basketball in the Southeastern Conference is as unforgiving as ever in 2025. The gauntlet of SEC play never lets up, regardless of how healthy or rested your team is. Auburn will get a taste of that on Tuesday night, challenged with the task of facing No. 15 Mississippi State without All-American center Johni Broome. Playing a team with Mississippi State's firepower and physicality would be difficult at full strength, but becomes even harder for the Tigers without their best player. The Bulldogs are one of the SEC's dark horses this season, starting the campaign unranked, but soaring into the top 15 and looking like a tough out for any team in the country. Chris Jans' team is coming off a five-point home loss to Kentucky, but won its first two SEC games by double digits and scored its most impressive win on Dec. 21, going on the road to beat now No. 18 Memphis. What stands out about Mississippi State this season is the offense. The Bulldogs have always been known for their defense under Jans, but their 120.2 offensive rating is Mississippi State's highest in Jans' tenure. "Chris Jans, I think, has always been recognized as a great defensive coach," Bruce Pearl said during his Monday afternoon news conference. "But, this year, this might be one of his best offensive teams. They really shoot it. They run stuff that's hard to guard." |
| Auburn rises to No. 1 in AP Top 25 after Tennessee loses, Georgia is ranked for 1st time since 2011 | |
| Auburn has climbed to No. 1 in The Associated Press men's basketball poll for its second stint at the top in program history, while fellow Southeastern Conference program Georgia is in the rankings for the first time in 14 years. Bruce Pearl's Tigers (15-1) claimed 60 of 62 first-place votes to rise one spot Monday after previous No. 1 Tennessee suffered its first loss of the season, falling at Florida, to end a five-week reign at the top. Auburn has been No. 1 only once before in the AP Top 25, during a three-week stint in January and February of 2022, and is the third team to sit atop the poll this season. Auburn's only loss came at Duke in early December and the Tigers have won eight straight games, though there is no word on when star forward Johni Broome might be ready to play after suffering an ankle injury in Saturday's win over South Carolina. The Tigers' rise made them the headliner in another SEC-heavy poll, with the league having nine teams in the AP Top 25 -- including three of the top five and five of the top 10. The SEC -- which had 10 ranked teams on Dec. 23 and Dec. 30 -- had nine ranked teams for the fifth time this season, including No. 11 Texas A&M, No. 15 Mississippi State and No. 21 Mississippi. |
| Q&A with WM Phoenix Open 2025 Tournament Chairman Matt Mooney | |
| The day after Matt Mooney and his wife, Anna, moved to Phoenix from their native Mississippi in 2006, they attended their first-ever WM Phoenix Open -- on a Saturday, no less. "It far exceeded my expectations," he says, recalling the energetic atmosphere and lively crowd. A decade later, the real estate investment executive joined the Phoenix Thunderbirds, the fraternal organization that stages the tournament, and this year finds himself running the whole shebang as tournament chairman. It's a fitting job for the father of three -- after all, he's a pretty decent golfer himself, having played for Mississippi State University as an undergrad. |
| Former Mississippi State football player's family loses home in California wildfires | |
| Wildfires continue to rage in southern California, leaving at least 24 dead and incinerating nearly 13,000 structures. Former Mississippi State wide receiver Jamire Calvin announced via social media that his family's home was one of the many destroyed in the blaze. Calvin, who played for the Bulldogs in 2021 and 2022 after transferring from Washington State, first posted on Friday that his family's house in Altadena, Calif. was burned down. Altadena, a suburb of Los Angeles, was part of the more than 40,000 acres enveloped by the wind-fed flames. "It was like a hurricane, just fire, no water," Calvin described to CBS News' 60 Minutes. Calvin's aunt, Evelyn McClendon, lost her life in the Eaton Fire in Altadena. Many in the Mississippi State Athletics community have rallied around the Calvin's losses, supporting a GoFundMe to provide aid to the family. "Me and my family lost everything and need any help we can get to get back on our feet and figure things out until there is a solution," Calvin said in an Instagram post on Friday. "Any donation will help, we're thankful for all those who have sent prayers and have checked in with us. Anything will help and if you can't donate please share. Thank you in advance." |
| Mike McCarthy won't return as Cowboys' coach in 2025 | |
| Mike McCarthy will not return as the Dallas Cowboys' head coach in 2025, Jerry Jones announced Monday. McCarthy's contract with the Cowboys expired last Wednesday, but the team held an exclusive negotiating window with the coach until Tuesday at midnight. Jones added that the Cowboys will begin the search for the team's next head coach immediately. The Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints are expected to be interested in speaking with McCarthy regarding their vacancies, sources told Schefter. Last week, the Bears had an official request for permission to speak with McCarthy denied by the Cowboys. Coming off a disappointing 7-10 finish in 2024, Jones will look to make the ninth head coaching hire of his tenure as owner and general manager. The Cowboys opened this season with a 3-2 record but suffered five straight defeats and saw key players including quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring), right guard Zack Martin (ankle), defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (foot), cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee) and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) end the year on injured reserve. |
| Deion Sanders: Intriguing to hear from Jerry Jones, but I love everything about Boulder | |
| Word came on Monday that Mike McCarthy will not return as the head coach of the Cowboys in 2025 and it was followed by the first word of a possible replacement. Reports on Monday night said that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has spoken with former Cowboys cornerback and current University of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders about coming back to Dallas. Sanders said in November that his "kickstand" is down in Boulder and he is "enthusiastic" about being at the school and said earlier this month that an opportunity to coach his sons Shadeur and Shilo would be the "only way" he'd consider a move to the NFL. The Cowboys are unlikely to wind up with Shadeur, who is considered one of the top quarterback prospects in this year's class, but Sanders was less definitive in his first comment about speaking to Jones. "To hear from Jerry Jones is truly delightful, and it's intriguing," Sanders told Adam Schefter of ESPN. "I love Jerry and believe in Jerry. After you hang up and process it, and think about it, it's intriguing. But I love Boulder and everything there is about our team, the coaches, our student body and the community." In addition to the difficulties involved with getting to coach his sons, Sanders also has an $8 million buyout from his Colorado contract. |
| Dak Prescott reacts to Dallas Cowboys parting ways with Mike McCarthy | |
| Dak Prescott was hoping Mike McCarthy would remain the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys for the 2025 season and beyond. After the Cowboys announced they were parting ways with McCarthy on Monday, Prescott shared his reaction to McCarthy moving on to another team. "Bummed, because we built some things," Prescott said in a text to Clarence Hill of ALL DLLS (per Pro Football Talk). "But I guess they couldn't reach an agreement. SMH." Prescott also told Hill that McCarthy is "a great coach and a hell of a man." He added that he takes "responsibility for our team being in this position." "It's the business," Prescott said. "I look forward to the future plan." Prescott only played in eight games during the 2024 season because he suffered a torn hamstring. The Cowboys went 3-5 with their starting quarterback in the lineup and went 4-5 without him. The Cowboys hired Mike McCarthy in 2020, and he tallied a 49-35 record in five seasons. During that run, McCarthy helped Prescott and the Cowboys win two NFC East titles, but the team only won one playoff game. |
| What you need to know about the Jackson State Celebration Bowl victory parade | |
| The City of Jackson is throwing a parade to honor the Jackson State University football team's first Celebration Bowl victory and the proverbial HBCU national championship. The Jackson State Tigers (12-2) defeated South Carolina State (9-3) in a 28-7 win in Atlanta in December. In his second year as head coach, T.C. Taylor took the JSU Tigers to the pinnacle of HBCU success -- something former head coach Deion Sanders couldn't do before he left the program in 2022. Sanders took the Tigers to two Celebration Bowls in 2021 and 2022, but the team lost both games. The parade was first announced by the city nearly a month ago. Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said the decision to host the parade in mid-January was due to JSU students being on holiday break. Students returned to class on Monday and the parade is scheduled is for 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17. The parade route will begin at State Street, continue to Capitol Street, proceed along West Street, and loop back via Pascagoula Street. The celebration concludes at the "Welcome to Jackson" mural, featuring remarks from Coach Taylor, Lumumba, standout players, and JSU leadership. |
The Office of Public Affairs provides the Daily News Digest as a general information resource for Mississippi State University stakeholders.
Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.
