| Friday, February 21, 2025 |
| Trump DEI order places federal funding for MSU, MUW at risk | |
 | A mandate from the U.S. Department of Education is threatening Mississippi universities with the loss of federal funds if race is not excluded from all admissions, hiring, policies and practices. In a Dear Colleague sent to all educational institutions receiving federal funding, Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said the DOE will assess universities' compliance over two weeks beginning Feb. 28. If policies and practices do not comply with the department's directive, universities like Mississippi State and Mississippi University for Women risk losing federal funding. In a response to the letter published Wednesday, MSU Vice President for Strategic Communications and Director of Public Affairs Sid Salter said the university will assess its compliance with the administration's "new interpretations." For research and sponsored projects, the IHL system received a little more than $535 million in federal funding in 2022-2023. Mississippi State received $252.18 million in federal funding for research, and Mississippi University for Women received $490,000 for research the same year. |
| Student Association presidential election results announced; Cummings-Heathcock declared winner | |
 | Cheers erupted as Cameron Cummings and Karolina Heathcock were announced as the winners of the Student Association election runoff at Lee Hall on Thursday night. The Cummings-Heathcock ticket received 52% of the vote, compared with the 48% that the Helton-O'Connor ticket achieved. President-elect Cummings credited the victory to strong community support. "It was not only myself, but the people around me that pushed me and supported me throughout this entire process, so I couldn't do it without them because obviously it is an elected position," Cummings said. "It was people who believed me and trusted what I had to do and what I wanted to do for Mississippi State." The duo is expected to be sworn in at the Student Association banquet later in the semester. |
| Two killed in shooting at Quality Inn | |
 | Two men were killed in a shooting Thursday morning at Quality Inn located at 403 MS-12. The victims have been identified as Veshawn Williams, 25, of Columbus, and Robert Mayfield, 27, of Memphis. According to Starkville Police Department officials, the incident involved three individuals: a woman, her boyfriend Williams, and her cousin Mayfield. Williams was wanted by the Columbus Police Department for kidnapping and aggravated assault. The woman's name has not been released. At 11:04 a.m., officers responded to multiple 911 calls reporting the shooting. When they arrived, they found two victims, one in the parking lot of the Quality Inn and the other nearby at State Urgent Care. Both were transported to OCH Regional Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead. Authorities are working with the Columbus Police Department to investigate the sequence of events and determine how the individuals ended up in Starkville. |
| Mississippi leads the US in flu activity, according to health data | |
 | Feel like everyone around you is sick? You aren't wrong. Flu, norovirus, RSV and COVID are active. The Walgreens Flu Index ranked Mississippi No. 1 in the country for states with the highest influenza activity for the week ending Feb. 15. This is the worst flu season for the past 15 years, and rates are climbing. Most states are reporting high or very high levels of flu activity. A report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said the percent of specimens testing positive for flu in labs and the number of lab-confirmed hospitalizations related to influenza is higher than any previous peak week when looking back to the 2015-16 an 2010-11 flu seasons. The CDC estimates that there have been at least 29 million cases of the flu this season, leading to about 370,000 hospitalizations and 16,000 deaths. Columbus-Tupelo-West Point-Houston was No. 6 in the country, falling from the No. 2 spot in the prior week. Jackson also fell from the No. 6 spot out of the Top 10. |
| Senate's tax cut proposal clears hurdle, heads to floor | |
| The Senate's tax bill cleared a hurdle Thursday when the chamber's Finance Committee voted to approve SB 3095. The Republican-led measure authored by Senator Josh Harkins (R) seeks to cut taxes by roughly $538 million despite Democrats' concerns that reducing taxes while increasing the gas tax would hurt low-income workers. The legislation calls for slashing the state's income tax from 4 percent to 2.99 percent phased in over four years. It stops short of full elimination, as was proposed in the House tax reform package earlier this session. This is likely to lead to heated debate when the two chambers start conference talks next month. Senator Hob Bryan (R) accused outsiders of pushing the state's Republican agenda on taxes, calling out Grover Norquist with Americans for Tax Reform. "They care nothing about roads. They care nothing about public safety. They care nothing about public schools. What they care about is simply reducing government to the size that it could be drowned in a bathtub," Bryan said. |
| Senate advances its tax overhaul. Debate centers on who the proposal would help | |
| The Senate Finance Committee voted Thursday to advance legislation to reduce the state income tax and the sales tax on groceries while raising the gasoline tax. Republican senators voted to advance the measure, which they say will boost economic activity in Mississippi. Democrats on the committee argued cutting the income tax while raising the gas tax would benefit corporations and harm the working poor. The Senate plan amounts to a net tax cut of $326 million, a more modest sum than the $1.1 billion net cut passed by the House. The Senate would reduce the state's flat 4% income tax to 2.99% over four years, a provision that's likely to become a point of contention with the House, which has pushed for eventual full elimination of the income tax. The debate over tax policy is unfolding as Mississippi has made a push to lure technology companies to the state with generous tax incentives. Republican Sen. Daniel Sparks said the Senate plan would strengthen the state's effort to create jobs and attract new residents. |
| Lawmakers look to ban certain online gaming platforms | |
| The Mississippi Senate voted unanimously last week to ban certain online gaming platforms, also known as sweepstakes casinos, following other states in banning the controversial gaming model. SB 2510 aims to halt sweepstake casinos statewide. The measure does not define what sweepstake casinos are specifically but lumps them in with online, interactive, or computerized versions of any game of chance. The committee substitute, which the Senate voted on, outlines stiff felony charges for operators and promoters, including fines upwards of $100,000 per violation and up to ten years in prison. Senator Joey Fillingane (R), the bill's author, said the Mississippi Gaming Commission and established licensed casinos favor the measure. During floor debate, Fillingane noted that some Mississippi residents are unaware that they are engaging in illegal online gambling because many of the websites appear legal. |
| Airbus Says U.S. Tariffs Would Be 'Lose-Lose' for Airline Industry | |
 | Airbus, the world's largest commercial airplane maker, said on Thursday that it was preparing for the possibility of new U.S. tariffs and would be able to "adapt accordingly," including passing on higher costs to its American airline customers. In a wide-ranging media conference at Airbus's headquarters in Toulouse, France, the company's chief executive, Guillaume Faury, also stepped up calls for European companies and governments to increase collaboration on defense at a time when the United States appears to be retreating from its security role in Europe. Airbus also has sprawling operations in the United States, and Mr. Faury appeared hopeful that the White House would spare the company as it lobs tariff threats on entire industries and countries selling in the U.S. market. The company has an airplane manufacturing hub in Alabama, a helicopter facility in Mississippi and a satellite business in Florida, which collectively employ more than 5,000 workers and indirectly support 275,000 jobs among its 2,000 U.S. suppliers. |
| With multiple tariffs looming, farmers who support Trump grow nervous | |
 | Like all successful farmers, Suzanne Shirbroun has learned to manage uncertainty. But President Donald Trump's near-daily edicts on tariffs and trade threaten to upend all her careful calculations. As the president mulls a revolution in global economics, farmers like Shirbroun, who raises soybeans and corn with her husband, Joe, find themselves in the crosshairs. Trump draws strong support from farm states. And many here endorse his stated goals for tariffs of encouraging the return of lost factory jobs, striking back against "unfair" trading partners and raising government revenue. But the prospect of a trade war sequel has farmers -- including those like the Shirbrouns, who voted for him -- on edge. Trump's remaking of U.S. global economic engagement, however, adds a fresh element of worry as farmers already are grappling with an unforgiving business environment. |
| U.S. Consumer Confidence Falls Back on Fears of Tariff-Induced Price Increases | |
 | U.S. consumer confidence slid backward this month, reflecting expectations that tariffs proposed by the Trump administration on goods imports will lead to rising prices. The University of Michigan's index of consumer sentiment tumbled to 64.7 at the end of February, well below January's 71.7. It also was weaker than economists' expectations of 67.8 from a Wall Street Journal poll, which was also the February midmonth reading. In particular, the survey's gauge for buying conditions for durable goods -- those meant to last five years or more -- slumped, in large part due to fears that tariff-induced price increases are imminent, survey director Joanne Hsu said. Weaker confidence was unanimous across groups by age, income and wealth. But while sentiment fell for both Democrats and independents, it was unchanged for Republicans, reflecting continued disagreements on the consequences of the Trump administration's economic policies, Hsu added. |
| The private GOP panic over the slash-and-burn DOGE firings | |
 | A growing number of congressional Republicans are desperately trying to back-channel with White House officials as President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency ramps up its slash-and-burn firings of federal workers. GOP lawmakers unleashed a frantic flurry of calls and texts after federal agencies undertook the latest firings this past weekend, with Republicans particularly worried about cuts affecting public safety and health roles. For the most part, Republican members are publicly cheering the administration's push ... But privately, many are feeling helpless to counter the meat-ax approach that has been embraced so far, with lawmakers especially concerned about the dismissal of military veterans working in federal agencies as well as USDA employees handling the growing bird flu outbreak affecting poultry and dairy farms. Republican lawmakers are growing particularly uneasy with cuts impacting veterans, who are given preference in the federal hiring process and have been disproportionately affected by the dismissals. |
| Huge cuts in National Institutes of Health research funding go before a federal judge | |
 | A court battle is set to resume Friday over the Trump administration's drastic cuts in medical research funding that many scientists say will endanger patients and delay new lifesaving discoveries. A federal judge in Massachusetts temporarily blocked the cuts from taking effect earlier this month in response to separate lawsuits filed by a group of 22 states plus organizations representing universities, hospitals and research institutions nationwide. The new National Institutes of Health policy would strip research groups of hundreds of millions of dollars to cover so-called indirect expenses of studying Alzheimer's, cancer, heart disease and a host of other illnesses -- anything from clinical trials of new treatments to basic lab research that is the foundation for discoveries. Now U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley, who was appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden, must decide whether to extend the temporary restraining order blocking those cuts. |
| Despite a Judge's Ruling, Large Swaths of NIH Funding Remain Effectively Frozen | |
 | Even after a judge intervened to prohibit the Trump administration from freezing federal funding, large numbers of grants from the National Institutes of Health still can't be paid out. That's because the groups that review grant proposals and decide whether to fund them can no longer schedule their meetings, according to two emails from NIH officials obtained by The Chronicle. The hold on meetings has been described as a loophole that's being exploited by the Trump administration to circumvent the judge's ruling. Carole LaBonne, a professor in Northwestern University's molecular biosciences department, said a scheduled study section to review her grant was now pending. If the pause isn't lifted soon, she added, "the effects are going to be catastrophic for the U.S. research enterprise," including the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, and the national economy. "This," she said, "is what I think the people in the White House just don't really comprehend fully." |
| Ahead of Court Hearing, Chaos Reigns at NIH | |
 | As mass layoffs and suspended grant reviews at National Institutes of Health sow more chaos for the nation's once-cherished scientific enterprise, a federal judge is set to hear arguments Friday morning on whether to extend a temporary block on the NIH's attempt to unilaterally cut more than $4 billion for the indirect costs of conducting federally funded research at universities, such as hazardous waste disposal, laboratory space and patient safety. If the cuts move forward, they will "destroy budgets nationwide," higher education associations and Democratic attorneys general, along with medical colleges and universities, argued in court filings this week. Elon Musk, the unelected billionaire bureaucrat President Donald Trump has charged with heading the nascent Department of Government Efficiency, characterized NIH reimbursements for universities for indirect research costs as "a rip-off." |
| Senate Republican: Putin a 'cancer,' 'greatest threat to democracy' | |
 | Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "cancer," not long after President Trump stepped up his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. "Look, I'm a Republican, I support President Trump, and I believe that most of his policies on national security are right. I believe his instincts are pretty good," Tillis said Thursday on the Senate floor while warning of global turmoil. "But what I'm telling you, whoever believes that there is any space for Vladimir Putin in the future of a stable globe, better go to Ukraine, they better go to Europe, they better invest the time to understand that this man is a cancer and the greatest threat to democracy in my lifetime," he added. He argued that the U.S. should fight the expansion of Russia's land grabs at every turn. |
| Mitch McConnell calls on Senate to 'profess authentic devotion to rule of law' | |
| In a speech announcing his plans to retire at the end of his term, and coming days after he rejected nominees to President Donald Trump's cabinet, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell affirmed the "strength" of the Senate's political power. McConnell, R-Ky., said "there is no place" for Congress to hide from its constitutional obligations, including its role "in equipping the powers" of the executive branch. "Regardless of the political storms that may wash over this chamber during the time I have remaining, I assure our colleagues that I depart with great hope for the endurance of the Senate as an institution," McConnell said during his speech. "There are a number of reasons for pessimism, but the strength of the Senate is not one of them." Also in his speech, McConnell said the Senate "has to grapple with foundational questions" affecting the daily lives of Americans. He specifically mentioned the responsibility of Congress to weigh a president's federal judge appointments, "to ensure that the men and women who preside over them profess authentic devotion to the rule of law above anything else." |
| Senate confirms Kash Patel as FBI director | |
 | Kash Patel will take the helm of the Federal Bureau of Investigation amid heated internal tensions with Trump officials and broader turmoil at the Justice Department during the first weeks of the new administration. The Senate voted 51-49 to confirm Patel on Thursday, with Republicans praising his background as a federal prosecutor and Democrats warning on the Senate floor and at a press conference outside the FBI building in Washington that the former Trump campaign surrogate is unfit for the position. Patel, who served in the first Trump administration and has a track record of partisan and inflammatory commentary. The position has a 10-year term. He will also take control amid stark signs of unrest at the agency, as the new administration directed the firing of a slate of senior FBI employees and has sought to impose its influence on the Justice Department through the reassignment and firing of career lawyers. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against Patel's confirmation. |
| Senate adopts fallback budget in case Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' falters | |
| Senate Republicans adopted their budget early Friday morning that could pave the way for enacting President Donald Trump's legislative agenda -- but only if GOP lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol can rally around one strategy. Senators voted 52-48 on the GOP budget resolution, with Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky joining all Democrats in opposition, after more than 10 hours of debate and 25 roll call votes on amendments. "To my House colleagues: I prefer one big, beautiful bill," Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in a floor speech before a marathon of amendment votes. "But we have to have a Plan B if you can't get it done soon." At stake is Trump's first-year legacy -- even as he continues to muddy the waters amid the House-Senate impasse that could jeopardize it. |
| Republican proposals to cut Medicaid could be politically fraught | |
 | Medicaid is under threat -- again. Republicans, who narrowly control Congress, are pushing proposals that could sharply cut funding to the government health insurance program for poor and disabled Americans, as a way to finance President Trump's agenda for tax cuts and border security. Democrats, hoping to block the GOP's plans and preserve Medicaid funding, are rallying support from hospitals, governors and consumer advocates. At stake is coverage for roughly 79 million people enrolled in Medicaid and its related Children's Health Insurance Program. So, too, is the financial health of thousands of hospitals and community health centers -- and a huge revenue source to all states. Medicaid, which turns 60 this summer, was created as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "Great Society" strategy to attack poverty along with Medicare, the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older. |
| The National Institute of Standards and Technology Braces for Mass Firings | |
 | Sweeping layoffs architected by the Trump administration and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency may be coming as soon as this week at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a nonregulatory agency responsible for establishing benchmarks that ensure everything from beauty products to quantum computers are safe and reliable. According to several current and former employees at NIST, the agency has been bracing for cuts since President Donald Trump took office last month and ordered billionaire Elon Musk and DOGE to slash spending across the federal government. The fears were heightened last week when some NIST workers witnessed a handful of people they believed to be associated with DOGE inside Building 225, which houses the NIST Information Technology Laboratory at the agency's Gaithersburg, Maryland, campus. |
| PBS and NPR on edge over FCC letter and Trump budget scrutiny | |
 | Forty years ago, the Reagan administration told PBS to find ways to increase funding for public television outside of taxpayer dollars. It did. PBS' response to the challenge was to enhance the way it acknowledged sponsors. Instead of merely running a company logo before its programming, PBS let corporate underwriters place messages that looked more like standard commercials. That process helped sustain such programs as "Nova," "Masterpiece" and Ken Burns' acclaimed documentaries. But it's now under scrutiny from Trump-appointed Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, who says the spots "cross the line into prohibited commercial advertisements." "Carr bringing this up so early in his chairmanship shows that this is something that he's really interested in dealing with," said Jeff McCall, a professor of communications at DePauw University. "That's what makes it feel different." |
| Man wanted following shooting near university campus in Columbus | |
 | A man is wanted following a shooting near a university campus in Columbus. Columbus Police identified the man as Patrion Barrett. The shooting happened shortly before 4:44 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20 in the 900 block of Fourth Avenue South. This is close to the Mississippi University for Women campus. Barrett fired several gunshots into an apartment and ran away, police announced. Police did not announce any injuries or provide a picture of him. Anyone with information should call the Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 1-800-530-7151 or the Columbus Police Department at 662-244-3500. |
| Police looking for suspect in shooting on Fourth Avenue South | |
| Police are searching for a suspect following a Thursday shooting on the 900 Block of Fourth Avenue South. Shots were fired into an apartment building at around 4:44 p.m., Columbus Police Department Public Information Officer Bryan Moore told The Dispatch. The department has since issued a warrant for Patrion Barrett connected to the shooting. Barrett is 5-foot-9 and about 110 pounds, with brown skin, Moore said. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie, black pants and a black shirt. CPD alerted Mississippi University for Women and Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science of the shooting, due to the proximity to both schools, Moore said. Barrett is considered armed and dangerous, Moore said. |
| New college degree programs coming to Ole Miss, Southern Miss after IHL approval | |
 | The University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi are getting several new degree programs. The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning approved the programs during a regular meeting Thursday morning. The IHL approved three new degree programs for the University of Mississippi. A Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies, the first of its kind in the state, will be added under the College of Liberal Arts. A Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management will be added under the School of Applied Sciences Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management. Lastly, a Master of Art in Teaching in Elementary Education will be added under the existing School of Education. The IHL also approved three new degree programs, all Master of Science degrees, for the University of Southern Mississippi. A Master of Science in Information Technology and Cybersecurity Management will be added under the College of Arts and Sciences School of Computing Sciences and Computer Engineering. A Master of Science in Nursing in Family Nurse Practitioner will be added under the College of Nursing . Similarly, a Master of Science in Nursing in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practitioner will be added. |
| Jeff McManus retires after 25 years of transforming Ole Miss | |
| After more than two decades of cultivating the University of Mississippi campus into a nationally recognized showcase, Jeff McManus, is retiring. McManus, director of landscape and solid waste services, retired Feb. 14, leaving behind a legacy of horticultural excellence brought to life in iconic locations such as the Grove or the Circle. The university's landscaping staff maintains more than 1,000 acres on the central campus. They plant an average of 20,000 seasonal color plants, 10,000 tulip bulbs and 10,000 daffodils annually, as well as more than 200 new trees. "Inspiring" and "peaceful" are two words McManus uses to describe how people want to feel when they step foot on the Ole Miss campus. The importance of consistency in the landscaping design around campus is an integral part of what McManus achieved during his years in Oxford. |
| USM's Roy Howard Community Journalism Center preparing students for career in media storytelling | |
 | A new program at the University of Southern Mississippi is giving students the experience needed to become impactful storytellers. The Roy Howard Community Journalism Center was launched at the beginning of the spring semester with 27 students. Southern Miss grad Nichole Cyprian leads the program. "They're creating these stories," Cyprian said. "They're the ones who are researching the information. They are the ones who are getting the interviews and calls." The students cover 10 counties in South Mississippi, alongside experienced journalists. In addition to jobs, the program also has internships for those looking for experience. Students at other colleges and high schools are encouraged to apply. |
| USDA suspends scholarship program at historically Black colleges, website shows | |
| The U.S. Department of Agriculture has suspended a college scholarship program for students from rural and underserved backgrounds who attend historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), according to the program website. The 1890 scholars program aims to increase the number of agriculture students at the country's 19 historically Black land-grant universities, which are federally funded and tend to have significant agricultural programs. Alcorn State University in Mississippi is on the list of 1890 universities. The website for the program now has a banner saying it is "suspended pending further review." "This is a clear attack on an invaluable program that makes higher education accessible for everybody," said Representative Alma Adams of North Carolina, who founded and co-chairs a congressional HBCU caucus, in a statement. |
| Communiversity mock interview fair prepares high schoolers for the real deal | |
| Hundreds of high school students came Thursday to the Communiversity for mock job interviews, nervously shuffling papers and speaking with professionals in fields ranging from medicine to truck sales to the military. The opportunity came courtesy of Career Interview Day, an event put on annually by the business coalition FORGE to help prepare students about to enter the workforce. More than 800 students refined their resumes before sitting down for several mock job interviews. The event drew in students from 14 careers centers across 11 counties, according to FORGE's press release, and focused mainly on high-schoolers. Behind two rows of tables sat roughly 100 volunteers who worked in construction, culinary arts, business, agriculture, health care, marketing, education, law, nursing, sales, banking, the Air Force, teaching, welding and more. |
| EMCC celebrates Black History Month through music and poetry | |
 | Lift every voice and sing. East Mississippi Community College celebrates Black History with "A Tour of Black Voices in American History". The singer-songwriter, Anitra Jay, performed various pieces of music and poetry, dating back to slavery up to the modern day. Some of her performances included stories of Harriet Tubman and poems from Langston Hughes. "If we don't know where we come from, then we don't know where we're going, so knowing our history and the people who made these impacts can help us to build a better future, working together to find freedom and unity," said Jay. |
| MCC Black History Month celebration inspires through music, message | |
 | The voices of Crestwood Elementary School students filled the McCain Theater auditorium at Meridian Community College as they sang songs setting the tone for MCC's Black History Month program, "Education, Liberation, and the Future We Create." The program featured Amy Carter, superintendent of Meridian Public School District, as the keynote speaker. Carter challenged the audience to reflect on the past while actively shaping the future. She encouraged students, educators and community members to see education as a transformative force -- one that must be used to honor the sacrifices of those who came before. MCC President Tom Huebner closed the program by commending students for their outstanding performances and reflecting on the event's significance. |
| Mississippi's high school graduation rate slightly dipped in 2023-24 school year | |
| Mississippi saw a slight decrease in its high school graduation rate while the dropout rate stagnated. According to a report from the state's Department of Education, Mississippi's 2023-24 school-year graduation rate was 89.2% -- down just 0.2% from the previous year. The dropout rate, on the other hand, remained at 8.5%. The latest rates are based on students who entered ninth grade for the first time during the 2020-21 school year. "With a graduation rate of 89.2%, Mississippi continues to surpass the national average and demonstrate the dedication and hard work of our school communities," State Superintendent of Education Dr. Lance Evans said. "We are committed to providing the support and resources needed to help every student succeed. Our progress over the past decade is a testament to the resilience and determination of our students, teachers, and families." |
| Alabama public universities unite in Montgomery to advocate for funding, public policy | |
 | Representatives from all 14 public universities in Alabama joined in a day of advocacy at the State House in Montgomery on Thursday. Higher Education Day draws attention to the importance of funding for higher education and good public policy, according to a news release. "Alabama's universities shape the state's economy and must be supported," said Gordon Stone, the executive director of the Higher Education Partnership. "As Alabama prepares to build a landscape that is competitive in the knowledge-based economy of the future, it is crucial to empower universities to train and equip graduates with the skills to compete for the best jobs and to lead our state forward in the future," Stone said. |
| Canine Performance Sciences: Follow the pawprints of canine detection technology to Auburn | |
| The College of Veterinary Medicine's Canine Performance Sciences Program works "nose to tail" to generate top-of-the-class working dogs. Leading the advancement of canine detection for over thirty years, the program's history and extensive training both began with the breeding and development of exceptional canines. According to Assistant Director of CPS Melissa Singletary, the roots of CPS can be traced to the 2001 opening of the dedicated breeding program for purpose-bred detection dogs after Australian customs gifted Auburn University breeding Labradors. Auburn University was the only academic institution out of two other governmental agencies to receive the gift. From psychology and behavior to neurology and biophysics, CPS explores many fields to better understand how to maximize a working dog's capabilities and performance, in regards to their environment. |
| LSU executive Kim Lewis resigns, marking a second high ranking departure | |
 | Another top LSU executive is leaving the university. Executive vice president and chief administrative officer Kimberly J. Lewis resigned Wednesday, a spokesperson with the college confirmed. The move follows the recently announced resignation of LSU's top attorney, Winston DeCuir Jr., who plans to step down March 1. And it comes as the university faces a lawsuit brought by law professor Ken Levy, who last month was suspended from teaching. "As always we appreciate all she has done for LSU and wish her the best," LSU spokesperson Todd Woodward said in an email to The Advocate. Lewis, who joined the college in February 2022, was among several executives reporting to LSU President William Tate IV, according to a university organizational chart. |
| SC colleges have frozen tuition for several years. University presidents say that's not sustainable | |
| South Carolina's public colleges have frozen tuition charged to in-state students for upwards of five years. That could change. House budget writers want to loosen the strings attached to additional state funding for universities that agree to keep tuition level for the students who call South Carolina home. This money has continuously been at the top of budget wish lists for Palmetto State colleges when they've come to state legislators for funding each year. For the coming fiscal year, schools collectively asked for $130 million. House budget writers are suggesting the state cover 40% of that. But South Carolina's college presidents are telling legislators that approach won't work long term. At some point, they will need to raise their prices, said Rep. Nathan Ballentine. Meanwhile, universities across the country are reckoning with what experts have dubbed a pending "enrollment cliff," caused by a shrinking college-age population and rising costs for a college degree. |
| National Academy of Inventors inducts 8 UGA professors for 2025 | |
 | The National Academy of Inventors recently announced that eight University of Georgia researchers have been selected to join its ranks. The number surpasses a record five inductees that were invited in 2024 with a total of 24 UGA members in the organization, which has members from around the world, according to UGA. "We are thrilled to celebrate these latest UGA elections to the country's leading organization for groundbreaking inventors and innovators," Chris King, interim vice president for research, said in making the announcement. Among the new developments were patents for muscadine, peach and pecan cultivars, polymer material engineering, 3D imaging, and cancer treatments. Many of those chosen own patents for the inventions. |
| VolBooks response to textbook concerns raises question of pedagogical freedom in an increasingly digital world | |
| University of Tennessee professors who believe that print books are necessary for student comprehension feel that the VolBooks Total Access policy restricts their ability to make the instructional decisions that will best suit their students, otherwise known as their pedagogical autonomy. The increasing concerns about digital materials at UT point to larger issues surrounding the widespread implementation of digital technologies in higher education. With a common preference for print books among humanities professors, it is clear that the shift to almost exclusively digital textbooks has been a difficult adjustment. Betty Phillips, the VolBooks course materials manager, described affordability as the primary motivating factor behind UT's switch to digital materials. Reiterating VolBooks's priority of affordability and accessibility, Phillips asserted that Total Access is beneficial to the majority of students at UT and that VolBooks must look at the student body holistically in order to serve the whole campus. |
| Student-run burger restaurant in Lexington closes. Owner blames U. of Kentucky for killing business | |
 | A student-operated burger restaurant on the University of Kentucky campus has abruptly shut down. L8NITE Fast Food announced on social media Feb. 18 the Lexington restaurant inside the UK Cornerstone building at 401 S. Limestone is closed. "Thank you," the post said. "We have been honored to serve thousands of UK Students and locals in the past year and a half. This chapter comes to an end. Onto new beginnings." Owner and UK senior Mohamed Weheba on Wednesday said a lack of cooperation from the university on signage, shootings and parking killed his business. UK spokesman Jay Blanton disputed his account, saying that Weheda had just signed a five-year lease for the space. "Interestingly, the person in question continuously pushed for a new five-year lease for the restaurant. He was granted it -- it was just signed -- and now he has quickly and suddenly indicated that he is planning to close," Blanton said via email. |
| In first full day leading UT-Austin, Jim Davis replaces chief academic officer | |
| Jim Davis, the new interim president of The University of Texas at Austin, wasted no time making his mark on the Forty Acres. One day after University of Texas System Chancellor James Milliken tapped him to lead the state's top research university, Davis replaced the school's chief academic officer. Davis on Thursday named David Vanden Bout, who had been dean of the College of Natural Sciences, interim provost. The move came just weeks after former President Jay Hartzell named Rachel Davis Mersey provost. The swift change in the UT provost's office caught faculty by surprise, adding to an already anxious mood on campus amid the sudden leadership changes, an ongoing legislative session and mounting uncertainty as the Trump administration slashes research funding and issued guidance telling colleges to end race-conscious programming or risk losing federal funding. "You're taking your top leadership and putting it in a snow globe and shaking it," said Michael Harris, an expert on higher education leadership at Southern Methodist University. |
| U. of Missouri says Ellis Library overnight hours will not change this fall | |
 | Hundreds of University of Missouri students and alumni are organizing to keep Ellis Library open overnight in the upcoming fall semester, with a petition and online movement that's collected over 1,300 signatures in just under a week. But, MU says it has no plans to change the library's operating hours and funding for overnight staff next year has been renewed. The "Keep Ellis Library Open" petition was first posted Feb. 13, claiming in posts on Reddit that library "management" is considering closing the library at night next fall. The petition itself says MU students, "face the possibility of Ellis Library closing its doors at night." The petition has gained substantial discussion on Reddit and other social media sites, sparking concern among students and alumni. However, MU spokesperson Christopher Ave said no changes will be implemented in the fall semester, even though library management is in ongoing discussions about the Ellis' overnight hours. Ellis Library is currently open 24 hours Monday through Thursday. |
| Higher ed bill passes Virginia legislature, giving faculty and staff a seat -- but not a vote | |
| Virginia's public college employees scored a legislative victory Tuesday as the General Assembly passed a bill requiring each university's governing board to include two nonvoting faculty and staff representatives. But whether the measure becomes law is far from certain. Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed a similar proposal last year, citing cost concerns and a lack of oversight. Youngkin argued at the time that adding representatives could drive up tuition for families and noted that these members wouldn't be subject to General Assembly confirmation or his removal authority in misconduct cases. A narrower 2023 proposal focused solely on the University of Virginia's board was previously stalled in a House Rules subcommittee. Supporters say faculty and staff voices are crucial to informed decision-making. |
| Why Chinese students still want to attend U.S. universities | |
| For decades, the majority of international students in the U.S. have come from China, where an American education has become known as a pathway to a better life. That student population jumped from about 63,000 in the 2002-03 school year to 372,532 in 2019-20, according to the Institute of International Education. But it started to drop off during the pandemic and has never recovered. The number of Chinese students at U.S. universities fell to 277,398 last year, declining 4% from the previous year even as the total number of international students reached a record high. A dramatic slowdown in the Chinese economy following the pandemic has played a role in the downturn, as the yuan declines and parents worry about the rising cost of a U.S. education. In addition, the rhetoric and propaganda coming from both governments is disrupting the educational exchange and efforts to promote greater understanding between the two countries. On the other hand, job opportunities in China are growing scarcer, urban youth unemployment has hit record highs, and some families believe their children will receive a more well-rounded education in the U.S. |
| STEM Accreditor ABET Drops DEIA From Its Standards | |
| The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology has dropped diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility from its accreditation criteria and supporting documents, a move made in response to federal pushback on DEIA, according to an email obtained by Inside Higher Ed. "Recognizing the heightened scrutiny of higher education and accreditation -- including recent directives and legislation in the United States -- the ABET Board of Directors recently approved the removal of all references to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) from our accreditation criteria and supporting documents," officials wrote in the email. The accrediting body also appeared to delete the DEIA page on its website that was active until at least last week. ABET currently accredits programs at 930 colleges. |
| Trump funding freeze leaves biomedical grad students in limbo | |
| Acceptances for biomedical graduate students and postdoctoral scholars are being cut back at some universities and medical centers across the country as many grapple with the potential impact of the Trump administration's order to cut National Institutes of Health research funding. Universities appear to be exercising caution, with some freezing positions and not taking new applications, or accepting fewer students than normal, according to interviews, public announcements, and internal emails obtained by STAT. The abrupt narrowing of training opportunities is leaving many future researchers at the start of their scientific journey in limbo. |
| McMahon's Nomination Advances to the Senate Floor | |
| Linda McMahon's bid to become the next education secretary moved forward Thursday after a Senate panel voted 12–11 along party lines to advance her nomination. McMahon has "demonstrated a strong vision for the Department of Education" and is "the partner this committee needs to improve the nation's education system," said Dr. Bill Cassidy, the committee chair from Louisiana. "I proudly support Mrs. McMahon's nomination." Republicans on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee also largely praised McMahon at the preceding hearing on Feb. 13, saying they couldn't think of a better person to lead the nation's education system. Since the hearing, the Education Department released a sweeping Dear Colleague letter that directs colleges to end any race-based policies or programming in K-12 schools and colleges by Feb. 28. The letter, which targeted "every facet of academia," has received significant pushback from the public. The full Senate vote will likely be held in the next two weeks. |
| What Are College Presidents Saying About Trump? Not Much. | |
| In his first month, President Donald Trump has upended federal research funding and taken aim at race-conscious programs amid a flurry of executive orders and other actions. While some higher ed associations and universities have responded with lawsuits, college presidents, for the most part, have watched in relative silence. Some have released statements on changes to their institutions' federal funding or diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, but those announcements have mostly been vague, with little mention of the political forces driving the changes. Few college leaders have publicly criticized the president's efforts to overhaul the sector to match his vision. The muted or mostly nonexistent response comes as campuses have increasingly grappled with how to navigate political events. |
| College fields offer depth | |
| Columnist Bill Crawford writes: As politicians focus on, complain about, and try to dictate college curriculum, more should tune into the depth and breadth that college instruction provides. Pradnya Jagdale (she encourages people to call her Sunny which matches her disposition) invited me to the recent 2025 Honors Conference at Millsaps College. Pradnya, from India, had been a summer intern at the non-profit I founded in Meridian. The conference proved to be an extraordinary collection of students and topics. ... Of course, what matters here are not titles or even subject matter. What matters is the freedom for bright students to learn, explore areas of interest, and express their learnings through presentations with encouragement from faculty. Too many today would restrict their learning and channel their exploration. |
SPORTS
| Diamond Dawgs Set To Host Missouri State | |
| The Mississippi State baseball team returns to Dudy Noble Field for a three-game series against Missouri State University starting on Friday afternoon. Friday's first pitch has been moved up to 2 p.m. because of the forecasted cold weather and prioritizing player safety. All three games of the series will be televised on SEC Network+ and will also be carried on the Bulldog Sports Network powered by Learfield, along with a live audio stream via HailState.com/OnDemand. After the first weekend of play, the Diamond Dawgs are ranked in the Baseball America (No. 16), D1 Baseball (No. 18) and the NCBWA (No. 17). The USA Today Coaches Top 25 will be updated next Monday. Missouri State is coming off a series win over Sam Houston. Missouri State enters the weekend with a 2-1 record. Their midweek game as canceled because of weather. Mississippi State leads the all-time series 1-0. The last meeting between these two clubs was in 1991. Mississippi State took home the win 10-2. |
| Mississippi State baseball schedule: Friday game vs. Missouri State changed | |
| The first pitch for Mississippi State baseball's weekend series opener has been changed due to weather conditions, the school announced on Thursday. Friday's game between the No. 19 Bulldogs (3-1) and Missouri State (2-1) at Dudy Noble Field has been bumped up two hours to 2 p.m. Start times for the two other games this weekend was not changed. Saturday's game is at 2 p.m. and Sunday's is at 1 p.m. All three games will broadcast on SEC Network+. The forecast high for Friday is 41 degrees with a low of 24. Other teams across Mississippi have altered their baseball first pitch times for Friday too. Ole Miss will play Eastern Kentucky at 2 p.m. and Southern Miss will host Louisiana Tech at 4 p.m. |
| Mississippi State basketball vs Oklahoma: Prediction, picks, injury updates | |
| The road is where Mississippi State has played some of its best basketball of the 2024-25 season. That's where the Bulldogs will be this weekend. The No. 23 Bulldogs, after topping No. 7 Texas A&M on Tuesday, are playing at Oklahoma (16-10, 3-10 SEC) on Saturday (noon, SEC Network). MSU (19-7, 7-6) is 10-3 away from Humphrey Coliseum, including 6-2 in true road games. "It's been critical for us to win away from home," coach Chris Jans said. "We've had some great wins away from The Hump. Any coach would tell you, it's probably the truest sign of who you are as a basketball team, in terms of your mental toughness and your character, to be able to do it away from the friendly confines when you have a little more distractions than you normally do." |
| How Chris Jans, Mississippi State are managing without a true point guard | |
| Mississippi State has been without Kanye Clary since the end of November due to a season-ending lower leg injury, and with the Penn State transfer unavailable, head coach Chris Jans and the Bulldogs have needed to employ a "point guard by committee" approach. Josh Hubbard, as the smallest healthy player on MSU's roster, was the most logical candidate to fill that role. But while Hubbard is capable of creating his own shots, he is at his best playing off the ball, where he can take dribble handoffs or get behind screens for open 3-point attempts. Claudell Harris and Shawn Jones have brought the ball up at times but are more effective as cutters than ball-handlers. "When most of our guys get a defensive rebound, they have a license to push the basketball," Jans said. "When our (post players) get the rebound, we prefer they outlet it to whoever is manning the point guard position, but there are times when we're trying to push the pace, (usually) after a made basket." |
| Head coach Chris Jans talks Oklahoma, Cam Matthews and Shawn Jones | |
| No. 21 Mississippi State goes back on the road Saturday and so far this year, the Bulldogs have encountered success in SEC road games with a 4-2 mark. On Saturday Mississippi State (19-7 overall, 7-6 in the SEC) travels to Oklahoma (16-10, 3-10) for a noon tip-off on the SEC Network. On Thursday, Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans met with the media to discuss the matchup with the Sooners among other topics. |
| Women's Tennis: Unbeaten Bulldogs Back in Action | |
| After a weekend off, No. 61 Mississippi State is back in action this weekend. Chris Hooshyar's Bulldogs are off to an 8-0 start following four doubleheader sweeps. MSU takes on South Alabama (4-1) on Friday inside the Rula Tennis Pavilion at 3 p.m. to conclude the Bulldogs' eight-match homestand. On Sunday, State travels to Tuscaloosa to face No. 21 Alabama (5-2) inside Roberta Alison Baumgardner Tennis Facility at 11 a.m. to begin SEC play. South Alabama leads the series against Mississippi State 18-9 overall and 9-4 in Starkville. The Bulldogs have won the last two meetings. South Alabama's Last win in the series came in 2008. Alabama has a 38-19 mark against MSU, but the Bulldogs have won seven of the last 10 meetings. State's 8-0 record matches the best start in program history with 2008-09 and 2020-21. |
| Mississippi Blues Marathon celebrates B.B. King, Medgar Evers | |
| The 2025 Mississippi Blues Marathon will honor two of the state's famous sons: B.B. King and Medgar Evers. Both men would have turned 100 this year. "These two legends from Mississippi changed the culture and music for generations leading up to this centennial celebration," organizers said. The 18th edition of the race will start and finish Feb. 22 at the State Capitol next to the Mississippi Supreme Court. Events include a marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K and the B.B. Kids Half Mile Fun Run. "This year, we have athletes from 47 states, including Alaska, so they'll feel right at home," said race director Bill Burke. Burke said runners from the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Canada, Mexico and the U.S. have registered for Saturday's event. |
| Alabama basketball has minimal margin for error -- and knows it | |
| As Alabama head coach Nate Oats tried to explain his team's 110-98 loss to Missouri on Wednesday, a fire alarm interrupted the news conference. "Your attention please! Your attention please!" a voice said as a siren blared. "A fire has been reported in the building." The moment felt like a metaphor for the pressure cooker the Crimson Tide have found themselves in for the past year since losing to the eventual national champion UConn in their unexpected run to the Final Four -- and the journey they're on to earn another shot at the crown. "We'd like to get back here and win this whole thing," Oats said after that loss to the Huskies. "And I think that's what our goal is going to be. We're going to aim to get back here." Exactly 322 days later, No. 4 Alabama will try to avoid a third consecutive loss when it hosts No. 17 Kentucky on Saturday (6 p.m. ET, ESPN). Wednesday's loss at Missouri was emblematic of Alabama's long road back to the Final Four: There is minimal margin for error for a team chasing the first national championship in program history. |
| Texas is the latest school to cancel its spring game, a college tradition that appears to be fading | |
| College football's annual rite of spring seems to be withering. Texas became the latest major program Thursday to ditch or change its annual spring scrimmage that has long been a staple for fans eager to see rising stars and get a peek into the upcoming season. Coach Steve Sarkisian announced there would be no Orange & White scrimmage this year, citing the wear and tear of playing 30 games over the last two seasons when Texas twice advanced to the College Football Playoff. "We're not going to have a spring game," Sarkisian said in an interview with Kay Adams on the "Up & Adams Show." It's time to find a new way to develop players and preserve their bodies amid longer schedules, Sarkisian said. Texas canceling its spring game could put a hole in the SEC Network's broadcast schedule. The former Longhorn Network used to broadcast the game, but all Texas programming shifted to the SEC Network when Texas joined the league prior to last season. "There have been instances in the past when a school does not conduct a spring game for various reasons. That decision is at the discretion of the school," SEC spokesman Chuck Dunlap said. |
| Heather Dinich hints at 14-team College Football Playoff field starting in 2026 | |
| ESPN's Heather Dinich joined Get Up on Friday morning to dish on some potential changes to the College Football Playoff that could be taking place as early as this coming season. While the first iteration of the expanded, 12-team CFP drew some rave reviews, it wasn't perfect, and decision-makers are looking to adjust a couple of the quirks. Change this coming season will likely be in the form of adjusting the seeding of teams that qualify, but Dinich believes at least two teams could be added to the field in 2026. "We're headed to major change, inevitably, at some point," Dinich prefaced. "The question is, do they tweak the seeding for this fall? If they do, it needs to be unanimous. ... The big change would be in 2026 and beyond, get ready for 14 teams. Multiple sources at every level have told me that that's the direction this is heading." |
| NCAA Athlete Lawyers Ask Judge to Block House Opt-In Deadline | |
| Lawyers voicing concerns for the "unrepresented sub-class" of college athletes sent a letter to U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken on Thursday, urging her to enjoin the NCAA from taking any further action regarding the House v. NCAA case, unless or until the court grants final approval after a scheduled hearing on April 7. The letter follows the NCAA's recent communication to its Division I members, notifying them that they must opt in to a settlement by March 1. This settlement would allow schools to offer up to $20.5 million in combined athlete compensation next year. Attorneys Douglas M. DePeppe and Robert B. Hinckley Jr., of the law firm Buchalter, argued that the NCAA's "premature attempt at a fait accompli" is causing harm to their clients and possibly thousands of other athletes vying for spots on teams this spring. |
| National Labor Relations Board rescinds stack of Biden-era enforcement memos | |
| The National Labor Relations Board on Feb. 14 rescinded several enforcement guidance documents issued during the Biden administration in a bid to shift the agency's policy stance. The affected documents addressed a swath of areas within NLRB's purview. One of them, a 2022 memo by former General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, said employers' workplace surveillance programs, artificial intelligence tools and similar technologies may interfere with workers' ability to exercise their rights under the National Labor Relations Act. NLRB also rescinded Abruzzo's 2022 memo on the potential NLRA violations posed by noncompete agreements, her 2024 memo directing staff to pursue "make-whole relief" for employees as well as her 2021 memo stating that certain NCAA student athletes should be considered employees under the law. |
| Tiger Woods joins another White House meeting as PGA Tour moves closer to Saudi deal | |
| Tiger Woods joined PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and player director Adam Scott in a second White House meeting Thursday with President Donald Trump, another sign the sport is moving rapidly toward ending the division brought on by Saudi-funded LIV Golf. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and the financial muscle behind the rival league, also was part of the meeting. "Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, we have initiated a discussion about the reunification of golf," the PGA Tour said in a statement signed by Monahan, Woods and Scott. Trump said later at a Black History Month reception, where he acknowledged the presence of Woods, Scott and Monahan, "We had some interesting discussions." Woods entered the room with Trump and went on stage with him wearing the Presidential Medal of Freedom he received from Trump in 2019. Trump prodded him to speak and those in attendance began to chant, "Tiger, Tiger." It was the second time in just over two weeks that PGA Tour leadership -- Woods and Scott are on the board -- met at the White House. |
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