| Wednesday, February 26, 2025 |
| Mississippi farmers face losses due to inflation, poor market conditions | |
 | Mike McCormick, president of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, said the state's agriculture sector is experiencing its greatest challenge in recent decades. Row crop producers are facing another year of loss in 2025 despite a record-breaking crop yield last year. "Historically, there's always been a hole that the (row crop) farmers could find -- there's one commodity that they could grow and make money off of," McCormick said. "There's just none of them out there right now." McCormick said that some agricultural lenders, concerned about future cost and price projections, may deny farmers loans to plant their crops this year -- uncertain farmers will have the assets to pay back their debt after harvest. The agriculture industry is volatile and is heavily influenced by international forces, according to Will Maples, an agricultural economist at Mississippi State University. Maples said if anything is certain about the international agriculture market, it is that prices will rise and fall. "It could be two years, five years -- eventually, it will get back out of it. It just rolls up and down year to year, but really, the question is, 'How long it will last?' That is where the uncertainty lies," Maples said. |
| MSU Irrigation Research Urges Moisture Sensor Use | |
| Water management specialists with Mississippi State University have extensive advice for those implementing different irrigation techniques, but they all agree that using soil moisture sensors is the best way to irrigate. At the Row Crop Short Course in December, MSU Extension Service specialists presented a variety of information and research findings about furrow and pivot irrigation. Each year, data collected from MSU's ongoing irrigation research helps growers make management decisions. Drew Gholson, Extension irrigation specialist, discussed furrow irrigation that allows fields to be irrigated faster and with less water used than with traditional overhead irrigation. "And about 30% of Mississippi farmers use soil moisture sensing in their fields," Gholson said. "The U.S. adoption rate is 13% for soil moisture sensors." |
| Study Shows How Cow Disposition Affects Reproduction, Growth Throughout Their Life | |
| It never fails. When baby mama puts you on top of the Polaris when you try to tag her calf, you decide she's going on the cull list. Count on it, though, she brings the nicest calf to the weaning pen, and she's bred again. It appears that it might not be a fluke. Thanks to research done at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Prairie Research Unit by animal scientist Kelsey Harvey, co-worker Jane Parish and grad student Cobie Rutherford, it turns out those hot mamas often do a better all-around job of mothering. You've probably heard of the chute scores researchers and breed associations use to gauge disposition. A cow with a 1.0 yawns when she leaves the squeeze chute and was likely your daughter's show heifer. The critters that earn a 5.0 will run you over in a heartbeat. The Mississippi team went a step farther and developed a maternal aggression score to see if there is a correlation between attitude and reproduction. |
| Conference shows off latest in farm research, technology | |
| The latest in agriculture research and technology is on display in Clay Center next week at the 26th annual Kansas Agricultural Technologies Conference. Luke Byers, K-State agriculture extension agent for the River Valley District, visited Eye on NE Kansas to share details of the event. The conference is organized by K-State Research and Extension and the Kansas Ag Research and Technology Assoc. Farm industry researchers and K-State Extension specialists will offer presentations throughout the day. The keynote presentation is from Dr. Wes Lowe of Mississippi State University. |
| Mississippi-based AI company, Camgian, expanding operations in Starkville | |
| Camgian Corporation, a software developer specializing in artificial intelligence and machine learning, announced Tuesday it will be expanding operations in Starkville with a $2.5 million investment. "Camgian continues to experience strong growth in Mississippi! With the expansion of our Starkville headquarters, we are excited to drive innovation and create new opportunities for the future," Camgian Corporation CEO Gary Butler said, per a press release. Founded in 2006, the Mississippi-based company plans for the expansion to create 15 jobs. The project will include enhanced infrastructure, specifically upgrading Camgian's high-performance computing capacity to support large-scale AI model training and testing capabilities to keep pace with a rapidly growing market. "MDA is excited to support Camgian as the company advances its innovative AI solutions. Mississippi harnessing technologies of the future, and this exciting announcement serves as another reminder to the world that our state is a competitive place to build and grow a high-tech business," MDA executive director Bill Cork said. |
| Starkville-based AI company Camgian adding 15 jobs | |
 | Camgian Corporation, a software developer specializing in artificial intelligence and machine learning, is expanding its operations with a $2.5 million investment in its Starkville-based operation. The expansion will create 15 jobs. "Camgian's expansion is a big win for Starkville and the Golden Triangle, bringing more high-tech jobs and reinforcing our region's role in AI innovation. Their investment in advanced computing shows the strength of our local tech sector, and we're excited to support their continued growth," said Golden Triangle Development LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins Mississippi Development Authority is providing financial assistance through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive, or MFLEX, program. The city of Starkville and Oktibbeha County are assisting with the project, as well. Camgian Corporation plans to complete the project and fill the new jobs within three years. |
| Camgian announces $2.5 million expansion in Starkville | |
| The Mississippi Development Authority announced Tuesday that Camgian Corporation, a software developer specializing in artificial intelligence and machine learning, is expanding its operations in Starkville. Governor Tate Reeves said AI and machine learning provide groundbreaking solutions for business, military and logistical challenges. "Mississippi is investing in innovation and remains committed to fostering the safe and secure advancement of this technology," Reeves said in a statement. "Mississippi is rapidly becoming recognized worldwide as a leader in AI and machine learning, and Camgian's latest investment further strengthens our foothold in this high-tech field." Camgian was founded in 2006 by CEO Dr. Gary Butler. The company develops AI and machine learning solutions for government and commercial clients worldwide. The expansion project will create 15 jobs. Plans are to complete the project and fill the new jobs within three years. MDA noted that the agency is providing assistance through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive, or MFLEX, program. The city of Starkville and Oktibbeha County are also assisting with the project. |
| MainView camera offers live look into Main Street Revitalization Project | |
 | Residents and visitors can now tune in to a real-time view of Main Street, thanks to a live-streaming camera positioned atop City Hall. The camera, donated to the city anonymously, was installed in January and broadcasts a continuous live feed of Main Street, accessible via the city's website. The intended purpose of the camera, Spruill said, is to showcase the progress and create a timelapse of the Main Street Revitalization Project, which is expected to begin sometime this spring. The Main Street Master Plan, which details the plans of the revitalization project, was approved by the city's board of aldermen in 2022. The plan includes expanding sidewalks in front of businesses by reorienting parking spaces, eliminating the right turn lane on Montgomery Street, adding trees to the edge of Main Street and adding string lights above the road. Spruill expressed that the camera not only offers a way for people to engage with the revitalization project but also connects former Starkville residents or those with a vested interest in the city to the transformation happening downtown. |
| Starkville's desegregation not as smooth as accepted history might suggest | |
| Starkville's school integration nearly 50 years ago didn't see the same level of violence and conflict as some in the South. But Ann Rice still feels the scars of that time. She was one of dozens of guests at a documentary showing and panel discussion hosted by the Starkville-Oktibbeha County Public Library Monday. Rice, and others, shared their lived experiences from Starkville's desegregation during a panel discussion and screening of "Mississippi Turning: The Pivotal Role of School Desegregation in a Southern Town." The documentary was made in the 10th grade by Starkville High documentarian Walt Geisen. The film went on to place eighth nationally in the Washington, D.C.'s National History Day 2024 film competition. Geisen, now a junior at SHS, was one of three featured during the event's panel. He was joined by Starkville resident and chair for the Mississippi University for Women department of education Bob Fuller and Ward 7 Alderman Henry Vaughn. Vaughn and Fuller remained optimistic that Starkville would continue its path toward still-greater racial equality, as long as adults don't get in the way of their children's better instincts. |
| Senate bill aims to attract more data centers to Mississippi | |
| A bill aimed at attracting more data centers to the state passed out of the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday morning. The author of the bill says it will make Mississippi more competitive with neighboring states. The measure, SB 3168, states that any newly constructed data center that invests $250 million and creates at least 35 new, full-time jobs with a minimum average annual salary of 125 percent of the average annual state wage would be eligible for sales and use tax exemptions. In addition, a data center that met that same criteria when constructed and undergoes a $100 million expansion would be automatically eligible for up to two 10-year extensions for the exemptions. "We're trying to create something on par with other states," Senator Josh Harkins (R) said. "Our constitution doesn't allow us to go past ten years" in giving tax incentives. The bill does not include the exclusion of corporate income or related business taxes but does specifically refer to hardware replacement. "This speaks specifically to sales and use tax. They spend a lot of money upgrading their facilities, and other states give 30, 40-year exemptions," said Harkins, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. |
| House panel approves casino tax increase, a shot over bow on blockage of online sports betting | |
| In an obvious shot at the Senate and at least part of the casino lobby for the state not legalizing online gambling, the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday approved a tax increase on casinos. Ways and Means Chairman Trey Lamar said his bill, which would increase taxes on Mississippi casinos from 12% to 16%, is to recoup the tens of millions of dollars a year Mississippi is "losing" from not legalizing online betting. He said, "if everybody's honest with themselves, online sports betting is already going on" illegally, but the state is not generating any taxes from it. He said his bill, which now heads to the full House, is also aimed at shedding light on why the online betting bills the House has passed in recent years die in the Senate. Some Mississippi casinos, particularly smaller ones that might struggle to contract or build online betting infrastructure, have opposed the move. Senate Gaming Committee Chairman David Blount criticized Lamar's tax increase on Tuesday, and the House's major tax overhaul proposal, which would eliminate the income tax, but raise gasoline and sales taxes. |
| Lawmaker delivers surprise bill in support of online sports betting. Will it work? | |
 | Facing yet another year when a bill to legalize online sports betting seems doomed, Rep. Trey Lamar, R-Senatobia, shook up lawmakers in Jackson and casino operators across the state with a surprise move. He introduced HB 1881 that would increase taxes on casinos to compensate for the estimated $50 million Mississippi is losing to illegal sports betting. "This act shall be known and cited as the 'Integrity in Gaming in Support of Honest Taxpayers Act," the bill says. HB 1881 came not from the Gaming Committee, but from the House Ways and Means Committee, which passed the bill Tuesday. It now moves to the full House. The new bill shakes up the Legislature and the casino industry in a last-ditch effort to get some action. Somewhere between 20% and half of the casino operators in Mississippi are opposed to online sports betting, saying it would hurt their profits if wagers could be placed by phone rather than requiring bettors to come into their casinos. Every bill proposed since sports betting began in Mississippi in 2018 has failed to get online sports betting legalized. Mississippi gets no tax benefit from illegal sports wagers, whether placed offshore or with local bookies. The additional revenue from online sports betting could offset the amount gas tax will need to increase to fund repairs to roads and bridges. |
| House Democrats say they have been shut out of legislative discussions | |
| The Mississippi House Democratic Caucus has been shut out of discussions over consequential bills as the agenda of their Republican colleagues has been shaped by President Donald Trump, Democratic lawmakers said at a Tuesday press conference. House Republicans hold a supermajority and have scuttled the priorities of Democrats with little input from the minority party, said Rep. Robert Johnson, the House Democratic Leader. "Nobody has talked to us. Nobody wants to hear what we have to say about it," Johnson said. "We represent 40%-50% of the state of Mississippi, Democrats do. And nobody has said a word about how this will impact your community (and) what can we do to help," Johnson said of the tax cut proposals moving through the Legislature. Rep. Jeffrey Harness said House and Senate proposals to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs are an attack on minorities in the state with the nation's highest percentage of Black residents. |
| Lawmakers, Israeli Consul General announce Mississippi-Israel Legislative Caucus | |
| While relations between the two states have long been in good standing, on Tuesday, Republican and Democratic legislators from the Senate and House of Representatives announced the formation of the Mississippi-Israel Legislative Caucus at the state Capitol. "This partnership, as mentioned, is not new. It has been cultivated over decades in the economic and technological fields. Israel companies have long collaborated with Mississippi businesses, fostering innovation and technological advancements together," said Israeli Consul General Anat Sultan-Dadon. State Senator Jeremy England (R) said the formation of this caucus will help strengthen long standing ties with the state of Israel, the United States and Mississippi as the entities work to conduct future research in the areas of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and make breakthroughs in the medical field. England added that shared medical data between the Mississippi and Israel could be used to make breakthroughs in autism research. Sultan-Dadon said that the exchanges in the academic realm have been meaningful for both parties, expanding the collective knowledge from the brightest minds in the world. |
| State Election Officials Seek to Avert Deeper Cuts | |
 | Alarmed by cuts already made to federal agencies that help safeguard elections, and fearful that more could be coming, a bipartisan group of the nation's top state election officials has appealed to Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security, for help. In a rare move, the ordinarily restrained National Association of Secretaries of State wrote to Ms. Noem, the former South Dakota governor, on Friday asking that critical election programs and protections be spared during an upcoming agency review. Among the programs the group singled out for preservation were those aimed at assessing the physical security of voting locations and election offices, shoring up cybersecurity for election offices, sharing classified intelligence on foreign threats to elections and responding to attacks like ransomware. The letter's tepid wording was unsurprising: The association, comprising 40 secretaries of state belonging to both parties, is often loath to wade into any debate that could appear political. But election officials nationwide have expressed concern and confusion about the administration's moves. The letter was signed by the association's president, Steve Simon, the Democratic secretary of state in Minnesota, and Michael Watson, the group's president-elect, the Republican secretary of state in Mississippi. |
| Mississippi Senator introduces 'Safer Shrimp Imports Act' | |
 | Cindy Hyde-Smith, a U.S. Senator from Mississippi, introduced legislation she believes will ensure the quality of imported shrimp. The Safer Shrimp Imports Act would require overseas shrimp facility inspections and foreign countries wishing to export shrimp to the United States to meet food safety inspection standards equivalent to those of U.S. shrimp producers. It would also require regular reporting by the FDA to Congress. "The FDA has been lackadaisical about seafood inspection for far too long, contributing to a silent public health crisis in America," said Sen. Hyde-Smith. The Republican senator said the legislation is important because 90% of Americans' shrimp consumption comes from foreign sources. Senate Bill 667 would give people confidence that the imported shrimp they're eating isn't contaminated, according to Sen. Hyde-Smith. The American Shrimp Processors Association is supporting the Safer Shrimp Imports Act. |
| House GOP adopts Trump budget after topsy-turvy night | |
 | House Republicans adopted the budget resolution that will lay the foundation for enacting President Trump's legislative agenda Tuesday night, just minutes after they initially pulled the measure from the floor. The legislation -- which provides a framework for Republican priorities on tax, border, and energy in "one big, beautiful bill" -- was approved in a 217-215 vote. It now heads to the Senate. It capped a wild evening in the House chamber that saw Republican leaders hold open an unrelated vote for more than an hour to buy time to win over holdouts, announce they were canceling a vote on the legislation and then reverse course just 10 minutes later. The tally also marked a dramatic turnaround for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House GOP leaders, who hours earlier were facing opposition to the measure from deficit hawks, skepticism among some other hard-liners and apprehension from moderates concerned about potential slashes to social safety net measures. While the successful vote is a win for Johnson and his leadership team, a series of land mines loom. |
| Congressional Republicans start backing away from Musk | |
 | Elon Musk is beginning to wear out his welcome with congressional Republicans. In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday shrugged off Musk's attempt to interfere with his budget plan. In the Senate, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis pointedly suggested that President Donald Trump's appointees should stand up to the billionaire's whims, including his recent demand that all federal workers justify their employment. And a growing number of GOP lawmakers urged the tech mogul to show more compassion for the civil servants he's already culled. "As we get more Senate-confirmed leadership in the departments, I think they have to take the reins," Tillis said in response to a POLITICO reporter's question at the Capitol. Meanwhile, some GOP members are calling on Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to route its cuts through Congress in a process known as rescission. And even Republicans staunchly supportive of Musk's mission to shrink the government are beginning to acknowledge public pushback to the speed and sweep of DOGE's cuts. Public opinion of Musk is also souring. Polling shows Americans now hold negative views of the X owner. Republican representatives were hounded in their districts over Musk's cuts and potential GOP reductions to Medicaid and other safety-net programs. |
| Musk fights back as some Trump aides resist intensifying DOGE push | |
 | Billionaire Elon Musk pushed Tuesday to overcome resistance from within the Trump administration to the orders of his U.S. DOGE Service, intensifying a remarkable high-level power struggle over the fate of the federal workforce. Over the last several days, more than a dozen federal agencies, primarily led by Trump-appointed Cabinet secretaries, told employees that they did not need to comply with a Musk directive to email a list of what they had done in the past week. The rebuke was the most striking display yet of internal dissatisfaction with DOGE's moves across the federal government, reflecting the desire of many Trump officials to reassert control over agencies that Musk has tried to gut, in some instances without their explicit permission. "Let's be realistic: What we saw over the last week was a huge rebuke of Elon," said a former Trump administration official who remains in close contact with current officials. "Trump's Cabinet is finally beginning to realize the power of holding Senate-confirmed positions, which require a huge amount of political capital to replace." The scope of Musk's authority will ultimately be decided by President Donald Trump, who has given mixed signals. "As long as DOGE has the support of Trump, agency employees are going to have to take everything they say seriously," said Jessica Riedl, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a center-right think tank. |
| The National Archives is nonpartisan but has found itself targeted by Trump | |
 | As President Donald Trump moves to overhaul the federal government with astonishing speed, he has wreaked havoc on one agency long known for its nonpartisanship and revered for its mission: the National Archives and Records Administration. The independent agency and its trove of historic records have been the subject of Hollywood films and the foundation of research and policy. It also holds responsibilities in processes that are crucial for democracy, from amending the Constitution to electing a president. As the nation's recordkeeper, the Archives tells the story of America -- its founding, breakdowns, mistakes and triumphs. Former employees of the agency now worry it's becoming politicized. Earlier this month, the Republican president abruptly fired the head archivist. Since then, several senior staffers at the Archives have quit or retired. An unknown number of staffers at the agency also have accepted government-offered deferred resignations, often known as buyouts, or been fired because of their probationary status. |
| 21 DOGE staffers resign, saying they won't help 'dismantle' public services | |
 | A group of 21 civil servants whose team was folded into Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency resigned on Tuesday, writing in a joint letter posted publicly that they refuse to use their skills to put Americans' data at risk and "dismantle critical public services." The federal workers, mostly software engineers and product managers, were once part of the U.S. Digital Service, which was renamed DOGE when Musk launched his initiative from within the White House. The Musk-led unit has laid off thousands of workers and moved to dismantle entire agencies in a slash-and-burn campaign to reduce the size of government. In the letter addressed to White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, the government employees wrote that they swore an oath to the Constitution to serve the American people but that "it has become clear that we can no longer honor those commitments at the United States DOGE Service." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to the 21 DOGE workers resigning en masse, in a statement: "Don't let the door kick you on the way out," she said. |
| `Reverse discrimination' case hits Supreme Court as DEI is under siege | |
 | A workplace "reverse discrimination" case being argued at the Supreme Court Wednesday at first glance seems tailor made for the raging battle over diversity, equity and inclusion programs. But the justices could also side with a heterosexual woman alleging she unfairly lost jobs to gay colleagues without wading into the broad assault being waged by President Donald Trump against DEI programs. At issue is whether some courts have created an extra hurdle for discrimination suits brought by people who haven't faced historical patterns of prejudice. That's different than whether the Trump administration can take various steps to end DEI policies, which the White House calls discrimination. Still, the background noise could be hard for justices to tune out as they take up a case that is getting extra attention because of the broader DEI debate. |
| The Economy Is Still Fine. Americans Are Still Gloomy. | |
 | A lot has changed since November's election, but not this: The economy is still pretty solid, and people are still really down on it. The latest evidence of the disconnect is a Conference Board report Tuesday that consumer confidence plummeted 6.7% in February from January, the largest drop since 2021. The other major confidence survey, by the University of Michigan, also has recorded falling confidence, as have several business surveys. The mood might be spilling over to perceptions of President Trump. More respondents to recent polls for both Gallup and Quinnipiac University disapproved than approved of his handling of the economy. There's very little hard data on how the economy has performed since Trump took office Jan. 20. But what's available suggests the economy remains pretty solid. Job growth was strong in January, the unemployment rate dropped a tad, and new claims for unemployment insurance have oscillated around the same low level in recent weeks, albeit with increases in Washington, D.C., which is being hit hard by Trump's cuts. Stock prices have dropped in recent days but are still higher than on Election Day. Bond yields and oil prices have fallen, signaling some concern about growth but also relief on mortgage rates and gasoline prices. While no one blames Trump for where inflation has been, some consumers clearly worry about where he will take it. |
| Craig, on defense over Democrats' agriculture priorities, eyes Senate run | |
 | House Agriculture Committee ranking member Angie Craig, with one eye on a Senate run in 2026, faces a daunting task in delivering legislative benefits to her constituents in the next two years. Craig, D-Minn., became the panel's top Democrat just as the majority Republicans began looking at steep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as part of the budget reconciliation process. Those cuts, in turn, would make drafting a bipartisan farm bill a much bigger lift for the committee. Both issues fall squarely into House Agriculture's jurisdiction. And cuts to food stamps and the absence of a farm bill would give Democrats little to take to voters in the fall of 2026. For Craig, the disappointment would come after she persuaded colleagues that it was time for a younger lawmaker to lead panel Democrats. And do little to raise her profile back home. Her rise to the ranking member signaled Democrats' desire to usher in younger voices that could effectively respond to, and resist, the Trump administration's agriculture policies. Craig said that she has been working with House Agriculture Chair Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Pa., and it's "off to a great start from a relationship perspective." |
| Farmers Sue Over Deletion of Climate Data From Government Websites | |
| Organic farmers and environmental groups sued the Agriculture Department on Monday over its scrubbing of references to climate change from its website. The department had ordered staff to take down pages focused on climate change on Jan. 30, according to the suit, which was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Within hours, it said, information started disappearing. That included websites containing data sets, interactive tools and funding information that farmers and researchers relied on for planning and adaptation projects, according to the lawsuit. At the same time, the department also froze funding that had been promised to businesses and nonprofits through conservation and climate programs. The purge then "removed critical information about these programs from the public record, denying farmers access to resources they need to advocate for funds they are owed," it said. Peter Lehner, a lawyer for Earthjustice, said the pages being purged were crucial for farmers facing risks linked to climate change, including heat waves, droughts, floods, extreme weather and wildfires. The websites had contained information about how to mitigate dangers and adopt new agricultural techniques and strategies. Long-term weather data and trends are valuable in the agriculture industry for planning, research and business strategy. "You can purge a website of the words climate change, but that doesn't mean climate change goes away," Mr. Lehner said. |
| Killing 166 million birds hasn't helped poultry farmers stop H5N1. Is there a better way? | |
 | When the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus made its first appearance at a U.S. poultry farm in February 2022, roughly 29,000 turkeys at an Indiana facility were sacrificed in an attempt to avert a larger outbreak. It didn't work. Three years later, highly pathogenic avian influenza has spread to all 50 states. The number of commercial birds that have died or been killed exceeds 166 million and the price of eggs is at an all-time high. Poultry producers, infectious disease experts and government officials now concede that H5N1 is likely here to stay. That recognition is prompting some of them to question whether the long-standing practice of culling every single bird on an infected farm is sustainable over the long-term. Instead, they are discussing such strategies as targeted depopulation, vaccinations, and even the relocation of wetlands and bodies of water to lure virus-carrying wild birds away from poultry farms. But each of these alternatives entails a variety of logistical, economic and environmental costs that may eclipse the intended savings. "People talk about common-sense solutions to bird flu," said Dr. Maurice Pitesky, a veterinarian and commercial poultry expert at UC Davis. "But that's what mass culling is. There's a reason we've been doing it: It's common sense." |
| Egg prices to increase by more than 40% in 2025, according to USDA report | |
| If you're a consumer who was hoping the price of eggs would come back down to Earth soon, you may want to avert your eyes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report Tuesday in which the agency predicts egg prices will increase by 41.1% in 2025, with a 3.4% increase for the prices of all food also forecasted. According to the USDA, retail egg prices increased by 13.8% in January 2025 after rising by 8.4% in December 2024. "Retail egg prices continue to experience volatile month-to-month changes due to an outbreak of HPAI that began in 2022," the department said in the report. "HPAI contributes to elevated egg prices by reducing egg-layer flocks and egg production." The agency said over 18 million commercial egg layers were affected by the bird flu in January 2025, which represents the "highest monthly total since the outbreak began in 2022," fueling an egg price increase of 53% from January 2024 to January 2025. In addition to eggs, the prices of other foods are also expected to increase in 2025, according to the USDA report. |
| Christianity's decline gets more complicated, new US faith census finds | |
| A sweeping census on the state of American religion reveals a less sensational tale of Christianity in decline and the rise of the religiously unaffiliated compared to a decade ago. Pew Research Center released Wednesday its latest Religious Landscape Study, the nonpartisan research center's third-ever report of this kind on U.S. religious identity, belief and practice. The last two reports were in 2014 and 2007. According to the new study, 62% of U.S. adults identify as Christian, 29% are religiously unaffiliated, often called "nones," and 7% identify with other religions including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. The share of Christians is down by 9 percentage points from a decade ago and the religiously unaffiliated up by 6 percentage points, though Pew researchers said it's a complex trend. "One of the big takeaways is ... we're seeing recent stabilization within American Christianity amid a much longer period of decline," said Greg Smith, Pew senior associate director, in a Feb. 19 news conference. Despite steady rates of interest in certain spiritual practices and ideas across various demographics, major U.S. religious institutions continue to falter. Pew reported the four top categories of Christian adults have all declined. |
| Duff Center addresses maintenance issues | |
 | The Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology is undergoing maintenance on two of its main staircases and a broken exterior window. Jacob Batte, director of media and news relations for the University of Mississippi, described the issues and the maintenance process. "On Jan. 28, one of the atrium stair treads in the Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation broke," Batte said. "The university immediately closed the stairs to ensure the safety of faculty, staff and students." The staircases remain blocked by large boards to prevent access. Contractors are addressing the issue, and the stairs will reopen when the final inspection confirms they are safe for use, according to Batte. In addition to the stairs, an exterior window on the building is damaged and broken. The Duff Center opened in August 2024 after three years of construction. The project began in 2021 and had a budget of $175 million. |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center to vacate Jackson Medical Mall | |
| The University of Mississippi Medical Center has plans to move some of its services to the main campus on North State Street. The medical center currently leases about 450,000 square feet from the Jackson Medical Mall. Now, UMMC leaders said they will reduce their space to 100,000 square feet. "We're trying to move some of those easier day-to-day services off the campus and bring some of the more complex service that are serial visits over time, require complicated, complex services, you know pharmacy, radiology, oncology, and bring those onto campus," said Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for health affairs. UMMC plans to vacate the Jackson Medical Mall in three phases due to ongoing challenges with city services. "They face the same challenges that everyone in the city faces with some of the city services, crime, infrastructure aging, that's not unique to the medical mall," said Jones. "So, all of those things in combination led us to bring all of those services onto our campus." UMMC leaders met with state lawmakers last week to discuss these changes, with hopes of keeping services at the medical mall. "We believe the University of Mississippi Medical Center needs to stay at the medical mall. It's an important tenant there, and we don't want to see that space reduced any more than it has to be reduced," said David Blount, Mississippi Senator for District 29. |
| Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to tour Texas | |
 | The Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (AGLS) will head across Texas later this week to connect with prospective and admitted students. Called the AGLS on Tour, the travel series is made up of casual, come-and-go receptions that provide possible future Aggies around the state with the opportunity to meet faculty, staff and current students. Admitted students also will have a chance to get academic scholarships thanks to the College of Agriculture Development. There will also be light refreshments and appetizers available at each stop. The featured speaker for this year's tour will be Jeffrey Savell, vice chancellor and dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences. "This tour is an opportunity to meet students where they are and introduce them to the welcoming environment of AGLS," Savell said in a statement. "We want them to feel the strong sense of community and support that defines the Aggie experience." |
| U. of Missouri School of Journalism documentary center receives $10.3 million gift | |
 | The Jonathan B. Murray Center for Documentary Journalism's founding donor and namesake gave another donation this week -- to the tune of $10.3 million. Jonathan Murray, a 1977 University of Missouri graduate, established the center in 2014 with an initial donation of $6.7 million. His production company, Bunim/Murray, has created projects like MTV's 1992 show "The Real World" and produced other shows like "Project Runway" and "Keeping up with the Kardashians." The gift will help fund student documentary projects and support a "deeper" partnership with the True/False Film Festival and its nonprofit the Ragtag Film Society, according to a news release. Murray said he hopes the gift will uplift sharing uniquely Midwestern stories with a wider audience. "This is a place where we're taking the documentary world, which has primarily been led by people on the two coasts," Murray said. "I think that is vital. Maybe these students will tell stories that documentary filmmakers on the coasts haven't thought of." |
| Penn State president says the university will close some campuses | |
| Penn State's administration will close some campuses after the 2026-27 academic year, according to a message President Neeli Bendapudi shared with the Penn State community Tuesday, saying "we cannot continue with business as usual." "The challenges we face -- declining enrollments, demographic shifts and financial pressures -- are not unique to Penn State, but they require us to make difficult choices," Bendapudi said. "Across higher education, institutions are grappling with similar headwinds, and we have reached a moment where doing nothing is no longer an option." In that message, Bendapudi said the seven largest Commonwealth campuses will remain open. The future of the 12 remaining campuses will depend on recommendations from Executive Chancellor Margo DelliCarpini, Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Tracy Langkilde, and Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff Michael Wade Smith. Josh Wede, the faculty senate chair, said he did not get a heads up about the news. "We know what shared governance is. And what is happening now is not," Wede said. Bendapudi said the decision to close campuses is an administrative decision. "I'm not saying input will not be sought, but I am saying that the decision will be mine," Bendapudi said. |
| Under pressure, White House reinstates HBCU scholars program | |
| The Trump administration has reopened applications for a federal scholarship that aids studying agriculture at historically Black universities after outcry from lawmakers over its abrupt suspension last week. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the federal 1890 National Scholars Program through its Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), put the program on hold last week "pending further review," but the program's USDA website was updated Tuesday to note that the application process has resumed. Eligible students can apply through March 15. The HBCU scholars program, which was created in 1992, provides tuition and room and board for selected students pursuing degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences or related fields at 19 historically Black schools across the country. Ninety-four students received the scholarship last year. "I'm pleased the Secretary has lifted the suspension of and reopened the application for the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program," Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.) said in a statement on the reversal. "This program has been in place since 1992, and I hope we can work together to address the real challenges and real opportunities for our 1890s and our HBCUs." Adams is a founding member of the bipartisan HBCU caucus in Congress and a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, and she had been a vocal opponent of the proposed change. |
| DOGE said it cut $881 million at the Education Department. The real savings are much less | |
 | The newly formed Department of Government Efficiency says it shaved nearly $900 million from the U.S. Department of Education's budget. But that math isn't adding up, according to researchers, who say the savings are exaggerated and don't account for roughly $400 million that was effectively wasted -- not saved -- by the DOGE team. A review of the task force's cost-cutting measures conducted by New America, a left-leaning think tank, reveals layers of erroneous calculations. DOGE, spearheaded by tech billionaire Elon Musk, said it saved $881 million two weeks ago by abruptly terminating 89 contracts at the Education Department's research arm; however, the real value of the contracts was closer to $676 million. The findings underscore a pattern of hyperbole and falsehoods from the DOGE team about its work. DOGE's six-person detail at the Education Department effectively decimated the Institute of Education Sciences, the agency's longtime research apparatus, a move that has drawn criticism from conservatives and progressives with expertise in the field. Margaret Spellings, who led the Education Department during George W. Bush's Republican administration, denounced the cuts in an interview on CBS News last week. "Without that research, without that accountability, without that transparency, we're really flying blind," she said. |
| NIH Funding Cuts Could Have Ripple Effects on College-Town Economies | |
 | Deep cuts in federal research spending could reverberate beyond campuses, denting college-town economies and costing jobs outside academe. An analysis suggests that a cap on overhead costs for research funded by the National Institutes of Health would cause a $6.1-billion hit to the overall economy, as well as a $4.6-billion reduction in labor income. The fallout could ripple throughout the economy. If colleges and hospitals have to trim spending, "we risk not only slowing scientific progress but also damaging the broader economy in ways that will be difficult to reverse," said Bjorn Markeson, an economist with IMPLAN, an economic-software and analysis company, who conducted the analysis. The caps wouldn't just lead to job cuts for scientists and lab managers, Markeson noted. For example, spending reductions could affect manufacturers of scientific equipment as well as producers of materials used in those apparatuses, like steel and microscopic lenses. Fast-food workers, office clerks, and accountants could be out of work if local economies contract. Of the 46,000 jobs that could be affected, two-thirds are not directly related to research, the analysis shows. It "highlights just how interconnected research funding is with local economies," Markeson said, although he noted some of the impact could be felt on a regional, state, or national level. |
| Universities feel ripple effects of DOGE cuts to health | |
| As the battle over Elon Musk's DOGE-directed cuts to federal medical research continues, institutions already are freezing hiring, cutting back on the number of Ph.D. students they'll accept and making other contingencies. Capping how much the National Institutes of Health covers the schools' overhead costs could lead to billions of dollars in cuts to scientific research funding and widespread economic fallout. An economic analysis by software company Implan on Tuesday estimates proposed cuts could lead to a loss of $6.1 billion in the nation's gross domestic product, a $4.6 billion reduction in labor income and result in the loss of more than 46,000 jobs nationwide. This includes the direct effects of the research itself, with 17,000 expected job cuts, but also indirect effects through a slowing of business-to-business spending in the R&D supply chain that could support 14,000 more jobs. "It's not just researchers that are affected. It's not just universities that are affected," said Bjorn Markeson, academic divisional director and economist at Implan. "There's going to be impacts on real estate ... there's going to be impacts on legal services. There's going to be impacts on services to buildings, office, administration." |
| Trump administration loophole snags US research grants from Lyme to lung disease | |
 | The Trump administration has for weeks been blocking the U.S. National Institutes of Health process for issuing new research grants for everything from Lyme disease to lung and heart disease, according to researchers, a departing NIH official and documents. The government is using a loophole to hold up the money. The NIH was directed by the administration not to take a key step in the approval process -- publishing grant meeting notices in the Federal Register, the documents show. Suzanne Judd, director of the Lister Hill Center for Health Policy and a public health professor at University of Alabama at Birmingham, is a co-investigator for a 4,600-person study examining why rates of heart and lung disease are higher in some rural counties and lower in others. The $35 million study has monitored participants in rural parts of Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi since 2019 and offers free medical exams, including CT scans and echocardiograms, to participants about every five years. Judd said the study's next contract was scheduled for review in March, but the meeting has not been posted. The study employs about 50 scientists and research technicians, of which about 20 are full-time, across 16 universities, she said. Long-term observational studies allow researchers to examine risk factors for diseases, like cancer, heart disease or stroke, that take decades to develop. These types of studies inform how we treat patients, Judd said. |
| The NSF's Higher Ed Research 'Hit List' | |
 | Federally funded scientific research has become the latest target of the diversity antagonists now in control of Congress and the White House. Earlier this month, Republican senator Ted Cruz of Texas released a database of "questionable" university research projects -- funded by the National Science Foundation to the tune of $2.04 billion -- that he accused of pushing "a far-left ideology" by promoting diversity, equity and inclusion and advancing "neo-Marxist class warfare propaganda," according to a news release from his office. Cruz, who chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, called for "significant scrutiny" of the 3,400-plus projects listed in the database, which contain terminology he said are related to concepts of status, social justice, gender, race and environmental justice. Jeremy Young, director of state and higher education policy at the free expression group PEN America, said the database creates "a hit list" for higher education research. "It identifies as 'advancing neo-Marxist class warfare propaganda' an exhaustive list of projects, including efforts to help hospital patients recover from strokes, encourage women to earn computing degrees, build research consortiums among HBCUs, and preserve endangered languages," Young told Inside Higher Ed in an email. |
| Trump's Changes to NLRB Could Slow Momentum of Campus Unionizing | |
| Labor organizers on college campuses are adjusting their tactics after President Trump abruptly shifted the course of the National Labor Relations Board, the independent federal agency that protects employees' rights to organize and addresses unfair labor practices. "Labor unions are going to be very wary of having major decisions issued by a management-friendly labor board, and the consequence will be they may not file petitions, or withdraw petitions they have pending, in an effort to avoid decisions that they would consider to be in error," said Nicholas DiGiovanni, a partner at the Boston-based law firm Morgan, Brown and Joy, who frequently represents colleges in labor and employment issues. Over the past decade, unions have flourished across higher education, especially among contingent faculty members and graduate-student workers, with an especially notable increase in collective-bargaining units including graduate and undergraduate students since 2022, according to a City University of New York report. |
| Survey: What Presidents Really Think | |
| College presidents showed tepid support for tenure with a little more than a third agreeing that the pros outweigh the cons, according to Inside Higher Ed's 2025 Survey of College and University Presidents, conducted with Hanover Research and released in full today. That was just one of many findings across the annual survey, now in its 15th year. Presidents were optimistic in some areas, with most expressing confidence that their institutions will be financially stable over the next five to 10 years and positivity about the job itself. But campus leaders also expressed concerns about politicians trying to shape institutional strategies, which they see as an increasing risk, plus a seeming lack of improvement on undergraduate mental health, even as campuses make more investments in related services. Inside Higher Ed earlier this month released a portion of the survey findings that unpacked how presidents viewed the second Trump administration. The bulk of the survey's political findings were covered in that initial release, with college presidents largely worried President Donald Trump will negatively affect higher education in this new term. The survey period ended Jan. 3, ahead of Trump taking office for a second term and ahead of his administration issuing a Dear Colleague letter attempting to dramatically widen the scope of the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling against affirmative action in admissions in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. |
| Controversial ruling against Clarksdale newspaper is puzzling, disturbing and ironic | |
| Columnist Sid Salter writes: Hinds County Chancellor Crystal Wise Martin kicked a political and judicial hornet's nest in issuing a Feb. 18 temporary restraining order that required a Mississippi newspaper to remove a Feb. 8 editorial criticizing Clarksdale Mayor Chuck Espy and the Clarksdale Board of Commissioners from its website. Espy and the Clarksdale commissioners succeeded in convincing Chancellor Martin that the newspaper's editorial represented "defamation against public figures through actual malice in reckless disregard of the truth" and that leaving the editorial available on the website "interferes with their legitimate function to advocate for legislation" to enact a proposed 2 percent tax on legal alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana sales in the city. ... The Clarksdale Press-Register daily newspaper criticized the Clarksdale city government for allegedly failing to provide proper legal notice to the local media of a Feb. 4 special meeting to discuss the proposed tax package. Ironically, the Press-Register's editorial got a far broader airing after the judge's order came down than it would have received otherwise by virtue of the lawsuit. |
SPORTS
| Softball Returns To Nusz Park To Open 11-Game Homestand | |
| The No. 21 Mississippi State softball team will kick off a two-and-a-half-week stay in Starkville by welcoming UAB on Wednesday for the first of 11 consecutive home games. First pitch between the Bulldogs and the Blazers is set for 4 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. The Bulldogs recently saw their 11-game winning streak come to an end, but it stood as MSU's longest winning streak since the 2020-21 seasons. State has climbed as high as No. 16 in the various polls at some point this season. MSU brings a 6-0 record at home into Wednesday's game. Since Nusz Park opened in 2016, the Bulldogs are 189-76 in the facility. Despite playing three fewer games at home than at neutral sites so far this year, State has 10 additional extra base hits and 18 more RBIs when playing in the friendly confines. The Bulldogs claimed their fourth run-rule victory of the season last weekend, defeating Louisiana Tech, 10-1, in five innings to open a 3-1 weekend at the Rocket City Softball Showcase. Mississippi State remains in Starkville this weekend to host the Bulldog Invitational presented by C Spire. Alabama State, New Mexico and Northwestern State will be in attendance. |
| No. 1 Texas plays Mississippi State, looks for 7th straight road win | |
| No. 1 Texas will try to keep its six-game road win streak alive when the Longhorns play Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are 10-3 on their home court. Mississippi State scores 76.7 points and has outscored opponents by 13.7 points per game. The Longhorns have gone 13-1 against SEC opponents. Texas is third in the SEC with 14.5 offensive rebounds per game led by Kyla Oldacre averaging 3.4. Mississippi State makes 46.0% of its shots from the field this season, which is 7.8 percentage points higher than Texas has allowed to its opponents (38.2%). Texas averages 18.8 more points per game (81.8) than Mississippi State allows to opponents (63.0). The Bulldogs and Longhorns face off Thursday for the first time in conference play this season. Jerkaila Jordan is scoring 16.1 points per game with 5.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists for the Bulldogs. Madina Okot is averaging 10.4 points and 11.1 rebounds while shooting 60.5% over the past 10 games. Madison Booker is shooting 46.3% and averaging 16.2 points for the Longhorns. Taylor Jones is averaging 15.2 points over the last 10 games. |
| Mississippi State men's tennis earns ranked road win, splits opening SEC matches | |
| After nearly two full weeks of rest, Mississippi State men's tennis opened Southeastern Conference play Saturday with a 4-3 win at No. 16 Tennessee before falling 4-2 on Monday at Kentucky. The Bulldogs No. 3 doubles team of senior Dusan Milanovic and junior Michal Novansky started things off with a 6-2 victory against the Volunteers, and MSU's top duo of juniors Petar Jovanovic and Benito Sanchez Martinez -- ranked 10th nationally -- clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 win. Freshmen Niccolo Baroni and Bryan Hernandez Cortes both won their singles matches in straight sets to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead in the match. Jovanovic, up against the 16th-ranked singles player in the country at No. 1, pushed Shunsuke Mitsui to a first-set tiebreak but came up short. Junior Mario Martinez Serrano then wrapped up the match for MSU at No. 5 singles, winning 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. "Proud of the boys today," Bulldogs head coach Matt Roberts said. "It's never easy on the road in the SEC and Tennessee always fights so well. A few guys who stood out to me were the new additions to the squad this year. Niccolo and Bryan being freshmen on the road handling their courts as well as they did, and of course Mario staying composed and focused to get the clinch." |
| Mississippi turkey season 2025: Here's what hunters should expect this year | |
 | Turkey season is almost here and based on harvest estimates and observations over the past couple of years, Mississippi hunters should have another excellent season. "It should be really good," said Adam Butler, Wild Turkey Program coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. "We're on a pretty good run with the last couple of years of good hatches. "Last year's hatch was really good everywhere. It's about as good as it's been in a long time." The estimated number of turkeys harvested in Mississippi went into decline several years ago. By 2015, it had dropped to 19,171, which was down from over 30,000 estimated birds harvested in 2004 and 2005. However, that trend turned around. In 2023 the estimated harvest was 36,402 and in 2024 the estimate was 36,337. "Throughout my career, this is the best 2, 3, 4-year run," Butler said. "On the regional level, every part of the state is doing well right now." |
| Southern Miss women's basketball coach Joye Lee-McNelis retiring after 21 seasons | |
| Southern Miss women's basketball coach Joye Lee-McNelis will retire at the end of the 2024-25 season, the program announced on Tuesday. Lee-McNelis, 62, has been the Lady Eagles coach for the last 21 seasons. Southern Miss said it will begin a national search immediately for Lee-McNelis' replacement. It will also honor her on Friday night at halftime of the Southern Miss men's basketball game versus Troy at Reed Green Coliseum. "After more than 40 years in coaching, including the last 21 years at my beloved alma mater, it is time for me to step into the next chapter of my life," Lee-McNelis said in a statement. Lee-McNelis was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer for the third time in September 2023 that caused her to miss games last season. In April, she announced she had completed her chemotherapy and radiation treatments. But she's had to miss more games this season because of her ongoing cancer battle. Lee-McNelis was given the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award in April and was inducted into the Southern Miss Legends Club in January. |
| Louisiana could exempt NIL deals from state income tax: 'Not gonna let them outcompete us' | |
 | As Louisiana tries to stay competitive in a new college athletics landscape in which players can get paid, it could soon join other states that are considering a new strategy: tax breaks for athletes who get money from NIL deals. Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge, said he is preparing to file a bill for this year's legislative session that would exempt compensation student athletes earn from NIL deals from state income tax. It's both a matter of attracting athletes to Louisiana and of guarding against other universities luring students away from the state, he said. "Other states -- Illinois, Alabama and Georgia -- have bills right now to make it where NIL compensation is exempt from state income tax," McMakin said. "We will be competing with those other states, and we're not gonna let them outcompete us." But the idea of tax breaks for student athletes with major NIL deals -- some of whom earn millions of dollars -- doesn't sit well with some experts, who warn that doing so uses the tax code to pick winners and losers. |
| Georgia athletics unveils plan for its $20.5 million in revenue sharing with athletes | |
 | The University of Georgia Athletic Association's board of directors met Tuesday afternoon, one of three regular gatherings during each academic year. It was the last meeting before a final approval of the House Settlement on April 7 which will change the way athletic departments including Georgia and others at NCAA schools operate. Georgia is preparing for revenue sharing with athletes that would go into effect on July 1. The sea change in college athletics -- that UGA president Jere Morehead referred to during the meeting as a "tumultuous time" -- wasn't an agenda item at the meeting held at the Georgia Center, but Brooks closed his athletic director's report by talking about its impact at Georgia. "We're still working through the conference if there's going to be a standard set amount," Brooks said after the meeting in detailing for the first time Georgia's plan for revenue sharing. "They'll be some variances in there but that's a good starting point." Football players are expected to get at least $13.5 million, men's basketball players about $2.7 million and women's basketball players about $900,000. Other sport athletes like baseball, track and gymnastics could get a percentage of the remaining pie. |
| Texas wants the NCAA to start 'sex-screening' its student athletes | |
| Texas is suing the largest college sports governing body in the country in the hopes that a court will order the organization to "immediately begin screening the sex of student athletes." Although the National Collegiate Athletic Association has already barred transgender women from playing in women's sports, Texas' attorney general has accused the group of using loopholes to allow such competition. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking for a temporary injunction that either orders the screenings or requires that the NCAA and its affiliates immediately stop using the terms "women," "female," or "girl" to market any of its women's sports teams or competitions. The NCAA announced this month that only cisgender women can compete in women's school sports, although trans girls and women are still allowed to join women's practices. This policy followed President Donald Trump's executive order threatening to withhold federal funding from schools that allow trans girls on girls' teams. But in Texas' view, the NCAA isn't following Trump's order -- in part, because the organization acknowledges transgender identity at all. |
| Helene ravaged the state of SC. So why did Clemson host a football game 2 days later? | |
 | Two days after Hurricane Helene ravaged Upstate South Carolina and hours before Clemson's home game was set to kick off, president Jim Clements was concerned. Not about his university's controversial decision to host a football game against Stanford amid the devastation, though. About an email on his screen. A woman who identified herself as a Clemson alum wrote to Clements that people were hurting and needed the school's help. She wrote that now was not the time for football and the "roars that echo over the mountain heights" that weekend were actually cries of pain and sadness, quoting a portion of Clemson's alma mater song. Clements forwarded the email to his director of presidential communication, Shawn Haney, and Clemson senior vice president and chief of staff Max Allen. "Not sure how we respond to this one and maybe we should let it go - however in my opinion football brings people joy and happiness and brings people together in times like this," Clements wrote on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 28. That focus on messaging -- how and when and what to say -- was prevalent throughout a wide-ranging public records request by The State, which showed Clemson was aware of how unpopular its decision to play was and how delicate the university's reputation and relationship with the community was in that moment. |
| College Football Playoff format for next season still in limbo as commissioners punt on making seeding changes | |
| The format for this year's College Football Playoff remains in limbo. Perhaps, it can be solved with a familiar thing: money. At a meeting here Tuesday, playoff executives explored changes to the 2025 postseason but came to no decision on a proposal from the Big Ten and SEC to alter the playoff seeding. In interviews afterward, conference commissioners say they need more data before making a decision to move to a "straight seeding" model that would eliminate the automatic first-round byes assigned to the four highest-ranked conference champions -- a shift that Big Ten and SEC leaders support but a move that requires unanimity from the CFP Management Committee (the 10 FBS conference commissioners and Notre Dame's athletic director). However, a financial compromise was discussed on Tuesday among the 11-member group, several people with knowledge of the talks told Yahoo Sports. In the current 12-team format, the top four seeds -- and first-round byes -- are reserved for the four highest-ranked conference champions. Each of those teams automatically earn $8 million as part of the CFP's performance-based distribution model. They get $4 million for qualifying for the event and another $4 million for advancing to the quarterfinals. Under discussion is the possibility of the four highest-ranked conference champions continuing to earn that additional revenue despite not receiving a top four seed and first-round bye. |
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