| Thursday, February 27, 2025 |
| Natchez's Angela Brooks leads workshop at 4-H Volunteer Leaders' event at MSU | |
 | The Mississippi 4-H Volunteer Leaders' Association's (MVLA) Annual Leadership Conference was held Feb. 21 and 22 in the Bost Extension Conference Center at Mississippi State University at Starkville. The MVLA Annual Leadership Conference provides an excellent opportunity for 4-H Volunteers, Extension faculty and friends of 4-H to participate in outstanding experiential learning activities, workshops, great fellowship, and enlightening entertainment. The theme this year is "4-H Volunteers Moving Mountains for Youth." Angela Brooks of Natchez, Adams County 4-H volunteer, attended the event at MSU. Brooks also conducted two workshops on "Following the Guidelines for 4-H Exhibit Completion" and "Following the Guidelines for 4-H Exhibit Completion." |
| Moore honored by Mississippi State | |
 | Mississippi State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences honored Joshua R. Moore as the 2024 distinguished alumni fellow representing the Department of Poultry Science. A 2000 graduate, Moore has built a successful career with Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., where he now serves as vice president of operations, overseeing large-scale production across multiple states. His leadership has been instrumental in company acquisitions, industry advisory roles and workforce development initiatives. An advocate for poultry science, Moore remains actively engaged in industry organizations and education, helping to shape the future of poultry production and agricultural leadership. |
| Camgian spending millions to expand Starkville operations | |
 | Camgian Corporation, a Starkville-based software developer specializing in artificial intelligence and machine learning, has announced it is expanding its operations. "Camgian continues to experience strong growth in Mississippi," Gary Butler, Camgian CEO said in a statement. "With the expansion of our Starkville headquarters, we are excited to drive innovation and create new opportunities for the future." Founded in 2006, Camgian develops AI and machine learning solutions for government and commercial clients worldwide, according to a statement. "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," said Joe Max Higgins, Golden Triangle Development LINK CEO. "Their investment in advanced computing shows the strength of our local tech sector, and we're excited to support their continued growth." |
| Will Oktibbeha get countywide building codes? | |
 | Oktibbeha County may be headed for a countywide zoning or building code, but residents are wary of overreach. Public sentiment was split Tuesday during a meeting to develop a comprehensive plan for the county hosted by the board of supervisors at Belaire Fire Station. Residents were adamant supervisors should minimize limitations on private land outside of city or town limits, but nevertheless seemed cautiously amenable to the idea of very basic construction codes. District 4 Supervisor Pattie Little was the most outspoken advocate for some sort of basic guidelines. She said having nothing in place cripples the county's efforts to get federal grants. "I don't think everybody wants to be regulated for the benefit of growth in the university and city (of Starkville)," said Becca Andol, an Adaton resident. "We live in the county because we want to live in the county. If we wanted to live in the city, we'd live there." The idea of strict building codes and higher taxes drew the loudest condemnations from the crowd, but guests were more amenable when Little said some developments were building unsafe apartments whose only access between floors were stairs made of flammable material. When she suggested the county could fulfill federal grant requirements and ensure basic safety levels with limited building code, her proposal got no resistance and a few voices in agreement. |
| USACE Vicksburg District announces new Chief of Engineering and Construction Division | |
| The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District has selected William Bradley as chief of the Engineering and Construction Division. The mission of the Engineering and Construction Division is to be a full-service engineering organization, reliable and responsive to the development of engineering projects. Bradley began his career with the Vicksburg District in 2002, as a Structural Engineer in the Structures Section. Bradley is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Engineering/Industrial Management. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the states of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida. The USACE Vicksburg District is engineering solutions to the nation's toughest challenges. The Vicksburg District encompasses a 68,000-square-mile area across portions of Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana that holds nine major river basins and incorporates approximately 460 miles of mainline Mississippi River levees. The Vicksburg District is engaged in hundreds of projects and employs approximately 1,100 personnel. |
| As Mardi Gras approaches in New Orleans, maskers and parades take center stage | |
 | Carnival season 2025 is approaching its climax in New Orleans and across the Gulf Coast, with big parades rolling down the main routes as some revelers get fancied up for formal balls while others dress in costume to poke fun and make merry. Three parades will roll Thursday night in New Orleans with scores of masked riders on colorful floats. More processions will continue every day through Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday. Costumed revelers will jam the French Quarter as more parades roll in New Orleans' suburbs, other Louisiana cities, and all along the Mississippi and Alabama coasts. Following the Jan. 1 truck attack that killed 14 people in the heart of New Orleans, the Department of Homeland Security upgraded Mardi Gras to its highest risk rating. This means there will be significantly more law enforcement officers present than in prior years, said Eric DeLaune, who is leading Mardi Gras security as special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans. "We've made an effort to make carnival season as safe as we possibly can without intruding on the historical and cultural context of Mardi Gras," said DeLaune, a Louisiana native who grew up attending the parades. "We didn't want to change the feel of Mardi Gras." |
| Senate passes its legislative redistricting plan, setting up special elections later this year | |
| The Mississippi Senate took up its proposed legislative redistricting on Wednesday, which would impact 10 Senate Districts: 1, 2, 10, 11, 19, 34, 41, 42, 44 and 45. As previously reported, a federal three-judge panel ordered the supermajority Republican Mississippi Legislature to draw and adopt new state legislative district maps during the 2025 session and subsequently hold special elections to fill the seats. That order came after the Mississippi NAACP filed a lawsuit challenging the 2022 legislative redistricting plan adopted by lawmakers. Those maps resulted in 15 of the 52 Senate seats and 42 of 122 House seats being majority-minority, or majority black voting age population districts. State Senator Dean Kirby (R) presented the Senate plan which aims to address majority-minority redistricting in DeSoto and Forrest counties. "All members in these areas have met with me and the staff and reviewed the district lines and all the data," Kirby told the body. Kirby said he also met with the Democratic Caucus, Black Caucus, external attorneys, and others, adding that this "is not a partisan deal." "We have a court order and we're going to comply," Kirby said. |
| Senate passes redistricting that puts DeSoto Republican, Tunica Democrat in same district, calls for 10 new elections | |
| Voters from 10 Senate districts will have to re-decide in November special elections who should represent them in Jackson, pending court approval, under a resolution the Senate approved on Wednesday. The chamber passed the plan 33-16. Two Democrats joined with the GOP majority to support the plan, while three Republicans joined with the Democratic minority to oppose it. Even though voters just elected members of the Legislature in 2023, the 10 races will be held again because a three-judge federal panel determined last year that the Legislature did not create enough Black-majority districts when it redrew its districts. The proposal puts Sen. Michael McLendon, a Republican from Hernando, who is white and Sen. Reginald Jackson, a Democrat from Marks, who is Black, in the same district. The redrawn District 1 contains a Black voting-age population of 52.4%. McLendon spoke against the proposal, arguing the process for was not transparent and it was not fair to the city of Hernando, his home city. The plan also puts Sen. Chris Johnson and Sen. John Polk, two Republicans from the Hattiesburg area, in the District 44 seat. Polk announced on the Senate floor that he would not run in the special election, making Jonson the only incumbent running in the race. |
| Speaker White says House, Senate working together on PBM reform | |
| On Wednesday, House Speaker Jason White (R) said he was continuing to meet with independent pharmacists, the Board of Pharmacy, and the business community to work out an agreement that would provide for much needed and overdue support for independent pharmacists while also protecting employers and consumers. Earlier this session, the House passed a bill -- HB 1123 -- that aimed to provide public transparency to how much money is earned by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and pharmacy services administrative organizations (PSAOs). State Rep. Hank Zuber (R), chair of the House State Affairs Committee, said at the time that the measure's goal was stopping "spread pricing." Spread pricing occurs when a PBM negotiates a lower rate for a prescription but charges an insurance company a higher amount than the negotiated rate. The PBM's compensation for negotiating the lower rate is the "spread" between the two amounts. "They're going to be required to report the current wholesale cost for the drugs, the total rebate amount paid to each PBM and or PSAO," Zuber told House members earlier this month. |
| As Congress moves toward potential Medicaid cuts, expansion grows more unlikely in Mississippi | |
| Hundreds of thousands of poor, disabled or pregnant Mississippians could lose health care coverage if Congress slashes funding for Medicaid. Although President Donald Trump has vowed Medicaid won't be "touched," the U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget resolution Tuesday that instructs the committee that oversees Medicaid and Medicare to cut $880 billion over 10 years. The cuts will help pay for Trump's agenda on tax cuts and border reform. The talk of such dramatic changes to the federal-state program has Mississippi lawmakers concerned -- and hesitant to push expansion this year. Proposals for Medicaid budget cuts nationwide include lowering the rate at which states are reimbursed for Medicaid services, capping the amount of money states can get per enrollee, and imposing block grants -- meaning states would receive a fixed dollar amount for the program, regardless of need. Mississippi, the poorest state in the nation, could suffer the most under some of these proposals, according to health policy experts. |
| Medicaid work rules have increased coverage loss, not employment | |
 | House Republicans are coalescing around work requirements in Medicaid as part of the massive budget blueprint the House adopted Tuesday. But there's one problem: They don't increase employment, experts say. They do, however, result in people losing coverage. The House budget resolution directs the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid, to find $880 billion in savings. While no legislative language specifying the cuts has been released yet, work requirements have been part of the discussion as House Republicans scour for ways to pay for President Donald Trump's $4.5 trillion tax cuts. Republican leaders have said work requirements in Medicaid are common sense -- healthy "able-bodied" adults should be required to work if they're going to get health insurance through Medicaid. But most of the people who would likely be subject to work requirements -- adults who qualify for Medicaid in the 41 states and District of Columbia that expanded Medicaid -- are already working, according to KFF, a health policy research organization. Savings would more likely be generated through people losing coverage for failing to comply with reporting requirements, experts say. |
| Bill supports Mississippi midwives' push for licensure | |
| Toni Hill has spent more than a decade working full time, traveling around Mississippi to provide women health care during some of the most dangerous moments of their lives. She is not, however, a doctor, a paramedic, a nurse practitioner or any other position formally regulated by the state. Hill is a direct entry midwife, one of several dozen practitioners in Mississippi without formal medical training who take it upon themselves to learn one of the oldest medical traditions -- meeting women where they are before, during and after childbirth. Today midwives learn the trade through an informal apprenticeship process and individual study, but a bill proposed this legislative session aims to ensure the profession establishes minimum standards with a formal licensing process. "My daughter was a baby on my back when I first went down to the capitol to talk about licensure 18 years ago," Hill said. "There was a bill to take (midwives) out of the medical code. And that's kept happening. There was one just two years ago. I'm on call every minute of every day, I don't have time to go down to Jackson every year to fight for my ability to care for my clients." House Bill 927 is the leading edge of that fight today, sponsored by the District 39 Rep. Dana McLean (R-Columbus). The House approved the bill Feb. 13, and it now sits in the hands of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee. |
| Lawmakers move student financial literacy legislation forward | |
| Students in the state of Mississippi may soon be required to demonstrate a level of financial literacy before being able to graduate if a bill making its way through the Legislature becomes law. Under SB 2147, which passed out of the House Education Committee Wednesday afternoon, students in grades 6-12 would be required to take the financial literacy courses starting in the 2026-2027 school year. While presenting the bill on the floor of the Senate earlier this month, Senate Education Chairman Dennis DeBar (R) said that by the 2031 school year, all potential high school graduates would be required to pass a financial literacy test. "For years we've been talking about, 'Gee, we wish kids would graduate school and know how to balance a checkbook, save some money and use credit cards and so forth.' This is the bill that will make it happen," DeBar said, before the legislation unanimously passed the chamber. Drafting of the bill was done in conjunction with the Mississippi Department of Education and the Attorney General's Office. |
| House Chairman kills bill aimed at building Jackson casino, says votes weren't there | |
| A House chairman killed a proposal aimed at attracting developers to build a resort and casino in the city of Jackson moments before the full chamber was set to vote on it. House Ways and Means Chairman Trey Lamar, R-Senatobia, made a successful motion to table House Bill 1879, as its sponsor, Rep. Chris Bell, D-Jackson, was answering questions from lawmakers concerned a casino in Jackson would bring unwanted competition to casinos in their districts. "We didn't have the votes," Lamar said. "We felt like it was worth a conversation. Last year it got brought up in committee and didn't get brought out of committee. This year it made it out of committee and got brought out to the floor," Lamar said. "Anytime private investors are willing to invest hundreds of millions in downtown Jackson, we think that's worthy of a conversation. That's what happened today." Another bill, sponsored by Lamar and seen at least in part as a shot at the casino lobby would have increased taxes on Mississippi casinos from 12% to 16%. It also died with Wednesday's deadline for passage. |
| Lights, camera, action: Lawmakers look to attract TV productions to Mississippi | |
| Television producers could soon have a warmer welcome in Mississippi if a new tax credit program passes this session. HB 1880, authored by State Rep. Trey Lamar (R), looks to provide incentives for television production, similar to what the state already offers for movie production and filming, in hopes of attracting more interest in filming TV series in the Magnolia State. If a production company spends at least $4 million on production in Mississippi with at least 65 percent of their runtime occurring inside the state, the measure would allow for a 25 percent tax credit for qualified expenses as well as a 30 percent credit for resident employees and a 20 percent credit for non-resident employees. Those employee credits would be capped at $3 million per employee, and the overall aggregate cap would be $42 million. The production company could take advantage of the incentives for 10 years and would be allowed to take the credit or choose a 75 percent rebate on their expenses and costs. |
| Mississippi judge vacates her order that a newspaper remove its editorial criticizing local leaders | |
| A Mississippi judge on Wednesday vacated her order that a newspaper remove its editorial criticizing local officials, days after a city decided to drop the lawsuit that spurred it. The judge's order had been widely condemned by free speech advocates as a clear violation of the paper's First Amendment rights. Chancery Judge Crystal Wise Martin had issued the restraining order against the Clarksdale Press Register last week, telling it to remove from its website a Feb. 8 editorial titled "Secrecy, Deception Erode Public Trust." The piece criticized the city for not sending the newspaper notice about a meeting the board held regarding a proposed tax on alcohol, marijuana and tobacco. The board of commissioners dropped the suit Monday at the request of Mayor Chuck Espy, who cited an offer from the paper's owner to run a clarification. However, Emmerich Newspapers president Wyatt Emmerich said he made that offer before the city filed its lawsuit and that it was no longer on the table. |
| Trump plans tariffs on Mexico and Canada for Tuesday, while doubling existing 10% tariffs on China | |
| President Donald Trump says he plans to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting Tuesday, in addition to doubling the 10% universal tariff charged on imports from China. Posting on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said that illicit drugs such as fentanyl are being smuggled into the United States at "unacceptable levels" and that import taxes would force other countries to crack down on the trafficking. The prospect of escalating tariffs has already thrown the global economy into turmoil --- with consumers expressing fears about inflation worsening and the auto sector possibly suffering if America's two largest trading partners in Canada and Mexico are slapped with taxes. But Trump has also at times engaged in aggressive posturing only to give last-minute reprieves, previously agreeing to a 30-day suspension of the Canada and Mexico tariffs that were initially supposed to start in February. The potential for higher prices and slower growth could create political blowback for Trump. Trump indicated Wednesday that European countries would also face a 25% tariff as part of his reciprocal tariffs. He also wants separate tariffs on autos, computer chips and pharmaceutical drugs that would be levied in addition to the reciprocal tariffs. |
| Agriculture secretary outlines plan to lower egg prices | |
 | U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins outlined a "five pronged strategy" to lower the cost of eggs in a Wednesday Wall Street Journal op-ed citing the avian flu as an influencing factor in price hikes. "The Agriculture Department will invest up to $1 billion to curb this crisis and make eggs affordable again. We are working with the Department of Government Efficiency to cut hundreds of millions of dollars of wasteful spending," Rollins wrote. "We will repurpose some of those dollars by investing in long-term solutions to avian flu, which has resulted in about 166 million laying hens being culled since 2022." The Agriculture secretary said that $500 million will be allocated to help U.S. poultry producers implement "gold-standard biosecurity measures" with a focus on protective gear and procedures that decrease the risk of contamination. Rollins also stressed that researchers are exploring the use of vaccines and therapeutics for egg-laying hens. Rollins added that department officials have evaluated 150 sites to address risks and will pay 75 percent of the costs needed to repair biosecurity vulnerabilities and make $400 million available to farmers whose flocks are affected by avian flu. |
| 'Overwhelmed and underwater': Congressional staffers feel the brunt of Trump 2.0 | |
| President Donald Trump's sweeping executive orders and Elon Musk's push to feed federal agencies "into the wood chipper" are reshaping Washington -- and according to staff, are burying congressional offices under a mountain of calls and casework. Angry constituents are peppering lawmakers with questions at town halls. Phone lines are blowing up. Immigration casework is mounting amid crackdowns. Federal workers are asking for help after getting laid off en masse, while others fear for their jobs. Recipients of government services worry programs like Medicaid, Social Security or food stamps could be targeted. And local leaders and nonprofits are worried about losing critical funding. "Come January, everything really changed," said Emma Dawson, a grants coordinator who works in the district office of a House Democrat. "I'm taking calls all day. ... A lot of people I've talked to are scared and confused." The past month has come at a breakneck pace, said some staffers who deal directly with constituents. Working as a caseworker in Congress often means acting as a go-between, helping people solve a problem or get what they need from federal agencies, from veterans benefits to passports to disaster recovery. |
| GOP senators vent Musk frustrations at closed-door meeting | |
| Republican senators vented their concerns about tech billionaire Elon Musk's aggressive approach to freezing federal spending and cutting government jobs during a private meeting with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles on Wednesday. Gathered in the historic Mansfield Room outside the Senate chamber, some GOP senators complained about what they view as a lack of transparency about what Musk and his team of engineers are doing at federal agencies. They flagged cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which fired 1,400 employees Monday, and said Musk's team hadn't responded to their requests for information, according to sources familiar with the meeting. Musk on Wednesday dominated the spotlight at Trump's first Cabinet meeting, defending his email demanding all federal workers report their accomplishments. Though Musk is not technically a member of Trump's Cabinet, the president recognized the billionaire to speak first and let him express himself at length. Some Republican senators say Musk needs to step back and let Trump's Cabinet officials take the lead in deciding whether layoffs are consistent with their other priorities. |
| Former US security officials say funding for federal science research critical to race with China | |
| Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and other former U.S. national security officials on Tuesday warned that China was outpacing the U.S. in critical technology fields and urged Congress to increase funding for federal scientific research. The appeal comes a week after the National Science Foundation (NSF), which funds science research, fired 170 people in response to President Donald Trump's order to reduce the federal workforce. An NSF spokesman declined comment on reports that hundreds more layoffs were possible and that the agency's budget could be slashed by billions. The ex-officials want Congress to provide at least $16 billion authorized for the NSF in fiscal year 2025, according to a letter seen by Reuters addressed to Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Mike Johnson, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. "China is making significant strategic investments in basic and applied research and positioning the country to outpace us in critical areas that could determine the outcome of future conflicts," the letter said. "This is a race that we cannot afford to lose." Former officials who also signed the letter with Hagel included Chris Miller, acting defense secretary during Trump's first term, and Doug Fears, Trump's former homeland security adviser. |
| Trump administration says it's cutting 90% of USAID foreign aid contracts | |
 | The Trump administration said Wednesday it is eliminating more than 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development's foreign aid contracts and $60 billion in overall U.S. assistance around the world. The cuts detailed by the administration would leave few surviving USAID projects for advocates to try to save in what are ongoing court battles with the administration. The Trump administration outlined its plans in both an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press and filings in one of those federal lawsuits Wednesday. Wednesday's disclosures also give an idea of the scale of the administration's retreat from U.S. aid and development assistance overseas, and from decades of U.S. policy that foreign aid helps U.S. interests by stabilizing other countries and economies and building alliances. President Donald Trump and ally Elon Musk have hit foreign aid harder and faster than almost any other target in their push to cut the size of the federal government. Both men say USAID projects advance a liberal agenda and are a waste of money. |
| SCOTUS pauses judge's order requiring Trump administration pay foreign aid contractors | |
 | Chief Justice John Roberts on Wednesday granted the Trump administration's emergency request to pause a judge's order requiring the government to pay foreign assistance dollars to contractors and grant recipients. Arriving hours before the lower court's midnight deadline, Robert's order was the first time the Supreme Court has intervened as judges have temporarily blocked the White House from taking huge steps to reshape the government and consolidate power. The Trump administration told the Supreme Court Wednesday night it is committed to paying "legitimate claims" but complying with a federal judge's order midnight deadline was "not logistically or technically feasible." Roberts agreed to put the order on hold and told the grant recipients waiting for their funding to tell the court by Friday why the order should go forward. Roberts did not give a reason for his decision. |
| U.S. Foreign-Aid Halt Is Making Scrutiny of China Even Harder | |
 | China, the world's second-largest economy, is already one of the most impenetrable countries. Now, the Trump administration's move to suspend foreign aid is starting to derail nonprofit efforts to unearth data on business and social trends -- which was already hard to track. Nonprofits cited halts to funding from U.S. institutions including the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the National Endowment for Democracy. Activists and nonprofit executives say the shutdown -- led by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency---is forcing nongovernment organizations to suspend or stop their research on everything from human-rights abuses to socioeconomic indicators prized by foreign businesses. "U.S. government grants often fund research that cannot be conducted easily in China due to Beijing's formidable censorship apparatus," said Neil Thomas, a fellow on Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institute. "Cutting off support for researchers focused on understanding Beijing could raise the risk of strategic misunderstandings that endanger U.S. national security." Foreign officials, academics and executives have turned to China-focused NGOs, and their local connections, for help parsing signals from a country where the Communist Party has tightened controls on data and suppressed independent analysis of social and economic trends. Many of these NGOs now say they are scrambling to seek new funding or lobby for resumptions to their grants. |
| One consequence of government spending cuts? Lower GDP | |
| An updated read on gross domestic product -- basically, how fast the economy grew in the fourth quarter of 2024 -- comes out Thursday. The first estimate from the Bureau of Economic Analysis said the economy grew at an annual rate of 2.3%. Roughly 70% of that, give or take, was thanks to spending by or on behalf of consumers. But do you know what else spends money and is spent on behalf of? Government. And government spending -- as you may have heard -- is on the chopping block. Government spending cuts also have knock-on effects in other parts of the economy. Guy LeBas, chief fixed income strategist at Janney Montgomery Scott, said cuts could affect the "I" component of GDP: Investment. That's because government spending can ensure that there's demand for what private companies sell. He added cuts to government spending also affect the biggest component of GDP: Consumer spending. For instance, if the government lays off a lot of workers? "That's reduced spending power within the U.S. economy, and that means the individuals and businesses that serve those employees have reduced capacity. They may even institute some layoffs as a result," LeBas said. |
| Trump Administration Escalates Layoffs of Federal Workers | |
 | The Trump administration moved forward on Wednesday with plans for more mass firings across the government, hours after President Trump reiterated his support for Elon Musk and his effort to shrink the federal bureaucracy. Thousands of federal workers have already been fired in recent weeks, primarily those with probationary status. Russell T. Vought, the head of the White House budget office, and Charles Ezell, the acting head of the Office of Personnel Management, circulated a memo to government leaders calling for agencies to prepare plans for additional "large-scale reductions" in the federal work force in March and April. Denigrating the federal bureaucracy as "bloated" and "corrupt," the seven-page memo called for agencies to be drastically cut -- in some instances to the fullest extent allowed by the law. One line in the memo said agencies "should focus on the maximum elimination of functions that are not statutorily mandated." In addition to the layoffs, the memo also suggested that possible "proposed relocations of agency bureaus and offices from Washington" could occur, indicating that some agencies based in or near the nation's capital may be moved "to less-costly parts of the country." |
| Supreme Court seems poised to lower bar for Whites to sue for job bias | |
 | The Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared to support the idea of making it easier for men and people who are White or straight to sue for job discrimination, based on oral arguments in the case of an Ohio woman who claims she faced anti-straight bias in the workplace. The high court's conservative supermajority and at least some of the liberal justices seemed receptive to arguments by Marlean Ames, who is challenging rulings by many of the nation's courts that require members of majority groups to meet a higher standard to prove job discrimination than groups that have traditionally faced bias. The justices appeared ready to strike down the test. Both conservative and liberal justices peppered the Ohio solicitor general over the state's opposition to Ames's arguments, pushing him to eventually affirm that he, too, thought minorities and members of majority groups should be treated equally. "We are in radical agreement," said Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, a striking statement for a court that has sharply divided along ideological lines in recent years on issues from abortion to affirmative action. |
| Republican lawmakers look for ways to weaken state judges | |
| Measures in several state legislatures this year have called for new approaches to weaken the power of judges. One would abandon a centuries-old precedent that courts can decide whether laws are constitutional. Another would change how judges are selected. Tension between the courts and other branches of government is not new. But it's growing. The latest wave comes as President Donald Trump faces scores of lawsuits challenging his policies. His administration says the issue isn't what he's trying to do but rather that judges acting as "judicial activists" are in some cases are standing in his way. William Raftery, an analyst at the National Center for State Courts, said the battle between branches of state government for power dates to the earliest years of the U.S. and that lawmakers often make proposals aimed at weakening judges. Most of them aren't adopted. In 1803 the U.S. Supreme Court established a precedent in the landmark case Marbury v. Madison that courts can find laws unconstitutional. |
| The W seeks to continue partnership with MSMS | |
 | The Mississippi University for Women (The W) submitted a Request for Proposal (RFP) to the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) on Tuesday, February 25. According to The W, the university is seeking to continue a more than 30-year-old partnership with the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS). "Our proposal details The W's strengths and distinguishing capabilities that benefit MSMS, outlining how we can support MSMS's growth on our campus through enhanced experience, expanded academic support, increased research, course opportunities and improved facilities," said W President Nora Miller. The Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) is seeking stakeholder feedback about proposals from The W and Mississippi State University (MSU) to house and operate the MSMS. |
| MUW and MSU submit proposals about MSMS future | |
 | Two of the region's universities submitted proposals to house the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS). MSMS is a public high school for gifted 11th and 12th-grade students from across the state. The school has shared the Mississippi University for Women (MUW) campus in Columbus since its inception in the late 1980s. However, there's been a recent push to move MSMS to Mississippi State University in Starkville. Some claim MUW's facilities are inadequate. The State Board of Education (SBE) requested the two universities submit proposals on how they will best help MSMS. MUW and MSU submitted their proposals on Tuesday, Feb. 25. |
| Mississippi Department of Mental Health partners with MUW for first aid training | |
 | In today's day and age, mental health is more important than ever, and it often takes support from those around you. That's why the Mississippi Department of Mental Health partnered with The W Counseling Center to provide free, evidence-based, mental health first aid training. Mississippi University for Women's second Mental Health First Aid Workshop helps students and faculty recognize, understand, and respond to mental health challenges. "The training is necessary. One of the things that we talk about is the lack of awareness. Many of us deal with things unknowingly because our communities have been desensitized. We've been doing things a long time because that's what Grandma and them did and that's how we were raised. And so one of the things that this training does, it gives some awareness. It shines light in dark places where we didn't realize that's a struggle that I have and there is help for it," said MHAT Grant Coordinator, Labethani May. |
| Deadline for assessment of DEI programs nears | |
 | Universities across the country received a 14-day notice from Craig Trainor, the Department of Education's acting assistant secretary for civil rights, giving them a deadline of Friday, Feb. 28, to take measures to assess institutional compliance with anti-discrimination requirements that are necessary to receive federal funding. Trainer's letter particularly focuses on the reevaluation of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, arguing that -- while appearing to be inclusive -- they lead to discriminatory practices that violate Title VI of the 1946 Civil Rights act, which prohibits discrimination in institutions that receive federal funding. The University of Mississippi is currently evaluating the potential impact of the directive. "The university is aware of the Department of Education's recent 'Dear Colleague' letter and is reviewing how it may affect our campus," Jacob Batte, director of news and media relations, said on Feb. 19, in an email to The Daily Mississippian. The Daily Mississippian followed up with the university on Tuesday and Wednesday regarding an updated response to the Department of Education's 14-day notice and is awaiting a response. This letter follows initiatives at the federal and state level that seek to end DEI initiatives in educational institutions. |
| Ole Miss psychology professor recognized by SEC for research, teaching | |
 | Passionate about research, scholarship and students, psychology professor Kenneth Sufka is the 2025 Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award winner for the University of Mississippi. The SEC recognizes one faculty member annually from each of its member institutions having outstanding records in research and scholarship. "I am deeply honored to be selected from among the many outstanding UM faculty for this recognition," Sufka said. "I love that the Southeastern Conference promotes the importance of academic excellence across the 16 institutions with this and other award recognitions." Sufka's research focus is the development, validation and use of animal models to help develop new drugs for chronic pain, drug abuse and stress disorders. Sufka joined the Ole Miss faculty in 1992 after earning his doctorate in physiological psychology from Iowa State University. |
| Lloyd Green Recognized with Mississippi Country Music Trail Marker at Southern Miss | |
| Legendary pedal steel guitarist Lloyd Green was honored with a Mississippi Country Music Trail marker at the University of Southern Mississippi on Tuesday. With a career spanning over five decades, Green contributed to 116 No. 1 hits. Green also played alongside country stars like Tammy Wynette and Alan Jackson, as well as musical icons such as Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney. Before becoming a central figure in Country Music, Green was born in Leaf, Mississippi, and attended Southern Miss as a student. "Southern Miss holds a special place in my heart, and I am deeply honored by this recognition," Green said. Country music star Marty Stuart, university officials, and community leaders attended the ceremony to celebrate Green's influence on the genre. Expressing his gratitude for the recognition, Green emphasized his deep ties with Mississippi as his contributions to the Nashville sound and country music earned him a place in the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1988. |
| Jones College seeing high enrollment numbers | |
 | Jones College has been ranked #1 in the state for having the best enrollment growth, according to the Mississippi Community College Board's semester report. Last spring, the college admitted an additional 520 students leading to 4,136 more semester credit hours being produced. According to the administration, it's been a good year for the college. "We've seen incredible enrollment growth, we have the highest student body headcount since 2011, our credit hours are back up where they were pre-COVID," said Amanda McLeod, the vice president of enrollment management at Jones College. Lowering tuition rates is one of the major ways Jones College is welcoming more students onto campus. Another way Jones College is working to see higher enrollment numbers is by getting more prospective students at recruitment events. Jones College students invited about 300 in-district, high schoolers on campus to learn more about student life and academics. |
| Ashley Walker named EMCC's Humanities Teacher of the Year | |
 | East Mississippi Community College social sciences instructor Ashley Walker has been named the college's 2025 Humanities Teacher of the Year. Each year the Mississippi Humanities Council presents Humanities Teacher of the Year awards to humanities faculty at each of the state's colleges and universities. Walker and the other recipients will be recognized this year during an awards gala March 28 in Jackson."I have the privilege of working with a phenomenal group of instructors at EMCC and to be chosen for this award is both humbling and an honor," Walker said. She has been invited to present a lecture, which will take place March 6 at noon in the board dining room of the F.R. Young Student Union on EMCC's Scooba campus. Walker's presentation, "Reviving Civic Duty: The Role of Education in Democracy?" is free and open to the public. EMCC students, faculty and staff are also encouraged to attend. In the presentation, Walker will discuss the role education plays in encouraging democratic values and a sense of civic duty among students. |
| Trump suspends the head of 'The Nation's Report Card' | |
 | The federal official who leads one of the country's most extensive student testing programs, known as The Nation's Report Card, was placed on administrative leave by the Trump administration Monday. Peggy Carr was appointed to her position as Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics in 2021 by President Joe Biden. Previously, she had been a career employee there for more than two decades. The Education Department's press office confirmed her leave but did not provide any reason in a request for more information. The NCES collects and reports data on many different elements of education, but is best known for the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, the gold standard in assessments of student achievement. Known as The Nation's Report Card, The data provides insights on how K-12 students are faring in core subjects including math and reading. The exam was mandated by Congress and is the largest nationally representative test of student learning, having first been administered in 1969. |
| Under Trump, Huntsville might finally gain Space Command. It could also lose much more | |
 | A drive across Redstone Arsenal's more than 38,000 acres just outside Huntsville, Alabama, shows it's not your typical U.S. Army post. It's a star-studded tour of some of the country's most important organizations, from defense to space. This includes household names like NASA and the FBI. And less famous ones that are nevertheless the backbone of the military, like the Army Materiel Command and Defense Intelligence Agency. Now, North Alabama believes President Donald Trump will deliver a new star tenant -- Space Command. The city's been waiting for an executive order to restart the packing to Alabama, but that move, which was rumored to come at the start of Trump's White House return, has yet to happen. Instead, Trump spent much of his first month hacking away at the federal government. So far, the tenants already at Redstone have mostly avoided the cuts, but Huntsville knows more are still coming, including thousands of Department of Defense workers set to be fired starting this week. With 46,000 federal employees at the arsenal, the region has more on the line to lose than gain. One hundred miles south, Birmingham felt the blade as the administration attempted to cut billions in National Institutes of Health funding for biomedical research, which would have included tens of millions for the University of Alabama at Birmingham. A federal judge paused the measure indefinitely until further review. Later in the month, planned cuts to NASA's workforce were averted at the last moment. But Huntsville may no longer be spared with the Pentagon planning to cut 5-8% of its civilian workforce. |
| Project Safe Flight aims to make Auburn safer for birds | |
| The College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE) has partnered with Alabama Audubon, a statewide avian conservation group, to critically examine Auburn's campus and how buildings can be safer for birds. CFWE joins Alabama Audubon's Project Safe Flight, a conservation initiative that seeks to protect local bird populations from deadly collisions with windows. As the project expands to Auburn's campus, CFWE has begun the process of addressing high-risk locations for the wide variety of bird species that either call the Plains home or are just migrating through. Death by window collision kills an estimated 1.28 billion birds in the United States every year, according to Alabama Audubon. Project Safe Flight aims to reduce that number through monitoring, research and prevention efforts. Since Spring 2023, Project Safe Flight has only had the resources for collision monitoring and data collection in Auburn. However, in its second year, volunteers have started to make physical changes on campus. |
| Texas Legislature proposes $400 million cut to higher ed as Dan Patrick threatens university budgets over DEI | |
| Days before the start of the legislative session, Texas A&M University administrators were already bracing for a hit to their budget. "The rumor is the [lieutenant] governor will cut everyone's institutional enhancement money to try to get higher ed's attention," Julie Kopycinski, a top government relations staffer, wrote to her boss Texas A&M President Mark Welsh. "What part of our 'attention' is he trying to get," Welsh responded, according to an email exchange obtained in an open records request. "That we have collectively lost our core mission and are still too [DEI] and leftist focused," Kopycinski responded. Nine days later, Kopycinski's warning proved true. The House and the Senate unveiled their state budget proposals, with both versions eliminating the institutional enhancement fund, a line item dedicated to higher education that provided $423 million to Texas universities in the last budget cycle. If passed, Texas A&M University would be shorted $52 million for the next two-year budget period. The University of Texas at Austin would lose close to $40 million. The threat to public university funding comes as the state is enjoying a $24 billion surplus. |
| Why the U. of Texas System is offering microcredentials to students -- for free | |
| Microcredentials are often touted as a way for students and working adults to learn skills and move into new industries without the same time and money commitment required to pursue a college degree. But some college officials are working to pair microcredentials with a traditional four-year education. The University of Texas System expanded its partnership with Coursera late last year to provide some 15,000 students across its five health campuses with free access to the online learning platform's microcredentials. Through the partnership, students, faculty, staff, and alumni have access to Coursera's Career Academy, which offers some 50 professional certificate programs with companies like Google and Microsoft. System officials say they hope the microcredentials help students build upon their college classwork to succeed in the workforce. The results of pairing microcredentials with degree programs have not been fully studied, but higher education experts say they may offer benefits for students. |
| Kyle Rittenhouse speaks to small Memphis crowd year after being booed off U. of Memphis stage | |
| Kyle Rittenhouse took the stage at the University of Memphis again Wednesday, almost a year after he was jeered and booed off stage. But unlike in 2024, his speech was sparsely attended, had a smaller protest crowd and ended without fireworks. He began his speech a little after 7:15 p.m. and said Memphis had "matured a little," before calling out a few familiar faces in the crowd of a few dozen. Outside, protesters gathered chanting "killer on campus" and holding signs about Rittenhouse. The overall scene was tamer than a year ago. The event, hosted by Turning Point USA's Memphis chapter, featured Rittenhouse speaking to a small collection of students and community members. His speech was about the Second Amendment and his experience during his first-degree intentional homicide trial. Protesters were present, but the event was more controlled than Rittenhouse's event the year prior. |
| This Year's Ph.D. Admissions Cycle is Leaving Students in the Lurch | |
 | One budding academic was told an offer from a Ph.D. program was coming, and then suddenly, it wasn't. Another said their acceptance remains in limbo after a university paused, then unpaused, all doctoral admissions. Meanwhile, some faculty have been instructed to cut the number of graduate students they admit -- in some cases by more than a third. As colleges brace for potential hits to federal research funding, many presidents have warned their campuses that cuts are coming. Others have already begun belt-tightening as a federal judge in Massachusetts weighs whether to block a Trump-proposed 15-percent cap on indirect costs by the National Institutes of Health, which cover facilities, staff, and equipment for scientific research. The policy could cost some institutions more than $100 million. One emerging casualty of the budget cuts is Ph.D. spots, as some colleges have paused or reduced admissions in anticipation of funding losses. The timing is unfortunate, researchers told The Chronicle: Some applicants had already received informal offers to begin their programs this fall, only to learn that pauses or reductions may derail those plans. |
| Lawsuit Challenges Ed. Dept.'s Authority to Ban Diversity Programs, Alter Teaching on Race | |
| The Office of Civil Rights' Dear Colleague letter that calls for an end to all race-conscious programs and "discriminatory" history lessons is an overreach of the Education Department's authority to determine what can be taught in classrooms and misinterprets the Supreme Court's 2023 decision on race-conscious admissions, a lawsuit filed Tuesday argues. The lawsuit, filed by the American Federation of Teachers and the American Sociological Association, is the first legal challenge to OCR's guidance, which gave colleges and schools just two weeks to eliminate or alter programs, some of which have for decades provided academic support for marginalized students. Colleges that don't comply with OCR's guidance by Friday, February 28, could have their federal funding revoked, the letter said. "This letter is an unlawful attempt by the Department to impose this administration's particular views of how schools should operate as if it were the law. But it is not," lawyers wrote. The plaintiffs argue that the department's references to discrimination against white and Asian students are too vague, and fail to give clear indication of what programs are illegal. Lawyers point out that there's no law that prevents the teaching of race and racism, and the Supreme Court did not ban programs to eliminate disparities between white students and students of color. |
| Trump Is Targeting DEI in Higher Ed. But What Does He Mean? | |
 | Early this month, the University of North Carolina system told its component institutions that their general education requirements could no longer mandate that students take courses "related to diversity, equity and inclusion." System officials further said majors couldn't require DEI-related courses without university chancellors providing "tailored waivers" granting exceptions. UNC system general counsel Andrew Tripp explicitly told chancellors in a letter that the change was intended to comply with the president's Jan. 21 executive order that mandated an end to "illegal DEI" and called for restoring "merit-based opportunity." Yet, despite ordering this far-reaching response to Trump's directives, Tripp also told the UNC system chancellors that he didn't know what the order really required. The string of vague and sometimes seemingly contradictory executive actions has left leaders of federally funded colleges and universities and their employees to wonder: Should they wait for clarification -- legal or otherwise -- before upending their DEI policies and programs? Or respond like the UNC system and start ditching things that might be perceived as DEI activities? |
| As Trump's deadline to eliminate DEI nears, few schools openly rush to make changes | |
| Schools and colleges across the U.S. face a Friday deadline to end diversity programs or risk having their federal money pulled by the Trump administration, yet few are openly rushing to make changes. Many believe they're on solid legal ground, and they know it would be all but unprecedented -- and extremely time-consuming -- for the government to cut off funding. State officials in Washington and California urged schools not to make changes, saying it doesn't change federal law and doesn't require any action. Leaders of some colleges shrugged the memo off entirely. Antioch University 's chief said "most of higher education" won't comply with the memo unless federal law is changed. Western Michigan University's president told his campus to "please proceed as usual." Opponents say it's an overreach meant to have a chilling effect. The guidance appears to forbid everything from classroom lessons on racism to colleges' efforts to recruit in diverse areas, and even voluntary student groups like Black student unions. Education organizations have been urging a measured approach, warning institutions not to make any hasty cuts that would be difficult to undo. Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, is telling colleges that if they were in compliance with federal law before the memo, they still are. Still, some education leaders say resistance is too risky. Tony Frank, chancellor of the Colorado State University system, wrote in a campus letter that he weighed taking a stand against the department. But he advised the system's campuses to comply, saying there's too much at stake for students and staff. "If we gamble here and are wrong, someone else will pay the price," he wrote. |
SPORTS
| Women's Basketball: Mississippi State Welcomes Top-Ranked Texas To Humphrey Coliseum On Thursday | |
| The Mississippi State Bulldogs are set to conclude their 2024-25 home schedule against the No. 1/1 Texas Longhorns. Fans are encouraged to wear white to the game, which tips off at 6:30 p.m. on SECN+. Last time out, Mississippi State earned a senior day victory over the Texas A&M Aggies, 66-69. Mississippi State and Texas will be facing off for just the sixth time in program history. This will be the first meeting as a conference game between the two teams. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 3-2, winning the lone matchup in Starkville on November 16, 2016, 79-68. Texas marks the first time the Bulldogs will face the #1 Team inside of Humphrey Coliseum since Sam Purcell's first season, when top-ranked South Carolina came to The Hump on January 8, 2023. Those Bulldogs fell to the Gamecocks, 58-51. The last time Mississippi State defeated a top-ranked team was March 31, 2017, when the Bulldogs snapped the 111-game winning streak of the UConn Huskies in the final four, 66-64, in OT. |
| Vic Schaefer returns to Humphrey Coliseum as Mississippi State hosts No. 1 Texas | |
| Mississippi State was already a program on the rise when longtime Texas A&M assistant Vic Schaefer arrived as the Bulldogs' new head coach in 2012. But the Bulldogs reached heights previously unimaginable under Schaefer, who drew sellout crowds to Humphrey Coliseum and made women's basketball a big deal at MSU. Schaefer won two Southeastern Conference titles and took the Bulldogs to the national championship game in 2017 and 2018. His crowning achievement came in the 2017 Final Four, when Morgan William's game-winning jumper in overtime ended Connecticut's record 111-game winning streak. After eight years in Starkville, Schaefer returned to his home state and took over as the head coach at Texas in 2020. The move came as a shock to some, especially given that it came mere weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic, but Schaefer has continued his success with the Longhorns, reaching the Elite Eight in three of his first four seasons in Austin. On Thursday night, he will be back at The Hump -- and he will bring the nation's top-ranked team with him. |
| What to know about Vic Schaefer, Texas women's basketball coach in return to Mississippi State | |
| Mississippi State women's basketball's home game Thursday versus Texas already carries significance. The Bulldogs (19-9, 6-8 SEC) and third-year coach Sam Purcell are fighting to secure an NCAA tournament bid. Texas (27-2, 13-1) became the No. 1 team in the country this week. It's also the final home game of the regular season. A victory for MSU would almost certainly lock it into March Madness. The game also marks the return of Vic Schaefer, the Texas coach who led Mississippi State to some of its best seasons in program history. Thursday's tipoff (6:30 p.m., SEC Network+) will be Schaefer's first game back at Humphrey Coliseum since he left for the Texas job five years ago. "Respect, first and foremost," Purcell said. "Vic's been in this business for many years. Well thought of, future hall of famer." "I'm sure it'll be emotional, but for me, I've got a heck of a team that I got to go in there and try to win a road game," Schaefer said. "That's it for me." |
| Vic Schaefer makes return to Humphrey Coliseum as State hosts No. 1 Texas on Thursday | |
| When Vic Schaefer walks on to the Humphrey Coliseum floor on Thursday night, the coach will likely have some bittersweet thoughts flooding through his mind. Schaefer will be standing on the opposite bench than the one he used to occupy, delivering a pregame speech in another locker room. Most importantly, he'll be coaching a team to beat Mississippi State surrounded by fans in the stands that are pulling against him. No. 1 Texas comes to town on Thursday for a 6:30 p.m. showdown against Mississippi State in a game that will be a weird visual for many. Time has healed the wounds of many State fans that were upset with Schaefer's departure to Austin and the coach still holds Starkville and MSU close to his heart. "I know there are some people that are unhappy when we left. While it might have been hard, I think people have come to understand why," Schaefer told Maroon and White Daily earlier this week. "It was the best eight years in the Schaefers life in Starkville, Mississippi. We have nothing but tremendous love and respect for the school and the program but also the state as a whole." |
| Softball: Bulldogs Power To Midweek Run-Rule Victory | |
| A season-high four home runs were more than enough to give No. 21 Mississippi State its fifth run-rule victory of the year on Wednesday as the Bulldogs downed UAB, 11-1, in five frames. Freshman Morgan Stiles opened the scoring with her first career home run, a three-run blast in the bottom of the second. In the third, Nadia Barbary and Kiarra Sells left the yard on back-to-back pitches to make it a 5-1 ballgame before Morgan Bernardini delivered the knockout blow with a three-run shot of her own in the fourth. Stiles also scored on an error in the fourth, and Kylee Edwards and Sells added RBI singles in the game. For Stiles, it was a breakout day. She also walked and came around to score. Her three RBIs are a career high, and she raised her batting average by more than 60 points on Wednesday. "We're just trying to get her comfortable," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. In the circle, Raelin Chaffin dominated yet another ballgame, tossing her SEC-leading sixth complete game of the year while earning her eighth win. She struck out eight without allowing a walk. 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. |
| How Jerry Jones Built the $10 Billion Dallas Cowboys | |
| Jerry Jones loves to tell a good story. He takes listeners along for a ride, mixing in his unique aphorisms as he shares lessons on business and life. Few business stories are as good as his tenure as the owner of the Dallas Cowboys. This week marks the 36th anniversary of Jones buying the Cowboys and its stadium for $150 million, including unfunded liabilities. Today, it is the most valuable sports franchise on the planet, worth $10.32 billion. The NFL and Cowboys of the 1980s were a far cry from where the league and team sit today. The NFL had a pair of in-season work stoppages in 1982 and 1987 that caused lost games and replacement players. The league faced challenges from the upstart United States Football League and drug abuse among players. The NFL was not a TV juggernaut, and Fox wasn't launched until late 1986. Each NFL team made roughly $15 million a year from TV during the decade. The Cowboys were dubbed America's Team in the 1970s when they won a pair of Super Bowls, but 1986 kicked off a string of five straight losing seasons. By 1989, the U.S. government owned 13% of the team due to seizures during the Savings & Loans crisis, and the Cowboys were losing $1 million per month. Enter Jones. |
| Mizzou's Pingeton to step away from team after 2024-25 season | |
 | Mizzou women's basketball coach Robin Pingeton informed the Mizzou Athletics administration Wednesday that she will be stepping away from the program at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, according to a release obtained by the Missourian. The decision officially spurs the Tigers' first coaching search for women's basketball since the school's introduction into the Southeastern Conference on July 1, 2012. In a news release, she said she arrived at this decision after initiating conversations with MU athletic director Laird Veatch. Mizzou has a 13-16 overall and a 2-12 conference record this season, with two games remaining before the SEC Tournament. The Tigers face Arkansas (9-20, 2-12) at 6:30 p.m. Thursday night at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Pingeton's contract was set to expire on April 30 after she signed an extension on Nov. 21, 2018. Some possible candidates include Grand Canyon's Molly Miller, Ole Miss' Yolett McPhee-McCuin, Fairfield's Carly Thibault-Dudonis, Nevada's Lindy La Rocque, Missouri State's Beth Cunningham and Cincinnati's Katrina Merriweather. |
| Federal judge mulling decision on case of UGA student seeking to play baseball | |
 | U.S. District Middle Court Judge Tripp Self declined to rule Tuesday night on an injunction sought by a potential University of Georgia baseball player that would have allowed him to play in the spring 2025 baseball season. After a nearly two-hour hearing, the judge told the lawyer for outfielder Dylan Goldstein and lawyers for the NCAA that he would make a decision "as soon as I can." The hearing was held in the federal courthouse in Athens, where Goldstein appeared with his father present. Self told those in court that he would do his best to follow the law as the decision must be based on legal principles. During the hearing, he noted that this case "screams for Congress to solve" and not district judges. Goldstein is a junior college player who had used up his eligibility, but the NCAA had approved an extra year of eligibility for junior college transfers starting in the fall of 2025. This rule did not apply to players in the spring of this year. The NCAA's rule decision came after a Tennessee federal judge granted an injunction for Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia allowing him to play in the fall. |
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