| Friday, February 28, 2025 |
| MSU psychology program earns prestigious 10-year APA reaccreditation | |
 | Mississippi State's School Psychology Program has reached a significant milestone, earning a 10-year reaccreditation from the American Psychological Association. Housed in the College of Education's Department of Counseling, Higher Education Leadership, Educational Psychology, and Foundations, school psychology is MSU's longest standing, accredited psychology program. Widely regarded as the gold standard in the field, the recognition underscores the program's unwavering commitment to academic excellence, innovative research and impactful community service. "This milestone reflects the dedication of our faculty, staff and students who strive daily to advance the science and practice of school psychology," said Kayla Bates-Brantley, assistant professor and program director. "This 10-year reaccreditation, in addition to a 100% match rate for internships at APA-accredited sites over the past decade, highlights the exceptional quality and dedication of our faculty, students and staff," said Daniel Gadke, College of Education associate dean of research, professor and department head. Teresa Jayroe, dean of the College of Education, added, "I am incredibly proud of this School Psychology Program's remarkable achievement." |
| U.S. Cattle on Feed Report Shows Slight Decline | |
 | The latest February Cattle on Feed report, released by the Department of Agricultural Economics at Mississippi State University, indicates a slight decrease in the U.S. cattle numbers, standing at 11.7 million as of February 1, 2025, which is a 0.7 percent drop compared to the previous year. Josh Maples, an Extension Economist, pointed out that while the marketings increased by 1.4 percent year-over-year, the placements of cattle during January saw an increase of 1.7 percent compared to January 2024. This rise is attributed to the delayed placements from January 2024, primarily due to adverse weather conditions and winter storms, setting a unique precedent since 1996 where February placements exceeded those in January. The report further delved into the regional impacts of the Mexico cattle import ban, particularly noticeable in Texas where January 2025 placements dropped by 50,000 head, a 14.5 percent decrease. Conversely, Kansas and Nebraska witnessed increases of 60,000 head (15.4 percent) and 30,000 head (5.9 percent) respectively. As the industry continues to adapt to trade impacts and regional challenges, these insights provide crucial data for farmers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to navigate the evolving landscape of U.S. agriculture. |
| Mississippi Power Chairman, President & CEO Anthony Wilson announces retirement | |
 | On Thursday, Mississippi Power Chairman, President and CEO Anthony Wilson announced he will be retiring this summer after a career with Mississippi Power and Southern Company that spanned more than four decades. "I have been very blessed to work in the region where I grew up and love tremendously," said Wilson. "Our employees work tirelessly to deliver safe, reliable energy to our customers and communities in southeast Mississippi and it's been an honor to be a part of this team. Our company is well-positioned for the future thanks to their commitment to excellence and leading by example." Wilson, a native of D'Iberville, began his career with Mississippi Power in 1984 as an engineering cooperative education student in Biloxi. He moved to Georgia Power in 2002 and held several executive leadership positions before returning home to lead Mississippi Power in 2015. "Anthony's legacy will always be one of dedication to his customers and employees as well as to all citizens of Mississippi," said Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company. "Over the years, he has not only led Mississippi Power to be an industry leader in safety and reliability, delivering on its promise to provide clean, safe, reliable and affordable power to southeast Mississippi but also has been a fierce advocate for Mississippi through his support of economic development, workforce development and education." |
| Severe storms and tornadoes looming in Mississippi weather next week | |
 | A pleasant weekend is in store for Mississippi with sunny skies and warmer temperatures, but on Tuesday, a low-pressure system will interact with a cold front and the state will likely experience tornadoes, damaging winds and possibly hail. "It will be causing instability, a great amount of moisture flow and wind shear," said Christopher Ranier, weather forecaster with the National Weather Service in Jackson. "Overall, statewide, everything north of the I-20 corridor will be under an Enhanced Risk Warning for Tuesday. This system will move across our forecast area very quickly." Although it's not expected to linger, it carries the potential for damage. "The hazards being tornadoes possible and damaging winds," Ranier said. "As far as damaging winds, we're looking at wind gusts up to 60 to 70 miles per hour." As of Friday morning, the forecast includes other possible hazards associated with the storm system. "Currently, we're looking at rainfall totals of 1/2-inch up to 2 inches possible," Ranier said. "Some flash flooding can't be ruled out." |
| After eighth try Michel's bill for home wine deliveries passes | |
| Starting this summer, Mississippi residents will be able to place orders with out-of-state, boutique wineries and have them shipped directly to their front doors. For years, residents who ordered from wineries in other states had to have their selections sent to a liquor store, but that is changing thanks to the efforts of Sen. Walter Michel, who represents District 25 (Hinds and Madison counties). The 2025 legislative session was Michel's eighth try at getting a bill passed that wine lovers have wanted. "After eight years of work, I'm glad to get it to the finish line," he said. "It failed the first time it was on the Senate floor and then it was brought back up and some people changed their votes." The bill, which the governor could sign into law or let become a law without his signature, would become law on July 1. What the state Mississippi law will do is nothing groundbreaking. Forty-seven other states are set up for sales by out-of-state wineries, Michel said. |
| House advances proposals to increase tax credits for private schools | |
| The Mississippi House has once again passed legislation to increase the size of a program that already sends millions in state dollars to private schools. The House, as it did in 2024, approved legislation on Wednesday sponsored by Ways and Means Chairman Trey Lamar, R-Senatobia, that would increase the tax credits available through the Children's Promise Act. Private schools have been receiving money through the law since 2020. Lamar said the Act shores up nonprofits that provide services such as foster care and special needs, and that demand currently outstrips the amount of tax credits it makes available. In addition to other nonprofits, the statute also makes tax credits to private schools that meet its criteria. "Right now there is not enough credits for the need," Lamar said. Some Democrats and public school advocates said the proposal -- along with two other measures the House passed Wednesday bolstering the tax credits available under the Children's Promise Act -- was the latest measure in a flurry of bills introduced this session that would send taxpayer money to private schools. |
| Independent pharmacists are pleading with Mississippi lawmakers to crack down on PBMs | |
| Independent pharmacists are raising a red flag about an issue they say is putting their business in jeopardy. Pharmacy Benefit Managers or PBMs are the middleman between the insurance company and the pharmacy. A large group of pharmacists from around Mississippi gathered at the State Capitol Thursday. "Ultimately, what we're asking for, begging even, is to have the opportunity to continue serving our communities in the ways that only an independent pharmacy can," said Fair Jones, pharmacist and owner of Sav-Mor Drugs in Grenada. The pharmacists say PBMs control the pricing and reimbursements and are to blame for many independent pharmacies in the state closing. Not are they getting reimbursed below cost, but the timing puts them in an added bind. They've turned to social media up to this point, tagging lawmakers in posts about their concerns. Speaker Jason White released a statement Wednesday saying conversations are continuing and the House would prioritize supporting independent pharmacies. |
| Prenatal care for poor women may be a casualty of political infighting | |
| A lawmaker playing hardball may cost poor pregnant women a policy that would help them receive timely prenatal care -- after the program's implementation was already delayed a year because of administrative hiccups. Senate Medicaid Chairman Kevin Blackwell, R-Southaven, told Mississippi Today he will not be taking up a House bill to fix the issues in the program. He called it "his prerogative as chairman" -- despite authoring his own bill last year on the policy and purportedly being a strong proponent. House Medicaid Chair Missy McGee, R-Hattiesburg, the author of last year's bill on presumptive eligibility for pregnant women that passed into law, re-worked the bill this year to match federal guidelines so the program can take effect. It passed the House unanimously Jan. 24 and was transferred to the Senate. But now, it may die in the Senate due to political bartering. |
| Tensions Flare Between Trump and Zelensky at White House Meeting | |
 | Tensions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Trump burst into the open Friday in the Oval Office as the Ukrainian leader urged the U.S. not to trust Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump responded that Kyiv needed to accept that it had a weak negotiating hand. Ukraine had sought the meeting to line up U.S. support against Russian aggression, which it hoped to solidify with the signing of a mineral-rights deal later in the day. But after a half-hour of a generally polite discussion, the tone of the session became testy as disagreements that typically occur behind closed doors spilled out into the open. Zelensky sought to explain to Vice President JD Vance that Ukraine had signed a number of agreements with Russia that Moscow had subsequently broken. Vance, and later Trump, said Zelensky hasn't been grateful enough for the assistance his military received from the U.S. "If you didn't have our military equipment," Ukraine would have lost in the war in weeks, Trump said. He added: "You have to be thankful." At one point, Trump told Zelensky he is "gambling with World War III." |
| DOGE is now dramatically raising the potential for a government shutdown | |
 | Senior Republicans are seriously exploring how to include cuts made by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency in an upcoming government funding bill -- a move that would skyrocket tensions with Democrats and drastically raise the potential for a government shutdown. Top GOP leaders and President Donald Trump's team have been discussing the idea, which is far from finalized, according to three people who were granted anonymity to discuss the conversations. But one of the people said the idea would be to codify some of the "most egregious" examples of alleged waste that DOGE has identified and incorporate them into a government funding patch through the end of the fiscal year. Republicans would then dare Democrats to vote against the package, lest they be blamed for causing a shutdown come the March 14 deadline. The strategy, if adopted, could help satisfy conservative hard-liners who are already upset Congress is hurtling toward another short-term spending patch. But it would scramble the politics of the looming shutdown fight considerably, alienating Democrats whose votes are needed to ensure passage given the narrow Republican majorities in both chambers. |
| President Trump to sign executive order making English the official language of US | |
 | President Donald Trump will sign an executive order Friday designating English as the official language of the United States for the first time in the nation's history, a White House official said. Trump's action will rescind a mandate from former President Bill Clinton in 2000 that required federal agencies and recipients of federal funding to provide language assistance to non-English speakers, according to the White House. The move comes as Trump has moved aggressively in the first five weeks of his second term to crack down on immigration, which over the past half-century has brought people from around the world who speak hundreds of languages. However, federal departments and agencies will still be allowed to provide documents and services in languages other than English, the White House said in a summary of the order. "Agencies will have flexibility to decide how and when to offer services in languages other than English to best serve the American people and fulfill their agency mission," the summary says. |
| Democrats launch effort to get 100 doctors into elected office | |
 | A liberal advocacy group is launching a planned $25 million campaign to elect 100 new physicians to office by 2030, arguing that Democratic doctors must step forward to combat rising pressure on public-health institutions and initiatives. Leaders of 314 Action, which has worked to elect several physicians such as Rep. Kim Schrier (D-Washington), say they plan to recruit and support dozens of doctors in upcoming bids for statehouses, federal office, governorships -- and potentially the White House. The group's new campaign, dubbed "Guardians of Public Health," comes after all four GOP physicians in the Senate voted for long-time anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as the nation's health secretary and amid the Trump administration's efforts to unwind an array of public-health initiatives. Democratic physicians currently in office have said they are worried about declining confidence in public health institutions and upset that their GOP colleagues supported Kennedy, particularly given evidence of rising vaccine hesitancy. Texas is currently dealing with its worst measles outbreak in three decades, and an unvaccinated child has died of the vaccine-preventable disease. "I don't see how any physician would be able to have someone like [Kennedy] lead the agency responsible for public health," Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-California), an emergency-medicine physician, said in an recent interview. "Vaccines are our most effective public health interventions." |
| In child care centers and on farms, businesses are bracing for more immigration raids | |
 | A routine weekly Zoom call for the National Council of Agricultural Employers, a trade group, turned into a discussion of fears and tips about immigration officers coming to farms. A gathering of 150 residents and business leaders in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, earlier in February focused on how best to prepare for any raids and organize paperwork for businesses there, which focus largely on tourism and hospitality. And in Washington, D.C., workers at a child care center received a notice that their official paperwork would be reviewed. Since President Trump's election victory, employers across the U.S. have been preparing for him to target their worksites as part of large-scale deportation efforts, according to documents obtained by NPR and conversations with business leaders, employees and trade groups working across the private sector. Businesses employed some 8.3 million workers without legal status in 2022, according to the latest statistics available from the Pew Research Center -- just under 5% of U.S. workers and an increase from three years prior. Agriculture and food production, construction, hospitality and manufacturing are the top sectors. |
| Board of Education to review proposals from Mississippi universities over future of MSMS | |
| The future location of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS) is up for discussion once more. On Wednesday, the Mississippi State Board of Education reported that it is seeking stakeholder feedback regarding proposals from Mississippi State University (MSU) to acquire the public residential high school and the Mississippi University for Women (MUW) to retain MSMS. In December, the State Board of Education launched an MSMS subcommittee to explore ways to strengthen the school's operations and ensure the continued growth of the academic institution. MSU and MUW were later asked to submit proposals that would increase enrollment and educational opportunities for MSMS students. Both institutions of higher learning have since sent their pitches to host the school. After reviewing both proposals, officials with the State Board of Education will make a recommendation to the legislature about the future of MSMS. Should lawmakers vote in favor of any changes to the operations and location of MSMS, it is anticipated that any such changes would go into effect starting in the 2026-27 school year. |
| MUW hosts Navigating Health Sciences Day for high school students | |
 | CPR, the skills lab, and labor and delivery. These are just a few of the experiences high school students from across the region took part in at Mississippi University for Women's Navigating Health Sciences Day. The purpose is to help students better understand the field through hands-on experience before they get to college. "We want them when they come into health care to really know what they are investing in and what is the profession that they are really interested in being a part of and then helps them understand a pathway to get there," said Dean for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Dr. Brandy Larmon. Dean for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Dr. Brandy Larmon said the experience can be a real eye-opener. "You have a lot of students that say, I want to do nursing or I want to do physical therapy, but until they get here and they really see the labs and they meet people that do that, you know, it may change their mind. And, you know, we're really excited about talking about our profession to them and then getting them on the right path," Larmon said. |
| Ole Miss student Mary Kate Cornett family contacts congressman, files police report on cyber attack | |
 | The Oxford Police Department confirmed Thursday that a police report has been filed regarding a cyber attack of University of Mississippi student Mary Kate Cornett the family says was perpetrated against the student. Cornett's father, Justin Cornett posted on Facebook Thursday that she had been subject of a false and defamatory cyber attack, which was sexual in nature and spread across the internet, specifically on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The Cornett family is from Texas. "She has been publicly doxed and our family has been forced to take protective measures to ensure her safety," Justin Cornett said on Facebook. "We have filed police reports with local law enforcement in Oxford, the University of Mississippi campus police and the FBI. I have engaged a highly capable forensic data private investigation team to find the perpetrators." "At this stage, we suspect this is some sort of fraternity prank that has mushroomed out of control," Justin Cornett continued. "I refuse to let my family be targeted and am fully committed to pursuing all criminal and civil actions available. To those responsible, we will find you." |
| UM celebrates diverse cultures with All Nations Night | |
 | Despite inclement weather, international and domestic students and guests came together in the Student Union Ballroom on Feb. 19 for the third annual All Nations Night. The event included music and dance performances, a panel and various country presentations; All Nations Night was hosted by campus organizations Better Together and the Ole Miss Ballroom Dance Club. David Henen, president of Better Together and Ph.D. student from Egypt, said he was satisfied with the event's turnout. "We had a big turnout, despite the weather," Henen said. "We were expecting 300 to 400 (people), but just because of the weather, we got around 150, so that was a huge success," Of the 80 nations represented on campus, 32 were represented at All Nations Night, Henen said. "The purpose of all nations night is to gather the student body and present the nations represented on campus," Henen said. "The people get to learn about each other's culture and appreciate each other's culture. We are raising awareness so people know that we are from different backgrounds in the world, but on one campus." |
| 'Be optimistic': Financial experts give economic outlook during USM forum | |
 | Grocery prices are stretching Pine belt Pockets thin, but financial experts are projecting some relief. Right now, Pine Belt shoppers see frustration at the cash register. Bo Sykes, of Clarke County, says he spent $80 at the Laurel Walmart Thursday. He was asked how long he expected the groceries to last. "Not that long," Sykes said. Sykes said in the past, the same amount of groceries cost him $55. Other families said they wee cutting back and cutting corners, too. In response to the heightened frustration, financial experts at University of Southern Mississippi's 2025 Economic Outlook Forum said to expect some relief in the long term. "What I would tell people is with changes with respect to policy and just the normal ebb and flow of the economy as growth starts to normalize, inflation should continue to come down," said Matt Orton, CFA, who is senior vice president/head of Advisory Solutions and Market Strategy at Raymond James Investment Management. "There's always going to be bumps in the road." This year marked USM's 15th Economic Outlook Forum. |
| Archie Wade, University of Alabama's First Black Faculty Member, Dies at 85 | |
| When the University of Alabama played Georgia in the 1964 football-season opener in Tuscaloosa, Archie Wade, Joffre Whisenton and Nathaniel Howard had seats next to the home team's marching band. It was unheard of. Black football fans had previously been confined to a small set of bleachers in the end zone of what is now known as Bryant-Denny Stadium, without much of a view of the field. Whisenton said that he, Wade and Howard had been given tickets by a friend, David Mathews -- an administrator who would become president of the university in 1969. There had been no public announcement that Black fans would be sitting with white fans at the game. "The whole idea was to make this as normal as possible," said Mathews, "not to make it an in-your-face demonstration of integration." For much of the first half, their presence in the stands went mostly unnoticed. But when the band got up to take the field for halftime, the three men were exposed. Profanities, ice, cups and worse were hurled in their direction. They left before things got worse, but their mark on the university was just beginning. Within less than a decade, Whisenton became the first Black student to receive a Ph.D. from the university and Wade, who died Jan. 13 at the age of 85, became its first Black faculty member. Getting the job, though, was just one of many hurdles in doing the job. |
| U. of Tennessee nuclear simulator trains Kairos operators and Knoxville students | |
 | Kairos Power, a California company building advanced nuclear reactors in Oak Ridge, opened a simulator lab at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville that mimics a nuclear control room for training operators and educating students, including those pursuing UT's new nuclear engineering minor. The partnership places a nuclear control room simulator down the hallway from where nuclear engineering students attend class in the Zeanah Engineering Complex. The university and the company cut the ribbon on the Operator Training Simulator Laboratory on Feb. 26. Kairos Power signed an agreement with UT last April and endowed the nuclear operation simulator. When the company isn't using the new space to train operators, it will be available for graduate students and post-doctoral students in the Department of Nuclear Engineering for research. Kairos Power will offer introductory courses open to the company's employees and students. The company is also sharing with UT the salary of a new lecturer who will help develop curriculum for a nuclear engineering minor. Hope Palmer, a learning and development specialist at Kairos Power, will be the first lecturer in that seat. |
| Think you can cheat? U. of Florida professor creates watermarks to detect AI-generated writing | |
 | Artificial intelligence is putting instructors and employers in an awkward position when it comes to accepting written work, leaving them wondering: Who wrote this? A human or AI? But imagine a digital watermark that could remove the guesswork and actually flag AI-generated text whenever someone submits their writing. A University of Florida engineering professor is developing this technology right now. "If I'm a student and I'm writing my homework with ChatGPT, I don't want my professor to detect that," said Yuheng Bu, an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. Using UF's supercomputer, HiPerGator, Bu and his team are working on an invisible watermark method for Large Language Models designed to reliably detect AI-generated content -- even altered or paraphrased -- while maintaining writing quality. Bu's work focuses on two key aspects: maintaining the quality of Large Language Model-generated text after watermarking, and ensuring the watermark's robustness against various modifications. |
| Former U. of Kentucky student Sophia Rosing involved in racist attack files for early release from jail | |
 | Sophia Rosing, the former University of Kentucky student who pleaded guilty to several charges after a racist attack on a Black student, has filed a motion for probation and early release from jail, according to court documents. In November 2022, Rosing physically assaulted and used racial slurs toward a student desk clerk, Kylah Spring. Spring, who is Black, was working at the front desk of a UK residence hall at the time. Video of the attack and arrest -- including of Rosing attacking a police officer who was called to the dorm -- went viral. Rosing pleaded guilty to four counts of fourth-degree assault, one count of disorderly conduct, and one count of public intoxication last year. She was sentenced to 12 months in jail, 100 hours of community service and a $25 fine, her attorney Fred Peters told the Herald-Leader at the time. Now, she is asking for probation after being in jail since October 2024. The filing states that Rosing's "actions led to consequences she never anticipated." |
| Gov. Abbott re-appoints two Texas A&M Regents, adds a new member | |
 | Three members of the Texas A&M Board of Regents had their six-year terms expire at the start of this month. On Wednesday Gov. Greg Abbott re-appointed two of those regents, Jay Graham of Houston and Michael A. "Mike" Hernandez of Fort Worth, to continue with new six-year terms. Gov. Abbott also appointed Kelly Sullivan Georgiades to the third seat. Graham is chairman, CEO and founder of Spur Energy Partners. He is the founder of the Graham Petroleum Ventures Program at Texas A&M and the April and Jay Graham Fellowship for Military Service Initiative at the George W. Bush Presidential Center. Graham earned a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M. Hernandez is the owner and CEO of D&M Leasing Texas and also owns multiple car dealerships. Hernandez received a Bachelor of Science in industrial distribution from Texas A&M. Georgiades is executive vice president of the Sullivan Brothers family of companies and a co-owner of Santa Rosa Ranch and GKG Land and Cattle. Georgiades received a Bachelor of Arts in communication at Texas A&M and a certificate in ranch management from Texas Christian University. |
| New U. of Missouri research center on campus will address AI sustainability and improvement | |
 | A multimillion-dollar plan to bring the Energy Innovation Center to the University of Missouri campus is underway, aiming to conduct research on the sustainability of AI. Previously named the Center for Energy Innovation, the building is planned to settle behind Lafferre Hall. The center will receive a capital investment of $90 million from the state. Project leaders are aiming to receive an additional $30 million in philanthropic donations for the center, down from the previous goal of $70 million. The final plan to build the center is pending approval by the Board of Curators, and the project is slated to begin later this year, dean of the MU College of Engineering and project collaborator Marisa Chrysochoou said. The building will have four floors, each designated to distinct research areas. The initiative connects three of MU's academic colleges that have one thing in common: conducting energy research. The College of Engineering, the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources are involved in the plan. Glass said researchers are encouraged to collaborate in the same space to address "grand challenges," meaning large-scale problems regarding energy. |
| States Are Once Again Taking Aim at Tenure. This Time Might Be Different. | |
 | A wave of bills targeting tenure at public colleges have been introduced by Republican lawmakers in seven states during this year's legislative sessions. The bills, in Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, and Texas, seek to crack down on tenure, either by effectively eliminating it, calling for a stricter system of post-tenure review, or some combination. The proposed legislation is part of a larger effort by Republican-controlled statehouses to overhaul higher education, with provisions regarding tenure often found in bills that also target diversity, equity, and inclusion programming. The bills reflect a multiyear effort to restrict academic freedom and faculty rights for "ideological reasons," said Timothy R. Cain, a professor of higher education at the University of Georgia. "They are not based on legitimate concerns about efficiency or quality but are based on a desire to attack higher education for political gain and shape it for political purposes." Similar bills taking aim at tenure have been proposed in recent years, with mixed results -- many have failed to advance, but others, including some involving post-tenure review, have succeeded. The current wave may well be different, said Adrianna Kezar, director of the Pullias Center of Higher Education at the University of Southern California. In part, that's because bills targeting tenure are now being paired with anti-DEI legislation at both the federal and state level. |
| USAID Cuts Hit University Research, Including Respected Soybean Labs | |
 | Peter Goldsmith knows there's a lot to love about soybeans. Although the crop is perhaps best known in America for its part in the stereotypically bougie soy milk latte, it plays an entirely different role on the global stage. Inexpensive to grow and chock-full of nutrients, it's considered a potential solution to hunger and malnutrition. For the past 12 years, Goldsmith has worked toward that end. In 2013, he founded the Soybean Innovation Lab at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and every day since then, the lab's scientists have worked to help farmers and businesses solve problems related to soybeans, from how to speed up threshing -- the arduous process of separating the bean from the pod -- to addressing a lack of available soybean seeds and varieties. The SIL, which now encompasses a network of 17 laboratories, has completed work across 31 countries, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. But now, all that work is on hold, and Goldsmith is preparing to shut down the Soybean Innovation Lab in April, thanks to massive cuts to the federal foreign aid funds that support the labs. The SIL is among the numerous university laboratories impacted by the federal freeze on U.S. Agency for International Development funds -- an initial step in what's become President Donald Trump's crusade to curtail supposedly wasteful government spending -- and the subsequent termination of thousands of grants. |
| Mass firings across National Weather Service, NOAA ignite fury among scientists worldwide | |
 | As federal job eliminations struck the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service on Thursday, scientists and environmental advocates denounced the cuts, saying they could cause real harm to Americans. The full extent of the layoffs across NOAA were not immediately clear, but Democratic legislators said hundreds of scientists and experts had been notified of terminated employment. NOAA -- which includes the National Hurricane Center and the Tsunami Warning Center -- is the latest in a string of federal agencies targeted for cuts by billionaire Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency. Tom Di Liberto, a longtime scientist and spokesperson for NOAA's headquarters in Washington, was among those who received a termination email Thursday, along with at least six others in his office. Although he wasn't surprised by the decision -- having watched several other federal agencies deal with similar cuts -- he said he was still extremely disappointed and feared for NOAA's mission. "This is not something you would do if you cared about the safety of Americans ... the health of the oceans," Di Liberto said. He had worked at NOAA since 2010, first on contract for several years before being hired full-time in March 2023. |
| NSF downsizes summer research program for undergraduates | |
| The National Science Foundation (NSF) is shrinking its support of a long-running program that offers summer research opportunities to thousands of college students -- many from groups historically underrepresented in science. Within the past few weeks, several universities have had to cancel plans to host these students this summer after getting word they won't be funded through NSF's Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. The reasons are not clear, and NSF is not commenting. But it appears to be a combination of belt tightening while NSF awaits word on its final budget for this fiscal year and concern that the program may clash with the new administration's ban on activities that promote diversity. Begun in 1987 and with sites at hundreds of research-intensive U.S. campuses, the $80-million-a-year REU program caters to students whose home institutions can't provide opportunities to do the original research needed to launch their careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Potential host institutions apply to NSF for 3 years of funding to support a summer cohort of eight to 10 students from other colleges and universities; prospective students then apply directly to the sites. Many REU programs have been running for decades, and some universities offer programs in different fields thanks to multiple awards. |
| US universities curtail PhD admissions amid Trump science funding cuts | |
| Some universities across the United States are reducing or halting their PhD admissions because of federal-funding uncertainties stemming from actions taken by the administration of US President Donald Trump. Few universities have released public statements about their strategies, so prospective graduate students have remained mostly in the dark about which institutions are cutting back. Nature spoke to several young scientists caught up in the confusion. Some have received e-mails from universities indicating that they would have been accepted if not for funding uncertainties; others have been told that programmes are completely paused. Although many of the affected programmes are in the biomedical sciences, as reporting in STAT has detailed, uncertainty about federal funds exists across a number of disciplines. Some universities have also stopped and restarted admissions in the past few weeks, creating more confusion. Even training programmes at the NIH have been halted as Trump's team takes aim at downsizing the US government's budget and workforce. "If we don't get this hiring freeze lifted, the consequences to all research are going to be really dire," says Rosa Lafer-Sousa, a postdoctoral fellow at NIH's National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and a representative for the union NIH Fellows United. The impact, she says, will be felt by the American people in the form of delayed treatments and therapies for diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. |
| Wary Colleges Scramble to Meet DEI Deadline | |
| The clock is running out on colleges as they mull how to respond to a sweeping federal order to end all race-based policies and programs. In the face of an imminent Friday night deadline, college leaders are scrambling to determine how to navigate the Feb. 14 Dear Colleague letter issued by the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights, which declares all race-based educational programs and policies discriminatory and illegal. When they sent the letter on Valentine's Day, department officials gave institutions two weeks to comply or face investigations and, possibly, the loss of federal funding. For many colleges, the challenge is figuring out how to avoid drawing unwanted government attention without abandoning key services for underrepresented students and staff. Institutions aren't going to lose federal funding overnight. The investigative process is notoriously lengthy, and the Education Department has never revoked a college's federal funding over civil rights concerns. The OCR may also be rendered impotent, at least temporarily, if a judge decides to halt enforcement while considering a lawsuit filed Tuesday challenging the letter. But college leaders are anxious about the threat of federal funding cuts, which would be catastrophic for the majority of postsecondary institutions. |
| Democrats call for Education Department to rescind threats to end to federal funding for schools with DEI programs | |
 | A group of Democrats is calling on the Department of Education to rescind threats of defunding schools with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. The Hill received an exclusive look at a letter sent to Denise Carter, the department's acting secretary, and Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights. The letter, led by Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.), criticizes the department for a Feb. 14 "Dear Colleague" letter sent to educational institutions receiving federal funds. In the Democrats' letter, legislators argue the Department's threats are "yet another example of the concerted movement to dismantle educational opportunities for the most marginalized students and deny all students the shared benefits of educational experiences that equip them with the skills to think critically about and thrive in our multiracial and diverse democracy." "Schools' diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives simply aim to level the playing field and redress the ongoing harms of segregation and centuries of legal inequity, exclusion, and discrimination," the letter states. |
| Education Department Launches 'End DEI' Website to Solicit Complaints About Schools | |
 | The U.S. Department of Education is asking the public to report practices of diversity, equity, and inclusion in public schools, the Trump administration's latest move to go after schools for what it calls "divisive ideologies" and "indoctrination." The agency on Thursday launched a public portal -- EndDEI.Ed.Gov -- for parents, students, teachers, and the broader community to report practices of discrimination based on race or sex in publicly-funded K-12 schools. This new effort comes just before the Feb. 28 deadline that the Trump administration set for K-12 schools and universities to end DEI practices or risk losing federal funding. The portal webpage, titled "Students should be focused on learning," states that the Education Department is committed to providing students with "meaningful learning, free of divisive ideologies and indoctrination." The form allows people to report "illegal discriminatory practices at institutions of learning." The message on the portal says the department will use submissions to "identify potential areas for investigation." The federal portal isn't a new strategy to monitor DEI practices. In 2021 and 2022, states such as Virginia and New Hampshire announced similar tip lines to report the use of critical race theory in classrooms. There were reports of misuse of the form in Virginia. |
| Linda McMahon's nomination to be Education secretary clears Senate hurdle | |
 | Linda McMahon, whom President Donald Trump nominated to be Education secretary, is one step nearer to confirmation after the Senate cleared a procedural hurdle Thursday. Senators voted 51-47 to approve a motion to invoke cloture on McMahon's nomination, which is scheduled to receive a confirmation vote Monday. McMahon served as head of the Small Business Administration during the first Trump administration and was previously the CEO of professional wrestling and entertainment company WWE. A longtime Trump ally, she was co-chair of his presidential transition team and has raised millions of dollars for his campaign as chair of the super PAC America First Action. McMahon received unanimous Republican support, both on Thursday and last week, when the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee advanced her nomination on a party-line vote. Senate HELP Chair Bill Cassidy praised McMahon's previous leadership experience as good preparation for the secretary role before the committee voted on Feb. 20. Ahead of Thursday's cloture vote, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer called McMahon "unqualified" to be in charge of the nation's public education system. The New York Democrat also bemoaned Trump's repeated calls to dismantle the Education Department, saying, "Cutting education is not what the American people want." |
SPORTS
| Diamond Dawgs Head to Houston for Astros College Classic | |
| The No. 18 Mississippi State baseball team heads out to Houston, Texas for the Astros Foundation College Classic to face off against Rice, Arizona and Oklahoma State. This will be the Dawgs first time in this tournament since 2018. All nine of the tournament games will be televised by Space City Home Network and available on the channel in the entirety of the Astros five-state viewing area. Additionally, all nine games will also be streamed live without a blackout or paywall on Astros.com and on the Astros X, Facebook and YouTube channels. All three games will also be carried on the Bulldog Sports Network powered by Learfield, along with a live audio stream via HailState.com/OnDemand. Mississippi State heads to the Astros Foundation Collegiate Classic for the second time in program history. The first time the Diamond Dawgs played in this tournament was during the 2018 season. MSU won all its previous three matchups in this tournament. The last matchup was a 4-1 victory over Sam Houston State. |
| Softball: MSU Hosts Bulldog Invitational Presented By C Spire | |
| The No. 21 Mississippi State softball team will continue its longest homestand of the season this weekend as Nusz Park prepares to host The Bulldog Invitational presented by C Spire. MSU welcomes Alabama State, New Mexico and Northwestern State this weekend as the Bulldogs will play five games in three days. The tournament will begin with a 3 p.m. tilt versus Alabama State on Friday before the Bulldogs conclude the night at 5:30 p.m. against New Mexico for their first matchup with the Lobos in 28 years. Saturday's action will begin at 12:30 p.m. when Mississippi State meets Northwestern State. The Bulldogs then play New Mexico for a second time. State rounds out the tournament on Sunday with a final meeting with Northwestern State at 12:30 p.m. Mississippi State has hosted the Bulldog Invitational every year since 2016 and boasts a 39-4 record in the event. |
| Women's Basketball: Mississippi State Falls Just Short To Top-Ranked Texas, 68-64 | |
| The Mississippi State Bulldogs fell just short of defeating the top team in the country, as they dropped the contest against the No. 1/1 Texas Longhorns, 68-64. "We came to play this game to win," head coach Sam Purcell said. "There's an energy and a talk about this team right now that I love. We'll have some film to watch but we have to stay hungry and try to get one at Auburn on Sunday." Thursday's game was not for the faint of heart, as there were 15 lead changes throughout the duration of the contest. The contest opened slowly, as only one bucket was scored at the initial media timeout, which was taken with 3:33 remaining in the first quarter. The Longhorns held a 7-4 lead at that point. At the half, the Bulldogs trailed the Longhorns by three points. The game opened in the second half, as each team had their best offensive quarter in the third. Texas gained their largest lead of 10 with 2:10 remaining in the game. The Bulldogs would not give up, however, as they ended the game on an 8-2 run. The clock would eventually run out on State, as Texas knocked down a free throw with two seconds on the clock to secure the four-point victory. |
| Josh Hubbard and Jerkaila Jordan named Finalists for state's top basketball trophies | |
| Two of Mississippi State's premiere student-athletes, Jerkaila Jordan and Josh Hubbard, were named finalists for the Gillom and Howell Trophies on Thursday, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame announced. The Gillom Trophy is awarded annually to the best female college basketball player in Mississippi, while the Howell trophy goes to the top male college basketball player in the State. Along with Jordan, Madison Scott of Ole Miss and Taleah Dilworth of Jackson State University were named as finalists for the Gillom Trophy. On the men's side, Ole Miss' Sean Pedulla and Jackson State's Daeshun Ruffin were named finalists alongside Hubbard. Jordan looks to continue Mississippi State's dominance in winning the Gillom trophy, as State has won the award 10 of the 17 times it has been presented, including seven of the last 10 years. The graduate student from New Orleans, Louisiana, is wrapping up her fourth and final season as a Bulldog. In those four years, Jordan has inserted herself among some of the top names in Bulldog women's basketball history. Also representing Mississippi State will be Victoria Vivians, who is a featured speaker at the event, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame announced earlier in the month. The current women's basketball assistant coach remains the only four time winner of the Gillom Trophy. |
| How to Storm the Court Without Costing Your School $500,000 | |
| With 24 seconds left on the clock and her team clinging to a five-point lead over Kentucky, Vanderbilt athletic director Candice Storey Lee wound her way down to the front of the student section. With hands pressed together as if in prayer, she made a desperate plea: celebrate if you must, but don't storm the court. Failure to do so, she explained, would trigger a $500,000 fine. She would much rather spend that dough on attracting better players with endorsement deals than donate it to Kentucky, a basketball blue blood not hurting for cash. The fans ignored Lee and rushed the court immediately after the buzzer. "We have a very tightknit community and they want to share the space," she said. The Southeastern Conference is having a historic season with as many as 13 teams poised to earn bids to next month's NCAA Tournament. But some of that success has come at a cost. Fans keep rushing onto the court after big wins. The breaches are taking a bite out of the schools' multimillion-dollar athletic budgets, since the SEC has strict rules meant to deter storming and levies the steepest fines in the country. To rein in fans without ruining the fun, universities are trying to teach people how to storm with decorum. They are pleading with the crowd to stay in their seats, at least long enough to let the losing players get to the locker room, and in some cases instituting a countdown clock to let them know when the stampede can start. |
| NCAA's FY24 Revenue Sets Record, Offset by $3B in Liabilities | |
| NCAA revenue jumped to a record $1.38 billion in fiscal 2024, according to a copy of the organization's most recent audited financial statement, but was offset by a tenfold increase in its liabilities. The report, obtained by Sportico, presents the association's first firm accounting of how the proposed House v. NCAA antitrust settlement could affect the governing body's financial health. With the $2.78 billion settlement factored into its FY24 finances, the NCAA's total liabilities jumped from $304 million at the end of FY23 to $3.06 billion. The NCAA plans to pay these back damages to former athletes over the next decade. U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken will preside over a hearing in April for final approval of the settlement, during which numerous objectors plan to state their arguments for why she should not. Wilken will make a final ruling some time afterwards. According to the financial statement, the NCAA expects the court to grant final approval of the settlement before the end of August. The $1.38 billion in revenue is up 7% from last fiscal year ($1.29 billion). The jump includes a $60 million increase in investment gains -- doubling last year's total -- plus increases in revenue from the organization's media deals and the operation of championship events like the March Madness basketball tournaments. Notwithstanding the House settlement, expenses remained relatively flat across the board. |
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