| Tuesday, March 4, 2025 |
| 'Extremely concerned': In unusual letter, Mississippi State president comments on potential Trump administration changes to research funding | |
 | Mark Keenum, the president of Mississippi State University, addressed the turmoil caused by the Trump Administration's numerous changes to higher education funding over diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, in an unusual letter for the state's conservative higher education system. Keenum, a former under secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and former chief of staff to the late Sen. Thad Cochran, wrote to the campus community Friday that Mississippi State was working to comply with a sweeping memo the U.S. Department of Education issued earlier this month declaring virtually all race-based programming and admissions policies illegal. If universities did not comply by Feb. 28, the department threatened to investigate and withhold federal funding that supports research, student financial aid and other institutional operations, the loss of which would be "catastrophic to our university," Keenum wrote. Though Keenum wrote that Mississippi State was working to not "over- or under" interpret the letter, "making us an outlier," his letter is notable because it was also sent to the media as a press release. While some universities in Mississippi have issued internal statements to faculty and staff about the Trump administration's attempts to reshape higher education, MSU appears to be the only four-year institution in the state that has commented on the department's "Dear Colleague" letter in a detailed, proactive way. Perhaps the strongest words in Keenum’s letter were for changes the Trump administration is contemplating to federal research funding, particularly a planned reduction in funding that can be used for research facilities, lab equipment and capital improvements. |
| Education: MSU's Center for Continuing Education offers professionals paths to advancement | |
 | Now offering more than 400 programs, Mississippi State's Center for Continuing Education has designed paths for anyone pursuing professional and personal growth. CCE, housed in the College of Professional and Continuing Studies, provides professionals with certifications and credentials to advance their careers, while also providing enrichment opportunities for lifelong learning. Amber Shultice, CCE manager, highlights the flexibility of these programs, most of which are fully online, self-paced and tailored to fit the schedules of working professionals. The university partners with various state agencies, university entities and industry experts to offer diverse programs, including K-12 continuing education units, asbestos and lead training, online advanced career training certifications, OSHA trainings and many other non-academic credit courses designed for career advancement. In addition to professional development, CCE provides opportunities for personal development and enrichment. Susan Seal, CPCS dean, said the center is revamping and increasing its offerings for these enrichment opportunities ranging from wine education to building a personal brand. |
| MSU encourages those to participate in cognitive research | |
 | Mississippi State University is looking for participants for a research program. The Department of Psychology is studying memory loss and other neurological disorders. The Cognitive Science Program at MSU uses data from its research to help those affected by memory loss and language issues. Much of the research in the Psychology Department at Mississippi State University is focused on people between the ages of 60 and 80. Work for this project begins in the Cognition of Language lab. "It involves a lot of paper and pencil and computer tests so people are going to be filling out surveys, vocabulary questions, and then they are going to take some test on the computer," Hossein Karimi said. "They can take breaks whenever they want, of course, but normally it takes about three hours, although we can break it down to like two or one and half hour sessions. If that's what they prefer." Researchers said the project could have a wide-ranging impact. Graduate students assisting with the study are glad to have the opportunity to get meaningful, clinical experience. |
| Hangout spot on wheels: A busload of fun | |
| It's almost like something straight out of a movie. Four former high school buddies buy a school bus, turn it into the ultimate hangout spot on wheels and hit the road in search of good times. Their destination -- of course -- is Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, the home of one of NASCAR's most iconic races, screaming V-8 engines, and a rowdy party scene. None of them had ever bought a school bus, much less driven one a long distance with their best friends along for the ride. What could possibly go wrong? Well, thankfully nothing. It wasn't a Hollywood script, it was just an unforgettable week in the month of October for Pillow Academy graduates and now Mississippi State University students Brock Makamson, Hayden Pillow, JC Garrard and Hayes Bennett. Last summer, the group bought a school bus, previously in service for the Grenada School District, and remodeled the inside for more casual seating. With the bus procured and outfitted, a gang of 10, including six other friends from State, hit the road to experience an event Garrard called "uniquely American." "It was interesting, but we had a lot of fun," said 20-year-old Garrard, who is studying agriculture at State. |
| MEC: More funding needed for state's tuition assistance program | |
| Mississippi is moving ahead among other southeastern states when it comes to training the next generation of workers. Mississippi Economic Council CEO and President Scott Waller on Monday told members of Starkville Rotary Club and the Greater Starkville Development Partnership the state ranks third among its neighbors in workforce training and development. "We're making really good progress in helping move our state forward, and our economy is starting to show that," Waller said, citing Mississippi as the third highest state in the nation for GDP and income growth. Waller gave an update of the MEC workforce development and career technical reform efforts he believes are making a difference across the state, like securing funding for career readiness assessments. All 82 counties in the state have access to high school career coaches, who help students determine their plans after graduation, he said. But there are still more ways to improve, Waller said, including increasing postsecondary educational attainment for Mississippians. |
| More of Mississippi facing strong tornadoes, 70 mph winds Tuesday | |
 | Severe weather is expected to move into Mississippi on Tuesday, and the area of enhanced risk, which could face strong tornadoes, damaging winds and hail has been expanded by the National Weather Service in Jackson. Areas of Mississippi from roughly Clarksdale, southeast to Louisville and south are in the enhanced risk category as of 6 a.m. Tuesday. The area north of that is in the slight risk category. The area under enhanced risk faces the likelihood of severe storms and tornadoes and some of the tornadoes could be strong. According to the National Weather Service, strong tornadoes are those classified as EF2 and EF3 with wind speeds of 111-165 miles per hour. Damaging winds with gusts up to 70 miles per hour are also possible in the enhanced risk area as is hail up to quarter-size. In the area under a slight risk warning, severe storms with damaging winds up to 60 miles per hour, tornadoes and hail up to quarter-size are possible. |
| New Orleans rushes to rework Mardi Gras celebrations in the face of storm and twister warnings | |
 | Officials rushed to reschedule Mardi Gras celebrations and warned revelers against brining umbrellas and tents as powerful storms with a threat of tornadoes were expected to strike Louisiana and other parts of the South on Tuesday. New Orleans moved up its two biggest Mardi Gras Day parades and cut down their routes to try to avoid the potentially destructive weather. Police were also expected to keep the hundreds of participants and dozens of floats moving quickly so they finished before winds were predicted to pick up, according to New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick. The alarming forecast was one of the first big tests for the National Weather Service after hundreds of forecasters were fired last week as part of President Donald Trump's moves to slash the size of the federal government. Former employees said the firing of meteorologists who make crucial local forecasts across the U.S. could put lives at risk. The bullseye for a heightened risk of severe weather was an area stretching from east Texas to Alabama that's home to more than 7 million people. Cities under threat included Baton Rouge and Shreveport in Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; and Mobile, Alabama. |
| Does Mississippi have a tornado season? Yes, but risk is real all year | |
 | Signs of spring are all around us here in the Deep South. Birdsong. Baseball. Flowers. Cicadas. Pollen. Tornado watches. It might be tempting to treat severe weather advisories lightly. Most of the time, the watches and warnings that blare from our phones don't lead to widespread damage or injuries. But deadly storms can hit at any time of year in Mississippi. Certain seasons see more strong storms. Spring is known for having peak tornado weather, but no month is without a severe weather risk. In 2024, 85 tornadoes hit Mississippi. Notably, the NWS confirmed that 27 hit the state in one day on Saturday, Dec. 28. That storm system caused two deaths and spread destruction over 23 counties. Most storms hit in March, April and May, and the long-range forecast says spring 2025 could be an active season for severe storms and strong tornadoes. According to an analysis of twister data from 1880 to 2023 in the Mississippi State University tornado database, the most storms hit Mississippi and parts of Louisiana and Arkansas covered by the NWS office in Jackson in the spring. |
| Mississippi governor signs bill allowing direct wine shipment | |
| Beginning this summer, wine lovers will be able to order to their homes after Gov. Tate Reeves signed a bill making Mississippi the latest state to allow direct wine shipment. SB 2145 passed both chambers of the legislature last month before the Republican governor gave his stamp of approval. Under the soon-to-be-enacted law, up to 12 cases of wine can be shipped to residents per year with someone 21 or older having to show identification when signing for the order. The new services will be available beginning July 1. The bill's author, Republican Sen. Walter Michel, said direct wine shipment makes sense for several reasons: allowing consumers a broader range of rare and specialty wines, collecting additional tax revenue, and saving floor space at local retailers. "You've got people willing to pay hundreds of dollars on a bottle that we're going to put a 15.5 percent tax on, and the state will not even have to inventory that product," Michel said. Mississippi lawmakers are still mulling over other alcohol-related legislation, including one that would allow liquor stores to open on Sundays. HB 92 passed the House and now awaits approval from the Senate Finance Committee before it can head to the floor for a full vote. |
| House chairman pushes for absentee ballot expansion instead of early voting | |
| Elections Committee Chairman Noah Sanford has successfully pushed some House members to scrap a Senate proposal to establish early voting in Mississippi and expand the state's absentee voting program instead. Sanford, a Republican from Collins, last week got the committee to adopt a plan clarifying voters who anticipate their employers might require them to work on Election Day and adding that people who care for children or disabled adults can vote by absentee. "I'm the poster child for this," Sanford said. "I've got a 5-year-old, a 2-year-old and a 9-month-old. I can promise you, you don't want me bringing them into the polling place. They'd be knocking something over, and it would be a bad experience for all of us." The plan passed the Elections Committee with no audible opposition, and it can now go before the full House for consideration. Sanford's proposal also establishes an early voting task force, although Sanford held a hearing over the summer to study the issue. It also allows election workers to process absentee ballot forms leading to Election Day. |
| Several organizations lobby for Mississippi Legislature to ban natural and synthetic kratom | |
| You've likely heard about kratom by now and there's a growing number of organizations asking lawmakers to ban the substance. "This tree has saved my life," said one kratom user in a recent story. "There is no safe kratom, not synthetic and not the leaf product," explained Dr. Jennifer Bryan, president of the Mississippi State Medical Association. Those are the different perspectives being delivered to lawmakers as they work to shape drug policy. The most recent lobby coming from this grouping of organizations ranging from law enforcement to medical associations. The Oxford Police Chief says they saw a spike of kratom in 2019 prior to the city banning the substance. "We were doing CPR on people," explained Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutchen. "Seeing overdoses... It was being bought left and right and then we were having students that were passing out, were having mental health crisis because either the dosage units were off the charts or it wasn't even what they thought it was. They were having adverse reactions to all the chemicals that were in this product." The chief says it's imperative for the issue to be addressed at a statewide level. |
| Stocks fall again on Wall Street as companies react to Trump's tariffs | |
| Stocks tumbled in morning trading on Wall Street Tuesday as a trade war between the U.S. and its key trading partners escalated, wiping out all the gains for the S&P 500 since Election Day. The tariffs between the U.S., China, Canada, and Mexico has helped to extend a recent slump for U.S. stocks that was prompted by signs of weakness in the economy. The S&P 500 fell 1.4%, weighed down by nearly every sector except real estate and utilities, which are typically considered relatively safer investments. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 580 points, or 1.3%, as of 10:04 a.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite fell 1.4%. Markets in Europe fell sharply while stocks in Asia saw more modest declines. The drops follow a steep sell-off Monday. Altogether, the decline has wiped out all of the markets' gains since President Donald Trump's election in November. Worries about tariffs raising consumer prices and reigniting inflation have been weighing on both the economy and Wall Street. China responded to new U.S. tariffs by announcing it will impose additional tariffs of up to 15% on imports of key U.S. farm products, including chicken, pork, soy and beef, and expanded controls on doing business with key U.S. companies. |
| 'I'm concerned': Ag-state Republicans start to sound alarm on Trump tariffs | |
 | Republicans in Washington have spent weeks dismissing concerns about President Donald Trump's tariffs or arguing they're just a negotiating tactic. But now with major tariffs kicking in on the country's two largest trade partners, some are starting to publicly worry. "I'm concerned," Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said of the 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico that went into effect Tuesday after midnight. "I'm concerned." "Uneasy, I think, is a word," said Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.). They and dozens of other GOP lawmakers represent states with major agriculture industries that are among the first targets of trade retaliation from Ottawa and Mexico City. The Canadian government has already disclosed more than $20 billion worth of U.S. goods it plans to slap with higher tariffs, including food products such as poultry, beef, fish and yogurt. The fallout for ag producers, a traditionally conservative-leaning industry, will be severe. And it's prompting Republicans in those states to take on an uncomfortable position in the party right now -- questioning, albeit quietly, a major plank of Trump's agenda. Powerful agriculture lobbying groups and GOP lawmakers have said they're counting on Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to stand up for agriculture interests in Cabinet discussions and bail out producers caught in the crosshairs of Trump's tariff battles. |
| China hits US agriculture, says it won't be bullied by fresh Trump tariffs | |
| China retaliated swiftly on Tuesday against fresh U.S. tariffs with hikes to import levies covering $21 billion worth of American agricultural and food products, moving the world's top two economies a step closer towards an all-out trade war. Beijing also slapped export and investment curbs on 25 U.S. firms, on grounds of national security, but, unlike when it retaliated against the Trump administration's February 4 tariffs, this time avoided punishing any household names. The latest retaliatory measures came as the extra duty of 10% U.S. President Donald Trump threatened for the world's second-largest economy took effect at 0501 GMT on March 4 That makes for a cumulative 20% tariff in response to what the White House considers Chinese inaction over drug flows. Analysts say Beijing still hopes to negotiate a truce on tariffs, deliberately setting its hikes below 20% to leave its negotiators room to hash out a deal, but each escalation reduces the chance of a rapprochement "China's government is signalling that they do not want to escalate," said Even Pay, an agriculture analyst at Trivium China. "It's fair to say we're in the early days of Trade War 2.0," Pay said, adding there was still time to avoid a protracted trade war if Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping were able to strike a deal. |
| Soybean research program, a 'win-win-win,' is a victim of USAID cuts | |
| Since virtually the first day of the second Trump administration, Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency have been dismantling federal agencies and claiming as savings the billions of dollars those agencies spend on aid and assistance, contracts and research. One of, if not the agency hit hardest, is the U.S. Agency for International Development. Among the programs funded by USAID and soon to be shut down are 19 university labs across the country focused on soybean research. Peter Goldsmith, director and principal investigator of the Soybean Innovation Lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, told "Marketplace" host Kai Ryssdal that his work has addressed poverty and malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa while providing opportunities for U.S. growers. "It was just win-win-win all the way around," Goldsmith said. But now, "we're dead in the water." |
| Thompson launches website for DHS personnel fired by Trump Administration to share their stories | |
| On Monday Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security, launched a new website for employees of the Department of Homeland Security and its component agencies who were fired by President Trump to share their stories, his office has announced. "With the Trump Administration wreaking havoc on the entire federal workforce, it is critical for us determine the impact on our country's homeland security," Thompson said."We need a federal government that is fully functional and can keep the country secure. "That is why we have commenced an investigation into Trump and Elon's mass firings of critical personnel at the Department of Homeland Security -- and its many component agencies – that keep us safe around the clock and work on the frontlines during disasters or terror attacks. If you were terminated from your position and want to share your story with us, please visit our new site. We will keep your information confidential and only share your story with your permission." |
| President Trump to address Congress amid growing pessimism about the economy | |
 | Anxiety about the state of the economy and inflation under former President Joe Biden helped catapult President Donald Trump back to the White House. But as he prepares to give his first joint address to Congress Tuesday night, Trump will face a nation starting to grow skeptical of his ability to achieve one of his core campaign promises ‒- lowering their cost of living. A poll from Marist University/NPR released on the eve of Trump's address found 57% of Americans believe grocery prices will increase over the next six months, while only 17% believe they will decrease. In the same poll, 54% of Americans said the country is moving in the wrong direction, and more Americans, by a 46%-42% margin, believe Trump's direction on the economy is for the worse than for the better. The economic concerns comes as egg prices have soared amid ongoing bird flu outbreaks. Economists also warn that tariffs on imports, which Trump is aggressively imposing, can lead to higher prices for consumers. And signs a jittery public on the economic outlook are mounting. Public approval of Trump's handling of the economy dropped to 39% last month, down from 43% immediately after his inauguration, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found. Consumer confidence metrics dropped in February by the largest monthly margin since August 2021 |
| Trump Has Glossed Over High Prices. Republicans Worry It Will Cost Them. | |
 | President Trump promised during the campaign to lower prices on day one of his presidency. But with costs still high, Republicans are worried the same economic factors that helped Trump win the election could come back to bite him if inflation remains stubborn. In his frequent public appearances and social-media posts, Trump is more likely to talk about federal workers, diversity programs and foreign policy than the price of eggs. That is a contrast from last year's presidential campaign, when Trump, urged by his advisers, made high costs a centerpiece of his bid to retake the White House. Republicans, who still pin the blame on Trump's predecessor, say voters have been willing to give Trump some leeway to enact his agenda -- but they warn that goodwill might not last. Trump is expected to provide an update on his economic agenda during a joint address to Congress on Tuesday. Rich Anderson, chairman of the Republican Party in Virginia, which is one of the few states to hold elections this year, said he thinks the president is doing what he can to turn the economy around but voters will need to see the effects in the coming months. "There will be a penalty to pay if there is a failure to deliver," Anderson said. So far, the frustration that GOP lawmakers have seen in their home districts has been focused largely on Musk's spending cuts and some of Trump's foreign-policy comments. They haven't seen as much political pressure on prices yet, GOP strategists said. But that could change by the time they return home for summer recess. |
| Swing state Sen. Elissa Slotkin to deliver rebuttal to Trump's speech to Congress | |
 | It is a high profile assignment for a newly minted U.S. senator considered a rising star in the Democratic Party. Elissa Slotkin ran for Senate last year after three terms in the House representing Michigan's 7th District, which includes the state capital of Lansing in the midsection of the state, miles and miles of farmland, as well as suburbs of Detroit. Now, the first-term senator will take the national stage. Slotkin will deliver the Democrats' rebuttal to President Trump's first address in his second term to a joint session of Congress. Trump is scheduled to speak Tuesday night. In each of her campaigns, Slotkin has focused on her background in national security. She's a former CIA analyst who joined the agency in response to Sept. 11 and did tours in Iraq. She served in both the Bush and Obama presidencies. Slotkin highlighted her bipartisan background and political leanings in both her runs for office. Her home district, in an important swing state, is also considered one of the most competitive in the country. Slotkin's rebuttal is a way for the Democratic Party to highlight someone it sees as a rising star, according to Matt Grossman, a political scientist at Michigan State University. But, Grossman cautions there's also risk that such a speech will come across "as strained or small next to the pomp of the presidency." |
| 'Prelude to privatization:' Social Security confirms workforce reduction targets, continues to shutter offices | |
| The Social Security Administration in recent days has initiated a flurry of actions aimed at decimating its workforce and that Democrats warn are an effort to sabotage the agency and prepare to privatize its functions. After a rash of abrupt retirements of senior leaders across the agency last week, the agency on Friday confirmed that it is seeking to shed 7,000 employees, which would bring its workforce down to 50,000 people. Last fall, the agency hit a 50-year staffing low after congressional Republicans refused to agree to append the agency's funding to account for fixed cost increases as part of a continuing resolution to keep agencies open. With that came an announcement that the agency will consolidate its current 10 regional offices down to four, as well as reorganize headquarters. And Elon Musk's DOGE operatives have cancelled the leases for 45 field offices across the country, as well as the Office of Hearings Operations in White Plains, N.Y. At a press conference Monday, Senate Democrats accused the administration and Musk of sabotaging the agency as the first step in an effort to strip Americans of their earned benefits and sell off the agency's functions to private industry. "If you take the system today, with these superb statistics that 99.7% of retirement benefits are paid accurately and on-time, and you start hollowing it out, which is essentially what they're doing, and then they'll say, 'Oh my goodness, we need the private sector here, or we won't have a program,'" said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. "This is kind of the history of these kinds of efforts. It's a prelude to privatization." |
| Social Security has never missed a payment. DOGE actions threaten 'interruption of benefits,' ex-agency head says | |
| Social Security has never missed a benefit payment since the program first began sending individuals monthly benefits more than eight decades ago. But the recent actions at the U.S. Social Security Administration by Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency are putting monthly benefit checks for more than 72.5 million Americans at risk, former commissioner and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley told CNBC.com. "Ultimately, you're going to see the system collapse and an interruption of benefits," O'Malley said. "I believe you will see that within the next 30 to 90 days." Ahead of any interruption in benefits, "people should start saving now," O'Malley said. The Social Security Administration uses multiple systems and technologies that Musk has criticized for leading to errors. As commissioner, O'Malley told Congress the agency needed more funding for information technology modernization. O'Malley said DOGE leaders are now making changes at the agency, and significant staff cuts have already led to system outages. While many lawsuits have been filed, it will take time to work through them. The biggest results may come from the pressure American voters could put on elected officials, former SSA Commissioner O'Malley said. |
| Trump's FDA Cuts Are Putting Drug Development at Risk | |
 | Budget and staffing cuts at the Food and Drug Administration orchestrated by President Donald Trump could prevent new drugs "from being developed, approved, or commercialized in a timely manner, or at all," according to dozens of annual reports sent by pharmaceutical companies to the Securities and Exchange Commission in late February. In February, Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency laid off hundreds of FDA employees, causing widespread panic about the status of grant applications, active clinical trials, and drug approvals. Just over a week later, it reinstated a handful of staffers who regulate the American food supply and review medical devices. Biopharmaceutical company Rezolute, which develops treatments for a rare, congenital form of low blood sugar, says that DOGE's mandate to "reduce expenditures" at agencies like the FDA would slow down their work, according to an SEC filing. The company adds, "Our business is dependent upon the FDA and the FDA's ability to timely respond to our drug development activities." Some filings also warned about the possibility that Trump will overhaul existing drug regulations, which would cost additional time and money to comply with. A recent Trump executive order mandates broad deregulation across federal agencies, and new Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expressed agreement and proposed his own budget cuts. |
| Trump's stunning string of Putin-friendly moves | |
| President Trump's decision to suspend all military aid to Ukraine is the latest in a string of moves that could have been plucked from Vladimir Putin's personal wishlist. Trump is also considering sanctions relief for Moscow and hinting at regime change in Kyiv. The Moscow-friendly streak comes as he seeks to foster peace in Ukraine and better relations between nuclear-armed superpowers. But his treatment of Putin as a partner and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a foe has rung alarm bells for NATO allies and even some fellow Republicans. A White House official told Axios' Barak Ravid Monday night that Trump is stopping all arms shipments to Ukraine because he's "focused on peace" and Ukraine must "be committed to that goal as well." Trump told reporters earlier Monday that he believes Russia wants peace, but that "maybe someone doesn't want to make a deal" -- an apparent reference to Zelensky. The Kremlin, for its part, said Sunday that the "rapidly changing" U.S. foreign policy approach "largely coincides with our vision." Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised Trump's "common sense," while other Kremlin officials reveled in Trump's steamrolling of Zelensky in the Oval Office. Trump has made at least five Moscow-friendly moves just in the last two weeks. |
| Lowndes County supervisors pass resolution supporting MUW's plan to keep MSMS | |
| Lowndes County supervisors are officially letting the Mississippi Department of Education know where they stand on the future of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science. At Monday's meeting, the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution supporting Mississippi University for Women's proposal to keep MSMS on The W's campus. After receiving MUW and Mississippi State's proposals for housing the gifted high school, MDE opened a brief, 6-day public comment window for stakeholders. The Columbus City Council drew up and submitted a similar resolution last week. President of the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors, Trip Hairston, believes the tight timelines are an indicator of the Department of Ed's plans. "I believe, I don't know for sure, but I believe they'll make a recommendation, and they'll do it quickly. Therefore, leaving the session, the legislators that are still in session, to take that recommendation. And, I am concerned that the House, specifically, may move forward with that recommendation as soon as possible. I don't think for one minute they're going to recommend that it stay at MUW, just because of the way the RFP was handled, and the way it was written. So, therefore, I am concerned that they're going to -- foregone conclusion -- they're going to recommend that it be moved," said Hairston. |
| Education: Prospective students can tour The W during showcase event | |
| Mississippi University for Women is giving prospective students a chance to see what The W is all about with a university showcase event March 21-22. Open to high school juniors and seniors as well as transfer students, along with their guests, the event will highlight the campus academic programs and opportunities for students at The W. "Hosting the Showcase will allow us to shine a light on our academic excellence, promote campus life and resources and highlight scholarships and financial aid," said Sidney Stewart, associate director of recruitment for The W. Numerous campus offices and programs will participate, including the offices of admissions, financial aid and scholarships; the Women's College; the Ina E. Gordy Honors College; Student Life; music, fine arts, science, mathematics and culinary arts departments; the Vandergriff College of Nursing and Health Sciences and more. |
| U. of Mississippi joins 14 other institutions in selective OpenAI initiative | |
| The University of Mississippi is one of only 15 research institutions chosen to partner with OpenAI as a unique consortium which will provide AI tools to assist in research projects. OpenAI, established in 2015 and co-chaired by Elon Musk and Sam Altman, is one of the most influential AI research organizations across the globe. The company will gift $50,000 to the University of Mississippi for research projects using the company's tools. The most widely known OpenAI tool is ChatGPT, a chat bot released in November of 2022. The initiative, called NextGenAI, points to the University of Mississippi's established role as a leader in the growing AI space. Wes Jennings, co-director of the National Center for Narrative Intelligence at the University of Mississippi, said OpenAI was very selective in their choosing candidates and reached out directly to him in November of 2024. OpenAI announced the initiative Tuesday morning. In a press release, OpenAI Chief Operating Officer Brad Lightcap said NextGenAI will "accelerate research progress and catalyze a new generation of institutions equipped to harness the transformative power of AI. |
| MCC's Joseph Knight named Phi Theta Kappa Distinguished College Administrator | |
 | Joseph Knight, vice president for Workforce Solutions at Meridian Community College, has been named a Distinguished College Administrator by Phi Theta Kappa, the international academic honor society for community and junior colleges. The award recognizes college leaders who go above and beyond to support student success. Knight was nominated by PTK students, who praised his dedication both inside and outside the classroom. "Supporting student success is at the heart of what I do," Knight said. "It's incredibly rewarding to see students grow and achieve their goals. I'm deeply honored by this recognition and grateful to the students who nominated me." Before joining MCC, Knight spent eight years at East Central Community College in workforce development roles. Knight holds a bachelor of business administration and a master of science in workforce education leadership from Mississippi State University. |
| Student AP participation rate continues to rise in Mississippi | |
| A report produced by the College Board, called the Advanced Placement Cohort Report, shows that more of Mississippi's students are participating in advanced placement courses. The rise in participation was highlight in the 2025 report, which includes findings from the 2024 school year as compared to the prior year. "The 7,063 students represent 25.8% of all 2024 Mississippi high school graduates who took 14,900 AP exams during their high school experience. Among the class of 2023, 6,804 or 24.8% of graduates took a total of 14,423 AP exams during high school and had a 36.5% qualifying score," a statement from the Mississippi Department of Education described. House Education Chairman State Rep. Rob Roberson (R) told Magnolia Tribune that it is very exciting to see an increase in advanced placement participation. "It suggests that we aren't merely achieving better in Mississippi but sustaining better results year after year," said Roberson. "I am very proud of the teachers and students who are working hard to accomplish their goals." Advanced placement courses are taught by high school teachers but include curriculum that is on a college level. Students who take and pass the exams offered during the courses earn college credit. Through the AP program, Mississippi's high school graduates have reportedly been able to save $8.9 million in college tuition and fees. |
| 5 takeaways from U.S. energy secretary's visit to Oak Ridge: AI, federal cuts, new nuclear | |
 | If the Tennessee congressional delegation and executives at the Tennessee Valley Authority could have grown their ideal U.S. energy secretary in a vial at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, they probably would have created a being like Chris Wright. They didn't have to. There Wright was, the naturally grown and newly appointed U.S. energy secretary, visiting the lab to proclaim the all-taps-open approach to American electricity generation that local leaders have championed for years. Wright, an MIT-educated engineer and former fracking executive chosen by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Energy, supports fossil fuels and new nuclear reactors as paths to power a race for dominance in artificial intelligence. His enthusiasm for new nuclear technologies is a continuation from the Biden administration and supports a growing part of the Oak Ridge economy. The U.S. race with China to develop AI technology, which heated up when a Chinese company called DeepSeek released a chatbot in January, will be "Manhattan Project 2," Wright said. |
| Florida bill to allow concealed carry on college campuses in committee | |
| A Florida Senate bill would permit the right to concealed carry on college campuses, with a senator sponsoring the bill saying "no magic force field" prevents criminals from carrying a gun to school. Senate Bill 814 intends to authorize "persons to carry firearms on the property of any college or university," according to the bill's language. The bill was filed by Florida state Sen. Randy Fine. When asked for comment twice each, neither Fine nor his legislative aide, Anna Budko, responded. In a release from Fine, it was stated that bill 814 was filed "to extend concealed carry rights to college and university campuses." "There is no magic force field that keeps criminals from carrying a gun onto campus; this bill will ensure that students have the same rights on campus as they do off," Fine said. Fine "previously committed to file such legislation in the aftermath of the Muslim terror attacks of October 7, 2023 and many universities around the country refusing to protect their students from on-campus Muslim terror," the release said. "The Second Amendment does not take the semester off when you step on a college campus," Fine said in the release. |
| 'Diversity makes a university': U. of Tennessee NAACP chapter, students rally for justice | |
| Friday, Feb. 28, students met at the Frieson Black Cultural Center, where they made signs and marched down Pedestrian Walkway toward the Torchbearer shortly after. Some students gave speeches, while others carefully listened and applauded when necessary. "HEY HEY, HO HO, DONALD TRUMP HAS GOT TO GO," "FIGHT FOR JUSTICE, FIGHT FOR DEI" and "NO HATE, NO FEAR. IMMIGRANTS ARE WELCOME HERE," were chanted as the students made their way across campus. University of Tennessee students marched through campus with signs reading "IMMIGRANTS MAKE AMERICA GREAT," "The revolution will NOT be televised!!!" "DIVERSITY MAKES A UNIVERSITY," "LET'S TRUMP TRUMP" and "IMPEACH THE ORANGE" during a peaceful protest organized by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People chapter at UT. The protest was organized to stand against recent policy changes to DEI initiatives, the Paris Agreement and immigration that President Donald Trump and his administration have made. |
| Vanderbilt University one of top eight schools nationally for curbing antisemitism, new report shows | |
 | Vanderbilt University has been ranked in the top eight universities in the country, receiving an A rating, for their efforts to address antisemitism, according to a 2025 report released by the Anti-Defamation League, an advocacy organization that fights antisemitism globally. The Nashville private university moved up two grade levels in the annual report -- one of only 10 universities in the country to do so -- from last year's C rating. Eytan Davidson, regional director for ADL Southeast, said the organization is proud of the university, and "the way they have worked cooperatively and thoughtfully about how to have policies that enhance the campus climate, the college experience, guarantee the rights of everyone -- including open expression -- and keep everybody safe." "The grade that they received in this iteration of the report card reflects the hard work, focus and attention that they've given to making their campus the most welcoming environment for all students," Davidson said. Vanderbilt University is the only Tennessee school graded in the report, which focuses on schools with "significant Jewish student populations, those of particular concern and those viewed as exemplary in combating antisemitism." |
| Texas senators threaten no new university funding until schools fully comply with DEI ban | |
| After alleged "valid findings" of noncompliance with Texas Senate Bill 17 -- a 2023 law that bars diversity, equity and inclusion offices, hiring and programs at institutions of higher education -- Sens. Brandon Creighton and Paul Bettencourt put university governing boards on notice that any requests for state funding above levels from the previous biennium will be denied until the systems prove they're following the "letter and spirit" of the law. The senators' letter, sent Wednesday to Texas public universities' boards of regents, comes after alumni and higher education stakeholders have advocated for the Legislature to restore more than $400 million in institutional enhancement funds that universities use to support faculty, new programs and student supports that are not included in the proposed budget for the coming biennium -- including $54 million at Texas A&M University and $38 million at the University of Texas. State officials threatening to withhold money isn't new. Last session, lawmakers leveraged the budget to pass conservative higher education priorities, making millions in extra funding contingent on the passing of SB 17 and SB 18, which limits tenure at public universities. |
| As Ohio Republicans Reshape Higher Ed, University Presidents Stay Quiet | |
 | As Ohio lawmakers push forward a sweeping reform bill that could reduce the independence of higher-education institutions, the presidents of the state's public universities have made a calculated choice to remain silent. That choice was on full display in February when more than 200 students and faculty members flooded the Statehouse to testify against Senate Bill 1, legislation that includes a ban on faculty strikes and eliminates diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Not a single university president joined them to speak up for their own institutions. The lobbying group known as the Inter-University Council (IUC), which bills itself as the "collective voice" of Ohio's 14 public universities, decided to neither publicly support nor oppose the legislation, according to public records reviewed by Signal Ohio. These records, which include meeting minutes and communications with university leaders from mid-January to mid-February, were obtained through a request made to the University of Akron. The decision to stand down came on January 14. Ten university leaders met that day as part of an IUC meeting, according to minutes from the group. There, they and three IUC employees "reached consensus": The IUC would not take a formal position or actively engage publicly about the bill, which wouldn't be officially introduced for eight more days. |
| Survey Says: Students Are Customers | |
 | Public confidence in higher education is declining. Even students, most of whom say they're getting a quality education, question the value of a degree with respect to affordability. Such doubts increase higher education's vulnerability to the threats it's currently facing. All this evokes the long-running debate over whether higher education can be viewed as a public good. And when revisiting that debate, it's instructive to know what students expect from their college or university -- specifically, whether they consider themselves not just students but also customers. In Inside Higher Ed's first-ever Survey of College and University Student Success Administrators, released last fall, 71 percent of administrators said that undergraduates at their institution consider themselves customers (most of these administrators also agreed that parents of students consider themselves customers). But what do undergraduates themselves say? According to a new analysis of IHE's annual Student Voice survey with Generation Lab, nearly the same share of students -- 65 percent -- consider themselves customers of their institution in some capacity, defined in the survey as expecting to have their needs met and be empathized with because they are paying tuition and fees. |
| Linda McMahon confirmed as Trump's Education secretary | |
 | Linda McMahon will be the next secretary of the Department of Education after passing a full Senate vote for her confirmation on Monday. The Senate voted 51-45 long party lines to confirm President Trump's nominee to lead a federal agency he has been vocal about wanting to shut down. "Under the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of Education focused on everything but student success," said Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. "We need a strong leader at the Department who will get our education system back on track. Secretary McMahon is the right person for the job." Though not as controversial as some of his other picks, McMahon -- a former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) executive who served as head of the Small Business Administration in Trump's first term -- did draw Democratic opposition over her general lack of education experience and her and Trump's shared goal of eliminating the department. "I rise in opposition to Ms. McMahon. I like her personally," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said during the earlier vote for her in the HELP Committee, adding he admired the business she built but opposes the idea of getting rid of the department. |
| Trump Threatens to Pull Funding From Universities Over Protests | |
| President Trump threatened to take away federal funds from universities that allow what he called "illegal protests," a move legal experts say would violate the First Amendment. Trump didn't explain which protests he considered illegal in his social-media post Tuesday morning. Last year many college campuses were overwhelmed by pro-Palestinian protesters related to the Israel-Hamas war. "Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on on the crime, arrested," he wrote. Gautam Hans, a law professor at Cornell University, said the protests that Trump highlighted are protected by the First Amendment, which allows free speech. "The government is trying to do an end run around the rights of the colleges and the students and the faculty by withholding the purse strings if it doesn't like what the universities are allegedly saying," said Hans, who focuses on First Amendment law. |
| What Does the Education Department's DEI Guidance Really Mean? | |
| Higher ed leaders have been asking the U.S. Department of Education for more detailed guidance ever since the Office for Civil Rights issued a Dear Colleague letter on Feb. 14 calling for the elimination of race-conscious programming and policies. That guidance finally came Friday night, the deadline for colleges to comply with the letter, in the form of a nine-page frequently asked questions document. Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, said in a news release Friday that the FAQ would help institutions comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the equal protection clause of the Constitution and the U.S. Supreme Court decision against race-conscious admissions Students for Fair Admissions vs. Harvard. "The Dear Colleague Letter is clear: The Trump Department of Education will not allow educational institutions that receive federal funds to discriminate on the basis of race," Trainor wrote. Some legal scholars argue that while the Dear Colleague letter was anything but clear -- with its sweeping interpretation of the SFFA decision and its nebulous definition of DEI -- the FAQ offers some much-needed insight and softens some of its harsher rhetoric. Others say that while the guidance is an improvement, it offers little solace as colleges continue to nix their DEI efforts. |
| Maximizing Mississippi's higher ed ROI requires better data and inclusive financial aid | |
| James E. McHale, the president and CEO of the Woodward Hines Education Foundation (WHEF) and the Mississippi Higher Education Assistance Corporation based in Jackson, writes for the Magnolia Tribune: Mississippi's future workforce and economic strength depend on how well we invest in postsecondary education today. As industries evolve and workforce needs shift, it is crucial that our education funding strategies are in sync with the changing realities of today's students and job seekers. However, two key challenges stand in the way of optimizing Mississippi's return on investment in higher education: outdated financial aid policies and a lack of accessible, real-time workforce data. Tackling these barriers head-on will help more Mississippians acquire in-demand skills, strengthen our state's economy, and ensure that education funding decisions are driven by relevant, timely data. At Woodward Hines Education Foundation, our mission is to increase postsecondary access and attainment for all Mississippians. To achieve this, we recognize that addressing these issues requires not only better access to data but also a broader understanding of how today's students are being prepared to meet the demands of the workforce. |
SPORTS
| Mississippi State basketball vs Texas score prediction, injury updates | |
| Mississippi State basketball is locked in to a third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. Now, it looks to improve its seeding as it aims for its first NCAA tournament win since 2008. The Bulldogs (20-9, 8-8 SEC) are hosting Texas (16-13, 5-11) on Tuesday (7 p.m., SEC Network) in the final game at Humphrey Coliseum this season. It's the first time the Bulldogs and Longhorns will play each other as members of the SEC. Texas has been riding the NCAA tournament bubble for most of the season. It has particularly struggled against its best opponents. Texas is 6-13 in Quads 1 and 2. It's also 4-12 against teams in the top 50 of the NCAA NET rankings. Mississippi State is No. 30 as of Monday. The best wins for the Longhorns are against Missouri, Kentucky, Texas A&M and Oklahoma. However, they've lost three consecutive games entering Tuesday to South Carolina, Arkansas and Georgia. MSU coach Chris Jans said after the LSU win that Riley Kugel "has been in a really good space for about two weeks now." But even so, it wasn't necessarily translating into standout games until Saturday when he scored 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Finding a consistent complimentary scorer to Josh Hubbard -- and occasionally KeShawn Murphy, too -- has been a big X factor for the Bulldogs. Sometimes it comes for Kugel, and other times it's from RJ Melendez or Claudell Harris Jr. |
| Baseball: Weather Bumps MSU-USM Baseball To Wednesday | |
| Due to the threat of inclement weather forecasted for Tuesday afternoon, Mississippi State is moving its midweek matchup with No. 20 Southern Miss back a day. The Bulldogs and Golden Eagles are now scheduled to meet on Wednesday at 4 p.m. The MSU men's basketball game against Texas is unaffected and will tipoff inside Humphrey Coliseum at 7 p.m. on SEC Network. Wednesday will mark USM's first visit to Dudy Noble Field since the Diamond Dawgs took two of three during Chris Lemonis' first season in 2019. MSU leads the all-time series against the Golden Eagles, 86-44. |
| Greg Sankey favors 9-game SEC schedule but is concerned about CFP bids | |
 | SEC commissioner Greg Sankey confirmed Monday that he's in favor of his conference going to a nine-game football schedule. That declaration, the furthest Sankey has seemed to go publicly, came with a caveat: as long as it doesn't hurt SEC teams trying to get in the College Football Playoff. The SEC has debated going to nine games for several years, especially in the lead-up to Oklahoma and Texas joining the conference, which happened last season. But financial and competitive concerns led to the conference staying at eight games, at least temporarily. Behind the scenes, Sankey has voiced support for going to nine games. While confirming that on Monday during an appearance on the SEC Network, Sankey couched it with concerns that the CFP selection committee prioritized losses last year, when the SEC had only three teams make the 12-team field. "One of the issues in the room for our athletics directors is what seemed to matter most, is the number to the right, the number of losses. And how do we understand what that means for our schedule moving forward?" Sankey said during his appearance on the Paul Finebaum Show. "I'm one who said I really think we ought to be trying to move towards a nine-game conference schedule. I think that can be positive for a lot of reasons. You watch the interest around conference games. But not if that causes us to lose opportunities." |
| Bill to ban trans athletes from girls' and women's sports teams fails to advance in Senate | |
| Legislation that aimed to bar transgender women and girls nationwide from participating in school athletic competitions designated for female athletes failed to advance Monday night in a divided Senate as Democrats stood united against an issue that Republicans leveraged in last year's elections. A test vote on the bill failed to gain the 60 votes needed to advance in the chamber as senators stuck to party lines in a 51-45 vote tally. The bill sought to determine Title IX protections "based solely on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth." The vote came as Republicans have homed in repeatedly on the social cause, casting it as an issue of ensuring athletic fairness for women and girls. President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month giving federal agencies wide latitude to ensure entities that receive federal funding abide by Title IX in alignment with the administration's view, which interprets "sex" as the gender someone was assigned at birth. Still, Republicans in Congress have set their sights on enshrining that policy into law by amending the 1972 Title IX law, which protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. |
| NCAA House Settlement Final Approval Motion Filed | |
| The pending settlement between the NCAA and current and former D-I athletes represented by the House, Carter and Hubbard antitrust litigations took another step toward the finish line Monday when the parties, through attorneys for the athletes, filed a motion for final approval and a response to objections. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken will review the filings before a much-anticipated fairness hearing scheduled for April 7. The motion argues that the response by class members to the settlement "has been overwhelmingly positive." The motion states that out of nearly 390,000 class members, only 343 class members (about 0.088%) opted out and only 73 (about 0.019%) filed objections. As class counsel tell it, it is "not surprising" that the class members' response has been "overwhelmingly positive" especially since they say it will open up "more than $20 billion in new compensation and benefits." The motion further maintains the objections largely reflect a "misunderstanding of the settlement's terms," and stresses the settlement does not provide the NCAA or its members with antitrust immunity. |
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