| Wednesday, April 2, 2025 |
| MSU Generates $3.9 Billion Annually for Mississippi's Economy | |
 | A new study shows Mississippi State University continues to generate a high return on investment for stakeholders with an estimated $3.9 billion annual economic impact. University leaders announced the results of the latest economic impact study during a March 19 press conference at MSU. The study, completed by MSU's National Strategic Planning & Analysis Research Center, or NSPARC, shows that for every $1 invested by taxpayers into MSU, $25 in income is generated in Mississippi. With MSU's activity sustaining more than 80,000 jobs statewide, MSU supports one out of every 15 jobs in the state. "This report quantifies what we have long known -- Mississippi State University is a core economic driver across the state of Mississippi," said MSU President, Mark E. Keenum. "Our world-class faculty and staff work hard every day to move Mississippi forward and educate the students and future leaders we need in our state and nation. I am proud that as our student enrollment grows and research portfolio expands, the many economic and social benefits of our university's teaching, research and outreach efforts continue to grow as well." |
| Mississippi State hosts national AI in Agriculture and Natural Resource Conference | |
 | Mississippi State University and its Agricultural Autonomy Institute this week are hosting the 4th Annual AI in Agriculture and Natural Resources Conference, bringing together national leaders in artificial intelligence, or AI, and agriculture to showcase groundbreaking advancements and their practical applications in the field. With the theme "The Role of AI in Autonomous Agricultural Systems and Socioeconomic Effects," the conference emphasizes the transformative power of AI in addressing critical issues like food security, conservation strategies and the socioeconomic impacts of autonomous systems. Throughout the conference, keynote speakers are delivering insights on AI's role in revolutionizing agriculture. Faculty and students from top universities across the country are presenting breakthroughs in precision agriculture, automation and environmental conservation. Participants also are touring MSU's cutting-edge research facilities, including the Agricultural Autonomy Institute, Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems and Raspet Flight Research Laboratory, to witness firsthand the innovation at MSU that will help drive the future of agriculture. |
| 'State of the Student Association' highlights SA initiatives and achievements | |
| Mississippi State University Student Association wrapped up the 2024–2025 administrative year with its final senate business meeting on March 25, where outgoing SA President Carson McFatridge, a senior wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture major, delivered a comprehensive "State of the Student Association" address highlighting this year's SA initiatives and achievements. McFatridge, who was elected last February along with vice president Lucy Mellen, emphasized the administration's original campaign themes of outreach, accountability and inclusion. As she reflected on the ideals of her administration, McFatridge noted that flexibility and openness to new ideas were essential throughout her presidency. "[When you first get elected,] you kind of have an expectation of what the year will look like," McFatridge said. "But there truly is no way to be prepared. Sometimes you stumble upon brand-new ideas that end up being really impactful." McFatridge described the SA as a source of community throughout all four years of her college experience. |
| Top stories from Mississippi's Municipal Primary Elections | |
| Most of Mississippi's 300 cities and towns held Municipal Primary Elections on Tuesday, with voters selecting their party's nominees ahead of the June 3 General Election. However, in more than a few locations due to the lack of candidates, the primary elections determined who will serve as Mayor, Aldermen, Councilman, and more for the next four years as there was no General Election opponent waiting in the wings. Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill appears poised to win another term after winning the Democratic Primary on Tuesday. Spruill won 55 percent of the vote and will now face Republican Roger Bassett in the General Election on June 3. Meridian Mayor Jimmy Smith lost his re-election bid Tuesday to former mayor Percy Bland in the Democratic Primary. Bland won 67 percent of the vote. There will be a General Election for this seat, as Stephen Boler is running as a Republican while Jimmy Copeland is running as an Independent. Incumbent Mayor Todd Jordan easily won re-election Tuesday in the Republican Primary. Jordan drew nearly 83 percent of the vote over challenger Rob Chambers. Councilman Stephen Jones won the Democratic Primary on Tuesday, winning 55 percent of the vote. Jones will now face two independent challengers -- Darren Leach and Bill Strauss -- in the June 3 General Election. |
| Starkville kicks off new phase of Spring Street project with $1.1 million | |
 | Starkville has accepted $1.1 million from the state to begin the northern phase of the Spring Street connector project, bringing the area simplified lanes, expanded sidewalk and room for bikes. The city accepted the money during Tuesday's board of alderman meeting, passed without discussion as part of its consent agenda. City Engineer Cody Burnett told The Dispatch this third phase of the Spring Street Connector will drop Spring Street from four passing lanes to two, with a third middle turning lane. This phase will run along Spring Street from Russell Street to Highway 12 near Chick-Fil-A. The removed traffic lane will make room for bike and scooter lanes on either side of the road. Sidewalks will also be expanded and repaired, with the aim of making the entire stretch easier on walkers and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This is the third phase of the Spring Street Connector project, with the first phase of redoing the Highway 12 intersection wrapping up in 2023. The second phase received bids in March but was 14% over budget, requiring a second bidding process under MDOT rules before the lowest bid can be accepted. The grant is technically federal money distributed through the Transportation Alternatives Program, which supplies 80% of the funding for approved alternative transit projects. At least 20%, in this case $220,000, needs to be supplied by the city. |
| Local libraries' audiobook service cut after DOGE shuts down federal program | |
| Golden Triangle libraries have started experiencing the first of what could be many losses following the shuttering of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a small independent federal agency that provides resources and funding to museums and libraries across the country. The Columbus-Lowndes, Starkville-Oktibbeha and Tombigbee Regional public library systems announced Monday and Tuesday that access to the digital library service Hoopla, a streaming service for audiobooks and ebooks, will no longer be available. The service was previously made available through IMLS funding. Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System Director Erin Busbea said the loss of Hoopla has already been felt by many patrons. "It's so devastating that this is the first loss we're seeing," Busbea said. "People have been calling asking why their Hoopla isn't working. I've had to tell people the funding was pulled. It just isn't there." Starkville-Oktibbeha County Public Library System Director Phillip Carter said it has previously used LSTA funds to fund staff training, ebook purchases, music therapy programming for patrons with dementia and Alzheimer's, children's chess club, teen coding classes and much more. Without these funds, Carter said programs and services like these may not be possible. |
| Storms could unleash deadly floods, strong tornadoes in large part of US in coming days | |
 | Forecasters are warning of potentially deadly flash flooding and strong tornadoes as more rounds of thunderstorms are poised to strike parts of the Midwest and South. The potent storm system will bring the threat of "significant, life-threatening flash flooding" starting Wednesday, according to the Weather Prediction Center, a part of the National Weather Service. The new flood threat also comes as residents in parts of Michigan continue to dig out from a weekend ice storm. Thunderstorms with multiple rounds of heavy rain are expected in parts of Texas, the lower Mississippi Valley and the Ohio Valley beginning at midweek and lasting through Saturday. Forecasters warn the storms could track over the same areas repeatedly and produce heavy rains and dangerous flash floods capable of sweeping cars away. On Wednesday, a large swath of the nation from northeast Texas to Michigan will see the potential for high winds and tornadoes. The area at highest risk for severe weather includes 43 million people and many of the nation's largest cities. including Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Memphis, Tennessee. |
| 'Anchor in the storm' Craig Ford retires from WTVA | |
| Award-winning veteran broadcaster Craig Ford is retiring from WTVA, where he has been a popular on-air personality for more than 25 years. Most recently serving as assistant news director and anchor, Ford, in a prerecorded message in the 5 p.m. broadcast on WTVA, said "it was time to step away, time to retire from WTVA." Ford alluded to his cancer diagnosis and surgery in 2023; he missed several months from being on air and returned in March of last year. The doctors removed most but not all of the cancer. "I was recently reminded to enjoy life now in case I have to go back for more surgery or treatment," he said. "But before I go, I can't leave without saying 'Thank you,' because you gave me a career at a great television station that lasted a good part of my life. You gave me an opportunity to work with some of the best people in broadcasting, in journalism, and you gave me time out of your day to watch, to listen to read some of my work. You did that. And because of that I will always be grateful." |
| Investors Bet Clarity on Tariffs Will Bring Stability to Markets | |
 | Stocks' calm this week shows investors continue to bet that clarity on trade will bring stability to markets. Major indexes have retreated since President Trump began hiking duties on the country's largest trading partners, but not nearly as much as would be expected if investors thought that the economy was barreling toward a recession. As of Tuesday afternoon, the S&P 500 was down around 8% from its all-time high reached in February. But it has ticked up over the past two days, extending a rebound off its lows from a few weeks ago. Trump is due to unveil sweeping tariffs at an event at the White House Rose Garden on Wednesday, but what exactly he will announce is unclear. He said late Monday he had settled on a plan, but didn't say what it was. "I know we're going to have tariffs," said Jim Caron, chief investment officer of the portfolio solutions group at Morgan Stanley Investment Management. "Now the game is something that we on Wall Street are very, very well equipped to understand. You know: what's the cash flows under these tariff scenarios? What's the range of outcomes?" Some analysts have argued that investors are underestimating the threat from tariffs. |
| 'Liberation Day:' Mississippi experts have mixed reactions on the potential impact of auto tariffs | |
 | The Trump administration is expected to impose a 25% tariff on imported cars and auto parts today in an attempt to strengthen the U.S. automotive sector. It's part of a move that Trump is calling "Liberation Day." Over half a million vehicles are produced in Mississippi every year, according to the Mississippi Development Authority. Automobile suppliers have also set up shop in the state. Three of the nation's largest tire makers, Continental Tire, Yokohama Tire and Cooper Tire, also have a presence in Mississippi. Corey Miller is Mississippi's state economist. He says vehicle and transportation manufacturing make up about 3% of the state's gross domestic product (GDP). "So it's not a trivial sector of our economy," he said. He says tariffs will probably result in higher prices on cars, even American brands. "Although some foreign manufacturers, such as Nissan and Toyota in Mississippi, produce cars in the US, every manufacturer produces, including domestic manufacturers such as General Motors and Ford, cars outside of the U.S. and bring them in into the U.S.," Miller said. John McKay is the president and CEO of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association. He says businesses that supply parts to the auto industry could also be impacted by tariffs. |
| Farmers fear tariffs will worsen already tough export market | |
| One of the sectors bracing for another round of tariff announcements is agriculture. And on Tuesday morning, we got a window into how that's affecting farmers' and ranchers' moods. Purdue University's Farmer Sentiment Index for March slipped on weaker expectations for the future, with 43% of farmers citing shifting trade policy as the top driver of their pessimism. Five-year expectations for ag export markets hit an all-time low for the survey. Farmers are used to dealing with the unknown, said Kristen Owen, managing director with the research firm Oppenheimer. "We usually think about uncertainty coming from weather, coming from pests," said Owen. And we usually think of federal policy as insulating the farm economy from those chaotic forces. But right now, it's piling on. Owen said farmers who were already stressed about breaking even in a tough commodity price environment now have bigger things to worry about. "Where do we send grain? And where do we send agricultural products globally?" said Owen. |
| Jim Cramer: Trump is the 'one person who's standing in the way of a great economy' | |
 | CNBC's Jim Cramer on Monday called President Trump "the one person who's standing in the way of a great economy." "His wrath has made investors so downcast and so negative that people have just given up," Cramer said on "Mad Money" of Trump in comments highlighted by Mediaite. "They want nothing to do with stocks, nothing to do with this world, because they're sure the White House will keep laying on the tariffs that seem to be wiping out your wealth and my wealth." "In this environment, it's a wonder anyone's buying anything, unless they think that the one person who's standing in the way of a great economy, one that could have incredible growth ... will finally change his stripes," he added. Wednesday, referred to as "Liberation Day" by Trump, is set to be the day his administration is going to impose expansive reciprocal tariffs on other nations with duties on U.S. goods. Last week, Trump also unveiled that he will impose a 25 percent tariff on foreign-made vehicle imports, also going into effect Wednesday. |
| Commissioner Tindell Names New Criminal Information Center Director | |
| Commissioner Sean Tindell announced the appointment of Eric "Jason" McElhenney as Director of the Criminal Information Center, a division under the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. He will assume this position on April 1st, 2025. In this role, McElhenney will oversee Mississippi's primary conduit for information exchange with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) National Criminal Information Center (NCIC) system, as well as for other national data exchanges and statewide law enforcement information exchange within Mississippi. Prior to joining the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, McElhenney served as the Wing Executive Officer at the 186th Air Refueling Wing, Mississippi Air National Guard in Meridian, Mississippi. He is also a veteran law enforcement officer with over 25 years of full-time and part-time law enforcement experience serving as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Detective and Lieutenant. Jason is a graduate of the Mississippi Law Enforcement Academy, the 225th Session of the FBI National Academy and holds both a bachelor's and master's degree from Mississippi State University. |
| Lawmakers look to provide immunity in reporting a sexual assault where drugs are involved | |
| A conference report was adopted by lawmakers on Tuesday that would give immunity to anyone who reports a sexual assault where drugs or alcohol are involved. "Many times, when sexual assault happens, drugs and alcohol are involved. We don't want to prevent somebody reporting a sexual assault just because they happen to be under the influence," said State Senator Angela Hill (R). She explained that HB 861 only applies if the caller does so "in good faith" at the scene of the crime while cooperating with law enforcement. The six-page bill grants immunity from arrest, charges and prosecution for a drug violation when reporting the assault, the measure reads. Additionally, the person reporting the assault is immune from penalties for violating a permanent or temporary protective order or a restraining order, corrective actions for violating pretrial release, probation or parole based on a drug violation, and forfeiture of property. However, the measure says contraband is subject to forfeiture. Senator Hill said if enacted, the bill will allow law enforcement to prioritize sexual assaults. |
| 'We'll go another year' without relief: Pharmacy benefit manager reform likely dead | |
| Hotly contested legislation that aimed to increase the transparency and regulation of pharmacy benefit managers appeared dead in the water Tuesday after a lawmaker challenged the bill for a rule violation. The bill was sent back to conference after Rep. John Hines, D-Greenville, raised a point of order challenging the addition of code sections to the bill, which will likely kill it. House members in the past have chosen to turn a blind eye to the rule, which would require the added code sections to be removed when the bill is returned to conference. This fatal flaw will make it difficult to revive the legislation. "It will almost certainly die," said House Speaker Jason White, who authored the legislation. "And you can celebrate that with your pharmacist when you see them." "...This wasn't 'gotcha.' Everybody in this chamber knew that code sections were added, because the attempt was to make 1123 more suitable to all the parties." The bill sought to protect patients and independent pharmacists, who have warned that if legislators do not pass a law this year to regulate pharmacy benefit managers, which serve as middlemen in the pharmaceutical industry, some pharmacies may be forced to close. |
| Hyde-Smith Joins Renewed Bipartisan Effort to Address Rural Veterinary Shortage | |
| U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) is part of a bipartisan group of Senators who are reintroducing critical legislation aimed at addressing the increasing shortage of veterinarians in rural communities. The Rural Veterinary Workforce Act (S.1163) would eliminate the 39 percent federal withholding tax on loan repayment awards given to veterinarians who commit to serving for three years in USDA-designated veterinary shortage areas. The bill falls in line with a years-long and ongoing effort by Hyde-Smith to address rural veterinary workforce issues. "As the shortage of veterinarians surpasses a crisis point in rural Mississippi and across rural America, the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act has become an urgent necessity. This critical legislation is key to tackling the growing emergency and guaranteeing that taxpayers see far greater returns from the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program," Hyde-Smith said. "I will continue to work with my colleagues to get these changes enacted so this program can function the way Congress actually intended." The Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association, and Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation are among the more than 100 national and state organizations supporting the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act. |
| Trump fires TVA board chair, stripping power from governing body of largest US public utility | |
| The Trump administration fired the chair of the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors, stripping the governing body of the nation's largest public power provider of its ability to conduct business with only four members left. Joe Ritch, a Huntsville, Alabama, lawyer and community leader who had previously served as chair of the TVA board, was terminated at the direction of the president via an email from the White House Office of Presidential Personnel on April 1, the federal utility confirmed to Knox News on April 1. TVA is a federally owned and self-funded utility created by Congress during the Great Depression. It produces electricity for 10 million people across seven Southeast states today and provides economic development and environmental stewardship to the Tennessee Valley. The White House' second firing of a TVA board member in less than a week emphasizes the administration's attention on TVA as the board moved swiftly to select a new CEO and faces pressure to meet growing power demand. The remaining four members do not constitute a quorum to conduct business, according to the amended TVA Act of 1933. The board voted at its February meeting to make Bill Renick of Mississippi its next chair, effective in May, or earlier if Ritch was unable to fulfill his duties. |
| Key House Republican opposes Medicaid cuts | |
 | The chair of a key House panel in setting Republicans' tax and spending agenda said the GOP will seek savings in Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid. But Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) said that he'd oppose cutting them. Buchanan, the chair of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, said that Republicans could do it by rooting out waste. "I'm not for cuts in Medicaid," Buchanan said at POLITICO's Health Care Summit Wednesday. "There are a lot of inefficiencies. We've got to find a way to be able to ... do things better for less." Buchanan's comments come as Republicans are trying to figure out how to pay for President Donald Trump's plan to cut taxes, boost border security and expand energy exploration. House leaders want to find $880 billion in savings to pay for it. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said that would need to come from Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program that more than 75 million low-income Americans rely on. Whether that can be done without cutting benefits is a matter of debate and some Republicans have warned their leaders against going too far. |
| Wisconsin and Florida elections provide early warning signs to Trump and Republicans | |
| A trio of spring elections provided early warning signs to Republicans and President Donald Trump on Tuesday, as Democrats rallied against his efforts to slash the federal government and the outsize role being played by billionaire Elon Musk in the early days of his new administration. In the marquee race for a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, the conservative judge endorsed by Trump and backed by Musk and his groups to the tune of $21 million lost by 10 percentage points in a state Trump won in November. And while Florida Republicans held two of the most pro-Trump House districts in the country, both candidates underperformed Trump's November margins. The elections -- the first major contests since Trump's return to power -- were seen as an early measure of voter sentiment as Trump works with unprecedented speed to dramatically upend the federal government, clashing with the courts and seeking revenge as he tests the bounds of presidential power. The party that loses the presidency in November typically picks up seats in the next midterm elections, and Tuesday's results provided hope for Democrats -- who have faced a barrage of internal and external criticism about their response to Trump -- that they can follow that trend. |
| Trump Attorney Studied Options for Third Presidential Term | |
| Donald Trump's attorney Boris Epshteyn made a bold assertion during a meeting in late 2023: Trump wouldn't necessarily be limited to two terms in office. Speaking to an associate in October 2023 in downtown Washington, Epshteyn pushed back on the notion that Trump would be a lame duck if he won the election in 2024. Epshteyn said he had studied the law -- and he believed Trump could find a way to run again in 2028, according to the person Epshteyn met with. At the time, the associate thought the comments were amusing, even if Epshteyn was serious. The person recounted them to others in Washington, joking that Epshteyn had already started planning a third term even before Trump had won the 2024 Republican primary. But 18 months later, the person looks back on the conversation with alarm, as Trump openly toys with remaining in office after his term ends. Some of Trump's advisers dismiss critics' concerns about the president's remarks. He is joking, they say; he is trolling the media and liberals, they argue. But some senior Republicans privately said they take Trump at his word, and believe he could try to remain in office. In interviews, they noted that law firms, universities, corporations and lawmakers have marshaled little resistance to the president's policies so far in his second term, and they said efforts to stop him could become more difficult in the coming years if he continues to amass power. |
| States sue Trump administration for rescinding billions in health funding | |
| A coalition of states sued the Trump administration on Tuesday over its decision to cut $11 billion in federal funds that go toward COVID-19 initiatives and various public health projects across the country. Attorneys general and other officials from 23 states sued in federal court in Rhode Island. They include New York Attorney General Letitia James and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, as well as Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and the District of Columbia. The lawsuit argues the cuts are illegal, and that the federal government did not provide "rational basis" or facts to support the cuts. The attorneys general say it will result in "serious harm to public health" and put states "at greater risk for future pandemics and the spread of otherwise preventable disease and cutting off vital public health services." "Slashing this funding now will reverse our progress on the opioid crisis, throw our mental health systems into chaos, and leave hospitals struggling to care for patients," James said Tuesday in a news release. Local and state public health departments are still assessing the impact of the loss of funds, though the lawsuit points to the clawback putting hundreds of jobs at risk and weakening efforts to stem infectious diseases like flu and measles. |
| Top vaccine regulator quits, but Louisiana's Bill Cassidy says RFK Jr. hasn't broken promises | |
 | U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy said Tuesday the abrupt resignation of the nation's chief vaccines regulator did not violate his pact with health chief Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known skeptic of vaccinations. "There's nothing in that action that violates the commitment I received from Bobby Kennedy," Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, told local reporters in a phone press conference. Cassidy played a key role in Kennedy's confirmation. Some fellow Republicans had been wary of confirming President Donald Trump's controversial pick to run the Department of Health & Human Services and they looked for Cassidy's lead as chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee before backing Kennedy. A physician and strong supporter of vaccinations, Cassidy said he was persuaded to support Kennedy by promises of "an unprecedented close collaborative working relationship," including consultation and input in the agency's personnel decisions. He also said Kennedy told him he would maintain the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention immunization practices, recommendations and published statements that vaccines do not cause autism, he said. Cassidy said Kennedy had called him prior to Friday's announcement that Dr. Peter Marks would step down April 5 as the top vaccine official with the Food and Drug Administration. |
| HHS layoffs cut deep swath through health infrastructure | |
 | Matt Cutler had been a longtime employee of the Administration for Community Living. But as of 5 a.m. Tuesday, he became one of thousands of Health and Human Services employees to lose their jobs in the latest sweeping round of cuts at the agency. A few hours after he received a "reduction in force" email, Cutler was part of a group stationed in the Senate office buildings asking senators how they planned to respond. Cutler said that while the morning had been overwhelming to process, he was more concerned about the gaps in care that would now occur. The HHS reorganization will dissolve ACL and rearrange those programs across other agencies. ACL is the agency responsible for supporting aging and disabled individuals. The Trump administration began laying off or reassigning an estimated 10,000 HHS employees on Tuesday as part of a reorganization strategy revealed last week. The changes lay the groundwork for Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s plan to streamline operations and shift to focusing on chronic disease, though critics argue some of the cuts would undermine that effort. Lawmaker reaction to the widespread staffing cuts ranged from outrage to indifference. "I think there are three guardrails, the Congress, which is now failing miserably," said Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, addressing a group of former federal workers. King said the second guardrail was the courts, which have been "stepping up" and the third was the American people, who he said must be vigilant. |
| WCU adjunct officially joins ranks of 'legendary' Mississippi band directors | |
 | An adjunct music professor at William Carey University has joined the ranks of "legendary" Mississippi band directors. Zachary Harris, who has been at WCU since 2017 after more than three decades as a band director at Mississippi public schools, was selected in March to join the "Legacy Project" of Phi Beta Mu/Delta Chapter. The honorary fraternity preserves the history and impact of Mississippi band directors. Harris became the latest to join the project's elite group. "Mr. Harris and I started as high school band directors at the same time and within 30 miles of each other," WCU President Dr. Ben Burnett said. "I've known since 1986 that he would one day be legendary. "He's been a good friend, but more so, an inspiration with his dedication to his students and to the state of Mississippi. We are indeed fortunate and blessed to have him as a part of the Carey family." Since 2017, he has taught as an adjunct at WCU's Winters School of Music. |
| Gov. DeSantis' DOGE squad starts university probe | |
| Faculty and staff at the University of North Florida (UNF) and other state schools are getting new marching orders from Gov. Ron DeSantis to start the week, courtesy of the state equivalent to Elon Musk's federal Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE). The state-level "DOGE" team mailed letters to university Presidents and Trustee Chairs last week to inform them of what's happening in the coming weeks. UNF teachers learned of the communication on their faculty portal Monday. In addition to DOGE swooping in for "site visits" to judge compliance with the executive order that began the state effort, the letter to university staff said the team will be "assessing your publicly available information over the coming weeks and months" and "will partner with the Board of Governors and Florida College System to request additional necessary information from each institution." This includes institutional budgets and subfunds, the "structure, staffing, budgets, and functions of administrative offices and administrator roles," along with "facility usage reports; Course codes, descriptions, and syllabi; Full detail of all centers established on campus" and the "closure and dissolution of DEI programs and activities, as required by law." |
| Fundraising for Vanderbilt downtown West Palm campus aims to make 'big dent' in $300M goal | |
 | Vanderbilt University has raised $77 million toward $300 million for a West Palm Beach graduate business school, the university said on Monday. The donations include $50 million from Stephen Ross, chairman of the Related Ross real estate firm and a major force in helping bring Vanderbilt to West Palm Beach. Ross, a Palm Beach resident, is owner of the Miami Dolphins football team and West Palm Beach's dominant developer. The $77 million figure also includes a $5 million donation from Cody Crowell, a principal with Frisbie Group in Palm Beach and a graduate of Vanderbilt. In an exclusive interview with The Palm Beach Post on Monday, March 31, Chancellor Daniel Diermeier hailed the donations as a sign of the community's support for the Nashville-based university and the programs it plans to offer at a planned West Palm Beach campus. "People look at this and they're saying, 'We like the project, we think it's great for the university and we like what Vanderbilt stands for,' " Diermeier said. "That's why we are confident this is going to be successful." |
| From Air Force to Bush 41 photographer, Chris Allen honored for service to Bush Library | |
 | One of Chris Allen's most prized photos is of himself as a young airman in the United States Air Force shaking hands with former President George H.W. Bush, a moment that fueled his passion for service. "As a young airman in the U.S. Air Force, there was no higher honor than being able to meet the Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the United States. Every time I met him, including after he left office, it was truly a magical experience just to be able to speak with the former leader of the free world," Allen said. "I love telling the story about the creation of the Bush Library and the Bush School of Government Public Service because that is something he was so proud of creating." "Former President Bush's life was all about service, from the time that he joined the United States Navy at age 18 and all the presidents he served and took orders from throughout his career in various positions," Allen said. "I enjoyed being a part of the photo world and being a part of the photo lab at the White House, helping to preserve history for future generations and learn from the Bush administration." While Allen has a wealth of knowledge about the Bush administration through his hands-on experience, he said he would rather let the former president's success speak for himself. In fact, he's much happier explaining the core values of Texas A&M University, one of the main reasons why Bush put his library in College Station in the first place. |
| Top scientists warn that Trump policies are causing a 'climate of fear' in research | |
 | Nearly 2,000 leading American scientists, including dozens of Nobel Prize winners, have issued a stark warning that the U.S. lead in science is being "decimated" by the Trump administration's cuts to research and a growing "climate of fear" that jeopardizes independent research. An open letter from members of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine made public on Monday outlines grave concerns. "A climate of fear has descended on the research community," the letter says. Researchers fearing for their jobs are "removing their names from publications, abandoning studies, and rewriting grant proposals and papers to remove scientifically accurate terms (such as 'climate change') that agencies are flagging as objectionable." "Science gave us the smartphones in our pockets, the navigation systems in our cars, and life-saving medical care," the letter says. "We count on engineers when we drive across bridges and fly in airplanes. Businesses and farmers rely on science and engineering for product innovation, technological advances, and weather forecasting. Science helps humanity protect the planet and keeps pollutants and toxins out of our air, water, and food." As the administration cuts federal funding for scientific agencies, ends grants to scientists and defunds laboratories, there is "real danger in this moment," the authors say. "[T]he nation's scientific enterprise is being decimated." |
| How Researchers Could Get Their Canceled NIH Grants Back | |
 | Despite the National Institutes of Health rebuking many of the grants it terminated last month as "antithetical to the scientific inquiry," experts say members of the academic community may have both administrative and legal recourse to attempt to restore some or all of their research funding. The NIH -- which sent about $26 billion to more than 500 institutions or research centers affiliated with colleges and universities in 2024 -- mostly targeted projects related to vaccines and the health of women, racial minorities and members of the LGBTQ+ community, citing a federal regulation that allows agencies to terminate grants "if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities." "While this provision exists and is broad on its face, there are some guardrails for grantees and steps that can be taken along the way to make sure these were done legally," Amanda Fuchs Miller, a policy consultant, lawyer and former deputy assistant secretary for higher education programs at the U.S. Department of Education, said at a webinar last week hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. "And if termination does remain," grantees "are allowed to recover as much as possible." |
| McMahon meeting with House Democrats over Education Department layoffs | |
| Education Secretary Linda McMahon is having a meeting with House Democrats Wednesday over their concerns surrounding the layoffs at the Department of Education, which she and President Trump have been vocal about trying to eliminate entirely. Rep. Mark Takano (Calif.) and at least ten other Democratic members will meet with McMahon at 9:30 a.m. local time, according to information obtained by NewsNation, after the number of Education Department employees was cut in half from over 4,000 to a little more than 2,000. Seventy-five House representatives had asked to discuss the matter with the secretary and how the department will continue to fulfill its congressional obligations. The lawmakers plan to hold a press conference soon after the meeting is over. The meeting comes as several groups have filed lawsuits against the department and Trump administration for the layoffs and the executive order to dismantle the agency. So far, McMahon has supported all the efforts to downsize and weaken her own department. |
| Despite criticism, Trump tariff plan has support of billionaire furniture titan Ron Wanek | |
| Columnist Sid Salter writes: On April 2, President Donald Trump is scheduled to unveil details on his plan to impose "reciprocal" tariffs on U.S. trading partners that are believed to be aimed at most of the $3.3 trillion in American imports. During his first term as president and as a cornerstone of his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump espoused the belief that the current global trading system decimated American manufacturing jobs and weakened the U.S. economy. Critics of the Trump tariff strategies claim the plan will have a negative impact on the economy and contribute to inflation, costing U.S families as much as $830 a year in higher costs for goods. The nonpartisan Tax Foundation subscribes to that opinion, writing in a March 25 white paper: "We estimate the 2018-2019 trade war tariffs imposed by Trump and retained by Biden reduce long-run GDP by 0.2 %, the capital stock by 0.1 %, and employment by 142,000 full-time equivalent jobs." But during a recent appearance in Tupelo to raise supporting funds for the Natchez Trace Council of the Scouting program in 22 Mississippi counties, billionaire furniture manufacturer, distributor and retailer Ronald Wanek of Ashley Furniture Industries emphatically spoke of his support for Trump's tariff plan. Wanek's company has some relevant experience in global trade and the impact of tariffs. |
SPORTS
| What Jeff Lebby liked and didn't like about first Mississippi State spring football scrimmage | |
| Mississippi State football held its first spring scrimmage on Saturday. It was closed to the public, including reporters. Coach Jeff Lebby spoke with the media following Tuesday's practice to give his impressions of the scrimmage. "I think there was a bunch of back and forth," Lebby said. "Defensively, started the scrimmage really well, and then in the middle of the scrimmage had some great moments situationally that I thought was really good for us to be able to go build on. I think being able to roll multiple guys in the D-line and get a bunch of reps there and at inside backer has been really good for us. That stood out. "We made some explosive plays offensively. We got to find ways to be better just on first-and-10s and stay ahead. That'll continue to be a big stress and strain for the offense moving forward." In December, Lebby said Mississippi State improving on its 2-10 season started with building more depth. That way, the Bulldogs could practice better than they were. Saturday's scrimmage lasted 160 snaps, according to Lebby. Last season, he said, the team couldn't have more than 120 snaps in a scrimmage because of depth issues. |
| 'His ceiling, he doesn't have one': Burnside adapting to position change for Bulldogs | |
| Braylon "Stonka" Burnside's performance as a special teams gunner last fall was one of very few bright spots for Mississippi State. So much so that his performance practically begged the question: "What would that guy look like playing defense?" Burnside was recruited out of Starkville High as a wide receiver, which made sense when the head coach has an offensive background like Jeff Lebby. The best all-around athletes are usually going to play on the head coach's preferred side of the ball. But with the Bulldogs lacking in depth in the defensive backfield, Burnside has indeed switched sides for his sophomore season and is now working out at safety. "It's been pretty tough. Kind of hard transitioning from offense straight to defense," Burnside said. "They try their best to keep me in shape and make sure they take care of my body, make sure I take care of my body as well." He was primarily a receiver in high school but played free safety at times, mostly in critical moments when Starkville needed its best playmakers on the field. Burnside decommitted from MSU in November 2023 but signed with the Bulldogs anyway after the coaching change. Even in a wide receivers room that dealt with injuries, suspensions and players opting to redshirt the season, Burnside had just one catch, which came in the season opener for minus-6 yards. But toward the end of the season, he established himself as a special teams ace. |
| Baseball: State Rallies For Midweek Win At Memphis | |
| Mississippi State rallied from a three-run deficit to defeat Memphis 5-3 on the road Tuesday night. The Diamond Dawgs fell behind 3-0 in the third inning but started mounting their comeback on a solo homer by Hunter Hines in the following frame. Hines' blast was the 61st of his career, tying him with Will Clark (1983-85) for the second-most in school history. A sacrifice fly by Ace Reese drew MSU closer in the sixth and a solo shot by Noah Sullivan in the same inning tied things up. Sawyer Reeves gave the Bulldogs the lead for good with a pinch-hit RBI single in the seventh and Nolan Stevens added an insurance run on an RBI single in the eighth. State (17-12) finished with six hits, led by Gehrig Frei and Dylan Cupp, each with a double. Reese, Sullivan, Hines, Reeves and Stevens all had an RBI in the State triumph. Ryan McPherson picked up the win in relief to improve to 2-0 on the mound. McPherson logged a career-high four scoreless innings with eight strikeouts, no walks and only surrendered one hit. Mississippi State is back in Starkville this weekend for a three-game series against South Carolina. First pitches are set for Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. All games will be streamed on SEC Network+. |
| Mississippi State baseball vs Memphis final score: Bulldogs overcome sloppy start to beat Tigers | |
| Mississippi State baseball committed two errors in the first inning and fell behind 3-0 in the third inning but managed a win at Memphis. The Bulldogs (17-12, 1-8 SEC) came from behind to win 5-3 versus the Tigers (11-17, 0-6 AAC) on Tuesday. A Noah Sullivan solo home run in the sixth inning tied the game at 3-3. Sawyer Reeves hit a pinch-hit go-ahead single in the seventh inning. Nolan Stevens added an RBI single in the eighth inning. MSU's pitching was dominant besides the three unearned runs surrendered by Jacob Pruitt in the third inning. Sullivan started with two shutout innings; freshman Ryan McPherson retired 12 consecutive batters and set career-highs in innings (4) and strikeouts (8); Stone Simmons held Memphis scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings and earned a save. MSU's pitching staff only recorded one walk. Hunter Hines hit a home run in the fourth inning, the 61st of his career, tying him for second in Mississippi State program history. |
| Baseball: Mississippi State comes from behind in midweek win at Memphis | |
| Ryan McPherson was only supposed to throw one inning Tuesday night. But Mississippi State head coach Chris Lemonis and pitching coach Justin Parker were so impressed with how McPherson looked that they kept running him back out to the mound. The freshman ended up earning the win with four scoreless innings of relief as the Bulldogs rallied from a three-run deficit to earn a 5-3 win at Memphis. "He was commanding all three pitches, which he hasn't done the last few weeks," Lemonis said. "We wanted to get him out here and get some confidence. We were only going to throw him an inning, and he was so good we just kept throwing him. He can get back into pitching with some composure and pitching in the strike zone, because his stuff is really good. It's really high-end stuff." MSU returns to Dudy Noble Field for a three-game series against South Carolina starting Friday evening. Both the Bulldogs and Gamecocks are 1-8 in Southeastern Conference play. "It's been a long (time away) from home," Lemonis said. "We're ready to get back, I can tell you that." |
| Softball: Bulldogs Close Non-Conference Slate With 12th Run-Rule Victory | |
| No. 17 Mississippi State shut out Central Arkansas to win its final regular-season non-conference game of the year, 8-0, in five innings. Delainey Everett shone in the circle, tossing her first complete game of the year and allowing just two hits. After being held scoreless in the first two frames, State responded with multiple runs in each of the final three frames. "We have played some midweeks or non-conference games where when we don't score right away, we start to tighten up and get a little intense," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "I thought we did a really good job of learning from that over the last few weeks, and we just stayed with our process and found ways to have quality at-bats the second time through the lineup get on the board. I thought that was huge, just not putting too much pressure on ourselves and not worrying about the ranking or the name of the team across from us on the field. Once they got going, I though they stayed more relaxed, and you could really see contagious quality at-bats up and down the lineup." Mississippi State returns to the road this weekend, heading to Knoxville, Tennessee. The Bulldogs will play the No. 9 Tennessee Lady Vols in a three-game series April 4-6. |
| Mississippi State basketball star Josh Hubbard declares for NBA draft, maintains eligibility | |
| Mississippi State basketball star Josh Hubbard has declared for the 2025 NBA draft. The sophomore guard made the announcement Tuesday with a post on X, formerly Twitter. Hubbard said in the post that he'll maintain his college eligibility "to assure I make the best decision for my family." "First and foremost, I want to thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to play the sports that I love," Hubbard wrote. "To my family, who has supported me through this journey, thank you for the sacrifices you have made to help me pursue my dream. To my coaches, teammates, and the entire Mississippi State University, thank you for providing me with guidance and support to reach this point in my career." Mock drafts do not project Hubbard to be picked as of Tuesday. ESPN's big board of the top 100 prospects published on March 25 does not include Hubbard. Neither does Yahoo's top 60 big board or another top 100 board from nbadraft.net. |
| Women's Golf: Weed To Tee Off In Augusta National Women's Amateur On Wednesday | |
| Avery Weed will take the course at the world-renowned Augusta National Women's Amateur on Wednesday. Weed becomes the fourth Bulldog to appear in the tournament, joining Julia Lopez Ramirez, Chiara Horder and Ashley Gilliam. Weed is currently leading the Bulldogs on the 2024-25 season with a 71.88 scoring average. This season, she has collected the 10th most par or better rounds in a single season (13) and has tied the sixth most rounds in the 60s in a single season (6). Throughout the span of her young career, the sophomore has already collected 24 par or better rounds, which ranks tenth on the MSU career record list. Over those two years, she has finished inside the top 20 in eight of 17 tournaments. Those include her two individual victories at the Mason Rudolph Championship and The Ally, which both have come in her sophomore season. Weed will tee off in the third group alongside Pepperdine's Eunseo Choi, who represents New Zealand, and Stanford's Meja Örtengren, who represents Sweden. The group is set to begin their day at 7:12 a.m. CT. The field will play the first two rounds at the Champions Retreat Golf Club on Wednesday and Thursday before the initial cut is made after the second round. The top 30 of the leaderboard will then compete in the final day of action on Saturday at Augusta National. |
| Mark Pope, Kentucky in holding pattern until House settlement on April 7 | |
| The entire landscape of college sports could change in the next week as the House v. NCAA settlement will be reviewed for final court approval on April 7. Once U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken shares her ruling, schools will be able to share up to 22 percent of their annual athletic revenue with players including a $21 million cap set per school for direct compensation. The $2.8 billion settlement will also include roster limits and backpay for former student-athletes with all third-party NIL deals valued at $600 or more now required to be reported. In the current Wild Wild West of recruiting, transparency and guardrails are coming -- assuming the settlement is approved, as expected. Until then, though, Mark Pope feels his hands are tied in some areas no matter how strong a feel he has for what's coming. It's an exciting time that he's simply ready to begin now. "It could be approved on the 7th," Pope said during his call-in radio show Monday night. "... Although that could happen, it's been more of her -- my understanding has been more of her deal to kind of at least take a few days, or maybe take a week, 10 days -- there's no definite timeline. We're just, in terms of that shift, we're just in a wait-and-see mode, and then there's all the complications of actually implementing the agreement and what that's going to look like. It's pretty exciting, man. Every day is something new." |
| McAfee, ESPN Could Be Sued After Boosting Viral Internet Rumor | |
| A viral internet rumor referenced by ESPN's Pat McAfee is now the subject of potential legal action. The Athletic on Tuesday published an in-depth story about the aftermath of McAfee referencing, without naming anyone, an internet rumor in late February regarding the father of an Ole Miss frat student supposedly having sex with his son's girlfriend, a freshman at Ole Miss and a member of a sorority. The individuals targeted by the rumor insist it is false. Mary Kate Cornett, 18, told The Athletic she has retained legal counsel and intends to take action against McAfee, ESPN and others. ESPN declined to comment on the matter. The possibility of a lawsuit over the boosting of a false rumor raises intriguing questions about the scope of defamation law and First Amendment free speech protections for media personalities. Cornett could argue that McAfee and others are liable for defamation, which consists of an untrue statement of fact concerning another person that damages the person's reputation. Other potential claims could include intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and negligence. But McAfee would be armed with legal defenses even if he acted inappropriately or unprofessionally. |
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