| Wednesday, April 16, 2025 |
| Washington County Farm Bureau pledges $52,000 to MSU scholarships | |
 | Washington County is defined by agriculture with more than 400,000 acres of farmland, or 82 percent of the total land area in the county, affirming it as a center of the Mississippi Delta's economic identity. To invest in the future of Washington County, the Washington County Farm Bureau gifted $52,000 to Mississippi State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) to establish the Washington County Endowed Scholarship and the Washington County Farm Bureau Annual Scholarship. Mark Looney, president of the Washington County Farm Bureau and '76 Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering alumnus, has committed his life to farming corn, soybeans, and winter wheat in Washington County. He is grateful the Washington County Farm Bureau will contribute to the agricultural legacy of his home county. "We would like to see young people go to Mississippi State and major in agricultural-related fields. We just want to help students go to college, and we want to help them go to Mississippi State, it being a land-grant university," Looney said. Tim Clements, a board member and former president of the Washington County Farm Bureau, highlighted the connection between the support for MSU and the innovative work at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, located within the county. MSU experts collaborate there to resolve agricultural challenges and advance industry knowledge. |
| Mississippi designates sweet potato as official state vegetable | |
 | The Mississippi sweet potato will become the "Official Vegetable of Mississippi" on July 1. Gov. Tate Reeves (R-Miss.) signed Senate House Bill 2382 into law this past month. "Farmers in Mississippi work hard to produce the safest, most nutritious and affordable sweet potatoes out there," said Harvey, an assistant agronomy professor in MSU's Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. "I'm always glad to see them get any recognition for producing such an important vegetable in our state." Known as the comfort food in grandma's savory pies and casseroles, the sweet potato graces many tables in the state mainly because of its taste and nutrition value, but Harvey explained its versatility also plays a role. "It can be used in so many ways and substituted in just about any recipe when it calls for carrots, pumpkin or other potatoes," he said. Considered a specialty crop, sweet potatoes have a statewide production value of $82 million annually. |
| Sweet potato becomes state's official veggie | |
| It's official. The Mississippi sweet potato is growing tremendously -- in status that is. The storage root formally becomes the "Official Vegetable of Mississippi" on July 1, after Governor Tate Reeves signed Senate House Bill 2383 into law this past month. And, none could be happier about the legislation's passage than Mississippi State University sweet potato expert Lorin Harvey. “It can be used in so many ways and substituted in just about any recipe when it calls for carrots, pumpkin or other potatoes,” said Harvey, who also is an extension professor at the Mississippi Agricultural and Experiment Station’s Pontotoc Ridge-Flatwoods Branch. Considered a specialty crop, sweet potatoes have a statewide production value of $82 million annually -- small potatoes compared to yields of soybeans and corn, according to MSU agriculture economist Will Maples. However, Maples said Mississippi is known as a major producer in the U.S. of the fibrous plant. |
| Mississippi Names Sweet Potato as State's Official Veggie | |
| It's official. The Mississippi sweet potato is growing tremendously -- in status that is. The storage root formally becomes the "Official Vegetable of Mississippi" on July 1, after Governor Tate Reeves signed Senate House Bill 2383 into law this past month. And, none could be happier about the legislation's passage than Mississippi State University sweet potato expert Lorin Harvey. Known as the comfort food in grandma's savory pies and casseroles -- and even mysterious hash -- this veggie graces many tables in the Magnolia State mainly because of its taste and nutrition value, but Harvey explained its versatility also plays a role. "It can be used in so many ways and substituted in just about any recipe when it calls for carrots, pumpkin or other potatoes," said Harvey. Most prominently grown in Mississippi is the orange-colored, majestically named Beauregard variety on between 28,000 and 30,000 acres yearly, with the town of Vardaman -- population of about 1,060 -- as the epicenter of production. Known as "The Sweet Potato Capital of the World" to those endeared to the root, the community first grew the plant there around 1915, which thrived in the soil and climate. |
| Mississippi names sweet potato official state vegetable | |
| Effective July 1, the sweet potato will become the official vegetable of Mississippi following the recent signing of Senate House Bill 2383 by Governor Tate Reeves. The designation recognizes the crop's significance to the state's agriculture sector and food culture. Lorin Harvey, a sweet potato specialist at Mississippi State University (MSU) and assistant professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, noted that the vegetable plays an important role in local agriculture due to its nutritional value, versatility, and economic contribution. The town of Vardaman, with a population of roughly 1,060, is regarded as the state's hub for sweet potato farming. Production in the area dates back to around 1915 and has benefited from a favorable climate and soil conditions. Harvey attributes Vardaman's prominence to infrastructure development, including facilities for washing, packing, and long-term refrigerated storage, which have supported the crop's continued viability in the region. |
| Mississippi soybean farmers worried over tariffs | |
 | Some soybean farmers in Mississippi believe the trade and tariff war impact their bottom line. The Trump administration said tariffs will be good for the United States in the long run. The administration believes the tariffs will increase revenue and encourage Americans to buy U.S. goods. President Trump has also indicated the tariffs will improve national security. But all these positives can be hard to see if you're an American farmer. Agriculture is Mississippi's number one industry. The state's second most valuable crop is soybeans. Soybeans are a major U.S. export. The U.S. triggered a 145% tariff on Chinese imports. China retaliated and slapped a 125% tariff on American goods. The tariff war could hit soybean farmers where it hurts. "As a state like Mississippi where soybeans is one of our top three commodities each year. It's the biggest row crop commodity in the state that has a direct impact to our producers," said Dr. Will Maples, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics at Mississippi State University. The U.S. sends nearly half its soybean exports to China. Farmers are hopeful a trade deal can be worked out before the summer soybean harvest and sale. |
| This Mississippi city was named best small town in the South by USA Today | |
 | A Mississippi city has been named the best small town in the South for the second year in a row. The USA Today ranking looked for places that show off the hospitality, history and charm the South is known for, with a population under 25,000. An expert panel nominated the places they thought were the most fun to vacation, see the sights, spend time in nature, get great food and drinks, or learn about art and culture. Editors reviewed the list and gave the public four weeks to vote. Now, one college town has bragging rights. Starkville took the top honor in the South this year. "Though it's home to Mississippi State University, Starkville is much more than just a college town. You'll find a thriving arts scene, multiple historic districts, many opportunities for birdwatching, and plenty of great food. Be sure to check out the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, a treasure trove of artifacts and correspondence," USAT wrote. |
| WCBI's Grace Brister speaks to Public Relations class at MSU | |
 | WCBI's Grace Brister spoke to a public relations class at Mississippi State University about the relationship between PR professionals and news media professionals. Students got to hear how the two fields work together to get stories, information, and community events out to the public. Students said they learned a lot from the discussion and have a better understanding of what news professionals look for when they receive story pitches. |
| Main Street redesign work to begin this summer | |
 | The city has approved an almost $7.6 million bid to begin the first phase of its Main Street redesign, which will temporarily obstruct traffic somewhat as it transforms its downtown into a destination. The board of aldermen approved accepting a Main Street Improvements Project bid from Starkville-based ECON Construction on Tuesday as part of its consent agenda. This first phase includes the street from City Hall to Jackson Street, as well as the intersection of Lafayette Street. The project will expand sidewalks, add brickwork and lighting, and remove a turn lane to make Main Street more like the city's other dining destination spots. "Aesthetics matter," Mayor Lynn Spruill told The Dispatch before the meeting. "Beauty matters. People want to be in pretty surroundings, and that is part of this in addition to the functionality of allowing for sidewalk cafes. That's one thing we're lacking, you've got sidewalk opportunities in the Cotton District but none downtown. That will truly be an opportunity to allow for some additional restaurateur assets." City Engineer Cody Burnett said the project will need another four to six weeks to finalize contracts and hold coordination meetings. Once it does break ground, construction is projected to run for 18 months. |
| Homeless student services getting cut due to new ESSER rule | |
| With the U.S. Department of Education abruptly moving its spending deadline for pandemic relief funds, the state faces potentially losing $137 million in funds, including money already allocated to local districts. For Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, that includes less than 2% of the total $24.4 million earmarked for the district in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds. Communications Director Haley Montgomery said the district would not be reimbursed for those funds. "The outstanding funds were allocated primarily for direct student tutorial services to serve academic needs, including those for students qualified as homeless," she said. "Those services have been halted. A small amount of our remaining ESSER funds were allocated for student mental health services." Montgomery said those services included free tutoring, counseling for students who qualify as homeless and their families who are transitioning between housing as well as services for families who found themselves displaced. "For families who were in a transition, maybe they've had an eviction or something like that, we were able to provide a three-night hotel stay for the family," she said. SOCSD will continue to offer resources for students experiencing homelessness through its Project HELP program, like school uniforms, school supplies, personal hygiene supplies and tutoring. |
| After nearly three decades of firefighting, Davis made chief at SFD | |
| Dewayne Davis has been promoted to fire chief, taking the helm of a largely healthy department that nevertheless faces challenges with employee retention and pay. The board of aldermen voted Tuesday to raise Davis from interim status as part of its consent agenda, which drew applause from nearly 20 fire department personnel who were in attendance. Speaking to The Dispatch earlier in the day, he was circumspect about his promotion, framing it as a natural extension of his duty to the city. "Everyone that comes here is expected and should expect to excel through the ranks," he said. "If a position becomes available they should always put in for it to try and move to the next level. ... They asked me to serve as interim, I said I would, I got here and I like what I'm doing." Davis has been serving with the Starkville Fire Department since 1996, just one year less than three decades on the job. He's worked his way up the ranks but said this is the first time he's been in a primarily administrative position, with the surge of paperwork posing the biggest challenge for him as chief. Davis is also grappling with the department's staffing issues and doesn't have a specific solution yet. Fire departments nationwide are having trouble retaining new hires, he said, and Starkville's requirement that every firefighter also maintain training as an emergency medical technician raises the bar even higher. |
| Severe weather warning issued in Mississippi for Easter | |
 | The National Weather Service has issued a severe weather warning for parts of Mississippi for Easter going into Monday, but the timing and severity of the possible storms is a bit up in the air. "As of this morning (April 16), we had enough confidence to issue a severe weather warning," said Logan Poole, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson. "The far northwest seems to have the highest confidence for severe weather. "The most likely window being Sunday into Monday. That's the best guess right now." The area of concern is northwest of a diagonal line from Southwest Mississippi stretching to Northeast Mississippi and includes the Jackson area. Poole said predicting exactly when it will happen and how severe storms may be is hard to predict at this point because there are several factors. The event is several days away and is at the lower end of the threat scale, but Poole said conditions will be monitored closely as Mississippi is in the peak severe weather season. |
| Childcare, talent retention, and workforce development to headline Mississippi Economic Council annual meeting | |
| The Mississippi Economic Council will host its 76th annual meeting on Thursday, with childcare, talent retention, and workforce development headlining the topics set to be discussed by leaders looking to see the state thrive. This year's event will feature a "WorkFuture" theme and bring together business leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to address critical workforce challenges and economic opportunities through a series of panels and speakers, including: The "Talent Retention: Why Business & Education Partnerships Matter" panel will include Dr. Beth Little of the Mississippi Community College Board, Pamela Maxwell of We Work the Waterways, Dr. Derek C. Read of the Pascagoula-Gautier School District, and Dr. Susan Seal of Mississippi State University. The group plans to use the discussion to explore resourceful models for collaboration between educational institutions and the business industry. Waller will take some time during the lunch hour to discuss MEC's incoming merger with the Mississippi Manufacturers Association and the Business and Industry Political Education Committee. |
| Local sheriff expresses concerns with changes to PERS | |
 | Mississippi is nearly 27 billion dollars in the hole when it comes to PERS, and the Mississippi Legislature made some changes in the hope of addressing the debt. The biggest change was the amount of time someone has to work in state government to be able to pull money from the public employee's retirement system; the time employed by the state is changing from 30 years to 35 years. These changes are raising concerns for local law enforcement agencies. Lauderdale County Sheriff Ward Calhoun says this change could create issues with their ability to recruit officers to the force. "There have to be changes made, but many of the good things about state retirement that caused people to want to go to work for government, it's not going to be there now, especially for individuals that historically have been people we've attempted to recruit, such as members of the military coming out of the military after serving, you know, 10, 12, 16, 20 years. With the new 35 years, it's not going to be as attractive to them. And so there are some concerns about what this will do and our ability to recruit," said Calhoun. |
| DOJ dismisses pay discrimination lawsuit against Mississippi Senate | |
| The Department of Justice on Tuesday voluntarily dismissed its civil lawsuit against the Mississippi State Senate over allegations that the legislative body paid a Black attorney less money than her white colleagues. Court documents did not specify a reason for the dismissal, and a Justice Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch's office helped defend the Senate in the litigation. MaryAsa Lee, a spokesperson for Fitch, told Mississippi Today in a statement that the "state is pleased" with the dismissal. Kristie Metcalfe, who is Black, worked as a staff attorney for the Senate's Legislative Services Office from December 2011 to November 2019. Metcalfe's starting salary was $55,000, while other Senate staff attorneys were paid $95,550 to $121,800, according to the lawsuit. Lawyers for the office draft legislation and handle other legal questions for the individual 52 senators. |
| Iowa relies on exports and its senior senator opposes tariffs. Trump is pressuring both | |
 | A woman in southeast Iowa wasted no time when the floor opened for questions at Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley 's public meeting Tuesday, asking about the impact the Trump administration's trade war could have in this export-dependent state. "My son has cattle," she said in the crowded city hall chambers of Fort Madison, a Mississippi River port and railroad hub that typifies Iowa's export economy. "I just want to know how the tariffs will affect someone like him, market-wise." Grassley hedged, suggesting Trump's trade policy could benefit producers if countries relax their import rules on U.S. beef or hurt them if they don't. But he finished by hinting at the most serious issue for Iowa. "I think it's more grain than livestock," he said. Trump's tariffs are likely to cost Iowa farmers their biggest market, China, for the hundreds of millions of bushels of soybeans they grow every year. And it's put Grassley, an anti-tariff warrior, in a difficult spot in a state inordinately dependent on agricultural exports as the nation's second-leading soybean producer. Despite 45 years in the Senate and his party in power at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, Grassley is joined by only a handful of his fellow Republicans in an effort to curtail future tariffs by Trump and subsequent administrations. |
| Republicans quietly hope Supreme Court bails them out on Trump's trade war | |
 | Republican lawmakers are quietly hoping the Supreme Court will hit the brakes on President Trump's trade war, which has become a growing political liability for the GOP even with the president's pause of much of his tariff regime. The high court has ruled in favor of Trump several times during his first few months in office, but it handed his administration a setback last week by ruling it must facilitate the return of a Maryland man who was wrongfully deported to El Salvador. Trump's sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs against more than 180 counties face new legal challenges after several businesses sued the administration in the U.S. Court of International Trade and a federal district court in Florida. Most of those tariffs are on hold for a 90-day period to allow countries to negotiate with the Trump administration. China is the big exception. Many of its products now face tariffs at 145 percent. Some Republican lawmakers, who privately oppose Trump's tariffs but are afraid of criticizing the president publicly, hope the Supreme Court will ultimately curb Trump's tariff authority. "Members would love to have the courts bail them out and basically step in and assert the authority under the Constitution that taxes are supposed to originate in the House of Representatives," said Brian Darling, a GOP strategist and former Senate GOP aide. |
| Inside Trump's strategy to get China to the negotiating table | |
 | President Donald Trump wants Chinese leader Xi Jinping to call. Making trade deals with China's neighbors is part of a broader White House strategy to get him to the negotiating table. As the two countries face off in a bitter trade war, the administration's current theory of the case, which has been circulating among Trump allies and was confirmed by a White House official, is that tariff deals with Asian countries, as well as the dozens of others across the globe seeking to negotiate with the U.S., will isolate China, disrupt the Chinese supply chain and threaten to cut the country off from the rest of the world. The White House sees the wave of announcements from companies moving manufacturing operations to the U.S. and its broader sectoral-based tariff strategy as key components in getting Xi to cooperate as well, said the official, who like others in this story was granted anonymity to discuss the administration's strategy. But even people close to the White House -- who want to see Trump succeed, China crippled and manufacturing boom in the U.S. -- are unsure the strategy will work. Some argue cutting deals with other countries is at odds with the president's broader America First approach on trade, which seeks to restore U.S. manufacturing, while using tariffs as a stick to eke out leverage. Others see those deals as a necessary stopgap as the U.S. works to reshore manufacturing. |
| Biden, in First Major Speech Since Leaving Office, Warns of Trump's 'Destruction' | |
 | The last time Joe Biden took a stage in Chicago was to keynote the opening day of the Democratic National Convention. Then a sitting U.S. president, he symbolically handed over power to his vice president as thousands of grateful Democrats cheered and waved signs. This time, with significantly less pomp and ceremony, the now former president took a stage here to keynote the opening day of a far lower-profile event: A two-day conference for disability advocates. It was his first widely publicized public remarks since leaving the White House. Speaking for about 30 minutes to about 200 people gathered here for a conference sponsored by the Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled, Biden focused his remarks on threats to Social Security and touted his efforts as president to bolster it. "Social Security is more than a government program," Biden, 82, told the group, gathered in a dark third-floor hotel ballroom in downtown Chicago. "It's a sacred promise." Without ever mentioning his successor by name, he accused President Trump, 78, of seeking to gut the Social Security program and of creating fear and uncertainty among its recipients. "Fewer than 100 days, and this administration has done so much damage and so much destruction," Biden said. "It's kind of breathtaking." |
| Easter Monday could soon become federal holiday under new GOP proposal | |
 | Easter Monday could soon be a federal holiday under a new legislative proposal. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., and Rep. Riley Moore, R-W. Va., are leading the way on legislation to make the day following Easter Sunday a holiday amid several other countries also recognizing the holiday. In a thread posted to X, Schmitt cited a poll that 81% of Americans celebrated Easter as of 2023, according to the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. "This isn't a radical idea. It's a federal recognition of a tradition that is central to Western civilization---a tradition that's already recognized as a public holiday in nations across (and beyond!) the West, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most of Western Europe," the Republican lawmaker said. "There are plenty of practical arguments for it, too. Easter weekend already generates around $15 billion for our economy. Making it a three-day weekend could boost that by an estimated 10-15%, adding up to $2 billion in economic activity while strengthening American families." |
| U. of Southern Mississippi receives $2.3 million grant for psychosis prevention program | |
 | The University of Southern Mississippi recently received a $2.3 million 4-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to help Mississippians at high risk of developing psychosis. The Center for Behavioral Health Screening, Outreach, Assessment and Resilience (CBH-SOAR) program will partner with the Mississippi Department of Mental Health to provide screening and treatment for clients between the ages of 14 and 25 across the state. Kristy McRaney is the director of the USM Center for Behavioral Health. "There is a high need for access to care statewide in general," she said. "Mississippi, broadly speaking, is a behavioral health professional shortage area. So simply not enough providers in that area, which means there's not enough services as well." According to USM, around 7,000 people in the state are at high risk for developing the condition. McRaney says people living in rural areas around the state are often not able to access care even when it is available. "This specific programing grant is going to serve the entire state, because we're going to be able to implement them by telehealth," she said. |
| By the numbers: A look at spring 2025 graduates from the U. of Alabama | |
 | The University of Alabama is set to award about 6,430 degrees during spring commencement exercises May 2-4 at Coleman Coliseum. According to UA, the spring class of 2025 includes 4,865 undergraduates, 1,417 master's degree or education specialist graduates and 148 doctoral degree graduates. UA's spring graduating class includes students from 38 countries, 48 states and 65 of Alabama's 67 counties. The class achieved a grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. The class also includes 2,677 students who earned Latin honors, 1,405 students who identify as minority, 885 distance-learning students, 816 first-generation college students, 28 active-duty military members, 66 students who identify as veterans and 537 graduates with multiple majors. The youngest student to earn a degree is 19 years old; the oldest is 68. |
| Auburn Campus Dining expands with renovations at The Edge and campus-wide opening of Wellness Kitchen | |
| Auburn University's campus dining options are expanding with two major projects at The Edge at Central Dining and the Welness Kitchen opening up for all studnets. Renovations will take place on the ground floor to create a frictionless convenience store and a three-stall food hall. At its most recent meeting, the Auburn University Board of Trustees approved the proposal to renovate approximately 2,400 square feet of the Central Dining Commons to make way for the new dining venues. Renovations will begin this summer to create Auburn's first frictionless convenience store, with plans to open in the fall of 2025 and a budget of $800,000. Upon entry, patrons will either use a credit card or students can scan in with TigerCard via their phone. There will be no traditional checkout stations. Instead, the system automatically identifies selected items and charges the linked payment method when shoppers leave. Students can simply tap in, pick up their items and walk out. The store will use a combination of AI technology, cameras and weighted shelves to track items as customers shop. "It's literally all cameras and weighted shelves," said Glenn Loughridge, director of Campus Dining and Concessions. "It should be a very simple way for students to walk in and walk out." |
| Trump administration revokes visas of international students in Louisiana | |
| More than a dozen international students studying in Louisiana have had their visas revoked without explanation, university officials confirmed on Tuesday, part of the Trump administration's nationwide targeting of foreign-born students at American colleges and universities. In New Orleans, at least six international students have had their student visa status terminated: two students at Tulane University, two at Southern University at New Orleans and three at the University of New Orleans, according to university officials. In Baton Rouge, seven international students at Southern University had their visas pulled, as did three students at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. An LSU spokesperson did not immediately respond to inquiries about whether any of its students were affected. The visa revocations, first reported by the Louisiana Illuminator, puts those students at risk of detention or deportation. Led by the U.S. State Department, the visa terminations are part of President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration to the U.S., which has recently expanded to include noncitizens legally residing in the country. The speed and scope of the federal government's efforts to terminate the legal status of international students have stunned colleges across the country. |
| At Least 10 Florida Universities Have Signed ICE Agreements | |
 | At least 10 Florida public universities have struck agreements with the federal government authorizing campus police to question and detain undocumented immigrants. Inside Higher Ed requested public records from all 12 State University System of Florida institutions related to their agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Based on the results, it is clear that at least 10 have signed deals with ICE: Florida A&M University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, New College of Florida, the University of Central Florida, the University of Florida, the University of North Florida, the University of South Florida and the University of West Florida. Florida State University is in the process of signing the paperwork, a spokesperson confirmed. Universities across the state signed memorandums of agreement at the direction of Republican governor Ron DeSantis, who ordered law enforcement agencies to partner with ICE "to execute functions of immigration enforcement," according to a Feb. 19 news release. Legal experts and Florida faculty members note that such agreements are rare and mark a shift away from the typical duties of campus police, which don't usually include immigration enforcement. They also raised concerns about how such arrangements could create a climate of fear on campuses. |
| Kentucky public universities are reviewing how to implement anti-DEI law | |
| Following the passage of a Kentucky law that eliminates diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in higher education, the state's public universities say they are reviewing how they are required to implement the law. The Republican-controlled Kentucky General Assembly overturned Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear's veto of House Bill 4 last month. The bill's primary sponsor, Rep. Jennifer Decker, R-Waddy, said during deliberation on her bill that it "would allow our universities and colleges to return to their focus away from social engineering to provide Kentucky students with excellent academic instruction in an environment that fosters critical thinking through open, constructive dialog." However, at least one Kentucky college student, Bradley Price, says the law will change the culture of her campus "and it's going to be irreparable." Price, a Black student who enrolled in the University of Louisville's Pan-African Studies program because of the university's reputation as a diverse institution, frequently went to Frankfort throughout the legislative session to protest against the bill. Price was among advocates who witnessed Beshear sign the veto for the legislation. "Obviously, it was the outcome that I knew was coming, but I was still utterly disappointed, for lack of a better term," Price said of the overturned veto in a recent interview with the Kentucky Lantern. |
| No hike in tuition at Georgia universities, decides Board of Regents | |
 | For the seventh time in the last 10 years, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents voted to hold the line on tuition for in-state students. Since 2016, tuition at the state's 26 public colleges and universities has increased by less than 1% per year, Tracey Cook, the system's chief fiscal officer, told the regents on Tuesday at a meeting on the campus of Georgia Southern University in Statesboro. "USG and the Board of Regents remain focused on keeping college affordable for Georgia families to ensure higher education stays within reach across the state," system Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. "As more students than ever enroll on our campuses, we continue to prioritize reducing financial barriers and offering excellent value." Among the 16 Southern Regional Education Board states, Georgia is third lowest in average undergraduate tuition and required fees compared to its public peers, according to national data from the College Board. Nationally, the system has the sixth-lowest tuition and fees. In other business Tuesday, the regents approved a plan to consolidate Georgia Southern and East Georgia State College. |
| 'It's disappointing to lose': Federal budget cuts impact university research programs' funding | |
| Many across academia are experiencing uncertainty as the Trump administration's actions have resulted in cuts to research funding. Several students, faculty and professors at the University of Tennessee participate in research across all fields. Carlisle Ballantine, a freshman studying civil engineering, is one such student who has worked as a research assistant since September. Ballantine worked under Mohammad Safi, a researcher and PhD student, alongside four other students in the program. Ballantine expected the position to be stable and available to her all four years. That changed three weeks ago when Ballantine received unexpected news -- the sponsor cut funds to the project due to recent federal budget cuts. Ballantine's project was within a division of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering that examines geotechnical research. The research analyzes the soil's load-bearing ability and how it acts under stresses in different environments. "This research that we do kind of explains what happened to the Leaning Tower of Pisa and how the building slanted in because the soil underneath it couldn't support the weight or the force being pressed down on the soil," Ballantine said. |
| Effort to curb antisemitism in public schools and colleges advances in Texas Senate | |
| A bill some lawmakers said would bolster schools' ability to discipline students for antisemitic incidents at public schools and colleges advanced in the Texas Senate on Monday. The debate comes just days after President Donald Trump's administration announced that federal officials will monitor social media for antisemitic activity. International students and others could lose their immigration status if authorities determine they engaged in such activity. Texas school administrators would have to consider the state's definition of antisemitism during student disciplinary cases under the proposed bill. Free speech advocates fear that Texas' proposal would have a chilling effect -- particularly when it comes to protests or actions opposing the war in Gaza. Last spring, college students across Texas protested Israel's response after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. Gov. Greg Abbott then issued an executive order directing schools to update free speech policies to address what he described as rising antisemitism on campuses, which included establishing punishments up to expulsion. |
| Some Mizzou international students see visas revoked in nationwide move | |
 | The University of Missouri confirmed Tuesday that it is among several schools across the country at which some students' visas are being revoked. Mizzou provided some information on how it is responding but released few details. The university did not disclose how many students have been affected or which countries those students are from. "We are aware that some international students and scholars are facing immigration status changes across the country," university spokesperson Christopher Ave said. "The University of Missouri has learned that a small number of students have had their Student Exchange Visitor Information System records terminated by the Department of Homeland Security. When we become aware of this happening, we provide students with academic support while they seek legal advice from their own attorneys. We have published guidance for international students and scholars on our website." Immigration experts said they've never seen the federal government make such sweeping changes to the ordinarily low-profile process of hosting international students. "I've been doing this for 25 years and I've never seen 300 students lose their visas," Len Saunders, a Washington state immigration attorney based near the Canadian border, told USA TODAY. "To hear that something like 300 visas were canceled out of the blue ... it's all political. To read that there's hundreds of people having their visas canceled, you know exactly what it is." |
| Senate bill would bar Missouri schools from requiring DEI statements for admission or employment | |
 | A state senator is taking aim at Missouri colleges and universities who ask prospective students or job candidates to explain how they would contribute to an institution's diversity, equity and inclusion goals. Senate Bill 326 would prohibit schools from requiring the submission of a diversity, equity and inclusion statement for admission or employment. It would also prohibit the preferential consideration of applicants on the basis of an unsolicited submission of a DEI statement. The University of Missouri does not currently require these types of statements for admission or employment. However, provisions of the bill that deal with "unsolicited statements" could have consequences for MU. The bill would bar universities from giving preferential treatment to applicants for jobs or admission who submit a DEI statement anyway. "There would have to be proof that someone was given preferential treatment due to the statement that was submitted," Brown said in an interview. "So absent that evidence, it wouldn't really have any impact on current practices." |
| Trump's DEI backlash ripples across the nation's flagship universities | |
| Public universities are quickly backtracking on decades of diversity initiatives to avoid the ire of the Trump administration and protect billions in federal funding -- even though there's little evidence those moves will shield them. President Donald Trump is seeking to punish universities that allowed pro-Palestine student encampment protests and touted efforts to attract a more diverse student body. He's launched dozens of investigations led by the Justice and Education departments and has frozen billions in federal funding to several schools. In response, many flagship universities -- which are often the largest and best-resourced public institutions in their states -- have shuttered their campus diversity offices or restructured them to avoid drawing attention. More than 30 universities have changed how their diversity programs or offices operate since 2021, when opposition to those efforts began percolating across the country, according to a POLITICO analysis of the 50 flagship schools nationwide. Fourteen have closed their diversity offices entirely, while another 15 schools renamed or restructured their programs. |
| Canadian universities report jump in US applicants as Trump cuts funding | |
 | More students living in the United States are applying to Canadian universities or expressing interest in studying north of the border as President Donald Trump cuts federal funding to universities and revokes foreign student visas. Officials at the University of British Columbia's Vancouver campus said the school reported a 27% jump in graduate applications as of March 1 from US citizens for programs starting in the 2025 academic year, compared to all of 2024. In response to rising demand for graduate-level programs, UBC Vancouver briefly reopened admissions to US citizens for several graduate programs this week with plans to fast-track applications from American students hoping to begin studies in September. The University of Toronto, Canada's largest university by number of students, also reported more US applications by its January deadline for 2025 programs, while a University of Waterloo spokesperson reported an increase in US visitors to campus and more web traffic originating from the United States since September. The universities in Toronto and Waterloo did not cite the reasons for the increase in interest, while the UBC's Vancouver campus attributed the rise to the Trump administration's policies. |
| Canadian university teachers warned against traveling to the United States | |
| The association that represents academic staff at Canadian universities is warning its members against non-essential travel to the United States. The Canadian Association of University Teachers released updated travel advice Tuesday due to the "political landscape" created by President Donald Trump's administration and reports of some Canadians encountering difficulties crossing the border. The association says academics who are from countries that have tense diplomatic relations with the United States, or who have themselves expressed negative views about the Trump administration, should be particularly cautious about U.S. travel. Its warning is particularly targeted to academics who identify as transgender or "whose research could be seen as being at odds with the position of the current U.S. administration." In addition, the association says academics should carefully consider what information they have, or need to have, on their electronic devices when crossing the border, and take actions to protect sensitive information. Reports of foreigners being sent to detention or processing centers for more than seven days, including Canadian Jasmine Mooney, a pair of German tourists, and a backpacker from Wales, have been making headlines since Trump took office in January. |
| A U.S.-China Trade War With Students and Tourists as Potential Pawns | |
 | China has warned its people to think twice before visiting the United States, citing trade tensions. It also told its students to be careful about studying there and accused two American universities of hacking. And it has vowed to cut down on the number of Hollywood films that can be shown in China. The trade war between the United States and China is already eroding far more than just economic ties. The rapid expansion of the battlefield, from trade to culture and education, underscores how fragile the relationship between the United States and China has become. The United States, for its part, has revoked some Chinese student and scholar visas, as part of a broader targeting of international students by the Trump administration. While the moves were not directly related to the trade dispute, some conservatives have suggested linking them: Donald Trump Jr., the president's son, posted online last week that it was a "great idea" to expel all Chinese students as retaliation for China hitting back with its own tariffs. For decades, the flow of students, travelers, artists and businesspeople between the countries served as a steadying force, even when political or economic tensions flared. But as relations have deteriorated in recent years, both countries have started to turn those ties into bargaining chips, too. |
| International students in the U.S. are reeling amid revoked visas and terminated records | |
| For one engineer who recently graduated from a U.S. university, the termination of his record in a government database used to track international students has meant uncertainty about whether he will be able to stay in the United States -- and continue to provide for his family back home in Nigeria. For a biochemist working in health science after earning her doctoral degree in the United States, a similar termination came the week she was selected for a coveted H-1B visa, used by employers to hire skilled foreign workers in specialty occupations. "I finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel," she says, "then everything I worked hard to obtain was taken away all of the sudden." And for a postdoc in computer science, the termination has meant filing a lawsuit to prevent his deportation. These are a handful of the thousands of international students and recent graduates who have had their ability to study and work in the U.S. called into question by President Donald Trump's administration in recent weeks. Those affected include undergraduate and graduate students, as well as recent degree recipients who have stayed in the country to work through a temporary employment program called Optional Practical Training (OPT). Some are fighting back with federal lawsuits, filed in courts around the country. Still, many are reeling, feeling panicked and overwhelmed. |
| Proposed Budget Cuts Could End Fulbright Program | |
| The Trump administration is looking to cut the State Department's budget by almost half, and educational and cultural exchange programs, like the Fulbright scholarship, could be fully eliminated as a result, The Washington Post reported Monday. An internal memo, obtained by the Post, suggested that the department may only have $28.4 billion to spend next fiscal year to cover all of its staffing and operations and to share with the U.S. Agency for International Development, an independent agency that Trump has already tried to eliminate. That's $27 billion, or 48 percent, less funding than the two groups received in fiscal year 2025. The proposed budget cuts would terminate the Fulbright scholarship, a highly selective cultural exchange program established by Congress in 1946, along with the State Department's other educational and cultural programs. The president has yet to propose his budget for fiscal year 2026 to Congress, though he's expected to do so later this month, the Post reported. Congress, by law, has the final say about which programs get funding. |
| 'A multi-front war': How a lobbying heavyweight is advising universities to handle the Trump administration | |
| President Donald Trump swept into power earlier this year and almost immediately began using his bully pulpit -- and the federal government's leverage, in the form of massive amounts of funding for contracts and grants -- to embark on an unprecedented pressure campaign against some of the country's oldest and most revered institutions of higher education. Universities have historically operated at somewhat of a remove from the wheeling and dealing of Washington, but the scale and speed of the upheaval -- and the lack of transparency into the administration's next targets -- has caught the world of higher education off guard. K Street is cashing in on the panic as schools scramble for well-connected fixers who can offer guidance on how to try and stave off some of the deepest cuts. In response to the demand from schools, one of Washington's top-earning law and lobbying firms, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, has launched a new higher education task force to advise universities on how to navigate the whims of the Trump administration. The firm's clients include Yale University, DePaul University, Davidson College, the Baylor College of Medicine, Colorado State University and Washington University in St. Louis, among others. "All of these universities ... they don't intuitively get Washington," says Marc Lampkin, a longtime Republican strategist who is helping lead the new task force at Brownstein. "And so what we do is we help them understand how to navigate it, with a unique understanding about the issues that they deal with on campus." |
| Universities lament Trump's attacks. How about doing some atoning, too? | |
 | Mitch Daniels, president emeritus of Purdue University and a former governor of Indiana, writes in The Washington Post: I've been spending a lot of time reading and talking with my recent colleagues in higher education, as they react to the new environment in which they find themselves. The tenor of their current commentary might best be described as the language of anguish, and it had a familiar ring that took me a while to pin down. "It's loss, grief." "We hugged; we cried." "My heart breaks." Faculty are "very frightened." The entire sector, we are told, is in a state of "panicked bewilderment." Maybe most apocalyptically, "This is simply the end." Where had I heard all this before? It finally hit me. I repaired to the Bible and read -- I confess for the first time in years -- the Book of Lamentations. The despair of Israel at the destruction of Jerusalem gave rise to the same outcries of fallen greatness, of abandonment, of unfair persecution, of hopelessness. Just the response we are hearing today from the nation's college and university leadership. The analogy breaks down in one basic respect. What we have yet to hear from our modern-day Jeremiahs is much sense of self-examination, repentance or acceptance of some need to mend ways. But the lamentations are sure reminiscent. |
| Will Congress and the Trump White House agree on Medicaid cuts in states like Mississippi? | |
| Columnist Sid Salter writes: On March 11, The White House released a statement quoting President Donald Trump four times as saying that Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security will not be cut by his administration. At the same time as the denials of Trump's intent to make cuts to those programs, Trump repeated that his administration would aggressively seek to eliminate "waste and fraud" from the programs and specifically referenced undocumented immigrants benefitting from the programs. The March 11 release identified "improper payments" emanating from Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security over the last two decades that may exceed $3 trillion. But the U.S. House budget resolution that House Speaker Mike Johnson led to passage by a razor-thin majority sets a framework for the House Energy and Commerce Committee – which oversees Medicaid – to cut $880 billion from federal spending over the next decade. The overall House budget requires $2 trillion in spending cuts over the same period. Speaker Johnson said to Democratic critics after the 217-215 House vote that it represented a "starting point" for negotiations over the budget that "said nothing specific about Medicaid." ... Mississippi is the state that receives the most federal assistance in providing the Medicaid program. |
SPORTS
| Mississippi State spirit squads bring home national titles | |
| It did not take long for spirit squads representing Mississippi State University to make waves at the highest level. In the program's second year competing at the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) competition, two Bulldog groups were crowned national champions in Daytona, Fla., earlier this month. After more than 80 Mississippi State athletes competed as teams in the competition, the university was crowned the national champion in the Small Coed Intermediate D1A and Spirit Rally D1A divisions during the NCA competition. The Small Coed routine is a traditional competition team comprised of four male cheerleaders and 16 females, while the Spirit Rally team performed a game-day style performance. Last year, the spirit squads had two third-place finishes, which instilled a sense of confidence that the glass ceiling could be shattered this year. Well, that came to fruition with the Bulldogs hoisting two title banners. "Over the last year, we have worked tirelessly to push the bar and raise the standards in our program to bring these national titles home to Starkville," MSU director of spirit and fan engagement Tiffany Fettinger said. "While we love the sidelines and will always support our Dawgs on their playing fields, having the opportunity to perform on 'our field' is what will continue to take our program to the next level." |
| Baseball: Bulldog Bats Lead Way To Midweek Run-Rule Victory | |
| Mississippi State claimed its seventh run-rule victory of the season by taking down Southern 16-2 on Tuesday night at Dudy Noble Field. MSU put together a six-run first inning to take control and added on from there. Steven Spalitta had a big night at the plate for the Diamond Dawgs, going 2-for-3 with his first-career home run and three RBIs. Gehrig Frei, Dylan Cupp and Hunter Hines all had doubles as part of State's 11-hit attack. Hines drove in four runs to put his career RBI total at 198, just one behind Will Clark's eighth-place ranking in MSU program history. Six Bulldog pitchers limited the Jaguars to only three total hits. Ryan McPherson earned his first career start and had four strikeouts, allowed just one hit and walked no one over two innings of work. He got the win to bring his record to 4-0. Mississippi State stays in Starkville to host the Florida Gators for an Easter weekend series. Friday's game is set to start at 7 p.m. and will be televised on SEC Network. Saturday's first pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN. Sunday's game will start at 2 p.m. on ESPN2. |
| Baseball: Mississippi State empties its bench in run-rule win over Southern | |
| Steven Spalitta gets plenty of chances to showcase his raw power in practices and scrimmages, but with Mississippi State's catching depth and Noah Sullivan entrenched as the Bulldogs' designated hitter, he rarely gets the opportunity to show what he can do in a game. But with MSU already leading Southern by seven runs in the third inning Tuesday evening, head coach Chris Lemonis sent Spalitta to the plate as a pinch-hitter for Sullivan. Spalitta got every bit of a first-pitch hanging breaking ball and kept it fair inside the right-field foul pole for a three-run home run, his first long ball as a Bulldog. The blast put the game into run-rule territory as MSU went on to defeat the Jaguars, 16-2 in seven innings at Dudy Noble Field. "He's probably underplayed, per the coach, more than anybody," Lemonis said. "He doesn't get as many opportunities, but he's hit like that for us a lot in our practices and everything else. I'm a little challenged defensively (with) where to play him, but he's a good offensive player. I'm going to have to find a spot. See what we can do versatility-wise with him, because he is that good a hitter." The Bulldogs host Florida for a three-game Southeastern Conference series starting Friday night. MSU, at 5-10 in SEC play at the halfway point, is one game ahead of the Gators in the standings. "They'll play hard and they're very good and talented," Lemonis said. |
| Football: SEC Announces Appearance Schedule For 2025 Football Media Days | |
| The Southeastern Conference announced Tuesday the appearance schedule at its annual SEC Football Kickoff Media Days presented by Regions, set to take place July 14-17 at the College Football Hall of Fall in Atlanta. This will be the third time for the event to be held in Atlanta at the College Football Hall of Fame. It was last held there in 2022 and 2018. A more detailed daily schedule with full television information, rotational breakdown and student-athletes attending will be available at a later date. SEC Network will once again bring the four-day event to a national audience. On Wednesday, July 16: Alabama, Kalen DeBoer; Florida, Billy Napier; Mississippi State, Jeff Lebby; and Oklahoma, Brent Venables. |
| Zakari Tillman continues to be an explosive bright spot in Mississippi State's defense | |
| Against all odds, Mississippi State was hanging around as a massive underdog at rival Ole Miss in the 2024 Egg Bowl, trailing by just three points halfway through the third quarter. The Rebels had the ball in plus territory and looked poised to extend their lead, facing a third-and-10 on the Bulldogs' 46-yard line. Quarterback Jaxson Dart's protection looked good as he scanned the field for a receiver, but before he knew it, a speedy linebacker had broken through and was barreling straight toward him. There was nothing Dart could do as he was wrapped up and sacked for an 11-yard loss. The man responsible for the play was Zakari Tillman, playing the final game of a breakout sophomore season for MSU. The Bulldogs were among the worst teams in college football when it came to generating pressure on quarterbacks, but Tillman, relatively small for a linebacker at 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, was by far MSU's sacks leader with 3.5 despite starting just one game. Tillman was the only Bulldog with a multi-sack game all year, having also taken down Dart on a third down in the second quarter. |
| Another College Football Tradition Is Going Extinct: the Spring Game | |
| Last year, the University of Nebraska drew more than 60,000 people to Memorial Stadium for a glorified practice. It was the annual spring football game, a chance for players to shake off the rust and fans to watch their team again after the offseason. But this year, exactly zero Nebraska supporters will watch the traditional spring game, because in Cornusker-land, the traditional spring game has ceased to exist. Nebraska is one of 18 programs from major conferences that have abruptly decided to send spring football the way of the leather helmet. The top reason: total paranoia. As the transfer portal and endorsement opportunities continue to reshape college football, rosters have become more unstable than ever before. So coaches are rightly worried that any time their players take the field, they might be accidentally auditioning for someone else. Texas, meanwhile, also scratched its spring game, even though the event has always made headlines for the Longhorns. Just last year, it served as a coming-out party for the Longhorns' marquee recruit, Arch Manning, who attempted all of five passes during his freshman season. Manning threw for 355 yards and three touchdowns and kicked off a scorching debate over whether he could supplant starter Quinn Ewers. That won't be happening this season. The Longhorns are replacing their spring game with a fanfest due to injury concerns after playoff runs each of the last two years extended the seasons to 14 and 15 games, respectively. But even teams that didn't have unusually long seasons came to the same decision. LSU held an open practice with an autograph session last weekend. Oklahoma put on a skills competition in the style of the NFL Combine. |
| Texas House gives first approval to bill that would allow universities to pay student athletes | |
| The Texas House preliminarily approved a bill Monday that would allow universities to directly pay student athletes for their "name, likeness and image," despite concerns from some lawmakers that the proposal would disadvantage smaller schools and fail to sufficiently protect the students at the center of these deals. The House is expected to formally pass the bill in the coming days. It will then go to the Senate, where it may face a tougher road. Texas' current laws allow outside entities, like national advertisers or athletic boosters, to pay student athletes, but prohibit universities from paying them directly. House Bill 126, filed by Rep. Carl Tepper, a Lubbock Republican, would lift that restriction. The proposal comes a year after the NCAA preliminarily settled a class-action lawsuit that opened the door for universities to pay student athletes, creating a revenue-sharing model in which universities in certain conferences could distribute up to $20 million to athletes annually. Supporters of the bill say it aligns Texas law with anticipated NCAA rule changes as a result of that settlement and ensures Texas schools can continue to recruit top-tier student athletes. Tepper said Monday that the Legislature would be "killing college football in Texas" if they voted it down. But Rep. Mitch Little, a Republican from Lewisville, said Texas' performance in college football and basketball was doing just fine without this bill. |
| Trump administration sues Maine over transgender athletes in girls' sports | |
| The Trump administration said Wednesday it is suing Maine's education department for not complying with the government's push to ban transgender athletes in girls' sports, escalating a dispute over whether the state is abiding by a federal law that bars discrimination in education based on sex. The lawsuit follows weeks of feuding between the Republican administration and Democratic Gov. Janet Mills that has led to threats to cut off crucial federal funding and a clash at the White House when she told the president: "We'll see you in court." "We are going to continue to fight for women," Attorney General Pam Bondi said at a news conference alongside former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, who has emerged as a public face of the opposition to transgender athletes. Trump's departments of Education and Health and Human Services have said the Maine agency is violating the federal Title IX antidiscrimination law by allowing transgender girls to participate on girls' teams. Trump signed an executive order in February, "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports," that gave federal agencies wide latitude to ensure entities that receive federal funding abide by Title IX in alignment with his administration's interpretation of "sex" as the gender someone was assigned at birth. |
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