| Wednesday, June 18, 2025 |
| Langstaff among Mississippi State students named Fulbright finalists | |
 | A Southaven native is among four Mississippi State spring graduates who are 2025 Fulbright finalists -- a record number for the land-grant institution. Lily Langstaff of Southaven joins Julian Dedeaux of Biloxi, Alijah Jones of Greenwood, and Alyssa Williams of Franklin, Tennessee, as finalists for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards -- the U.S. government's flagship international educational exchange program -- for the 2025-2026 academic year. All four students were members of MSU's Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College during their undergraduate studies. "Mississippi State students pursue their goals and achieve their dreams across the globe thanks to the strong educational background they receive from our world-class faculty. We encourage them to learn without boundaries," said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. "I have every confidence these outstanding students will represent our university with great distinction as members of this elite group of scholars. I also appreciate the members of our faculty who have taught, mentored and prepared them for this wonderful experience." |
| Trade in a mythical fish is threatening real species of rays that are rare and at risk | |
| Mississippi State University's Marcus Drymon and colleagues write for The Conversation: From the Loch Ness monster to Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch, to the jackalope of the U.S. West, mythical animals have long captured human imagination. Some people are so fascinated with mythical creatures that they create their own, either working from pure fantasy or by modifying real animals. In a newly published study, we show that in countries such as Mexico, people are catching, drying and shaping guitarfishes -- members of the rhino ray family, one of the most threatened groups of marine fishes -- to create mythical specimens called "pez diablo," or devil fish. Depending on where these curios are sold, they might also be referred to as Jenny Hanivers, garadiávolos or rayas chupacabras. The origin and meaning of the term "Jenny Haniver" is unclear, but the most accepted explanation is "Jeune d'Anvers," or "young girl from Antwerp" in French. We found that pez diablo are made for many reasons, including as curios for the tourist trade and as purported cures for cancer, arthritis and anemia. Some are simply used for hoaxes. Regardless, the pez diablo trade could threaten the survival of guitarfishes. |
| Fire Ants May Offer Insight Into Crippling Honey Bee Disease | |
| Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists are helping to protect honey bee populations while developing new strategies for managing fire ant populations. Honey bees are a vital part of pollinating our crops, while fire ants -- an invasive species -- pose a major threat to humans, animals, and U.S. agriculture. ARS scientists are getting a better understanding of Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), a major pathogen that can debilitate honey bees and adversely affect entire colonies. They found that the virus also affects fire ants, which could aid in spreading the virus to other species, including bees. In the United States, imported fire ants have infested more than 367 million acres. These pesky insects can cause over $6 billion in annual losses as they feed on important crops, displace native ant species, and reduce wildlife food sources. A team of researchers from ARS and Mississippi State University's Delta Research and Extension Center have detected DWV in red and black imported fire ant colonies in Mississippi. In one study, scientists observed that infected red imported fire ants and honey bees exhibited similar symptoms after contracting DWV. |
| Ag economist says cash cattle market continues to push higher | |
| An ag economist says just because cash cattle prices are moving higher, it doesn't mean the market is without risk. Mississippi State University Extension ag economist Josh Maples says market fundamentals support higher cattle prices. "We certainly haven't gotten the data to suggest that we're turning the supply by any big meaningful way," he says. "We're going to be in for some pretty volatile periods here." He tells Brownfield that the higher prices are making a one- or two-percent move in the market more substantial. "We're talking at $240.00 cash fed cattle prices," he says. "That's $2.40 for a 1% swing. So you know a $2.00 move is not the same as it was when we were talking about $1.20 cattle prices." Maples says the market will continue to look for a top, "But we sure don't seem to have found it." |
| Trump's Tariffs Are Hurting Farmers. Some Support Them Anyway. | |
| For Pepper Roberts, running a successful farm comes down to managing risk and planning for potential challenges. While other farmers sold their crops last fall, Roberts used grain bins to store half of his corn harvest, betting that he'd get a better price once corn supplies grew scarce. In January, Roberts sold the corn at an inflated rate, which helped cover bills left over from last year. The funds also provided a financial buffer for the current growing season. Like many other farmers, Roberts is now preparing for a year of uncertainty and tight margins. Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has enacted sweeping tariffs on imported goods, igniting trade disputes and disrupting global markets. Farmers were already facing high input costs and falling crop prices entering 2025, and many relied on government aid to offset losses last year. Despite these headwinds, however, Roberts steadfastly supports the tariffs. "In the long run, it's going to be the best thing that ever happened," he said, predicting that the levies will pressure trade partners like China to negotiate new purchasing agreements with the U.S. A new trade deal with China "locks in a source of demand" for U.S. farm products, said Will Maples, a professor at Mississippi State University's Department of Agricultural Economics. |
| Could driveway reopening on Highway 182 put millions in grant funding at risk? | |
 | The Touch of Luv Barber and Beauty Salon's driveway connecting it to the stretch of Highway 182 is about to be reopened. But the reopening raised concerns at Tuesday evening's board of aldermen meeting about losing millions in grant funding for the city's project to revitalize a one-mile stretch of Highway 182, which includes the section named after Martin Luther King Jr. connected to Johnson's barbershop. Aldermen voted 4-3 to approve the reopening of the driveway leading to Larry "Luv" Johnson's barber shop, which has been located on the corner of Earnest H. Jones Drive and Highway 182 since it opened in 1994, with a driveway leading to each until construction closed the 182 entrance. "Corner lots are highly sought after in businesses due to their high visibility, dual access making them ideal for attracting customers and maximizing potential for revenue, increased exposure and potential for larger signage and a significant boost in business ... has been taken away from me," Johnson told the board Tuesday night. "There's no point in having a corner lot without dual access." Later in the meeting, Ward 5 Alderman Hamp Beatty agreed with Johnson's claim and moved to restore the former driveway that is currently closed by grass and new sidewalks. Ward 2 alderwoman and budget chair Sandra Sistrunk raised other alarms, saying that there were still too many unknowns about how the change would affect the entire $43 million revitalization project. |
| Weather forces Air Race Classic to skip Starkville stop | |
| Spectators and volunteers at George M. Bryan Airport were disappointed Tuesday morning when Air Race Classic pilots had to bypass Starkville on their 2,426-mile journey from Fairhope, Alabama, to Spokane, Washington, for the 48th annual event. Starkville was expected to be the first stop along the route for the 96 pilots, though inclement, overcast weather forced organizers to cancel the layover and reroute pilots straight to Harrison, Arkansas. Airport Director Rodney Lincoln said he received word of the cancellation only 30 minutes before the planes should have been landing. "This was unexpected, but this is just what the weather did to us," Lincoln said. "This is aviation. You can't control it." Racers are only permitted to fly during visual flight rule conditions, meaning they must have sufficient visibility to navigate without relying on flight instruments. While the start of the race was initially delayed, weather conditions ultimately prevented pilots from flying without relying on flight instruments and navigation aids. |
| Reeves, Wicker lead Mississippi economic development effort at Paris Air Show | |
| Governor Tate Reeves (R) and U.S Senator Roger Wicker (R) led a delegation of economic development and business leaders from Mississippi to the 2025 Paris Air Show being held in Le Bourget, France this week. The goal of the delegation was to tell the Magnolia State's story of recent economic development successes while attracting new industries to invest in Mississippi. "Our Mississippi team is working all over the world to bring the high-paying jobs of the future to our state -- and it's one of the reasons why our economic development pipeline is bigger than ever," Governor Reeves shared on social media Monday. He added that "even more progress" was being made at the event. Organized by SIAE, a subsidiary of the French Aerospace Industries Association (GIFAS), it is the world's largest aerospace gathering and serves as a global platform for showcasing groundbreaking advancements in aerospace, defense, and space technologies. Some of the Mississippi companies making the trip with the state delegation are V2 Forensics, Hyperion Technology Group, Electro National Corporation, and Camgian. |
| Gaming Commission warns illegal gambling sites and Mississippi residents using them | |
 | Mississippi Gaming Commission on Tuesday sent letters to companies illegally operating online casinos and targeting customers who live in Mississippi. The Gaming Commission sent cease and desist letters to 10 operators of online sports books or online casinos found to be operating illegally in Mississippi, said Jay McDaniel, executive director of the Gaming Commission. "This includes the operator that has been using pictures of our licensed casinos to fraudulently lure customers to their illegal site," he said. Several Coast casinos have had their photos and logos lifted illegally by these companies, who then posted on Facebook with false headlines that said online casinos now are legal in Mississippi. The letters were issued electronically and by mail to companies operating sports wagering or online casinos against state and federal laws, according to a notice posted Tuesday on the Gaming Commission's website. The only place to legally place a sports bet in Mississippi is at the brick and mortar casinos. "Our laws are clear that casino style gaming and sports wagering are not allowed online in Mississippi, outside of a licensed casino," McDaniel said. It's not just the companies that should pay attention to Tuesday's notice. The Gaming Commission says citizens who play at any online site that offers gambling could be subject to criminal prosecution and forfeiture of their money deposited with the site. |
| Medicaid work requirements pose huge challenges for states | |
 | Congress is on the verge of passing legislation that would require millions of Medicaid beneficiaries across the nation to prove they are working to receive benefits, posing a massive challenge for states that would be required to act quickly with limited resources. The requirements, a prominent feature of Republicans' budget reconciliation bill that passed the House last month, would apply to millions of people who are eligible for Medicaid under the 2010 health care law's expansion: mainly low-income adults who don't earn enough money to buy their own insurance or get it through their jobs. The Senate Finance Committee included the same requirements in its version of the proposal released Monday evening. State Medicaid directors, including those representing red states, have privately told drafters of the legislation that a Dec. 31, 2026, effective date in both versions would be too soon to implement work requirement programs that actually aim to help people rather than kick them off for noncompliance. "Every Republican state, every red state I've talked to has had a very similar approach: We like the idea but also want to implement it in such a way that it's going to have a meaningful, positive influence on the people we serve," said Matt Salo, founder and CEO of Salo Health Strategies and former director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors. |
| Senate GOP leader faces pushback after members blindsided by Trump bill | |
 | Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is facing strong pushback from members of the GOP conference over the Finance Committee's piece of President Trump's tax and spending bill, which largely ignores GOP senators' concerns about Medicaid cuts and the quick phaseout of clean-energy tax credits. Senate Republicans who raised red flags over Medicaid spending cuts the House passed say they were blindsided by the Senate's version of the bill, which would cut Medicaid by several hundred billion dollars beyond what the House proposed. They are warning that the Finance Committee's language will cause dozens of rural hospitals to close in their home states, require lower-income Americans to pay more for medical procedures and shift costs onto the states. "I had no idea that they were going to completely scrap the House framework like this. This totally caught me by surprise. And I've talked to other senators, and that's what I've heard consistently from everybody I've talked to," said Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who has repeatedly warned about the impact of Medicaid cuts on his constituents and rural hospitals. "No one was expecting this entirely new framework," he said. |
| A split forms in MAGA world as Trump weighs next steps on Iran, with some top stars rebuking him | |
 | A schism has opened among President Donald Trump's most devout MAGA supporters and national security conservatives over the Israel-Iran conflict, as some longtime defenders of the president's America First mantra call him out for weighing a greater U.S. role in the region. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, commentator Tucker Carlson and conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk -- with legions of their own devoted followers -- are reminding audiences of Trump's 2024 promises to resist overseas military involvement after a week of deadly strikes and counterstrikes between Israel and Iran, and discussion of U.S. involvement. On social media and their popular airwaves, questions about Trump's stance from these central validating voices are exposing a crack in his forward guard. They are also warning that the schism could deter progress on other priorities. "No issue currently divides the right as much as foreign policy," Kirk wrote on X, adding he was "very concerned" that a massive split among MAGA could "disrupt our momentum and our insanely successful Presidency." Other strong Trump backers, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., are making the case that this is Trump's moment to deliver a decisive blow against Iran. Graham is calling for Trump to "go all-in" in backing Israel and destroying Iran's nuclear program. |
| US critical networks are prime targets for cyberattacks. They're preparing for Iran to strike. | |
 | The organizations representing critical networks that keep the lights on, the water running and transportation systems humming across the U.S. are bracing for a possible surge of Iranian cyberattacks. Virtually every critical infrastructure sector is on high alert amid a deepening conflict between Iran and Israel, though no major new cyber threat activity has been publicly reported so far. As these groups proactively step up their defenses, it's unclear whether Washington is coordinating with them on security efforts -- a change from prior moments of geopolitical unrest, when federal agencies have played a key role in sounding the alarm. "Iranian cyber activity has not been as extensive outside of the Middle East but could shift in light of the military actions," said John Hultquist, chief analyst for Google Threat Intelligence Group. As the conflict evolves -- and particularly if the U.S. decides to strike Iran directly -- "targets in the United States could be reprioritized for action by Iran's cyber threat capability," he said. Beyond federal resources, thousands of the nation's critical infrastructure operators turn to information sharing and analysis centers and organizations, or ISACs, for threat intelligence. |
| Israeli Strikes Shake Foundation of Iran's Theocratic Rule | |
 | Iran's embattled leaders have found themselves in an existential struggle domestically to protect nearly a half-century of rule, as Israel pounds the military, government and population. The U.S. and Israel have made it clear that even Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, could be a target. "We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding," President Trump posted on social media. "He is an easy target, but is safe there---We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now." Israel's attacks have demonstrated how thoroughly its intelligence agency, Mossad, has penetrated Iran. Israel killed the region's top military commanders and nuclear scientists, bombed oil-and-energy infrastructure as well as Iran's state broadcaster, and sent tens of thousands fleeing from Tehran. "What the last four days has done is create a real rupture in the social contract that has existed at least for the last two decades," said Ellie Geranmayeh, an Iran expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations. That contract, between the regime and its people, "has been anchored on this promise of security from the state in return for severely restricted political, social and increasingly economic rights." Iran has already had to replace at least six top military commanders killed by Israel since Friday. Its powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which oversees the nation's security, has gone into damage-control mode. |
| Industry leaders plead with White House on relief from raids after setback | |
 | Industry and business groups that depend on immigrant workers are scrambling to respond to President Donald Trump's heightened deportation efforts, after winning a partial reprieve on raids last week that was reversed days later. The administration on Monday walked back a pause on immigration raids at farms, meatpacking plants, hotels and restaurants, sending renewed shock waves through the broader business community, parts of which are still pushing the White House for relief from workplace raids. The pause had come after heavy lobbying efforts from farms, hotels and restaurants, as well as the meatpacking, construction, manufacturing, retail, elder care and dairy industries, among others, said Jennie Murray, president of the National Immigration Forum, an advocacy organization that represents Fortune 500 companies on Capitol Hill. The American Farm Bureau Federation, the country's powerful lobbying group for farmers, expressed "concern" that the policy had been reversed. "President Trump recently emphasized agriculture faces unique circumstances that warrant a different approach to enforcement practices," Zippy Duvall, the federation's president, said in a statement Tuesday. "If we don't watch out in this country, we're going to start losing a lot more of our farmers," said Sen. Jim Justice (R-West Virginia). "It will become a crisis like you can't imagine, because we owe so much to the American family farm." |
| Obama warns Trump administration has 'weak commitment' to democracy | |
 | Former President Barack Obama warned about a "weak commitment" to democracy by President Donald Trump's administration and the U.S. "drifting" into autocracy during a speech in Connecticut, according to media reports. Obama spoke with Boston College professor and popular newsletter writer Heather Cox Richardson at the The Bushnell Performing Arts Center in Hartford June 17. "If you follow regularly what is said by those who are in charge of the federal government right now, there is a weak commitment to what we understood -- and not just my generation, at least since World War II -- our understanding of how a liberal democracy is supposed to work," Obama said. Obama didn't mention Trump. But he worried about the nation "drifting into something that is not consistent with American democracy. It is consistent with autocracies." "We're not there yet completely, but I think that we are dangerously close to normalizing behavior like that," Obama said, according to reports. Trump's expansive use of executive power sparked more than 2,100 "No Kings" protests around the country June 14 that drew more than five million people, according to organizers. "I don't feel like a king. I have to go through hell to get stuff approved," Trump said when asked about the protests. |
| Board of Trustees to Meet on Thursday, June 19 at Delta State University | |
| The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning will hold its regular monthly meeting on the campus of Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Members of the Board may participate in the meeting via teleconference or an online meeting platform. The meeting will be webcast on www.mississippi.edu. Members of the public and media may attend the meeting in the east lobby on the second floor of the H.L. Nowell Student Union building. An Executive Session may be held in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning governs the public universities in Mississippi, including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University including the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; the University of Mississippi including the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and the University of Southern Mississippi. |
| Jackson State students donate Ring doorbell cameras to 150 capital city residents | |
| Jackson State University students and staff are working to make the capital city a safer place to live, learn, and play. The JSU Office of Community Engagement partnered with Pecan Tree Park Neighborhood Association to provide 150 Jackson residents with free Ring doorbell cameras. The project was made possible through a $50,000 Home Depot Retool Your School Community Projects Grant aimed to give residents increased surveillance and accessibility. Five students who led the charge to deliver the doorbells received $2,000 stipends to train residents on how to use the technology. Brandon Newton, Canhao Wang, Khaylah Rose, Travis Robinson, and Kwadwo Amponsah Ampofo created a one-page printout with clear instructions that were handed out alongside introduction and installation. Ampofo, a computer science graduate student from Ghana, said the experience gave him a renewed sense of how powerful community can be. JSU became the first HBCU to receive all three Retool Your School grants -- the Campus Improvement Grant, Innovation Lound Grand, and Community Project Grant -- in 2024. |
| DSU Certifies New Crop of Ag Pilots | |
| Delta State University (DSU) hosted a certification ceremony on Thursday, May 29, to recognize graduates of the Agricultural Aircraft Operations Career Pathway program. The event was held at The Gin in the West End District and celebrated a new generation of skilled aviation professionals poised to support Mississippi's vital agricultural sector. The program is the result of DSU's collaboration with area ag pilots, the Cleveland Airport Board and many others. The Delta State University Agricultural Aircraft Operations Career Pathway is a $2 million Congressional award that is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Additional training and supportive services funds were provided for the students by AccelerateMS and the Mississippi Office of Apprenticeship, MDES, through South Delta Planning and Development District. Marshall Tomlinson, Director of Flight Operations, opened the ceremony, followed by an invocation from Prayers for Pilots representative Brett Morgan. The program featured a special introductory video and welcoming remarks delivered on behalf of the Honorable U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith by her Field Representative, Bill Crump. The importance of agricultural aviation and workforce development in rural Mississippi was underscored by guest speakers Ike Brunetti of DRAFT, LLC, and Mitzi Woods of South Delta Planning and Development District. Their remarks highlighted collaborative efforts to expand opportunities for young pilots through education and training. |
| Who is Peter Mohler? New U. of Alabama president called 'research czar' | |
 | Peter Mohler, an administrator and researcher at the Ohio State University, will become the University of Alabama's next president. He will begin his term July 21. Mohler replaces outgoing President Stuart Bell, who has led the university for 10 years. Mohler currently serves as the vice president for research at Ohio State, where he also served as the college's acting president in 2023. He's also the chief scientific officer of OSU's Wexner Medical Center. "The future at the Capstone is incredibly bright, and I can't wait to get started," he said to applause Monday at an event announcing his appointment. Mohler has more than 20 years of experience in higher education leadership and research. Mohler earned a PhD in cell and molecular biology from the University of North Carolina in 2000 and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University's Howard Hughes Medical Institute. His research portfolio includes more than 275 publications, and features award-winning studies on heart arrhythmia in children. Under Mohler's leadership, Ohio State has risen in national research rankings, and research and development expenditures have increased by as much as $600 million annually, according to a news release. A local business journal called him a "research czar" and credited him for elevating the college's national reputation. |
| John Sharp reflects on successes, challenges at Texas A&M | |
| After decades in Texas politics, John Sharp grew Texas A&M's profile amid increasing scrutiny of higher education and concerns about perceived liberal bias. In a wide-ranging conversation marking the end of his 14-year tenure as chancellor, Sharp was unapologetic about his approach. He said he focused on expanding research and the system's physical footprint and brushed off critics who claim the flagship leans left. "I get a kick out of watching a couple of legislators pick out one faculty member that's kind of too liberal," he said during a Texas Tribune event on Tuesday, touting rankings that consistently place Texas A&M among the most conservative colleges in the country. Under his leadership, the Texas A&M System secured $3.8 billion in legislative funding, oversaw $12 billion in construction, established a footprint in every major Texas metro, and elevated a once-struggling law school into a top-25 national program. The university system also took on a leadership role at Los Alamos National Laboratory; launched RELLIS, a defense research and testing campus in Bryan; and played a key role in responding to Hurricane Harvey. But his tenure wasn't without turbulence. In recent years, he's had to contend with backlash from both sides of the political aisle about faculty hiring and disciplinary decisions. |
| Texas Passed a Law Protecting Campus Speech. It's on the Verge of Rolling It Back. | |
 | In 2019, Texas guaranteed expansive First Amendment protections on college campuses with a new law intended to be a corrective to ideological conformity in higher education. Then came the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel. Tents, loudspeakers and student protesters, some masked, some in kaffiyehs, soon followed at Texas universities. So did the second thoughts. Republicans in the Texas Legislature -- including some who helped write the 2019 law -- did an about-face earlier this month and approved a bill that would restrict how students can protest. The bill is awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott's signature. If he signs it, as expected, free speech advocates said Texas will enter new legal territory, just as Republicans across the country test the limits of their authority to tighten control over the culture on college campuses. While states set many policies that affect how public universities are run, they have not typically tried to regulate student conduct with an act of law. But the Texas bill would greatly expand the state's influence over "expressive activities" on campus -- which are defined to include what students wear, how much noise they make and the hours of the day when expression is allowed. |
| OU opens new multimillion-dollar Bioprocessing Core Facility | |
| In an effort to expand its bioengineering footprint, the University of Oklahoma cut the ribbon on a brand-new multimillion-dollar Bioprocessing Core Facility Friday afternoon. The facility, a key deliverable of Oklahoma's Build Back Better Regional Challenger grant, is backed by the Oklahoma Biotech Innovation Cluster -- two industry partners working alongside the Gallogly College of Engineering -- to bolster the newest generation of engineers by combining academic innovation with industrial application. According to an official press release, the facility is, "Equipped for both upstream and downstream bioprocessing, including the $1 million Ambr 250 High-Throughput 12-Way System that improves performance and analytics," as well as, "advanced analytical capabilities that positions OU as a major player in biomanufacturing." Daniel Baker, the facility's administrative project manager, said he hopes students from across the state will use the facility and its technology to usher innovation across multiple industry avenues. "This facility isn't just a university resource, it's a statewide investment in Oklahoma's future," Baker said. "From startups to established companies, this space is built to support translational research, cross-sector collaboration and hands-on workforce training." |
| Research Grants Increasingly Require Compliance With Trump's Orders. Here's How Colleges Are Responding. | |
 | With hundreds of millions of dollars in research grants on the line, being in compliance with federal directives is "the No. 1 thing we want to do," said Andy Johns, senior associate vice chancellor for research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. These days, however, no one's quite sure how to do that. Under the Trump administration, the conditions for accepting federal funding have become increasingly partisan. The Chronicle first reported in May that at least two notice-of-award letters from the National Institutes of Health, which are legal documents spelling out the terms of grants, mandated compliance with Trump's executive order recognizing only two sexes, effectively excluding transgender people from U.S. policy. Now, according to scientists and colleges contacted by The Chronicle, an increasing number of grant letters -- from the NIH and other agencies -- require compliance with one or more of Trump's executive orders and with civil-rights laws, which Trump has sought to reinterpret. The notices typically state that colleges that fail to meet the conditions could be liable under the False Claims Act, a federal law barring institutions from "knowingly" submitting inaccurate information to the government. Administrators are struggling to offer clear direction when the ground keeps shifting underneath. |
| Mississippi was once the scene 62 years ago of a federalized National Guard at Ole Miss | |
| Columnist Sid Salter writes: The political and legal standoff between President Donald Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom is not the first time a U.S. president has federalized a state's National Guard command. Following protests against the federal government's escalation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids as part of the Trump administration's effort to combat illegal immigration, Trump sent in the National Guard to "restore order," despite objections from Newsom and the State of California. Many Americans aren't exactly aware of the actual command distinctions concerning the Guard. FindLaw.com legal writer Richard Dahl explains: "The National Guard is part of the U.S. military but is unusual because both state and federal leaders control it. Most of the time, state National Guard units are commanded by governors. However, presidents have the authority to call them into service to respond to hurricanes, bolster border security, and assist in overseas military operations." The National Guard documents that federalization has been utilized by presidents since the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion in Western Pennsylvania: "On at least ten occasions since World War II, the President has mobilized National Guard troops for missions within the borders of the U.S. and retained them under federal authority." All these instances would fall within the broad confines of the Constitution, which authorizes the President to call up the militia "to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions." (Article I, Section 8, Clause 15). Mississippians of a certain age know that. |
SPORTS
| Purcell, Bulldogs focused on finding new on-court leaders | |
| In what seems like an annual exercise, Mississippi State women's basketball, under fourth-year coach Sam Purcell, is starting over. After a retooling period in recruiting and the transfer portal that saw seven players leave the roster and four join, the team now enters its second week of offseason workouts. "I don't think you ever replace anybody, you just seize the opportunity," Purcell said during a 15-minute media session on Tuesday. Purcell identified who he sees as the team's new difference-makers and provided updates on the process of preparing for the new season. "The personalities of this group are special, so now let's just put them on the court," he said. "We sold them on a vision, let's see if we can't get them to be the best individuals in the summer, and when you get them as the best individuals, that's how you build a team come September when practice officially starts." Much like last season, and the seasons before, Purcell's team already looks quite different from the squad that ended the season at USC in the NCAA Tournament three months ago. |
| Mississippi State's Chandler Prater talks candidly after JuJu Watkins injury, social bullying | |
 | Chandler Prater's immediate emotion was empathy when JuJu Watkins crumbled to the ground holding her knee. The Mississippi State women's basketball player had endured two serious injuries of her own in college. She tore her ACL before her freshman season at Kansas in 2019. Then, five games into the 2023-24 season at Oklahoma State, she tore her Achilles tendon for another season-ending injury. She was the one guarding Watkins when the star guard from Southern Cal tore the ACL in her right knee during the second round of the NCAA tournament on March 24. Watkins, who won the Wooden Award for Player of the Year in women's college basketball just days after the injury, could miss the 2025-26 season.= In her first public comments since that game, Prater told the Clarion Ledger in a wide-ranging interview how she's dealt with social media outcry, the injury to Watkins, and why the 24 year old decided to play a seventh season of college basketball. "My heart goes out to her because I know how hard it is to come back from an injury," Prater said of Watkins. "She had so much momentum going in her career, and I'm sure that she's going to pick up right back where she left off." |
| Women's Basketball 2025-26 Conference Opponents Revealed | |
| The Southeastern Conference revealed Mississippi State women's basketball conference matchups on Tuesday ahead of the 2025-26 season. The 2025-26 schedule marks the 17th season of the 16-game schedule for women's basketball. Each team will play eight home games and eight away games, playing one opponent in a home and away two-game series. State's home and away series will come against Tennessee. Mississippi State will play host to four teams who made the NCAA Tournament during last season: Kentucky, Tennessee, LSU and Vanderbilt. Also making the trip to Starkville are Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Missouri. The Bulldogs will travel to six locations that were homes of 2024-25 tournament teams: Alabama, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Oklahoma. State will also travel to Fayetteville to take on Arkansas and College Station to face Texas A&M. |
| Women's Hoops To Play In 2025 Emerald Coast Classic | |
| Mississippi State women's basketball will be among the eight-team field of the Emerald Coast Classic, the organization announced on Tuesday. The tournament will take place on the campus of Northwest Florida State, which is 30 minutes from the sandy beaches of Destin. This year marks the second edition of the Emerald Coast Classic. The tournament format sees the eight-team field divided into two brackets, the Bay and Beach brackets. The winner of each bracket will each take home a title. Last year, Alabama and Creighton each walked away with a pair of victories to win their respective brackets. The Bulldogs will be paired up with in-state foe Alcorn State on the opening day of the Emerald Coast Classic in the Bay bracket. That contest is set to begin at 1:30 p.m. CT on Monday, November 24. The winner of the contest will face off with the winner of Providence and Middle Tennessee State, who play at 11 a.m. on Monday. The third-place game will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, while the championship game will follow at 1:30 p.m. |
| College football's calendar needs an overhaul. Would a single transfer portal in January or April make the most sense? | |
| Can you imagine a summer signing day in college football? What about a single transfer portal? How about spring practices shifted to June? Those are the questions expected to be answered by members of a new committee of power conference administrators exploring ways to overhaul a 365-day college football calendar that was originally built for an amateurism system. College executives are reinventing a dated calendar to marry with the House settlement-related athlete-revenue sharing model set to begin July 1. And they are on the clock to do it. "It is imperative to our industry that we make this decision on the calendar by July 1," Washington athletic director Pat Chun told Yahoo Sports from Orlando last week at a gathering of athletic administrators. "Once July 1 hits, teams will start tracking for 2026. We need to know the calendar." Here in Asheville, North Carolina, this week, the 32 Division I conference commissioners gather for their annual summer meeting, where a host of items are on the agenda: the future of NCAA governance (will a separate division be created for the power leagues?); the College Football Playoff format (will adjustments to the selection criteria appease the Big Ten and SEC?); the NCAA tournament (is expansion happening or not?); and the many unsettled concepts tethered to the industry's landmark move to share revenue directly with athletes. Of all the decisions that administrators must make in the wake of the settlement's approval, the football calendar is, perhaps, the most pressing of them. Making matters more difficult is that they don't agree on the most critical piece: the timing of the transfer portal. |
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