| Thursday, June 26, 2025 |
| MSU's President Keenum, Provost Shaw part of FAO panel in Rome | |
 | Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum and Provost and Executive Vice President David Shaw Wednesday [June 25] emphasized the critical importance of global partnerships during a panel discussion hosted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, Italy. Broadcast as an international webinar, also featuring the FAO's Vincent Martin, director, Office of Innovation, the dialogue focused on artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and data science for agrifood systems. "Global food security is one of our most urgent challenges -- and it demands transformative innovation," Keenum said. "This kind of innovation is at the heart of MSU's partnership with FAO," said Keenum, whose career has maintained a long-term, deep commitment to eradicating global hunger and poverty. In addition to leading MSU, Keenum serves as chair of the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, which funds science addressing critical global challenges. Shaw remarked that knowledge -- shared globally -- will help meet the world's greatest challenges. |
| Hyde-Smith Goes to Bat for MSU Fish Innovation Lab, OMB Director Says Funding 'Protected' | |
| U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) Wednesday won assurances that funding to continue the work of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish at Mississippi State University would be protected as the White House scrutinizes the federal budget for cuts. Hyde-Smith discussed the MSU program with Russell T. Vought, Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing to review President Trump's request to rescind $9.4 billion in previously-appropriated funding. "I just want to commend this administration's work to rein in federal spending, and I support the goal of putting the nation's fiscal house back in order. So, thank you for what you're doing. While mandatory spending is the biggest contributor to annual budget deficits and the overall national debt, discretionary spending is not exempt from scrutiny," Hyde-Smith told Vought. The MSU Fish Innovation Lab has been affected by freezes imposed on funding associated with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), including large portions its Development Assistance account from which the MSU Fish Innovation Lab received $3 million annually. "I want to bring to your attention an example of how Development Assistance funds are being put to good use," Hyde-Smith said. "The lab's work illustrates the proverb, 'Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.' This is exactly what the MSU Fish Innovation Lab is doing. Rather than giving other countries food, we are teaching them how to feed themselves through modern aquaculture practices." |
| Mississippi State partners with Keesler to expand military education access | |
 | Mississippi State University (MSU) signed an Educational Partnership Agreement with Keesler Air Force Base, paving the way for a Bachelor of Applied Science in Weather and Environment. Official said the partnership will provide Keesler Air Force members a streamlined pathway to complete a four-year degree. Approved by the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning in May, the proposed BAS degree program will enable airmen to transfer technical training in weather-related fields directly for college credit, accelerating their progress toward a bachelor's degree. "This partnership reflects MSU's longstanding commitment to supporting our nation's military and enhancing educational access for service members," said John Rodgers, geosciences professor and department head. "By aligning the strengths of Keesler's training programs with MSU's academic resources, we are creating a meaningful opportunity for airmen to advance both their military and civilian careers." |
| Mississippi State and Keesler Air Force Base agree to accelerated degree program | |
| A partnership agreement between Mississippi State University and Keesler Air Force Base will afford service-members an opportunity to pursue an accelerated Bachelor of Applied Science degree in weather and environment. The program, approved by the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning in May, will enable airmen at Keesler to transfer technical training in weather-related fields directly for college credit under the umbrella of MSU's Department of Geosciences. This will streamline their progress toward a four-year degree. Per officials, the program is designed to build on the military's "rigorous meteorological instruction" by integrating applied science coursework and real-world environmental applications. Located in Biloxi, Keesler Air Force Base is home to the 81st Training Wing and serves as a key site for technical instruction in the U.S. Air Force, particularly in the meteorology, communications, and electronics fields. The base is recognized nationally for its advanced instruction in weather forecasting and environmental monitoring -- skills that directly align with MSU's newly proposed degree's objectives. |
| Month-long dig researches Mississippi archaeological gem | |
 | Throughout the month of June, students from Mississippi State University and Ole Miss' archaeology departments excavated for artifacts from time periods dating back tens of thousands of years on one of Mississippi's most sacred archaeological grounds -- the Hester Site. "It's kind of a big deal for Mississippi archaeology, and a lot of student projects are coming out of this," said Dr. Shane Miller, an associate professor for MSU's Cobb Institute of Archaeology. As part of the dig, students did shovel testing to determine where deposits are and what's preserved. Old projectile points dating back to 10,000 years ago have been found in excavation blocks at the Hester Site. Jim Strawn, a research affiliate with MSU's archaeology program, said the Hester Site was an important place from a human standpoint, especially with its proximity to the old Tombigbee River. "As far as we know, we can put people on the landscape in Monroe County at at least 12,000 years ago, based on radiocarbon data. That's pretty exciting when you think about it today. That is a long period of occupation," he said. |
| Mississippi bee expert says don't panic about killer bees | |
 | Are killer bees really in Mississippi? A state expert says there have been reported colonies, but they've all been eradicated. Jeff Harris, an associate professor of apiculture (beekeeping) with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce hasn't recognized the invasive species as established in the state. He advises people not to panic because there's "no evidence" of these hybrids living extensively in the state. "The problem is that the public may become more alarmed than necessary about the honey bees they see in Mississippi, and this could lead to a backlash against our beekeeping industry," he said. "Africanized honeybees (AHB) have only been intercepted from shipping ports or on trucks along interstate highways in our state," Harris said. "No other AHB colonies were identified," Harris said. "Therefore, it is incorrect to say that the AHB has been established in this state. There is no evidence of any extensive population of AHB in anywhere in Mississippi. In fact, I have not heard of any reports of possible incidental AHB introductions on the coast since 2014." |
| Mississippi is a top blueberry state | |
 | Did you know Mississippi is one of the Top 10 blueberry production states in the nation? The harvest season can range from April through July, depending on what part of the state you're in. If you want to have family fun and pick your own this summer, there are lots of farms throughout the Magnolia State with blueberry fields so you can get a supply to snack on, freeze, can or bake with. Mississippi grows highbush crops. According to the Mississippi State University Extension Service, two kinds thrive here: Rabbiteye and Southern Highbush. Rabbiteye varieties are ripe from mid-May to July throughout the state. They're native and easier to grow. Southern Highbush cultivars are ripe from mid-April through May in southern counties, and they need well-drained soil that has more organic matter. There are multiple types of each, and some perform better in certain parts of the state. According to the MSU Extension Service, the 2025 harvest is good, and prices for growers are solid. "Overall, the crop looks good. The rain has just recently been a problem, mostly in June. We did not have a late freeze so that was good news for our growers," said Eric Stafne, a fruit and nut specialist with the extension service. "The severe cold we had this winter seemed to have no negative effects." Stafne said the rain has been the biggest challenge for growers but doesn't seem to have increased disease. |
| SOCSD looks to borrow additional $39M for new high school | |
 | The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District could borrow up to $125 million to build its new high school. The board of trustees during a June 17 meeting unanimously approved a resolution of intent to issue up to $125 million in bonds to fund construction of the new school. That is a $39 million increase to the $86 million the district already had the capacity to borrow for the project. Communications Director Haley Montgomery said the higher figure accounts for rising construction costs. Along with building costs, Board President Cassandra Palmer said the district is also taking the costs of programming under consideration with the increase. Montgomery said there's still no timeline for the high school's construction as the project is still in its "early days," though the district is working with an architectural firm and a construction manager to develop a plan. The resolution of intent, she said, gives the board a better idea of the budget that will fund the plan. The new high school could potentially share space with Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science if the Legislature approves Mississippi State University's plan to house and operate the residential high school near the Partnership Middle School on its campus. The university's proposal, which has been recommended for approval by the State Board of Education, includes MSMS sharing multiple facilities with SHS students. Palmer said the board will cross that bridge in planning if and when it arrives. |
| Sales tax collections soar in Starkville, falter in Columbus, West Point | |
| Starkville sales tax collections soared this month while Columbus' and West Point's collections fell slightly. Starkville sales tax collections increased by about 25% from last month, while Columbus sales tax diversions decreased about 5.55%. West Point saw an 8.38% decrease from May's collections in the final month of its budget cycle. Sales tax diversions run on a three-month window. Taxes are collected by retailers in the first month, sent to Mississippi Department of Revenue the next and then disbursed to cities and counties the third. Therefore, June reported collections reflect sales from April. So far this fiscal year, Starkville has received $7,854,482 in sales tax diversions, marking a 15.01% increase from this time last year ($6,829,216). The city saw a decrease month-to-month in both its restaurant sales tax diversions, which assist in funding for economic development and tourism, as well as its hotel sales tax diversions, which fund the Convention and Visitors Bureau as well as parks. The city has received $289,375 this month in restaurant sales tax collections, down 8.07% from last month's collection of $314,790. This marks a 2.56% increase from last June's collection of $282,131. Year-to-date, restaurant collections are up 3.96% with $2,438,459 collected so far this fiscal year, compared to this time last year ($2,345,541). |
| Business Brief: Camgian honored as 'AI Company of the Year' | |
| Mississippi Small Business Development Center Network has awarded its inaugural AI Company of the Year award to Starkville-based technology firm Camgian. Camgian is being recognized for groundbreaking work in artificial intelligence, its impact on the state's tech economy and its efforts in advancing statewide innovation, a MSBDCN press release said. MSBDCN's statewide awards highlight leaders in technology and innovation that are supported through the RISE Center, a specialized program launched in 2023 to help high-growth Mississippi companies expand. The company will be honored by MSBDCN during a July 8 award ceremony at Camgian headquarters in Starkville. |
| Mary Means Business: Floral and gift shop coming to the former Hollyhock's location | |
| It didn't take long for Columbus to find a successor for Hollyhock's. The downtown staple at 204 Fifth St. S. closed this May after nearly 30 years of business. Angie Atkins has already started fixing up the space to open Florals on Fifth - Gift and Flower Shop. For the past year, Atkins has operated her shop out of Ali Kat's, her daughter's downtown boutique. "It's definitely going to be a great location, and we're really excited about it," Atkins said. "... We want to be your local florist. We want to be the place you go to for weddings, funerals and we really just want to complement downtown." With her new location, Atkins said the space will allow her to expand her business. ... Moving over to Starkville, it looks like a new Dollar Tree is moving in. Starkville City Planner Daniel Havelin confirmed that a Dollar Tree is moving into the former Owens Outfitters at Middleton Court. I did reach out to Dollar Tree to see if this location is in addition to or may replace the current location, but did not hear back by press time on Wednesday. |
| Mississippi Business Journal Announces 'Top 40 under 40′ | |
| The Mississippi Business Journal honored 40 young leaders across the state who are under 40 years old during a luncheon at the Old Capitol Inn in Jackson on June 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mississippi Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann gave the keynote address. "This annual event recognizes emerging leaders from across Mississippi who are under the age of 40 and are already making a significant contribution in their communities and industries," said J. Scott Coopwood, Publisher and Owner of the Mississippi Business Journal. "The 2025 honorees are from diverse fields, including business, community involvement, and more." Class members were selected by a panel of business and community leaders. Nominations were solicited through various MBJ platforms, such as the monthly print edition and social media. "The goal of the 'Top 40 Under 40' salute is to not only pay tribute to these young leaders from across the state, but to inspire the next generation of leaders and highlight the contributions of emerging professionals," said Coopwood. |
| Mall at Barnes Crossing could have a new owner soon | |
| Sometime during a five-hour span Thursday, a new owner may step up to buy the Mall at Barnes Crossing at a foreclosure auction. It's not just the mall facing foreclosure, but also more than 64 acres of land, the Market Center -- which is anchored by Old Navy and Shoe Station -- and personal property to be held at the auction from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Justice Center in Tupelo. It appears that Brookfield Properties, the majority owner of the mall, is leaving the Tupelo Market. The New York-based company has more than 130 malls in the United States. Brookfield has sold or given to lenders 24 properties and seeks to shed 16 more from its balance sheet, the WSJ reported. Apparently, the Mall at Barnes Crossing is one of them. Brookfield is concentrating on its Top 20 malls, Brian Kingston, the CEO of Brookfield's real estate business, told the WSJ. "A lot of our focus over the last five or six years has been on investing more capital in those malls that we think provide an opportunity to earn capital," he said. |
| Educators learn more about Asia's impact in Mississippi | |
 | In the past couple of decades, Mississippi has become a second home to a number of Japanese companies. There's Nissan in Canton and Toyota in Blue Springs. In West Point, the Yokohama Tire plant is working with the Mississippi Council on Economic Education to help build a better understanding between the Far East and the Deep South. "One of the primary goals and reasons that we're doing this is that we need to capture kids when they're younger in K-12 grades as far as working on their financial acumen and financial literacy," said Philip Calhoun, the General Manager and Vice President of Operations for Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mississippi. The Jackson-based Council aims to equip teachers across the state with resources to help them teach economics at an age-appropriate level. They collaborated with the National Consortium for Teaching About Asia to host the event: "Bringing Asia into the Classroom: Trade, Culture, and Global Connections." "They're learning about why Asian auto manufacturers choose the South to build cars. And when cars are built here by other organizations, that brings in organizations like Yokohama," said Selena Swartzfager, the President of the Mississippi Council on Economic Education. |
| Work begins on $60 million entertainment complex in Madison | |
| Work has begun on a Madison development project, located off Galleria Parkway on 17 acres visible from I-55 North. The Gallery is a privately funded, mixed-use destination that will include entertainment, dining, retail and office space in a designed community space. A local development group on April 22, announced intentions to build a $60 million arts and entertainment district for Madison. Ground has now been broken. Chad Phillips, a Madison native and partner-executive director for Bellamare Development, said The Gallery is a place created with the community, for the community that will help spur other economic development. At the heart of the project is Spinners, a 120,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor family entertainment center featuring bowling, skating and other games. While there is another Spinners location in Florence, Phillips told the Clarion Ledger the new location is much different and larger in scale. Just steps away from the entertainment venue will be what will be called Royal Street. It will be a French-inspired, New Orleans-style walkable area lined with local restaurants, boutique retail and upstairs office space. |
| Mississippi Businesses Adjust to Seafood Labeling Law Taking Effect July 1 | |
| With Mississippi's new seafood labeling law set to take effect July 1, restaurant owners and seafood sellers are trying to understand how to comply -- and what could happen if they don't. House Bill 602 requires all seafood and crawfish sold in the state to be clearly labeled as either "domestic" or "imported." That includes signage, packaging, online listings and menus. During a recent public meeting hosted by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, many business owners said they were still unclear on how exactly to follow the rules. The law applies to restaurants, seafood markets, wholesalers and online retailers. Labels must appear at the point of sale in a font at least as large as the product name. For dishes containing a mix of imported seafood, like gumbo, the item must be marked "imported." Enforcement is shared between two agencies: the Department of Marine Resources in coastal counties and the Department of Agriculture and Commerce in northern Mississippi. The marine resources department shared examples of chalkboard menus and signage to show what compliance might look like in practice. Patrick Levine, the department's chief of operations, said enforcement will focus on whether customers can make an informed decision. "It boils down to one thing -- can somebody make an informed decision on what they're purchasing? Do I know what I'm buying?" Levine said. |
| Mississippi executes the longest-serving man on the state's death row for 1976 killing | |
 | The longest-serving man on Mississippi's death row was executed Wednesday, nearly five decades after he kidnapped and killed a bank loan officer's wife in a violent ransom scheme. Richard Gerald Jordan, a 79-year-old Vietnam veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder whose final appeals were denied without comment by the U.S. Supreme Court, was sentenced to death in 1976 for killing and kidnapping Edwina Marter. He died by lethal injection at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman. The execution began at 6 p.m., according to prison officials. Jordan lay on the gurney with his mouth slightly ajar and took several deep breaths before becoming still. The time of death was given as 6:16 p.m. Jordan was one of several on the state's death row who sued the state over its three-drug execution protocol, claiming it is inhumane. During a news conference after the execution, Keith Degruy, a spokesperson for Marter's family, read a statement on behalf of her two sons and husband, who were not present at the execution. "Nothing will bring back our mom, sister and our friend. Nothing can ever change what Jordan took from us 49 years ago. Jordan tried desperately to change his ruling so he can simply die in prison. We never had an option," he said. |
| Trump Considers Naming Next Fed Chair Early in Bid to Undermine Powell | |
 | President Trump's exasperation over the Federal Reserve's take-it-slow approach to cutting interest rates is prompting him to consider accelerating when he will announce his pick to succeed Chair Jerome Powell, whose term runs for another 11 months. In recent weeks, the president has toyed with the idea of selecting and announcing Powell's replacement by September or October, according to people familiar with the matter. One of these people said the president's ire toward Powell could prompt an even-earlier announcement sometime this summer. Trump is considering former Fed governor Kevin Warsh and National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett, according to people familiar with the matter. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is being pitched to Trump by allies of both men as a potential candidate, some of these people said. Other contenders include former World Bank President David Malpass and Fed governor Christopher Waller. Because the new chair wouldn't take office until next May, announcing the pick this summer or fall would be far earlier than the traditional three-to-four month transition period. An early announcement could allow the chair-in-waiting to influence investor expectations about the likely path for rates, like a backseat driver, attempting to steer monetary policy before Powell's term ends. |
| Attacks on Iran followed years of planning, specialized weapon development, Pentagon says | |
 | The U.S. attack on a covert nuclear facility in Iran was the culmination of years of planning and specialized weapon development, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Thursday. The briefing at the Pentagon on with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth included new details of the U.S. strikes. Neither official provided a definitive answer as to whether Iranians removed the enriched uranium that was believed to be at the Fordow nuclear site. Hegseth opened the news conference by attacking the media over reports questioning the extent of damage to the Iranian sites by the U.S. airstrikes early Sunday. At the White House, Trump plans to hold an event Thursday to make the case for passage of his massive tax and immigration package as the Senate eyes a vote in the coming days. |
| Ten Years In, Same-Sex Marriage Is Part of American Life. But It's Still Under Attack. | |
 | Could same-sex marriage be next? Gay Americans and their allies have much to celebrate on Thursday, the 10th anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Same-sex marriage has, by almost every indication, become ingrained in everyday American life. Since the decision, there have been 591,000 same-sex marriages, and today, nearly two-thirds of Americans approve of the policy. Same-sex couples are staples in contemporary movies and television shows, and reside, often with their children, in small towns, cities and suburbs all across America. But advocates of gay rights are approaching this anniversary with trepidation as much as celebration. Among Republicans, support for same-sex marriage has dropped significantly -- to 41 percent last month, from 55 percent in 2021, according to a Gallup poll. The finding reflects the Republican move to the right, as well as what analysts said is a spillover from rising backlash to other L.G.B.T.Q. issues -- in particular, the push for transgender rights. Unlike abortion, same-sex marriage is an issue where support overall has grown over time, among both voters and political leaders. And notably, Mr. Trump, while appointing judges and top officials who oppose the right for gay couples to marry, has signaled no opposition to Obergefell. He has appointed gay people to key positions, among them Scott Bessent, his treasury secretary, who is the highest-ranking openly gay person to serve in any presidential administration. |
| Mamdani's surprise win reawakens Democrats' internal factions | |
 | Seven years later, Democrats still don't have a playbook for when a socialist from New York pulls off an upset against an establishment politician. Zohran Mamdani's all-but-certain victory in Tuesday's New York City mayoral primary sent shockwaves through the party, leaving national Democrats to grapple with the implications of the charismatic 33-year-old firebrand's win over the better-funded, establishment-backed and scandal-ridden Andrew Cuomo, who resigned as governor amid sexual harassment allegations. Progressives see a roadmap for Democrats to take back power, while moderates worry that New York City voters have just handed President Donald Trump a cudgel to beat them with during the 2026 midterm elections. It's serving up a painfully familiar Rorschach test for a party driven out of power, as Democrats from across the ideological spectrum pick out evidence from New York City's results to support their own theories for 2026 and the presidential election two years later. And it has reenergized divides -- progressive versus moderate, establishment versus outsider, young versus old -- that continue to plague the party after last year's presidential election. |
| How Zohran Mamdani used social media to build a movement | |
| Zohran Mamdani, 33, explained his reasons for running for New York mayor while jogging in a marathon. He promoted his plan to freeze rent by leaping into the frigid ocean in a suit and tie. In a Valentine's Day post, he sang a parody of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" and carried red heart-shaped balloons through the streets of the city. He coined the term "Halalflation" while discussing rising food costs from inside a food cart, and later explained ranked-choice voting in Urdu using cups of lassi as props. By mid-June, Mamdani so dominated social media that a viral X post with more than 17 million views proclaimed, "you can just tweet 'Zohran Mamdani' and immediately get 1000 likes." Throughout his campaign, democratic socialist Mamdani used social media to grab attention, departing from the standard Democrat playbook to engage directly with opponents and spotlight leftist policies. The strategy continued on Election Day Tuesday, when he answered questions from New York City-based influencers and appeared in a video shared by the Gen Z favorite Pop Crave -- before finally heading to a victory party featuring young and well-known guests. Mamdani's underdog campaign, which pulled off an upset victory over former governor Andrew M. Cuomo, was powered by trending videos and collaborations with creators across the political spectrum. National Democrats eager for an edge in the internet era are taking cues from Mamdani as they approach the midterm elections. |
| The Young College Grads Who Propelled Mamdani to Victory in New York | |
| They came to New York looking to make it. Instead, they're struggling to keep up with the city's high costs, and having an even harder time seeing a future in the city. Zohran Mamdani, New York's unlikely new Democratic candidate for mayor, ran on a socialist platform promising to uplift New Yorkers with rent freezes, city-owned grocery stores, and free bus rides. He was propelled to the Democratic primary in a stunning upset by a group of economic rebels just as unlikely: young, educated New Yorkers, many of them white. Their support of 33-year-old Mamdani is rooted in deep economic frustrations that for decades plagued the working classes of the city. Now that frustration has become acute among college-educated earners, who battle steep rents and the lowest housing availability in more than half a century. Mamdani's buzzy campaign won the city's Democratic mayoral primary on Tuesday by making the city's cost of living its top issue. Young, college-educated voters who are worried about making a future for themselves in the city were receptive. |
| UNC System joins Florida, Texas to form new accrediting agency for public colleges | |
| The University of North Carolina System will join five other Southern states to form a new accreditor for their public universities. The effort is a first-of-its-kind endeavor that comes as accreditation has become a hotly debated topic in higher education in recent years. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican who has been an outspoken critic of the current accreditation landscape, made the announcement at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. In addition to the UNC System, which includes all 16 of North Carolina's public universities, the other founding systems and universities are: the State University System of Florida, the Texas A&M University System, the University System of Georgia, the University of South Carolina and the University of Tennessee System. The new accrediting agency will be known as the Commission for Public Higher Education. UNC System President Peter Hans, who first mentioned the proposal at a Board of Governors meeting last month, emphasized that the agency will only accredit public colleges. In a Monday interview with The News & Observer, Hans argued that state schools already have "many layers of oversight and regulation" -- from the systems that oversee them, as well as state legislatures -- that private schools may lack. For public colleges, Hans said, the accreditation process should apply a "public-interest standard." |
| Itawamba Community College hosts Band Camp | |
| It's mid-morning at Band Camp, and students in the color guard are practicing. The drum line is going through drills. And inside the Fine Arts Center, Mantachie High School rising Senior Addalyn West is learning about teamwork. This is the fourth ICC Band Camp for West. She said it helps her in many ways. Students at Band Camp live at ICC throughout the week. They stay in the dorms and eat their meals in the cafeteria. For ICC, it is a big recruiting tool. "As you can imagine, bringing 500 students of any age, before their collegiate career, bringing that many students onto our campus is a huge deal and definitely supports our band program," said Ryan Todd, director of Bands at Itawamba Community College. "If you want your kids to experience all the things out there, you need to get them to places like this, they can meet new friends, the dorms, it is so amazing here," said Carter Murphy, a rising sophomore at Mooreville High School. |
| Northwest Mississippi Community College celebrates opening of new Ranger Center | |
 | Southaven will be the home of the first associate degree nursing program in DeSoto County thanks to the new Northwest Ranger Center at 1210 Church Rd. which celebrated its opening with a ribbon cutting Tuesday afternoon. The Ranger Center will bring Northwest Mississippi Community College's (NWCC) renowned associate nursing program to DeSoto County, alongside other vocational programs offered by the school. "This is a new challenge that I'm undertaking, but it has been a positive change and it's just something we've embraced and that we're working really hard to make sure we do a good job with." Dr. Courtney McMullen, director of nursing at Northwest Senatobia and Southaven, said. The $13 million, 42,000-square-foot Ranger Center has been in construction for a year and a half and was funded through a series of grants from all levels of government: the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA), the state of Mississippi, and the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors. Funding was also achieved through the school's own saved up money for the project. Northwest president Dr. Michael Heindl said the opening of the Ranger Center was a great day for education in DeSoto County. |
| How ChatGPT and other AI tools are changing the teaching profession | |
| For her 6th grade honors class, math teacher Ana Sepúlveda wanted to make geometry fun. She figured her students "who live and breathe soccer" would be interested to learn how mathematical concepts apply to the sport. She asked ChatGPT for help. Within seconds, the chatbot delivered a five-page lesson plan, even offering a theme: "Geometry is everywhere in soccer -- on the field, in the ball, and even in the design of stadiums!" It explained the place of shapes and angles on a soccer field. It suggested classroom conversation starters: Why are those shapes important to the game? It proposed a project for students to design their own soccer field or stadium using rulers and protractors. "Using AI has been a game changer for me," said Sepúlveda, who teaches at a dual language school in Dallas and has ChatGPT translate everything into Spanish. "It's helping me with lesson planning, communicating with parents and increasing student engagement." Across the country, artificial intelligence tools are changing the teaching profession as educators use them to help write quizzes and worksheets, design lessons, assist with grading and reduce paperwork. By freeing up their time, many say the technology has made them better at their jobs. |
| Fee increases, new engineering majors, male persistence summit: Key highlights from UT Board of Trustees' meeting agenda | |
| The UT Board of Trustees is set to hold their annual meeting June 30 - July 1, 2025 at UTC. Their meeting agenda is available to the public on the system website. In a message from Chief Financial Officer David Miller, he writes that UT will receive a 6.6% increase in state appropriations, to the total of $58 million. The large increase is partially attributed to the need for new operating funds at UT Southern, as they saw increased enrollment rates since joining the UT System in 2021. Other reasons include funds for a 2.6% salary pool and equipment upgrades at the Health Science Center and College of Veterinary Medicine. UTK will be the only campus that does not undergo an increase in tuition price for in-state students. While the Chattanooga, Martin, Southern and Health Science Center campuses will each experience a hike between 2-3%, Knoxville will only receive a 2.8% increase in mandatory fees, expected to amount to $64. Other system campuses will see an increase in mandatory fees as well. Total tuition and fee revenues for the UT System are up 8.2%, to a total of $91 million, while system-wide enrollments are expected to jump by 4.5%. UT System President Randy Boyd announced his 2025 Goals and Objectives under the five pillars of the UT Strategic Plan. Along with development of a 2030 Strategic Plan with Deloitte and a goal of reaching 63,547 students systemwide by fall 2025, Boyd plans to host the inaugural Tennessee Summit on Male Persistence and Success. |
| As colleges fret over fewer high school grads, U. of Tennessee expands growth plan | |
 | With fierce competition among major universities -- and with an anticipated population decline expected to make competition fiercer -- the University of Tennessee at Knoxville has raised the bar for its already lofty 2030 enrollment goal as campus leaders remain focused on luring and retaining talented Tennessee students for years to come. UT already had set a goal of enrolling 41,000 students on campus in 2030, a figure that would help the UT System realize its own lofty goal of enrolling 71,000 students across all campuses. At the start of this decade, UT enrolled 30,559 students to begin the fall 2020 semester, and almost halfway through UT enrolled 38,728 students for the fall 2024 semester. Now, the state's flagship university is looking to enroll 14,000 students across online undergraduate and graduate programs in 2030. Combined, the 2030 enrollment goal is now around 55,000 students attending UT in Knoxville and online, part of a strategic plan to ensure the university stands out among its peers through the new decade. In UT's favor, the percentage of Tennessee's high school graduates is projected to increase by 2041. UT will prioritize Tennesseans in its efforts to increase enrollment, aiming to maintain a first-year enrollment of more than 4,000 in-state students each year. But the state's high number of high school graduates means out-of-state institutions will aggressively recruit Tennessee high schoolers, UT Chancellor Donde Plowman included in her upcoming presentation. |
| College graduates face toughest job market in more than a decade as hiring slows | |
| While completing a master's degree in data analysis, Palwasha Zahid moved from Dallas to a town near Silicon Valley. The location made it easy to visit the campuses of tech stalwarts such as Google, Apple, and Nvidia. Zahid, 25, completed her studies in December, but so far she hasn't found a job in the industry that surrounds her. "It stings a little bit," she said. "I never imagined it would be this difficult just to get a foot in the door." Young people graduating from college this spring and summer are facing one of the toughest job markets in more than a decade. The unemployment rate for degree holders ages 22 to 27 has reached its highest level in a dozen years, excluding the coronavirus pandemic. Joblessness among that group is now higher than the overall unemployment rate, and the gap is larger than it has been in more than three decades. The growth of artificial intelligence may be playing an additional role by eating away at positions for beginners in white-collar professions such as information technology, finance, and law. While the difficulty of finding work has demoralized young people like Zahid, most economists argue that holding a college degree still offers clear lifetime benefits. Graduates earn higher pay and experience much less unemployment over their lifetimes. |
| What the Class of 2025 has to say about the state of higher education | |
 | In March, less than three months away from college graduation, Liam Powell received an email from the State Department. "We regret to inform you that the U.S. Department of State has cancelled the Summer 2025 cycle of the Student Internship Program," it read. "The Department hereby rescinds your tentative offer to participate in the Student Internship Program." The announcement came weeks after President Trump signed an executive order instituting a hiring freeze across the federal workforce, as a part of his effort to reduce what he considers waste and inefficiency in the government. Powell, a global health and policy major at Duke Kunshan University, Duke's satellite campus in Suzhou, China, says he wasn't particularly surprised to see the internship program go. "Honestly, it was something that I was expecting for a long time," he says with a sigh. "I just found it really unfortunate that it happened so late." This summer, millions of university students are entering an uncertain post-graduation landscape -- with the Trump administration's federal hiring freeze, strained research funding, and the slew of executive orders targeting higher education. For the Class of 2025, the usual anxieties of life after college now come with added pressure and unpredictability. |
| Graduate Programs Face a Federal Reckoning | |
 | Among the many major changes to federal financial aid policy in Congress's budget reconciliation bill, one could have an underreported but outsize effect on both college finances and educational equity: new limits on federal loans for graduate students. The Senate version of the reconciliation bill, which President Donald Trump has urged Congress to pass as early as next week, would cap professional degree loans at $200,000 and all other graduate loans at $100,000. Both the House and the Senate also proposed completely eliminating Grad PLUS, an unsubsidized federal loan with no borrowing limit that has helped students from modest backgrounds pay for graduate degrees since 2006. In the two decades since Grad PLUS was implemented, the number of Americans with a postgraduate degree has doubled, according to 2021 Census data. Robert Kelchen, a professor of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, said federal investments in graduate loans -- in particular the provision that students could borrow unlimited amounts -- led to a "big expansion" in graduate programs. Proponents of the loan program argue that growth is a sign of its success in expanding access; its critics say it's because colleges saw an opportunity to boost enrollment in highly profitable programs. |
| Johns Hopkins Gets the Most Federal Money, but Now Much of It Is at Risk | |
| As President Trump unleashes dizzying firepower at the nation's top universities, he and his supporters have made the argument that the institutions have brought such action onto themselves. They turned into bastions of leftism hostile to conservative thought and lost the trust of the American people, according to the administration. The universities accrued massive endowments, becoming less like noble nonprofits spreading good to the world and more like corporations taking advantage of government largess, the argument goes. Ronald J. Daniels, the president of Johns Hopkins University, which receives the most federal funding of any American university, has been listening. For years, he has been warning that higher education should make efforts to attract more conservatives to the ranks. His school has pushed for more viewpoint diversity and has touted a partnership with the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. Those efforts do not appear to have protected the university. Johns Hopkins, the first research university in the U.S., has been one of the hardest hit by a Republican effort to reduce federal funding flowing to schools. The university's troubles show how a Republican campaign against higher education could decimate the nation's research enterprise. |
| HBCUs Reel as Trump Cuts Black-Focused Grants: 'This Is Our Existence' | |
 | Days after President Trump's administration began to cancel thousands of diversity- and equity-related grants, Tennessee State University's Quincy Quick found himself in a virtual meeting with other vice presidents of research from around the country trying to make sense of their new reality. In less than three years, Quick helped raise $100 million in research grants, launch an AI research center, and bring Tennessee State significantly closer to becoming the second historically Black college and university to receive Research I status. But many of those grants focused on serving Black students and Black communities, a core part of the land-grant institution's mission. As the VPs fretted over how they would retain vital research grants, one administrator quipped, "HBCUs won't be affected because they don't look at HBCUs as DEI." Quick, the only HBCU administrator in attendance, recalled thinking, "That's ridiculous, and it's absolutely naïve. We absolutely would get hit. ... And that's exactly what has happened." The cuts at TSU account for close to a fifth of its research budget over the last two years, Quick said. Canceled grants include a $2.5-million grant to tackle the declining enrollment of underrepresented engineers and $14 million out of an $18-million grant from the USDA to help, among other things, cover tuition and housing for agriculture students. As a result of the cuts, Quick said he has paused all spending on research at the university. He now fears the university will lose its Research 2 status. |
| Colleges nervously await Trump-Harvard deal | |
 | Colleges are waiting with bated breath after President Trump announced an upcoming deal with Harvard University, fearing concessions that could become a blueprint for what the administration demands of other schools. After months of frozen funding, multiple federal probes and Trump's attempt to take away Harvard's ability to enroll foreign students, the president said an arrangement would be unveiled within the next two weeks. Some observers have their doubts about that, seeing no path forward that could both pacify Trump and avoid compromising principles that Harvard President Alan Garber promised to safeguard. An agreement that is likely to satisfy both sides is hard to imagine for many in higher education. "If the government and Harvard come to an agreement and Harvard looks like it got a slap on the wrist, it could create the impression that the government has gotten ahead of itself, and these institutions can push back. If it looks like Harvard got taken to the woodshed, I think it will make a lot of other institutions even more nervous," said Rick Hess, senior fellow and the director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). |
SPORTS
| MSU quarterback Shapen earns Philanthropic Spirit award | |
| Mississippi State quarterback Blake Shapen was recognized with the Philanthropic Spirit award for 2025 by the NIL Store, an award that recognizes philanthropic efforts through jersey sales. As part of the spring game at MSU, Shapen invited hundreds of children as his personal guests, granting them a meet-and-greet and autograph session at Davis Wade Stadium as well as meal vouchers and "Blake's Bulldogs" t-shirts. Shapen expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to live out his own dream, as well as a sense of responsibility that came with that. Shapen partnered with teammates Kamario Taylor and Issac Smith for the event, both of whom welcomed kids from their respective hometowns. Bringing in locals for the spring game has become a tradition for the team as part of its outreach initiative, the DAWG program, which stands for "Developing A Winning Gameplan". The program aims to foster development for players both as athletes and young men. The Bulldogs will begin the season on the road in Hattiesburg, taking on Southern Miss at The Rock on Aug. 30. The first home game of the season will take place the following week against reigning Big 12 champions Arizona State. |
| NCAA votes to increase college basketball schedules to 32-game season beginning in 2026-27 | |
| College basketball's regular season is expanding. The NCAA Division I Council approved on Wednesday an increase from 31 to 32 games, beginning with the 2026-27 season, sources told CBS Sports. The vote was a rubber-stamp move after the Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Oversight Committees voted in favor of the change back in late March. The update comes after a 19-year run of a 31-game maximum for the regular season. Since 2006-07, the format was 28 or 29 predetermined games, plus allowance for three-game or two-game multi-team events added in (making it a 31-game cap). Starting in 2026, teams won't be required to play 32 games, they'll merely have the option to do so -- with most expected to up their quota by one under the new rule. By going to a 32-game model, the extra game is will ease restrictions and allow more opportunity for programs to schedule as needed, with the potential for more high-profile matchups in the regular season. What's more, the additional game should also enable more teams to bring back nonconference opportunities in January or February. |
| Big 12, Big Ten announce partnership with PayPal to payout revenue share to student-athletes | |
| Colleges are preparing for revenue-sharing with student-athletes beginning on July 1st. In anticipation of that, the Big 12 and Big Ten have announced a new partnership with PayPal to payout their student-athletes. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark appeared on Get Up alongside PayPal CEO Alex Chriss. There, Yormark dove into what made the partnership a good idea for the conference at this point in time. "July 1 starts rev-share with our student-athletes," Brett Yormark said. "A long time coming and well deserved from a conference perspective, but I speak beyond just the Big 12. I speak for all of collegiate athletics, we need a reliable payment platform to distribute money to our student-athletes." Revenue-sharing stems from the recent House settlement. "We've [Big 12 and PayPal] been at this for over 14 months," Yormark said. "Trying to figure out if there was a place and a point of entry for PayPal in this world of collegiate athletics, and we found it on the heels of the [House] settlement and rev-share. Truly excited about it. When you think about PayPal and Venmo, probably the most culturally relevant payment platform globally. 100 million customers, including consumers and merchants. It's a big opportunity for the Big 12." |
| Families and businesses are concerned about the effect of tariffs on youth sports | |
| Youth sports are a big part of Karli Casamento's life. Her son, Jax, 15, golfs and plays on three baseball teams. Her youngest son, Colt, 6, plays baseball and basketball. The costs, especially for Jax, add up in a hurry. That's why Casamento, 48, and her husband, Michael, 46, are watching closely for the ramifications of tariffs on their rising youth sports budget. "All of their equipment I'm sure comes from China," said Karli Casamento, a second-grade teacher in suburban Philadelphia. "As they get bigger, they need new equipment. So that is definitely a concern." For families like the Casamentos and businesses in the marketplace, there is continued uncertainty surrounding the possible effects of President Donald Trump's tariffs -- the 10% baseline tariffs, along with a 30% rate on Chinese goods -- on youth sports. Nike, Adidas, Under Armour and Puma were among 76 companies that signed an April 29 letter to Trump asking for a footwear exemption from reciprocal tariffs. The Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America letter warned tariffs would "become a major impact at the cash register for every family." "You can't get around the fact that a lot the stuff that we use in youth sports is coming from abroad," said Travis Dorsch, the founding director of the Families in Sport Lab at Utah State University. "So surely if the tariffs go into effect and in any long-term or meaningful way, it's going to affect youth sports." |
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