| Friday, July 11, 2025 |
| Mississippi State joining nationwide effort to combat pesticide-resistant weeds | |
 | Mississippi State University is among 10 land-grant universities helping lead a nationwide effort to combat pesticide-resistant weeds currently threatening soybean production. Scientists from the school's Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station are utilizing a $500,000 grant from the United Soybean Board, the Herbicide Resistance Monitoring Network, or HERMON, and other researchers to monitor weed resistance evolution, develop faster, more consistent diagnostic protocols, and improve region-specific weed-management strategies. Luis Avila and Paul Tseng, both scientists in Mississippi State's Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, are leading the university's contributions to the project. "We are proud to contribute our experience in weed resistance diagnostics to this national collaboration," Avila said. "As resistance issues intensify in the South, our team is working to advance diagnostics by testing grasses that are most problematic in southern soybean systems." The United Soybean Board estimated that herbicide-resistant weeds cost U.S. soybean producers over $2 billion annually, highlighting the need for coordinated, research-driven solutions. |
| MSU's Parisi named SOS Children's Villages International board chair | |
 | A Mississippi State data science specialist known across the globe for his work is now the chair of an international organization supporting children without parental care. Domenico "Mimmo" Parisi, a professor of sociology who serves as MSU's Data Science program's executive director, was named chair of the board for SOS Children's Villages International on July 1. Originally founded in 1949 as the Societas Socialis, or SOS, in Austria, the Global Federation of SOS Children's Villages International has supported almost 4 million youth in the last 70 years through programs adapted to contextual and cultural needs in more than 130 countries and territories. Its work strengthens families experiencing hardship and provides youth with quality care and support adapted to their unique needs, experiences and culture. In a statement released by the organization, Parisi said he is taking on the role with "with a deep commitment to every child and young person without parental care or at risk of losing it" and will "work tirelessly to ensure no child is left without the love, protection and opportunity they deserve." |
| Mississippi's AI Ambitions Take Shape With NVIDIA Partnership | |
| Mississippi is carving a new path in its artificial intelligence landscape by partnering with technology company NVIDIA to expand AI education, research and workforce development across the state. Similar to other NVIDIA partnerships in California, Utah and Oregon, the agreement -- formalized through a memorandum of understanding -- brings hands-on AI training to Mississippi's classrooms, colleges and workforce programs statewide. The teaming, announced June 18, connects NVIDIA, the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN), the Mississippi Development Authority, AccelerateMS and the Mississippi governor's office. In a statement, Gov. Tate Reeves said working with NVIDIA is a major step forward for Mississippi's future and emphasized the collaboration's potential to reshape the state's economy. That future-focused vision resonated with NVIDIA, which had already established ties in Mississippi through earlier work with Mississippi State University. Once company officials learned about the coordinated AI work happening across the state, MAIN Director Kollin Napier said, they saw a chance to play a larger role. |
| Magnolia Mornings: FutureReady States Initiative launching in Mississippi | |
| AccelerateMS is partnering with Lumina Foundation to launch the FutureReady States Initiative aimed at evaluating and enhancing workforce training investments and aligning them with employer needs and labor market outcomes with support from Lumina. AccelerateMS said in a statement Thursday that FutureReady States is being launched to help states identify, strengthen, and scale training programs that lead to short-term credentials -- such as certificates and industry certifications -- with proven value in the labor market. It will support 12 participating states, including Mississippi, through strategic planning, technical assistance, and funding. States with strong action plans may be eligible for additional implementation funding in a future phase of the initiative. Lumina has committed $2.2 million to support this initial phase. The other states participating are Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. |
| Nissan delays EV production at Canton plant until 2028 | |
| Automotive News reported Monday that Nissan has informed suppliers that it will postpone the start of production of two electric crossovers at its plant in Canton by nearly a year to 2028. A memo from the company cites a "recent slowing EV demand in the U.S." The announcement comes just days after President Donald Trump signed the "one big, beautiful bill" into law on July 4. However, Nissan spokesperson Amanda Plecas is quoted in The Tennessean as saying that the move is "not related" to the new law. Under the new law, the $7,500 tax credit for buying or leasing new electric vehicles (EVs) will be eliminated along with the $4,000 used-EV tax credit at the end of September. The government subsidies helped boost EV sales. Automakers are now urging those consumers looking to purchase an EV to do so by September. Nissan spokesperson Kyle Bazemore said in a statement that the company made the strategic decision "to slightly adjust the production timeline for our EVs at the Canton plant." Nissan currently builds its Altima and Frontier lines in Canton with a reported workforce of 3,700 and a corporate investment of over $4 billion at the 4.7 million square foot facility. The plant, which opened in 2003, produces over 400,000 vehicles annually. |
| Nissan considers making Honda pickup trucks at Canton plant | |
 | Nissan is in talks to supply cars to Honda 7267.T in the United States, which would let the struggling Japanese automaker put to use an underutilized U.S. plant, the Nikkei newspaper said on Friday, without citing sources. Nissan is considering making Honda pickup trucks at its Canton plant in Mississippi, which turns out models such as the Frontier, the paper said. After Nissan's talks to merge with Honda to form the world's third-largest automaker fell apart this year, the two said they would keep up an agreement to work together in areas such as electric vehicles. In a statement on Friday, Nissan said it had no additional updates, although it continued to work on projects with Honda. It said it would not comment on speculation. Honda officials were not immediately available for comment. Nissan reported a net loss of $4.5 billion in the financial year that ended in March, and has been badly hit by dwindling sales as it grapples with an ageing vehicle lineup. Like other legacy automakers, Nissan and Honda face rising competition from Chinese players and difficulties stemming from U.S.-Japan trade talks over auto tariffs. |
| Interest high in former Levi building | |
| Multiple potential tenants, including a "global top 50" company, have shown serious interest in the former Levi Strauss & Co. distribution center off Interstate 55, a county official said. Joey Deason, executive director of the Madison County Economic Development Authority, said his office is in discussions with several companies about the nearly 1-million-square-foot building. "I can say that more than two very serious players are interested and I have personally met with representatives from three of them," Deason said. While he could not disclose the identities of the interested parties, Deason said they are companies that would bring "well-paying jobs that fit right into the County's playbook." He added that he hopes to see a tenant in the building by the end of the year. The property, located at 501 Denim Way, was purchased earlier this year by F Street, a Wisconsin-based developer. According to Deason, F Street is required to own the building for one year before it can be sold, but a company could lease the space before a potential sale next May. |
| Former state Rep. Nick Bain seeking return to office in 2027 | |
| After losing a bid to retain his seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives by a mere 26 votes in 2023, Nick Bain is looking to re-enter the state's political scene as an elected official. At an Independence Day speaking event in Jacinto, Bain announced his intentions to run for office once again in 2027. Though he did not specify what position he plans to pursue, one could rule out a shot at the Governor's Mansion, given Agriculture Commissioner and gubernatorial hopeful Andy Gipson also spoke at the Fourth of July function. Right now, I stand at the cusp of an open door, and I'll tell you this -- I will be on the ballot in 2o27," Bain, an attorney, told the audience at the event. "I'm going to ask you and a whole lot of people to vote for me." Bain, a Republican from Corinth, attributed his most recent election loss to his vote in favor of a landmark decision to change Mississippi's state flag. The former lawmaker, though proud of his decision to remove a Confederate-themed symbol that once represented the state, said he was met with harsh criticism from a large number of his constituents after the vote. |
| NTSB releases final report on fatal crash that claimed the life of Johnny Morgan | |
| The National Transportation Safety Board released its final report on July 8 regarding the fatal airplane crash that claimed the life of Lafayette County native and former Mississippi State Senator Johnny Morgan. The crash occurred on May 17, 2023, near Fayetteville, Arkansas. Morgan, a well-known Oxford businessman and civic leader, was flying his personal aircraft to Drake Field in Arkansas for scheduled maintenance on the plane's autopilot system. The flight was mostly uneventful until the aircraft began its descent. The NTSB concluded that Morgan was likely hand-flying the aircraft due to the faulty autopilot and may have become spatially disoriented in the poor weather conditions. Morgan was a lifelong resident of Oxford and a graduate of Oxford High School and the University of Mississippi, where he earned a degree in business administration. He served in the Mississippi State Senate from 1984 to 1992, representing Lafayette, Yalobusha, and Calhoun counties. Morgan was the founder of Morgan White Insurance Group, CEO of Johnny Morgan & Associates Realty, and Vice President of Binswanger National. |
| Capitol Police coverage expands with no increase in budget | |
| More of Northeast Jackson now falls within the boundaries of the Capitol Complex Improvement District. While legislation in 2024 outlined the expanded boundaries that went into effect in July, there was no legislation to provide funding so additional Capitol Police officers could be hired. The district's boundaries now include roughly the area from East Northside Drive to Canton Mart Road and extend to Westbrook Road to the Pearl River. Sean Tindell, commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, expects the expanded area will provide more demands on Capitol Police officers and include calls about burglaries, thefts and domestic disputes in the residential areas. "I think it's going to present challenges with our current staffing level," he said. Capitol Police has 160 officers, and not all of them are patrol officers, he said. Some of those are investigative or administrative officers. Also coming into play is a $1 million cut in the Mississippi Department of Public Safety's budget for salaries, Tindell said. Efforts are ongoing to recruit and hire additional Capitol Police officers, particularly students fresh out of community colleges or universities who want to go into law enforcement, he said. |
| Mississippi opioid settlement council holds first meeting | |
 | Mississippi's new Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Council met for the first time on Wednesday. Established by the Legislature earlier this year, the council has been tasked with guiding how hundreds of millions of dollars from the state's share of national settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors will be spent. The 37-member council includes state officials, health professionals, law enforcement leaders, and people with lived experience of addiction. Currently, more than $70 million in settlement funds are under their purview that have to be spent on abatement, things like treatment, prevention and recovery programs. "We must treat this like the public health emergency that it is," said Dr. Daniel Edney, Mississippi's state health officer and co-vice chair of the council. "These funds need to reach the people doing real work on the ground." Under the terms of the settlements 70% of the state's opioid funds will be managed through the advisory council's grant process. Another 15% is going directly to cities and counties, while the remaining 15% can be spent at the Legislature's discretion. Mississippi has one of the highest per capita rates in the U.S. for both dispensed opioid prescriptions and drug overdoses. |
| Rates of whooping cough are rising, while syphilis cases are declining in Mississippi | |
| During this week's quarterly meeting of the Mississippi State Board of Health, members learned that rates of pertussis, otherwise known as whooping cough, in Mississippi are continuing to rise, while syphilis cases appear to be dropping, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reports. They also received an update on the preliminary impact of the "one big, beautiful bill" from the State Health Officer. Dr. Daniel Edney explained how the department has implemented measures to reduce federal funding dependency. About six months ago, his department was at about 65 percent of its budget coming from federal dollars, down from close to 80 percent three years earlier. Part of that change has been the result of an increase in state funding, which he recognized State Rep. Samuel Creekmore (R) and State Senator Hob Bryan (D) for working toward. "Had we not undertaken that I think we would be in great danger right now, but Dr. Dotson and her team's work in reorganizing the county health department system into something that's more meaningful and robust and cost effective and sustainable is a huge dividend for us," Edney said. "I'm confident we will move through the federal funding challenges," Edney added. "I'm not confident what that will look like this time next year." |
| Hospitals see risks in big federal tax law that shrinks Medicaid spending | |
| Mississippi hospitals could lose up to $1 billion over the next decade under the sweeping, multitrillion-dollar tax and policy bill President Donald Trump signed into law last week, according to leaders at the Mississippi Hospital Association. The leaders say the cuts could force some already-struggling rural hospitals to reduce services or close their doors. The law includes the largest reduction in federal health and social safety net programs in history. It passed 218-214, with all Democrats voting against the measure and all but five Republicans voting for it. In the short term, these cuts will make health care less accessible to poor Mississippians by making the eligibility requirements for Medicaid insurance stiffer, likely increasing people's medical debt. In the long run, the cuts could lead to worsening chronic health conditions such as diabetes and obesity for which Mississippi already leads the nation, and making private insurance more expensive for many people, experts say. "We've got about a billion dollars that are potentially hanging in the balance over the next 10 years," Mississippi Hospital Association President Richard Roberson said Wednesday during a panel discussion at his organization's headquarters. "If folks were being honest, the entire system depends on those rural hospitals," he said. |
| GOP senators question Hegseth leadership after weapons 'goof-up' | |
 | Republican senators say reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth froze weapons shipments to Ukraine without getting approval from President Trump raise serious questions about the level of coordination between the White House and Pentagon and warrants a closer review of the matter by Congress. GOP lawmakers say the weapons freeze may have been the result of "miscommunication" between Trump and Hegseth. A senior Senate Republican aide called it "a clear goof-up on a lot of levels." Some GOP sources on Capitol Hill warn that if Hegseth or senior members of his team acted to deliberately circumvent the commander in chief, it would pose a serious problem that would need to be addressed. Senate Republicans are "alarmed" by reporting that Hegseth may have paused weapons shipments to Ukraine multiple times without their knowledge and they want details for who at the Pentagon was involved in freezing shipments. Some of the sharpest criticism in the Republican conference came from Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) who told CNN in an interview that Hegseth is "out of his depth" leading the Pentagon and that his decision to stop weapons shipments to Ukraine was "amateurish." |
| Trump threatens to withhold endorsements for GOP senators who don't back rescissions bill | |
 | President Donald Trump is threatening to withhold endorsements from Republican senators who don't support the administration's effort to claw back $9.4 billion of congressionally approved funds. Trump said in a social media post Thursday that the proposed cuts -- in particular the $1.1 billion to come from public media -- are "very important" to him. His statement comes as some in the Senate have raised objections to the rescissions bill, including Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins of Maine, who faces reelection next year. The Senate is expected to vote on a rescissions package next week ahead of a July 18 deadline. Some senators have suggested amendments to eliminate certain spending cuts, including those targeting public media. Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan along with Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota have said they want the package amended to preserve funding for NPR and PBS stations. Collins has expressed disapproval of cuts to global AIDS prevention funding and other health programs. She spoke at the Senate GOP's conference meeting on Wednesday as the party discussed possible tweaks to the package. |
| Trump administration moves away from abolishing FEMA | |
 | For months, President Donald Trump and his homeland security secretary have said the Federal Emergency Management Agency could be eliminated. But as the president heads to Texas to view the impact of last week's deadly floods, administration officials say abolishing the agency outright is not on the agenda. A senior White House official told The Washington Post that no official action is being taken to wind down FEMA, and that changes in the agency will probably amount to a "rebranding" that will emphasize state leaders' roles in disaster response. The official and others emphasized that Trump will make the ultimate decision, but said at this point, FEMA is not set to be abolished. Trump on Friday is scheduled to meet with first responders and family members of the victims in Texas, receive a briefing from local elected officials and take part in a roundtable discussion. Abbott, a Republican, is expected to join him during the visit. Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem in recent months raised the prospect that the agency could be abolished altogether. In describing an executive order on FEMA shortly after he took office, Trump said it would "begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA." The FEMA Review Council, which Trump created by his executive order, met for the second time this week and is expected to release a report in November with recommendations to improve federal disaster response. |
| Former MEMA director: 'FEMA is not broken' | |
| Conversations about the future of FEMA are under the microscope amid the recovery efforts following the Texas floods. Former Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Robert Latham is watching the Texas flooding disaster response and hoping it can serve as a reset to conversations around whether the agency will be eliminated. "FEMA is not broken," Latham said. "I mean, it's a big federal agency. There are always things that can be better and we should be trying to fix those things, not trying to tear out an agency that has taken decades to build." While Latham thinks there are conversations to be had about how to improve cutting the red tape, he also refutes some talking points he has heard. "I managed 16 disasters," Latham added. "Never, not in single disaster, did I ever feel that FEMA was running things. I never felt that. I mean, we had set up a unified command where you had state agencies in FEMA -- even the Corps of Engineers and other federal assets." He said one of the existing positives is being able to make one phone call to access any federal resource you may need. |
| Trump Doubles Down on Using Tariffs as Tool of American Power | |
 | President Trump's threat for a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports expanded his use of punitive duties over matters that have nothing to do with trade, breaking with more than a half-century of global economic precedent. Trump cited the trial of the president's close political ally, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, as the rationale for new tariffs set to take effect Aug. 1 on imports from the largest economy in Latin America. It is one of the latest -- and perhaps most brazen -- examples of Trump using tariffs as a cudgel for political priorities outside of trade. In January, he threatened tariffs on Colombia over repatriation flights for migrants back to that country. Then he imposed steep duties on Canada, Mexico and China over their role in the fentanyl trade, and threatened hefty tariffs on countries that buy oil from Venezuela. He has also used the threat of tariffs to attempt to secure more military spending from Asian nations such as Japan and South Korea. And on Thursday evening, in a new letter to Canada's leader, Trump said the U.S. would impose 35% tariffs on some Canadian imports starting Aug. 1, citing the fentanyl crisis among other grievances with the country. The president is betting the threat of reducing access to the American consumer will force nations to capitulate on his political priorities. But he risks getting rebuked by the courts -- and political blowback if prices for goods rise. |
| Folk rockers The Avett Brothers set Ford Center concert | |
| The Grammy-nominated folk-rock band The Avett Brothers are set to perform Sept. 11 at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Mississippi. Known for their powerful live shows and heartfelt songwriting, The Avett Brothers will bring their signature sound to one of Mississippi's premier performance venues. The group melds bluegrass, country, punk, pop, folk, rock 'n' roll, indie rock, honky-tonk and ragtime to deliver a novel sound. The band has released 11 studio albums, the most recent a self-titled release in May 2024. "I and Love and You," released in 2009, was the band's best-selling album with 500,000 sales. The group has been nominated for four Grammy Awards and has won several Americana Music Honors & Awards. "Their music brings people together across generations, and this performance promises to be one of the highlights of our season," said Julia Aubrey, Ford Center director. Tickets for the Friends of the Ford Center will go on sale in late July, with public sales beginning in August. Details about show time, pricing and purchasing will be announced soon. However, enthusiastic fans can secure their seats early and enjoy a special experience by becoming concert sponsors, with proceeds benefiting the Ford Center. |
| Students present findings from GenSea intern program | |
 | A Southern Miss intern program allows students to let kids dive deeper into marine science. Thursday, the interns presented their findings from the past six weeks. High school students from across the state have spent the last six weeks out on the water as part of the GenSea Blue Economy Pathways internship. The program wrapped up Thursday evening with a poster session, offering a way to give students a chance to showcase what they've been working on. "People walk away from roster sessions with jobs because someone has enjoyed their research and said, 'I want to learn more about what you're doing, here's my card -- give me a call,'" explains GenSea program manager Tara Skelton. For students like Madelynne Mader, this was an opportunity to dive deeper into the blue economy, which she's been interested in pursuing as a career. "When you think of marine science, you think you're a researcher and you're in a lab," described Mader. "There's so much more to it." Others, such as Parker Talley, took the chance to expose themselves to new opportunities in Mississippi. "It opened my eyes to all the different things that are in it and it does a good job of showing everyone about aquaculture," he stated. |
| Construction begins on student apartment complex near U. of Kentucky | |
 | Construction is underway on a student housing development near the University of Kentucky. A 277-unit, 655-bed building on East Maxwell Street is expected to open in fall 2027. The building, called The Maxwell, is one of several student apartment complexes being built by a private developer around UK. In a news release, Development Director Michael Apt said Gilbane Development has "prioritized student education, and their comfort, convenience, and connection" to the university. Homes along East Maxwell and between Stone Street and Lexington Avenue were previously used for student housing, and the block's transformation into an apartment complex has been controversial. A previous zoning change for a much larger apartment building from a different developer was denied in 2019. The Herald-Leader previously reported homeowners near UK continue to have gripes with rising enrollment causing an increase in construction of high-rise, private apartments. Later this fall, the university says it is expecting to hit a record enrollment with approximately 36,700 students . A university spokesperson told the Herald-Leader this summer the school was invested in student housing. It has more than 8,000 residence hall beds on campus and is planning to add nearly 650 more in a new dorm by 2026. |
| In letter to GOP lawmakers, UF Board of Trustees defends Ono, presidential search process | |
 | The University of Florida Board of Trustees in a letter to state Republican leaders defended the presidential search process that produced Dr. Santa Ono as the sole finalist for the university's 14th president. The board's letter, dated July 3, was addressed to U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and U.S. Reps. Greg Steube and Byron Donalds, who all spoke openly against Ono leading up to his failed confirmation hearing in front of the state Board of Governors. The trio of lawmakers in a June 18 letter urged that the university's third presidential search in less than three years be more of an "open process." "We believe an open process to the public that enables multiple candidates to be considered and interviewed is what led Florida to becoming the top state for higher education almost a decade ago," the lawmakers' letter said. State law, however, requires such searches to be exempt from Florida's open government laws. The board's letter -- signed by all 13 trustees -- reiterated the need for the Presidential Search Committee to shield the process from public view in order to attract the best candidates. Trustee Rahul Patel, head of the search committee, noted during the process that 10 sitting university presidents were considered for UF's presidency, including Ono, then the president of the University of Michigan. |
| Friday vote in Florida could be higher education 'foundation rocker' | |
| Most university students don't know much about accreditation. "It's kind of behind the scenes," said Carson Dale, student body president at Florida State University. "But obviously it's a very important thing when it comes to financial aid, course transfers, graduate school, all that good stuff." With the board overseeing Florida's public universities set to vote Friday afternoon on whether to create a new accreditor, some predict student knowledge will rise dramatically. "I think this could be the single biggest shift in regional and national accreditation in living memory of almost anybody who's connected to higher education," said Peter Lake, a Stetson University law professor and higher education expert. SACSCOC, Florida's current accreditor, said in a statement that it was aware of the efforts. "We welcome any new accreditor as they go through a rigorous approval process," it wrote. "Accreditation is central to quality education; thus, accreditors are held to high standards and must themselves be reviewed." It continued: "As for SACSCOC, we know we currently accredit institutions that serve the largest number of students in the country (approximately 5.5M). As such, we will work with our partnering institutions to ensure and strengthen a high standard of accreditation that reflects the needs of students, our institutions, and the workforce." |
| Blinn College and Texas A&M partner to host high school cybersecurity camp | |
 | High school students from across the region made their way to the Innovation Center on the Blinn College campus this week to take part in a cybersecurity camp hosted by Texas A&M University Cybersecurity and Blinn College. It is one of several camps that director Bast Schellhorn of Texas A&M puts on over the year as a way to get young students interested in cybersecurity. "The hardest part of any camp is getting the word out there and getting students signed up and in one classroom for an entire week," Schellhorn said. "Being able to partner with schools like Blinn makes my life easier because I can focus on the content, the curriculum and the student experience. We're really happy to partner with schools like Blinn." Part of the week is spent teaching the campers about different kinds of software and coding programs to give them a starting point for further exploration. The camp was free to all attendees thanks to a grant from the Department of Defense. "This camp is my favorite part of my job," Schellhorn said. "It's certainly the most rewarding thing I do, being able to give these kids this experience and hopefully help them find something interesting that they continue to learn about and build upon." |
| New bill designates Veterans Day as a paid holiday for U. of Missouri System employees | |
 | University of Missouri System officials are evaluating how to implement a new paid state holiday for system employees granted in a law signed Wednesday. Gov. Mike Kehoe signed House Bill 419 on Wednesday. The law deals with veterans' issues and includes language stating "the eleventh day of November of each year shall be a public holiday for all employees of the University of Missouri system in observance of Veterans Day." The federal Veterans Day holiday is celebrated on Nov. 11 each year, regardless of the day of the week it falls on. This year, Nov. 11 is a Tuesday when classes and other university system activities would normally be conducted. Mizzou spokesperson Travis Zimpfer said in an email that officials "are still currently evaluating how best to implement this change. We will communicate with the campus community once those implementation plans have been finalized." "Mizzou is deeply committed to our veterans," Zimpfer said. "With partnerships in innovative research and clinical care with the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital to legal services through the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic, Mizzou impacts the lives of veterans each and every day." |
| The Trump staffers who set out to reshape their alma maters | |
| Less than a decade ago, Gregory W. Brown helped fundraise for the University of Virginia by posing for pictures in his old dorm room. Now he is central to the Trump administration's effort to crack down on his alma mater for promoting diversity, equity and inclusion programs, as one of two Justice Department leaders and U-Va. alumni to threaten sweeping funding cuts and compel the school's president to resign. Brown is one of several key architects of President Donald Trump's wide-reaching campaign to root out liberal ideology from higher education who graduated from the prestigious universities the president has emboldened them to transform. Driven by personal experience, the staffers are pushing to overhaul the progressive culture they feel has come to dominate elite colleges and universities. Overseeing parts of the extensive effort is Stephen Miller, the longtime Trump aide and White House deputy chief of staff who rose to national prominence as a far-right student voice defending Duke University lacrosse players wrongfully accused of rape. Miller has hired at least two architects of the push to remake higher education -- May Mailman and Daniel Wasserman, a senior White House official said -- both graduates of elite schools where their conservative values often put them at odds with classmates. |
| Federal Policy Uncertainty Impacting College Budgeting | |
 | Economic uncertainty -- the kind that dominated headlines for the first half of 2025 -- makes long-term financial planning difficult. But nearly two in three college and university chief business officers say that uncertainty surrounding federal policy for higher education is hindering their ability to conduct even basic financial planning. That's according to Inside Higher Ed's forthcoming annual survey of CBOs with Hanover Research. "Higher education has not faced this level of financial uncertainty in generations," said Robert Kelchen, chair of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, who reviewed preliminary survey data. While recent history offers one comparison -- the early days of the pandemic, when uncertainty was similarly "off the charts" -- the federal government at that time "quickly stepped in to provide support," Kelchen continued. Today, by contrast, the federal government "is causing the uncertainty." In an additional expression of uncertainty, most surveyed CBOs describe the impact of the second Trump administration's policies on their institution's financial outlook---both current and over the next 12 months -- as somewhat or very negative. |
| Moody's: Trump's tough international student policies could hit some colleges hard | |
| The Trump administration's restrictive policies for international students present a financial risk for many U.S. colleges by potentially deterring them from enrolling, Moody's analysts said in a recent report. Analysts pointed to visa disruptions, increased scrutiny of social media accounts, changes to deportation rules, and recent travel bans and restrictions to the U.S. from 19 countries. The Trump administration has also created confusion around visas for Chinese students, who account for nearly a quarter of international students. While the impact on upcoming academic terms remains unclear, the changing policies are "diminishing the perception of the US as a prime destination for higher education," the analysts said. Colleges have been bracing for potential revenue and enrollment hits since the second Trump administration quickly struck an aggressive approach to immigration and international students. Foreign students typically pay full tuition and fees at colleges, noted Moody's analysts Debra Roane, vice president and senior credit officer, and Emily Raimes, associate managing director. And they do so at a time when the ranks of traditional-age college students are projected to decline significantly in the coming years. |
| Harvard Explores New Center for Conservative Scholarship Amid Trump Attacks | |
| Harvard leaders have discussed creating a program that people briefed on the talks described as a center for conservative scholarship, possibly modeled on Stanford's Hoover Institution, as the school fights the Trump administration's accusations that it is too liberal. The idea has circulated at the university for several years but gained steam after pro-Palestinian protests began disrupting campus in late 2023. Harvard has discussed the effort with potential donors, people familiar with the matter said. The cost of creating such a center could run somewhere between $500 million and $1 billion, a person familiar with Harvard's thinking estimated. A spokesman for Harvard said an initiative under discussion "will ensure exposure to the broadest ranges of perspectives on issues, and will not be partisan, but rather will model the use of evidence-based, rigorous logic and a willingness to engage with opposing views." He added that the school has been accelerating efforts to set up the initiative, which would "promote and support viewpoint diversity." A 2024 survey by Harvard found that only one-third of the college's graduating class felt comfortable discussing controversial topics, and a 2023 survey by the student newspaper found that just 3% of faculty at Harvard College identified as politically conservative. Harvard President Alan Garber helped promote an "intellectual vitality" program to reinvigorate debate on campus and ensure students engage in discussions free of self-censorship. |
| Trump Seeks to Cut Basic Scientific Research by Roughly One-Third, Report Shows | |
 | President Trump's budget plan guts federal science funding for the next fiscal year, according to an overview published by an external group. Particularly at risk is the category of basic research -- the blue-sky variety meant to push back the frontiers of human knowledge and sow practical spinoffs and breakthroughs in such everyday fields as health care and artificial intelligence. The group says it would fall by more than one-third. The new analysis, made public Wednesday by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a general scientific society based in Washington, D.C., added up cuts to the budgets of hundreds of federal agencies and programs that do scientific research or provide grants to universities and research bodies. It then compared the funding appropriated for the current fiscal year with the administration's proposals for fiscal year 2026. The new analysis shows that the Trump administration's budget plan, if adopted, "would essentially end America's longstanding role as the world leader in science and innovation," said Toby Smith, senior vice president for government relations and public policy at the Association of American Universities. |
| Senate Rejects Trump's Cuts to NSF, Other Science Agencies | |
| Signs that Congress intends to push back on the Trump administration's wholesale slashing of federal budgets emerged during a Senate meeting Thursday that kicked off the annual appropriations process. Since January, the Trump administration has sought to significantly downsize the federal government via mass layoffs and spending cuts. Additionally, the administration has canceled grants and withheld funding despite laws that require agencies to spend money as directed by Congress. However, on Thursday a subcommittee that oversees the budgets for the Justice and Commerce Departments as well as related science agencies proposed only a small cut to the National Science Foundation budget next fiscal year -- a far cry from the $5 billion reduction that President Donald Trump wants to see. Instead, NSF will get just over $9 billion, a $16 million cut, said Sen. Jerry Moran, the Kansas Republican who chairs the subcommittee. The bill also sends about $10 million more to the National Weather Service and boosts funding for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Although the science funding received bipartisan support, a fight over funding for the new Federal Bureau of Investigations headquarters could tank the legislation. |
| Senate spending panel would rescue NSF and NASA science funding | |
| Congress's annual process of setting 2026 spending levels for federal agencies has only just begun, but today the Senate appropriations committee voiced its intent to ignore the request by President Donald Trump to slash the budgets of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and NASA science programs. Instead, the panel supported maintaining spending at essentially current levels. The committee's preliminary vote today on the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriation bill is the latest indication that Congress doesn't plan to simply rubber stamp Trump's proposal to cut federal research budgets for next year. (The bill's final passage has been temporarily stalled by a partisan fight over a new location for FBI headquarters.) Under the bill, NSF's budget would take a tiny $60 million hit, to $9 billion, rather than plunge by 57%, to $3.9 billion, as Trump proposed. With $9 billion, NSF would likely be able to protect a new directorate that promotes applied research partnerships with nonfederal entities, and avoid cuts to its several other research directorates. The agency could also preserve long-running and popular programs such as graduate research fellowships and funding for 26 states whose grantees receive relatively few NSF dollars. |
| Joint Associations Group on Indirect Costs Releases Recommendation for Updated, More Efficient, Transparent Research Funding Model | |
| Today, the Joint Associations Group (JAG) on Indirect Costs released its recommendation to Congress and the executive branch for a new model to replace the current facilities and administrative (F&A) cost structure that the federal government uses to fund the indirect expenses that universities and other research organizations incur when conducting federally funded research on behalf of the American people. Indirect costs are the essential institutional costs associated with conducting sponsored research. Examples include building and facility maintenance; supporting the preparation, submission, and financial management of grant proposals and awards; funding for human resources, payroll, acquisition, and essential utilities and space upkeep; secure data storage and high-speed data processing; complying with multiple federal research security, human subject protections, environmental health, and safety requirements; and much more. Indirect costs do not include other institutional activities unrelated to research, such as education, training, athletics, and more. ... "Although no model for recovering indirect costs is perfect, I believe we have arrived at the best solution for helping maintain American global leadership in research and innovation, keeping our research enterprise strong across all types and sizes of institutions, and providing greater accountability to the American taxpayer," said former White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Kelvin Droegemeier, who helped lead both the JAG effort and the team of subject-matter experts who helped propose the FAIR model. |
SPORTS
| 3 Bulldogs ready for NBA Summer League tipoff this weekend | |
 | Sin City will have a distinctly maroon flair as the 2025 NBA 2K26 Summer League tips off at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavillion from July 10-20. Former Bulldogs Garrison Brooks, Cameron Matthews and Tolu Smith will participate in the league's summer showcase, where Brooks and Smith III will be reunited as teammates with the Detroit Pistons, while Matthews will suit up for the Houston Rockets. All 30 NBA franchises will play at least five games which begin with four daily matchups from July 10-17. The top four teams will advance to a semifinal doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. July 19 on ESPN. The two semifinal winners will meet for the title at the NBA Summer showcase event at 9 p.m. July 20 on ESPN. The 26 teams that don't advance to the four-team playoff will play their final game from July 18-20. The entire 76-game docket slated over 11 days will air on the ESPN platforms or NBA TV. Every game also will be streamed courtesy of the ESPN app and ESPN+. Smith, a two-time All-SEC First-Team selection, amassed 17.9 points, 13.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in his 2024-25 rookie campaign for the Motor City Cruise as part of his two-way deal. He posted 14 points and eight rebounds during his NBA debut with the Detroit Pistons on April 13. |
| Mississippi State baseball, Brian O'Connor land George Mason's Andrew Raymond in transfer portal | |
| Mississippi State baseball landed a second catcher in the transfer portal on July 10. Andrew Raymond, who was a freshman at George Mason in 2025, committed to the Bulldogs. He announced it with posts on X and Instagram. Raymond started 50 games last season, batting .287 with five home runs and 33 RBIs to make the All-Atlantic 10 Rookie Team. The Middletown, Maryland, native was part of the George Mason team that set an NCAA record with 23 runs in one inning. Raymond doubled, walked, reached on an error, drove in three runs and scored three times in the second inning against Holy Cross. The Bulldogs are now up to 16 commitments from the transfer portal since new coach Brian O'Connor was hired on June 1. O'Connor told The Clarion Ledger on July 3 that catcher was one of Mississippi State's remaining needs, also mentioning an infielder and "athletic bat" in the outfield. |
| Athletics' Brent Rooker and Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. join Home Run Derby lineup | |
 | Brent Rooker doesn't plan to change his approach at the plate for the Home Run Derby. "I mean, look, just about every swing I've ever taken in my life I've been trying to hit a home run," the Athletics slugger said. "It's not like I have to change too much in that regard, but I did get out here early yesterday and got a feel for a 3-minute round to kind of feel the timing of it." Rooker and New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. were added Thursday to the list of derby participants, completing the eight-player field. The event will take place Monday night in Atlanta ahead of Tuesday night's All-Star Game. Rooker will become the first Athletics player in the Home Run Derby since Matt Olson in 2021. "I think it's going to be fun," Rooker said. "I'm looking forward to it. As a kid growing up, that was one of the highlights of the summer was watching the Home Run Derby and seeing the guys participate." The 30-year-old Rooker entered Thursday with a .270 batting average, 19 homers and 50 RBIs, putting him on pace for a third straight season of at least 30 homers. He went deep 30 times in 2023 and had 39 homers in 2024. |
| Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter receives contract extension through 2029 | |
| Ole Miss athletics has secured the services of athletic director Keith Carter for an extended time. Carter is getting a contract extension through 2029, the university announced July 10. He was earning $1.1 million annually in base pay under the terms of his previous state and Ole Miss Athletic Foundation contracts obtained by the Clarion Ledger. Under Carter, Ole Miss completed a $45 million renovation of the Olivia and Archie Manning Athletics Performance Center in 2023. The new Ole Miss Softball Stadium opened in February, and future renovations to the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium and Ole Miss Golf Complex are on the books. Carter was a four-year starter on the Ole Miss basketball team and earned All-America honors after his senior season in 1999. |
| LSU 'evaluating' implications for Baton Rouge arena project after developer's CEO indicted | |
 | A day after the CEO of the firm that is the sole finalist to build a new LSU arena was indicted in Texas, university officials said they are weighing how the criminal charges could affect the project in Baton Rouge. On Wednesday, Oak View Group CEO Timothy J. Leiweke was indicted on federal charges that he rigged the bidding process for an arena at the University of Texas at Austin, a project similar to the LSU proposal. In an emailed statement Thursday, LSU Athletics Chief Communications Officer Zach Greenwell said officials are reviewing how the charges might impact the proposed arena at LSU. In May, LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward said Oak View Group was the sole finalist for the project -- which was estimated to cost up to $400 million, noting that competitor ASM Global was out of the running. A deal between Oak View Group and LSU has yet to be inked. "The future status of the project will be informed by a due diligence review," Greenwell said. The arena proposal is intertwined with new plans for the city-parish's Raising Cane's River Center in downtown Baton Rouge, which is managed by ASM as a venue for events. |
| New college sports agency is rejecting some athlete NIL deals with donor-backed collectives | |
| The new agency in charge of regulating name, image, likeness deals in college sports sent a letter to schools Thursday saying it had rejected deals between players and donor-backed collectives formed over the past several years to funnel money to athletes or their schools. Those arrangements hold no "valid business purpose," the memo said, and don't adhere to rules that call for outside NIL deals to be between players and companies that provide goods or services to the general public for profit. The letter to Division I athletic directors could be the next step in shuttering today's version of the collective, groups that are closely affiliated with schools and that, in the early days of NIL after July 2021, proved the most efficient way for schools to indirectly cut deals with players. Since then, the landscape has changed yet again with the $2.8 billion House settlement that allows schools to pay the players directly as of July 1. Already, collectives affiliated with Colorado, Alabama, Notre Dame, Georgia and others have announced they're shutting down. Georgia, Ohio State and Illinois are among those that have announced plans with Learfield, a media and technology company with decades of licensing and other experience across college athletics, to help arrange NIL deals. |
| Congress to propose NIL guidelines in new college sports compensation bill | |
| A bill designed to end ambiguity surrounding name, image and likeness (NIL), establish professional guidelines for agents and protect collegiate leagues from antitrust lawsuits received a strong endorsement from a bipartisan group of nine congressional representatives Thursday. The Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act, which was introduced in the Energy and Commerce subcommittee, prevents athletes from obtaining employee status. But in many ways, the act is the first step in establishing a bill of rights for athletes. It officially ends any administrative restrictions to athletes' NIL compensation within limits, but it allows schools and conferences to establish what is -- and isn't -- permissible. Should the federal legislation pass, it would override current state NIL laws, which vary from border to border. "College athletics are a vital part of American culture, and it's clear -- from both student-athletes and universities -- that a national framework is long overdue," Florida Republican Gus Bilirakis, who chairs the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, said in a statement. "(The SCORE Act) delivers the stability, clarity and transparency that stakeholders have been calling for." In addition, the bill requires schools to furnish medical care, including all out-of-pocket expenses for injuries incurred for at least three years following graduation or program separation. Schools are also required to guarantee financial aid to athletes wishing to return to school to obtain a degree after leaving the institution before graduation. |
| Bill in Congress would prevent schools from using student fees to bankroll college sports | |
| A bill to regulate college sports introduced in the House on Thursday would offer limited antitrust protection for the NCAA, while barring schools from using student fees to pay for college athletic programs. Co-sponsors of the SCORE Act includes seven Republicans and two Democrats, which gives the bill a fair chance of passage in the House. It would need at least seven Democratic votes in the Senate, where its chances are viewed as slim. The bill includes the three elements the NCAA has lobbied for: antitrust protections, pre-emption of state laws that regulate name, image, likeness payments, and a section that prevents athletes from becoming employees of their schools. The bill's main goal is to set national standards for NIL payments that are dominating the industry in the wake of the approval of a $2.78 billion lawsuit settlement that allows schools to pay athletes. It also includes a section that purports to protect Olympic programs that some see as threatened because of increased funding that will go to football and basketball. That part calls on schools with at least one coach who earns more than $250,000 to offer at least 16 sports programs. That language mirrors a rule already in effect for NCAA's top-tier FBS schools. |
| College sports bill introduced by bipartisan group of House members | |
 | A bipartisan group of lawmakers from the U.S. House of Representatives announced on Thursday, July 10, that they have introduced a bill that would establish a set of national rules for college sports. The announcement said that the bill is backed by leaders of three House committees, but it follows the basic contours of a discussion draft circulated in June by Reps. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., and Brett Guthrie, R-Ky. Guthrie chairs the Energy and Commerce committee. Bilirakis chairs that panel's Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade subcommittee. In a show of Bilirakis' and Guthrie's desire to get the bill moving in the Republican-controlled House, Bilrakis' subcommittee will hold a markup hearing on the measure on Tuesday, July 15, said Matt VanHyfte, the communications director for the full committee. Dubbed the SCORE Act (Student Compensation And Opportunity Through Rights and Endorsements), the bill includes language that specifically would allow the NCAA, and potentially the new Collegiate Sports Commission, to make operational rules affecting schools and athletes in areas that have come into legal dispute in recent years and in areas that the NCAA wants to shield from future legal dispute. The bill would prevent college athletes from being employees of their schools, conferences or an athletic association. The employment issue is the subject of an ongoing lawsuit in a federal district court in Pennsylvania. |
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