| Thursday, July 31, 2025 |
| Mississippi's cherished southern spaces -- porches -- featured in 2025 International Venice Architectural Biennale | |
 | Picture the scene of a Mississippi front porch: water condensing on the sides of a tall glass filled to the brim with crystal clear ice cubes and southern sweet tea while leaning back in a rocking chair, looking up at the light blue-painted ceiling. Moments of "hi y'all"s, Independence Day celebrations, quiet evenings catching fireflies, memories of children in the front yard, or waiting for the mail activate these cherished southern spaces. At the 2025 International Venice Architectural Biennale, "PORCH: an Architecture of Generosity" occupies the American pavilion for the event known in the field as the "Olympics of Architecture." Among the 54 exhibitors, you'll find three Mississippi locales (a large number for a single state): Duvall Decker Architects, the Fred Carl Jr. Small Town Center, and the Gulf Coast Community Design Center. The latter two are design research centers that are part of Mississippi State University. This marks a rather notable first entry for MSU, given that the two centers represent one third of all university programs featured in this year's exhibition. MSU President Mark Keenum and a University delegation experienced PORCH firsthand in late June. “It’s wonderful to see Mississippi State University and the excellent work of the College of Architecture, Art and Design recognized at this international level. It makes me very proud of the quality of our programs,” Keenum shares. |
| MSU-Amazon partnership taps AI to help with recruitment | |
 | Mississippi State University is teaming up with Amazon Web Services for an artificial intelligence-powered initiative that will use data analysis to improve student and faculty recruitment, alumni engagement and fundraising. The initiative, at no cost to MSU, will use AI tools developed by Quintilian Inc., an international software company, and powered by AWS, an Amazon subsidiary that provides cloud computing platforms, to analyze data sets and improve how the university interacts with both current and prospective students, alumni, faculty and donors. "We're excited about the potential this has to help us, and we believe that we will be effective in this, in that we think this will have an impact on enrollment growth going into the enrollment cliff and other factors," MSU Vice President for Strategic Communications Sid Salter told The Dispatch on Tuesday. "Any time you get an opportunity to partner with a company of Amazon's size and resources, it's hard to turn down." Salter said the university maintains data sets across various departments, including the alumni association, athletic department, and academics and those who go through the admissions and scholarship process. "So all of those data sets overlaid with the Quintillian software will allow us to extract data that will help us make better, more responsive decisions about how we approach the recruitment process," Salter said. The software aims to improve and complement the university's current recruitment systems, but Salter acknowledged concerns about privacy that typically come with large-scale use of AI. By contract, the university is protecting all proprietary data, he said. |
| Mississippi State University researcher earns $550,000 NSF CAREER award | |
| A Mississippi State University faculty member has earned a US National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER award to develop the next generation of energy-efficient, transparent and environmentally friendly LED lighting. Mahesh K. Gangishetty, an MSU assistant professor with appointments in both the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Physics and Astronomy, has been awarded the five-year, $550,000 grant to support innovative research into new types of light-emitting diodes made from safer, earth-abundant materials -- specifically ternary copper halides. His goal is to create LEDs that are not only highly efficient and long-lasting but also capable of emitting a full spectrum of colors while remaining clear and transparent. Gangishetty says the research could help to pave the way for technologies like see-through phones and TV screens, car windshield displays, virtual-reality and augmented-reality interfaces and even window lighting that doubles as décor. The project also includes a strong educational and outreach component. Gangishetty's team will collaborate with 4-H youth leaders and Mississippi K-12 schools to introduce students, especially those in rural areas, to careers in semiconductors, electronics and robotics. |
| MSU student from Vicksburg awarded scholarship from Department of Defense | |
| Mississippi State mechanical engineering senior Marin Sherwin of Vicksburg is receiving the coveted SMART Scholarship from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), MSU officials announced this week. SMART is an acronym for Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation, and the prestigious award is part of a scholarship-for-service program that pays full tuition and gives a generous stipend among other benefits for selected undergraduate and graduate students. SMART scholars then receive civilian employment with the DoD upon degree completion. Sherwin is interning this summer in her hometown at the U.S. Army Engineering Research Development Center, or ERDC, and specifically working in its Geotechnical Structures Laboratory and Mobile Systems branch, where she's had the chance to work with autonomous military vehicle development and testing. "The Bagley College of Engineering has a long history of partnering with the DoD in research and education," MSU Bagley College of Engineering Dean David Ford said. "We are very proud of Marin for continuing that tradition by earning the highly competitive SMART Scholarship and working with ERDC." |
| MSU Muscadine Field Day to be held Aug. 28 | |
 | Anyone growing muscadine grapes or interested in learning more about this fruit crop is invited to attend the Muscadine Field Day, hosted on Aug. 28 by Mississippi State University in Carriere. The event takes place in the vineyard at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station's McNeill Unit. The event begins at 9 a.m. with an hour of instruction and questions and answers. Eric Stafne, MSU Extension Service fruit crop specialist and MAFES researcher, is coordinating the event. He and Patricia Knight, director of horticulture research at the MAFES South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville, will welcome attendees on behalf of MSU. Blair Sampson, an entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service, will discuss the threat of the spotted lanternfly. Then, Jermaine Perier, an MSU Extension entomologist, will discuss vineyard insect management. Jenny Ryals, an MSU doctoral student in horticulture, will give an overview of the USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program, and Haley Williams, an MSU doctoral student in horticulture, will discuss wine blends with fruit. |
| Local project helps food security in Guatemala | |
 | Malnutrition is something we see here at home and all over the world. The Guatemala Rabbit Project was launched in 2019 to address that issue, and it is still changing lives. This project takes place in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, but it started in Starkville. Dr. Jessica Graves, director of International Capacity Development for M4 Institute, is no stranger to rabbits and their benefits. "My grandmother actually raised rabbits for meat production when I was a small child," Graves said. "I have a lot of fond memories of growing up on the farm and walking around with baby bunnies." She said her experience has shaped who she is today, and she is using her gifts to train Mississippi State students to work in an international environment. "That passion is really to help people meet food security needs, but also train students so that they become very competent and proficient with livestock species," Graves said. Graves said the Guatemala Rabbit Project came about as an opportunity to teach students practical lessons about smaller livestock species while addressing food security. Graves said food security is a problem around the world and here at home. |
| Outdoor workers at increased risk for heat-related illness | |
| High summer temperatures can be unsafe for anyone, but these conditions are especially dangerous for outdoor workers. The combination of high environmental temperatures, strenuous work and the use of protective clothing and equipment increases the risk of heat illness and injury for these workers. That is why this high-risk group, which includes agricultural workers, should pay special attention to heat-related weather advisories, said Leslie Woolington, safety specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. "Heat-related weather alerts are important reminders to be prepared for outdoor activities and work," Woolington said. "These alerts help stress to everyone the importance of being mindful of the heat and the danger it poses." Heat is the No.1 weather-related killer in the U.S., and agricultural workers are among the most at risk of death. Between 2000 and 2010, agricultural workers were 35 times more likely to die from heat-related illness than workers in all other industries, according to research by the University of Washington. |
| Mary Means Business: New Salad Station opens in Starkville | |
| Starkville's newest restaurant addition is already a family favorite for my household. Garden Babies Salad Station, located at 325 University Drive, opened this month. The pick-up build-your-own salad spot has tons of options with daily salad specials and classics such as chicken, bacon and ranch and Caesar. Owner Vee Scott, a 2002 Starkville High graduate, has customers pouring in and even lining up out the door. "We've been so busy, I've been running out of lettuce, fruits, everything. We even had to buy a bigger fridge," she laughed. "But, it's a good problem to have." Garden Babies is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and starting Aug. 15, she'll be open 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Fridays and 10 p.m.-3 a.m. on Saturdays. ... We are on a health roll this week. Also in Starkville, a new pilates studio is opening next month. Power Movement Pilates, 500 Russell St., Unit 5, has its sign up, pilates machines out and it is moving along toward opening day. This is the Power Movement's second location, according to its website. Co-owner Anna Wink opened her first location earlier this year in March just outside of Oxford in Taylor. |
| Downtown Starkville businesses hosted mass clearance sale | |
| With this week's high temperatures, it may seem like Fall is a long way off, but area retailers are already gearing up for the season and closing out their Summer stock. That's where Starkville's second "Shop Local Warehouse Sale" comes in. The event gives downtown businesses a chance to sell their goods at discounted rates- all in one place. One shopper Karyn Brown said these businesses make Starkville special. "We want to support small businesses in Starkville," Brown said. "It's one of the great things about living in a small town. And this is a way to do some Christmas shopping in July." Another shopper Amy Fountain said they give back to the community as well. "These are the stores that support our kids schools and our little league," Fountain said. Paige Watson, the Starkville Partnership Director of Main Street, said because of this community support, it's important to go to small businesses first. "It's so important to, in turn, look local first and think about supporting our small businesses in town," Watson said. |
| Meridian Day at the Neshoba County Fair | |
 | In addition to the day's political speaking, today was also Meridian Day at the Neshoba County Fair. Residents from the Queen City had their day at Mississippi's Giant Houseparty, with members of EMBDC and local officials showing up to promote Meridian and all it has to offer. Matt Schanrock with the EMBDC says Meridian Day is all about showing off the partnerships between Meridian and Neshoba County, with so much in common between the Queen City and the people at Mississippi's Giant Houseparty. "It's a good time to showcase what all Meridian is all about and what we're offering, as well as the partnerships we have with Neshoba County and Philadelphia," said Schanrock. "It's a lot of family ties, but we also work in each other's cities. We're only 25 minutes away from each other so it's a good partnership to have." |
| Neshoba County Fair attendees vetting officeholders, future candidates under the sweltering Mississippi heat | |
| Wondering the alleys of the 2025 Neshoba County Fair, Ginger and Greg Monroe were discussing the 2027 Mississippi Governor's race. Ginger is interested in Attorney General Lynn Fitch (R), while her husband of 37 years is indifferent nearly two years out from the Primary Elections. The fair, long a must-stop for politicians hoping to win statewide office, is an annual event where candidates try their best to persuade voters why they should lead Mississippi into the future. Wednesday was the first of two days when candidates could speak directly to voters at the Founders Square Pavilion. Nearly 200 people sat through temperatures above 90 degrees as speakers shared their visions. For voters such as Greg, Neshoba is more of a place he can listen to the candidates and begin evaluating their positions on issues important to him. The engineer from Canton said that the fair allows him to hear directly from the candidates, not through the filter of the media. Seventeen-year-old Nathan Washington said the fair could help influence his first time voting. A self-identified Republican, he is paying close attention to statewide races, especially the governor and attorney general races. Economic issues are key for him because he would like to stay in Mississippi after college. Perhaps, a generational difference, Washington said he will rely more on the candidates' social media messages than on the fair. |
| Politicking at Neshoba Fair previews statewide officials' policy goals, 2027 governor's race | |
 | Amid the sweaty fanfare of the Neshoba County Fair on Wednesday, a slate of Republican elected officials took to the pavilion stage to lay out their visions for Mississippi's future. Most speeches were laced with populist rhetoric and praise for President Donald Trump, and officials discussed a wide range of topics, from rising insurance rates and cutting refund checks to state taxpayers to plans for the 2027 governor's race. While most of Wednesday's speakers struck an optimistic tone, Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney used his Neshoba appearance to issue two stark warnings: one about the long-term cost of the state subsidizing home insurance on the Gulf Coast, and another about the upcoming expiration of federal subsidies that have dramatically reduced health insurance premiums for more than 200,000 Mississippians. Speaking with reporters after his speech, Chaney said the expiration of the Affordable Care Act's premium subsidies at the end of 2025 would widen health care disparities in the state. He estimated that monthly premiums for more than 200,000 Mississippians insured through the ACA exchange will increase by nearly 58%. He warned that many of them will then go without health coverage. Chaney said people in the Medicaid coverage gap, too poor to afford private insurance but not poor enough to qualify for traditional Medicaid, would be hit especially hard. "What do you tell a mother that's pregnant and she can't afford insurance?" Chaney asked. "You still need to have prenatal care." |
| Gipson, Hosemann make spending, policy vows at Neshoba Fair as they eye governor's seat | |
| Two contenders for Mississippi governor in 2027 unveiled a raft of proposals at the Neshoba County Fair on Wednesday, vowing to spend significant amounts of money on new initiatives while keeping taxes low and government lean. The lofty proposals are a preview of issues that could shape what could be a crowded Republican primary with Gov. Tate Reeves being term limited. Under the tin-roofed pavilion at Founder's Square, Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson literally threw his cowboy hat from the stage into the ring for the governor's race, after having made a previous announcement via social media that he would seek the office. The second-term commissioner declared that, if elected governor, he would be an ally to Republican President Donald Trump. As a response to ongoing challenges in the agriculture industry, Gipson announced a new strategic plan that he called "probably the most significant announcement that I've ever made since I became commissioner." The plan will involve Gipson partnering with industry leaders to look at issues such as crop diversification and international trade, drafting a long-term state agriculture plan. He also called for a major investment in transportation and an overhaul of the state's road infrastructure. |
| Hosemann pushes for tax rebate, teacher pay raise at Neshoba County Fair | |
| Though Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann decided not to use the Neshoba County Fair to announce a 2027 bid for governor, the Republican made two things abundantly clear during his stump speech: He is dedicated to returning money to taxpayers, and he is committed to getting public school teachers another pay raise. Hosemann, who addressed a myriad of other topics including government reorganization, curbing veteran suicide rates, expanding the state's workforce, funding the public employees' retirement system, and revitalizing the capital city of Jackson, was especially keen on growing the economy through tax rebates and investing in K-12 classrooms. While on the main stage at Founder's Square, Hosemann vouched for a $316 million tax rebate to be passed by the legislature in the upcoming session. The Senate leader's proposal would result in taxpayers being handed back 15% of what they paid the state in 2023. For example, one who paid $1,000 in state taxes would be eligible to acquire a $150 check. He further asserted that the Magnolia State is in an excellent financial position, with over $1.4 billion in cash on hand, and that a stewardly form of money management would be to give back to the ones paying taxes. |
| Ag Commissioner Andy Gipson jockeys for governor at Neshoba County Fair | |
| The Neshoba County Fair is notorious for its horse races, as evidenced by ESPN's presence at the annual extravaganza earlier this week. But for political junkies, Mississippi's Giant House Party is also widely regarded as a prime host site for public officials and office-seekers alike to deliver stump speeches under the pavilion at Founder's Square. This year, one particular elected leader, who also happens to be a candidate for a higher office, jockeyed at the podium to garner momentum for the 2027 governor's race. Andy Gipson, Mississippi's commissioner of agriculture and commerce, literally tossed his cowboy hat during his time on stage Wednesday in an attempt to show voters that he should be their choice succeed a term-limited Tate Reeves. Gipson officially announced his bid for governor in June, then nearly immediately proceeded to embark on a "Make Mississippi Healthy Again" farm tour, where he traveled across the state and certainly built name identification. But every candidate in Mississippi knows that the apex of the state's political scene is the Neshoba County Fair, a place that proved to be a pivotal stop for Ronald Reagan ahead of his inaugural term in the Oval Office. Gipson, no stranger to delivering prepared speeches in front of audiences at the historic venue, seized the opportunity to vouch for a Mississippi under his guidance ahead of what is anticipated to be a crowded GOP field seeking the Governor's Mansion. |
| Mississippi Ag Commissioner reveals F.A.R.M. plan for agriculture boost | |
 | During his remarks at the 2025 Neshoba County Fair, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson (R-Miss.) announced the Future of Agriculture Resiliency for Mississippi (F.A.R.M) Plan to help strengthen Mississippi's agriculture industry for the future. "Today, American agriculture stands at a pivotal crossroads, with stakes higher than ever for our Mississippi farmers and rural communities. The strength of America's future depends on our farmers' ability to continue producing the food, fiber and shelter that sustain us all. Make no mistake -- food security is national security. To protect our agricultural way of life, we must act with foresight and determination, planning boldly for our future. Because if we fail to plan, we are planning to fail -- and failure is not an option for America's farmers or for our nation," said Gipson. According to the commissioner, the plan will delve into key agricultural focus areas including market development and crop diversification; workforce and labor; infrastructure and food supply resilience; land, water and resource stewardship; technological innovation; and quality of life throughout rural Mississippi. |
| State Auditor's office, Attorney General's office trade shots over prosecution rate in annual report | |
| The State Auditors Office used an annual report to open a rather heated discussion with the Attorney General's office in a release this week. State Auditor Shad White announced in an annual Audit Exceptions Report that his office recovered $905,225.71 in taxpayer funds and returned them to the deserving entities in Fiscal Year 2025. During the last seven years, Auditor White's team recovered more taxpayer money than in any other seven-year period in state history according to records in the Office of the State Auditor. Additionally, the report responded to questions about whether the Attorney General was consistently enforcing the findings of OSA investigations in court. "This is exactly what we have come to expect from the Auditor. We show 28 cases that are active parallel criminal cases. We have 41 with restitution orders in some stage of repayment," said chief of staff Michelle Williams. "We have 29 referrals in active civil litigation. We have 16 that have been paid in full and another 23 that have only the Auditor's investigative fees and/or interest remaining." "We delivered more than $78 million in settlement dollars to the State -- plus more than $80 million in opioid settlement funds. We don't have time to play games like the Auditor. We're too busy working for the people of Mississippi." |
| Auditor claims Attorney General not consistently enforcing demands; AG responds | |
| The growing tension between State Auditor Shad White and Attorney General Lynn Fitch is palpable. On Wednesday, White issued a statement announcing his office's annual Audit Exceptions Report as required by state law. In the report, the Auditor "responded to questions about whether the Attorney General was consistently enforcing the findings of OSA investigations in court." He notes the questions have come from lawmakers. White claims that since May 2024, the State Auditor's office has transmitted 29 cases to the Attorney General requesting standard legal guidance on whether the Attorney General will enforce the findings of those investigations in court. He said those cases represent over $4.5 million in misspent taxpayer funds. To date, White said the Attorney General has only provided legal guidance on one of those cases, a case in Indianola. Magnolia Tribune sought a response from the Attorney General's office late Wednesday given the claims made by the Auditor. "This is exactly what we have come to expect from the Auditor," Michelle Williams, Chief of Staff for Attorney General Fitch, said. Williams said the Attorney General's office shows 28 cases that are active parallel criminal cases. "We have 41 with restitution orders in some stage of repayment. We have 29 referrals in active civil litigation. We have 16 that have been paid in full and another 23 that have only the Auditor's investigative fees and/or interest remaining," Williams said. |
| Suspect killed in Hinds County standoff previously displayed vulgar signs toward Mississippi Department of Public Safety | |
 | A suspect killed in a July 29 hourlong standoff in Hinds County had previously displayed signs with profanity and vulgar messages directed toward the Mississippi Department of Public Safety commissioner and the FBI, MDPS officials confirmed. Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones said a 52-year-old white male, later identified as Richard Lowery by the Hinds County coroner, had a warrant out to be transported to a mental facility. When law enforcement officer attempted to detain Lowery, he allegedly fled in his car before crashing into the gate of a home around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29, in the 3600 block of Bill Downing Road in Raymond. According to Jones, Lowery ran into the home -- that wasn't his -- and barricaded himself. The occupants of the home were reportedly outside. For several hours, the SWAT team and negotiators tried to convince Lowery to come out, but Lowery refused. Jones said Lowery ended up taking his own life, which ended the standoff. The scene was reported around 8 p.m. as cleared. About a week prior to the standoff, Lowery had drawn public attention by wearing a bullet-resistant vest while standing beside large signs bearing graphic messages aimed at the Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell and the FBI. |
| Powell's Gamble: That the Economy Will Reveal Its True Self in the Next Two Months | |
 | Setting interest rates is sometimes more art than science, especially when the economy keeps defying predictions -- a reality the Federal Reserve confronted head-on Wednesday. There are two economic worlds the U.S. could be living in right now, and Fed officials might not know which one for months. In one, economic weakness that's been lurking beneath reasonably solid headline numbers finally surfaces. In the other, artificial intelligence investment and buoyant household wealth power the economy past trade-war headwinds. The Fed held rates steady this week, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell kept his options wide open for its next gathering in September, promising little while ruling out nothing. Officials are betting they can afford to wait at least two months for clarity on whether tariffs will slow economic activity, fuel inflation, or pass by with little effect. That patience comes with risks -- on both sides. Powell suggested he was still committed to preserving the soft landing it looked like the economy had achieved at the beginning of the year, in which inflation had declined without significant damage to the labor market. By pushing up prices of some goods, tariffs have since created crosswinds that could blow the Fed off course. In one economic world, the low and stable unemployment rate that Powell touted as a sign of economic stability is masking gradual labor market deterioration that could accelerate quickly. |
| Senators pick at USDA reorganization proposal | |
 | Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden took questions from the Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday after the agency's plan to slash its Washington offices and move staff to satellite locations across the country raised bipartisan eyebrows. Much of the panel's criticism focused on whether the administration had sufficiently notified Congress -- friction that led to Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), the committee's chair, to call the hearing on relatively short notice. “It is something that ultimately this Congress has something to say about, both from an authorization standpoint, and certainly from an appropriation standpoint,” said Sen. John Hoevan (R-N.D.). “Is this a process where we’re going to work together on an outcome, or is this an outcome that we’re not just going to talk about, but as a fait accompli?” Several senators, including Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), said they were worried about the proposal’s move to eliminate regional offices of the agency’s research arm, including the branch of the Agriculture Research Service in Stoneville, Miss. Vaden claimed that the location’s staff would remain, an answer that seemed to satisfy the Mississippi senator. |
| Trump tirade against Grassley irritates Republican senators | |
| Republican senators were appalled by President Trump's rough treatment of 91-year-old Sen. Chuck Grassley (Iowa), the Senate's most senior Republican, on social media and are pushing back on Trump's attempts to squeeze the senator into abolishing an arcane procedure known as the Senate blue slip. GOP senators were not pleased that Trump piled so much pressure on Grassley, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, to get rid of a long-established Senate tradition. Trump piled on by reposting on Truth Social posts accusing Grassley of being a "RINO" and "sneaky" and standing in the way of Trump's agenda. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee who has separately felt the wrath of Trump for his opposition to the tax and spending megabill earlier this month, said Trump appears to be getting bad advice from his staff. "I think it was a bad -- No. 1, Chuck is beloved in our conference. No. 2, the blue-slip policy helps the president. He's got staff giving him bad advice," Tillis said. Even Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), one of Trump's staunchest allies in the Senate, pushed back on Trump's effort to eliminate blue slips. Tuberville said he knows Trump "gets frustrated with it" but asserted "it is what it is -- it's why the Senate works." |
| Drastic changes coming to homeless services, new Trump order promises | |
 | The United States is taking a sharp turn in how it addresses homelessness after President Donald Trump ordered a tough new approach that rejects the longstanding "housing first" template. Trump, angered by messy encampments of homeless people near the White House and on the nation's streets and parks, declared that organizations receiving federal funding must focus first on locking up people with drug or mental health challenges. Trump has long criticized how the United States manages homelessness, and argues public streets aren't safe for either the homeless or residents. Longtime social workers, medical experts and mental health service providers say the new approach will likely worsen homelessness across the country, particularly because Trump's order contains no new funding for mental health or drug treatment. Additionally, they say the president appears to misunderstand the fundamental driver of homelessness: People can't afford housing. The president's order calls for more "involuntary commitment," which is a process in which mental health workers can forcibly detain and medicate people against their will. Studies have shown that the housing first model is significantly cheaper and more effective than involuntary detention. Supporters of Trump's approach, which was bolstered by a recent Supreme Court ruling, say it's about time police officers were given the go-ahead to vigorously arrest people for drug possession while reducing the risk of human waste and fire hazards posed by the encampments and "chronic vagancy" cited by the president. |
| She saw the power of foreign aid. Now Young Kim is making her case | |
 | Young Kim, an immigrant from South Korea and a former longtime aide to retired House Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce, is a rare figure in the House Republican caucus these days. Like her former boss, Kim has a visible platform to speak out on international developments from her position as chair of the House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee. She has chosen to use that pulpit to champion the importance of U.S. soft power, a position many in her party seem to be moving away from these days. She doesn't mince words with how she feels about the recent layoffs of some 1,300 State Department personnel, including more than 200 Foreign Service officers. "It broke my heart," Young said in a July interview in her Rayburn office. She represents a purple-tinged swath of Southern California that was once a conservative bastion where Richard Nixon was born and Ronald Reagan is still revered. Kim, who was elected to her third term in 2024, has carved out a foreign policy focus on the Pacific region and East Asia. From the start, Kim has raised concerns that the U.S. would see its global influence diminished by the administration's sweeping foreign aid cuts, citing Beijing's willingness to replace programs previously overseen by the now-shuttered U.S. Agency for International Development. "[Chinese President] Xi Jinping is watching and he is waiting for the chance to fill any U.S. vacuum," she said during a February committee hearing. |
| From 'Crossfire' to 'CeaseFire': C-SPAN executive launches program that promotes common ground | |
 | For several years when he was at CNN, Sam Feist was in charge of "Crossfire," the show that set a template for televised political combat. Now that he runs C-SPAN, Feist is going in another direction. The public affairs network debuts "CeaseFire" this fall, described as an attempt to bring political opposites together to find common ground, and on Wednesday announced that Dasha Burns of Politico will be its host. "At the end of the day, Americans and members of Congress agree more than they disagree," said Feist, C-SPAN CEO. "We just never see that on television, and you rarely see that on the floor of Congress. And I wanted to change that." "Crossfire" aired on CNN from 1982 until 2005. It featured a conservative and liberal host, with guests, debating a contentious issue. It often got loud -- and sometimes personal. Conflict sells, and as cable television evolved into more often talking about the news than reporting it, the formula was widely imitated. It arguably influenced politics as well. Being argumentative and taking no prisoners were more effective ways of getting attention than trying to find common ground and get things done. From traveling the country reporting, Burns said she also feels there is a disconnect between how people think of politics and how it is portrayed on television -- a dissonance, she suggests, that "CeaseFire" can tap. |
| The shockingly shrunken footprint of a former president | |
 | For more than five decades, Joe Biden's existence was not only incredibly public but busy --- his waking hours spent surrounded by a coterie of devoted aides and strategists, his calendar filled with speaking engagements and meetings, his home a bustling and buzzing swarm of activity. In "What It Takes," Richard Ben Cramer's magnum opus on the candidates who sought the presidency in 1988, he captures the scene in the Biden household on the eve of his campaign announcement: "there were typists upstairs, waiting, and gurus present for consultations, and Joe's parents were over, just to help out ... there were a hundred media calls and a million staff and volunteer calls and VIP arrangements -- train passes and hotel rooms, Wilmington cops, and state cops and Amtrak cops, the height of the podium (wrong, of course), money bigs with suggestions, food for the staff, people at the airport, people called and said 'Is Joe there?'" Ultimately, Biden had what it took to win the presidency. Now, he's on the other side of the mountain. And his life has entered a new phase that is quieter and smaller. |
| USM Names New Dean of College of Nursing and Health Professions | |
| Dr. Charleen McNeill, an accomplished higher education administrator and faculty member with extensive professional healthcare experience, has been selected as dean of The University of Southern Mississippi's College of Nursing and Health Professions (CNHP) following a nationwide search. McNeill comes to Southern Miss from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where she currently serves as executive associate dean of academic affairs and holds a professorship in its College of Nursing. She will join the Southern Miss administrative team on Oct. 1, pending approval of the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning. Southern Miss Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Lance Nail said members of the search committee and other university constituents recognized during the interview process that Dr. McNeill embodies the visionary leadership and grit that define Southern Miss. He also noted that she is well-positioned to continue the legacy of academic excellence and community engagement championed by retiring Dean Dr. Lachel Story. |
| USM's Taylor Garretson crowned 2025 Mississippi Miss Hospitality | |
| A senior at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) was crowned the 2025 Mississippi Miss Hospitality on July 19 at the Historic Hattiesburg Saenger Theater. Taylor Garretson, a native of Greene County, won the competition following a week of interviews, speeches and stage presentations. Now serving as the 76th Mississippi Miss Hospitality, Garretson will spend the next year traveling the state as a goodwill ambassador for economic development and tourism. She is a digital journalism major and dance minor at Southern Miss. "As a digital journalism major at USM, I have been trained to communicate confidently and with purpose, whether it's through writing or speaking," Garretson said. "This has helped me feel comfortable sharing my heart on a stage, connecting with others and representing Mississippi in a genuine way. I'm looking forward to using those skills to highlight our state over the next year." |
| Farris tapped as new director of eLearning at Holmes | |
| Holmes Community College has named Shalon Farris as the new director of eLearning. Farris, a longtime member of the Holmes family, brings a wealth of experience in instructional technology and learning management systems, as well as a deep personal connection to the college. Vice President for Academic Programs and eLearning Dr. Jenny B. Jones praised Farris' promotion, stating, "Shalon brings a unique blend of institutional knowledge, statewide leadership experience and technical expertise that makes her the ideal person to lead our eLearning department." Farris holds a master's in management information systems and a bachelor's in educational psychology, both from Mississippi State University. Her career began at Holmes, where she worked as a work-study student in the eLearning department while attending summer school. |
| LSU's student food pantry got $52K from College World Series Jell-O shot winnings | |
 | Nearly six weeks after LSU baseball won the College World Series in Omaha, Rocco's Pizza & Cantina has come through on its end of the Jell-O Shot Challenge, donating $52,390 to the LSU Student Food Pantry in Baton Rouge. Rocco's Pizza & Cantina in Omaha, Nebraska, is a favorite among LSU fans and college baseball fanatics alike. The establishment charges $5 per Jell-O shot in appropriate school colors, with $1.50 of each purchase going to support food insecurity efforts in each participating team's town. The restaurant donated a total $130,009 to eight programs and local charities across the country -- with Cane's CEO and founder Todd Graves donating an additional $10,000 to be split among the recipients, according to Rocco's Facebook. This year, not only did the Tigers take home the World Series title for the eighth time, but their fans once again earned their place as Jell-O shot champions. In 2025, Tiger fans bought more than 52,390 gelatin shots during the 10 days of the College World Series. |
| Task force to examine gradual retirement for Louisiana higher education faculty, staff | |
| Louisiana is considering adopting a phased retirement program that would allow higher education faculty and staff to gradually reduce their duties over the final years of their careers. A legislative task force created earlier this year by House Resolution 143, sponsored by Rep. Tony Bacala, R-Prairieville, held its first meeting Wednesday and will meet over the next six months to study the feasibility of adopting such a system. Bacala, who chairs the House Retirement Committee, sponsored legislation earlier this year that codified a wish-list of retirement reforms higher education faculty and staff put forward. The task force must submit its report to Bacala's committee by the end of the year. A phased retirement option is desirable to faculty and staff because it allows older faculty and staff to continue to receive health insurance and accrue retirement benefits over the term of their transition to full retirement, which in other states typically lasts one to five years. Hanging on to experienced workers can also benefit newer workers who can benefit from their expertise, several task force members pointed out. The key challenge its members will navigate will be the cost. Louisiana spends less on higher education than almost every other state, including in the area of faculty and staff retirement. Any legislation that requires an increase in state spending has had difficulty passing the legislature over the past couple of years as Gov. Jeff Landry has sought to constrain the state's budget. |
| Texas A&M researcher, permanent resident detained by ICE in San Francisco | |
 | A researcher at Texas A&M University on his way home from his brother's wedding in South Korea has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for over a week in the San Francisco International Airport, according to the Washington Post. Tae Heung "William" Kim, 40, is a Ph.D. candidate and researcher in the Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences department. His research at Texas A&M dealt with ticks and tick-borne illnesses. The ultimate goal of the research was to find cures to those illnesses as well as a vaccine for Lyme disease. Kim arrived at Texas A&M for his Ph.D. in the summer of 2021. He was part of a team led by Dr. Albert Mulenga that was featured in the summer 2022 issue of the magazine CVMBS Today that discussed their research into ticks and tick-borne illnesses. Kim had also written essays on tick research for scholarly journals such as PLOS Pathogens and MDPI Review. Kim received his undergraduate degree in oceanography from Texas A&M in 2007. Lee told the Post he believed Kim was detained because of a 2011 incident where Kim faced a minor marijuana possession charge in Texas. Kim fulfilled a community service requirement and was successful in a petition to seal the offense from the public record. As such Kim would be able to qualify for a waiver that allows officials to overlook certain minor crimes that might otherwise threaten a legal permanent resident. |
| Duke University hit with two federal investigations over diversity practices | |
| The Trump Administration is investigating Duke University over its diversity practices. The probe comes as hundreds of employees prepare to leave the university due to federal funding cuts. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr and Education Secretary Linda McMahon recently sent a letter to Duke administrators. In it, they allege the university's health system and medical school are engaging in "wrongful racial preferences" in hiring and admissions. Kennedy and McMahon urge Duke administrators set up a "Merit and Civil Rights Committee" to review its diversity policies "to avoid invasive federal engagement." The secretaries warn the university's federal funding could be at risk if it doesn't change course. "It is our hope that Duke Medical School and other components of Duke Health will either demonstrate that they merit the privilege of receiving taxpayer support or will enact reforms that make further enforcement efforts unnecessary," the letter said. In addition, CNN and other media outlets report HHS has frozen $108 million in funding for Duke Health. The Duke Health investigation comes the same week that the Department of Education announced an investigation into diversity practices at Duke's student-edited Law Journal. |
| Brown University Makes a Deal With the White House to Restore Funding | |
 | Brown University, besieged by the Trump administration's pressure campaign against the country's most elite schools, struck a deal with the government on Wednesday, becoming the third Ivy League university in a month to reach an agreement with the White House. The agreement, a copy of which Brown made public, calls for the university to make $50 million in payments to state work force development programs over a decade and requires Brown to comply with the Trump administration's vision on matters like transgender athletes and "merit-based" admissions policies. The university, which is in Providence, R.I., secured a pledge from the government that the deal would not be used "to dictate Brown's curriculum or the content of academic speech." The Trump administration is also required to restore millions of dollars in federal research funding that it had blocked in recent months, and Brown avoided the naming of an independent monitor to oversee the deal. The Trump administration depicted the deal as an ideological victory. In a statement on Wednesday, the education secretary, Linda McMahon, argued that the deal would be part of a "lasting legacy of the Trump administration, one that will benefit students and American society for generations to come." |
| Colleges Aren't Supposed to Fiddle With Their Wikipedia Pages. They Try Anyway. | |
 | Earlier this year, the president of Connecticut College approached John Nugent, its director of institutional research and planning, with a question. A trustee had recently shared an outdated number for the college's endowment. Did Nugent know why? He went searching online. It didn't take long to determine what he believes is the culprit: Wikipedia. The open-source site is often one of the first results on Google, and it has significant weight in answers by artificial intelligence. And it was on Connecticut College's Wikipedia page where Nugent noticed a glaring error: The endowment figure was two years out of date. The incident underscores the limitations of marketing higher education online. Colleges can spend millions on websites and advertisements to build their online image -- especially as they fight dwindling enrollments and low public confidence in the value of a degree. But what's the use when even a trustee's first click is on a website that isn't the college's? In an age where the presentation of information online is increasingly democratic, Wikipedia might seem like a place where colleges can easily shape their reputations. That's certainly what communications and marketing departments would like -- and many have taken to the site to correct information or, in some cases, make it more flattering. But their efforts don't go very far. Despite its reputation for collaboration, Wikipedia is patrolled by vigilant editors who swiftly strike down colleges' rewrites in an attempt to root out what they see as threats to the site's independence. Colleges can do little but watch. |
| DOJ Declares Slew of DEI Practices Unlawful in Memo | |
 | More than three months after a federal court struck down an Education Department directive that barred any practices that consider race at colleges across the country, the Department of Justice declared Wednesday that diversity, equity and inclusion practices are unlawful and "discriminatory." But the agency's memo goes even further than ED's guidance, suggesting that programs that rely on what they describe as stand-ins for race, like recruitment efforts that focus on majority-minority geographic areas, could violate federal civil rights laws. The directive applies to any organization that receives federal funds, and DOJ officials warned that engaging in potentially unlawful practices could lead to a loss in grant funding. Other examples of "potentially unlawful proxies" include requirements that job applicants "demonstrate 'cultural competence,' 'lived experience,' or 'cross-cultural skills'" or narratives about how the applicant has overcome obstacles, Attorney General Pamela Bondi wrote. "This highlights that every practice of colleges is under scrutiny, even ones that have been viewed as politically safe for years (such as top ten percent plans or even TRIO programs). The only truly safe ways to admit students right now are to admit everyone or only use standardized test scores," Robert Kelchen, a professor in the University of Tennessee at Knoxville's Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, wrote in an email to Inside Higher Ed. "Being an enrollment management leader has always been tough, but now it's even more challenging to meet revenue targets and satisfy stakeholders who have politically incompatible goals." |
| Their NIH Grants Are Back. But Nothing Is Back to Normal. | |
| When the National Institutes of Health terminated six of Katie M. Edwards's grants this year, she decided to join a lawsuit against the government. Doing so, she knew, could bring negative attention to her efforts to prevent violence among LGBTQ+ and Indigenous youth. But as the Trump administration carries out a sweeping attack on scientific research it considers unfavorable, "I had to do it for my staff, for our life-saving work, for broader justice and public-health research," said Edwards, a social-work professor at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Last month, a federal judge in Boston sided with the plaintiffs and ordered the NIH to restore more than 900 grants. Now money is coming back in the latest wave of federal-funding reinstatements. Edwards and more than a dozen other scientists told The Chronicle that they are grateful and thrilled. But they're overwhelmed, too. After being forced to halt research midstream, lay off staff, and alter career plans, researchers say picking up where they left off is complicated -- scientifically, financially, and logistically. A month after the ruling, some had confirmation that their payments had resumed, and others were anxiously waiting for clarity. Still others were discovering that they wouldn't actually get any money at all. |
SPORTS
| Baseball: MSU To Play Florida State In Pensacola Exhibition | |
| Mississippi State is headed to the Florida panhandle for a fall exhibition game. The Diamond Dawgs will scrimmage against Florida State on Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. at Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola, home to the Miami Marlins' Double-A affiliate. "I'm excited about the group of young men that will wear the M over S logo this year and can't wait for them all to come together and get to work this fall," said head coach Brian O'Connor. "We're looking forward to traveling down to Pensacola in October and appreciate the hospitality already shown by Blue Wahoos. We hope to see a lot of Maroon and White in the stands when we take the field against the Seminoles." Tickets are currently available to Blue Wahoos season ticket holders and will go on sale to the general public on Aug. 12 at 9 a.m. at BlueWahoos.com. |
| Mississippi State baseball schedules Pensacola exhibition against Florida State | |
| The final opponent that Mississippi State's baseball team saw on the field in 2025 will be the first opponent they see ahead of the 2026 campaign. An exhibition game between the Bulldogs and Florida State was announced Wednesday. The scrimmage will take place Oct. 18 at Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola, home to the Miami Marlins' Double-A affiliate. During the 2025 season, Mississippi State made an unlikely run to the postseason after a poor start under head coach Chris Lemonis. Lemonis was fired, and with interim head coach Justin Parker at the helm, the Bulldogs landed in the Tallahassee Regional hosted by FSU. After beating Northwestern twice, Mississippi State fell to the Seminoles in the championship series. While both teams will return some players from last year's groups, it will be an almost entirely new Mississippi State team under recently hired head coach Brian O'Connor. Outside of the return of star third baseman Ace Reese and a few others like Bryce Chance and Noah Sullivan, the Bulldogs lost a lot of starting-caliber talent, but not without adding a plethora of new faces through the transfer portal. |
| Mississippi State baseball to play Florida State in fall exhibition | |
 | Mississippi State baseball was ousted from the NCAA tournament by Florida State in 2025 and will get another crack at the Seminoles in the fall. The Bulldogs and Seminoles will play an exhibition game in Pensacola, Florida, on Saturday, Oct. 18, the teams announced on July 30. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Blue Wahoos Stadium, the home of the Miami Marlins' Double-A affiliate. No information about a TV broadcast was announced. Tickets for Blue Wahoos season-ticket holders are on sale now while the general public can purchase tickets starting Aug. 12 at 9 a.m. Florida State eliminated MSU in the Tallahassee Regional final with a 5-2 win on June 1. About an hour after the final out, the Bulldogs hired Brian O'Connor as their new coach. Florida State lost to Oregon State in the Corvallis Super Regional. "I'm excited about the group of young men that will wear the M over S logo this year and can't wait for them all to come together and get to work this fall," O'Connor said in a statement. "We're looking forward to traveling down to Pensacola in October and appreciate the hospitality already shown by Blue Wahoos. We hope to see a lot of Maroon and White in the stands when we take the field against the Seminoles." |
| FSU baseball will return to Blue Wahoos Stadium for Fall Ball series against Mississippi State | |
| The Seminoles are coming back to Pensacola. Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves, in partnership with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, announced on July 30 that the Florida State baseball team would, once again, host a fall series at the bayfront stadium. The Seminoles will play Mississippi State in back-to-back seven-inning games on Oct. 18, starting at 1 p.m. CT. It'll be a rematch from this past spring when FSU played the Bulldogs in the Tallahassee Regional of the College World Series, with the Seminoles winning twice. "This was a pet project of mine, as an FSU grad, to have Florida State baseball -- obviously a storied program for generations -- to play in my hometown," Reeves said during a press conference. "That's the exciting thing when you have this high-caliber level of college baseball. The exciting thing is you're going to be seeing guys that are going to be suiting up professionally very, very quickly," Reeves said. "I'm very excited to see all those guys play again. That is the draw: you're not only seeing two strong teams that have two strong fanbases, but you're seeing some of the best college baseball players in the United States." |
| Shapen, returning leaders key to finding synergy in 2025 | |
| Synergy. It's not just every tech startup founder's favorite word, it's a vital step in teambuilding for any sport. In football, where the performance of individual units working together dictate a team's fortunes, it's not just a prerequisite for success, but for operating at all. Last year, Mississippi State's offense lacked synergy from the jump. Penalties, three-and-outs, wrong reads, wrong routes. The Bulldogs weren't exactly turning the ball over at a high rate, but they struggled to get going, and it set the tone for a bad season. With so many changes in personnel, cohesion and consistency can be a challenge, but MSU head coach Jeff Lebby and his staff have more trust in the offensive unit and their ability to build some momentum this time around. The Bulldogs have a few returning leaders to help establish some continuity despite the roster turnover. Quarterback Blake Shapen is back, as are running back Davon Booth, tight end Seydou Traore and wide receiver Jordan Mosley to lead their respective skill position groups. Lebby spoke at SEC Media Days about the importance of Shapen's return as the leader under center, someone who knows the offense and how to run it. |
| College Sports Commission informs schools that NIL collectives can pay athletes directly with limitations | |
| In a revised memo sent to schools on Thursday, the College Sports Commission announced that booster-backed NIL collectives can, in fact, directly compensate athletes if the transactions meet certain "valid business purpose" benchmarks. The one-page guidance replaces a memo sent to schools on July 10 where the CSC revealed that collectives would not be treated as valid businesses and denied many of their transactions with athletes. After weeklong negotiations with House plaintiff attorneys Jeffrey Kessler and Steve Berman, the College Sports Commission, operated by the power conferences, is adjusting its approach -- an expected resolution that Yahoo Sports reported last week after the parties originally agreed on a joint statement that was finally released Thursday. The statement "clarifies" what is permitted from collectives to athletes under the NCAA's landmark House settlement agreement, reversing the July 10 guidance by permitting collectives to strike deals with athletes as long as they "have a valid business purpose related to offering goods or services to the general public for profit and fall within the range of fair market value compensation." Previously denied deals are being reevaluated to apply the new, revised guidance, the organization said in its guidance to schools. |
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