| Wednesday, August 20, 2025 |
| Officials break ground on Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center in Biloxi | |
 | Officials from academia, state and local government, and the U.S. military gathered on the Gulf Coast on Tuesday to break ground on the new Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center. Leaders from Mississippi State University, the U.S. Air Force, the city of Biloxi, and Gov. Tate Reeves were on site at the 100,000-square-foot facility under construction adjacent to Keesler Air Force Base. The center will serve as the headquarters for the Mississippi Cyber Initiative, building upon a shared vision to enhance cybersecurity capabilities and collaboration across state, federal, academic, and industry sectors. "This is a proud day for Mississippi State University, a proud day for our partners at Keesler, and a proud day for every Mississippian who wants to see our state thrive in the innovation economy of the 21st century," Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum said. "Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue. It is a national security priority, a workforce imperative, and a driver of economic growth. And Mississippi is leading the way." MSU Research and Technology Corp. will manage the building, which is expected to open in 2027. |
| Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center project marks major milestone | |
| Magnolia State leaders broke ground Tuesday on the Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center, a 100,000-square-foot facility being built adjacent to Biloxi's Keesler Air Force Base. The center will serve as the headquarters for the Mississippi State University (MSU)-led Mississippi Cyber Initiative (MCI). "Mississippi's future is already here," Governor Tate Reeves (R) told the crowd at the groundbreaking ceremony. "Our state is stronger than ever, but with the new Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center, I know our future will be even bigger, even brighter, and even better for all." MSU President Mark Keenum, a pivotal partner in the new facility, pointed out that cybersecurity is no longer simply an IT issue. "It's a national security priority, a workforce imperative, and a driver of economic growth," he said. "And Mississippi is leading the way." MSU Research and Technology Corp. will manage the facility, which is expected to open in 2027. Designed by Dale Partners Architects, with AnderCorp as the lead construction contractor, the new facility will house MCI's central offices, Air Force training spaces, offices for private industry partners, and an event center. |
| Mississippi breaks ground for new center for cybersecurity and technology | |
 | Mississippi is a leader in innovation, Gov. Tate Reeves said Tuesday morning, Aug. 19, during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center, which will house the Mississippi State University-led Mississippi Cyber Initiative. The 100,000-square-foot center will be located at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi. Julie Jordan, vice president of research and economic development at MSU, said the Cyber and Technology Center was five years in the making. "It has been a long time coming and a lot of people have been involved in making the new Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center a reality," she said. "This is a step forward for the state of Mississippi, for our national defense and innovation along the Gulf Coast." Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum said the university is already leading the way in technology innovation. Keenum added that with the Cyber and Technology Center, the university is "taking another step in our work to move forward." The center also will train and retain students by creating more "high-tech career pathways." |
| Officials break ground on Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center | |
 | Officials broke ground on the Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center on the coast. The Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center will be built adjacent to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi. The 100,000-square-foot facility will serve as the headquarters for the Mississippi State University (MSU)-led Mississippi Cyber Initiative (MCI). Officials said it will build upon a shared vision to enhance cybersecurity capabilities and collaboration across state, federal, academic and industry sectors. "This is a proud day for Mississippi State University, a proud day for our partners at Keesler, and a proud day for every Mississippian who wants to see our state thrive in the innovation economy of the 21st century," said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. The facility, funded by Mississippi State Legislature and a large donation from Mississippi Power and Southern Company, is designed by Dale Partners Architects with AnderCorp. Expected to open in 2027, it will include MCI's central offices, an event center, Air Force training spaces and secure offices for private industry partners. Keesler leadership said this project is vital to keep Mississippi safe. "This building represents our commitment to staying ahead in the cyber domain in an era when it is of critical importance to everything we do," said Col. Christopher Robinson, commander of the 81st Training Wing at Keesler. |
| Keesler Air Force Base, MSU, state leaders break ground on Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center | |
 | Mississippi is taking center stage in the fight against cyber threats as state leaders broke ground Tuesday on what could become one of the most important cybersecurity facilities in the country. The center is being built in Biloxi, and officials say it will put the state at the forefront of innovation, national defense and education. It starts at a quiet field on the edge of Keesler Air Force Base. But soon, this site will be transformed into the epicenter of Mississippi's cyber future. "Today really is the perfect day to break new ground on the Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center," said Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves. The 100,000-square-foot facility will serve as the headquarters for the Mississippi Cyber Initiative; that's a program launched in 2021 and led by Mississippi State University to bolster cyber training and research. "This facility will be state-of-the-art," said MSU President Mark Keenum at Tuesday's groundbreaking. "It will be a national center in scope and its mission." Keenum says the center isn't just about research -- it's about real-world solutions, training the next generation and ensuring America stays ahead in the cyber domain. |
| Groundbreaking for Mississippi Cyber and Tech Center in Biloxi | |
| Mississippi and the U.S. Air Force are marking a new era in cybersecurity research, training, and collaboration as construction has begun on a transformative project on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The new Cyber and Technology facility will include office space for Mississippi State University personnel, private industry partners, classroom space for Keesler training, and an event center. The 100,000 square foot planned building on Keesler Air Force Base will serve as the headquarters for the Mississippi State University-led Mississippi cyber initiative, building on statewide collaborations to enhance state and federal cybersecurity capabilities. The building also builds on the success of the Mississippi Cyber Initiative which was launched in 2021 following years of collaboration between Mississippi State University and Keesler to support the Air Force's cyber training mission. |
| Historic MSU food hall is renovated, opened for new era of dining | |
 | For more than 100 years, the arched wooden beams of Perry Cafeteria have watched generations of Mississippi State students pass through its doors. Now, after a year of careful renovations, the beloved campus landmark begins its next chapter as Perry Food Hall -- a new dining destination that honors its storied past while serving the next generation of Bulldogs. "Perry is one of our most iconic buildings -- it's what many people think of when they picture Mississippi State University. This renovation preserves that history and builds on it to create a truly special space and unique experience," MSU President Mark E. Keenum said. "I appreciate the significant investments our dining partner Aramark has made in our university and its commitment to our students." Built in 1921 and once the largest cafeteria in the U.S., Perry has long been more than a place to eat. It's where students gathered for dances, shared meals and even ran plays during rainy-day football practices. As one of Mississippi's officially registered landmarks, its Late Gothic Revival architecture remains on display with its exposed timber beams and nostalgic charm anchored in the heart of campus. With Starbucks relocated from the Colvard Student Union to Perry Food Hall, the space once again invites students to not just dine but stay. Whether working on a laptop, catching up with friends over coffee or simply enjoying the charm of a century-old building made new, Perry has returned to its roots as a central campus gathering place. |
| MSU, ECCC partner to create culinary arts transfer pathway | |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Central Community College (ECCC) partnered to create a transfer pathway for culinary arts students. MSU President Mark E. Keenum and ECCC President Brent Gregory signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday, August 18. The agreement allows community college graduates to continue their education at the university level. "Our university is widely recognized for the innovative degree programs we provide and the collaborative culture we have," said Keenum. "This agreement is the perfect example of how we're working with our partners to give students access to a high-quality academic experience with our world-class faculty and earn a degree that leads to successful and rewarding career opportunities." Transfer students will also be able to study at the university's new Food Science Innovation Hub. "The culinology degree blends culinary arts and food science," said MSU professor Wes Schilling. "By partnering with community colleges like ECCC, we're increasing access and creating pathways for students to merge their culinary passion with food science -- preparing them to work seamlessly with both chefs and food scientists." |
| East Central Community College and Mississippi State University launch culinary education partnership | |
 | Mississippi State University and East Central Community College have partnered up to provide students in culinary arts a new expansion to their education. This partnership provides a new and structured pathway for culinary arts students at MSU and ECCC to transfer into a culinology degree at MSU without worrying about class credit transfers. Culinology looks deeper into the science behind food, with an emphasis on nutrition and the chemical nature of what we eat. "Culinology delves deeper into the actual science behind food. All of the nutrition, all of the chemistry, all of the molecular gastronomy, and I feel like it would be something some people would truly enjoy, rather than just learning how to beautify food," said Enoc Reynoso, the Culinary Arts instructor at ECCC. Lucas Calvert with East Central Community College says this also opens up more resources for students who enroll in ECCC's culinary arts program. "One really cool part about this program, is the collaborative student support for Mississippi State and East Central, so the students that choose this pathway that are in our culinary program will have access to library resources at Mississippi State. They'll have a lot more available to them that some of our students at EC don't have," said Calvert. "This pathway will not only get them to Mississippi State, but it will give them some of those benefits during their time here at East Central." |
| Stats tell the story: MSU's Famous Maroon Band students have what it takes to succeed | |
| Mississippi State University members of the Famous Maroon Band aren't just good musicians -- they tend to be students who make everything look easy, including maintaining a high GPA. With more than 425 band members this year, the group boasts a median ACT score of 27 and a median GPA of 3.6. In addition, 160 of these students have an ACT score of 30 or higher and many are listed on the university's honor roll lists, including nearly 40 band members with a 4.0 GPA. Early season performances at this fall's MSU football games will feature the theme "FMB Brings the Heat," including songs like "Heat of the Moment" and "The Heat is On." The annual patriotic and homecoming shows are scheduled, along with the high school band day, when 300 high school students will join the FMB performance on Sept. 6. The SEC opener on Sept. 27 will showcase cartoon themes, and the Egg Bowl in November will include Latin Jazz such as Chick Corea's "Spain" and Stan Kenton's "La Suerte de los Tontos." Along with regular performances at football and basketball games, FMB has made appearances in recent years at the Reliaquest Bowl, Liberty Bowl, Music City Bowl, Outback Bowl, Gator Bowl, Belk Bowl, Orange Bowl and St. Petersburg Bowl. The Wind Ensemble has performed internationally in Austria, the Czech Republic, England, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and most recently in Spain this spring. The Wind Ensemble also performed at the 2020 American Bandmasters Association Convention in Biloxi and the 2024 Mississippi Bandmasters State Band Clinic in Natchez. |
| Find your sorority sisters in these photos from Mississippi State Bid Day 2025 | |
| Photos: Active and new sorority members celebrate Mississippi State Bid Day 2025 at the Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Miss., on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. |
| Record High Beef Costs Result From Low Supplies | |
| U.S. ground beef retail prices have broken their record highs two months in a row, and consumers may be waiting a while for relief. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service reported an average ground beef price in July 2025 of $6.25 a pound. The previous record of $6.12 a pound was set in the previous month the first time the average had ever broken $6. Retail values are also escalating in other beef cuts. Mississippi State University Extension beef specialist Brandi Karisch said reasons for the high prices are overlapping and numerous. At about 810,000 head, including 430,000 cows and heifers that have calved, the state's cattle-and-calf inventory is still solid and remained unchanged between 2024-25. Keeping herds well fed has been more difficult to achieve. "High beef prices are mainly driven by reduced national cattle inventories, which are at their lowest in decades due to drought-related herd reductions," said Karisch, also a research professor in the MSU Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences. "Strong consumer demand and increased processing and transportation costs are also contributing." |
| Starkville parking rates to increase in Midtown, Cotton District | |
 | Patrons will see the cost of parking in ParkMobile spots throughout Midtown and the Cotton District increase in the coming months. During Tuesday night's board meeting, aldermen voted 6-1 to increase paid parking rates, beginning Sept. 1. The rate is set to increase the regular weekday rate by 25 cents per hour, bringing the hourly rate to $1.25, with a three-hour maximum. Saturday parking, which was previously free all day, will now cost an hourly rate of $1.25 with a three-hour maximum, as well as an option to pay a flat-rate fee of $10 for the entire day or $25 per day if it is a game day for Mississippi State athletics. The first 15 minutes of parking will remain free. Mayor Lynn Spruill, who brought forth the motion, said the increase is intended to provide businesses with customer turnover, particularly on Saturdays. However, Tyler Klaas, owner of Boardtown Pizza and Pints and The Klaasroom in the Cotton District, argued the Saturday flat rate could do the opposite. "The parking meters were kind of imposed to eliminate squatters, as that's what they do," Klaas told the board Tuesday. "... I kind of disagree with adding (the cost) on the weekends because you're getting people to pay, but at the same time, they're once again squatting all day." Robbie Coblentz, owner of Dolce and L'uva Wine Room, argued the increase could deter customers and cost his business in Saturday sales "I think adding Saturday streetside parking just generally is a bad idea for our business at Dolce," Coblentz said. "(I'm) estimating a 10% to 15% decrease on average in Saturday sales." |
| LINK celebrates new office, dedicating training room to longtime advocate Bobby Harper | |
| The Golden Triangle Development LINK celebrated the opening of its new office Tuesday, welcoming dozens of community members, business partners and local officials to the new 7,000-square-foot building at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport. The decision to locate near GTRA was close to a decade and a half in the making -- built on a vision of tying the Oktibbeha, Lowndes and Clay communities together for economic development at a more centralized location. "We said, 'What location could we pick that shows everybody what we were trying to do here?'" LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins told the crowd Tuesday. "And locating on the airport's property in the middle of a big development is kind of where we picked to be. It's kind of our natural spot. This goes back to the olden, olden, olden days ... to the region's vision." Part of that vision, Higgins said, is credited to Bobby Harper, a longtime banking and community leader in the region, who also served on the LINK's board of directors. The LINK, Higgins said, wouldn't be what it is today with Harper's efforts, prompting the choice to dedicate the training room as the "Bobby Harper Training Room." |
| GTRA to host TSA PreCheck event next week | |
| Golden Triangle travelers looking for an easier time at airport security may be in luck next week. Golden Triangle Regional Airport is hosting a TSA PreCheck Enrollment event Aug. 26-29 from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. each day on the second floor of the airport's passenger terminal, where the Transportation Security Administration will be helping passengers register or re-enroll into the program. "For us, it's all about trying to be a convenient location for passengers who are interested in benefiting from TSA PreCheck and then continuing to serve the public and be a place where they have more convenient options," GTRA Executive Director Matt Dowell said. Travelers, once arriving at the event, will go through a roughly 10-minute process that will involve fingerprinting, reviewing identifying documents and a background check, Dowell said. Once that background check comes back clear, the applicant will receive a notice from TSA within 30 days that they are enrolled in the program and have been given a Known Traveler Number. Dowell said the four-day event typically brings in between 200 to 300 applicants. The event will be taking both scheduled appointments or walk-ins, though appointments will be given priority. To pre-enroll for the program and make an appointment for the event online go to grta.com and click on the TSA PreCheck banner. |
| Surprise sale in works for Frank Lloyd Wright house in Jackson. Will it open to public? | |
| According to multiple sources with knowledge of the deal, the Mississippi Museum of Art is in negotiations to buy Fountainhead, the home in Jackson, designed by legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright. According to the sources, the Mississippi Museum of Art would turn the home on Glenway Drive in the Woodland Hills area of Fondren into a museum that would be open to the public. It would join other prominent homes that are in the middle of Jackson residential neighborhoods, including the Eudora Welty House in Belhaven and the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home in West Jackson. The Evers' home is a National Monument and is part of the National Park Service. Betsy Bradley, director of the Mississippi Museum of Art, confirmed that the museum is interested in purchasing the property. "We are sensitive to the fact that we are not a family in trying to buy this house but a non-profit," Bradley said. "We want to work with the neighborhood to make whatever happens beneficial. Being beneficial to everyone concerned is a top priority for us." Douglas Adams, who is the real estate salesperson representing Crescent Sotheby's International Realty for the home, did not dispute to the Clarion Ledger that negotiations with the Mississippi Museum of Art were underway, but did say, "there is no executed contract at this point." |
| Legislative committee weighs cost, benefit of adding GLP-1 drugs to Mississippi state employee health plan | |
| In an effort to address the state's obesity epidemic and subsequently address the health effects associated with it, the Mississippi Legislature is considering allowing GLP-1 medications such as Semaglutide to be covered under the state employee health insurance plan. Currently, drugs that help people treat diabetes and/or address obesity are not covered under every health insurance plan, including the one offered to state employees. During the 2025 legislative session, SB 2401 was passed, forming the 11-member Insurance Study Committee. It is comprised of lawmakers, health professionals, and the state Insurance Commissioner, among others. The committee is tasked with certifying health benefit plans and health care services, said committee chair State Senator Walter Michel (R), author of SB 2401. State Rep. Samuel Creekmore (R) was selected as vice chair. One of the considerations being discussed by the committee is whether the state employee health insurance plan should cover GLP-1 semaglutide medications. These drugs are used to manage diabetes or regulate appetite. |
| Federal judge orders Mississippi to redraw Supreme Court electoral map | |
 | A federal judge has ordered Mississippi to redraw its Supreme Court electoral map, after finding the map dilutes the power of Black voters. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock ruled the map, which was enacted in 1987, violates the Voting Rights Act and cannot be used in future elections. The Mississippi branch of the American Civil Liberties Union helped litigate the lawsuit, arguing the map cut Mississippi's Delta region -- a historically Black area -- in half. "This win corrects a historic injustice," said Ari Savitzky, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU Voting Rights Project. "All Mississippians will benefit from fair district lines that give Black voters an equal voice -- and new generations of Black leaders an equal chance to help shape the state's future by serving on the state's highest court." Aycock's ruling notes that only four Black people have served on the Mississippi Supreme Court. All of them held the same seat in the Central District and were first appointed to the position by a sitting governor. Aycock wrote that she will impose a deadline for the Mississippi Legislature to create a new map. |
| Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus begins series of town halls on the Coast | |
| Democratic elected leaders across Mississippi hosted a town hall on the Coast Tuesday, as an attempt to energize the base ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus is made up of 55 members. Their main focus is on quality-of-life issues that affect people of color. Caucus Chairman Kabir Karriem said the town hall also gave people on the Coast a chance to express concerns and ideas that they will take to Jackson and fight for. "We're unapologetically pushing those issues that are important to Black people in the state of Mississippi," Karriem said. "We are their voice, and this is important for us to engage in the community as we prepare to get ready for the 2026 session." Karriem also represents Mississippi House District 41. "This is what it's all about -- community. People talking to one another and not at each other," Karriem said. "We're trying to find out what's on the minds and hearts of folks across Mississippi as we go back and we put legislation that will directly affect them, and try to defeat legislation that is bad for them." The panel of state leaders spoke on gerrymandering, voter restoration, and public school funding. |
| Trump budget officials claim sweeping spending power from Congress, records show | |
 | The Trump administration is asserting new power to withhold billions of dollars from low-income housing services, education assistance, medical research grants and other programs approved by Congress, centralizing sweeping authority in the executive branch and potentially inflaming tensions between the two branches. The new practices revealed Monday -- which increase the leverage and power of budget chief Russell Vought -- are likely to reignite a clash over the administration's power to freeze dollars approved by Congress, usurping authority that the legislative branch has under the Constitution. The power struggle dates to President Donald Trump's first term, when his refusal to release congressionally approved money for Ukraine helped spark a House impeachment, from which he was acquitted in the Senate. The restrictions effectively give Vought, the director of the White House budget office and an architect of the controversial conservative governing plan Project 2025, the power to approve or deny virtually all spending decisions. |
| Here's how Trump could throw a 'wrench' into Hill funding negotiations as shutdown looms | |
 | President Donald Trump's budget director has talked about attempting the ultimate override of Congress' funding prerogatives during the final 45 days of the fiscal year -- and that time is now. With six weeks left until Oct. 1, lawmakers are staring down a government shutdown deadline alongside the threat of a "pocket rescission," a controversial White House tactic to cancel federal cash without the consent of Congress. It's also a ploy that the government's top watchdog, along with key lawmakers from both parties, say is illegal. Already, the threat of the White House then unilaterally canceling the funding in October -- regardless of Congress' response to the request -- is straining negotiations between Democrats and Republicans desperately trying to head off a shutdown with bipartisan negotiations, which Vought is also actively seeking to undermine. "He is trying to throw a wrench in this by introducing or sending to us a second rescission bill -- by trying to do pocket rescissions," Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, the top Democrat on the appropriations panel that funds the military, said of Vought in an interview. The Government Accountability Office has said repeatedly that pocket rescissions are against the law and would "cede Congress's power of the purse by allowing a president to, in effect, change the law by shortening the period of availability for fixed-period funds." Vought has taken aim at the watchdog, and Mark Paoletta, the Office of Management and Budget general counsel, piled on this month. |
| Trump moves to use the levers of presidential power to help his party in the 2026 midterms | |
| President Donald Trump has made clear in recent weeks that he's willing to use the vast powers of his office to prevent his party from losing control of Congress in next year's midterm elections. Some of the steps Trump has taken to intervene in the election are typical, but controversial, political maneuvers taken to his trademark extremes. That includes pushing Republican lawmakers in Texas and other conservative-controlled states to redraw their legislative maps to expand the number of U.S. House seats favorable to the GOP. Others involve the direct use of official presidential power in ways that have no modern precedent, such as ordering his Department of Justice to investigate the main liberal fundraising entity, ActBlue. The department also is demanding the detailed voter files from each state in an apparent attempt to look for ineligible voters on a vast scale. And on Monday, Trump posted a falsehood-filled rant on social media pledging to lead a "movement" to outlaw voting machines and mail balloting, the latter of which has become a mainstay of Democratic voting since Trump pushed Republicans to avoid it in 2020 -- before flipping on the issue ahead of last year's presidential election. The individual actions add up to an unprecedented attempt by a sitting president to interfere in a critical election before it's even held, moves that have raised alarms among those concerned about the future of U.S. democracy. |
| Trump's White House Joins TikTok | |
 | President Trump started an official White House account on TikTok on Tuesday, deepening his ties with the Chinese-owned social media company as he repeatedly declines to enforce a federal law that would ban the company's app because of national security concerns. The first post by @WhiteHouse on TikTok -- showing Mr. Trump at various events while dramatic music plays -- made reference to a viral video on the social media site that featured footage from the movie "Creed" and music by the rapper Kendrick Lamar. The White House's embrace of TikTok continues a remarkable turnabout for Mr. Trump, who tried to ban the platform in his first term. Mr. Trump created a personal account in June 2024, and his popularity on the app soared amid his effort to court TikTok's predominantly younger voters. Donors to Mr. Trump and the company's executives have undertaken a lobbying effort to prevent TikTok from going dark in the United States. Mr. Trump's return to TikTok -- the last post on his personal account was on Election Day -- is the latest sign that he has little intention of enforcing the national security ban on the app. The ban stemmed from a 2024 law that requires app stores and cloud computing providers to stop distributing or hosting TikTok unless it is sold by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. A bipartisan coalition in Congress passed the law over concerns that the Chinese government could use the app to gather information about Americans or spread propaganda. |
| The scramble to keep public media afloat | |
| With local public media stations on the brink of collapse following President Donald Trump's successful push to strip federal funding, one group announced plans Tuesday to raise tens of millions of dollars in a bid to keep local newsrooms alive. The Public Media Bridge Fund hopes to raise $100 million over the next two years to support local news organizations at risk of closure, the organization said, following congressional approval to rescind more than $1 billion in federal funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. CPB -- the independently-run, congressionally-funded nonprofit -- announced this month it would shut down. Advocates and public media executives have warned that the funding cuts and subsequent closure of CPB will devastate rural communities that rely on local stations, with rural stations less able to weather the slashed federal funding compared to urban and suburban stations with larger donor bases. "The people who are paying the price are local communities, in an era where local community connection is being eroded and local news is in crisis," Tim Isgitt, CEO of Public Media Company -- a nonprofit public media consulting firm that launched the bridge fund -- told POLITICO. "These members of Congress voted to kill what, in many communities, is their only source of local news and information and they did it eyes wide open." |
| Mississippi DEI ban blocked by federal judge. Will IHL walk back its new campus policies? | |
 | U.S. District Court Judge Henry Wingate on Monday, Aug. 18, indefinitely blocked Mississippi's new law banning diversity, equity and inclusion, also known as DEI initiatives, in public education, calling the measure likely unconstitutional and overly vague. The ruling, issued Monday, stops the state from enforcing House Bill 1193 while the case plays out in court -- raising questions about whether Mississippi's public universities will move forward with new policies meant to comply with the now-paused law. In July, Mississippi's Institutions of Higher Learning adopted one policy and introduced another in a closed, behind-doors session, both aimed at complying with House Bill 1193. Those two policies are: The "Academic Responsibility" policy, which is currently in effect, prohibits public universities from requiring ideological or political statements in hiring, promotion or admissions processes. The "Non-Discrimination" policy, still in draft form, goes further. It would bar universities from operating DEI offices, requiring DEI training or asking job applicants to submit diversity statements. In a statement Wednesday, IHL spokesperson John Sewell clarified the status of the two policies. |
| Federal judge blocks Mississippi's DEI ban law indefinitely | |
| The state law that bans diversity, equity and inclusion programs in Mississippi public schools and universities has been blocked for the foreseeable future. U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate granted a preliminary injunction in the case on Monday, which prevents the law from being enforced until there's a final ruling. Wingate previously granted a temporary restraining order in late June, which expired Monday. "(The law), if it lives down to the fears it has generated, has a mouthful of sharp teeth which could inflict deep bites," Wingate wrote in his order. Lawyers for the plaintiffs, including professors, parents and students, and lawyers from the state attorney general's office met in court in early August to make their cases for and against the preliminary injunction. Witnesses called to the stand testified that the law was having a "chilling" effect, just weeks before classes were set to start at colleges across the state. Professors from the University of Mississippi said the policy was preventing them from finalizing their syllabi. Wingate's ruling preventing state officials from enforcing the law will be in effect until the overall litigation is concluded. Attorneys for the plaintiffs and the state defendants will now move to discovery, where they collect evidence before a bench trial. |
| Enforcement of anti-DEI law blocked indefinitely by federal judge | |
| An indefinite injunction was placed on Mississippi's anti-DEI law passed during this year's legislative session on Monday by U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate. The injunction will prevent the law from being enforced until a final ruling is handed down. The decision comes as part of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Mississippi and the Mississippi Center for Justice in June, which claimed the provisions in HB 1193 were unconstitutional. The new law, as it was described by lawmakers, prevents public K-12 and higher education institutions from utilizing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices when making decisions concerning school employment, academic opportunities, and student engagement. Such decisions are to be based on an individual's merit and qualifications rather than a person's race, color, sexual orientation, or gender. The law passed through both bodies in the State Capitol and then received the governor's signature in April. However, parts of the bill had educators concerned, namely Section 3 (f) of the bill. It states each institution, public school or college will not, "Maintain any programs, including academic programs or courses, or offices that promote diversity, equity and inclusion, endorse divisive concepts or concepts promoting transgender ideology, gender-neutral pronouns, deconstruction of heteronormativity, gender theory, sexual privilege or any related formulation of these concepts." |
| Federal judge halts Mississippi's DEI ban until final ruling can be reached | |
| A Mississippi law banning public schools from promoting or participating in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities on campus has, once again, been put on hold. U.S. Judge Henry Wingate on Monday issued a preliminary injunction extending a temporary restraining order on House Bill 1193. In essence, the judge is blocking the bill from going into effect until a final ruling can be reached on the matter. Not long after the bill was passed, it was challenged by a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Mississippi and others, on behalf of teachers, parents, and students. Wingate, who approved a motion for a temporary restraining order to block the bill back in July, has maintained a stance that the legislation conflicts with the 1st and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. "It is an enormous relief that the court has sided with academic freedom, free speech, and due process in its recent decision," Deanna Kreisel, Associate Professor of English at the University of Mississippi and a member of the United Campus Workers, said. "The fight is not over, but at least for the time being, the students of Mississippi can continue to learn in an environment free of ideological constraints and partisan censorship." |
| Ole Miss chemists help solve mystery of missing space sulfur | |
| For decades, astrochemists have been looking for sulfur atoms in space and finding surprisingly little of the element that is a key ingredient to life. A new study could point to where it has been hiding. An international team of researchers including Ryan Fortenberry, an astrochemist at the University of Mississippi; Ralf Kaiser, professor of chemistry at the University of Hawaii at Mânoa; and Samer Gozem, computational chemist at Georgia State University, published their research in the journal Nature. "Hydrogen sulfide is everywhere: it's a product of coal-fired power plants, it has an effect on acid rain, it changes the pH levels of oceans and it comes out of volcanoes," Fortenberry said. "If we gain a better understanding of what the chemistry of sulfur can do, the technological commercialization that can come from that can only be realized with a foundation of fundamental knowledge." Sulfur is the 10th most abundant element in the universe and is considered a vital chemical element for planets, stars and life. The lack of molecular sulfur in space has been a mystery for years. The answer might lie in interstellar ice. |
| USM cafeteria renovation brings new 'allergy-friendly' option for students | |
 | The University of Southern Mississippi's cafeteria, known as "The Fresh," is getting a $6 million renovation. One of the biggest changes is aimed at students with food allergies. As part of the renovation, "The Fresh" now features a new dining option called "True Balance." The station is designed to avoid the most common food allergens, including dairy, wheat, gluten, peanuts, shellfish and more. Chefs at the station prepare recipes that are both flavorful and allergy-friendly, giving students more freedom and peace of mind at mealtimes. Charlie Dorsa, Aramark/Eagle Dining district manager, said "True Balance" was designed with safety in mind. "It's its own kitchen, so it has its own equipment, its own dishwasher, its own plates," Dorsa said. "Everything's kind of, like, little. I call it 'sanitary area,' right? So that's where we produce all the food." "The food has got its own ovens, its own grills. We have its own carving station, its own made to order station. So, everything is prepared in that area. So that's how we ensure that." |
| Nine MCCers begin leadership training program | |
 | It's a new academic year, and nine Meridian Community College faculty and staff members are taking part in the Eagles Leadership Convocation, a yearlong program designed to strengthen leadership skills and build connections across campus. Sponsored by the MCC Foundation, this college-based professional development program helps participants grow in communication, leadership and teamwork. The goal is to improve the college while also creating opportunities for personal growth and success. The class of 2026 includes Veronica Fox, assistant director of student accounts; Jawanda Huggins, biological science instructor; Eric Jones, Welding Program coordinator and instructor; Chris King, director of bands; Parker Manley, workforce project manager; James Runnels, systems analyst; Rhonda Smith, college and career navigator; Crystal Sterling, mathematics instructor; and Tommy Winston, Physical Therapist Assistant Program coordinator and instructor. MCC President Tom Huebner and Leia Hill, vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the MCC Foundation, serve as program facilitators. Courtney Pitts, executive assistant to the vice president for institutional advancement and MCC Foundation office coordinator, is the program assistant. |
| Education Department quietly removes rules for teaching English learners | |
| The Trump administration has quietly rescinded long-standing guidance that directed schools to accommodate students who are learning English, alarming advocates who fear that schools will stop offering assistance if the federal government quits enforcing the laws that require it. The rescission, confirmed by the Education Department on Tuesday, is one of several moves by the administration to scale back support for approximately 5 million schoolchildren not fluent in English, many of them born in the United States. It is also among the first steps in a broader push by the Trump administration to remove multilingual services from federal agencies across the board, an effort the Justice Department has ramped up in recent weeks. The moves are an acceleration of President Donald Trump's March 1 order declaring English the country's "official language," and they come as the administration is broadly targeting immigrants through its deportation campaign and other policy changes. The Justice Department sent a memorandum to all federal agencies last month directing them to follow Trump's executive order, including by rescinding guidance related to rules about English-language learners. Since March, the Education Department has also laid off nearly all workers in its Office of English Language Acquisition and has asked Congress to terminate funding for the federal program that helps pay for educating English-language learners. |
| Bill Ackman's New Pet Project Is a School That Embraces AI and Rejects DEI | |
 | Billionaire Bill Ackman has a new fascination: a fast-growing private school that eschews lessons on diversity, equity and inclusion and uses artificial intelligence to speed-teach children in two hours. Alpha School is launching a New York City location in September, and the investor and social-media commentator has been acting as something of an ambassador for the institution, according to people familiar with the matter. On Friday, Ackman is set to appear with Alpha's co-founder, its principal and others on a panel discussion at his Hamptons home. The panel on K-12 education will be moderated by former financier Michael Milken as part of the Milken Institute's Hamptons Dialogues. Alpha School, which calls its teachers "guides," says it uses AI-enabled software to help students complete core subjects in just two hours daily. It claims students learn twice as much as those in traditional schools despite the condensed days. The schedule allows students to do hands-on activities in the afternoon, which the school says help them build life skills. These include 5-mile bike rides "without stopping" for kindergartners, and exploring personal hobbies through AI-generated plans. Alpha has existing locations in Texas, Florida and California. It is opening a school for grades kindergarten through eight in downtown Manhattan and launching schools in Arizona, North Carolina, Virginia and California this year. |
| Sharing 'A' moment: U. off Alabama freshmen form script 'A' | |
 | First-year students at the University of Alabama gathered Aug. 19 at Bryant-Denny Stadium for a special class photo. Members of the class of 2029 formed a human script "A" logo in the middle of the field as part of freshman convocation. The convocation is part of UA's Weeks of Welcome (WOW), a series of more than 30 events throughout August designed to "roll out the crimson carpet" for new and returning students. Classes at UA were set to begin Aug. 20. The goal of WOW is to help students find resources, build a sense of community at UA and have fun. WOW events include Bama Jam, featuring a concert, food trucks and carnival-style amusement rides, on Aug. 21 and a football watch party at the Student Center for UA's Aug. 30 season opener at Florida State. On Aug. 28, students can learn more about student organizations, UA departments and community vendors during Get On Board Day on the Quad. UA will also have a student tailgate event on the Quad on Sept. 6 before the Crimson Tide's home football opener against Louisiana-Monroe. |
| Baton Rouge firm selected to run search for LSU System president | |
 | The LSU committee charged with picking a new system president has chosen a consultant and hopes to have a decision by December, with some of the search to be conducted out of public view. At the committee's Tuesday meeting, LSU Board of Supervisors Chair Scott Ballard announced the pick of SSA Consultants. The 55-year-old firm has ties to the university, with President and CEO Christel Slaughter an alum and former faculty member of the business college. The choice of SSA signals a shift from previous presidential searches, during which committees selected firms outside the state. In 2020, the committee that resulted in the selection of former President William F. Tate IV picked the Atlanta-based Parker Executive Search as the firm. Before that, the committee selected R. William Funk and Associates, of Dallas, to conduct the search that led to F. King Alexander's selection. In her speech, Slaughter said her firm was "very committed to having an aboveboard and transparent process," echoing previous statements by the committee. But other aspects of the discussion showed what the limits of that transparency might be. The meeting also saw comments from a current student and an alumnus, who both argued the committee did not accurately represent the university's community and state. |
| UGA announces new School of Nursing, first students expected in fall 2027 | |
| In May, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents approved the creation of an independent School of Nursing at the University of Georgia, with its first group of students expected in fall 2027. The board directed the USG system office and UGA to develop a comprehensive plan for the school over the summer. That plan is now underway, according to a press release. "The UGA School of Nursing will advance our institution's commitment to addressing the health care needs of all Georgians, provide educational opportunities sought by our students for many years and develop a community of scholars equipped to prepare the next generation of nurses," UGA President Jere W. Morehead said. "We would like to thank the members of the Board of Regents, the chancellor and staff of the University System of Georgia for their continued support in addressing Georgia's most pressing needs." Georgia faces a shortage of nurses to serve its growing population, and the region also needs more nursing faculty. To address those needs, the Board of Regents has recommended the school begin with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, adding a Master of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Practice in the future. |
| Conservative think tank says U. of Kentucky is not in compliance with state's anti-DEI law | |
 | A national conservative organization claims the University of Kentucky is not in compliance with the law banning diversity, equity and inclusion on the state's college campuses, according to a letter submitted to the attorney general on Tuesday. The Goldwater Institute, a conservative think tank, sent a letter to Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman stating that UK is out of compliance with House Bill 4 when it comes to crafting a neutrality statement. Universities had to be in compliance with the new law, which requires public universities and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System to dismantle and defund all DEI initiatives, by June 27 of this year. The letter to Coleman says UK is not in compliance because its board has not adopted a policy on viewpoint neutrality as outlined in HB4. Instead, the institute said, UK President Eli Capilouto drafted and approved the policy. The letter also said UK's neutrality policy is "entirely deficient." The law says that each university's governing board must "adopt a policy on viewpoint neutrality that prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual's political or social viewpoint and promotes intellectual diversity within the institution," and publish the policy in handbooks for students, faculty and the public. |
| Texas A&M professor arrested on indecent exposure charge from U. of Texas police | |
| A Texas A&M University professor set to begin teaching this fall has been arrested on a charge of indecent exposure stemming from an alleged incident earlier this year at the University of Texas at Austin. Russell Taylor Johns was taken into custody on Wednesday by the Texas A&M University Police Department on a warrant issued by the University of Texas Police Department, according to jail records. He was booked into the Brazos County Detention Center and later released on a $7,000 bond. Court documents obtained by KBTX allege Johns exposed his genitals and touched himself inappropriately at the William C. Powers Student Activity Center on the UT campus around 9 p.m. on April 29. A staff member reportedly witnessed Johns masturbating while looking at students. According to the arrest warrant, UT Police initially issued Johns a criminal trespass warning after speaking with the alleged victim, who spoke only Spanish. Days later, officers fluent in Spanish conducted a follow-up interview in which the woman clarified that Johns was staring at two female students seated across from him while exposing himself. The warrant states Johns had been invited to the UT campus by the Department of Petroleum and Geosciences. In July, Texas A&M University announced on social media that Johns had been hired to work at the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering. "We believe that Dr. Johns' vast and diverse technical knowledge and experience will be a tremendous asset to our department's teaching and research mission," the post read. |
| Fifth Circuit halts West Texas A&M drag show ban as free speech lawsuit continues | |
| A federal appeals court Monday blocked West Texas A&M University President Walter Wendler from enforcing a campus drag show ban, ruling that the performances are likely protected under the First Amendment. The 2-1 ruling from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reverses a lower court's decision upholding Wendler's 2023 cancellation of a drag show, which he argued was demeaning to women and compared to blackface. The decision means Spectrum WT, the student group that brought the lawsuit, can produce drag shows on campus while its lawsuit continues in a lower court. Judge Leslie H. Southwick, who wrote for the majority, said the context of the students' event made its message of supporting the queer community clear. "The viewers of the drag show would have been ticketed audience members attending a performance sponsored by LGBT+ student organizations and designed to raise funds for LGBT+ suicide-prevention charity, " wrote Southwick, who was appointed by George W. Bush. "Against this backdrop, the message sent by parading on a theater stage in attire of the opposite sex would have been unmistakable." The court concluded that Legacy Hall, where the drag show was scheduled to take place, was a designated public forum open to a variety of groups, including churches and political candidates. That meant banning drag shows targeted the content of the event, something the Constitution allows only in the rarest cases. |
| Mizzou sees optimism for future research funding | |
 | Despite a 23% drop in federal dollars supporting research last fiscal year, University of Missouri officials expressed optimism Tuesday for future grant requests. Only 49 grant awards campuswide have been terminated, Thomas Spencer, Mizzou vice chancellor for research, said in an online presentation to faculty and staff. An additional 20 awards have been disrupted or paused while awaiting review. Spencer referenced the new priorities of the Trump administration driving some of the funding cuts but noted that a recent package of recissions approved by Congress did not touch federal research dollars. "This has been, obviously, a time of a lot of consternation and a lot of changes, particularly since January," Spencer said. Despite the drop in grant funding for the fiscal year that ended June 30, Spencer encouraged faculty to continue to apply for grants, citing support from Congress and other federal agencies. "I think that Congress has heard that federal agency funding for research, both within and outside of academia, is very important for this nation to be a premier leader in the world," he said. "I think that is a very positive development." |
| President Emeritus E. Gordon Gee returns to Ohio State for a one-year engagement | |
| Former Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee will continue his longstanding relationship with the university through a one-year engagement. A distinguished and recognized leader in higher education, Gee has served as president of five universities over his career, including as Ohio State's 11th president from 1990-1998 and its 14th president from 2007-2013. He also has served as president of Vanderbilt University, Brown University, the University of Colorado and, most recently West Virginia University -- which he departed last month after an 11-year term. "I am honored that President Carter asked me to return to Ohio State during my sabbatical leave from West Virginia University," said Gee. "Ohio State has played an extraordinary role in my life as have the people of Ohio, and to be able to serve the university in an advisory capacity is a great privilege." In his consulting role, Gee will serve as a resource for university leaders as they advance their strategic priorities. He will report directly to Executive Vice President and Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda. Gee will also hold residencies with the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, the Moritz College of Law and the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society. Through these academic connections, Gee will meet with faculty and students to provide support, advice and perspectives on higher education. He will also participate in classroom discussions and public engagements to advance specific university priorities in service to Ohio State's land-grant mission. |
| Public Media Cuts Could Limit Students' Career Exploration | |
 | Student journalists have their fingerprints on more than 282 public radio or television stations across the country, providing behind-the-scenes support, working as on-screen talent or reporting in their local communities for broadcast content. But over $1 billion in federal budget cuts could reduce their opportunities for work-based learning, mentorship and paid internships. About 13 percent of the 319 NPR or PBS affiliates analyzed in a report from the Center for Community News at the University of Vermont operate similarly to teaching hospitals in that a core goal of the organization is to train college students. Nearly 60 percent of the stations "provide intensive, regular and ongoing opportunities for college students" to intern or engage with the station. Scott Finn, news adviser and instructor at the Center for Community News and author of the report, worries that the cuts to public media and higher education more broadly could hinder experiential learning for college students, prompting a need for additional investment or new forms of partnerships between the two groups. In July, Congress rescinded $1.1 billion in federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds public media stations including NPR and PBS. The cuts threaten the financial stability of many stations, some of which are directly affiliated with colleges and universities. Working at a public media station provides a variety of benefits for students, Finn said. |
| Is Turmoil in Washington Straining the Financial-Aid System? | |
 | Colleges continue to see disruptions in the federal-aid process months after major staff cuts at the U.S. Department of Education, and the impacts on students appear to be intensifying. Those findings come from a new survey released on Wednesday by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, known as NASFAA. More than 500 financial-aid officers at colleges nationwide completed the survey, which was conducted in July. The results suggest that the backbone of the financial-aid process has been weakened -- and some students' access to federal funds they need for college could be at risk. After massive layoffs at the Education Department and the Office of Federal Student Aid, known as FSA, this spring, NASFAA conducted a national survey of its members in May to see how much those cuts were affecting colleges' operations, as well as students' access to federal aid. Fifty-nine percent of respondents said they had experienced noticeable changes in the FSA's responsiveness, communication, or processing timelines. But the findings of the follow-up survey paint a more concerning picture. In May, for instance, 32 percent of respondents said that students were reporting concerns or confusion about the federal-aid process; in July, 51 percent did so. |
| Trump's Tactics Mean Many International Students Won't Make It to Campus | |
| Many Iranians are not going to American universities this fall. Students from Afghanistan are having trouble getting to campus. Even students from China and India, the top two senders of international students to the United States, have been flummoxed by a maze of new obstacles the Trump administration has set up to slow or deter people entering the country from abroad. Between the federal government's heightened vetting of student visas and President Trump's travel ban, the number of international students newly enrolled in American universities seems certain to drop -- by a lot. There were about a million international students studying in the United States a year ago, according to figures published by the State Department. Data on international student enrollment is not expected to be released until the fall. But higher education is already feeling the pain and deeply worried about the fallout. Many schools have seen the number of international students grow in recent years. But a survey of over 500 colleges and universities by the Institute of International Education, a nonprofit which works with governments and others to promote international education, found that 35 percent of the schools experienced a dip in applications from abroad last spring, the most since the pandemic. |
| Senate Democrats Demand Answers as Trump Administration Suspends Student Loan Forgiveness for Millions | |
| Eleven Senate Democrats are demanding immediate answers from Education Secretary Linda McMahon after the Trump administration quietly suspended student loan forgiveness under the Income-Based Repayment program in July, leaving millions of borrowers in limbo despite having fulfilled their legal repayment obligations. In a letter dated August 18, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and 10 Democratic colleagues accused the Department of Education of misleading Congress and failing to notify the 3 million borrowers enrolled in IBR about the suspension, which affects those who have been making payments for 20 to 25 years. The senators said the administration's decision comes at a time when families are already struggling with rising costs for healthcare, housing, childcare and other basic necessities. "It is unacceptable for the Trump administration to take any action that delays or denies legally mandated debt relief to borrowers that have been in repayment for over two decades or more," the senators wrote to McMahon. The suspension has raised serious questions about the Education Department's transparency and credibility with Congress. |
| Department of Education Clamps Down on Student Voting Work | |
| The Department of Education released guidance Tuesday discouraging colleges from using Federal Work-Study funds to pay students to work on voter registration efforts and other activities it deems political. The department announced the change to work study provisions in a Dear Colleague letter signed by acting assistant ED secretary Christopher McCaghren. "Jobs involving partisan or nonpartisan voter registration, voter assistance at a polling place or through a voter hotline, or serving as a poll worker -- whether this takes place on or off campus -- involve political activity because these activities support the process of voting which is a quintessential political activity whereby voters formally support partisan or nonpartisan political candidates by casting ballots," McCaghren wrote. He emphasized in the letter that ED "encourages institutions to employ students in jobs that align with real-world work experience related to a student's course of study whenever possible." Education Secretary Linda McMahon echoed that sentiment in a Tuesday social media post, writing that the department is "done funding political activism on college campuses!" She added, "Under the Trump Administration, taxpayer dollars will be used to prepare students for the workforce." The move comes as President Donald Trump has announced plans to overhaul how elections are conducted before the upcoming midterms next year, including barring certain voting machines and mail-in voting, though he does not have the authority to make such changes. |
| Natchez's Greg Iles saved his best writing for his reflective 'Natchez Burning' trilogy | |
| Columnist Sid Salter writes: The death of sensational Mississippi author Greg Iles last week after a long battle with cancer and the realities of the aftermath of a near-fatal 2011 car accident in his hometown of Natchez stills one of the state's most courageous and meaningful literary voices. Iles, 65, had battled multiple myeloma since his diagnosis in 1996. Multiple myeloma is a rare and incurable blood cancer in which blood plasma is impacted and begins to turn normal blood cells into abnormal cells that ultimately affect bones, platelets and red blood cells, and the kidneys. ... Despite fighting cancer and battling back from his injuries, Iles rose from his health challenges to begin to focus in earnest on shifting his writing focus to complex issues of race, class and socioeconomic barriers in Mississippi and the greater South. Iles first found literary success in historical fiction that centered on World War II and Nazi intrigues in his first novels, "Spandau Phoenix" (1993) and "Black Cross (1995)." But beginning with 1999's "The Quiet Game," Iles introduced the Penn Cage series of novels that led to the "Natchez Burning" trilogy, which included "Natchez Burning" in 2014, "The Bone Tree" in 2015, and "Mississippi Blood" in 2017. "Southern Man" was Iles' final novel and is focused on the same Mississippi–Louisiana terrains as the "Natchez Burning" trilogy, but moves some 15 years into the future as the nation faces familiar political, social, and moral divides that might well have been torn from recent headlines. |
SPORTS
| Mississippi State working to bounce back from rough first season under Jeff Lebby | |
| Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby enters his second season still looking for his first victory with the Bulldogs in Southeastern Conference play. Lebby, however, doesn't judge his maiden campaign solely by the Bulldogs' winless league record. "The result was not what we want, wasn't the expectation," he said. "But if you know football and you watch, you can tell that it's a group of guys that believe, and so people want to be a part of that. There's great belief, passion, toughness, confidence inside the program right now." The former offensive coordinator at Ole Miss and Oklahoma was widely seen as a rising star when he was hired at State after the regular season in 2023. His new job presented some tough challenges. The Bulldogs had been through a tumultuous calendar year that included coach Mike Leach unexpected death during the team's bowl game preparations. The Bulldogs' SEC schedule features four teams that played in last season's inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff and seven ranked in the preseason AP Top 25. Lebby and his squad will host playoff teams Arizona State, Tennessee, Texas and Georgia with road trips to teams like Missouri and Texas A&M. The Bulldogs also have their annual matchup at home against rival Ole Miss. |
| Inside Davon Booth's unexpected journey to All-SEC Mississippi State RB that started with a few tears | |
| There have been at least two times when Davon Booth has been brought to tears because of football. The most recent was Black Friday, when the 2024 Mississippi State football season ended in the Egg Bowl, an eighth straight conference loss to cap a 2-10 season for first-year coach Jeff Lebby. Booth, MSU's leading rusher, thought it was his last college game because he had no more eligibility. He walked off the field in tears after a strong second half of the season landed him on the All-SEC third team as an all-purpose player. Then there was a time in high school. Despite remarkable statistics, Booth couldn't play Division I football because his GPA was a hair too low. He had to go to junior college instead. "I was really frustrated," Booth told The Clarion Ledger. "A couple tears were shed. I thought that was it. I wasn't going to have anything else." Booth is back for the 2025 season after the NCAA granted former junior college players with expiring eligibility one extra season. Booth called it a "no-brainer" to play one more season at Mississippi State, where he transferred in the spring of 2024. But his journey to breakout SEC running back wasn't conventional. |
| Football: Isaac Smith Named To 2025 Coaches Preseason All-SEC Team | |
| Mississippi State football's Isaac Smith was named to the 2025 Coaches Preseason All-SEC Third Team as a defensive back, the League office announced Tuesday. Smith, who earned Second Team All-SEC honors from the League's coaches last Fall, played in 11 games last season, registering 127 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, three pass break-ups and one fumble recovery. He led the SEC tackles and finished seventh nationally, becoming the third consecutive Mississippi State player to lead the SEC in tackles. He had a career game at No. 7 Tennessee last Fall, earning his first-career 20-tackle game, highlighted by 10 stops in the first quarter. Smith was one of four FBS players in 2024 to have a 20+ tackle game, while being the only Power-4 player to do so. Since 1994, there have only been six 20+ tackle performances for the Bulldogs, three of which have come in the last two seasons. During the 2025 preseason, Smith has picked up a handful of honors that include the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, SEC Media Preseason All-SEC (3rd Team, DB), Phil Steele Preseason All-SEC and Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC team. |
| Position Preview: Looking at Mississippi State's quarterbacks room | |
| Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby has high hopes for his current quarterback room. In fact, at SEC Media Days in July, he called it potentially the best he's ever had. And that might not be hyperbole. Blake Shapen represents the experienced veteran presence; the returning leader from the year before who knows the offense cover to cover. Behind Shapen are two highly rated prospective starters for the future in four-star true freshman Kamario Taylor and sophomore transfer Luke Kromenhoek, a former five-star recruit. Rating purely on potential, the room is easily the most talented it's been since the Bulldogs had Tyler Russell and Dak Prescott under center in 2012-13. Shapen announced his return at the end of the 2024 season after being granted an injury redshirt, and has been the clear starter from that moment. For Kamario Taylor and Luke Kromenhoek, it's been a "constant battle" for the QB2 role, according to Lebby. Given Shapen's injury last year, the importance of quality backup options was more than apparent for Lebby and his staff, and the added depth is apparent going into 2025. |
| Mississippi State women's basketball vs Southern Miss on 2025-26 schedule | |
| Mississippi State women's basketball will host Southern Miss in a nonconference game at Humphrey Coliseum on Dec. 14, according to an announcement from Southern Miss. It will be the first time the Bulldogs and Lady Eagles will play each other since 2019. The tipoff time was not announced. MSU has not revealed its full nonconference schedule for the 2025-26 season. The Lady Eagles and new coach Missy Bilderback unveiled their schedule on Aug. 19. They open the season against Northern Illinois at Reed Green Coliseum in the MAC-SBC Challenge on Nov. 3 (6 p.m., ESPN+), followed by two more home games against William Carey on Nov. 7 and Blue Mountain Christian Nov. 10. Mississippi State's other announced nonconference games are the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville, Florida, against Alcorn State Nov. 24 and either Middle Tennessee State or Providence on Nov. 25. It hosts Pitt in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Dec. 4. MSU was supposed to host Southern Miss in 2020, but that game was cancelled due to COVID-19 protocols with the Lady Eagles. It has won eight consecutive games against Southern Miss. The Lady Eagles last won in Starkville in 2005. |
| The Southern Miss defense was a disaster last season. Here's what's new in 2025 | |
 | Southern Miss is days away from putting its 1-11 season and historically dreadful defense in the rearview mirror. The regime shift to Charles Huff came with the appointment of the fourth defensive coordinator in four years for the Golden Eagles' program. Jason Semore followed Huff from Marshall and has installed his 4-2-5 defense that wreaked havoc during the Thundering Herd's conference championship campaign a year ago. t's the very same defense USM deployed under Clay Bignell. Except that version was gutted for over 5,300 yards in less than 12 games. Factoring in the merciful early early end to the Kentucky opener, USM gave its opponents 117.2 yards and 9.8 points per quarter of football. Southern Miss and Marshall were separated by a full two touchdowns in average scoring allowed. The Herd would have had to play six more games to reach the total points given up by the Eagles. The stark contrast of the same alignment begs the questions: what was the difference in how the two defenses were executed, and how will it work in USM's favor this season? The cohesion, depth and execution of the unit as a whole will be tested straight away with Mississippi State arriving in Hattiesburg for a middle-of-the-day season-opener. That game will broadcast on ESPN Aug. 30 at 11 a.m. It will be the first USM home game aired on ESPN since Sept. 17, 2010 when the Golden Eagles defeated Kansas, 31-16. |
| USM announces stadium upgrades ahead of home opener versus MSU | |
| Southern Miss Athletics announced Friday a series of major upgrades and additions to The Rock designed to elevate the fan experience, improve efficiency, and expand product offerings throughout the venue. "These upgrades reflect our commitment to providing fans with the very best game day experience," said Jeremy McClain, director of athletics. The changes, which will be in effect for Mississippi State's Aug. 30 season-opening visit to Hattiesburg, seek to improve concessions, entertainment options and fan experience. New for this season are two satellite concession stands on the west-side outer concourse, offering cold drinks and quick snacks for fans entering the venue. All west-side stands and two east-side stands will feature the popular "grab-and-go" service model fans are used to at MSU facilities. Also new for 2025 is the Introduction of the Touchdown Market, located on the southeast concourse behind Section K. This marketplace-style setup offers specially curated food and beverage options. Beginning this season, The Rock will operate as a cashless venue with hopes of improving efficiency and getting fans back to their seats faster. |
| Sports betting among Ole Miss NCAA violations in 2024-25 school year: One athlete dismissed | |
| One Ole Miss men's tennis player and three football student equipment managers engaged in sports betting and are no longer part of the athletic program. The violations were listed in Ole Miss' annual NCAA violations summary report obtained by the Clarion Ledger through an open records request. The men's tennis player, who was not named in the report, engaged in impermissible sports wagering activities. It was reported on Feb. 28. As a result, the athlete was declared ineligible, his scholarship was terminated and he was removed from the roster. There were no other details included in the report. The violations by the three football student equipment managers were reported on July 22, 2024. The unnamed students placed wagers through online betting apps. All three were fired. Additionally, Ole Miss established education sessions for all student workers, as well as additional education through software workflow for new student workers. |
| Selection Committee Wrap: New chairman, streamlining + now seeding 32 teams | |
| More clarity is coming to the NCAA Baseball Tournament seeding process and structure, as the Division I Baseball Committee, beginning in 2026, will rank 32 teams as part of the seeding process. The current seeding process sees the committee rank the Top 16 national seeds in a process that began in 2018. Now, there is even more clarity and balance around the process. Though the committee admittedly has done a much better job of balancing regional tournament fields over the past few years, there is still plenty of outcry on an annual basis about Team X drawing one of the better two seeds in the field just because of geography. The geography component is still part of the selection process, but has been diminished by this new 1-32 seeding process. So, cutting to the chase, this is how it works: You have the Top 16 national seeds. Those 16 national seeds will be grouped in 'pods' by the committee. So, to clarify, national seeds 1-2-3-4, 5-6-7-8, 9-10-11-12 and 13-14-15-16 will be in separate groups during the tournament selection process. The teams in the 17-32 range will then be ranked and seeded. Whereas now the top national seed could theoretically draw the No. 21 national seed as a two seed, this process eliminates the potential of that occurring. |
| Florida to wear throwback uniforms for homecoming game against Mississippi State | |
| For one night this October, it might look a little more like the 1970s than the 2020s on the field in Gainesville, Florida. On Monday, the Florida Gators confirmed that on Oct. 18 -- when they play their homecoming game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs -- the team will be donning its retro alternate uniforms. Last worn in 2021, the Gators' throwback threads offer a simplistic twist on the school's iconic blue and orange color scheme. The uniform's blue jersey boasts a two-toned shoulder stripe pattern of orange and white, while the orange helmet features an old-school interlocking "UF" logo. Asked about the team's thoughts on the uniforms during his Monday media availability, Gators coach Billy Napier kept the focus on his squad's on-field performance. "I don't know that I've heard one comment about it," Napier said. "Maybe I'll let you know next time we meet. "But look. Uniforms are nice. Uniforms are good. Looking good is nice; playing better is nicer. So, I hope [the players] are worried about how they play, not what they're wearing." |
| Auburn claims seven additional football national titles, including undefeated 2004 season | |
| Taking a page out of the playbook of its Iron Bowl rival, Auburn has decided to recognize seven more of its football teams as national champions. The Tigers have until now touted only their 1957 and 2010 teams as national champs. Auburn was recognized by the Associated Press as the No. 1 team in the country in 1957, and Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton led the Tigers to a BCS championship after the 2010 season. Now Auburn will also celebrate pre-major college football poll era titles from 1910, 1913 and 1914, along with the 1958, 1983, 1993 and 2004 teams. Five of those teams finished their seasons unbeaten. The 1913, 1983, 1993 teams are noted in the NCAA record book as having been named national champion by an NCAA-recognized selector. "For too long, Auburn has chosen a humble approach to our program's storied history -- choosing to only recognize Associated Press National Championships," athletic director John Cohen said. "Starting this fall, we have made the decision to honor the accomplishments of our deserving student-athletes, coaches, and teams from Auburn's proud history." Claiming national titles is a long-held tradition in major college football, where the NCAA has never held any authority to run a postseason playoff. And Auburn's rival, Alabama, has been among the most audacious with its claims. The Crimson Tide tout 18 championships, including a total of 13 times they were voted No. 1 by either the AP media poll, the Coaches Poll or both. |
| Auburn football is suddenly claiming a national title won by an undefeated LSU team | |
| Auburn football is now claiming a national title for the 1958 season, which has long been considered in the record book as a national championship campaign for LSU. Auburn athletic director John Cohen told AuburnSports in a Tuesday report that the football program is now claiming nine national titles -- four more than the Tigers originally declared in the program's record book. Auburn went 9-0-1, including a 6-0 mark in Southeastern Conference play, in 1958. LSU went 11-0 that season. The two teams did not face off that year. LSU was named the consensus national champion for 1958 by the Associated Press and Coaches Poll. In 1958, Auburn was awarded a Montgomery Full Season Championship. LSU won the Sugar Bowl that season, then considered the national championship game, with a 7-0 victory over Clemson. LSU running back Billy Cannon threw the lone touchdown pass in the game to Mickey Mangham after LSU quarterback Warren Rabb was knocked out of the game with an injury. |
| College Sports Upheaval Ushers CEOs Into Athletic Departments | |
| Athletic directors have long been termed the CEOs of collegiate sports departments, but increasingly schools are taking the term literally, looking outside the typical sports pathways for business leaders to take the reins. "We're talking about a disruptive ecosystem in college sports now," Jed Hughes, Korn Ferry vice chair and global head of practice, said on a phone call. "The landscape is changing quickly, therefore you really need an enterprise leader. Enterprise leaders are strategic, they're operational, they deal with people, they transform businesses because they anticipate. They create, they achieve results." Stanford looked to the broader business world for an AD in hiring John Donahoe last month. Donahoe, who starts Sept. 8, is best known as the CEO of Nike from 2020 to 2024 and previously as the chief executive at ServiceNow and PayPal. Given his lack of athletics experience, the announcement last month took pains to note Donahoe is a lifelong sports fan, has played basketball, and that "head coaches have long been among his greatest models for leadership." Hughes, a former pro and college football coach with three decades of experience as an executive headhunter, thinks the Donahoe hiring is a sign that more colleges will turn to executives outside sports to head athletic departments. He already placed an executive without a traditional AD career path into an FBS job in 2016, joining Syracuse with John Wildhack, who spent 36 years at ESPN, including as executive vice president responsible for programming and production. The reason for new perspectives? In the past, the typical college AD "hasn't been faced with the multitude of things going on in college sports," he said. "There's complexity without rules, which makes it the wild, wild west in a way." |
| College Football Has a Big Problem: It's Run Out of Geniuses | |
| For decades, the start of a new college football season meant you were about to see something you'd never seen before. Every fall, some new offensive scheme seemed to turn the entire sport upside down, propelling a smaller school to new heights while the traditional powers stood around and scratched their heads. The only predictable thing was that you could never predict what gamebreaking tactic -- a creative new passing attack or revolutionary option-based run game -- was coming next. But in recent years, an uncomfortable feeling has settled over the college football landscape. America's most madcap sport has become...a little boring? For just about as long as college football has existed, it has been defined by innovation. The balance of power in the sport practically demands it. Traditional blue bloods gobble up the best recruits---the strongest-armed quarterbacks and most punishing linemen -- so the only way for their overmatched rivals to bridge the talent gap is by coming up with a better way. It's this dynamic that produced the Air Raid offense, the brainchild of Hal Mumme and Mike Leach, which called for passing on nearly every play and soon spread like wildfire from Iowa Wesleyan University to almost every campus in college football. "They were the worst football team in America when we got there," Mumme said. "We had to do something different." |
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