| Thursday, August 21, 2025 |
| Mississippi State University unveils mixed-use district connecting campus to Cotton District | |
 | As colleges across the Southeastern Conference continue to mobilize to boost the quality of life for current and prospective students, and visitors, Mississippi State and its host town of Starkville are taking steps to connect the university to the city to enhance the guest experience. The university has unveiled a master plan for a 15-acre district featuring a boutique hotel, restaurants, and retail stores on the land between the Starkville campus and the Cotton District. Aptly named the "Crossroads District," the development will be anchored by a 122-room Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel. Construction of the hotel is set to begin in October, and the facility is slated to open in the summer of 2027. The development was made possible by the state legislature giving the land qualified resort status. A collaboration between the university and West Side Funds Inc., a for-profit affiliate of Mississippi State's Foundation, was the driving force behind the plans being drafted. "This transformative project is about creating an exciting, vibrant hub that reflects the spirit of Mississippi State University while providing incredible opportunities for entertainment, innovation, and collaboration," Mississippi State President Mark Keenum said. |
| Boutique hotel to anchor 'transformative' mixed-use development near MSU campus | |
 | A boutique hotel, restaurant and multiple retail stores are part of a new 15-acre district in Starkville being developed between the Cotton District and Mississippi State University. A comprehensive master plan was recently completed for the area to be named the Crossroads District. Construction of a 122-room Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel that will anchor the district will begin in October, with opening planned for summer 2027. The driving force behind the master plan is Mississippi State University, in collaboration with West Side Funds Inc., a for-profit affiliate of the Mississippi State University Foundation. The area has been granted qualified resort status by the Mississippi legislature, clearing the way for thoughtful development and strategic growth, officials said. "We're expanding some of the most attractive elements of our community, focusing closely on the parts that bring people here, and bring people together," said John Rush, president and CEO of the MSU Foundation. "It will be something new students will want to be part of and something alumni will be excited to return to. This development really does represent a tremendous leap. Not many college communities will ever get to found and grow an exciting district like this, with opportunities like these, in a location as perfectly situated as this." |
| Economic development: Premier hotel planned as first piece of mixed-use project in Starkville | |
 | A boutique hotel and new home for the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library will anchor a planned 15-acre development between the Cotton District and Mississippi State University. Master plans for the Crossroads District, a multi-phase project driven by MSU, show an array of planned shopping centers, restaurants, faculty housing, a new facility to house the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, a parking garage and a land bridge connecting the new hotel to campus. The first phase of the project will be Hotel Madelon, an upscale, 122-room hotel that will sit on the south side of University Drive, space MSU's three visual arts buildings currently occupy. Staff and assets in the visual arts building are relocating to campus, and those buildings will be demolished to make way for the hotel. John Rush, CEO and president for the MSU Foundation, said the hotel is the first development of many aimed to bridge the gap between the city and campus. "If you're coming back and you're staying at that hotel, not only can you easily walk to campus, you easily can walk into the Cotton District for shopping and dining and all the things that you want to do, plus what we're going to build," Rush said. "... What hotel currently gives you the opportunity to park your car and walk to everything you want to do over the course of the weekend? ... There's not one." Plans for the Crossroads District have been in the making for years, Rush said. |
| MSU unveils master plan for new 15-acre Crossroads District | |
 | Officials with Mississippi State University (MSU) announced a comprehensive master plan was recently completed for a new 15-acre district. According to officials, the Crossroads District will feature a boutique hotel, restaurants and retail stores on the land between the MSU campus and the Cotton District. It will be anchored by a 122-room Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel. Construction of the hotel is set to begin in October, and plans call for it to open in the summer of 2027. The driving force behind the master plan is MSU, in collaboration with West Side Funds Inc., a for-profit affiliate of the MSU Foundation. The area has been granted qualified resort status by the Mississippi legislature. "This transformative project is about creating an exciting, vibrant hub that reflects the spirit of Mississippi State University while providing incredible opportunities for entertainment, innovation, and collaboration," MSU President Mark E. Keenum said. "We are proud to deliver a development that will serve our students, faculty, staff, alumni, local community, and state of Mississippi for generations to come." |
| MSU unveils new district for boutique hotel, entertainment and more | |
 | Mississippi State University announced a new 15-acre district that will house a new hotel, restaurants and more. The Crossroads District will sit between the university campus and the Cotton District, MSU announced on Wednesday morning. The first phase of the project calls for a 122-room boutique hotel that will be named the Hotel Madelon. Construction is scheduled to begin in October and open in the summer of 2027. Future phases include a new entertainment district, a new home for the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, a pedestrian land bridge over Highway 12, housing options and a 700-space parking garage. The Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library is currently on the fourth floor of the Mitchell Memorial Library on the MSU campus. The university is one of six across the nation that hosts a presidential library. |
| Magnolia Mornings: New Crossroads District planned at Mississippi State University | |
| Mississippi State University announced Tuesday that a comprehensive master plan has been recently completed for a new 15-acre district featuring a boutique hotel, restaurants and retail stores on the land between the MSU campus and the Cotton District. It is to be named the Crossroads District. MSU said the Crossroads District will feature and be anchored by a 122-room Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel. Construction of the hotel is set to begin in October, and plans call for it to open in the summer of 2027. The school noted that restaurants, retail and residential developments along University Drive have long made the area attractive. Increasing the number of businesses in those economic sectors and doing so along a street that joins the campus to the city is an ideal fit. MSU is collaborating with West Side Funds Inc., a for-profit affiliate of the Mississippi State University Foundation. The area has been granted qualified resort status by the Mississippi Legislature, clearing the way for thoughtful development and strategic growth. |
| MSU to collaborate with West Side Funds for new development | |
 | Mississippi State University and the City of Starkville have always had a connection. A planned development is set to make that connection physical and seamless. Plans call for a 15-acre development stretching along Highway 12 from University Drive to Russell Street, and towards the Mill is set to take shape beginning in October with the construction of the 122-room Hotel Madelon. The hotel will anchor what is being called The Crossroads District. MSU is collaborating with West Side Funds, a for-profit affiliate of the MSU Foundation, to bring the Crossroads District to life. The development is expected to take shape in phases and will include an entertainment district, a planned pedestrian bridge over Highway 12, residential development, and a 700-space parking garage. The Crossroads District will also be the future home of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, currently housed at MSU's Mitchell Memorial Library. The District has been granted qualified resort status by the Legislature, allowing for more options in entertainment and dining. |
| New Cyber, Technology Center Being Constructed Near Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Miss. | |
 | Mississippi officials were joined by military and national leaders on Aug. 19, 2025, to herald the advancement of the state's cybersecurity and innovation sector during a groundbreaking ceremony at a site adjacent to Biloxi's Keesler Air Force Base (AFB). They were on hand for the start of construction of the Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center, a 100,000-sq.-ft. facility being built next to the military 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," Gov. Tate Reeves told the crowd during his remarks at the event. "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." |
| Eight pickleball courts to open at Sanderson Center | |
| Mississippi State University Recreation is preparing to open eight new pickleball courts next to the Sanderson Center in September. The $1 million project, which has been under construction all summer as part of an ongoing effort to modernize the amenities offered at the Sanderson Center, is expected to be complete by Sept. 15. Pickleball, a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, has seen a surge in popularity among students and Starkville residents in recent years. Patrik Nordin, the director of University Recreation and director of the Office for Student Well-Being, said that the decision to build the courts came after the sport first rose to popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. "It was a sport that was mostly played outdoors that allowed for social distancing," Nordin said, "and it was a social sport that was accessible to most people." Jaxson Flores, a senior kinesiology major and co-president of the Pickleball Club at MSU, said that the new courts will make the sport more accessible to students. Nordin said that he expects the courts to be extremely popular when they open, potentially at all hours of the day. He said that he has already heard firsthand from several members of the Pickleball Club about the growing excitement for the courts. |
| MSU, ECCC agree to expand access to degrees | |
| Mississippi State and East Central Community College in Decatur are partnering to create a seamless transfer pathway for culinary arts students to pursue a bachelor's degree in culinology at the university. MSU President Mark E. Keenum and ECCC President Brent Gregory signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday, Aug. 18, giving transfer students the opportunity to earn this degree in a field with 100% job placement. "Our university is widely recognized for the innovative degree programs we provide and the collaborative culture we have. 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," Keenum said. "It's an honor to work with Dr. Gregory and his team at East Central to offer this new pathway to their students." Reed Family Endowed Professor Wes Schilling, who also directs the university's new Food Science Innovation Hub, said the agreement allows community college graduates to continue their education at the university level. |
| MSU, ECCC sign agreement to expand access to culinology degrees | |
| Mississippi State University and East Central Community College in Decatur are partnering to create a seamless transfer pathway for culinary arts students to pursue a bachelor's degree in culinology at the university. MSU President Mark E. Keenum and ECCC President Brent Gregory signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday, giving transfer students the opportunity to earn this degree in a field with 100% job placement. "Our university is widely recognized for the innovative degree programs we provide and the collaborative culture we have. 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," Keenum said. "It's an honor to work with Dr. Gregory and his team at East Central to offer this new pathway to their students." Reed Family Endowed Professor Wes Schilling, who also directs the university's new Food Science Innovation Hub, said the agreement allows community college graduates to continue their education at the university level. He noted that the Food Science Innovation Hub plays a key role in providing students with hands-on industry experience. |
| Mississippi farmers to benefit from increases to federal subsidies | |
 | Mississippi farmers are set to benefit from the most significant update to federal farm policy in a decade, after Congress tucked sweeping agricultural provisions into an omnibus tax and spending bill. HR1, commonly called "The One Big Beautiful Bill Act" raises reference prices for major row crops, benchmarks that trigger federal payments when market prices fall, and increases crop insurance subsidies. Economists say the measures could deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in additional support to growers who have been battered by rising costs and declining prices. "Overall, we're looking at total support to row crop producers in the state going from about 146 million to closer to 400 million," said Dr. Will Maples, an agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. "So, it is definitely going to be an influx of money that's really needed currently given the row crop economy." This is the first increase to crop reference prices farmers have seen since 2014, and the bill also sets up annual increases starting in 2031. Soybeans, Mississippi's largest row crop, will see the reference price rise from $8.40 to $10 a bushel. Maples says reference prices staying stagnant for so long meant the Price Loss Coverage Program wasn't really protecting farmers from fluctuations in crop prices or revenue shortfalls. |
| BASF Donates Trailer to MSU Extension Urban Entomology Program | |
| BASF Professional & Specialty Solutions has donated an eight-foot covered trailer to the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Urban Entomology Program in Starkville, Miss. Dr. Santos Portugal, BCE, assistant professor, MSU Extension Urban Entomology, said he already has plans on how to best utilize this trailer in his program. "This generous donation will significantly enhance not only our ability to conduct applied field research, but also to provide more hands-on Extension training opportunities for PMPs in Mississippi and throughout the Midsouth region," he said. "We at BASF are thrilled to support Dr. Portugal and the Urban Entomology Program at Mississippi State University" said Dr. Bob Davis, BCE, Technical Services Representative with BASF Professional & Specialty Solutions. "Investing in a robust hands-on termite technician training program demonstrates a commitment to professional development, which in turn benefits pest management professional companies through improved performance, better problem-solving, and increased retention. Dr. Portugal is providing a fantastic resource for the PMP's of Mississippi and the neighboring states." |
| Supervisors approve $55M sale of OCH to Baptist | |
| Supervisors on Monday approved a $55 million purchase agreement to sell OCH Regional Medical Center to Baptist Memorial Health Care, putting the deal on track to close this fall. Baptist ratified the deal before it was publicly announced Wednesday afternoon. After the Monday meeting, Board of Supervisors President Marvell Howard said he took a moment to drive by the hospital, commemorating the end of a years-long effort to sell the hospital to a private buyer. With the deal, Baptist has committed to a $96.8 million investment in the hospital and agreed to offer employment to all active OCH employees in good standing at their current benefit levels while also continuing all existing services at the hospital. The transaction will now undergo standard regulatory reviews to ensure all customary closing conditions are satisfied in hopes of finalizing the sale by this fall. "We are working diligently with Baptist to complete these final steps and anticipate the sale will officially close by the end of September 2025," County Administrator Wayne Carpenter wrote in a statement to The Dispatch. The deal also includes a commitment to working with Mississippi State University to expand efforts in areas of student health, education and athletics. |
| Mary Means Business: Historic Varsity Theater listed for sale | |
| One of downtown Columbus' most recognizable landmarks is up for grabs. The Varsity Theater, located at 401 Main St., is listed for sale at $699,000 but is also available for lease at $6,500 a month. Built in 1979, the 7,700 square-foot property sits in the heart of downtown. Currently listed as "under renovation," the theater offers plenty of potential for investors, developers or anyone looking to breathe new life into a piece of local history. The property is listed with Oren Richardson of Delta-Gulf Real Estate Corporation. "It could really be turned into a fine property, especially with Burns Bottoms right there," he said. "It still needs the finishing touches. But with the right investor, you could really do something." ... Moving over to Starkville, we just got a new spot for coffee addicts like myself. After opening their first coffee shop in Mathiston earlier this year, Austin and Taylor McGinnis are expanding The Coffee Lair to 408 University Drive, right next to Stromboli's Pizza. The grand opening is 6:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday. Expect lattes, frappes, mochas, bagels, sausage cheddar biscuits, acai bowls and even free pup cups for your four-legged friends. Regular hours will be 6:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. |
| Homes, shops coming to Burns Bottom by 2028 in $800K deal | |
| Work should begin this fall on redeveloping the old Burns Bottom subdivision, with the first residential and commercial units available for sale by 2028. Columbus Redevelopment Authority approved a series of agreements Aug. 13 to move forward with selling the property to Friendly City Development for a mixed use project. Next month, the city council is expected to ratify those contracts. "We've been busy, even though it may not have looked like we were," CRA Chairperson Marthalie Porter told the council at its Tuesday evening meeting at the Municipal Complex. "We're thrilled to be at this point. ... It's in a marvelous location with the wonderful (Roger Short) soccer complex, the Riverwalk, the amphitheater, the downtown amenities. So, it's very exciting." The CRA entered negotiations with Friendly City Development in May 2024, after the group -- led by partners Saunders Ramsey with the Adelaide developers in Starkville and brothers Nic and Garrett Parish of the Burns Group in Columbus -- submitted a proposal for its Parkview Project. A press release the group issued Tuesday said the project will feature 50 single-family homes along with several acres for multi-use development "with a strong emphasis on connectivity, traditional architecture and community building." |
| Mississippi unemployment holds steady, 'no hire, no fire' | |
| Mississippi's July unemployment rate held steady for a fourth straight month. And while Mississippi saw the largest increase in unemployment in the country year over year at 0.9%, that's not necessarily bad news. The Bureau of Labor Statistics on Tuesday published updated state employment numbers that showed Mississippi's unemployment rate at 4.0% from May through July. The national unemployment rate was 4.2% in July. "What we're seeing is kind of a continuation of what we've seen for the past few months. In Mississippi as well as across the country, it seems to be kind of a no-hire, no-fire labor market," said Corey Miller, Mississippi's state economist. The increase in unemployment is likely due to a 1% increase in the labor force. Miller believes that the rise in real wages and decrease in inflation at the end of 2023 may have motivated people who were not working or looking for work to rejoin the labor force. Mary Willoughby, Mississippi Department of Employment Security chief economist, said that Mississippi's unemployment rate has historically been above the national number but for the past few years it has been below. For Willoughby this is an encouraging sign. "Mississippi's labor market is in good shape. It's very stable and doing a good job," said Willoughby. |
| AccelerateMS launches new program to connect future workforce with skilled retirees | |
| The state of Mississippi is launching a program to entice seasoned professionals to help train the future of the workforce. AccelerateMS announced Wednesday that it is introducing EnCORE (Calling Our Retired Experts), an initiative aimed at connecting experienced professionals with instructor, trainer, and mentor opportunities within the state's workforce development framework. EnCORE, per a release from the state agency, seeks to develop a centralized pool of skilled individuals, particularly those nearing or entering retirement, who are eager to stay involved and make a meaningful impact on Mississippi's future workforce. Through a streamlined process on the AccelerateMS website, interested individuals can submit a form that outlines their background, skills, and instructional expertise. This allows AccelerateMS and its partners, including community colleges, K-12 career and technical education centers, correctional education partners, private industry, and contract training providers, to match qualified instructors with open positions. "Mississippi's workforce is stronger when we tap into the wisdom and expertise of those who have shaped our industries and communities," Dr. Courtney Taylor, executive director of AccelerateMS, said. "EnCORE is about honoring that experience and channeling it directly into the classrooms, training centers, and mentorship programs that are preparing our state for the future." |
| Business Activity Gains Pace as Manufacturing Rebounds | |
 | U.S. business activity expanded at its fastest pace this year as the factory sector rebounded strongly, though trade tariffs are fueling inflation in input prices, according to monthly surveys. The S&P Global Flash U.S. Composite PMI -- a monthly gauge of activity in both the manufacturing and services sectors -- rose to 55.4 this month from 55.1 in July, a survey showed Thursday. The reading above 50 suggests overall activity continued to expand, and at a quicker clip. The manufacturing sector recovered to a 39-month high in activity, coming close to the threshold that divides contraction from expansion. Services continued to expand, but at a slightly slower pace than a month earlier. "A strong flash PMI reading for August adds to signs that U.S. businesses have enjoyed a strong third quarter so far," said Chris Williamson, S&P Global's chief business economist. Still, average selling prices rose at their fastest in three years, with tariffs cited as the principal cause. That will likely add to the Federal Reserve's caution about any further cuts to interest rates. "Combined with the upturn in business activity and hiring, the rise in prices signaled by the survey puts the PMI data more into rate hiking, rather than cutting, territory," Williamson said. |
| First meeting of Mississippi House Education Freedom Select Committee set | |
| The first meeting of the Mississippi House Education Freedom Select Committee will feature two speakers, Dr. Laurie Todd-Smith and Dr. Lindsey Burke. Just after the 2025 legislative session, Speaker Jason White (R) announced the formation of certain select committees to gather information to support the drafting of bills that will be introduced during the 2026 session. One of those committees is the Education Freedom Select Committee, where school choice is expected to be a main topic of conversation. During the Neshoba County Fair, White indicated that the House is considering all forms of school choice, from public-to-public transfers to potentially allowing parents to use state funds to offset the cost of private school, among other options. State Rep. Rob Roberson (R), Chairman of the House Education Freedom Select Committee, said Dr. Todd-Smith and Dr. Burke will be the only two people on the agenda for their first meeting set for August 25 at 1 p.m. at the State Capitol. Dr. Todd-Smith has experience as an educator in the public school sector, and as a childcare director in several states, including Mississippi. Having served under President Donald Trump's first administration as the director of the Women's Bureau at the U.S. Department of Labor, she joined his current administration in March of this year as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood Development at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In that role, Todd-Smith leads ACF's Office of Early Childhood Development which oversees the Office of Head Start and Office of Child Care. Todd-Smith, a graduate of Mississippi State University, has assisted states in advancing evidence-based education policy reforms, including the expansion of school choice. |
| Mississippi tears down a long-standing eyesore in the Capital City | |
| Regency Hotel, a longstanding eyesore in Jackson, is being torn down, and Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson has plans for the space. Gipson said it will be turned into a parking lot for the fairgrounds as well as a green space. This collaborative effort is between the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration and the agriculture office. Gipson said the project pushes Jackson in a positive direction because it beautifies the entrance to the city and stops the dangers that were coming from the abandoned Regency Hotel. "As people come on Interstate 55, all they have to look at is the backside of an ugly, godforsaken pink hotel for the last two or three decades," Gipson said. "It's been ugly, and this is going to make it beautiful and very nice." MDFA and Gipson said they expect the parking lot to be complete by mid-December. The construction aligns with a number of other projects to improve the fairgrounds, including getting a new water tank to increase water pressure in the area and redoing the roof of the livestock judging arena. |
| Democrats alarmed over new data showing voters fleeing to GOP | |
 | Democrats are sounding the alarm on new data showing they are losing voters to Republicans across the country. A devastating New York Times report Wednesday showed that of the 30 states that maintain voter registration records by political party, Democrats fell behind Republicans in all of them between the 2020 and 2024 elections. In total, Republicans added up to 4.5 million voters compared to Democrats, creating a huge hole that could set Democrats back for years. "I think it should be an alarm" for the party, Democratic strategist Eddie Vale. "I think it's a real problem." The data comes as Democrats struggle to figure out how to get out of the political wilderness after losing the presidency to Donald Trump and control of both chambers of Congress to the GOP. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has found traction with attacks on Trump, mimicking the president on social media and energizing many in his party. But the Democratic brand itself has taken a number of big hits, and the New York Times data is just the latest point suggesting the party has lost its way. A major Democratic donor was more scathing: "Our party sucks. Our leadership sucks. Our message sucks. Why would anyone want to be a Democrat?" "We're completely out of touch," the donor said. |
| They Kindled Froggy Romance and Rescued Eggs to Save a Species in Mississippi | |
 | It didn't look good for the dusky gopher frog. By the early 2000s, scientists knew of fewer than 100 adults left at a single seasonal pond in southern Mississippi, and that population faced an imminent threat: The water kept drying up before the tadpoles turned into frogs, killing them. Then, to make things worse, a parasite hit. A few survivors were taken into captivity. They refused to mate. But two decades later, the frog's trajectory has turned around. While the species remains critically endangered and still relies on intensive interventions, its numbers have grown to around 600 adults, spread out over some 15 ponds and a handful of captive populations that now produce offspring. It's been a roller-coaster ride. Over the years, collaborators -- from federal and state agencies, academia, zoos and other conservation organizations -- have lived through crushing lows, dizzying highs and chronic worry over the three-inch frogs. As humans propel a growing biodiversity crisis that is hitting amphibians especially hard, the humble dusky gopher frog is an example of what can happen when people work together in the opposite direction, helping a species regain numbers and restoring habitat that had been taken away. "We can breathe a heavy sigh of relief," said CJ Hillard, a biologist with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. "One bad hurricane or one bad event isn't going to cause an extinction." |
| Nitrous oxide deaths spike by more than 500%, Ole Miss study finds | |
| Nitrous oxide deaths in the United States spiked by more than 500% between 2010 and 2023, a new study indicates. Andrew Yockey, University of Mississippi assistant professor of public health, and Rachel Hoopsick, assistant professor of health and kinesiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, completed a first-of-its-kind study of nitrous oxide-related fatalities. The researchers published their findings in JAMA Network Open. "This is not local to one area; it's everywhere," Yockey said. "And it absolutely deserves national surveillance. The numbers are still small right now, but they're growing and they're growing fast. "How long do we have to wait before we consider this a problem?" Nitrous oxide, commonly referred to as "laughing gas" or "whippets," is often used medically or in some food preparation. But it's also being increasingly misused as a recreational inhalant. "What's especially concerning is how accessible and deceptively safe nitrous oxide seems," Hoopsick said. "It's legal, easy to buy and often viewed as harmless. But frequent or high-volume use can lead to serious neurological damage, psychiatric symptoms or even death. We're particularly worried about young people experimenting without understanding the risks. The rise in harm calls for not only prevention, but also stronger harm-reduction strategies." |
| Tech innovations in dementia care highlighted at conference | |
| Technology is changing the way we care for loved ones with Alzheimer's. This was the focus of the 25th Annual Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias, which was hosted by the MIND Center. This year's theme was "Technology in Dementia Care," but the conversations go far beyond gadgets and apps. Sessions explore everything from clinical research and early diagnosis to nutrition, sleep and caregiver support. Experts said one of the biggest shifts is making specialized care more accessible through telehealth. "The biggest impact that we are seeing is that we are able to, for example with telehealth, we are able to bring specialist providers where the patient is, so the patients don't have to go travel and go for in-person visits," said Dr. Saurabh Chandra, Chief Telehealth Officer at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). |
| IHL Board launches search for JSU's next president | |
| The Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) Board of Trustees announced the beginning of the search process for a new Jackson State University (JSU) president. "The work of selecting a university president is not easy. The search committee must walk a very fine line, respecting the need for transparency and input from stakeholders, while also respecting the need for confidentiality related to those individuals who are being recruited and interviewed," IHL Board President Gee Ogletree said. "The students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters of Jackson State University deserve our very best efforts in this process, and those efforts will ultimately result in a dynamic leader who will help Jackson State realize its greatest potential." Trustee Dr. Steven Cunningham, a graduate of JSU who also serves as vice president of the IHL Board of Trustees, will serve as chair of the search committee. All other trustees will serve on the committee. Updates on the status of the search process will be available on the IHL website. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters of Jackson State University are also invited to submit comments through the webpage. |
| As Jackson State University president search looms, politics may make the position more difficult | |
| The presidency at Jackson State University has had its fair share of tumultuous transitions. Students, faculty and alumni were left in disbelief when Mississippi's higher education board announced Marcus Thompson's resignation in May, just five days after graduation and two years into his term. He was the third president to suddenly depart at the state's largest historically Black university in less than seven years. His predecessor, Thomas Hudson left after two years. Before that, William Bynum resigned after three years, following his arrest in a prostitution sting at a Clinton hotel. The typical college president has been in their current job for 5.9 years. Yet, in all three cases, the JSU presidents left without formal explanation from the Institutions of Higher Learning board. During summer break, alumni have taken up the torch, leading email campaigns to voice their frustrations to board members, state lawmakers and elected officials about the university's chronic leadership turnover. "Discussions on the process have begun, but it's important to make sure this process is efficient, thorough and timely," John Sewell, a spokesperson for the board, said in a statement to Mississippi Today. The board says it wants to ensure Denise Jones-Gregory, the university's current interim president, who was appointed immediately after Thompson's departure, has the opportunity to settle into the role. |
| New faculty members introduced during Opening Convocation at WCU | |
 | William Carey University welcomed students back to campus Wednesday during the university's opening convocation. Administrators, faculty, students and staff attended the event at the Thomas Fine Arts Auditorium. "I know it's for faculty, staff, and for my fellow staff members and the faculty, but all those new students, it's just encouraging to see that the fruits of our labor are actually here," said Tylon McSwain, a staff member in WCU's Office of Recruiting. During the convocation, 31 new faculty members were introduced, and University President Ben Burnett spoke about WCU's theme for the 2025-2026 academic year, which is "Called to Serve." "William Carey University, since our beginnings in 1892, has been a service university, a Christian university, and so, this year, we're really stressing that in the pattern of Jesus, we want to serve others," Burnett said. "We got to meet today and meet all the new professors and have everyone in one place, and it was just such a good feeling," said Sarah Anderson, a freshman majoring in nursing. |
| MCC resource fair connects students with community support | |
 | Meridian Community College students made their way down rows of tables manned by local organizations and support services Wednesday morning as MCC held its twice yearly resource fair to connect students with community support. Nedra Bradley, family services and student support executive director for MCC, said the fair gives students a better understanding of the help that is available to them in addition to the variety of support programs offered through the college. "Sometimes there's things outside of our reach that we can't help them with, so we try to partner with other agencies to make sure that students get everything they need to be successful here," she said. Bradley said the fair is held each spring and fall to reach as many students as possible. Holding one fair each semester helps reach students who may not have been on campus previously, she said. Associate Director for Military Services and C2C Coach with MCC Student Affairs Shaquita Hopson Alfonso said this is the eighth year for the college's resource fair, and Wednesday's event brought an array of community services for students to connect. |
| U.S. Sec. of Education visits the Oxford School District | | |
| U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, along with state and local elected officials all visited the Oxford School District Wednesday as part of the Returning Education to the States tour, highlighting the district's innovative work in K-12 public education. The visit began at the Oxford Early Childhood Center, where McMahon toured classrooms and met with students, teachers and administrators. OSD selected the Early Childhood Center as the showcase site for the visit because of its role in laying the foundation for lifelong learning and closing achievement gaps before they widen. "Mississippi has made remarkable strides in early literacy through focused state leadership and a return to the fundamentals. It was a joy to start my morning by reading to students in Oxford and witnessing the Mississippi Miracle firsthand," said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. "The experiences will help inform our ongoing efforts to encourage local involvement in education across the nation." Following the tour, McMahon joined Superintendent Bradley Roberson, state and local government officials, district leaders, teachers, students, and community stakeholders for a roundtable discussion on key topics such as literacy, district innovation, teacher recruitment and retention, high school acceleration, fiscal management and the value of co-curricular activities. |
| Students face new cellphone restrictions in 17 states as school year begins | |
 | Jamel Bishop is seeing a big change in his classrooms as he begins his senior year at Doss High School in Louisville, Kentucky, where cellphones are now banned during instructional time. In previous years, students often weren't paying attention and wasted class time by repeating questions, the teenager said. Now, teachers can provide "more one-on-one time for the students who actually need it." Kentucky is one of 17 states and the District of Columbia starting this school year with new restrictions, bringing the total to 35 states with laws or rules limiting phones and other electronic devices in school. This change has come remarkably quickly: Florida became the first state to pass such a law in 2023. Both Democrats and Republicans have taken up the cause, reflecting a growing consensus that phones are bad for kids' mental health and take their focus away from learning, even as some researchers say the issue is less clear-cut. "Anytime you have a bill that's passed in California and Florida, you know you're probably onto something that's pretty popular," Georgia state Rep. Scott Hilton, a Republican, told a forum on cellphone use last week in Atlanta. Some researchers say it's not yet clear what types of social media may cause harm, and whether restrictions have benefits, but teachers "love the policy," according to Julie Gazmararian, a professor of public health at Emory University who does surveys and focus groups to research the effects of a phone ban in middle school grades in the Marietta school district near Atlanta. |
| U. of Alabama Makes Top 20 for Alumni Networks | |
 | For students at the University of Alabama, "Roll Tide" isn't just a rallying cry, it's a lifelong commitment. The Crimson Tide's community of alumni is getting national attention, with the school landing at No. 12 on The Princeton Review's list of Top 20 Best Alumni Networks among public universities. The 2025 Princeton Review ranking highlights public colleges where alums are known to stay actively involved, offering everything from career mentorship to networking opportunities. For UA students and graduates, it's another sign that the university's support doesn't stop at commencement. With a median starting salary of $57,400, graduates of the University of Alabama see the payoff of a strong alumni network, indicating that the investment in a UA education often leads to real-world success. Whether it's through regional alumni chapters, job boards or annual networking events, Alabama grads stay connected. Students benefit from on-campus interviews, internships and learning programs, many of which are powered by alum partnerships. |
| Texas A&M teams up with Buc-ee's to offer iconic items, snacks in partnership | |
| In a historic first-of-its-kind partnership, Buc-ee's and Texas A&M University announced the two are teaming up to offer some of the famous travel center's snacks and merchandise at the university's main campus in College Station. Starting Aug. 20, Texas A&M is offering more that 45 of Buc-ee's most popular products at three locations on its main campus. Snacks like Beaver Nuggets, beef jerky and other Buc-ee's brand merchandise are now available at Aggie Express Commons, Aggie Express Hullabaloo and Creekside Market through Aggie Dining. "As an Aggie, it's incredibly special to bring Buc-ee's to the heart of the campus," said Arch "Beaver" Aplin III, founder and CEO of Buc-ee's and a proud member of the Texas A&M Class of 1980. "We're thrilled to share a little piece of Buc-ee's with the Aggie Family every day." The collaboration between these two iconic Texas establishments continues Aggie Dining's mission to bring innovative and student-loved brands to campus, enhancing convenience and campus life. |
| UT System names John Zerwas as chancellor, Jim Davis as UT-Austin president | |
| The University of Texas System Board of Regents voted Wednesday to name former Texas Republican lawmaker John Zerwas the system's next chancellor. They also named Jim Davis, who has served as interim president of the University of Texas at Austin since February, as the flagship's next permanent president. The board named both men sole finalists for their respective positions last month. Rather than do a national search for candidates for UT-Austin president, Board Chair Kevin Eltife appointed members to a committee to evaluate Davis and provide feedback to Eltife. While Eltife appointed faculty, staff and students to the committee, the committee's most prominent members were influential alumni and donors like Bob Rowling, Pam Willeford and Kenny Jastrow. Rowling, Willeford and Jastrow all graduated from UT-Austin between the late 1960s and early 1970s. Rowling, a billionaire businessman, major GOP donor and former UT regent, chaired the committee. Willeford, a Bush-era U.S. ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, is a philanthropist. Jastrow, a former Fortune 500 CEO, has led UT's fundraising campaigns. The UT System is undergoing a major leadership shake-up at a time of heightened political scrutiny of higher education. Eltife said on Wednesday that the committee unanimously recommended Davis' hiring. |
| U. of Missouri Forges Ahead With Ambitious Nuclear Project | |
 | Despite the Trump administration's assault on the academic research enterprise, the University of Missouri is forging ahead with plans to build a new, roughly $1.2 billion nuclear reactor intended to generate both cancer-fighting radioisotopes and revenue for the university. The project, called the NextGen University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR), is in the beginning stages of an estimated eight- to 10-year construction timeline. Once completed, NextGen MURR will operate at the Columbia campus alongside the original, decades-old MURR. The latter is the sole domestic producer of four medical radioisotopes that have been used to treat millions of liver, thyroid, pancreatic and prostate cancer patients with fewer side effects than traditional radiation and chemotherapies. NextGen MURR will be even more powerful, expanding medical isotope research and production for theranostics, the practice of using targeted radioisotopes to diagnose and treat cancer. But unlike so many of the federally funded research projects the Trump administration has canceled, paused or discouraged -- including many focused on now-verboten subjects such as climate change, LGBTQ+ health and vaccine hesitancy -- NextGen MURR aligns with an executive order President Trump issued in May calling for the acceleration of advanced nuclear technologies. |
| A 'Great Defection' threatens to empty universities and colleges of top teaching talent | |
| Paulina Cossette spent six years getting a doctoral degree with the goal of becoming a university professor. But it wasn't long before she gave up on that path. With higher education under political assault, and opportunities as well as job security diminished by enrollment declines, Cossette felt burnt out and disillusioned. So she quit her hard-won job as an assistant professor of American government at a small private college in Maryland and used the skills she'd learned to go into business for herself as a freelance copy editor. Now Cossette is hearing from other newly minted Ph.D.s and tenured faculty who want out -- so many, she's expanded her business to help them leave academia, as she did. Seemingly relentless attacks and funding cuts since the start of Donald Trump's second presidential term have been "the straw that broke the camel's back," said Cossette, who left higher education on the eve of the pandemic, in 2019. "I'm hearing from a lot more people that it's too much." An exodus appears to be under way of Ph.D.s and faculty generally, who are leaving academia in the face of political, financial and enrollment crises. It's a trend federal data and other sources show began even before Trump returned to the White House. |
| In a tough job market for new workers, networking and adaptability can make a difference | |
| Growing up as the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica, Stacey Watson didn't see herself in the characters of the books she read. Now 28, she wants to be a book editor who helps promote a more diverse range of story protagonists so her nieces and other young people feel represented. But an entry-level job in publishing has proven elusive. Two years after earning her master's degree, with four internships and several part-time jobs under her belt, Watson hasn't landed a full-time staff position. She lives with her parents in Brooklyn to make ends meet. "You're hoping every year is the year you can tell your parents, 'I got the full-time job, you don't have to worry about me anymore,'" she said. Watson's experience echoes the difficulties facing many job seekers who are trying to start their careers at a time when economic uncertainty has discouraged employers from adding staff and workers from leaving their jobs. The U.S. unemployment rate for college graduates aged 22 to 27 has outpaced the joblessness rate for the general population since the coronavirus pandemic. Many degree-holders seeking their first jobs report spending months submitting applications. In a tight job market, companies often choose more experienced candidates because they can, said Laura Ullrich, economic research director for job search website Indeed. "Quit rates are low ... and companies aren't hiring many people. So it's this stagnant environment where there's not a lot of room being created for these new grads." |
| 61% of college students say they will be impacted by Trump's 'big beautiful' bill: 'Honestly, I'm cooked' | |
| Beginning as early as July 2026, several provisions in President Donald Trump's domestic spending and policy bill will change the way students and families pay for higher education. The so-called 'big beautiful' bill brings new borrowing limits and reduces the number of repayment plan options for federal student loan borrowers taking out loans on and after July 1, 2026. It also eliminates Grad PLUS loans for students seeking advanced degrees after that date. While not all students take out federal loans to pay for their education, 61% of college students say they will be impacted by the bill, according to a new survey conducted by U.S. News & World Report. The news outlet surveyed nearly 1,200 college students to gauge their understanding and expected impact of the policy changes. "Honestly, I'm cooked," one student wrote in the survey. "I wanted to go to medical school but now I won't," another said. The student ditching their med school plan isn't alone -- over a third of respondents said they're canceling plans to further their education in response to the policy changes, U.S. News found. Others students said they are considering workarounds like going to school abroad or joining the military to help fund their |
| DEI closures at colleges leave students with 'a different reality' | |
| The student experience is changing at universities after multiple diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, offices and centers have been shut down. Schools such as the University of Michigan have shuttered their diversity centers after the Trump administration began targeting institutions and pulling funding, while other universities in places such as Texas, Florida and Kansas had to close programs due to state law. The shift is creating a new environment this academic year even as experts say antisemitism and racism are among top concerns for students. The Trump administration is seeking to ban DEI nationally, but has faced legal setbacks. But as the administration loses in court and many small schools do not have big diversity programs, some students might see little change. Marjorie Hass, president of the Council of Independent Colleges, said that between the administration's court losses and the lack of diversity programs at many schools to begin with, "in many ways, students will find that little has changed." "Smaller campuses tend not to have specific centers or institutes; they tend to be more likely to have individuals that are there helping each student succeed. So, in some cases, I think we don't want to overestimate how much has actually changed. Many campuses are continuing to stay the course," Hass said. |
| Sanders, Senate Dems Press McMahon for Answers About Debt Relief Pause | |
| Education Secretary Linda McMahon received a litany of demands this week from Sen. Bernie Sanders and 10 Senate Democrats, who criticized the way her department quietly cut off access to loan forgiveness for some eligible borrowers. The letter, dated Aug. 18, follows the department's decision in July to indefinitely freeze debt relief for borrowers on the Income-Based Repayment Plan and calls for the Office of Federal Student Aid to clarify why the benefit was put on hold. Department of Education officials say they were required by a court order to put the pause in place while they recalculate borrowers' progress toward debt relief. The senators disagreed, calling the decision "outraging" and arguing that it was done by choice. They add that Congress did not receive proper notification. Rather, lawmakers learned about the freeze through constituents who, when applying for forgiveness, were told by their loan servicers that such applications weren't being processed. If the freeze persists, the Democrats say it will "create unnecessary confusion" and prevent thousands of borrowers who have made payments for 20 years or more from accessing relief. The senators also argued that the department needs to act quickly to restart forgiveness because some borrowers are running out of time to take advantage of a tax break. After this year, relieved borrowers will have to pay taxes on any forgiven student loans. |
| Two Chancellors Push Back Against Claims They're Dividing the Sector Amid Trump Threats | |
 | Since before Donald Trump's second inauguration, higher-education leaders have grappled with how to respond to his criticisms of the sector: Should they dig in to defend their institutions' work, change how they do business to preserve their standing, or a bit of both? Those questions have only grown more urgent as dozens of campuses have become the target of federal investigations, and some have negotiated directly with the White House to preserve their funding. A recent article in The Atlantic highlighted that schism. Headlined "The Elite-University Presidents Who Despise One Another," it described discord centering on two chancellors -- Daniel Diermeier of Vanderbilt University and Andrew D. Martin of Washington University in St. Louis -- who it said advocate for "a kind of voluntary, modified de-wokeification." Other leaders have, by contrast, offered a fuller-throated defense of academe's status quo and encouraged their peers to present a united front against government incursion. The two factions, according to The Atlantic's reporting, came to a head at an April meeting of the Association of American Universities, when Princeton University's president, Christopher Eisgruber, made remarks "all but accusing" Diermeier and Martin "of carrying water for the Trump administration." But Diermeier and Martin say that's far from the case. |
| Another data center means higher bills | |
| Mississippi newspaper publisher and columnist Wyatt Emmerich writes: Gov. Tate Reeves has proudly announced a second huge data center to be located in Brandon. The project, sponsored by a private Connecticut-based company called Avaio Digital, claims to be six billion dollars in investment. Unlike the $16-billion Amazon Data Center project, there was no two-day special session for the Avaio project. It will probably not be regulated by Senate Bill 2001, which controls the Amazon project. If so, this is good news and will allow the Public Service Commission to fully review, monitor and regulate the extent to which the project's cost can be assessed to residential energy bills. Like the Madison Amazon plant, the Avaio project will buy its electricity from Entergy Mississippi. Let's hope their rate won't be deemed a "trade secret" like the Amazon data center rate was deemed by SB 2001. Data centers are not like any other industrial project ever to come to Mississippi. First of all, they are largely automated and don't create many jobs. The Avaio project is projected to create no more than 60 direct jobs. Second, data centers consume an almost unbelievable amount of electricity. ... Typically, industrial users pay half the rate of residential customers, which means existing users will have to make up at least 50 percent of the extra cost of the electricity. My guess is these data centers are getting a much lower rate than the typical low-usage plain-vanilla manufacturing plant. That's probably why the rates are not being revealed to the public. |
SPORTS
| Mississippi State stadiums will be within walking distance of new luxury hotel, entertainment area | |
 | A new luxury hotel and entertainment area that will be within walking distance of the Mississippi State football, basketball and baseball stadiums is coming to Starkville The Crossroads District, headlined by a 122-room Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel called Hotel Madelon, will be constructed along University Drive in between campus and the Cotton District, according to an announcement on Aug. 20. Also included is an entertainment district with restaurants and retail shops, a relocated Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, a pedestrian bridge over Highway 12 that connects to campus, an innovation and research hub and a 700-space parking garage. Construction of the hotel will be the first phase, with groundbreaking scheduled for October. It's expected to be completed in the summer of 2027. Mississippi State athletics broadcaster Neil Price narrated a short video posted to social media that gave a tour of the Crossroads District. "This ambitious project will honor and continue the legacy of the leaders and visionaries who have shaped Starkville and Mississippi State University into the place that we love," Price said in the video. |
| Soccer Season Officially Begins Thursday In Starkville | |
| The 2025-26 athletic year will officially begin on Thursday night in Starkville as the No. RV/21 Mississippi State soccer team hosts Jacksonville State. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. The match will mark the beginning of the Nick Zimmerman era after he was named the seventh head coach in program history in December. Zimmerman's debut last week was spoiled by lightning and heavy rains that canceled the team's match with UT Martin. State's lineup features six players named to the SEC Preseason Watch List and two who were recognized in TopDrawerSoccer's national Preseason Best XI. "Jacksonville State is a new group. I think they have only nine returning," Zimmerman said. "I know the coach well from his days in Birmingham, so I know he'll do a great job. He'll have them organized, and they're going to compete. I saw that they played North Alabama close on Sunday, 0-0, and they got the dub against West Georgia in a crazy game on Thursday night. I'm sure they'll come in with a lot of confidence and nothing to lose." Fans in attendance on Thursday night can look forward to two giveaway items. The first 100 fans will receive a free schedule t-shirt while the first 250 can claim a free cup of Bully's Ice Cream. |
| Bulldogs look to continue growth as 2025 campaign kicks off | |
| Mississippi State soccer was set to kick off a week ago before a lightning storm delayed and eventually cancelled the scheduled opener against UT Martin. The Bulldogs moved quickly to schedule another exhibition, but the team is ready to get rolling with the games that count. "We were all disappointed, players and staff, to not play the game," first-year head coach Nick Zimmerman said. "We did everything we could, UT Martin wanted to play, but sometimes Mother Nature has other plans. We were intentional with the two days that we had, Friday and Saturday, leading into the exhibition against Union. It was business as usual, a great opportunity for us to show the girls some adversity." The Bulldogs thrashed NCAA Division II side Union College 9-0 on Sunday, showcasing the attacking potential from a forward group that boasts plenty of experience and prolific production. Ally Perry returns after leading the Bulldogs in goalscoring last year, and helped to pull the strings behind strikers Kyra Taylor and Zoe Main. Jacksonville State arrives after two hard-fought games against West Georgia and North Alabama, and they'll be followed by a visit from last year's national finalists, Wake Forest, at the MSU Soccer Field on Sunday. He's hoping for a good turnout for both occasions as the Bulldogs finally get rolling in matches that matter. |
| Position Preview: Looking at Mississippi State's wide receivers for 2025 | |
| The Dispatch continues its overview of Mississippi State football position groups ahead of the 2025 season with a look at one of the rooms with the most turnover on the team: wide receiver. The receiver unit is one of the most important in Jeff Lebby's offense, requiring a variety of skillsets for route-running, quick reads on options and screens, and, of course, posing a threat downfield with speed and separation. With six incoming transfers, the group looks much different from a year ago, but there is plenty to be excited about. Despite the lack of a proven 1,000-yard receiver, the group makes up for experience with potential. |
| Mississippi State baseball, Brian O'Connor to host Louisiana Tech in fall scrimmage | |
 | Mississippi State baseball will be hosting Louisiana Tech in a fall scrimmage, new coach Brian O'Connor announced Aug. 20 while speaking at a WFCA radio station banquet. The exhibition is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT Nov. 1 at Dudy Noble Field. It's the same day as the Mississippi State football game at Arkansas, with kickoff scheduled during the afternoon window. It will be one of two fall scrimmages for the Bulldogs. MSU also will play Florida State, which defeated the Bulldogs in the Tallahassee Regional final on June 1, in Pensacola, Florida. That will be Oct. 18 at Blue Wahoos Stadium, where the Miami Marlins Double-A affiliate plays. The MSU football team also plays that day against Florida. O'Connor added that the Bulldogs will begin fall practices Sept. 19. MSU held its first team meeting with the players and new coaching staff on Aug. 18 before the fall semester began Aug. 20. O'Connor said he asked the 15 returning players in the meeting to explain what the M over S baseball logo means. "I got to tell you, I almost had tears in my eyes," he said. "Listening to these young men talk about what this university, and in our case this baseball program, means to them, it is part of the fiber of who they are as men." |
| Dellquan Warren missed Mississippi State basketball summer practices with broken foot | |
| Mississippi State basketball guard Dellquan Warren broke his foot in May but has recovered and expected to be ready for the start of the season, coach Chris Jans announced Aug. 20 while speaking at a WFCA radio station banquet. Warren missed all of MSU's summer workouts, according to Jans. Jans also said signees Tee Bartlett and Sergej Macura, who were not with the team for summer workouts, will arrive on campus by Aug. 25. MSU's fall semester began Aug. 20. The season opener is Nov. 5 versus North Alabama after an Oct. 26 exhibition against Houston in Rosenberg, Texas. Warren played 6.2 minutes per game last season off the bench as a freshman, averaging 0.6 points. He could be in for a bigger role this upcoming season alongside Josh Hubbard, who returns as a junior. Bartlett, a 6-foot-10 center, was a four-star recruit in the 2025 class who played in the Overtime Elite league. Macura is a 6-9 forward from Slovenia who committed to Mississippi State in May. |
| Amy Pryor Named Women's Basketball Director Of Operations | |
| Mississippi State women's hoops has added Amy Pryor as Director of Women's Basketball Operations, head coach Sam Purcell announced on Wednesday. Pryor will coordinate and oversee all operational aspects within the program, including travel logistics, schedule management, in addition to supporting the staff in a multitude of other capacities. Most recently, Pryor served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, a position she began in April of 2025. During the 2024-25 season, Pryor served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at George Washington. The Revolutionaries posted a 13-18 record and advanced to the second round of the A-10 Conference Tournament. Prior to her time at George Washington, Pryor spent two seasons at Eastern Michigan. In her first season, she served as Director of Basketball Operations under then head coach Fred Castro, who is now associate head coach on the Bulldogs' staff. She transitioned to the role of assistant coach during the 2022-23 season. |
| Adidas Deal Reveals Tennessee Athletic Org's Hidden Purpose | |
| The University of Tennessee last week unveiled a landmark 10-year apparel partnership with Adidas, set to begin next July and expected to include a significant NIL component for Volunteer athletes. Yahoo Sports reported the deal is likely valued at roughly $10 million per year in cash and product, though Tennessee has refused to confirm the financial terms, citing competitive concerns. Unlike the school's outgoing Nike agreement---or most public university athletic apparel deals -- those terms may never be disclosed. That's because the agreement is not with the university itself, but with the newly created University of Tennessee Athletics Foundation (UTAF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that contends it is exempt from state public records laws. The Adidas contract appears to mark just the beginning of UTAF's role as the deal-making proxy and signatory for the university's athletic department. "With the newly established UT Athletics Foundation, the expectation is to secure more contracts with external vendors through the foundation," Jason Baum, Tennessee's chief athletics communications officer, said. He did not respond to questions about the school's rationale in structuring its agreements this way. The university's public records custodian denied a formal public records request for the Adidas agreement by noting that it is held in the possession of the UTAF, and not the university. |
| CFP committee adding weight to games against strong opponents, limit reward for beating weak foes | |
| The College Football Playoff selection committee announced Wednesday it will place more emphasis on strength of schedule this year when determining which teams make the 12-team field. The committee said in a statement that the schedule strength metric has been adjusted to apply greater weight to games against strong opponents. An additional metric, record strength, has been added to go beyond a team's schedule strength to assess how a team performed against that schedule. "This metric rewards teams defeating high-quality opponents while minimizing the penalty for losing to such a team," the committee said. "Conversely, these changes will provide minimal reward for defeating a lower-quality opponent while imposing a greater penalty for losing to such a team." The adjustment to the evaluation process comes after some in the Southeastern Conference complained about last season's inclusion of -- at the time of selections -- an 11-2 SMU of the Atlantic Coast Conference over a 9-3 Alabama or even a 9-3 South Carolina or 9-3 Mississippi. SMU's losses were to an unranked BYU and a ranked Clemson in the ACC championship game. Alabama had bad losses against Vanderbilt and Oklahoma, both .500 at the time, but also had wins over a second-ranked Georgia, No. 21 Missouri and No. 14 LSU. |
| CFP selection committee to use enhanced metrics | |
| The College Football Playoff selection committee will announce its first of six rankings on Nov. 4 using enhanced metrics to help evaluate schedule strength and how teams perform against their slate, the CFP announced Wednesday. In the current schedule strength metric, more weight will now be applied to games against strong opponents. A new, added metric of "record strength" will help the committee determine how teams performed against their schedule, rewarding those that beat high-quality opponents while minimizing the penalty of losing to one. These changes will also provide minimal reward for beating a lower-quality opponent while imposing a greater penalty for losing to one. "All of these modifications will help the selection committee as they rank the top 25 teams," CFP executive director Rich Clark said in a statement. "We feel these changes will help construct a postseason bracket that recognizes the best performances and teams on the field during the regular season, and I want to thank our veteran selection committee members and data analytics groups for helping implement these changes." |
| House Democrats ask NCAA about plans to protect women as ways to pay college athletes increase | |
| Ten Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives have asked the NCAA if and how college sports' major governing body plans to protect the interests of female athletes as the largest portion of NIL and revenue-sharing payments continue to be directed to male athletes. The lawmakers, in a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker dated Thursday, noted that President Donald Trump's administration rescinded Title IX guidance on name, image and likeness payments that required equitable distribution between male and female athletes. The letter requests answers by Aug. 30 to five questions about the implementation of the recent House vs. NCAA antitrust lawsuit settlement: Will the NCAA encourage schools to allocate direct payments to male and female athletes equitably? With male athletes likely to continue receiving the bulk of NIL payments from third parties, will the NCAA refocus its own investments in women's sport to counteract the disparity? With 90% of the $2.8 million damages allocated to former athletes going to football and men's basketball players, how will the NCAA commit to ensuring damages are distributed in an equitable manner? By how much does the NCAA expect additional scholarship opportunities for women to increase overall funding for women's sports at Division I schools? What will the NCAA do to educate athletes -- particularly female athletes -- about the details of the settlement and the opportunities associated with it, along with the rights they may give up when signing contracts with their schools? |
The Office of Public Affairs provides the Daily News Digest as a general information resource for Mississippi State University stakeholders.
Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.
