| Tuesday, September 2, 2025 |
| New USDA Effort to Combat Rural Veterinary Shortages | |
 | Rural America has been short on an adequate supply of veterinarians for some time. Because of that, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins announced new actions to help increase the number of rural food animal veterinarians across the U.S. "Food animal veterinarians currently make up about five percent, only 5 percent of the total veterinarian population, a stark decline from just 40 years ago. So today, USDA, right here at the Mississippi State Veterinarian headquarters, is issuing the Rural Veterinary Shortage Action Plan. We are enhancing and streamlining the USDA's veterinary grant programs. We are making an additional $15 million available for the Veterinarian Medicine Loan Repayment Program and streamlining the application process." Rollins talks about other steps in the Rural Veterinary Shortage Action Plan. "We are commissioning new economic research to analyze and project veterinary shortages in rural areas, especially for food animal veterinarians. USDA is pursuing strategies to make federal service more attractive for our vets, and to create a direct pipeline into public service. And lastly, we will work with veterinary schools, including the great one right here in Starkville, across the country, to increase recruitment from rural America." The announcement was made during an appearance at Mississippi State University. |
| U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Rollins announces Rural Veterinary Action Plan during visit to Mississippi State University | |
| U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced Thursday, Aug. 28, a Rural Veterinary Shortage Action Plan to address critical needs relating to food animal health and large animal care in rural areas during her visit to Mississippi State University. "Being here at Mississippi State feels like coming home," Rollins said. "Mississippi State is truly leading the way in cutting-edge technology as we fight for food security and farm security, meaning national security. We have no country if we cannot feed ourselves." While visiting MSU with U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, Rollins was briefed on the university's leading research on Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, as well as its groundbreaking work in the area of agriculture autonomy. She viewed the country's largest and most capable fleet of UAS in academic use and also learned about university advancements in the areas of antimicrobial resistance, aquaculture and fisheries, poultry and laminitis research. MSU President Mark E. Keenum welcomed Rollins and Hyde-Smith and touted the university's world-class faculty, leading veterinary curriculum, as well as expanding facilities including a new large animal hospital and equine center. |
| MSU ranks high on Forbes' 2025 list of best Mississippi employers | |
 | Forbes ranked Mississippi State University (MSU) with a top spot on is 2025 America's Best Employers by State list, ranking it third overall in Mississippi. "At MSU, you are part of a community that feels like family," said Leslie Corey, MSU's chief human resources officer. "Alongside meaningful work and a supportive environment, employees enjoy great benefits, including tuition assistance, generous leave and strong health and retirement plans. It's a place where people are valued and supported." Forbes' list is based on surveys compiled by market research firm Statista querying more than 160,000 employees who work for companies of at least 500 people. |
| MSU's Department of Music announces lineup of fall events | |
 | From the Wind Ensemble and choirs to world music and opera, Mississippi State's Department of Music is hosting numerous concerts this fall that are sure to please the ears of fans of live performances. Select events are ticketed to provide much-needed resources for creative programming, guest artist honorariums, technical and academic support services, and sheet music. For box office information for each event calendar listing, visit music.msstate.edu/events. Additionally, football fans can enjoy halftime performances by MSU's Famous Maroon Band, made up of more than 425 members from every college on campus. A complete listing of the Department of Music's fall events is available at music.msstate.edu/events. Designated as an All-Steinway School, MSU's Department of Music is housed in a $21 million, state-of-the-art facility equipped with sound-proof practice rooms, a high-tech recording studio, an acoustically advanced lecture-recital hall, more than $3.5 million in Steinway pianos and more. |
| Does ChatGPT dream of the Bulldogs winning the SEC Championship? | |
| Usually, when Deborah Lee uses ChatGPT for a recipe or a meal plan, the generative artificial intelligence software gives her an answer almost instantaneously. But one day, as the director of research impact and AI strategy at Mississippi State University Libraries, Lee decided to show her students what happens when you give the software a hypothetical scenario -- something it typically tackles with ease. That's when Lee asked the software how the Mississippi State Bulldogs could take home the SEC Championship this year. "I really thought I broke ChatGPT with this," Lee said with a laugh on Wednesday to listeners at the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum, as the latest speaker in its community event series. Lee said the query took ChatGPT almost five minutes, and when the answer came back, it was full of strategies that were no longer possible with the conference's 2024 division unification. And at the end of the plan, there was something she had never seen -- a "Reality Check." "The one thing about AI, is it will never tell you you're wrong," Lee said. "It will never say 'that's a stupid question.' But this is probably about as close as I could get." |
| PERS changes 'devastating' for police, firefighters | |
| Joshua Connors has been fighting fires in Columbus for more than six years and in that time has sustained several injuries on the job, including once when a brick wall fell on him. Even though Connors loves his job, he doesn't know day-to-day if he'll stay a firefighter, let alone if he can make it almost 24 more years to retirement. Firefighters and police officers who are hired next spring will have to endure longer to eventually draw retirement. During this year's legislative session, Gov. Tate Reeves signed House Bill 1 into law, which implemented a new fifth tier to Mississippi's Public Employees Retirement System. Starting March 1, new hires in public jobs, including physically demanding positions like firefighters and police officers, will have to work 35 years or have eight years vested at 62 years old before they can receive retirement benefits. Starkville Police Chief Mark Ballard said the PERS change has "devastated" policing in Mississippi -- already a profession facing officer shortages. It will only further complicate recruiting and retention for his department. "Our men and women understand the challenges that they face going into it," Ballard said. "They serve for a reason. They understand that government pay will never be comparable to civilian pay ... but you used to have a sense of security to know at least you would have a stronger, good retirement." |
| Tri-state partnership boosts South's automaker bid | |
| Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves firmly believes the three-state region across the Deep South has what it takes to dominate America's electric vehicle (EV) future and automaking in general, as auto manufacturers make moves to dodge President Donald Trump's proposed 25 percent tariffs on imported vehicles. "Companies across the world are investing billions of dollars into their electric fleets, and we need to be able to make the case that those vehicles should be built here," Reeves said Tuesday, announcing the Mississippi-Alabama-Georgia Network for Evolving Transportation pact, known as MAGNET. "By bringing together the collective resources and assets of our three states, this partnership will put us at the front of the pack nationally when it comes to innovation in the EV space." The regional economic development initiative, based at the University of Alabama, represents an ambitious attempt to leverage the South's automotive manufacturing dominance into leadership in EV production. The partnership brings together governors (all three Republicans), utility company executives, and university presidents from three states that collectively produced 1.9 million vehicles in 2023. The universities include Mississippi State University and the University of Georgia. |
| David Rumbarger: 25 years of building the vision of CDF | |
 | When the search began to find a successor to the legendary Harry Martin in 2000, the Community Development Foundation knew it had to be someone who could build on what he accomplished. Under Martin's 44 years of leadership, more than 100 plants located or expanded in Lee County, and five industrial parks were developed. Enter David Rumbarger, who at the time was already a highly regarded economic developer and quickly caught the eyes of the CDF's search committee. Twenty-five years later, Rumbarger's own legacy is intact, having done exactly what his supporters had expected: more than 20,000 jobs created over the years and billions of dollars in capital investment. "Look at all the projects over the past 25 years," said Glenn McCullough Jr., a former mayor of Tupelo who served as TVA chairman and later as the executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority. "Harry Martin laid a very strong foundation for the future, and David was the right person to follow up a legend, and Harry was one of my mentors. David has built on that foundation, and Tupelo, Lee County and Northeast Mississippi today are diverse and strong, and our economy has a great future." |
| Corn and Soybeans Rule the American Farm. Why That's a Growing Problem | |
 | American farmers are good at producing two crops: corn and soybeans. Too good, actually. Farmers are expected to harvest one of the largest crops in history in the coming weeks, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The harvest follows several years of bumper crops for farmers, fueling a glut that is driving down commodity prices. Weaker prices are crimping profits and farmers' ability to stay afloat. Technological advancements from the world's largest seed and pesticide companies are expected to increase harvests in the coming years. The current market dynamic is years in the making. American farmers have been encouraged for decades to plant more acres and boost their harvests for a growing global population. The expectation was that new export destinations would emerge, according to industry officials. Finding partners beyond China has been difficult. Shifting trade policies and tariffs have complicated that equation further, leaving more crops in U.S. grain bins and countryside elevators. "We need markets fast for this supply," said Kenneth Hartman Jr., an Illinois farmer and president of the National Corn Growers Association trade group. |
| Officials hold groundbreaking for Landers Center expansion and hotel | |
 | When DeSoto County began exploring the idea of building a civic center back in the mid-1990s, residents overwhelmingly voiced their support. They wanted a place to hold graduation ceremonies and to see family friendly shows and events along with some meeting space. The DeSoto County Civic Center -- now known as The Landers Center -- opened in 2000 and has since been host to hundreds of high school graduations, River Kings hockey and other sporting events, concerts, and was even visited by two U.S. presidents, George Bush in 2003 and Donald Trump in 2018. But there was one thing that was missing. A 2006 study found that the civic center needed to include convention space and a private on-site hotel to make it successful. That long missing component will finally become a reality. Officials from DeSoto County, Southaven and the DeSoto County Convention and Visitors Bureau, along with a private hotel developer, broke ground Wednesday to celebrate a major $85 million expansion of the facility that will double the amount of current space and see construction of an attached $75 million 4-star 270 room resort hotel with a lazy river feature and fine dining. |
| Lawmakers to consider ways to address Mississippi's rising infant mortality rate | |
| The infant mortality rate in Mississippi continues to climb, prompting the Mississippi State Department of Health to issue a public health emergency in late August. "Too many Mississippi families are losing their babies before their first birthday," said State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney. "This is deeply personal to me – not just as a physician, but as a father and grandfather. Every single infant loss represents a family devastated, a community impacted and a future cut short." Data from 2024 shows that Mississippi's rate has climbed to 9.7 percent. The rate is calculated based on the death of a child prior to age 1 for every 1,000 live births. Since 2014, MSDH data shows 3,527 of Mississippi's infants passed away prior to their first birthday. "We cannot and will not accept these numbers as our reality. Declaring this a public health emergency is more than a policy decision; it is an urgent commitment to save lives. Mississippi has the knowledge, the resources and the resilience to change this story," Edney said. State Rep. Samuel Creekmore (R), chair of the House Public Health Committee, said infant mortality is one of many health conditions that have and will continue to be considered within the state Capitol. A multi-pronged strategy is being urged by MSDH to address the matter, and Creekmore said he is working to set a public health committee hearing that will gather more information on how to address it in the coming months. |
| Americans Lose Faith That Hard Work Leads to Economic Gains, WSJ-NORC Poll Finds | |
| America is becoming a nation of economic pessimists. A new Wall Street Journal-NORC poll finds that the share of people who say they have a good chance of improving their standard of living fell to 25%, a record low in surveys dating to 1987. More than three-quarters said they lack confidence that life for the next generation will be better than their own, the poll found. Nearly 70% of people said they believe the American dream -- that if you work hard, you will get ahead -- no longer holds true or never did, the highest level in nearly 15 years of surveys. Republicans in the survey were less pessimistic than Democrats, reflecting the longstanding trend that the party holding the White House has a rosier view of the economy. An index that combined six poll questions found that 55% of Republicans, as well as 90% of Democrats, held a negative view of prospects for themselves and their children. The discontent reaches across demographic lines. By large majorities, both women and men held a pessimistic view in the combined questions. So did both younger and older adults, those with and without a college degree and respondents with more than $100,000 in household income, as well as those with less. "It sort of saddens me," said Neale Mahoney, a Stanford University economics professor who has studied economic sentiment. "I think one of our superpowers as a country is our relentless optimism...It is the fuel for entrepreneurship and other exceptional achievements." |
| Stock trading, Jeffrey Epstein and a shutdown: Why this could be a tricky fall for Congress | |
 | Congress returns Tuesday facing one big deadline: a possible federal government shutdown on Oct. 1 if Republicans and Democrats can't come together on a funding deal. But congressional leaders also have to manage a pileup of other thorny issues that could derail their plans and make September an unusually unpredictable month on Capitol Hill. The potential fights include President Donald Trump's push to tackle crime in Washington and elsewhere, the pending Senate pileup of his nominees, an ongoing push to ban stock trading by lawmakers and the looming expiration of key health care subsidies. There's also the explosive matter that forced the House to beat an early exit out of town in July: a bipartisan push to release Justice Department files related to the sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein. The GOP dissension over Epstein, as well as internal pressure to hold a vote on cracking down on member stock trading, pose twin threats to Speaker Mike Johnson's control of the House as the shutdown deadline approaches. Even a minor blowup could threaten Republican unity at a moment where Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune want to present a united GOP front in the escalating funding fight. Both chambers will also take up the sprawling annual defense policy bill, including a politically dicey cryptocurrency-related provision favored by House GOP hard-liners. And Republicans will try to quickly act to extend Trump's control of the D.C. police -- and potentially move broader crime legislation. But the cloud hanging over all of it is that end-of-the-month deadline to avert a politically risky shutdown a year ahead of the midterms with Republican control of Congress at stake. |
| McConnell gets candid on Trump, says a 2028 run would be unconstitutional | |
 | Sen. Mitch McConnell directly rejected the idea that President Donald Trump could serve a third term in the Oval Office during an extensive Herald-Leader interview Friday. "No," he said. "It's unconstitutional." Trump, 79, and allies have floated it as a possibility, even though third terms are prohibited by the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. McConnell, 83, also offered his thoughts on the Trump administration's actions both in policy and politics, shedding new light on the senator's view of the White House. Is America better now than when Trump became the main character of American politics some 10 years ago, when he announced his first run for president? Too soon to say, McConnell said. "I'm not sure enough time has passed to start evaluating who made a difference and who didn't," McConnell said. "I thought a good bit about that myself, just in terms of whether I thought I made a difference. And I think, as you're already aware, at the federal level I think it would be the courts." Though McConnell and Trump have not always seen eye to eye, and the two have traded intense criticisms of each other, the federal courts are where McConnell sees himself as making his biggest mark on history with the help of Trump. |
| How the Fed losing its independence could affect Americans' everyday lives | |
 | President Donald Trump's attempt to fire a member of the Federal Reserve's governing board has raised alarms among economists and legal experts who see it as the biggest threat to the central bank's independence in decades. The consequences could impact most Americans' everyday lives: Economists worry that if Trump gets what he wants -- a loyal Fed that sharply cuts short-term interest rates -- the result would likely be higher inflation and, over time, higher borrowing costs for things like mortgages, car loans and business loans. The Fed wields extensive power over the U.S. economy. By cutting the short-term interest rate it controls -- which it typically does when the economy falters -- the Fed can make borrowing cheaper and encourage more spending, growth, and hiring. When it raises the rate to combat the higher prices that come with inflation, it can weaken the economy and cause job losses. Most economists have long preferred independent central banks because they can take unpopular steps that elected officials are more likely to avoid. Economic research has shown that nations with independent central banks typically have lower inflation over time. Jane Manners, a law professor at Fordham University, said there is a reason that Congress decided to create independent agencies like the Fed: They preferred "decisions that are made from a kind of objective, neutral vantage point grounded in expertise rather than decisions are that are wholly subject to political pressure." |
| Former CDC directors say RFK Jr.'s actions should alarm every American | |
 | Every American should be alarmed at what's happening to the nation's public health system under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nine former leaders of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are warning. In an opinion piece published in The New York Times on Sept. 1, the former directors wrote that what Kennedy is doing is "unlike anything our country has ever experienced." Most recently, Kennedy fired Susan Monarez as CDC director follow a dispute over vaccination policy. That led to the resignation of other top officials. Kennedy said the agency needs an overhaul. The nine former CDC directors speaking out wrote they're concerned not just about Monarez's firing, but also about Kennedy's dismissal of thousands of other federal health workers; his approach to the recent measles outbreak; his choices for federal health panels and his support for federal legislation that is expected to reduce the number of people on Medicaid. The former top health officials urged the nation to "rally to protect the health of every American." Congress should exercise its oversight authority, they wrote. States, local governments and the private sector must try to fill funding gaps and medical groups "must continue to stand up for science and truth." |
| 'What else needs to be improved?': Inside Trump's relentless quest to leave his mark on Washington | |
| First there was a little bit of gold in the Oval Office. And then a little more. And then more after that, gilding the ceiling, framing mirrors and portraits and filling in what little space was left on curving gallery walls packed with presidential portraiture. There is now 24-karat gilded ornamentation in the Cabinet Room, two massive flagpoles on the North and South Lawns, a paved patio over what had long been the Rose Garden's grass lawn and plans to break ground this fall on a massive new $200 million ballroom that will completely alter the scale of the White House's East Wing. And roughly a month ago, Donald Trump demanded that better lighting be installed around the ceiling of the Cabinet Room, an upgrade that has not been previously reported. The president's convenings of his Cabinet -- with everyone around the table offering policy updates and effusive praise -- are conducted with the press in the room and largely for public consumption. But Trump, who spent more than a decade conducting the business of his reality show "The Apprentice" from a made-for-TV boardroom inside his eponymous Manhattan tower, wasn't happy with the footage from a meeting and had brighter lights installed, according to a White House official granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. And it's just the start. |
| China tries to use Trump turmoil to unite leaders against U.S.-led order | |
 | Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Monday called on the leaders of countries including Russia, Iran and India to integrate their economies and build an "orderly multipolar world," as he tried to unite them in their shared grievances with the U.S.-led global order and the policies of President Donald Trump. Xi used the platform of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit here, 90 miles southeast of Beijing, to implicitly criticize Trump's policies --- without naming him or mentioning the United States. He urged the 20 foreign leaders in attendance to "seek integration, not decoupling" and "unequivocally oppose power politics." The forum is a key part of China's campaign to be seen as a reliable partner and a counterweight to U.S. unpredictability in an increasingly multipolar world. For now, the grouping is primarily "united in a sense of aggrievement with the U.S. rather than a sense of common purpose," said Carla Freeman, director of the Foreign Policy Institute at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. "These are big countries with their own agendas." But the ceremonies are as much about optics as about deals. |
| China Is About to Show Off Its New High-Tech Weapons to the World | |
 | China is preparing for one of the most anticipated and politically charged military events in recent years. On September 3, in Tiananmen Square, China will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the victory over Japan in World War II with a spectacular military parade that is not only a ritual of historical remembrance but also a message to the entire world to be prepared for the war of the future. President Xi Jinping and several foreign leaders and officials, including Vladimir Putin, will attend the ceremony. The Russian president's presence is reported to have prompted several European ambassadors to consider defecting from the event, fearing it would contribute to the Kremlin's international legitimization amid the ongoing war against Ukraine. Among the most anticipated weapons are the new YJ (Ying Ji, "Eagle Shot") series anti-ship missiles, designated YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20. These are systems designed for a specific mission: to neutralize large US naval units, particularly aircraft carriers, the heart of American supremacy in the Pacific. Alongside hypersonic missiles and ICBM, China's developing weapons include a less conspicuous but potentially revolutionary arsenal: electronic warfare systems and directed-energy weapons. |
| DEI, campus culture wars spark early battle between likely GOP rivals for governor in Mississippi | |
| Higher education -- central to the public profiles of billionaire businessman Tommy Duff and State Auditor Shad White, two Republicans eyeing Mississippi's governorship in 2027 -- has already become a point of division between them. Duff, in a recent interview, appeared to take a shot at White, saying politicians should focus on the jobs they currently hold, not future ambitions for higher office. White, in response, said Duff, while on the college board, helped implement diversity, equity and inclusion programs anathema to conservative Republican policy. In Mississippi, issues such as diversity, equity and inclusion and other culture war battles roiling higher education have become a wedge issue in intraparty political spats, a legal fight unfolding in federal court and an ongoing effort to keep college students from leaving the state in droves. Last week, a federal judge blocked a Mississippi law that bans diversity, equity and inclusion programs in Mississippi public schools from going into effect. The litigation could drag on past the 2026 legislative session, forcing Republican lawmakers to keep pushing to enact a policy they had already spent over a year drafting and debating. |
| College students get free admission to Two Mississippi Museums Sept. 2-5 | |
| As college students return to the classroom, those who want to learn a little more about the state they're studying in will soon have a great opportunity to do so. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History announced that Sept. 2-5 is "College Welcome Week" at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, meaning students get in free of charge with proof of a student ID. The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History opened in 2017 in celebration of the state's bicentennial and are administered by MDAH. The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum explores the period from 1945 to 1976 when the state was considered ground zero for the national civil rights movement. The history side of the museums explore the entire sweep of Mississippi's history from its earliest inhabitants to present day. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the museums is free every Sunday. The Two Mississippi Museums are located at 222 North Street in Jackson. |
| Oxford police arrest one after post-game gunfire on South Lamar Boulevard | |
| Oxford police are investigating after officers heard gunfire early Sunday while assisting with crowd control after the Ole Miss game on South Lamar Boulevard. Police said the incident occurred around 12:47 a.m. in the 2200 block of South Lamar. Officers immediately secured the scene, checked for injuries and worked to identify those involved. One person was taken into custody. No injuries have been reported. Investigators are reviewing evidence and video from nearby businesses and bystanders. Because the case remains under investigation, no additional details have been released. Anyone who was in the area or has photos, video or information is asked to call the Oxford Police Department at 662-232-2400 or CrimeStoppers at 662-234-8477. |
| Oxford invests in people, public safety | |
| With Oxford's population and infrastructure expanding alongside the growth of the University of Mississippi, Mayor Robyn Tannehill announced the city's upcoming fiscal year budget will prioritize investing in people and public safety. "Our main investment is in people," Tannehill said. "As Oxford grows, it's critical that our city services grow with it. Public safety remains our top priority." Part of the budget is dedicated to strengthening the Oxford Police Department. The city approved an additional $900,000 for the department and the hiring of 11 officers to meet the demands of a larger community and increasing nightlife activity. Tannehill said that with annexation, and many new apartment complexes to patrol, along with growing student and visitor crowds at night, require increased coverage in areas around the town, and in particular, the downtown Square. |
| Partnership between Ole Miss, U.S. Navy to train students for national security careers | |
| University of Mississippi students will now have an opportunity to be trained for roles in oceanography, maritime science, and meteorology through a new partnership the university has formed with the U.S. Navy. The Department of the Navy signed a partnership with Ole Miss on Thursday to offer education, on-the-ground training, and research opportunities for students while preparing them for national security career paths. The agreement was signed with the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, based at the Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis. "This partnership will give our students a direct path into some of the most in-demand and impactful careers in science and national defense," said John Higginbotham, UM vice chancellor for research and economic development. "It's a great example of how university research and education align with real-world needs to produce graduates who are ready to lead from day one." |
| Ten marching bands go head-to-head at the annual HBCU Labor Day Battle of the Bands | |
| It's that time of year again to strike up and show out as bands from around the South go head-to-head in the annual HBCU Labor Day Battle of the Bands. Fans from all over gathered together in the capital city to witness the dynamic performances from each school. "We're looking forward to seeing our babies perform on the big stage," said Yas Dillard, who traveled from Memphis, Tennessee, to attend. While the crowds waited for the bands to take their place in the spotlight, they had the opportunity to hang out at the HBCU Labor Day Classic Fan Fest. 3 On Your Side caught up with Jeremiah Kincade, a fan from Louisiana, who said he loves bringing his family to the HBCU Labor Day Battle of the Bands event each year. "It's a real good experience, dude. We are, if not every year, trying to make it every other year - pretty consistent, man. The vibe is real laid back. It's fun. It's a family event; it's just a lot of fun," Kincade said. Many fans in attendance said they were most excited to watch Jackson State University's Sonic Boom of the South take to the field, playing underneath the lights. "The music. Period," Kincade continued. "I like Jackson. I'll come to Jackson specifically for Jackson State. I like that they got a really good band, so I like them a lot." |
| Is Rep. Julia Letlow interested in being LSU president? | |
 | When asked if she's interested in becoming president of LSU, U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow was noncommittal -- but she acknowledged that her first love is higher education. "It's just humbling to have my name in the mix. I love higher education. That's where my background is. That's where I definitely feel at home," Letlow said in an interview Wednesday. "It's always been my dream to get back to higher education one day. But for right now, I'm just focused on working for the 5th" Congressional District. A committee organized by the LSU Board of Supervisors held its first meeting August 19 to find and vet candidates for the top job at LSU after William Tate left to become president of Rutgers University in New Jersey. The panel will submit its recommendations to the full board, which will make the final decision. Letlow said most of the members of the search committee are friends. "So, I talked to them quite often. But other than that, I'm going to stay mum," Letlow said. "I promise you that it is the honor of a lifetime to serve the people in the 5th District. So, I'm just concentrating as much as I can right now on being present and doing just that." Letlow was a finalist for the presidency of the University of Louisiana Monroe in 2020. |
| Louisiana Higher Education Task Force holds first meeting to explore new accreditation options | |
| Louisiana's newly formed Higher Education Task Force met for the first time Tuesday, beginning work on what could be a major shift in how the state's universities and colleges are accredited. Governor Jeff Landry created the task force last month through an executive order, directing members to explore alternatives to the state's current accreditation system. State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley, who is chairing the group, said the effort is about making sure Louisiana students are best served. "We want to make sure that accreditors that are overseeing or overviewing schools in Louisiana colleges and universities are aligned to Louisiana values," Brumley said. The 13-member panel includes leaders from Louisiana's four public university systems, legislative education chairs, and Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Kim Hunter Reed. They are tasked with evaluating whether joining a new multi-state accreditor or creating a dual system could produce stronger results for students. Brumley noted that the discussion has gained momentum nationally. |
| LSU says it's replacing law school dean Alena Allen. She says she's being targeted | |
| LSU on Friday announced that Paul M. Hebert Law Center Dean Alena Allen will end her tenure as dean at the conclusion of the academic year. But an attorney representing Allen said the dean had not agreed to resign her position when she was asked just a day earlier --- and she was considering legal action over alleged whistleblower retaliation, racial and gender discrimination, and violations of LSU policy. In a letter to LSU on Friday, Allison Jones, Allen's attorney, said the LSU Board of Supervisors "engaged in systematic discrimination and retaliatory conduct" against Allen after she raised concerns about "irregularities" in the LSU law school's finances. According to documents provided to The Advocate | The Times-Picayune, Allen said she was concerned that the school's budget showed it receiving the full cost of tuition when in fact it granted numerous discounts. That led to budget shortfalls, and private donations from the school's foundation filling the gap, she said. But while she reported the irregularities and worked to address them, she said she faced questions from LSU leaders that led her to believe she was being blamed for the issues -- even though they had happened before her tenure. |
| Walton family eyes 2028 opening for new university, seeks president committed to STEM education | |
| The Walton family has put out a call to find the inaugural president of a new business-oriented university focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, with the aim of opening in 2028. The family is seeking a "visionary, creative, entrepreneurial and collaborative leader" committed to innovation in STEM education to head the planned Walton STEM Institute, according to a brochure advertising the position from the Oak Brook, Ill.-based executive search and leadership advisory firm WittKieffer. The brochure -- published in June -- also outlined the family's plans for the institute. The Alice L. Walton School of Medicine welcomed its first students July 14. The school is marketed as a companion piece to the Heartland Whole Health Institute, which philanthropist Alice Walton founded in 2019 to improve quality, costs and access to health care. It opened in May. Tom Walton and Steuart Walton -- grandsons of Walmart founder Sam Walton -- said May 8 at the annual Heartland Summit in Bentonville that Walton family members will create the Walton STEM Institute as part of the mixed-use development planned for the former Walmart headquarters, which the brothers own. |
| Students all over the US are willing to pay more for this Alabama college | |
 | Alabama's most expensive public college for out-of-state students is also really good at attracting students from all over the United States. The University of Alabama is the most expensive public four-year university for out-of-state students. They may pay more than $34,000 annually in tuition. Out-of-state students make up 56% of UA's undergraduates for fall 2024, according to data from the school's Office of Institutional Research and Assessment. Annual tuition for out-of-state undergraduates at the University of Alabama is $34,542. State law dictates that out-of-state students pay at least twice as much as in-state students, according to the ACHE report. The University of Alabama is the only school in the state that costs three times as much for out of state students. Troy University has the most expensive tuition for in-state students, while Jacksonville State charges the least amount. |
| Report of armed shooter at UGA campus Main Library confirmed as a swatting incident | |
 | The University of Georgia said a report on Friday evening of an armed shooter at the Athens campus's Main Library was a hoax similar to those perpetrated throughout the U.S. in recent months. "The initial hoax report shared similar characteristics with other swatting incidents occurring nationwide," noted a letter sent by the school to students' families. "By utilizing campus security cameras, combined with the quick response from officers scouring the area, UGA police were able to verify that there was no active threat. An all-clear update was issued to campus at 10:40 p.m. (Friday)." Swatting is a type of harassment that involves deceiving law enforcement and other emergency service agencies into mobilizing to a location for an unreal emergency. This year, swatting incidents have been reported at the University of Tennessee, Villanova University, the University of South Carolina, the University of Arkansas, and other institutions. |
| Texas A&M Regents approve $1.9 billion for system projects in capital plan | |
 | To help with projects across the system the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approved $1.925 billion in new proposed projects over the next five years as part of a larger 2026-2030 system capital plan totaling $6.6 billion. Included in that $6.6 billion is $4.6 billion in previously approved projects that are now either in design or under construction. "It's a huge system and a huge set of projects but I think our crew does a great job," Buildings and Physical Plant Committee Chairman Randy Brooks said during his opening remarks on Thursday. "We are managing 39 active construction projects worth $2.4 billion. We spend $93,750 an hour [on construction projects]." Almost two-thirds of the $830 million set for 2026 projects will go to projects on the A&M campus in College Station. There is $595.1 million in proposed projects on the A&M campus. The Biology Teaching and Research Building is budgeted at $220 million and $235 million is budgeted for a Center for Learning Arts and Innovation. |
| Students show up for Welcome Black and Gold BBQ despite ongoing controversy | |
 | The annual Welcome Black and Gold BBQ found its footing Friday night, despite a series of decisions by the University of Missouri administration that threatened to dampen student enthusiasm. Dozens of students showed up Friday to support the barbecue at the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center after the Legion of Black Collegians pulled out as a partner. The barbecue was originally called the "Welcome Black BBQ" in partnership with the Legion of Black Collegians. Last year, Mizzou administration made the decision to change the name to the "Welcome Black and Gold BBQ." The decision followed the university's dissolution of the former Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity. University officials said they wanted to avoid the impression that the event excluded anyone at the institution. On Friday night, UM System President Mun Choi showed up to join the students at the barbecue where he affirmed the university's position that the name change was intended to avoid the impression that the event was exclusive to Black students. He also told the students that he needed to avoid jeopardizing the university's access to federal funds. |
| Colleges face financial struggles as Trump policies send international enrollment plummeting | |
| One international student after another told the University of Central Missouri this summer that they couldn't get a visa, and many struggled to even land an interview for one. Even though demand was just as high as ever, half as many new international graduate students showed up for fall classes compared to last year. The decline represents a hit to the bottom line for Central Missouri, a small public university that operates close to its margins with an endowment of only $65 million. International students typically account for nearly a quarter of its tuition revenue. "We aren't able to subsidize domestic students as much when we have fewer international students who are bringing revenue to us," said Roger Best, the university's president. Signs of a decline in international students have unsettled colleges around the U.S. Colleges with large numbers of foreign students and small endowments have little financial cushion to protect them from steep losses in tuition money. International students represent at least 20% of enrollment at more than 100 colleges with endowments of less than $250,000 per student, according to an Associated Press analysis. Many are small Christian colleges, but the group also includes large universities such as Northeastern and Carnegie Mellon. |
| The Battle for 'Viewpoint Diversity' | |
 | Viewpoint diversity. Civics. Western civilization. Republicans and conservative-leaning groups across the country have been using these terms prolifically, and at times interchangeably, to explain what's lacking in higher education today and why the overhauls they're pushing are necessary to save the sector from domination by the left. They've written op-eds, used social media and passed numerous state laws seeking to increase the likelihood that faculty will teach and research topics they're interested in. Now the White House is fueling their push, demanding viewpoint diversity under threat of huge funding cuts. Some say universities need to reform themselves to regain public and governmental support. But even academics and higher ed observers who may agree that universities have become too one-dimensional now find themselves defending the academy against a conservative campaign to force change under the banner of terms that sometimes sound like euphemisms. |
SPORTS
| Bulldogs run away from Golden Eagles in second half of season opener | |
| Mississippi State quarterback Blake Shapen had a simple, calm message to his team at halftime on Saturday. "Just cut it loose." The Bulldogs had a narrow 13-10 lead over their hosts, Southern Miss, and twice had to settle for field goals because of penalties in the first half. "I don't want any of our guys to hold anything back, especially in the first game of the year," Shapen said. "There's some jitters and things like that. A lot of new guys on a team, and I just wanted everybody to cut it loose." MSU came out of the locker room and put the Golden Eagles to the sword. "We've talked nonstop about Aug. 30 and winning the opener, and being 1-0," head coach Jeff Lebby said after the game. "Proud of that, proud of being able to come down here on the road. It was a really good environment, and then find a way to win." |
| Mississippi State shows signs of defensive turnaround in win over Southern Miss | |
| After a year where Mississippi State ranked in the triple digits in numerous defensive statistical categories, the Bulldogs put together a solid defensive performance against Southern Miss on Saturday, especially in the second half. Mississippi State pulled away from Southern Miss in the second half of a 34-17 win on the road, thanks in part to the Bulldogs smothering the Golden Eagles' offense. The Bulldogs needed a strong defensive performance to start the season after last year's struggles, and they delivered. "It was huge for our confidence, but it was really those guys having the ability to go out and to play free, to play fast and to make plays," Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby said. "That was the stress for those guys all week long. We've got a ton to clean up, a ton to work on, but a really good starting point." Mississippi State looked a bit like its old self to start the game, surrendering 10 points and 137 yards on the first four drives. But the Bulldogs only got better as the game went along. |
| Southern Miss loses steam in season-opening loss at home to in-state SEC foe | |
 | The debut of Charles Huff took a sour turn Saturday in Southern Miss' opener against Mississippi State. The Bulldogs scored three times in the third quarter and turned what had been a tie game late in the first half into a runaway 34-17 win in Hattiesburg. It was the Golden Eagles' 11th straight double-digit loss. "I felt like we battled in the first half," first-year head coach Huff said following the loss. "We knew it was going to be a game where if we didn't make enough plays early they would probably be able to wear us down a little bit. Which started to happen in the second half." Mississippi State's Davon Booth and Fluff Bothwell combined for 122 yards out of the backfield and 50 of them came in the third quarter. The duo charged a sudden escape from a slim 13-10 halftime advantage to a comfortable 34-10 lead entering the fourth. Much about Saturday felt rejuvenated. Attendance was announced at 33,485. But the final score was all too familiar. Southern Miss stays home next week when it hosts another in-state opponent in Jackson State. |
| USM, MSU fans participate in tailgating before gridiron match | |
 | Southern Miss and Mississippi State football teams played at The Rock Saturday, but before the teams took to the field, fans flocked to Spirit Park for some morning tailgating. Thousands of USM and Mississippi State fans enjoyed some food, live music, and other activities before the 11 a.m. kickoff. Both those wearing the black and gold and those wearing the maroon and white say they had a good time at the pre-game party. "It's awesome, I love that everybody showed out today," said Harlee Grace Graham, a senior at Southern Miss. "(USM fans have) been pretty nice," said Noah Strickland, a Mississippi State fan from Covington, La. "I'm not a big Southern Miss guy, as a Mississippi State fan, but that's alright, they've been pretty good to us." "We hear a little trash-talk, but it's OK, everything's great," said Joe Hardin, a Mississippi State fan from Taylorsville. |
| 'We Need Everybody To Be There:' The stage is set for Davis Wade Stadium to rock on this season's first Saturday in Stark Vegas | |
| Momentum. Merriam-Webster defines it as strength or force gained by motion or by a series of events. Ever since last football season concluded, Mississippi State has picked up steam. It wasn't always out in the open. It was often in the quiet moments. It was in the roster construction. It was in the workouts the public didn't witness. Every sprint. Every rep. Everything was done with the goal of picking the program up and taking big strides forward. Last weekend, the fruit of State's labor was apparent. MSU went on the road and dominated Southern Miss in the season opener. Momentum was gained. This Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT, when the Bulldogs host Top-15 opponent Arizona State in the home opener, it's a chance make an emphatic national statement and keep that Maroon and White momentum train rolling. But it's not just the Dawgs on the field that'll determine the outcome. Players and coaches all are insistent the State family might just make the difference under the Davis Wade Stadium lights. "It would mean the world [to see our place packed]," State head coach Jeff Lebby said at his weekly press conference on Monday. "I think our people are incredibly excited about it. My whole expectation is we walk into the stadium and it's as special [of an environment] as there is in all of college football, because we have that here. We need to have that Saturday night at 6:30. We need it in a big way. For us, we're incredibly excited to have this as our home opener in front of our fan base. My hope is we show up and show out and it is just an electric atmosphere as we go kick this thing off." |
| Lebby, Bulldogs turn to rematch with Sun Devils | |
| There was an air of positivity from the Bulldogs after the clock hit zero in Hattiesburg on Saturday. Mississippi State football had to stew on a 10-loss season for 274 days before it had a chance to play again, which made a 34-17 win against Southern Miss feel that much better. Head coach Jeff Lebby and his team celebrated on Saturday, but when they woke up on Sunday, it was back to business. "We talked a ton, all fall camp, all summer, about Aug. 30 and being 1-0 when we were able to come back home for this stretch," Lebby said on Monday. "Able to get that done, the locker room after the game was exactly how it should be. A ton of fun and now we've been able to put the game to bed and get ready to move on with a great opponent coming in Saturday night." The Bulldogs turn now to Arizona State, the reigning Big 12 champions, who were one blown coverage away from playing in the playoff semi-final against eventual national champions Ohio State in January. |
| Arizona State publishes economic impact of Sun Devil football in 2024 | |
| Arizona State football kicked off its 2025 season on Saturday night after the program produced an economic boon last year. The university recently published a report on the economic impact from Sun Devil football in 2024, when the team won the Big 12 title in its first season playing in a new conference. ASU also reached the College Football Playoff for the first time, reaching national audiences. The study from the L. William Seidman Research Institute in the W. P. Carey School of Business found that ASU football generated $54.8 million in state GDP, $34.7 million in labor income in Maricopa County and $1.1 million in direct taxes for Tempe. "Almost 278,000 fans attended six Sun Devil home football games last year, generating $1 million in taxes for the city of Tempe alone," Anthony Evans, the director of the institute, said in a press release. The excitement for this season is obvious when looking at the numbers. ASU athletic director Graham Rossini told Arizona Sports' Burns & Gambo the program had over 97% of season tickets renewed, along with adding 7,700 new season ticket holders. Saturday's home opener against Northern Arizona was a sellout, the first ASU home opener to sell out since 1998. |
| Soccer: Borman's Blast Sends Bulldogs Home Winners | |
| After a scoreless first half, freshman Tatum Borman wasted no time in the second. Just 54 seconds after the break, the freshman took a 30-yard sprint up the field and fired in her first career goal from 20 yards out to give Mississippi State a 1-0 victory at Oklahoma State on Sunday. Alivia Buxton and Zoe Main assisted on the goal with crisp one-two passing to spring Borman. Less than a minute later, Main earned a penalty kick, but Ally Perry's effort struck the crossbar. It was an explosive change of pace for State (3-1-0), which had taken just two shots in the first 45 minutes. "We talked about their high line. We talked to our two-front about how do we get a little bit more multi-dimensional and turn them around a little bit," Zimmerman said. "That space was going to create. Obviously, we created the penalty, scored a really good goal. We talked about our wide players running at them in space, and for Tatum, that's exactly why she was right there. It was a great individual effort and a great strike." Mississippi State now returns home for an early Senior Day match to kick off September. The Bulldogs will host Louisiana Tech on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 6:30 p.m. CT. The match will be broadcast on SEC Network+. |
| Rapid Recap: No. 17 Mississippi State 1-0 Oklahoma State | |
| Mississippi State soccer improved to 3-1 on the year, rebounding from defeat in Waco with a 1-0 win at Oklahoma State on Sunday. It was another nervy test on the road against a Big 12 opponent, but there was more control and security in defense as the Bulldogs recorded a clean sheet to conclude their road trip. The Bulldogs controlled the tempo for much of the game, but faced a fierce Cowgirls attack. Oklahoma State had less shots, but registered four efforts on target to challenge goalkeeper Sarah Wommack. MSU's No. 1 proved up for the challenge between the sticks, and made a key double-save on a chaotic corner kick opportunity for the hosts. The first half ended level at 0-0, and there was a noticeable sense of urgency from MSU coming out of the break. The Bulldogs came out firing in the second half, scoring quickly through freshman Tatum Borman in the first minute of action. Her run down the left went unchallenged, and she opted to go for the near post as she approached the edge of the box, drilling her shot past the goalkeeper. |
| Volleyball: Bulldogs Sweep Maroon and White Invite | |
| Mississippi State dominates the Maroon and White Invite, finishing the tournament with a 3-0 win against North Alabama. The squad totaled 25 total blocks, with newcomer Gha'Naye Whitfield-Moss leading the Bulldogs with eight block assists and one solo block. McKenna Yates and Mary Neal led the squad in digs, both totaling 13 over three sets. Lindsey Mangelson followed closely behind with 10 digs. Mele Corral-Blagojevich earned eight, contributing to the team's total of 46 digs in the match. Cayley Hanson earned 38 assists in the match, for her third consecutive best performance. Hanson totaled 109 assists in the tournament, between three matches and nine sets played. The Bulldogs will return to action at the Blue Raider Bash this weekend, taking on UT Martin, MTSU and Marist in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. |
| Women's Golf: Avery Weed Finishes Runner Up At Carmel Cup | |
| The Mississippi State women's golf squad finished tied for sixth after three rounds at the Carmel Cup. Avery Weed fell just short of her third career collegiate victory at the event, as she finished tied for second. Weed finished her day in the individual lead at 7-under par after firing a 3-under 69 in the final day of action, which was the third-best round of any Golfer throughout the tournament. She was ultimately knocked out of contention by Texas A&M's Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio, who finished the tournament at 8-under par. Although she fell short of the victory, Weed's performance was still among the top of all performers throughout the weekend. She picked up her fourth career top five finish after shooting under-par in every round she played in, making her only one of three golfers to do such during the tournament. Weed also carded the first Bulldog eagle of the season on the par-5 sixth hole. She now sits fourth in Bulldog program history with 13 rounds in the 60s and is tied for fifth with 34 par or better rounds. The Bulldogs will return to the course on September 19 at the Mason Rudolph Championship. |
| Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin receives contract extension through 2030 | |
 | Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin has received a three-year contract extension through 2030, sources confirmed to The Sun. Stricklin would not confirm or deny that he's signed the extension. The Sun has filed a public records request for Stricklin's contract that has yet to be fulfilled. Stricklin made $1.8 million annually in his prior deal, before the extension. The 55-year-old Stricklin was hired to replace Jeremy Foley as Florida Gators athletic director in 2016. Under Stircklin's guidance, Florida has won 13 national titles in nine different sports. In addition, Stricklin has guided UF athletics through profound change in college sports, starting with the COVID pandemic and continuing through Name, Image and Likeness rights for athletes and the current revenue share model in college sports following the House vs. NCAA settlement. "People crave certainty. And that's really an impossible thing to give people,'' Stricklin said last June. "They will settle for clarity, but even clarity has been hard to provide at times. It's really not even starting with '21, but it goes back to COVID. If you think about it, college athletics has been on a kind of six-month spin cycle. Things evolve like every six months, seemingly in the last five years." |
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