| Friday, September 5, 2025 |
| MSU PA program achieves 100% board pass rate, continuing accreditation | |
 | Mississippi State University-Meridian's Master of Physician Assistant Studies 2025 graduating cohort has achieved a 100% board pass rate, a hallmark accomplishment that corresponded with the program receiving continuing accreditation status. "This is the culminating licensure exam to become a physician assistant, and board exams are difficult," said Lesley Clack, dean of the School of Health Professions. "The faculty does a lot of preparation in getting our students ready for it." National average pass rates for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination have remained at 92% for 2022, 2023 and 2024, according to PANCE. That the MSU-Meridian program achieved a 100% pass rate with its third graduating cohort, comprised of 21 students, is a "testament to the quality of our faculty and the instruction they are providing for their students," Clack said. "This tells any student applying for this program that we will actively prepare them to pass the board exam." This success happened alongside the program achieving continuing accreditation status from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, bringing another national recognition for the competitive program. The program seated its first cohort in January 2021 and will seat its sixth cohort in January 2026. Shey Washburn, program director, said the graduates will contribute significantly to filling critical healthcare roles, especially in rural areas. |
| MSU-Meridian announces 100% board pass rate for Physician Assistant students | |
 | Mississippi State University Meridian's School of Health Professions has announced an exceptional passing rate from their latest graduating class. MSU-Meridian has now graduated three classes of students through their Physician Assistant Studies Program. The latest graduating class has made school history, by achieving a 100% first-time pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam. The majority of the Class of 2025 were also already either accepted into residency, fellowship programs, or in negotiations with future employers before graduation. Dr. Pamela Vayda, a graduate and professor of MSU's Physician Assistant Program, says it's a team effort to help students achieve such a high level of success. "It's a testament to the leadership here. Dr. Shey Washburn, our outgoing program director, really came through for us and has developed the program. Her leadership has brought about inviting quality faculty to be onboard. We've responded to student demands as well. As we've seen needs, we've responded and been very intentional about curriculum as well as delivery. Another thing that we've been very intentional about are things like these tables we utilize in anatomy as well as other courses too," said Vayda. |
| Cooperative Extension -- Key Partner in Disaster Preparedness | |
 | The beginning of National Preparedness Month provides an excellent opportunity to consider the role Cooperative Extension plays in community disaster preparedness. Extension connects the Land-grant System with communities to provide research-based information and resources as well as planning support. USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) supports Extension through Smith-Lever capacity funding. At the national level, the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) equips Extension professionals and emergency managers with the tools they need to prepare for hurricanes, floods, wildfires and other emergencies. NIFA also provides funding support to EDEN. Through its network of local offices, Extension helps farmers, families and businesses prepare for emergencies through programs and resources tailored to the specific risks that a community may face. Extension professionals also provide guidance on creating emergency plans, strengthening community resilience, and protecting crops and livestock. Mississippi State University Extension developed the My Preparedness Initiative (MyPI) to reach young people, an often-overlooked audience, with preparedness education. My PI graduates developed new or enhanced emergency supply kits and communication plans for their families. Additionally, the community benefits from a new generation aware of risks and hazards and from a new generation's civic duty and leadership characteristics. |
| Annual Shades of Starkville business fair held at MSU Drill field | |
| Many businesses and organizations in Starkville were able to connect with students at MSU. The annual business and organization fair "Shades of Starkville" took place at the Drill Field on campus. This allows students outside of class to see and hear about resources in the area. Over 50 vendors participated, and there were free resources available from everyone apart of the event. FASTnet's Marketing coordinator said the event brought a great opportunity for brand awareness to a younger generation of consumers. "It's a great opportunity to meet the younger generation coming in. I think this class is bigger than the last class that came, so it's important cause it's a great way to get brand awareness out there. You can see repeat customers, you get to meet new kids coming in, and it's a fantastic opportunity to grow your business, to be honest," said FASTnet Marketing Coordinator, Dylan Wilson. |
| Cater's Market enters partnership with MSU-Meridian | |
| A local restaurant is partnering with MSU-Meridian to keep students eating locally and eating healthy. Cater's Market and MSU-Meridian have entered a partnership, which will bring a wide selection of Cater's Market goods to the Bulldog Shop at MSU-Meridian. Students can choose from a variety of fresh salads, soups, sandwiches, and pastries, all produced locally. Products are already available at MSU-Meridian's Bulldog Shop in downtown. |
| MSU Extension Head Start coming to Hancock County | |
 | A new educational opportunity will be available soon for Hancock County families. The Mississippi State University Extension Head Start will integrate four pre-K classrooms at three different elementary schools across the county. Amber Cameron, a kindergarten teacher at Hancock North Central Elementary School, said this opportunity will make the transition to kindergarten easier for participating students. "Pre-K teaches those foundational skills like how to hold a pencil, how to write your name, how to walk in line, and how to wait your turn," Cameron said. "Those are such minute details outside of kindergarten, but inside a kindergarten classroom, that makes all the difference in the world for a student to be successful." According to an educational survey by the Kids Count Data Book, Mississippi recently broke into the top 20 for education for the first time. This highlights the state's commitment to transforming the educational landscape. |
| MDRS internship program helps build student confidence and fill employers' needs | |
 | Businesses interested in helping students with disabilities gain exposure to different job sectors are invited to partner with the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS), which pairs younger people with their career interests at no cost to companies. Benefits for students include building confidence and gaining work skills, while partnering companies provide risk-free training with no hiring obligations, along with wages and worker compensation insurance provided by MDRS. "We want people to have awareness that individuals with disabilities can add a lot of value to the workplace because they have skills and abilities. We also want to get people out of the mindset of hearing, 'disability,' and thinking it's someone who lacks ability," said Heather Collums, business relations program coordinator. The Monroe Journal recently hosted Addie Swan, who is a student in Mississippi State University's ACCESS Program, for a summer internship. The Cason native is a graduate of Nettleton High School's Class of 2023. "I'm glad MDRS reached out and told me about it. They've helped me out in so many ways like financial assistance for school. Without them, I would not be in the ACCESS program," she said. Swan spent two days a week at the newspaper learning about editorial, advertising and office duties, in addition to two days a week interning with WCBI's news department. This year was Swan's second summer interning with WCBI, and she plans to intern with MSU's Television Center this year. |
| Tennessee Williams Tribute to celebrate Columbus-born playwright next week | |
 | The writings of Tennessee Williams are once again taking centerstage as organizers prepare to showcase his work next week. Starting Thursday and running through Sept. 14, the Tennessee Williams Tribute and Columbus Arts Council will host six events, including theatrical performances, a poetry slam, a cocktail hour and more to celebrate the legacy of the Columbus-born playwright. "This is the birthplace of Tennessee Williams, and he is one of the most renowned playwrights that ever lived," TWT board member Jerry Fortenberry said. "And we need to take hold of that and embrace it in Columbus." Tennessee Williams was born in Columbus in 1911 before moving to Clarksdale, where he grew up. His birthplace, relocated to Main Street from its original location on College Street, now serves as a museum and as a welcome center for the city. The tribute was started by Brenda Caradine back in 2001 and has continued to act as a way to showcase Williams' work and bring attention to his birthplace, Fortenberry said. This year's tribute will include three showings of Williams' 1944 play "The Glass Menagerie" at the Lyceum at Lee. The first two performances are set for 7 p.m. next Friday and Saturday, with a cocktail hour at 5:30 p.m. before the Friday showing. The third performance is set for 2:30 p.m. Sunday. |
| Payrolls rose 22,000 in August, less than expected in further sign of hiring slowdown | |
| Job creation sputtered in August, adding to recent signs of labor market weakening and likely keeping the Federal Reserve on track for a widely anticipated interest rate cut later this month. Nonfarm payrolls increased by just 22,000 for the month, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.3%, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report Friday. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for payrolls to rise by 75,000. The report showed a marked slowdown from the July increase of 79,000, which was revised up by 6,000. Revisions also showed a net loss of 13,000 in June after the prior estimate was lowered by 27,000. "The job market is stalling short of the runway," said Daniel Zhao, chief economist at jobs site Glassdoor. "The labor market is losing lift, and August's report, along with downward revisions, suggests we're heading into turbulence without the soft landing achieved." Markets largely disregarded the report, with stocks up at the open and Treasury yields sharply lower. The report comes as markets widely expect the Fed to lower its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point when it releases its next decision Sept. 17. Fed Chair Jerome Powell and his fellow policymakers also have been under heavy criticism from the president as they have been on hold since last cutting in December 2024. |
| More inventory will be offered with new ABC warehouse under construction | |
| The new Alcoholic Beverage Control Distribution Center that is being built in Canton will be able to store twice the inventory of the existing facility in Gluckstadt. That's good news for consumers who want to see a larger selection of wine and spirits on the shelves at liquor stores where they shop. Mississippi is an alcohol-control state, which means the wine and liquor sold in the state goes through the Alcohol Beverage Control warehouse in Gluckstadt and is transported to package stores based on their orders. The new distribution center that is being built in the Canton Industrial Park will be able to hold 800,000 cases of wine and spirits while the current distribution center can hold just half of that, said Tina Richardson, communications director for the Mississippi Department of Revenue. "With the increase in the size of the warehouse, the state will be able to offer more varieties of wine and spirits," she said. Yates Construction Co. is building the distribution center that will have about 288,000 square feet. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2026. |
| Crime in Jackson down, but Reeves 'not ruling out' deploying National Guard | |
| On Thursday, Gov. Tate Reeves issued a response to why he approved the deployment of the Mississippi National Guard to Washington, D.C. In August, President Trump activated the National Guard in the nation's capital, citing a crime emergency. However, city officials said crime had decreased, hitting a 30-year low. Gov. Reeves would later approve the deployment of nearly 200 Mississippi National Guard soldiers "to support President Trump's effort to return law and order to our nation's capital." Some criticized the move, asking why the governor would not deploy the Guard to Mississippi's capital. Although crime has dropped year-to-year, the city's homicide rate remains one of the highest in the nation. In a Facebook post on Thursday, Reeves said his deployment of the Mississippi National Guard was a "fair question and one that deserves an answer." "Short answer -- it turns out the Governor of Mississippi can walk and chew gum at the same time!" the governor wrote. In his more detailed response, Reeves would say that he is proud to support Trump's effort to combat violent crime in Washington, and that the Mississippi National Guard troops stationed there will remain "as long as it takes." "The Governor also continues to prioritize maintaining law and order throughout Mississippi, including significant investment in law enforcement in Jackson," the post stated. |
| Unknown number? U.S. Senate candidate's video of fake phone call with incumbent elevates pre-election tensions | |
| The campaign trail for one of Mississippi's two U.S. Senate seats is heating up early. Not even a day after announcing his candidacy as a Democrat seeking the post, Columbus-based District Attorney Scott Colom took to social media to literally call out his primary opponent, incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. "Alright, everybody. I just announced that I'm running for United States Senate against Cindy Hyde-Smith. This is not personal. I'm going to call her and wish her goodnight. Let's see if she answers," Colom said before calling someone he purported to be the elected official. During the call, Colom took multiple shots at Hyde-Smith. From acknowledging that the senator blocked him from attaining a federal judge seat in 2023 to criticizing how she has voted on healthcare-related legislation, the district attorney pulled no punches in his attempt to make Hyde-Smith appear to be an out-of-touch politician who serves her interests rather than those of Mississippians. In Colom's video, the senate candidate never specified whether or not the female voice on the other end of the line happened to be the incumbent senator, though his team later clarified to SuperTalk Mississippi News that the voice "is clearly not Cindy Hyde-Smith." While politicians and office-seekers alike have taken to social media to boost their public image through humorous videos, the legality of Colom's most recent post has already been challenged by the Mississippi Republican Party. |
| Republican chair seeks federal probe into Colom parody video | |
| The chair of the Mississippi Republican Party is asking the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation to look into whether a social media post from District Attorney and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Scott Colom violated federal law. In the video, which was posted on the Scott Colom for Senate Facebook page Wednesday evening, Colom claims he is calling his opponent, Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. The voice of a woman, who is not Hyde-Smith, answers, and Colom proceeds to introduce himself and wish her "goodnight." The Colom campaign noted to The Dispatch on Thursday the video is a parody of a popular TikTok/social media trend where men call someone to tell them goodnight. More than 5.7 million TikTok posts have the hashtag #goodnight. In the call, Colom proceeds to touch on campaign talking points, including his criticisms of Hyde-Smith. At the end of the call, the woman's voice says, "Well, goodnight." Colom responds with "Bless your heart, OK." While Colom says in the video he is calling Hyde-Smith and even says at one point, "I can't believe she answered," the female voice never identified herself as the senator. |
| Operation Warp Speed was one of Trump's biggest achievements. Then came RFK Jr. and vaccine skeptics | |
 | President Donald Trump launched Operation Warp Speed in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, an effort he has credited with saving tens of millions of lives. During a Cabinet meeting last week, he likened it to "one of the greatest achievements ever." Sitting at the table as a proud Trump spoke was Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who came under fire at a congressional hearing Thursday for his work to restrict access to vaccines, including the very COVID-19 shots still touted by his boss. The three-hour hearing exposed an odd dichotomy: One of Trump's most universal successes in his first term remains Operation Warp Speed, yet his handpicked health chief and a growing cadre of Trump's "Make America Great Again" supporters are distrustful of the very mRNA vaccine technology that the president has championed. Highlighting that divide, much of the praise of Trump's unprecedented effort to find a vaccine for COVID-19 came Thursday from Democrats. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., called Operation Warp Speed "a monumental achievement." Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., told Kennedy he was a health hazard and said Trump, "who put forward Operation Warp Speed, which worked," should fire him. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, who caucuses with Democrats, said he doesn't "usually agree with" Trump but cited the president's remarks on the COVID-19 vaccine and said the scientific community is aligned behind him. |
| GOP senators signal to Trump that Kennedy is on thin ice | |
 | Republican senators are sending clear signs of disapproval and unhappiness with Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., making it plain to President Trump that they want the administration to address the chaos that Kennedy has caused by trying to rewrite the nation's vaccine policies. GOP senators have stopped short of calling on Kennedy to resign and haven't yet said they regret voting for him in February, but they want him to back off efforts to change vaccine policy recommendations without sound scientific backing as the administration faces a growing public backlash. Kennedy received an unusual admonishment from Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), an orthopedic surgeon, when he testified before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday. "I support vaccines. I'm a doctor. Vaccines work," said Barrasso, the Senate's No. 2-ranking Republican leader. "Secretary Kennedy, in your confirmation hearings, you promised to uphold the highest standards for vaccines," he said. "Since then, I've grown deeply concerned. Polls show that Kennedy's management of the nation's health agencies is becoming a bigger political problem for Republicans. |
| Trump Is Making Strides in His Takeover of the Fed | |
 | President Trump's sprint to take control of the Federal Reserve played out in a striking split-screen fashion on Thursday, just two weeks before the central bank's next policy meeting. On Capitol Hill, Trump's pick to fill a vacant seat on the Fed's board faced questioning over an unprecedented plan to keep a White House job while serving on the Fed. A few blocks away, government lawyers defended in federal court the first-ever attempted presidential firing of a sitting Fed governor. Both Stephen Miran's expected confirmation and Fed governor Lisa Cook's legal challenge are racing toward the Fed's Sept. 16-17 meeting, where policymakers are expected to consider cutting interest rates -- a move Trump has repeatedly demanded. Trump last month tapped Miran, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, to fill a seat that became vacant on the Fed's board when Adriana Kugler, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, resigned unexpectedly. On Thursday, Miran repeatedly pledged to act independently as a Fed governor. Democrats argued those promises were meaningless after their questioning revealed an unusual proposal where Miran wouldn't resign from his White House job, but rather would take unpaid leave from the CEA so that he could return later. The Fed seat Miran would fill has a term that runs through January. |
| Amy Coney Barrett: Reports of a constitutional crisis have been greatly exaggerated | |
 | Is the country in a constitutional crisis? Not according to Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. "Look, I think the Constitution is alive and well," Barrett said Thursday at an event to promote her new book, Listening to the Law. She cast aside concerns by legal scholars over the ongoing clash between the Trump administration and the courts. "I don't know what a constitutional crisis would look like," Barrett, who was appointed by Trump in 2020, added. "I think that our country remains committed to the rule of law. I think we have functioning courts. I think a constitutional crisis -- we would clearly be in one if the rule of law crumbles. But that is not the place where we are." Barrett's remarks came during an interview at Lincoln Center with Bari Weiss, founder of the conservative digital media outlet The Free Press. Weiss asked Barrett about the erosion of public trust in the Supreme Court, a development that Barrett said worries her. "I would like Americans to trust the institution of the court," she said, calling it "an institution that does operate with integrity." "I'm not saying that the court always gets it right. ... I don't think the court is above criticism or that I am above criticism or anything like that. But I do think Americans should trust that the court is trying to get it right." |
| Sen. Andy Kim, former USAID intern, reflects on seismic shifts in U.S. foreign policy | |
 | Sen. Andy Kim remembers feeling an acute sense of surrealness that overcast day in early February as he stood outside the entrance to the U.S. Agency for International Development at the Ronald Reagan Building where he, along with agency staff, were barred from entering at the order of the new Trump administration. For the New Jersey senator, even more so than other Democrats gathered that day to protest the abrupt closure of USAID, the moment felt deeply unreal because some 20 years earlier he used to regularly enter those doors as an idealistic USAID intern. At the time, he was a newly minted college graduate committed to what he hoped would be a long career working to advance U.S. national security and foreign policy interests in the uncertain and turbulent years following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "I literally showed up at the same door where I showed up on my very first day working for the U.S. government, and to go back there now as a U.S. senator and to be told that I cannot enter and that no USAID employees are allowed to enter was just very dark," Kim said in a late August interview. He recalled how meaningful it had been to pass by the Berlin Wall segment installed at the Reagan building, marking the role the U.S. had played in pushing for German reunification at the end of the Cold War. Over the following months, Kim's bewilderment and anger with the administration deepened as he watched President Donald Trump and his cost-cutting initiative, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, move to dissolve USAID and lay off virtually its entire workforce, freeze and cancel tens of billions of dollars' worth of congressionally approved foreign aid spending as well as fire hundreds of State Department personnel. |
| Young Dems want to unseat their elders. Young Republicans are happy to wait | |
 | With the midterm elections a little more than a year away, a growing number of Democratic candidates in their 20s and 30s are stepping up to run for Congress. But on the other side of the aisle, young conservatives appear to be staying on the sidelines, at least for now. More than 20 Democrats under the age of 40 have announced bids for Congress, with roughly half challenging sitting members of their own party, according to a count by NPR. On the Republican side, organizers can currently point to only one candidate vying for a spot in the House. It's a difference in headcount that Republican political organizers argue signals that their generation is rallying behind their party, at a time when Democrats are battling divisions over age and fielding calls for a new generation of leaders. "There's just not the same level of ... rudderless discontent with our elected officials that you see on the Democrats' side," said Hayden Padgett, the chairman of the Young Republican National Federation. Padgett, 33, explained that while he's seen young Democrats criticize their party for not fighting harder against President Trump's agenda, young Republicans are pleased with their party's work. "On our side, we do feel like our members of Congress are fighting the good fight and they're winning the good fight," he said. |
| USM School of Music releases details, lineup for 2025-26 Connoisseurs Series | |
 | The USM School of Music is bringing four performances to Hattiesburg in the fall and spring through its annual Connoisseurs Series. Jazz performer Bob Sheppard will play the first show on Sept. 16, starting at 7:30 p.m. The concerts are free to the public, thanks to the Mr. And Mrs. James Simrall, Jr. Arts Endowment. "Hattiesburg and The University of Southern Mississippi are destinations for arts and music events from all over the world," said Dr. Colin McKenzie, Director of the USM School of Music. "There are people who have traveled from all over the world to perform here in Hattiesburg, largely because of the work done by our School of Music. I think we're fortunate to be hosts to such events like this. I hope our community will take advantage of that." All performances for this year's series will be held at the Marsh Auditorium on the Hattiesburg campus. |
| Former Co-Lin dean releases new book on leadership | |
 | Dr. Stephanie Duguid, former dean of academic instruction at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, has been busy since her retirement in June 2023 after 15 years with the college. She is now known as a professional speaker, podcast host, international best-selling author, and leadership development expert who has recently announced the release of her latest book, Exponentially Elevate Your Leadership Impact: A Yearlong Journey to Reflect, Strengthen, and Elevate Your Leadership, available on Amazon. Elevate reads as an interactive journal designed to help readers take consistent, actionable steps toward authentic leadership growth. With 52 weeks of guided lessons, reflective journaling, affirmations, and exercises, the book provides a roadmap for leaders at all levels to build confidence, strengthen communication, and create lasting influence. This resource is written for women in educational leadership seeking confidence and clarity, leaders navigating challenges such as imposter syndrome or unsupportive work environments, and individuals ready to define their leadership style, align passion with purpose, and grow both personally and professionally. |
| Look to the skies: Auburn Raptor Center celebrates 25 years of eagle flights | |
| his fall, the Auburn University Raptor Center (AURC) is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the eagle flight, a "uniquely Auburn" pre-game tradition at each home football game. With the return of its event "Football, Fans and Feathers," the AURC is launching a new fundraising campaign – active now until Nov. 29 – to raise awareness and donations for the Center's raptors, commemorate the history of its beloved birds and ensure the longevity of the tradition. Founded in 1972, the AURC is an extension of Auburn's College of Veterinary Medicine that rehabilitates injured raptors and releases them back into the wild. "Over 200 birds are treated per year with the aim of releasing them back into the wild. They come here with various injuries, illnesses or even as orphans," said Dr. Robyn Miller, director of the AURC. Other raptors are deemed unfit for release, due to past injuries or human imprinting, and become permanent residents of the AURC. The AURC's veterinarians and volunteers then take on the task of providing high-quality care to the raptors to help them live as comfortably as possible. A few of these non-releasable raptors are trained for much more than just educational shows. These are the birds that can be seen flying above Jordan-Hare Stadium before all of Auburn's home football games. |
| U. of Oklahoma president addresses enrollment growth, tuition increase | |
| University of Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz Jr. highlighted the university's enrollment growth, tuition increase and goals at his State of the University address Thursday. Harroz said the university's fifth-consecutive record-breaking first-year class differs from enrollment numbers across the nation, with some colleges and universities experiencing a decrease in enrollment. "In the last three years of those five years of record (enrollment), we're up 30% in terms of class size," Harroz said. Harroz said OU has set a goal to increase online enrollment from about 5,000 to 10,000 students by 2030. Harroz said there are around 21,000 Oklahomans who are receiving higher education online from other institutions. "Our obligation is to make sure we serve these individuals and this state," Harroz said. "It's irresponsible for us not to be the one producing those classes to make sure those students receive that education." Harroz noted the changing landscape of higher education in the beginning months of President Donald Trump's second administration. "Higher education is going through tremendous change and drama and trauma," Harroz said. |
| Demand for Oklahoma scholarship program could exceed funding, official says | |
| Oklahoma higher education leaders said Wednesday that they are concerned lawmakers might not have allocated enough funding to meet demand when children of public school teachers become eligible to participate in the expansion of a state-funded scholarship program. Officials said applications are expected to open later this month, but the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education were allocated $700,000 to fund the expansion of Oklahoma's Promise, which could cover costs for 15 students, said Colbi Beam, assistant vice chancellor of state grants and scholarships. "It's not going to go very far," she said. "We have no idea what the impact will be for enrollment, but I'm really interested to see. We've gotten a lot of buzz and a ton of teacher phone calls." Under House Bill 1727, which took effect July 1, a teacher can apply for their child to participate in the program if the educator is certified and teaching in Oklahoma public schools for at least 10 years and their household meets income eligibility requirements. School administrators and emergency certified teachers are not included. Beam said allowing Oklahoma public school teachers to be eligible to apply for a state-funded scholarship program, which has traditionally helped lower-income students afford college, amount to some of the most "substantial changes" to Oklahoma's Promise since its inception. |
| U. of Missouri commits to research reactor expansion | |
 | University of Missouri officials held a ceremony celebrating two additions to the MU Research Reactor Center on Thursday. The upgrade will add around 30,000 square feet to the reactor. The first of the additions is a two-story, 11,200-square-foot expansion of the facility that will add three production lines for making lutetium-177, a radioisotope used in cancer-fighting drugs. Mizzou is the only domestic supplier of the radioisotope critical in combating liver, thyroid, pancreatic and prostate cancer, reactor center Executive Director Matt Sanford said. The second addition planned for the facility is a three-story, 17,900-square-foot storage space to support the first addition's production lines. The university attributed the additions as a way to increase the number of radioisotope medical doses available for patients. UM System President Mun Choi said he hopes the additions can bring more economic development to the mid-Missouri region. "We want to be the epicenter of nuclear medicine right here in Columbia, and we have (the reactor center) as a foundation to do that," Choi said. In a press conference, Choi said that these additions will cost about $50 million, separate from the funding approved by the state legislature for its second reactor. Choi added that he expects the additions to open within the next 20 months. |
| Indiana Business School to Enforce Grade Distribution for Skills Classes | |
 | Some faculty members at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business have been instructed to eliminate grade rounding, remove the A-plus grade option and keep average section GPAs between 3.3 and 3.5 for the fall semester. The grading changes aim to "address grade inflation and promote rigor across our curriculum," according to an email sent to faculty in the Communication, Professional and Computer Skills (CPS) department from business writing course coordinator Polly Graham, which was obtained by Inside Higher Ed. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, [CPS] grades elevated, and in recent years, grades have remained high. In recent semesters, some instructors have awarded 100% A's in standard (i.e., non-honors) sections, and others have awarded extraordinary numbers of A+'s and incompletes," the email said. The new grading policy was sent to instructors in early August without faculty discussion or approval, according to a faculty member in the CPS department who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution. |
| A Leader of UNC's Civic Life School Is Fired, Adding to Turmoil | |
 | The School of Civic Life and Leadership at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill -- created by trustees and state legislators to offer a more traditional civic education -- is experiencing more leadership turnover. On Monday, David Decosimo, the school's inaugural associate dean of research and strategy, announced on X that he had been fired from his position "without explanation" after returning from paternity leave. Earlier this year another associate dean, Inger S.B. Brodey, an English and comparative-literature professor, resigned from her position, stating that the school "has lost sight of its mission," according to an email obtained by The Daily Tar Heel. She told the campus newspaper that a recent faculty search was surrounded by "improprieties, slander, vindictiveness, and manipulation." In a thread on X, Decosimo made what appear to be criticisms of the school's leadership. Decosimo, who had been recruited from Boston University in 2024, where he was director of the Institute for Philosophy and Religion, also wrote that schools devoted to leadership "must not be led in authoritarian, tyrannical ways." |
| The U. of Oregon Says It's Involving Faculty in Budget Decisions. Professors Say It's 'Fake Shared Governance.' | |
| When the University of Oregon's Board of Trustees told administrators in June that they needed to put plans in place by mid-September to eliminate a $25.7-million structural deficit, President Karl Scholz and Provost Christopher P. Long quickly called a town hall to answer questions from faculty, staff, and students before the summer break. In the months since then, Long said, he has made an effort to consult regularly with faculty on the budget deliberations, including meeting twice with the University Senate's budget committee and four times with a senate task force on budget reductions, and asking deans to seek input from their departments. "I'm absolutely committed to meaningful consultation with faculty on these issues," Long said in an interview. But faculty members have a very different take. They say that the budget deliberations -- which may involve layoffs of tenure-track faculty and program closures -- have largely taken place behind closed doors and over the summer, when most instructors are off contract and not on campus. The situation at the University of Oregon is a stark illustration of how difficult shared governance has become this summer. |
| White House Holds Many Levers in Fight With Harvard | |
| A federal judge handed Harvard University a win in court Wednesday, but any hope the school has of returning to business as usual still faces significant obstacles. President Trump has vowed to appeal the decision, which ordered the administration to restore $2.2 billion in research funds. Harvard's prospects beyond the Boston judge appointed by President Barack Obama who ruled in its favor remain unclear. Meanwhile, the government has a deep arsenal of weapons to exert pressure on the Ivy League school. Harvard depends on government support to win future research grants, enroll international students and maintain its tax-exempt status. Trump has applied pressure on all those fronts. Shortly after the judge's ruling, the White House said the school remained ineligible for future funds. Harvard President Alan Garber acknowledged the challenges. On the legal front, the Supreme Court has given the White House some reason to be optimistic if the case makes it there, said Jodie Ferise, an attorney with Church Church Hittle and Antrim. The Trump administration has argued that the Harvard case isn't a constitutional issue but rather a contract dispute that should be adjudicated in a different venue. In a different case last month, the Supreme Court appeared to leave open the door to the contractual argument. No matter what ultimately happens in the court case, the university faces the reality that the White House has many advantages in the broader battle. While Harvard, with its $53 billion endowment, is better positioned than its peers, it still relies on federal support. |
| Northwestern U.'s President Was Singled Out by Republican Critics. Now He's Resigning. | |
| The president of Northwestern University has become the latest leader of a highly selective research institution to topple in the face of federal pressure. Michael H. Schill announced his resignation on Thursday following more than a year of intense scrutiny from Republican lawmakers and the loss of $790 million in federal research funding, which forced the university to lay off hundreds of employees. Generally referencing the trying times ahead for the university, Schill said in a message to the campus on Thursday that he had decided it was time for new leadership. In his three-year tenure, he wrote, "our community has made significant progress while simultaneously facing extraordinary challenges." Schill drew particular scrutiny for negotiating an agreement last year with pro-Palestinian protesters who had set up an encampment calling for the university's divestment from Israel. Conservative critics argued that the protesters should have been punished because some of their conduct was antisemitic. Schill joins a small group of campus leaders who have left at least in part because of fierce opposition from Republican politicians, which has amped up considerably since the Trump administration has declared war on universities seen as being out of line with the president's priorities. |
| College Board Cancels Tool for Finding Low-Income High Achievers | |
 | When the Supreme Court banned affirmative action in college admissions in 2023, many universities began looking more closely at socioeconomic status to admit more diverse classes without considering race. Scores of schools turned to a tool created by the College Board, which administers the SAT exam, to identify promising high school students from disadvantaged neighborhoods and schools. This week, the College Board quietly notified schools that it was eliminating the tool, called Landscape. The board provided little explanation for its decision. The move comes at a time when the Trump administration has stepped up its attacks on diversity efforts in education, and less than a month after the White House said it would be on the lookout for schools using "hidden racial proxies" to seek out minority applicants. It is unclear whether Landscape was being used for that purpose. The tool was an online dashboard where college admission officers could enter an applicant's address and high school, and see a wealth of data on the community where the student lived, including median family income, the percentage of single-parent households and the crime rate. Racial demographics were not included. Among those who have pushed for a class-based approach to increasing college diversity, however, the withdrawal of Landscape seemed misguided. Richard D. Kahlenberg, who served as an expert witness for Students for Fair Admissions, said he viewed the decision as unfortunate. |
| Biotech to 'Shift to U.K. and China' After U.S. 'Own Goal' on mRNA Cuts | |
| The U.K. and China will be the biggest beneficiaries of the U.S. health secretary's "own goal" of pulling funding for mRNA vaccines, according to experts. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a controversial member of Donald Trump's cabinet who claims he wants to "make America healthy again," is scrapping $500 million in funding for the technology -- which was used to combat COVID-19. Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, said other countries with active biotechnology industries will benefit, but the decision will still delay the development of new vaccines worldwide. "Progress will continue but not as quickly as otherwise. Lives will be lost that could have been saved had there been a vaccine," he told Times Higher Education. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said 22 projects by major pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and Moderna, will be affected. The projects were working on vaccines against bird flu and other viruses. "It will certainly make the U.S. poorer for not having a biotechnology industry that is not as competitive as it could be," added Hunter. "The U.S. will certainly lose out to China and Europe, and when its researchers move overseas, it may not be easy to get them to return later." |
SPORTS
| First-And-10 To Know: State vs. Arizona State | |
| For the first time in 2025, Mississippi State hits the home field on Saturday night and what a way to start the home slate. MSU hosts No. 12 Arizona State at 6:30 p.m. CT in what's got to be considered one of the biggest home games in recent memory for the Bulldogs. For a program that's started to gain momentum, it's an opportunity to gather even more. Mississippi State is looking to avenge last season's 30-23 loss out in Tempe. In what was the first-ever meeting between the Bulldogs and Sun Devils, MSU mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback with quarterback Blake Shapen throwing a pair of touchdown passes in the final period before State ultimately came up just short. If it seems like MSU is always playing against a highly-ranked foe, well, that's because the Dawgs have been. Dating back to last year's game against then-No. 1 Texas, State has now played against a Top-15 opponent in six of its last 10 contests counting this Saturday's affair. Arizona State comes to Starkville looking for its first-ever road win against a Southeastern Conference opponent. There are a couple of caveats to that though. The Sun Devils have only played one prior road game against an SEC foe and that was at Georgia back in 2009. Arizona State has played at Missouri and Arkansas as well, but at the time of those battles, neither school was in the SEC. |
| Redemption, excitement on Bulldogs's minds ahead of home opener | |
| There's a lot of anticipation for Saturday night. Mississippi State will play its first home game of the season against No. 12 Arizona State. The contest will be a blackout game and a chance to showcase upgrades to Davis Wade Stadium. "My hope, my expectation, is we walk into a stadium that is as special as there is in all of college football," coach Jeff Lebby said. "Because we have that here, and we need to have that on Saturday night at 6:30. We need it in a big way. "I'm incredibly excited to have this as our home opener in front of our fan base, and again, my hope is that we show up, we show out, and we have just an electric atmosphere as we go to kick this thing off." The teams played this time last year in Tempe. The Sun Devils won 30-23 en route to a Big 12 championship and a College Football Playoff appearance. Arizona State got out to a 30-3 lead and had 415 total yards of offense. Key contributors from that team are back for another go, including quarterback Sam Leavitt and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. Arizona State's defensive line will continue to be a force, especially against the run. It held the Bulldogs to just 24 rushing yards (0.9 yards per carry) and allowed just 112.9 yards per game last season. "The interior of the defensive line is going to be really good, and the secondary is talented, too. So just the whole defense," MSU quarterback Blake Shapen said. "We've got to be on our A game Saturday, for sure." |
| Three keys to victory for Mississippi State vs. No. 12 Arizona State | |
| Fresh off a drama-free 34-17 win over Southern Miss last week in Hattiesburg, the Bulldogs will open their home slate with a primetime game against defending Big 12 champion No. 12 Arizona State. The Sun Devils lost First-Team All-American running back Cam Skattebo to the NFL Draft but return top-end talent at other skill positions. Here are three keys to victory as MSU looks to avenge last year's 30-23 loss in Tempe, Ariz.: Get to the quarterback. Sustain drives. Keep the crowd alive. |
| Will Arizona State WR Jaren Hamilton play more at Mississippi State after just 1 snap vs. NAU? | |
| Wide receiver Jaren Hamilton may have had the most impressive preseason camp of any Arizona State newcomer, so it came as a surprise when he only got one snap in a season-opening win over NAU. Hamilton was listed as ASU's fourth starting wide receiver on its extended depth chart for Week 1, but a "curveball" in the form of an injury to another receiver threw a wrench in the plan to get him on the field. "Going into the game, we had a game plan in terms of how we wanted to attack and do things, and he didn't play as much as we probably planned on him playing," Dillingham said on Monday. "(Jalen Moss) went down and we were still seeing what his status was but he was taken out for the game. "That kind of threw a little bit of a curveball in that plan ... so it was just flow of the game, wasn't by nature. Probably gotta try to use him more if the situation's necessary and if we feel like he's ready enough to play." Hamilton was listed in the same spot on the depth chart for the upcoming game at Mississippi State on Saturday. Do the Sun Devils expect Hamilton to be more involved in Week 2? "We do," offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said Wednesday. |
| Soccer: Newcomers Steal The Show On Senior Night | |
| Senior Night turned into the newcomer's coming out party on Thursday night as Mississippi State defeated Louisiana Tech, 4-0. Every player with a goal or an assist in the game was new to State's roster in 2025. Three freshmen scored, and Louisiana Tech transfer Kyra Taylor opened the scoring. Nancy Almanza, who came to Starkville from Jacksonville State, recorded an assist after being honored pregame during senior ceremonies. The Bulldogs now boast 10 goals on the season, and all 10 have been scored by different players. Four more players also have at least one assist this season. "I mean I think looking at it -- I was just told that we have 10 goals on the season and 10 different goal scorers -- it's a credit to the group. It's a credit to the system that we play," head coach Nick Zimmerman said. "Ultimately it is a step in the right direction. A lot of things that we worked on just last week, you know, just from Baylor and Oklahoma State were really important. We're trying to be more dangerous and create more chances. We still have to look at some things, but it was a great step in the right direction. I'm really proud of the group overall." MSU is back on the road on Sunday to close out non-conference play. The Bulldogs will play at South Alabama at 2 p.m. with the match airing on ESPN+. |
| NCAA committee recommends eliminating spring transfer window for FBS players; vote looms | |
| The NCAA's FBS Oversight Committee has recommended eliminating the spring transfer window and having just a 10-day window starting on Jan. 2. The committee is also proposing that December be a recruiting dead period. Coaches would still be able to call, write, text or email prospects, but visits on or off campus, would not be allowed. The Division I Administrative Committee must approve the legislative changes. The vote is expected to occur before October 1. FBS coaches voted unanimously to support the January portal proposal during their American Football Coaches Association convention earlier this year. The changes, if implemented, would allow coaches to focus more on coaching during bowl season, and it would prevent most teams from losing active players as they prepare for important games. The spring portal period, which was April 16-25 this past offseason, had many players and coaches juggling transfers and spring practice. Nico Iamaleava, a quarterback who led Tennessee to the College Football Playoff last season, left the Volunteers for UCLA in the spring, leaving Tennessee scrambling. The issue might have been avoided without a spring window. |
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