| Monday, September 8, 2025 |
| Mississippi State University boosts tractor fleet through partnership with Wade Inc. | |
 | Agricultural research is the focal point of a newly minted relationship between Mississippi State University and Wade Incorporated. The university's Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) is leasing 15 John Deere 6M series utility tractors from Wade Inc., a John Deere dealership in the Magnolia State, through the new collaboration. "MAFES manages more than 16,000 acres across the state, requiring extensive equipment and manpower," MAFES associate director Darrin Dodds said. "In the past, purchasing tractors and machines led to multiple brands and models, complicating maintenance and limiting efficiency. This new partnership ensures consistency and reliability across our operations that will support world-class research with the most up-to-date equipment." As part of the partnership's launch, roughly 40 MAFES workers from across the state participated in hands-on training on the tractors' technological capabilities, operations, and maintenance. |
| 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." 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 continuing accreditation status concludes the previous provisional accreditation status for the developing program after meeting the quality standards set by ARC-PA, Clack said. |
| Band of Heathens plays live at MSU Riley Center Sept. 11 | |
 | The Riley Center at Mississippi State University hosts an evening of high-energy music with The Band of Heathens taking the stage at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Known for a soulful blend of rock 'n' roll, Americana and rootsy grooves, the Austin, Texas-based band has built a reputation as one of the most dynamic live acts in the country. Anchored by founding members Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist, alongside longtime keyboardist Trevor Nealon, The Band of Heathens delivers a harmony-rich sound filled with grit, heart and masterful musicianship. Every performance captures the spirit of the band -- high-energy, soulful and packed with the kind of moments that keep audiences coming back. Tickets, priced $25-45, are limited. Seats can be purchased by visiting msurileycenter.com or calling the MSU Riley Center Box Office at (601) 696-2200. |
| Band of Heathens plays live at MSU Riley Center Sept. 11 | |
| The Riley Center at Mississippi State University hosts an evening of high-energy music with The Band of Heathens taking the stage Thursday, Sept. 11, at 7:30 p.m. The Band of Heathens' most recent album "Simple Things" held the No. 1 spot on the Americana radio chart for two months, solidifying the band's lead in the modern Americana movement. The hit version of "Hurricane" has achieved gold certification, and the entire catalog has nearly a billion streams by fans around the world. From captivating audiences at Austin City Limits to appearances on the CBS Saturday Morning TV show, the group continues to be a force in American music. Music lovers shouldn't miss the chance to experience one of America's most enduring and independent bands live in Meridian, inside the historic MSU Riley Center. |
| MSU Extension expertise proves valuable for Cal-Maine Foods | |
| As the director of food safety and animal welfare at Cal-Maine Foods, Dr. Ryn Laster can attest to the vitality of the educational services and support the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service provides for poultry farmers across the state. She is a client herself. The four-time MSU graduate and three-time chairperson of the board of the Mississippi Poultry Association has been based at Cal-Maine's corporate office in Ridgeland in Madison County for more than 25 years. During that time, she says, Cal-Maine has relied on MSU Extension to troubleshoot issues requiring outside observers or to receive help researching a poultry-related problem. In addition to Cal-Maine, Laster says, all the Mississippi Poultry Association's member companies rely on MSU Extension, and she sees the organization as an asset to the state's entire poultry industry. |
| Ginny Walker Shurlds held a book signing in Starkville | |
 | A Mississippi State University graduate is trying to inspire more children to want to read books, while also make a name for herself. Ginny Walker Shurlds held a book signing in Starkville this weekend. Shurlds wrote the "Mississippi State A to Z" book. The book introduces the alphabet through the traditions and icons of MSU. "It is a great way to get your name out that you have written a book," said Shurlds "Right here in Starkville is the prime area for this book since it is about Mississippi State. So, Starkville is kind of my area of concentration. I love Mississippi State, and it is a part of my family. All my life, I have wanted to write a children's book and illustrate it, and my parents wanted me to do that to. I ended up going through school, and going through life, and finally in retirement, I had the adequate amount of time to put into the book." |
| Garden club set to take on Brush Arbor Cemetery project | |
| Sydney Pullen, assistant professor of anthropology and Middle Eastern cultures at Mississippi State University, spoke about the Brush Arbor Cemetery project at Starkville Town and Country Garden Club's fall kickoff meeting on Thursday, held at the First Baptist Church Applegate building. "The Brush Arbor Cemetery is an important part of our community, and our club's Historic Preservation Committee has selected it as a project," said Lynne Strickland, president of the Starkville Town and Country Garden Club. "The cemetery has been long neglected, and we hope to work with Dr. Pullen, Mississippi State departments of anthropology and architecture, and the City of Starkville to help revitalize this 200-year-old, historically Black cemetery." Pullen gave the garden club a brief history of the cemetery, including the names of prominent families buried there such as Ben Chiles, an Oktibbeha County legislator and World War II veteran. Pullen also shared research by Cassidy Rayburn, a Mississippi State student, who identified 48 marked graves and more than 100 unidentified graves in the cemetery. |
| Golden Triangle Civil War Roundtable to kick off season | |
| The Golden Triangle Civil War Roundtable was founded more than 40 years ago by Starkville Civil War Historians William Parrish, Duffy Neubauer, Michael Ballard and John Marszalek. For many years, members have not only been treated to great fellowship with Golden Triangle's Civil War enthusiasts, but also with very interesting talks about the Civil War, concerning both the Confederacy and Union. On Tuesday, the Roundtable will kick off its 2025-26 season with a social time beginning at 6:30 p.m. and a 7 p.m. program at the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District building, 106 Miley Drive. The Roundtable invites all who are interested in learning more about the Civil War to come join us and bring friends. The speaker for the evening will be Larry Allen McCluney, Jr. McCluney received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Mississippi State University, and taught history in the public high school system and at Mississippi Delta Community College until his retirement in 2025. |
| Toyota Mississipi to add Corolla Hybrid model production | |
 | For the first time in its 14-year production history, the Toyota Mississippi vehicle assembly plant will be building another vehicle. It's not a new model, however; the Corolla will continue to be produced, but now a new family member will be added -- the Corolla Hybrid -- to be made on the same production line as its gas-powered sibling. Toyota Mississippi President Erik Skaggs made the announcement during a presentation at the Community Development Foundation's quarterly Wake Up! meeting at the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum. "We've gotten approval to add an electrified vehicle to Northeast Mississippi," he said regarding the Corolla Hybrid. "The team has already started working on the next-generation Corolla. The chief engineering and design team was here yesterday and so we've started work here." The last major model change to the Corolla was in 2019, when the 12th-generation was introduced. A mid-model refresh was done in 2022. The Corolla is the best-selling vehicle worldwide having sold more than 60 million since its introduction in 1966. The Blue Springs plant has made more than 2 million of them. |
| Sam's Town in Tunica to permanently close after 31 years in business | |
| One of the longest-running Tunica casinos is set to close later this year. Sam's Town Hotel and Gaming Hall will permanently close at 10 p.m. Nov. 9. A new casino will not open, and it is not being relocated to another part of the state or elsewhere. In a statement to The Commercial Appeal, Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming Corp. -- which operates Sam's Town -- said it regretted that the closure was necessary. "This was not an easy decision for our company," the statement read. "However, demand throughout the northwest Mississippi market has declined significantly over the past 20 years, with several of Tunica's original casinos closing since 2014. Our decision to close Sam's Town is a result of these market conditions, and follows our best efforts to adjust the business to address lower demand." The closure of Sam's Town will leave just five casinos remaining in the area, once home to more than 10 casinos in the mid 1990s. |
| Healthcare Jobs Are a Rare Bright Spot in the Stalling Labor Market | |
 | America's labor market has slowed markedly in recent months. If it weren't for job gains in the health-services sector, it would barely be growing at all. Health services, which include healthcare and social assistance, have long been an engine of U.S. job growth, bolstering the labor market through thick and thin. But amid a general weakening in the labor market, the danger is that the sector doesn't have enough gasoline in the tank to keep driving employment forward. Impending Medicaid cuts, for example, could severely slow it down. What is more, the sector might turn out to not be providing as much oomph to job growth as the official data now show. Friday's jobs report reinforced the trend, painting a picture of a sharply slowing labor market, with health services one of the few relatively bright spots. Indeed, absent gains in health-services employment in August, the private sector would have shed jobs last month. All told, there are now 23.5 million health-services jobs in the U.S., or about one in six private-sector jobs. That compares with 12.7 million manufacturing jobs, and 15.6 million jobs at retailers. |
| Trump plan to move USDA spurs brain drain fears | |
 | A Trump administration plan to remove thousands of agriculture employees from Washington, D.C., is raising concerns among economists, who fear that such a move could erode expertise in a workforce reluctant to relocate. The plan -- a cost-saving strategy that would consolidate U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) operations and bring workers closer to their customers -- would move 2,600 out of 4,600 D.C.-based employees to five regional hubs. The administration's preferred locations include Fort Collins, Colo.; Salt Lake City; Indianapolis; Kansas City, Mo.; and Raleigh, N.C. While all of these cities have existing USDA facilities, it remains unclear where each of the department's many subgroups would be headed. "Some of the issues these agencies are trying to address are national issues," Chad Hart, a professor of agricultural economics at Iowa State University, told The Hill. "Moving it from D.C. to Indianapolis doesn't necessarily make it easier for an Alabama cotton farmer to get a hold of -- or someone who does aquaculture in Maine," he said. |
| Inside Congress' warring factions over how to fund the government | |
 | Battle lines are emerging on Capitol Hill in the fight to avert a government shutdown in three weeks -- and it's not just Republicans vs. Democrats. On one side, fiscal hawks are joining with the White House to keep federal agencies running on static funding levels, ideally into January or longer. On the other, Democrats and some top Republicans want to punt no further than November to buy congressional negotiators more time to cut a cross-party compromise on fresh funding totals for federal programs. In the end, the standoff could hinge on Speaker Mike Johnson's appetite for trying to pass a funding package backed by President Donald Trump but not Democrats, as he did in the spring -- and whether Senate Democrats once again capitulate rather than see government operations grind to a halt on Oct. 1. "They jammed us last time," Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), a top appropriator, said in an interview. "And I am encouraging my Republican friends who want to do appropriations to understand that that won't work this time." Even more irate after Trump's latest move to unilaterally cancel almost $5 billion in foreign aid through a so-called pocket rescission, Democrats are warning there will be a funding lapse if Republicans don't negotiate with them. And while they're being cautious not to box themselves in with ultimatums on funding totals or specific policy demands, they're starting to flex their muscles by floating concessions Republicans could make in exchange for support across the aisle. |
| Why some Republicans are newly worried about RFK Jr. | |
 | Seven months after they voted to confirm longtime anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the nation's health secretary, some Republican senators are having second thoughts. "I'm a doctor. Vaccines work," Sen. John Barrasso (Wyoming), the Senate's No. 2 Republican, told Kennedy at a hearing Thursday on Capitol Hill. "Secretary Kennedy, in your confirmation hearings, you promised to uphold the highest standards for vaccines. Since then, I've grown deeply concerned." Barrasso's warning, which Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) echoed at Thursday's hearing, was the latest and perhaps most significant sign of growing GOP doubts about the merits -- and political wisdom -- of Kennedy's agenda. Officials from Trump's first administration are also increasingly condemning Kennedy in public remarks. Members of Congress are speaking out, too: At Thursday's hearing, senators from both sides of the aisle peppered Kennedy with questions. Now, some Republican senators and pharmaceutical executives are mounting a push to belatedly recognize Trump for his first administration's coronavirus vaccine program -- identifying it as a way to drive a wedge between the president and Kennedy, who has previously claimed that the shots are "the deadliest vaccine ever made." |
| Trump unveils 'Department of War' -- but Hill may have a say | |
 | President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday to change the Department of Defense's name to the Department of War, and Congress may soon consider weighing in on the proposal. Not long after Trump signed the order, the Pentagon changed its official web address to war.gov. The page about Pete Hegseth is labeled Secretary of War, and references across the site to the Department of Defense have been replaced with the Department of War. In remarks in the Oval Office, Trump said he would ask Congress to codify the change, but he suggested that congressional action wasn't necessary to put it into effect, even though the name of the department is prescribed by law. "We're signing an executive order today, but we'll find out" whether lawmakers need to codify the change, Trump said. "We're going with it, and we're going with it very strongly. There's a question as to whether or not they have to. But we'll put it before Congress." Despite Trump's suggestion that congressional approval might not be needed, the text of his order, made public late Friday, suggests the White House sees statutory changes as likely. |
| In new memoir, Supreme Court Justice Barrett reflects on historic cases, is largely silent on Trump | |
 | Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett says "violence or threats of violence" against judges shouldn't be the cost of public service. But in an interview at the court with The Associated Press about her new book, "Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and Constitution," Barrett was not willing to join other judges who have called on President Donald Trump to tone down rhetoric demonizing judges. She said there "has been a lot of clear polarization" that has "spilled over into a bad place, spilled into a bad place when it comes to these acts of political violence." Along with other justices she said she has received death threats following the court's decision in 2022 that overturned Roe v. Wade's right to an abortion. At 53, Barrett is the youngest member of the court. She said she wrote the book, for which she received a reported $2 million advance, to make the nation's highest court accessible to non-lawyers. |
| Trump administration asks Supreme Court to allow it to freeze billions in foreign aid | |
| The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Monday to allow it to freeze billions of dollars in foreign aid, potentially setting up the biggest test yet of the president's bid to assert sweeping authority over federal spending. The emergency filing in the rapidly moving case comes after a federal appeals court upheld a preliminary injunction requiring Trump officials to spend the money for food, medicine and development assistance before it begins to expire at the end of the fiscal year Sept. 30. Since beginning his second term in January, President Donald Trump has claimed broad powers to refuse to spend congressionally allocated money for transportation projects, health research, education, "sanctuary cities" and more, saying the spending was wasteful or not aligned with the administration's values. The legal battle over foreign aid has been long and complicated, bouncing to the Supreme Court and back over the past six months. |
| Biden chooses Delaware for his presidential library as his team turns to raising money for it | |
| Former President Joe Biden has decided to build his presidential library in Delaware and has tapped a group of former aides, friends and political allies to begin the heavy lift of fundraising and finding a site for the museum and archive. The Joe and Jill Biden Foundation this past week approved a 13-person governance board that is charged with steering the project. The board includes former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, longtime adviser Steve Ricchetti, prolific Democratic fundraiser Rufus Gifford and others with deep ties to the one-term president and his wife. Biden's library team has the daunting task of raising money for the 46th president's legacy project at a moment when his party has become fragmented about the way ahead and many big Democratic donors have stopped writing checks. It also remains to be seen whether corporations and institutional donors that have historically donated to presidential library projects -- regardless of the party of the former president -- will be more hesitant to contribute, with President Donald Trump maligning Biden on a daily basis and savaging groups he deems left-leaning. |
| 'Special place': Former Ole Miss Dean of Students talks about new book at GumTree Bookstore | |
| A steady flow of fans and Ole Miss alumni flooded Reed's GumTree Bookstore to shake hands and speak with their former Dean of Students, Thomas "Sparky" Reardon, who recently released a memoir. Reardon, who released "The Dean: Memoirs and Missives" last month, held a book signing and Q&A at Gumtree Bookstore on Thursday afternoon, detailing the contents of the book and telling stories of his time as Dean of Students at the University of Mississippi for over three decades. "It's my memory, and if you don't like it, put the ... book down," Reardon said with a laugh while explaining the premise of his memoir. Between 1977 and 2014, Reardon served as the university's dean of students, and through those decades, he collected a plethora of stories and friendships, many of which made it into his book. David Brevard, CEO of B&B Concrete Co., an Ole Miss Hall of Fame recipient who helped organize the event, introduced Reardon, praising the book and its themes of relationships. “He was that icon of an alumnus that everyone knew,” Brevard said. “(The book) reinforces that life is all about relationships.” |
| Billboards near Ole Miss target antisemitism through Christian-Jewish partnership | |
| University of Mississippi students returning this fall are being welcomed right before they enter campus with a new campaign targeting antisemitism. JewBelong, a national nonprofit that works to make Judaism accessible and fights antisemitism, has partnered with the Christian Broadcasting Network and Regent University to place three billboards near the Oxford campus. The billboards, in pink and white, carry slogans including "Standing against antisemitism is standing with America" and "You don't need to be a Jew to protect Jews." The messages are located at Highway 76 and University Avenue and at Mississippi 7 and Abbeville Top. Organizers say the signs are expected to reach more than 2.4 million people. The effort comes amid a rise in antisemitic incidents nationally and in Mississippi. From December 2023 bomb threats against synagogues in Tupelo and Columbus to the 2024 federal conviction of a Mississippi man for cyberstalking Jewish businesses and synagogues, the state has seen a 186% increase in such cases between 2022 and 2024, per the Anti-Defamation League. |
| Aspiring medical professionals find hope with Mississippi's first healthcare academy | |
| Room to room and floor to floor, high school students were busy at work on Friday inside Singing River's Healthcare Academy. A surgical simulation was just one of the stations that the students went through at the Career Technical Education event. Brooke Leon is a senior at Biloxi High School. She's stoked to see the career opportunities available right here in South Mississippi. "I'm proud of the Coast. I am so proud that we got this going on in Mississippi. All the opportunities are so enlightening, and there's so much going on here," she said. "I like the idea of taking this thing that's happening right now to this person, how can you connect all the pieces together and figure out what will help them?" Leon added. 250 students from nine schools walked through six sessions. The grand opening of the academy was August 14, and Singing River's professional development manager, Christopher Kelly, says this tour is all about giving students exposure to real-world experiences. |
| White House's review of Smithsonian content could reach into classrooms nationwide | |
| High school history teacher Katharina Matro often pulls materials from the Smithsonian Institution website as she assembles her lessons. She trusts its materials, which don't require the same level of vetting as other online resources. She uses documents and other primary sources it curates for discussions of topics like genocide and slavery. As the White House presses for changes at the Smithsonian, she's worried she may not be able to rely on it in the same way. "We don't want a partisan history," said Matro, a teacher in Bethesda, Maryland. "We want the history that's produced by real historians." Far beyond museums in Washington, President Donald Trump's review at the Smithsonian could influence how history is taught in classrooms around the country. The institution is a leading provider of curriculum and other educational materials, which are subject to the sweeping new assessment of all its public-facing content. |
| UAB welcomes largest freshman class in history with 25% enrollment jump | |
 | The largest freshman class in history at the University of Alabama at Birmingham started classes last month, according to preliminary data. "We are encouraged by the early data showing a strong increase in freshman enrollment," said UAB President Ray L. Watts. "This growth reflects the excellence of our faculty and the transformative opportunities our students have inside and outside of the classroom." Final enrollment data will be available in October. Enrollment data analyzed by AL.com for 2024 show total enrollment increased 14% at UAB since 2015. Statewide, there's been an 11% increase in total enrollment for all public colleges since 2015. All but three of the four-year public colleges and universities in Alabama had enrollment increases since 2015. Alabama State, Athens State, and the University of West Alabama had enrollment decreases. |
| Auburn University veterinary professor emerita killed in park while walking dog | |
| An Auburn University professor emerita has been identified as the woman found slain in Kiesel Park. Lee County Coroner Daniel Sexton on Sunday identified the victim as Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle. She was 59. Sexton said her injuries appeared to be consistent with the use of a sharp force instrument. A person was taken into custody Sunday morning. Police said they expect to release more information later in the day. Auburn University officials released this statement Sunday morning: "Julie Gard Schnuelle, DVM, Ph.D., was a beloved member of the Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine and the Auburn Family. She served as a faculty member in the Department of Clinical Sciences in the Large Animal/Food Animal section from 2003 to 2021, when she retired as a professor emerita. Auburn sends our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Dr. Gard Schnuelle during this unimaginably difficult time." |
| UT Knoxville Advisory Board highlights record enrollment, stadium expansion, carshare project | |
| First-year undergraduates might benefit from a rideshare and carshare program as soon as this fall. The UT Knoxville Advisory Board met Friday morning in the UT Medical Nursing Building. Along with announcing in-progress student transportation projects, the board discussed UT's record enrollment and retention this fall, the construction of several new educational and residential buildings and improvements to the athletics experience. In addition, the board received updates on research developments and fundraising efforts. Paul Byrnes, senior vice chancellor of finance and administration, discussed the parking and transportation department's expansion of mobility options and continuous work on parking. "What they're trying to do is move our solution set beyond parking," Byrnes said. "We are gonna address parking as well, but they're trying to think further in terms of mobility and how we can better serve our campus." "What we're trying to do is create the need for students not to have a car on campus, and meet that in a more positive way," Byrnes said. |
| U. of Tennessee breaks ground on record $165.5M chemistry building | |
| On Friday, leaders from the University of Tennessee held a groundbreaking ceremony for the university's new chemistry building. The Tennessee General Assembly has set aside $165.5 million in its fiscal year 2025-26 budget for the project, making it the largest state investment ever funded for a single higher education project in the state of Tennessee, according to UT. The new building will be 162,00 square feet and eight stories. It will have two 50-seat lecture halls, one 50-seat study room, 30 research labs, three teaching labs, 12 collaborative workspaces and dedicated workstations for student researchers. "The groundbreaking of this new chemistry building represents a crucial investment not only in the University of Tennessee but in all of Tennessee," UT Chancellor Donde Plowman said. The new building will allow the chemistry department to grow significantly, according to the university. UT expects to see an increase of 15% in the number of undergraduate chemistry majors, 20% in the number of graduate students, 20% in chemistry credit hours and 25% in external research grants. |
| U. of Arkansas campuses in Fort Smith, Fayetteville extend partnership | |
| The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith renewed a long-standing agreement with the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville on Wednesday, extending a 24-year partnership that has increased access to engineering education. The renewed memorandum of understanding ensures the continuation of the joint 2+2 engineering programs in mechanical and electrical engineering and accompanies the launch of UAFS's first standalone four-year engineering degree, according to a news release issued Thursday by the Fort Smith university. "This program has helped create affordable pathways for students to obtain their bachelor's degree in engineering and has significantly contributed to the engineering workforce in our state," said UA Provost Indrajeet Chaubey. "We're pleased to renew this agreement with UA Fort Smith, continuing a valued partnership that advances our land-grant mission to serve Arkansas." |
| Texas tackles student debt crisis with expanded financial aid as living costs soar | |
| It's no secret that higher education is expensive. Although Texans owe less per borrower than their peers nationwide, $33,770 is the average student loan debt in Texas, according to the Education Data Initiative. The Building a Talent Strong Texas plan aspires to address this by ensuring 95% of graduates complete college without undergraduate debt or manageable debt relative to their potential earnings. The state surpassed that goal in 2023. Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law in 2023 that froze undergraduate tuition and fees for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years. He later announced an extension of the tuition freeze in 2024, which lasts through the 2026-27 academic year. This milestone occurred as more businesses moved to Texas and created stronger job opportunities for recent graduates, according to the University of North Texas at Dallas. Wynn Rosser, the commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, told The Dallas Morning News that Texas is working to address this issue. Rosser asked lawmakers during this year's Legislature to make state aid for college available for the top 25% of Texas' need-based students. Lawmakers in June ultimately enacted a 20% increase in Texas' financial aid program budget, providing an additional $320 million for students, he said. |
| Professors want to leave Texas because of tense political climate, survey says | |
| Many Texas professors are looking for jobs in different states, citing a climate of fear and anxiety on their college campuses due to increased political interference, according to a recent survey conducted by the American Association of University Professors. The survey interviewed nearly 4,000 faculty across the southern U.S., including more than 1,100 from Texas. About a quarter of the Texas professors said they have applied for higher education jobs in other states in the last two years, and more than 25% said they soon intend to start searching for out-of-state positions. Of those who aren't thinking of leaving, more than one-fifth said they don't plan to stay in higher education in the long-term. "Morale is down," said one Texas faculty member at a public four-year university in a written response. "Friends have lost contracts for no discernable [sic] reason. We live in fear of using the wrong word. We self-censor. We do not have academic freedom." The top reason faculty cited in the survey for wanting to change jobs was the state's broad political climate. |
| U. of Missouri System Board of Curators unveils $2 billion fundraising campaign | |
 | The University of Missouri System Board of Curators met Friday to discuss upcoming changes and to review the past year's accomplishments. There were three major updates, including an extension of UM System President Mun Choi's contract, a plan to expand the MU School of Medicine into Springfield and the unveiling of a $2 billion "Power the Roar" fundraising campaign. So far the campaign has raised $760 million with a goal to prioritize endowments, infrastructure, professorships, scholarships and educating future leaders. The campaign's leadership, or quiet phase, began July 1, 2022. Since then, more than 61,000 donors have contributed with broad support for all colleges and programs, Mizzou officials said in a news release. "Our timeline is we're going to continue this campaign until we reach our goal," said Chris Smith, vice chancellor for advancement at Mizzou. |
| Dunaway to end time as Eberly dean June 30, search for replacement to begin soon | |
| Gregory Dunaway will conclude his tenure as dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at the end of this academic year. The 2025–26 academic year will mark the final chapter of his leadership of the Eberly College, the largest academic unit at the University, serving more than 5,000 students across over 60 undergraduate and graduate programs, which span disciplines in the humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and the social and behavioral sciences. Appointed as dean in 2016, Dunaway will complete his second term on June 30. Dunaway plans to continue serving the Eberly College and WVU in his professorial position. Prior to his arrival at WVU, Dunaway -- an award-winning educator and criminologist -- served as dean of the Mississippi State University College of Arts and Sciences where he spent 25 years of his career. Greenwood Asher & Associates is leading the national search for the next Eberly College dean. |
| Community Colleges Aim to Shorten the Path to Skilled Jobs | |
| There's a fundamental barrier to boosting American industrial strength: 71 percent of employers are struggling to find skilled workers. Training programs at community colleges can help change this, but many who enroll have family, work or other obligations that push them offtrack. Only 13 percent earn an associate degree within two years. Since 2020, more than 100 colleges in 21 states have implemented programs to shorten the time it takes to get from the classroom to a good-paying job. This work has been facilitated by the nonprofit Education Design Lab. The Colorado Community College System is among those offering "micro-pathways" to skilled careers. They are built with courses that can be as short as 10 to 15 hours, giving students knowledge or certificates that accumulate over time ("stack") and provide workforce competencies piece by piece. The intent is that within a year, a micro-pathway will lead to a job at or above a community's median wage. Those who find jobs can continue to stack credits that lead to career advancement and degrees. |
| Accreditors Venture Into the Microcredential Landscape | |
 | The microcredential landscape is often called a "wild west" in higher ed circles. The field is crowded with tens of thousands of program providers, in and outside of academia, online and in person. Short-term programs vary widely, from certificates to badges to boot camps, spanning weeks to months to over a year. And while some programs offer high returns, others yield little to none or insufficiently track outcomes. Now, two accrediting agencies are stepping into that murky terrain, hoping to bring some order -- and branch out into a new market. Both the New England Commission of Higher Education and the Higher Learning Commission, which has been researching short-term programs for eight years, are gearing up to assess whether providers of these programs meet their standards. Laura Gambino, vice president of NECHE, said the stamp of approval will also signal to students which programs are worthwhile. "There's virtually no quality assurance in that space," she said. "At the end of the day, this is all about ensuring that students have access to high-quality learning opportunities" as millions of students flock to these programs. |
| Even as Classes Begin, Some Foreign Students Are Still in Visa Limbo | |
 | A global backlog of student visas has led to a decline in international enrollments this fall. The question is, by how much? Days, and even weeks, after classes have begun, many foreign students are still struggling to get visa appointments, holding out hope of salvaging the semester as colleges try to find ways to accommodate late arrivals. At the same time, institutions are working to reassure those stuck in their home countries that their American educational dream isn't ended, only deferred. They are offering online courses and activities to keep students engaged and on track to enroll when bottlenecks ease. Some colleges, particularly those with large shares of graduate students, reported decreases in incoming international students of 15 percent or more. Others said the hit had been softer than they had feared earlier in the summer. And some said they were simply unsure about final enrollment totals because of the unprecedented tumult in the visa system. The primary cause of the logjam is a three-week suspension in student-visa interviews in May and June, imposed so that the U.S. Department of State could put in place a plan to vet international students' social-media accounts. |
| On College Campuses, Students Weigh the Risk of Resistance | |
| College campuses were historically considered a haven for activism. Not anymore. Students returning to school are grappling with the fallout from the Trump administration's detention of foreign student protesters and universities tightening rules for demonstrations. "It's going to be a very tense fall," said graduate student Mohsen Mahdawi, who is returning to Columbia University after spending two weeks in immigration detention this spring. It has been roughly six months since the Trump administration arrested Mahdawi's classmate and fellow protester, Mahmoud Khalil, an opening salvo in what has become a battle over the limits of free speech on college campuses. While the student protesters have been winning in court, they serve as a cautionary tale to their classmates: Is protesting worth the anxiety of becoming the Trump administration's next target? |
| The world's greatest mathematician avoided politics. Then Trump cut science funding. | |
| Terence Tao is often called the "Mozart of Math." A child prodigy born in Australia, Tao, 50, is now at the top of his field at the University of California at Los Angeles, working in the rarefied realms of partial differential equations or harmonic analysis on problems so hard it may take a PhD to understand them. But for the past few weeks, he's been preoccupied with more run-of-the-mill pecuniary concerns: fundraising.Being one of the world's greatest mathematicians didn't protect Tao from losing his National Science Foundation grant in late July, when the Trump administration froze about half a billion dollars in federal research funding after accusing UCLA of mishandling antisemitism and bias on campus. Math is often portrayed as a largely inscrutable pursuit by lone geniuses, but Tao is a hero to many mathematicians, known for the breadth of his interests and his engagement with the public. Math and politics don't often intersect, but Tao is speaking out about how upheavals, delays and uncertainty in federal funding imperil the unique American ecosystem for science. |
| Pentagon-funded research at colleges has aided the Chinese military, a House GOP report says | |
| Over a recent two-year period, the Pentagon funded hundreds of projects done in collaboration with universities in China and institutes linked to that nation's defense industry, including many blacklisted by the U.S. government for working with the Chinese military, a congressional investigation has found. The report, released Friday by House Republicans on the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, argues the projects have allowed China to exploit U.S. research partnerships for military gains while the two countries are locked in a tech and arms rivalry. "American taxpayer dollars should be used to defend the nation -- not strengthen its foremost strategic competitor," Republicans wrote in the report. "Failing to safeguard American research from hostile foreign exploitation will continue to erode U.S. technological dominance and place our national defense capabilities at risk," it said. The report makes several recommendations to scale back U.S. research collaboration with China. It also backs new legislation proposed by the committee's chairman, Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Michigan. The bill would prohibit any Defense Department funding from going to projects done in collaboration with researchers affiliated with Chinese entities that the U.S. government identifies as safety risks. |
| Northeast Mississippi speaker and worm farmer played key role in Coast recovery after Hurricane Katrina | |
| Mississippi Today's Bobby Harrison writes: The 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina slamming the Mississippi Gulf Coast has come and gone, rightfully garnering considerable media attention. But still undercovered in the 20th anniversary saga of the storm that made landfall on Aug. 29, 2005, and caused unprecedented destruction is the role that a worm farmer from northeast Mississippi played in helping to revitalize the Coast. House Speaker Billy McCoy, who died in 2019, was a worm farmer from the Prentiss, not Alcorn County, side of Rienzi --- about as far away from the Gulf Coast as one could be in Mississippi. McCoy grew other crops, but a staple of his operations was worm farming. Early after the storm, the House speaker made a point of touring the Coast and visiting as many of the House members who lived on the Coast as he could to check on them. But it was his action in the forum he loved the most -- the Mississippi House -- that is credited with being key to the Coast's recovery. |
| The race for U.S. Senate in 2026 may get ugly, but the result is almost certain | |
| The Magnolia Tribune's Russ Latino writes: U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith blocked Joe Biden's nomination of District Attorney Scott Colom to serve as a federal district judge. Now, Colom, a Democrat from Columbus, is looking to even the political score. This week, after months of anticipation, Colom made his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Hyde-Smith official. At the center of Senator Hyde-Smith's initial objection to Colom serving on the federal bench was the means by which he became the District Attorney for Mississippi's 16th Judicial District. In 2015, a young Colom ousted longstanding District Attorney Forrest Allgood. Allgood was the subject of multiple controversies -- from questions about his use of debunked bite mark analysis for convictions to serious allegations of racism. But Colom's path to the seat involved a staggering contribution from far left financier George Soros. ... On the flip side, Hyde-Smith carries the full-throated endorsement of President Donald Trump. There are some things with which this writer fundamentally disagrees on with the current administration, but in a sea of self-proclaimed "conservatives," I recognize I occupy minority territory. Donald J. Trump is obscenely popular in Mississippi. |
SPORTS
| Football: A New Day Dawns For Dawgs Everywhere | |
| Let's save everyone some time, shall we? Because if you're reading this, you already know the background of this story. Saturday night. Mississippi State vs. No. 12 Arizona State. Under a minute to go and MSU is down by three. The Bulldogs need a miracle, when suddenly, it's Blake Shapen. It's Brenen Thompson. It's 58 yards for the touchdown that shook Starkville and the entirety of the Magnolia State. A few seconds later, defensive back Hunter Washington sealed the deal with a pick near midfield. Dawgs win, 24-20. Wrap it in Maroon and White! What a night! And it was Hollywood-esque that Washington was the one to put the exclamation point on this crazy, incredible, unforgettable evening. Why, you ask? Three years ago, Washington came to play football at Mississippi State. He was a part of legendary head coach Mike Leach's final roster -- a group that won nine games including a bowl victory. So much has happened to Washington and Mississippi State since. |
| In Mississippi State's historic upset, Shapen has his moment | |
| Blake Shapen saw this week's game as "something that you live for". When he needed to most, he lived up to the moment. Shapen threw the game-winning touchdown with 30 seconds left as the Mississippi State Bulldogs knocked off the No. 12 Arizona State Sun Devils 24-20 on Saturday night at Davis Wade Stadium. "These are moments that I live for, and all the guys on our team," Shapen said. "This shows a lot about our team." Mississippi State (2-0) was very much on its heels late in the game. The Bulldogs allowed 20 unanswered points after building a 17-0 lead in the second quarter. The Sun Devils (1-1) began running the ball more (they ran for 251 yards total) and the MSU offense stalled when Arizona State made some adjustments (it did not score for almost two full quarters). Only when the Bulldog defense forced a three-and-out and a field goal at their own 1-yard line with 1:38 left did the Maroon and White get a shred of momentum back. Even then, it was still up to Shapen and the offense to take advantage. "We never lost faith. That was a big deal on the sideline," Shapen said. "Everybody kept their energy up. There was no doubt or anything like that." |
| Shapen, Thompson combine for last-minute winner over No. 12 Sun Devils | |
| The script was already written for Mississippi State. "The Bulldogs made a valiant early push but were ultimately overwhelmed by No. 12 Arizona State on Saturday." That's what almost everyone in Bulldog nation was thinking going into the final minute, and what most writers in the press box were typing some version of after Arizona State burned nearly 10 minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter, marching on a 95-yard field goal drive to take a 20-17 lead. No doubt several still held out hope for a miracle, and among them were the MSU players, and in particular quarterback Blake Shapen and wide receiver Brenen Thompson. Together, the pair balled up the script and threw it in the trash. With 41 seconds left on the clock, Shapen saw Thompson one-on-one on the outside. The speedster easily burned his marker and caught a perfectly placed pass in stride, turning on the afterburners and reaching the end zone. "It's pretty special," Lebby said of the two seniors combining for the game-winner. |
| Mississippi State knocks off No. 12 Arizona State on QB Blake Shapen's late 58-yard TD strike | |
 | A rare Arizona State trip east of the Mississippi River ended in a deafening chorus of cowbells and a stunning 24-20 loss to SEC underdog Mississippi State. Blake Shapen's 58-yard touchdown strike to Brenen Thompson with 30 seconds to play electrified the crowd at Davis Wade Stadium and put the Bulldogs back on top after the 12th-ranked Sun Devils rallied from a 17-0 deficit to take the lead. Hunter Washington sealed the victory moments later when he picked off Sam Leavitt. Saturday night's upset of the defending Big 12 champions put an end to an eight-game losing skid against ranked opponents for the Bulldogs -- dating back to Mike Leach's final win as coach at the end of the 2022 regular season. "It's a dream come true -- I'm blessed to be out here playing this game," said Shapen, who had season-ending shoulder surgery a year ago after playing in only four games. "Our team is amazing. We stayed true to who we are and believed in what we could do. We never gave up." |
| Mississippi State fans storm field, take down goalposts after Arizona State upset | |
| The stars aligned in Starkville for some Mississippi State magic on Saturday. The Bulldogs used a last-minute touchdown to take down No. 12 Arizona State in a 24-20 victory at Davis Wade Stadium. Blake Shapen connected with Brenen Thompson on a 58-yard bomb to the end zone with 30 seconds left to put Mississippi State back in front. The defense then closed it out as Hunter Washington intercepted Sun Devils QB Sam Leavitt on the first play of the next drive to seal the win. The Bulldogs kneeled it out from there as fans in the stands eagerly awaited the final seconds to tick off the clock. Once they finally did, they took to the field in classic college football fashion, taking down some goal posts in the process. "I feel like the fight in our team is amazing," Shapen said. "To be able to stay true to who we are, believe in what we can do, you see it tonight. We never gave up. Started fast, hit a slow run and was able to pick it back up." |
| MSU fans welcomes new experience of tailgating | |
| College football season is in full effect, and that means tailgating is a part of many fans' gameday experience. Mississippi State hosts its first home game of the season, and this brings tailgaters to start the year in a new fashion. Tailgating is a part of many gameday routines, whether it's students, alumni, or fans of MSU. "We've been tailgating for the last five years; it's a great way to spend time in the fall," Nathan Oakley said. "It's a lot of fun with friends and family. We've got friends from our college and our kids here today. It's a lot of fun." The home opener of the season against Arizona State brings in the new changes in tailgating zones that are designed to enhance fans' gameday experience. Some who are part of the Southern Tradition Tailgating said they enjoy having a fresh approach to tailgating for the season. "I'm looking forward to this year; we've been back on the different side of the street we were, and we've got some large shade trees close to us," Oakley said. "We've tailgated between the band hall and the stadium for the last few years. It's a great way to have students come back and forth to the stadium to stop by, grab a bite to eat, and sit and visit for a while." Students said no matter where the tents are, they are still able to have fun and celebrate as fans. |
| Soccer: Bulldogs End Non-Conference Schedule With Four-Goal Day | |
| For the second straight match, Mississippi State put up four goals in a 4-2 road win at South Alabama to close out the non-conference portion of its schedule. The two teams combined for five goals in the final 45 minutes, with four of them coming in the final 21 minutes of play. There were 14 combined shots in the second half with State taking 10. Three different Bulldogs scored in the match, and Ally Perry registered two assists. The win was MSU's 10th in program history against South Alabama, which is tied for the most against any opponent. The four goals were the most the Bulldogs had scored in the series since 2012, and the Jaguars had conceded just three goals all season. The only goal they had allowed at home came on an own goal in their previous match. "I'm really, really proud of the girls and staff to finish our non-conference the way that we did," head coach Nick Zimmerman said. " MSU will open conference play when the Bulldogs host No. 2 Tennessee on Friday night. The nationally-televised match is set to kick off at 6 p.m. on ESPNU, and State will honor members of the inaugural 1995 team for the program's 30th anniversary celebration. |
| Volleyball: Bulldogs Continue Winning Streak With Sweep Over Marist | |
| Mississippi State volleyball concluded the Blue Raider Bash with a sweep over Marist, leaving Murfreesboro 3-0 over the weekend. "What a weekend for the Volleydawgs! Winning is so hard, and winning on the road is even harder," said head coach Julie Darty Dennis. "I'm so proud of this team for playing disciplined volleyball this weekend and taking care of business. We were focused on our side of the net, playing clean and seeing how hard we could play, and I thought we did such a great job staying locked in on those goals. The result was exactly what we wanted." This victory marks the bulldog's sixth straight win this season and is the best start to a season since 2022, in terms of victories. State has yet to drop a set to an opponent this season, going on a six-game three-set winning streak, the first time for the program to achieve this since 2006. The Bulldogs return to action this Wednesday evening, taking on Duke at home in the SEC/ACC Showdown at the Net. |
| Women to spread their wings outdoors with new nature network | |
| Olivia Lappin did not grow up hunting. It wasn't until about four years ago, when she was getting her master's degree at Mississippi State University researching Northern bobwhite in agricultural landscapes, that she first tried the outdoor sport. While Lappin is now based in West Point, working as a biologist for the landscape conservation nonprofit Quail Forever, she told The Dispatch she is still personally passionate about helping other women get outdoors. It's part of why she and fellow Quail Forever biologist Aubree Plymale are hoping to form a new North Mississippi and Alabama chapter of Women on the Wing -- a group that focuses on helping connect women with conservation and the outdoors. Lappin and Plymale are hosting Birds & Brews at 6 p.m. Sept. 17 at Munson and Brothers in Columbus, where they plan to eat pizza, hold lawn games and raffles and introduce attendees to the organization. |
| Deloitte 'clerical error' led to incorrect NIL deal data, College Sports Commission says | |
| The College Sports Commission on Friday corrected data released earlier this week, saying it has cleared more than $35 million worth of name, image and likeness deals since mid-June rather than the nearly $80 million in deals that was originally reported. The CSC, the fledgling enforcement agency established this summer by the power conferences, said in a statement that it was made aware of a clerical error in the data provided by outside consultants at Deloitte. The accounting firm was hired to build the online NIL Go platform that college athletes now use to comply with mandatory reporting of third-party NIL deals of at least $600. "Deloitte Consulting regrets providing a report to the CSC this week that inaccurately labeled two data points," the company said in a statement. "We take full responsibility for this reporting error. We have taken additional measures to avoid any future recurrence and are fully confident in the NIL Go platform." Thursday's report mistakenly categorized about 2,000 deals worth nearly $36 million that are still working their way through the evaluation process as having been approved. |
| College Football Salaries Muddle Role of NFL Owners as Boosters | |
| While the NFL has deliberately kept an arms-length relationship with college football, many league owners are prominent university boosters, a relationship that's grown more complex in recent years. The upheaval in the economics of college sports, particularly with star athletes now making millions in above-board pay, has bred a new type of potential conflict, one with a more direct line between money donated to universities and the salaries paid to future NFL players. To adapt to the changing reality, the NFL years ago updated its policies to directly take NIL into account. Shared with owners in August 2021, just a few weeks after new marketing laws first upended college sports, the revised policy clarified that NFL owners and their teams were limited in what they could contribute. The rules, according to an NFL spokesman, covered NIL and sponsorship deals, but also equity investments in collectives or other third parties facilitating payments to college stars. |
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