| Friday, September 19, 2025 |
| Northsiders Named MSU Alumni Association's 2025 Alumni Fellows; Weekend Celebration Scheduled | |
 | The Mississippi State University Alumni Association will honor a new class of distinguished Bulldogs as 2025 Alumni Fellows, including two Northsiders, during the Northern Illinois game this weekend. Northsiders John Davis Lewis of Jackson and Jim Perkins of Ridgeland will be among this group. Spanning three days, this year's honorees will participate in various activities both on and off campus, reconnect with their alma mater and provide current MSU students with professional insights. Their visit will culminate with special recognition during the September 20 football game. "The MSU Alumni Association is proud to bring exceptional alumni from eight of the university's academic colleges back to our campus to share their experience and wisdom with our students," said Jeff Davis, MSU Alumni Association executive director. Lewis represents the College of Architecture, Art and Design. He is the executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission, the state's official arts agency. Perkins was selected from the College of Business. An accomplished business leader with more than four decades of experience in the oil and gas exploration, development and production industry, Perkins earned his bachelor's degree in banking and finance in 1981. |
| MSU is helping students get into their careers with expo | |
 | As students get closer to graduation, their focus begins to shift from classrooms to careers. Getting that degree is one thing -- landing that first job is another. Mississippi State is helping students do both. The University holds a Career Expo every semester to help employers recruit MSU students for internships, co-ops, and full-time opportunities. "Tons of employers are here to see our students," Bethany Mills said. "Our students are coming with interest in internships and full-time opportunities in the upcoming year. So, we want to make sure they leave here with maybe an interview or maybe even an offer." The three-day event brings more than 200 employers to campus to network with more than 1,000 students. The Expo is a win-win for students and employers. |
| Thompson speaks at Books & Authors | |
 | Joesph M. Thompson was the speaker at the Books & Authors event held by the Friends of the Starkville Public Library on Thursday, Sept. 18. Thompson spoke about his book, "Cold War Country" which he released in 2024. The book dives into the ways country music was utilized throughout the Cold War era to promote patriotism and military recruitment in the United States. Thompson decided to begin researching the topic after he read about Mississippi country singer Obie McClinton. "I learned that he had participated in some of these country music recruitment programs, which I didn't even know existed until I was researching him," he said, "So that kind of opened up the story for me." During his presentation Thompson spoke about the perception of country music today. Many casually associate country music with patriotism, something Thompson points out was carefully cultivated over the Cold War period. "Cold War Country" is Thompsons first book, however he has also written for academic journals and is an Associate Professor of history at Mississippi State University. |
| UNG and Mississippi State launch poultry education program | |
| The University of North Georgia (UNG) has partnered with Mississippi State University (MSU) to create expanded educational opportunities in poultry science through a new 2+2 articulation agreement. The program allows students who complete UNG's associate degree in agriculture-poultry science to transfer seamlessly into MSU's bachelor's degree program in poultry science -- once accepted through the standard admissions process. "We welcome the opportunity for our students to build on their excellent preparation in our poultry science program at one of the nation's top research universities," said UNG Provost Chaudron Gille. The memorandum of agreement was recently signed by Gille and Mississippi State President Mark E. Keenum. "Mississippi State is a national leader in poultry science education and research and one of the most transfer-friendly universities in the country," said President Keenum. "This 2+2 agreement with the University of North Georgia builds on these strengths and is a true win-win for our institutions and students. We are proud to support the poultry industry, which is vital to our state, region, and nation." |
| Baptist names new CEO of OCH amid hospital's transition | |
 | Baptist Memorial Health Care has named a new CEO for OCH Regional Medical Center as the hospital transitions into its network. Mac Flynt, who has served in administrative roles for Baptist since 2020, will replace Jim Jackson as CEO at OCH beginning Oct. 1. "It is a great honor to join OCH Regional Medical Center's leadership team at such an exciting time," Flynt said in a press release issued Thursday. Jackson, who has served as CEO since 2018, said he is proud of the role the OCH played in bringing the sale to Baptist to fruition. "The decision to align with Baptist reflects a shared commitment to ensuring the long-term strength of our hospital and the continued delivery of high-quality, compassionate care," he wrote in a statement to The Dispatch. "I step away with immense gratitude for the support I have received and deep pride in what we have accomplished together. I remain committed to assisting in a smooth transition and will always cherish the opportunity I've had to serve this hospital and community." Flynt graduated from Mississippi State University in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in business administration in management. He earned a master's of health care administration in 2024 from Louisiana State University. His wife, Natalie, also attended MSU. |
| New online platform locates childcare shortages in Mississippi | |
| A new online dashboard will serve to shine a light on where glaring childcare shortages exist in Mississippi. The Children's Foundation of Mississippi and the Mississippi Economic Council launched the platform, aiming to signal where Mississippi families and employers are being strained by a lack of resources. This new portal, developed alongside data consulting and analytics firm Elucidata LLC, exists to give business leaders, parents, and policymakers clearer insight into how childcare access affects Mississippi's workforce. The dashboard will be updated monthly. A survey of more than 130 Mississippi business leaders found that access to childcare directly influences employee productivity. Cost was the most common reason companies do not offer on-site or nearby childcare, but 71% of respondents expressed interest in learning more about those options. Earlier research by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation estimated that childcare challenges cost Mississippi $673 million annually, including $120 million in lost tax revenue and $553 million from employee absences and turnover. |
| Mississippi officials eye nuclear energy to power state's economic development future | |
| With billions of dollars in economic development projects coming to Mississippi, including multiple data centers, reliable and affordable energy is needed to power these new facilities as they require substantial amounts of electricity. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (USEIA), natural gas accounted for 76 percent of Mississippi's electricity net generation in 2023 and was the primary fuel used at nine of the state's ten largest power plants. However, to meet the demands of the future, one energy source state officials are exploring is nuclear power. Governor Tate Reeves (R) has shown an openness to support nuclear power during his announcements of these large-scale projects, saying he supports all energy sources if they are safe, reliable, and affordable. In May, Reeves went further, noting during his Power Play Summit that "the future is going to be nuclear," a sign of state-level support for nuclear power development in some capacity. State officials have said Mississippi is open to expanding its current nuclear power generation, which currently sits at one facility, Entergy's Grand Gulf Nuclear Station near Port Gibson. |
| House passes bill to avert government shutdown | |
 | The House passed legislation Friday morning that would keep the government open through Nov. 21 to avert an October shutdown and buy more time for bipartisan negotiations over full-year spending bills. But it's expected to stall in the Senate, and then lawmakers are slated to leave town until the week of the funding deadline. The measure passed the narrowly Republican-controlled House 217-212, despite objections from Democrats that it does not address health care or other liberal priorities. Only two Republicans joined with Democrats to oppose the bill, while one Democrat sided with Republicans in approving it. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where Democrats say they will block the funding extension until Republicans agree to negotiate with them. The Senate plans to vote on both the GOP measure and a Democratic counterproposal later Friday. Congress will be in recess next week for the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah. On the House floor before the vote Friday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) argued that Democrats don't want a shutdown, but they do want Republicans to take their demands over health care coverage seriously. |
| Weighted vest women are the 2026 swing voters | |
 | One of Republicans' most respected pollsters has identified an emerging group of swing voters who could help decide the 2026 midterms: Call them the weighted vest women. They're already flooding your social media feeds and neighborhoods -- all while donning weighted vests, the latest fitness influencer fad of 2025. You don't have to look far to find them. They're covered on the pages of Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop and can be seen in plenty of TikTok videos. Christine Matthews -- the pollster for former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's reelection campaign, former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels' two campaigns and the president of Bellwether Research -- first saw women wearing weighted vests all over her upscale neighborhood in Alexandria. Matthews' wanted answers to two simple questions: How many women were wearing weighted vests? And what were their politics? So she commissioned a poll of 1,000 women across the U.S., the results of which she shared exclusively with POLITICO. Matthews found that about one in six women wear this year's hottest wellness accessory. But more importantly, the weighted vest women broke for President Donald Trump by three points in 2024. Going into 2026, though, this group backs Republicans and Democrats equally at 47 percent in a generic congressional ballot. Among all women surveyed, 48 percent would vote for Democrats compared to 35 percent for Republicans. |
| Trump's Team Explores Government-Backed Manufacturing Boost | |
 | President Trump's team is weighing a plan to spur the construction of factories and other infrastructure in a bid to jump-start the American manufacturing sector, according to documents and people familiar with the discussions. Under the plan, the administration would use money from a $550 billion investment fund established as part of trade negotiations with Japan to invest in the development of semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, energy, ships and quantum computing. Some of the projects would be granted preferential treatment from the government, including expedited regulatory review. The administration is considering granting leases to companies that would give them access to federal land and water, according to the people and documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. The plan would mark a new frontier in Trump's efforts to exert influence over the private sector, giving the government a central role in the reshaping of U.S. manufacturing. It comes as the president has secured a government stake in Intel, negotiated a "golden share" in U.S. Steel and persuaded chip companies to give the U.S. a cut of certain sales to China. |
| Trump and Xi begin talks in a push to finalize a TikTok deal | |
 | U.S. President Donald Trump is talking with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday in a push to finalize a deal to allow the popular social media app TikTok to keep operating in the United States. The call between the two leaders began around 8 a.m. Washington time, according to a White House official and China's Xinhua News Agency. The call may offer clues about whether the two leaders might meet in person to hash out a final agreement to end their trade war and provide clarity on where relations between the world's two superpowers may be headed. This would be the second call with Xi since Trump returned to the White House and launched sky-high tariffs on China, triggering back-and-forth trade restrictions that strained ties between the two largest economies. But Trump, a Republican, has expressed willingness to negotiate trade deals with Beijing, notably for the social video platform that faces a U.S. ban unless its Chinese parent company sells its controlling stake. The two men also spoke in June to defuse tensions over China's restrictions on the export of rare earth elements, used in everything from smartphones to fighter jets. "I'm speaking with President Xi, as you know, on Friday, having to do with TikTok and also trade," Trump said Thursday. "And we're very close to deals on all of it." |
| 'Be very careful': Some in the GOP balk at kicking Kimmel off TV | |
| A handful of prominent Republicans on Capitol Hill said they were worried about the implications of Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr pressuring a TV network to suspend late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Their comments suggest an emerging split in the GOP over the party's views on free speech. "We all should be very cautious," said Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.). "The conservative position is free speech is free speech, and we better be very careful about any lines we cross in diminishing free speech." ABC suspended Kimmel indefinitely Wednesday over comments he made earlier in the week about Charlie Kirk's assassination. The decision came after Carr warned ABC's parent company, Disney, on a podcast that there could be consequences if Kimmel stayed on the air. Moran was one of a half-dozen lawmakers who told POLITICO they were concerned by the implications of Carr's blunt warning Wednesday. House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), whose committee oversees the FCC, raised a red flag while speaking at an event Thursday. "Just because I don't agree with what someone says, we need to be very careful," he said. "We have to be extremely cautious to try to use government to influence what people say." Notably, none of the elected Republicans criticized Carr by name. They were also outnumbered by the more than a dozen Republicans who told POLITICO on Thursday they weren't concerned, largely framing Kimmel's suspension as a business decision rather than government coercion. |
| Charlie Kirk's death shows how the political center of the country is slowly fading away | |
 | The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has ignited a debate about whether there is room for a political center. Fewer and fewer people seem to identify as moderate today than even a decade ago, and politicians are rarely aiming their messages to such voters. Twenty-four years ago, as the country reeled from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the electorate seemed to prefer leadership over party and someone who could bridge the divide and produce results. In the days following 9/11, even Democrats rallied behind then-President George W. Bush and then-New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has in recent years become the butt of Democratic jokes. Now, political observers acknowledge, it is the voices on the left and the right who receive the most attention, drive news cycles, and get the most clicks on social media. "We are in an environment that forces you to take a side," said Democratic strategist Basil Smikle, who served as the executive director of the New York State Democratic Party. "There's a hunger for moderation but I think structurally it has become really difficult to do that in our country for a number of reasons." |
| Harris' score-settling, elbow-throwing, bridge-burning memoir | |
| Kamala Harris's score-settling new memoir throws sharp elbows at a number of likely 2028 presidential contenders, from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to her longtime friend and rival, Gavin Newsom, who she cast as unreachable in the frantic hours after then-President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. "Hiking. Will call back," wrote the former vice president in her notes from her calls that day, which are recounted in her campaign memoir "107 Days." She pointedly noted in parenthesis: "He never did." The memoir, which goes on sale next week, sprints through Harris' hyper-speed campaign for the presidency after Biden dropped out. Harris, known as a cautious communicator, presents a relatively unvarnished look at her losing presidential bid, and her critical assessment of a range of leading Democrats represents one of the highest-profile installments yet in the party's post-election recriminations. It wasn't just her criticism of the "recklessness" of Biden running again, or her characterization of her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, as the second choice. Harris begins naming names early in the book, as she recounts the reactions from fellow Democrats in the immediate aftermath of Biden ending his campaign and, soon after, endorsing Harris in his stead. |
| Key federal vaccine panel tables vote on delaying newborn hepatitis B shot | |
| A key government advisory committee voted Friday to postpone a vote on whether to delay infants' first hepatitis B vaccine -- temporarily alleviating fears that a new recommendation on shot timing could reverse the significant progress made in controlling the disease's spread in recent decades. The decision followed a lengthy deliberation on Thursday by the newly reconstituted Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice, which pressed scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the necessity of the birth dose, and brought into question the veracity of the data presented on the risks and benefits of the vaccine. But ultimately, members voted to push the vote. "I believe that there's enough ambiguity here and enough remaining discussion about safety, effectiveness, and timing that I believe that a vote today is premature," Robert Malone, a member of the committee, said on Friday. All of the members of the committee, except its chair, Martin Kulldorff, voted to table the vote. The vote followed another, split vote to recommend that children under 4 receive the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine and varicella vaccine separately, rather than receiving the combined MMRV vaccine -- but voted to not to align VFC coverage with that recommendation, meaning low-cost or free MMRV vaccines will no longer be available for some children, but separate MMR and varicella shots will be. |
| Delta State student found hanging died by suicide, autopsy shows | |
| A Black student found hanging from a tree on the campus of Delta State University died by suicide, according to the state medical examiner. The Cleveland Police Department released an update Thursday afternoon -- three days after the body of Demartravion "Trey" Reed was discovered by a university staffer on Monday morning -- and said the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office had turned over the autopsy results. "Findings were consistent with the initial investigation, determining the cause of death to be hanging and the manner of death as suicide," a news release from the Cleveland Police Department reads. "Final toxicology results are pending and may take two to four weeks to complete." The death of Reed, 21, has raised questions and sparked speculation in a state with a history of racist violence, despite campus police, other local and state law enforcement agencies investigating, and the coroner saying foul play was not believed to be involved in his death. Sean Tindell, commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, said Thursday his office has turned over all files and investigative materials to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office. U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, who represents the area of Mississippi the school is located in, previously called for a federal investigation into Reed's death. |
| Delta State Black student's hanging death is ruled a suicide | |
| The Black student found hanging from a tree Monday at Delta State University died by suicide, according to the state medical examiner's office. The Bolivar County coroner had earlier drawn the same conclusion and determined no sign of foul play. The body of Demartravion "Trey" Reed was discovered shortly after 7:30 a.m. in a tree beside pickleball courts and dorms on the Cleveland campus. In the hours and days after, many students and staff have felt besieged as what seemed like every few minutes their cellphones buzzed with new rumors and speculation. The campus was rattled. What students and faculty saw and heard did not resemble a Cleveland they know. It was a hot late summer day when Reed's family joined Delta State University President Dan Ennis and local law enforcement for a press conference Wednesday. Across campus, students still pulled up to empty parking spots closest to their classes, loitered outside the student union and brought food to friends in the library or to their dorms. Eight students and three faculty members interviewed by Mississippi Today shared a mix of fear, hope, grief and numbness. |
| Hundreds attend candlelight vigil remembering Delta State University student Trey Reed | |
 | The campus at Delta State University grew still as the glow of candlelights burned into the evening skies and illuminated the faces of those who gathered on the Quadrangle for a vigil Thursday, Sept. 18, to remember Demartravion "Trey" Reed. As many as 200 people gathered in a solemn vigil, their voices rising in prayer and scripture as they lit candles in memory of Reed. Students, faculty, local residents and visitors from neighboring cities -- with some sporting the school's green and white attire -- had turned the university grounds into a space of solidarity. "I just want to thank you all for being out here to commemorate the life of Trey Reed," Mtume Mathews, a 20-year-old basketball player at DSU from Southaven, who is also on the committee to organize the vigil, said to attendees. "This is a very devastating time for all of us." Christian Evans, a freshman at Delta State University, expressed gratitude for the large turnout at the vigil but also acknowledged that many students are feeling fearful in the wake of Reed's death. |
| Former MUW police officer arrested for embezzlement | |
| A former Mississippi University for Women police officer was arrested Thursday for allegedly stealing more than $1,000 in equipment from his former employer. Michael Mellott, 48, has been charged with one felony account of embezzlement, Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said. Mellott is accused of stealing a bulletproof vest, a badge and a handheld radio, an LCSO press release said. Mellott resigned from his position at MUW about a month ago and was recently hired as a corrections officer at the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center, Hawkins said. The sheriff's office found out about the stolen equipment Wednesday and notified MUW, Hawkins said. Mellott was arrested the next day. Mellott is being held in Lowndes County Adult Detention Center with bond set at $10,000. |
| OLinc unveils new name, logo, and strategic plan for Lafayette County | |
| What was known for decades as the Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation now has a new name, logo and strategic plan aimed at strengthening the local economy, fostering innovation and enhancing quality of life for everyone in the LOU community. The organization's new name is Oxford Lafayette Incorporated, or OLinc for short. OLinc President and CEO Ryan Miller unveiled the rebrand on Tuesday during the State of the Lafayette County Economy Annual Meeting at The Lyric Oxford. The new logo, designed by Rosie Vassallo, OLinc's director of retiree attraction, features a circular design in green and blue. At its center is a green globe with longitudinal and latitudinal lines, symbolizing both global and local connectivity and unity. Miller also outlined OLinc's new strategic plan, developed by Boyette Strategic Advisors, an economic development consulting firm led by founder Del Boyette. Work on the 72-page plan began in October 2024. The plan focuses on four key target markets: business and financial services, entrepreneurship and innovation, healthcare and related industries and research and development. |
| Change in U.S. Department of Education funding will mean more one-time funds for HBCUs | |
| A change in federal funding administered through the U.S. Department of Education has been approved under the Trump Administration, essentially equating to one-time additional funding for historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the nation. The change also includes some additional funds for charter schools and funding to support American history and civics programs. Mississippi's public HBCUs include Jackson State University, Alcorn State University and Mississippi Valley State University. "Mississippi's historically Black colleges and universities play a critical role in educating young people from around the state and beyond and are helping to lead the way in research and emerging technologies. Additional support for these efforts is good for the universities and those they serve," a spokesperson for the Mississippi Institutions for Higher Learning told Magnolia Tribune about the additional funds. No specifics on the dollar amounts for the schools were available at press time. |
| IHL hires outside firm to help with Jackson State president search | |
| Officials overseeing public colleges and universities in Mississippi have settled on a search firm to help name a new president at Jackson State University. The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) voted Thursday to select Washington, D.C.-based AGB Search to assist state officials in filling the vacancy. The move comes two weeks after the IHL announced that it was seeking outside help in the search. "AGB Search presented a proposal that best matched the qualifications outlined in the formal request for proposals," a release from the IHL reads. Dr. Steven Cunningham, a graduate of Jackson State, is currently chairing the search committee to replace former Jackson State president Dr. Marcus Thompson, who resigned from his post amid litigation pending against him. Dr. Denise Jones Gregory, the university's provost and vice president of academic affairs, has taken Thompson's former office in the interim. |
| JSU, JXN Water at odds over proposed backup water system | |
| JXN Water was back in federal court on Thursday, this time over a dispute with Jackson State University. JSU is seeking to install a backup water system on campus, so it can continue to serve students and staff during city water outages. However, Interim Third-Party Manager Ted Henifin won't sign off on the plan, saying the proposal has the potential to contaminate the city's public water supply. "I am the official responsible for Jackson water permits. I have an operator who has her license on the line every day. We are required under state law and regulations of MSDH to protect that water," he said. "We can't let someone take a tank full of water we have nothing to do with and put it back into our system." At the heart of the matter is Jackson State's plan to build a series of water storage tanks across campus, in part, to help maintain pressure during low-pressure events or water outages. Henifin argues that if JSU wants the tanks, it needs to create its own water system to ensure their safety. Officials with the university say they don't want to get into the water business but only want to make sure campus operations aren't interrupted when water goes out. JSU contends the proposal is backed by Dr. Al Rankins, commissioner of the state Institutes of Higher Learning, and that other universities in the state have similar systems already in place. |
| Copiah-Lincoln Community College tops 3,000 students for first time since 2019 | |
| Copiah-Lincoln Community College has surpassed 3,000 students for the first time in six years, marking a milestone in enrollment growth, school officials announced this week. A total of 3,018 students are enrolled this fall across Co-Lin's three campuses and online programs. The college has seen steady growth since spring 2023. "The continued success of our college is a direct reflection of the people who make up the Co-Lin family," President Dewayne Middleton said in a statement. "We are proud of our students, grateful to our faculty and staff, and thankful for the leadership and support of our Board of Trustees. Most importantly, we are honored by each student who has chosen Co-Lin as the place to further their education." Middleton credited students, faculty, staff and the Board of Trustees for helping drive the growth. Co-Lin serves students in southwest and central Mississippi through academic, career-technical, workforce and adult education programs, as well as student life activities. |
| Pearl River Community College sees record-breaking enrollment for fall semester | |
 | Pearl River Community College hit new enrollment and credit hour marks for the 2025 fall semester. "The 10th Day Enrollment Report" published by the Mississippi Community College Board said PRCC had logged a record-setting enrollment of 6,307 students this fall. According to a recent PRCC news release, the junior college said it has led the state in enrollment growth, achieving a 29% increase from 2017 to 2025. The school said credit hours across the the same time frame were up by 34%. "I am proud to announce another year of record-breaking enrollment at Pearl River Community College," PRCC President Dr. Adam Breerwood said in the release. "This achievement reflects more than growth -- it reflects a culture of student success built on trust." Along with its main campus in Poplarville, PRCC also boasts branches in Forrest and Hancock counties. |
| Alabama colleges are firing staff over Charlie Kirk comments. It's not enough, students say | |
 | A few hours after Charlie Kirk was killed, Brilyn Hollyhand stood in front of fellow college students and mourned a man he considered a mentor and a friend. Now, he is leading a Republican effort to reshape college campuses. Hollyhand, a freshman at Auburn University and a political activist, is asking college presidents to fire people who were critical of Kirk. He's spoken with some of them personally. He's advising donors to withhold money. And he's asking other students to step up and take part in a national movement that is grieving the loss of one of its most influential leaders. Hollyhand said he is "disgusted" by the University of Alabama, which as of Thursday morning has not publicly responded to requests to discipline staff members who critiqued Kirk on social media. "I have made my thoughts clear to several of them across the country, in personal relationships that I have with some of the people that lead these campuses, this is one of those things that we're watching, and inaction will be called out," he said. |
| Pioneering civil rights attorney Fred Gray speaks for Constitution Day 2025 | |
| On the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 17, Civil Rights Movement attorney Fred Gray spoke at Auburn University's annual Constitution Day lecture in the Foy Hall Ballroom. At the lecture dedicated to the signing of the United States Constitution, Gray spoke about his legal career in arguing for the constitutional rights of African Americans. Students and faculty alike flocked to the event to hear the legendary attorney speak and take questions from the audience. In Alabama and across the United States, Gray's accomplishments as a civil rights attorney have spanned both deep into the heart of systemic racism and segregation, setting national precedents that courts still cite today. Some of his most well-known casework includes the defense of Montgomery bus boycott protestors, including Claudette Clovin and Rosa Parks -- whose statute now stands in the United States Capitol. Gray also worked with Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1960 at the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement. Gray was a spearhead in the desegregation of Alabama public schools and higher education institutions, including Auburn University. His work paved the way for Harold A. Franklin to be the first African American student admitted to Auburn in 1964. |
| Louisiana lawmakers want to make it easier to punish college students for hazing | |
| University leaders say they are struggling to punish college students for hazing following the enactment of state law in 2024 that requires them to follow a standard of evidence more commonly used in criminal proceedings. Under the new law, schools must abide by a higher standard of evidence in any case where the offense is punishable by expulsion or a suspension of at least 10 days. Previously, administrators could hold a student responsible if the evidence points to it being at least slightly more likely than not the student is responsible. Even if there is conflicting testimony, a student could be punished if the evidence tipped the scale just past a 50% likelihood. Now universities need clear and convincing evidence, a standard used in some court cases such as proving fraud or terminating parental rights. The threshold requires evidence that points to the student's guilt being substantially more probable than not, and it might require multiple witnesses, photos or other reports to firmly convince administrators. Clearing that bar can be difficult because, unlike in courtroom proceedings, administrators don't have as much power to gather evidence. |
| Professors address rising political tensions on college campuses | |
| "Make friends with people that you disagree with," UT professor Josh Dunn said. In the wake of the high-profile assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, UT's community questions rising political temperatures and attacks on free speech, especially on college campuses. Many at UT found Kirk's death particularly impactful because of his visit to campus in March, as a part of his American Comeback Tour. Dozens of students spoke to Kirk at the event, and the HSS amphitheater overflowed with attendees. Have high-profile acts of political violence become more common? Trump's July near-miss with an assassin in Butler, Pennsylvania, the killing of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark the same month, the October 2022 assault of Rep. Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul, the violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 and the 2017 Congressional baseball shooting in Virginia are all examples of recent acts within the last decade. Dunn, who serves as executive director of the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs' Institute of American Civics at UT, provided historical context on political discourse. |
| New UF/IFAS bilingual online resources help Florida farmers launch, enhance their business | |
 | The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension has launched a new bilingual online resource to help Florida farmers strengthen their operations through effective business planning. The websites, "Building Your Florida Farm Business Plan" / "Construyendo tu Plan de Negocios Agrícola de Florida," offer step-by-step guidance, practical tools and expert insights to support new and experienced farmers in creating comprehensive farm business plans. "Farming is more than growing crops or raising livestock -- it's running a business," said Luis Rodriguez, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County agent specializing in small farms and pesticide education and a member of the Coalition of Florida Extension Educators for Latinos, also known as UF/IFAS CAFÉ Latino. "A solid business plan is a living roadmap that helps producers make informed decisions. And if farmers need local support, we can connect them with Extension agents across the state." |
| Texas A&M President Mark A. Welsh III to step down after a week of turmoil over viral classroom video | |
| Texas A&M University President Mark A. Welsh III will step down on Friday after more than a week of turmoil sparked by a viral video of a student confronting a professor over gender content in a children's literature course, the Texas A&M University System announced Thursday. The video, along with an audio recording of Welsh initially refusing to fire Professor Melissa McCoul, first circulated online on Sept. 8 after state Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, shared it on the social media platform X. Welsh fired McCoul a day later, but the move did not satisfy Harrison, or Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who did not think Welsh handled the situation properly. "His ambivalence on the issue and his dismissal of the student's concerns by immediately taking the side of the professor is unacceptable," Patrick posted on X last week. "Most parents, students, and Aggie alumni expect Texas A&M to reflect the values of our state and our nation as well as A&M's rich history. If President Welsh will not or cannot reflect those values, then change needs to happen." In a statement on Thursday, Chancellor Glenn Hegar praised Welsh but seemed to agree a change was needed. Hegar later added that Welsh submitted his resignation to him on Thursday. Welsh was not immediately available for comment. |
| UM System President Choi places faculty on notice in wake of nationwide firings | |
 | The University of Missouri has reminded faculty of its public-facing speech policies as some universities nationwide have placed staff on leave for social media posts in relation to Charlie Kirk's assassination. Sent from UM System President Mun Choi, a Wednesday email to employees outlined the university's stance on its faculty members' social media activity, outlining possible grounds for disciplinary action and termination. "While we respect the rights of employees to speak as citizens on matters of public concern," Choi said in the email, "we also write to remind our faculty and staff to use those freedoms responsibly, especially when engaging on social media." The email adds Missouri to a growing list of universities nationwide that are taking action to control faculty discourse over recent political turmoil centered around Kirk's death. Christopher Ave, the university's director of media relations and public affairs, said there have been no staff members terminated or placed under administrative leave to his knowledge. |
| UNC System considers raising tuition costs for undergraduate students | |
| The UNC System is considering raising tuition costs for future in-state undergraduate students. In a meeting on Wednesday, the UNC System Board of Governors discussed increasing tuition by 3%. The tuition increase would not be a requirement for campuses, and 3% would be the maximum increase. Any increase in tuition would impact new in-state undergraduate students next fall. The UNC System has not increased tuition since the 2017-18 school year. "Even with a 3% adjustment, tuition for North Carolina students will remain among the lowest in the nation and well below most of our peer institutions," Chair Wendy Murphy said. Murphy said system leaders remain committed to affordability, but schools have to counteract rising inflation. "This is all about balance, about strengthening our universities while keeping opportunity within reach for the people of our state," Murphy said. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, it would mean about $105 more per semester. At North Carolina State University, it would be about $56 more per semester. The possible tuition increase comes as the board sees impacts of inflation and state budget concerns. |
| Colleges face high stakes in responses to Republican outcry over staff comments on Charlie Kirk | |
| At first, Clemson University took a stand for free speech. It condemned employees' remarks that made light of Charlie Kirk's death on social media, but the school said it was committed to protecting the Constitution. Three days later, under pressure from conservatives in the Statehouse, it fired one of the employees. As an outcry grew and the White House took interest, it fired two more. The swift developments at the public university in South Carolina reflect the intense pressure on college leaders nationwide to police insensitive comments about the conservative activist's assassination, which leaves them with no easy choices. Colleges can defy the Republican backlash and defend their employees' speech rights, risking the kind of federal attention that has prompted billions of dollars in cuts at Harvard and other universities. Or they can bow to the pressure and risk what some scholars see as a historic erosion of campus speech rights. The federal government's increasing appetite to dictate what can and can't be said on campuses -- from protests over the Israel-Hamas war to commentary on Kirk's death -- violates the First Amendment, said Lara Schwartz, an American University scholar on constitutional law and campus speech. Distasteful as they may be, she said, many comments provoking outrage are clearly protected speech. |
| Doxing Campaign Endangers Faculty and Free Speech | |
 | College faculty and staff members have become popular targets of the right-wing doxing firestorm that ignited in the hours after Charlie Kirk was shot and killed last week during an event at Utah Valley University. As of Thursday afternoon, Inside Higher Ed had identified 37 faculty and staff members who are being harassed online for allegedly critical or insensitive social media posts about Kirk. So far, at least 24 of those employees have been terminated, suspended or put on administrative leave, including employees at Auburn University, Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell and Coastal Carolina University. The force and scale of the doxing campaigns---and the speed with which institutions have moved to suspend or terminate their targets -- paints a grim picture of free speech rights on public college campuses. Widespread doxing as a political tool to punish universities and academics is not a new phenomenon, but right now it's particularly virulent, explained Keith Whittington, a professor at Yale Law School and an expert on free speech. "The size of the activity, the pressure campaign and the ... short period of time is highly unusual," he said. "Universities feel like they're under intense pressure to mollify right-wing activists and try not to draw negative attention from the [Trump] administration." |
| Higher-Ed Employees Feel Underpaid and Overworked. But Fewer Want to Quit. | |
 | One-fourth of college administrators and staff are considering leaving their jobs within the next year, according to the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources' latest survey on employee retention in higher ed. The good news: that's down from one-third of employees in 2023. While many colleges are facing ongoing financial strains and political attacks from the Trump administration, employees say their institutions have made some progress as employers. Some familiar concerns do remain, however. CUPA-HR surveyed 3,791 employees working in higher education between April 1 and April 30, 2025. Faculty were not included in the survey. "Fewer higher-ed employees are considering leaving in 2025 compared to 2023, but retention is still a major challenge amid shifting enrollment, policy changes, and rising employee expectations," said Jennifer Schneider, senior survey researcher at CUPA-HR. "Higher-ed leaders who act on job satisfaction, workload, and fair pay will be best positioned to sustain their work force." Job satisfaction has increased, with two-thirds of employees agreeing or strongly agreeing that they are satisfied with their jobs. |
| McMahon Calls for Improving Efficiency and Civilizing Discourse | |
| Education Secretary Linda McMahon made clear at a series of policy summits this week that while she remains committed to one day shuttering her department, there's still much work left to be done. "You don't just shut off the lights and walk out the door if you are trying to return education to the states," McMahon said at one event Wednesday, adding that offices like Civil Rights and Federal Student Aid can't simply be eliminated. "Really, what we're trying to do is to show how we can move different parts of the Department of Education to show that they can be more efficient operating in other agencies." Throughout her remarks at both events -- the Education Law and Policy Conference hosted by the Federalist Society and the Defense of Freedom Institute on Wednesday and the Reagan Institute Summit on Education on Thursday -- the secretary stressed that a key way to test this concept is by moving workforce development programs to the Department of Labor. "Let's be sure that we are not moving hastily, but that we are taking the right steps at the right pace for success," McMahon told the Federalist Society audience. "And if we show that this is an incredibly efficient and effective way to manage these programs, it is my hope that Congress will look at that and approve these moves." |
| Oxford and Cambridge fall out of top three UK universities for first time | |
| Oxford and Cambridge have been knocked out of the top three in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide's ranking for the first time. The London School of Economics (LSE) came first for the second year running, followed by the University of St Andrews in second place and Durham University in third. Cambridge remained fourth, the same as last year, while Oxford, which was third last year, was joint fourth. It is the first time in the guide's 32-year history that neither university was in the top three. However, Cambridge topped 14 subject tables, the most of any university, and Oxford was named medical school of the year. Durham's improvement in the rankings helped it on its way to being named the university of the year for 2026, followed by the University of Strathclyde, in a separate judgment by the guide's compilers. The panel said Durham outshone many Russell Group rivals on teaching and research, student satisfaction and graduate outcomes. It was joint runner-up for graduate employment, coming after Imperial College London. |
SPORTS
| Football: Numbers Show Huge Strides Taken By Dawg Defense | |
| Mississippi State has won the first three games of a season for the first time in seven years and this Saturday, the Bulldogs are looking for their first 4-0 start in more than a decade. MSU has already surpassed last year's win total as the excitement continues to build in Stark Vegas. At the center of this strong start for State has been a defense that looks like a totally different group than the unit that battled through the difficulties of the 2024 campaign. And it's not just your eyes telling you the Bulldogs are better on the defensive side. The numbers also scream it as loudly as tens of thousands of cowbells clanging inside Davis Wade. "I think for a lot of these guys, it's year two in the system," head coach Jeff Lebby said. "That's a huge thing. People don't think about that and how important that is. To be able to be coached by the same guy in year two in the system and have great understanding of where the shortcuts are inside our defense [like] what's the stress of [a particular] call and how do I protect the stress? That's about understanding the system." |
| Three keys to victory for Mississippi State against NIU | |
| Mississippi State (3-0) hosts Northern Illinois (1-1) in its final nonconference game of the regular season at Davis Wade Stadium at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be televised on SEC Network. The Huskies had a week off after losing 20-9 against Maryland in Week 2, and pose a threat to MSU's perfect start to the season as a program known for upsets on the road at Power Four schools. It's a matchup that head coach Jeff Lebby isn't overlooking, and his team will have to keep its focus against a stout defense. Here are three keys to victory for the Bulldogs as they look to stay perfect going into SEC play next week: Establish the run. "Score from far." Get into the NIU backfield. |
| D.D. Lewis: He was a football hero, but he was much more than that | |
| Mississippi sports columnist Rick Cleveland writes: D.D. Lewis, the great football linebacker, will be remembered at Mississippi State as one of the university's most beloved athletes who happened to play on some of the school's most abysmal teams. He died on Sept. 16 after being hospitalized for 12 days in Plano, Texas. He was 79. In 1967, playing for a State team that did not win a single SEC game and lost nine of 10 overall, Lewis was named the SEC's most outstanding defensive player and a first-team All American. He really did not make every tackle. It just seemed that way. There was some football justice for Lewis. After playing for such dreadful teams at State, he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, the so-called America's Team for whom he became a cornerstone of their famed "Doomsday Defense." He played in five Super Bowls and earned two Super Bowl rings. Overshadowed by linebacking teammates such as Leroy Jordan and Chuck Howley, Lewis never made the Pro Bowl. Legendary Cowboys coach Tom Landry, upon his retirement, called Lewis "the most under-appreciated player" in Landry's 29 years with the team. But D.D. -- a good and treasured friend to this writer -- was so much more than that. |
| Soccer: Murillo's Brace Highlights Decisive Second Half For State | |
| Freshman Laila Murillo, returning to her home state, scored twice to lift No. 12 Mississippi State past Texas, 3-0, on Thursday night in Austin. Along the way, Ally Perry picked up her ninth career game-winning goal, moving into a tie for second in school history. The Bulldogs (7-1-1, 2-0-0 SEC) scored all of their goals in the second half and now have scored 15 of 20 goals this season in the final 45 minutes. Perry opened the scoring in the 58th minute, and Murillo's strikes came in the 64th and 77th. "I'm so proud of the performance tonight from the group," head coach Nick Zimmerman said. "The mentality all week was, 'How were we going to respond?'. It was something we were very intentional about, and tonight it was shown on the field." Perry's strike was one that has become a vintage image of the midfielder. Kennedy Husbands penetrated with the dribble and passed to Perry who shook a defender at the top of the box. Once again from roughly 20 yards out, Perry tucked a shot from distance under the crossbar. State returns to Starkville on Sunday night to host Auburn at 6 p.m. CT. It will be International Night at the MSU Soccer Field, which is significant for a club with three international players and another four that either have FIFA eligibility for multiple nations or have already represented a national team outside the United States. The first 500 fans in attendance that night will receive this year's MSU soccer scarf. |
| Perry, Murillo strike as Bulldogs take Horns down in Austin | |
| Mississippi State soccer stayed hot in SEC play with a 3-0 win at Texas on Thursday, dominating the Longhorns in the second half to stay perfect in conference play. Ally Perry struck again from distance for the Bulldogs, and true freshman and Texas native Laila Murillo added a brace of goals from midfield to seal the deal. "We're a new team, so this is huge for us," Murillo said after the game. "Coming off of Tennessee, this was another way to prove to ourselves that what we've been working on, everything we've trained for, results are coming into play." I love getting to grow with this team and getting to build these connections and everything, and just getting to succeed together as a team." The Bulldogs, now 7-1, will return to Starkville for a highly anticipated match against Auburn on Sunday. For a team where half of the players are underclassmen, the Bulldogs continue to show plenty of mettle in big games. This was the team's second victory in a true road game, and came at the home of the 2024 SEC Tournament champions. |
| Women's Golf: Bulldogs Head To Vanderbilt For Mason Rudolph Championship | |
| Mississippi State women's golf is set to continue the fall portion of their season, as they are set to tee off at the Mason Rudolph Championship at Vanderbilt Legends' Club in Franklin, Tennessee, on Friday. The Bulldogs will be competing in the Mason Rudolph for the second consecutive season and for the fourth time in the last five years. State earned the team title in the fall of 2022, which was the second team victory of the Ewing era. The South course at Vanderbilt Legends' will play par 71 this weekend at 6,304 yards. The Dawgs will kick the tournament off with the early tee times of the tournament at 8:35 a.m. Avery Weed will look to repeat her performance at the Mason Rudolph last season out of the top of the lineup. Last year, Weed earned her first collegiate victory after finishing the tournament at 13-under. That mark still stands as the best 54-hole score of her career in the Maroon and White. |
| Track & Field: Peters, Thompson Earn Podium Finishes At World Championships | |
| Mississippi State's former NCAA champions Anderson Peters and Curtis Thompson both medaled in the javelin at the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Peters added a silver medal to his collection that includes two world titles. His second-round mark of 87.38m held medal position for the remainder of the competition. Thompson opened the event with a first-round throw of 86.87m. That too was strong enough to hold his podium spot throughout the series as he claimed bronze for his first global medal. Thompson earned the first men's javelin medal for the United States since 2007. Arguably one of the greatest American javelin throwers in history, the five-time U.S. champion can now add World Championships medalist to his resume. Thompson's toss was just 23 centimeters shy of the longest American throw at a World Championships in history. Thompson and Peters were central to the legend of JavU at Mississippi State. Both athletes won national titles while donning the maroon and white, and contributed to a podium sweep at the 2019 NCAA Championships, alongside fellow alumnus Tyriq Horsford. |
| Track & Field: Anderson Breaks Jamaican National Record In Semifinals | |
| Navasky Anderson and Marco Arop, former Mississippi State All-Americans, punched their ticket to the 800m final and Lee Eppie finished eighth in the 400m final at the World Championships. Anderson had the fastest non-automatic qualifying spot through the semifinals, crossing the line in 1:43.72. His time is the new Jamaican 800m national record, surpassing the time run by his countryman Tyrice Taylor (JAM) at the NACAC Championships earlier this summer. Anderson will be the first man to represent Jamaica in an 800m final in the history of the championships. "The race went exactly as I thought," said Arop. "I wanted to control it, to be in a good position and be prepared for any moves, and it worked. This is an exciting team to be part of, an exciting time for track and field in Canada. I have been here so many times, I know what to expect and I can manage my emotions. I can do what I need to do to be where I need to be. If I keep doing that, I will have a very successful week here." The 800m final will be held on September 20 at 8:22 a.m. CT. |
| Former volunteer baseball coaches have $49 Million settlement approved | |
| Were you once a volunteer baseball coach at an NCAA Division I program? If so, you could, on average, be owed around $36,000 after a federal district court in Sacramento, Calif., granted final approval of a $49 million class-action settlement under Smart vs. NCAA, which put volunteer coaches before July 1, 2023, against the NCAA for unpaid wages. Those volunteer coaches filed the class-action lawsuit against the NCAA back in 2022, citing the Sherman Antitrust Act, which was passed in 1890. The Sherman Act was passed to curtail anticompetitive activities, including price fixing and restraint of trade. The idea behind the Sherman Act was to promote full and fair competition. The coaches, through their representation, showed the court that the NCAA, by forcing programs to hire 'unpaid' assistants, tested these principles, while also creating hardships for aspiring young coaches looking to break into the coaching industry. The parties involved reached the $49 million settlement back in April before final approval was granted this week, with no members of the initial agreement opting out or changing their respective minds. So, what does this mean for coaches who used to be unpaid volunteers? |
| 14 former athletes now accuse NC State leaders of failing to stop sex abuse, harassment | |
| The number of former N.C. State athletes accusing university officials of not protecting them from a trainer's alleged sexual abuse and harassment on campus has grown to 14 men. Also alleged in a new lawsuit filed Wednesday afternoon, plaintiffs say that former athletics director Debbie Yow was aware of multiple complaints about the head trainer long before his resignation. The claims are among the latest developments in an ongoing legal battle that began in 2022, when former soccer player Benjamin Locke filed a federal lawsuit. It accused Yow and other N.C. State leaders of not protecting him and other athletes from sexual abuse and harassment by longtime sports medicine director Robert Murphy. Two more athletes filed similar suits in 2023. All of the 14 former athletes now signed onto the civil lawsuit received scholarships, and most of them played professional sports after leaving N.C. State, the lawsuit says. Together, they allege the abuse stretches from 2012 to 2021. A culture of fear in the athletics department led to "this tragic set of circumstances," said attorney Kerry Sutton, who is representing the men. |
| In a new era of college football, how much are players still part of campus life? | |
 | Ryan Williams thought he was making a wise decision. He figured he would walk into his psychology class, sit in the back of the room and nobody would recognize the five-star recruit, instant star Alabama football receiver. Turns out... "That was the worst idea I ever had in my entire life," Williams said. The long walk out of class only gave his fellow students more time to ask Williams for pictures. Then it got worse the final day of class. "My professor said: 'Since this is the last day, if anyone wants a picture with Ryan, this is your opportunity.' I'm like: You're just going to volunteer me like that?" Williams said, again laughing. "So now I sit in the front in the class, and lot of people are scared to sit in the front, so most people don't." College football players have long stood out as they strolled through the quad or took a seat in a lecture hall. Especially stars like Williams, who said all of his classes last year were in person, like many other Alabama students. But unlike most of his classmates, Williams not only catches passes in front of 100,000 people on Saturdays, but he now earns millions off endorsement deals -- Nike, Beats by Dre, Uber Eats and more -- and also gets directly paid by Alabama in revenue sharing. That's the case across college football, where so much has changed. The money. The unlimited transferring. The overall professionalization of the sport. One thing that set college football apart from the pros was household names like Williams walking around campus and going to class alongside regular students. And some of that remains. But in this new era of NIL, online classes, luxurious football-only facilities and unlimited transfers, college football players are living a new version of the college experience. |
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