| Tuesday, September 23, 2025 |
| Mississippi State University researchers taking dolphin studies to new heights | |
 | Mississippi State University researchers are taking dolphin studies to new heights, using drones equipped with thermal imaging to learn more about the animals that call the Mississippi Sound home. Holley Muraco, an assistant research professor with Mississippi State University's Coastal Research and Extension Center, is leading the project. She says the technology makes it possible to study dolphin movements and skin conditions that would otherwise be invisible from the shore. The idea began with a pilot study flying drones near Cat Island to monitor sea turtles. After seeing how much detail the camera could capture, Muraco wondered if the same tools could work for dolphins. That led to partnerships with Coral World in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Theater of the Sea in the Florida Keys. Researchers compared clear Caribbean waters with Florida's sediment-rich mangrove lagoons, which are similar to the Mississippi Sound's murkier conditions. One of the challenges of studying dolphins here at home is visibility. The Sound is full of nutrients that help support local fisheries, but that same murkiness makes it hard to observe dolphins. Muraco says drones change the game, offering a clearer picture of how the animals are moving and whether they are showing signs of stress. |
| Mississippi corn yields surpass expectations amid challenges | |
 | Despite above-average rainfall wreaking havoc on many Mississippi crops this year, corn yields are on pace to exceed expectations. Officials with the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service said the state's crop is much bigger than expected this year, and favorable conditions in the Delta are producing a very good crop on many acres. The Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service increased its estimation of state corn acres in September to 880,000 acres. The increase in acres comes despite poor corn prices. "Like other crops, corn prices are struggling this year and are below a profitable level for producers," said Will Maples, agricultural economist with the MSU Extension Service. "USDA projects the average farm price at $3.90 per bushel, down from $4.30 per bushel last year." |
| Big state corn harvest in 2025 is nearly complete | |
 | Mississippi's corn crop is much bigger than expected this year, and favorable conditions in the Delta are producing a very good crop on many acres. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service, or NASS, increased its estimation of state corn acres in September to 880,000 acres. Erick Larson, Extension grain crop agronomist, said this is one of the largest crops on record in the state. In 2024, state growers harvested about 500,000 acres. "Mississippi had 930,000 acres of corn in 2007, but there has not been a larger crop since 1960," Larson said. Larson said corn farmers faced challenges at planting, but when the weather cooperated, corn acres were planted rapidly. Most areas with corn had significant acreage planted in late-March or in mid-April. Once the crop was planted, the next challenge was management. "We had a lot of complications associated with wet weather and storms," Larson said. |
| Big state corn harvest in 2025 is nearly complete | |
 | Mississippi's corn crop is much bigger than expected this year, and favorable conditions in the Delta are producing a very good crop on many acres. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service, or NASS, increased its estimation of state corn acres in September to 880,000 acres. Erick Larson, Extension grain crop agronomist, said this is one of the largest crops on record in the state. In 2024, state growers harvested about 500,000 acres. "Mississippi had 930,000 acres of corn in 2007, but there has not been a larger crop since 1960," Larson said. Will Maples, agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said Mississippi is expected to have a corn yield of 179 bushels per acre, according to NASS. "This would lead to an 80% increase in corn production this year due to higher acreage," Maples said. |
| Big state corn harvest in 2025 is nearly complete | |
| Mississippi's corn crop is much bigger than expected this year, and favorable conditions in the Delta are producing a very good crop on many acres. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service, or NASS, increased its estimation of state corn acres in September to 880,000 acres. Erick Larson, Extension grain crop agronomist, said this is one of the largest crops on record in the state. In 2024, state growers harvested about 500,000 acres. Will Maples, agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said Mississippi is expected to have a corn yield of 179 bushels per acre, according to NASS. He said the biggest story in the corn market is the outlook for a record year of production nationwide. "The U.S. is currently projected to produce a record high 16.8 billion bushels, which is 9% higher than the previous record set in 2023," Maples said. "An almost ideal growing season across the Midwest led to the projection of a record national yield at 186.7 bushels per acre. "This outlook for high supplies is going to keep downward pressure on the market throughout the winter," he said. "Exports have been great, but that has mainly been driven by how cheap and plentiful U.S. corn is this year." |
| Education: Caledonia High's Clark earns perfect score on ACT | |
 | Perfection. Nearly every student in the United States aims for it during their high school career if they take the ACT test, a curriculum-based achievement exam that measures what students should have had the opportunity to learn in school. The reality is about a quarter of 1% of the students who take the ACT earn a top score. Caledonia High School senior Landon Clark is now part of that select group. In February, Clark earned the highest possible ACT composite score of 36 on the ACT test. Clark received an email March 13 notifying him of his accomplishment. It was his fourth time taking the test. He earned a 27 as a freshman, a 29 on his second try and a 31 on his third attempt. The final two were during his sophomore year. "I didn't use my time right. I was guessing a lot," Clark said of his first try. "It made me feel, for the lack of a better word, stupid." Now that the reality of earning a perfect score is sinking in, Clark feels more confident he will be able to overcome any challenge. He has been accepted into Mississippi State University, where he anticipates majoring in mechanical engineering in the fall of 2026. |
| Students earn training, build soft skills through work-based learning | |
| When April Dill was hired as the new director of Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District's Millsaps Career and Technology Center in May, one of her primary missions for the school year was to provide more opportunities for students that come through the center. Whether it's finding more student internships, expanding outreach to younger students or creating more opportunities for real-life work experience to high schoolers through the Millsaps work-based learning program, her goal is to provide students with the resources to succeed, she said. "I'm very passionate about career and technical education," Dill told The Dispatch. "Although I wasn't a product (of it), I see ... just what it's doing for (students), and so I'm excited for those opportunities, and I want to lead and provide more opportunities for students." During the Starkville Rotary Club meeting Monday morning, Dill and other members of her staff spoke about the mission and goals of the center going into this school year, including the addition of a new work-based learning program intended to give high school juniors and seniors hands-on experience in the workforce. |
| Lawmakers to consider school choice viewpoints in House Education Freedom hearing | |
| On Thursday, the Mississippi House of Representatives' Education Freedom Select Committee will host four speakers who will present varying viewpoints on the topic of school choice. The meeting is part of Speaker Jason White's promise to gather information from a variety of sources on the topic ahead of the 2026 legislative session. The Republican leader has said some form of school choice legislation will be considered in the chamber when the House gavels back in. During the Neshoba County Fair in July, White said publicly that school choice, in all of its various forms, would be up for review. "We are committed to transforming the educational landscape in Mississippi to ensure that every child in our state has access to an education that caters to their unique needs and aspirations," White told fairgoers. "I'm looking forward to having a conversation with [these individuals]," State Rep. Rob Roberson (R), chair of the committee, told Magnolia Tribune. "Some are pro-school choice for parents, and some aren't." |
| They were inspired by Charlie Kirk at school. Now many work in Washington | |
 | Washington is a young city, where much of the work of running the federal government is done by recent college graduates scarcely old enough to rent a car. And this city's young conservatives, Gen Zers who can hardly remember a Republican Party before President Donald Trump, came of age with Charlie Kirk. In the aftermath of the conservative star's death at 31, they're preparing themselves to fight Kirk's battles for years to come. The line to enter the Kennedy Center wrapped around the building's white marble exterior and coiled tightly into itself in a parking lot. It was Sept. 14, the first Sunday after Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, had been fatally shot in Utah. Several thousand had come to mourn his passing. What united them was their age. Most looked to be under 30 years old. Young Kirk acolytes work all over Trump's government. They're in the Departments of Justice, Labor, and Health and Human Services. They work for the Republican Party and its related fundraising and messaging apparatuses, as well as for conservative media outlets such as Newsmax and the Daily Caller. A few dozen congressional staffers have Turning Point on their résumés, including at least a half-dozen press secretaries and communications directors -- something one senior House Republican aide attributed to Kirk's penchant for debate. |
| USDA cancels survey tracking how many Americans struggle to get enough food | |
 | The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the administration of President Trump announced on Saturday that it will end a longstanding annual food insecurity survey, calling it "redundant, costly, politicized, and extraneous." The Household Food Security Report provides yearly data on the lack of access to adequate nutrition for low-income Americans, and helps shape policy on how to combat food insecurity and hunger. The USDA's announcement comes after Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law this summer, which expands the work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. This, in effect, will leave an estimated 2.4 million Americans without food aid. According to the USDA, 47.4 million people lived in food insecure households in 2023. This means that at certain times, "these households were uncertain of having or unable to acquire enough food to meet the needs of all their members." Among those, nearly 14 million were children. In the announcement, the Agriculture Department stated, "trends in the prevalence of food insecurity have remained virtually unchanged." Experts are saying that's not true. |
| USDA Puts Food Researchers on Leave | |
 | The team of federal economists and researchers responsible for producing the government survey that measures hunger in America were put on indefinite paid leave Monday, according to the union that represents the workers. The move comes two days after The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration abruptly canceled the report, which has been produced by the Agriculture Department every year since the mid-1990s. Around a dozen employees, all involved with economic research at the USDA, were put on leave, said Laura Dodson, vice president of the union that represents some of the workers. Not all of the workers placed on leave were directly involved in the hunger report, but they were all present at meetings last week during which they learned that the hunger survey was being canceled, Dodson said. According to a letter from a USDA human resources official obtained by the Journal, the leave "is not a disciplinary action." It bars the employees from conducting any government business until further notice. |
| Trump to meet with Democratic leaders ahead of shutdown deadline | |
 | President Donald Trump is planning to meet with top congressional Democrats this week about the government funding impasse, White House and Capitol Hill officials said Monday, after lawmakers left Capitol Hill for a week on Friday with little movement toward averting a partial shutdown starting Oct. 1. Trump will squeeze in the meeting on Thursday, a source familiar with the planning said, amid his packed schedule this week. He's also slated to host Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House on Thursday. He's departing for New York on Monday evening, where he'll address the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday and huddle with world leaders into the evening. On Friday, Trump will attend the opening round of the Ryder Cup golf match in New York state, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier in the day at Monday's briefing for reporters. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote to Trump on Saturday requesting a meeting after dueling versions of a stopgap spending bill were blocked in the Senate a day earlier. Trump that evening said he'd meet with the Democratic leaders, but that it was unlikely to lead to a breakthrough. |
| Trump Will Address U.N. as He Jettisons Aid and Recasts U.S. Role | |
 | President Trump plans to address the 80th session of the United Nations' General Assembly Tuesday morning, laying out his vision for how America should wield -- or decline to wield -- its power abroad. In the speech, Mr. Trump plans to target "globalist institutions" that have "significantly decayed the world order," said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary. "He will articulate his straightforward and constructive vision for the world," she said. Since retaking office, Mr. Trump has made dramatic changes to America's approach to foreign policy. He has largely eschewed the use of nonmilitary "soft power," severely cutting foreign aid and dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development. He has declined to pay for more aid to help Ukraine fight off Russia's invasion or try to put any limits on Israel's broadened military campaign in Gaza. And he has told strongmen leaders of other countries that the United States would no longer sit in judgment of them. Several close U.S. allies issued this week what amounted to a reprimand of his go-it-alone vision, joining most of the U.N. body in recognizing Palestine as a state and risking the ire of the president, who has adamantly opposed such a move. The president, for his part, has made it clear he wants little to do with much of the U.N. mandate. But at the same time, Mr. Trump has inserted America into peace negotiations in conflicts across the globe, including the war in Gaza. |
| No one's laughing at Trump at the UN this year | |
 | When President Donald Trump addressed the United Nations General Assembly during his first term, he railed against globalism, drawing derisive laughter that momentarily derailed his remarks. No one's laughing now. Many world leaders have bent over backward to flatter and appease Trump since he returned to office this year. But their outward deference masks a deep and growing concern about Trump 2.0. And for as much as the president has relished the flattery, he remains focused on imposing his will on the world, using leverage and threats to pressure and punish other countries. No less than seven foreign leaders have nominated or endorsed Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, and several more have come to the White House ready to engage on the president's terms. One flew to Florida for a round of golf. Another called him "daddy." The shift in tone underscores how, despite the MAGA movement being so animated by isolationism, the United States has become more indispensable to its traditional allies than at any point in the recent past. And because the Trump administration has eschewed the conventional policy process, neutering the National Security Council and leaving dozens of ambassadorships unfilled, many countries are left guessing when they face some of their toughest security challenges. His remarks, according to two people familiar with the plans and granted anonymity to discuss them, are meant to deliver a strong but serious articulation of his philosophy for dealing with a complex world. |
| Trump, questioning vaccine safety, pushes major changes to how kids get shots | |
| President Trump on Monday suggested an overhaul to how children get vaccinated after claiming, without evidence, that many vaccines are unsafe as currently given. The president said he has talked with health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about his proposed changes. While Trump has occasionally expressed skepticism of some vaccines, the president's comments were his most extensive and detailed yet about his doubts and plans for action. They came during a White House event on the rise in cases of autism among children, a cause that Trump and Kennedy have zeroed in on. The extraordinary remarks included Trump suggesting changes to how many shots children get and the time periods over which they get them. The president did not provide any evidence to support changes -- instead, he shared personal feelings of revulsion at the number of shots that babies receive, and recounted an anecdote of a child he said was injured by a vaccine. The doubts the president is fostering about childhood immunizations, as well as potential changes to the schedule, could have monumental consequences for infectious disease control in the United States, public health experts and pediatricians have warned. |
| Advocates call Trump, RFK's claims on autism and Tylenol 'dehumanizing' | |
 | The Trump administration announced on Monday, Sept. 22, that it had found the "answer to autism" -- a claim experts, advocacy groups and the autism community are calling dangerous and regressive. In a press conference, Trump, alongside Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) RFK Jr. and other officials, claimed that Tylenol use during pregnancy could contribute to the development of autism in children, a contrast to current medical guidelines that say acetaminophen, the generic form of Tylenol, is safe to use. The Trump administration has made repeated claims about its plans to find the "cause" for autism, despite decades of medical and scientific consensus indicating that there is no singular source, including medication, that can be attributed to the condition, and that it is likely the result of multiple contributing factors like genetics. The oversimplification of a complex developmental difference that exists on a spectrum of many different abilities and experiences is dehumanizing at best and dangerous at its worst, autism experts, advocacy groups and members of the community told USA TODAY. "The claim that Tylenol causes autism has been shown to be false by actual scientific research ... Autism is a very complex neurodevelopmental condition," said Dr. Sara Rodrigues, Executive Director of Balanced Learning Center, a nonprofit providing services, coaching, advocacy and therapy for autistic and neurodivergent people. |
| In Targeting Common Painkiller, Trump Oversteps His Own Advisers' Guidance on Autism | |
| For a generation, parents have waited for an answer to what is causing a mysterious increase in autism diagnoses among children. On Monday, they got a hypothesis on the culprit straight from President Trump: a common painkiller widely deemed safe. In labeling Tylenol use in pregnant women as a potential cause of autism, Trump threw the full weight of his office behind a theory that he acknowledged has yet to be proven. He defied the careful guidance offered by some in the row of scientific advisers who stood behind him during the Roosevelt Room address. The president noted that he was diverging from the medical leaders he chose to guide him, who offered a more calibrated warning on Tylenol use. "Bobby wants to be very careful with what he says," Trump said, referring to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "But I'm not so careful with what I say." Scientists and medical groups decried Trump's warning on Tylenol as unfounded and potentially dangerous given the downsides of untreated fever and pain during pregnancy. So did some fellow conservatives. "The President is scaring moms with research about autism that does not hold up under much scrutiny," the Christian broadcaster Erick Erickson wrote on X. |
| Trump has managed another Republican makeover since Kirk's assassination, this time on free speech | |
 | Since Charlie Kirk's assassination, President Donald Trump and his allies have praised the conservative organizer and provocateur as a free speech champion who set a high First Amendment standard for the "Make America Great Again" movement. Trump, eulogizing Kirk on Sunday in Arizona, identified "reason and open debate" as "the basis of our entire society" and the "inheritance of every free American." His son, Donald Trump Jr., told the crowd, "When people disagree with us, we don't silence them." Yet amid mourning for Kirk, the president, members of his administration and a broader universe of conservative supporters have seemed to impose a double standard by targeting those who have been critical of Kirk and celebrating when employees were disciplined or fired over their comments. Trump welcomed Jimmy Kimmel's suspension when his network decided to pull the late night host off the air indefinitely, a decision ABC reversed Monday when it said it was reinstating his late night show. The president also has suggested yanking broadcast licenses from networks who, in his thinking, treat him too negatively. |
| Jimmy Kimmel is coming back to ABC. Now what? | |
 | Disney wanted to be done with politics. But politics wasn't done with Disney. It never is. The debate over the future of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" became a full-blown crisis for Walt Disney Co., which owns the show's broadcast network, ABC. On Monday, the tale took a new turn. Kimmel is coming back, after all. "Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country," Disney said in a statement. "It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive." "We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday." Pressure mounted on Disney from all sides since its decision to take the late-night show off the air after threats from Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr and a revolt of major station owners who objected to Kimmel's comments about the killing of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk. The Burbank giant and its chief executive, Bob Iger, found themselves in a no-win situation as they took heat from fans, free speech advocates, labor unions, elected officials, celebrities and countless podcasters and TV commentators, including some of ABC's own. |
| Seattle, a coffee haven, is watching java prices spike. Why? | |
| How much does that morning cup of joe cost? The price may give you a jolt. "The price of a coffee is no longer under, like, $5," said Emma Ueda, 27, who lives in Seattle. "It could be a $12 day, just going to a cafe." As the hometown of Starbucks and countless coffee shops, Seattle lives up to its reputation as a city that holds java in high regard. But, recently, coffee prices have been on the rise, brewing trouble for businesses, which are already struggling with bitter conditions and cost-sensitive customers. The American price tag for jitter juice surged about 20% in August year over year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The swell is driven by an ongoing supply chain crunch worsened by shortages of raw coffee beans around the world. This year, President Donald Trump's tariffs also brought another costly challenge for a market that imports 99% of its product, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The U.S. Agriculture Department's Economic Research Service said the country purchased about 80% of its unroasted coffee in 2023 from Latin America, with 35% from Brazil and 27% from Colombia. That largely falls in line with major sources of global production. Increased demand worldwide, combined with smaller coffee harvests in recent years, are affecting coffee prices, the National Coffee Association said. Reduced yields are tied in part to weather conditions like droughts and frosts. |
| Education: The W to host annual Campus Safety Day on Thursday | |
| Mississippi University for Women's Office of Housing and Residence Life will host its annual Campus Safety Day on Thursday at 5 p.m. in the Hogarth Dining Center parking lot. Featuring a plethora of local agencies and businesses, the event aims to educate and engage students around all aspects of safety -- weather preparedness, personal wellness, emergency response and more. "Campus Safety Day is a day in September where we gather campus and community groups together to talk to students about different ways to stay safe," said Andrew Moneymaker, director of Housing and Residence Life at The W. The organizations represented at the event will offer demonstrations, resources and interactive experiences for those in attendance. Some of the agencies and organizations present will include The W Counseling Center, The W's Title IX Office, The W's Police Department, Life Choices, 4-County Electric Power Association, Columbus Fire and Rescue and Mississippi Highway Patrol. |
| Organization founded by late Charlie Kirk still coming to Ole Miss | |
| Turning Point USA's "American Comeback Tour" will go on, even after the tragic murder of the organization's founder, Charlie Kirk. The organization announced the dates of 11 stops, one of which will be the University of Mississippi, for the series of college campus speaking events. The tour had previously been planned out, but Kirk's shocking death left question marks surrounding the future of Turning Point USA activities until Monday's announcement. Kickstarting the tour will be an event at the University of Minnesota on Monday evening, featuring The Daily Wire's Michael Knowles. In an interview on Fox and Friends, Knowles confirmed he would pay tribute to Kirk, who was shot to death at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, by leaving an empty seat on stage in the conservative influencer's honor. Down the road, the University of Mississippi will host one of the tour's stops. The event will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at the SJB Pavilion at 6:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are free, with seat priority being given to students. Joining Knowles on the tour will be a multitude of high-profile figures of the conservative movement, including Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Glenn Beck, Vivek Ramaswamy, and a slew of elected officials, along with Kirk's widow, Erika. Speakers for the Ole Miss event have not been announced at this time. |
| Tandon to speak on trailblazing regenerative medicine at Southern Miss University Forum | |
| The University of Southern Mississippi's prestigious University Forum continues its landmark 50th anniversary season with another distinguished presentation on Tuesday, October 21, at 6:30 p.m., featuring Dr. Nina Tandon, CEO and co-founder of EpiBone. Epibone is the world's first company successfully growing living human bone for skeletal reconstruction. Following the series opener on September 9 with Southern Miss alum Dr. Russell Moore who addressed faith, theology, and navigating life's challenges in the current political climate, Tandon's presentation at USM promises to showcase an entirely different frontier of human advancement. Tandon will come to Hattiesburg to present "How Regenerative Medicine is Reshaping the Future of Healthcare and the Economy," drawing from EpiBone's remarkable journey as pioneers in the field of tissue engineering. "I'm planning to present how regenerative medicine is reshaping the future of healthcare and the economy, through the lens of EpiBone's journey as the first company growing living human bone for skeletal reconstruction," Tandon explained. |
| USM leading economic development course to inform regional growth | |
 | The Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship is slated to be an economic development classroom all week for business leaders and students from across the Southeast. Students have traveled from several neighboring states, including Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Florida, to the USM campus. "It's really designed for students, entry-level professionals, whether they be in an economic development organization, local officials, real estate, or anyone involved in economic development," said Brian Henson, Trent Lott National Center director. "It's really to give them a good baseline of what all is involved and how they are linked together." Henson said this was the largest class in the course's history, with nearly 70 enrolled. Previous years averaged about 40, all traveling to USM's campus to understand their role in economic development. |
| Belhaven University offering full-ride scholarship for aspiring creative writers | |
| Belhaven University is searching for aspiring writers to award a full-ride scholarship. Named after popular author and alumna Angie Thomas, the author of New York Times best-selling novels "The Hate U Give," "On the Come Up," "Concrete Rose," and "Nic Blake and the Remarkables," the scholarship will be delivered from the private university located in Jackson to one incoming creative writing major for a sixth consecutive year. "The Angie Thomas Writers Scholarship is such a financial blessing for students, and I'm deeply honored that Belhaven not only established it but chose to name it after me," Thomas said. "To know that another young writer will be given the opportunity to grow their craft in a Christ-centered environment is powerful," Thomas said. "That's not just good news for writing but for the Kingdom impact it will have. I'm excited to see the talent and works that will come as a result of this scholarship." |
| Copiah-Lincoln CC named 2025 Great College to Work For | |
 | Copiah-Lincoln Community College is one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to the Great Colleges to Work For program. The results, released today in a special insert of The Chronicle of Higher Education, are based on a survey of nearly 200 colleges and universities across the nation. In all, 76 of those institutions achieved "Great College to Work For" recognition for specific best practices and policies. "This recognition reflects the incredible people who make up the Co-Lin family," said Co-Lin President Dr. Dewayne Middleton. "Our faculty and staff are deeply committed to serving students, supporting one another, and carrying out our mission day in and day out. To be named not only a Great College to Work For, but also to earn Honor Roll distinction, is evidence of the pride, purpose, and teamwork that defines Co-Lin." Out of the 15 community colleges in Mississippi, Co-Lin was one of only two community colleges who achieved Great College to Work For status. |
| 2025 Common Book event series: Jenny Jackson | |
| On Monday, Sep. 15, author and editor Jenny Jackson spoke with Auburn students, faculty and community members as part of Auburn University's 2025 Common Book series. Held in the Melton Student Center, the event centered around Jackson's process of editing this year's Common Book, "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin, understanding the publishing industry and exploring gaming as an art form and opportunity for community. Through the Auburn Common Book Program sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the Common Book event series aims to bring the Auburn community together through literature every year. A different Common Book is chosen for each school year, and the program encourages students and faculty alike to pick up the book and read along. This year, Jenny Jackson, the speaker for the first Common Book event, is the vice president and executive editor for publishing house Alfred A. Knopf. Although she recently published her own novel "Pineapple Street" in 2023, Jackson began her career as an editor, editing many literary works, including the Common Book. |
| U. of Tennessee chancellor: professor's Charlie Kirk post 'harmed the reputation of the university' | |
 | University of Tennessee at Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman faced a packed house and pointed criticism at a Faculty Senate meeting Sept. 22 over her decision to suspend and pursue firing assistant professor Tamar Shirinian, who wrote "the world is better off" after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. "While this institution does not deserve Tamar, her students do and your actions have deprived them of an exceptionally brilliant scholar, teacher and mentor who was also a fierce advocate for free speech," philosophy professor Nora Berenstain told Plowman. Plowman told the Faculty Senate that Shirinian damaged the public's trust in the university and violated the faculty code of conduct. She listed three reasons for her "swift action" on Shirinian's removal from the classroom, suspension and termination proceedings. Plowman said she was open to working with the Faculty Senate to establish new policies and language about social media use and its relation to the code of conduct and free speech. |
| U. of Texas sets records for enrollment, applications, retention | |
| The University of Texas -- again -- is breaking enrollment, application and retention records as it kicks off its 2025 academic year, according to a report by the school. This fall, an all-time high of 55,000 students enrolled for class at the 40 Acres, with a 7.5% increase for first-time college students at 9,900 incoming freshmen. Undergraduate enrollment also increased, climbing to 44,314 students. The freshmen were selected from a pool of an all-time high 90,690 applicants, nearly 18,000 -- or 25% -- more than the previous year and 51% more since 2022. The first-year retention rate of 97.1% is also the highest ever, a UT news release said, and significantly higher than the national average of about 77%, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Four-year retention at UT increased to 75.7% from 75% in fall 2024. UT also awarded 576 more degrees than the previous year at 15,963, the highest amount the institution has conferred in a year. Miguel Wasielewski, senior vice provost for strategic enrollment management, said the university is slowly increasing enrollment to ensure UT maintains its excellence and student experience as it welcomes new Longhorns. |
| Aggie Democrats hold protest for academic freedom | |
 | Texas Aggie Democrats gathered with other students and faculty members in the Academic Plaza on Monday night to protest in defense of academic freedom in response to the recent upheaval at Texas A&M University that in the last two weeks saw a professor fired, two faculty heads demoted and A&M President Mark A. Welsh resign. Over 100 students and faculty gathered around the statue of former Texas governor and former A&M President Sul Ross in the Academic Plaza. Some students held signs with sayings like "censorship is not good bull" and "keep Austin out of College Station." Another sign included a quote from Welsh: "Hate is not an Aggie Value." Students and faculty alike took turns stepping up in front of the group and speaking to a gathered crowd of onlookers. All spoke of the risk that could come from too much political oversight in higher education and that this issue was not just a Texas A&M issue but that educational freedom was a statewide issue. Leonard Bright, a professor at the Bush School of Government and Public Service, spoke with The Eagle after the protest on the importance of the gathering and academic freedom "I'm so proud and I'm so happy. When I heard the students were doing this and they asked would I be willing to support them, I said that's a no-brainer, of course I'll support you," Bright said. |
| Turning Point USA to visit U. of Oklahoma as part of college tour | |
| Turning Point USA announced it will visit the University of Oklahoma as part of its "The Turning Point Tour" following the assassination of conservative activist and Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk. Turning Point USA will visit OU on Oct. 16, according to a Monday post on social platform X. Speakers will be announced at a later date. Popular conservative figures Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly and Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) among others are already set to speak during the tour, which will make stops at 11 universities from late September to November. Kirk was fatally shot Sept. 10 during an appearance at Utah Valley University as part of his "The American Comeback Tour." Kirk was scheduled to speak at OU as part of his tour later in the fall, according to a Monday press release from Rep. Tom Cole. Kalib Magana, OU Turning Point USA president, told OU Daily on Monday the organization would not comment about the event until more information is available. |
| U. of Missouri plans to request proposals from private developers | |
 | The University of Missouri plans to request proposals from private developers interested in building properties on the MU campus. This effort was announced at the last UM System Board of Curators meeting earlier in September. UM System President Mun Choi presented a map during the meeting highlighting zones across the campus where such a project might be feasible. Mizzou spokesperson Christopher Ave said the university is seeking opportunities that could serve as year-round commercial assets while enhancing the game day experience within the MU Athletics Sports Complex. Ave added the initiative will explore all appropriate opportunities for development, including "public-private partnerships" and long-term lease arrangements for mixed-use development, housing and other viable projects. "The main benefit to the university would be to increase revenue, but development could also enhance game day experiences as well as provide people more reasons to visit our campus community," said Ave. |
| U. of Minnesota tudents honor Charlie Kirk at Turning Point's first college event since Kirk's death | |
| More than 1,500 students and other supporters honored Charlie Kirk at the University of Minnesota -- the first college campus event Turning Point USA has held since Kirk was assassinated Sept. 10.Before his death, Kirk was scheduled to speak at the U; conservative author Michael Knowles headlined the Monday event in his place. "There was simply a light and levity to the man," Knowles said at the sold-out free event, adding that Kirk's brightness came from his character and from Kirk's savior, Jesus. With Kirk's rise to fame, Keane Pfeifer, a student at the U, said he felt more open to discussing his beliefs with others and added that many conservatives, especially at generally liberal institutions such as the U, have felt repressed in their ideals. "The beliefs that I had were very shunned," Pfeifer said. "I felt like I was wrong, until I saw Charlie Kirk and more people had these ideals." Kirk has been remembered as the Republican "voice of a generation," helping Trump win re-election and engaging young conservatives. He was also a skilled provocateur and was often slammed for statements his critics called anti-immigrant, racist, misogynistic and transphobic. |
| How the Education Dept. Wants to Advance 'Patriotic Education' | |
 | The Trump administration has made another move that historians say is an attempt to sanitize American history, but one the administration argued is necessary to ensure students have respect for the country. Last week, Education Secretary Linda McMahon outlined a new plan for how her department would promote "patriotic education" by adding it to the list of priorities that can drive decisions for discretionary grants, including those that support programs at colleges and universities. "It is imperative to promote an education system that teaches future generations honestly about America's Founding principles, political institutions, and rich history," McMahon said in a statement about the new proposal. "To truly understand American values, the tireless work it has taken to live up to them, and this country's exceptional place in world history is the best way to inspire an informed patriotism and love of country." McMahon's other priorities for grant funding include evidence-based literacy, expanding education choice, returning education to the states and advancing AI in education. |
| Military academies eye Classical Learning Test for admissions as skeptics voice concerns | |
 | The U.S. military academies are reportedly looking at accepting scores from the Classic Learning Test (CLT), an alternative to the SAT and ACT that has been propped up in conservative circles, starting with the 2027 admissions cycle. Amid the Trump administration's push to ban certain books at military academies and axe affirmative action, the Pentagon is reportedly looking at also changing to accept scores from the CLT, which is only currently accepted by 300 colleges -- mainly small, private, religious institutions. Conservatives have argued the test, developed in 2015, is needed to break the duopoly the SAT and ACT have on the market, while opponents worry about the rigor of the exam and the lack of historical data to support its ability to test college readiness. "My initial thought is it could provide access to a talent pool of possible future officers that are overlooked. However, there are concerns as far as what the test could actually ultimately do," said Bobby Jones, the president of Veterans for Responsible Leadership who previously worked in the admissions office at the Naval Academy. Jones says his main concerns with the CLT are its lack of data to prove it can indicate college readiness, the organization's for-profit status, its conservative reputation and its potential usage as a litmus test for future military officers. |
| International Enrollment Down at Regional Publics, Small Private Colleges | |
| Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump and his administration have sought to limit international students in the U.S. The crackdown has included detaining foreign student activists, stripping students' SEVIS statuses and visas, implementing social media vetting processes, pausing new visa issuances, and seeking to limit students' length of stay in the country. Those efforts thus far appeared to have spurred a decline in the number of international students able to enroll and enter the country, according to an Inside Higher Ed analysis of fall enrollment data. But the federal government has missed its primary target: wealthy, selective colleges and universities, which the administration has accused of denying seats to U.S. students in favor of enrolling higher-paying international students. International students, particularly at public institutions, typically pay more than their domestic peers in tuition, and this additional revenue can help offset cost of educating low-income or local students who pay less. A majority of the Ivy League institutions offer need-blind admissions to international students which, in essence, would eliminate bias toward a student who would receive more or less institutional aid. Advocates for international education have warned these efforts would damage the U.S. at large, reducing revenue to colleges and states, as well as damaging the country's reputation as a leader in academia. |
| American Colleges Are Going All Out to Hold On to International Students | |
| When an email landed in Douglas Hicks's inbox in late May alerting him the State Department was halting visa interviews for students trying to study in the U.S., he took a deep breath. Hicks, the president of Davidson College, a liberal-arts school in North Carolina, learned he still had to get three dozen international students through the visa pipeline. At a campus of roughly 2,000 undergraduates, where 11% are international, the loss of students would have created a scramble to fill the open seats. "The team went into overdrive," Hicks said. Davidson staff went student by student -- sometimes checking in daily -- to make sure each received a visa. That meant guiding students who had to find consulate appointments in other countries or needed additional documents. By the time classes started in August, virtually all of the students, from countries including Kenya, India and Korea, made it to Davidson. Other colleges and universities haven't had the same outcome. International-student enrollment is sagging at many universities, particularly at the master's level. |
| What Trump's $100,000 Fee for Skilled-Worker Visas Could Mean for Higher Ed | |
 | A Friday proclamation from President Trump has become the latest policy change to scramble colleges' assumptions about international education and finance. The new rule will require employers to pay the government $100,000 to sponsor a highly skilled employee from abroad with an H-1B visa. For higher education, this means added challenges -- in hiring international talent that has long been a backbone for research universities, and more potential difficulty for students seeking visas for post-graduate employment. "This weekend was complete chaos in the immigration world," said Josh Wildes, an associate attorney at Wildes & Weinberg, P.C., a firm that specializes in immigration law. But at least one thing has become clear since the initial confusion: "What we're telling the universities is that their current H-1B visa holders should be OK to continue working." Many large research universities have grown to rely on H-1B visas. Among academic employers, Stanford University hired the most people on H-1B visas in the current year, with 500 approved workers. Confusion also remains over how the change will affect international students who currently hold F-1 student visas. |
SPORTS
| Football: New Week, Big Game, Same Process | |
| Davis Wade Stadium sat quietly on Monday. The home of the Mississippi State Bulldogs almost seemed to be resting up. The venue will surely be shaking on Saturday. That's when the first 4-0 MSU football team in more than a decade is all set to see where it measures up against Southeastern Conference competition when the Bulldogs and No. 15 Tennessee kick off at 3:15 p.m. CT. Before then, the buzz will continue to grow. Media members and insiders will discuss and predict what awaits. Message board threads will passionately point out the what-ifs and the what-might-bes. All the chatter is understandable. The Volunteers have College Football Playoff aspirations. The Bulldogs have the chance to start taking their season description from much-improved to incredible. Yet while the hype rages all around the game, meanwhile, at State's Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex, it's just business as usual. "There's literally not one single thing [we've changed this week]," MSU head coach Jeff Lebby said at his weekly press conference. "How we've done what we've done the previous four weeks is going to be the exact same as we move forward and get ready for Saturday." |
| Tennessee football players curious to hear Mississippi State cowbells | |
| Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop sounds downright giddy to hear Mississippi State fans clang their cowbells when the Vols play there for the first time since 2012. "I told one of my friends this week that I'm excited to hear them honestly," Bishop said. "I've been looking forward to an away game, just to get that experience flowing and rolling. "Those cowbells are definitely something I'm looking forward to. I hear them on TV, and it's interesting. So I'm looking forward to hearing them in person." No. 15 Tennessee (3-1, 0-1 SEC) plays at Mississippi State (4-0, 0-0) on Sept. 27 (4:15 p.m. ET, SEC Network) in the Vols' first true road game of the 2025 season. "I think the uniqueness of it sound-wise is what is a part of making this league really special," coach Josh Heupel said. "(Communication) will be important in this one." UT hasn't played in Starkville since losing 41-31 to the Bulldogs there in 2012. |
| Lebby, Heupel bringing long history together to Davis Wade on Saturday | |
| Jeff Lebby and Josh Heupel have a history together that dates back over 20 years. With Lebby's playing career as an offensively lineman cut short before it really began, he joined the coaching staff instead and adjusted his career trajectory. Lebby spent his college career on the sidelines learning from Bob Stoops as a student assistant and quickly would make his way up the coaching ranks. Lebby had just missed Heupel's playing career when the talented quarterback helped the Sooners to a National Championship and a second place finish in the Heisman Trophy voting. After a short stint in the NFL, Heupel returned home to get his first coaching job as a Graduate Assistant for the Sooners and he and Lebby built a relationship during the 2004 season and then again in 2006 when Heupel was coaching quarterbacks. Fast forward 12 years later, Lebby was a rising assistant and Heupel made his way to Central Florida to become a head coach. Heuepel called Lebby to be a part of his staff and he'd spend two seasons there coaching the quarterbacks and eventually leading the offense. While Lebby has drawn a lot from several different great coaches over the years, Heupel truly helped form how he ran the day-to-day operations in his building. Six short years after getting his opportunity with Heupel, Lebby was putting it into action. |
| Meaningful changes paying off for MSU | |
 | The fruits of Mississippi State's labor are starting to come to fruition. Even though there's plenty of work to do, changes have the Bulldogs in a good spot heading into their SEC opener on Saturday against No. 15 Tennessee (3-1). MSU is off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 2014. Mississippi State has a set of goals that it has focused on ever since fall camp started. Their first two were winning the season opener and going undefeated in non-conference games. For coach Jeff Lebby, the goals allow the team to stay present and stay focused. "We've got to take this thing one game at a time," he said in the team's weekly press conference on Monday. "As we're looking at our goals ahead, there's a lot out there to go accomplish, but there's no way to do it if we don't do it one at a time." The next big goal is reaching bowl eligibility for the first time since the 2022 season. The Bulldogs are now just two wins away from it with eight games remaining. "Knowing that we do have goals in place that we can chase and try to go achieve," quarterback Blake Shapen said. "I feel like if you don't have goals in place, you kind of don't know exactly what you're aiming towards, like there's no set goal for the whole team so I feel like it's a good thing." |
| Perry and 'principles' help Bulldogs salvage draw with Tigers | |
| Mississippi State soccer looked down and out going into the final third of the match against Auburn on Sunday. The Bulldogs conceded a goal just before the hour mark on a sloppy defensive play, allowing the Tigers a second and third opportunity following an initial chance, and the ball was in the back of the net. As Auburn forward Olivia Woodson wheeled away with her hands to her ears, taunting the crowd whose cowbells fell silent, the Bulldogs gathered in a huddle in front of the goal. "Principles," Ally Perry said of the team talk after conceding. "The goal happened because of the second phase, and that's just overall effort. I was demanding effort to do the principles to do our job, and keep a good attitude. If we do that, we'll be fine, and we responded in a great way. I'm proud of each and every person on the team for how they responded and didn't let up." It took nearly all of the remaining 32 minutes, but the Bulldogs rediscovered the principles that make them a fearsome team to play against. The team found passing lanes through the middle, getting the ball to playmakers such as Perry, Adia Symmonds and Alivia Buxton. They won set pieces and found space to fire shots on goal, which they had only done twice through the first hour of play. Eventually, just as they did nine days earlier, the ball was at the feet of Perry on the edge of the box. Her favored left foot wasn't an option, but she fired away with her right and could have convinced anyone that it was her strong side. The ball found the bottom corner of the net, and the Bulldogs were level at 1-1. |
| Alabama AD Greg Byrne discusses NIL and revenue sharing | |
| It's a new world in college sports, as the era of NIL and revenue sharing is in full swing. It's a change that's impacted athletic directors like Alabama's Greg Byrne. "Well, I talk to attorneys a lot more than I used to, but it's been important that we continue to realize it's not the same college sports that it was 10 years ago, and that we have to evolve with that. We have to change with that, we have to maybe push the envelope on some things that we historically wouldn't," Byrne said. It's Byrne's hope that with the House settlement approved in June that a path forward becomes clear. "Hopefully, in this new world, we'll see is the NIL deals that really weren't at market rate; you didn't see professional athletes get deals like these. Hopefully, those will be ones that we can try to get our arms around to where there's some regulation for the future." In these discussions of athletes being paid, through NIL and now revenue sharing, Byrne feels there is one topic that is not being talked about, and that's simply that the college model is not like the pro model. |
| SEC commissioner Greg Sankey reacts to Bruce Pearl's retirement | |
 | The impact of Auburn basketball head coach Bruce Pearl's retirement was felt by the Auburn community and the entire SEC on Monday. Pearl announced his retirement after spending 11 years as the Tigers' head coach and will he move into an ambassador role within the athletic department along with being a special assistant to the athletic director. Steven Pearl, Bruce Pearl's son and associate head coach since 2023, was officially announced as Auburn's next head coach shortly after Bruce Pearl's retirement was made official. Among the many people who had positive things to say about Pearl in response to his retirement was SEC commissioner Greg Sankey. He became the conference's commissioner in 2015, just one year into Pearl's Auburn tenure. "Bruce Pearl has played an important role in elevating the competitive level and popularity of men's basketball in the Southeastern Conference," Sankey said in a statement. "His dynamic leadership, relentless energy, and forward-thinking vision have helped transform the sport across the conference. "While his on-court achievements are well documented, it is his genuine connection with fans, media and the broader community that truly distinguishes his impact," the statement continued. |
| ACC moving to 9-game football schedule starting next year, aligning with rest of Power Four peers | |
| The Atlantic Coast Conference is moving to a nine-game league schedule for football while having teams play at least 10 games against power-conference opponents, though there will be variables due to the league's odd number of football-playing member schools. Commissioner Jim Phillips announced the decision in a statement Monday, saying athletic directors had "overwhelmingly supported" the move after "incredibly intentional" discussions about scheduling options. Going from an eight- to a nine-game model would align the ACC with its power-conference peers in the Big 12, Big Ten and Southeastern conferences after unbalanced scheduling between the conferences had been a topic of discussion, and disagreement, when it came to access for the College Football Playoff. The ACC would join the SEC -- which announced its move from eight to nine last month -- as the only leagues playing 10 games against Power Four opponents as a baseline in the so-called "9+1 model." |
| Sports Broadcasting Act May Be Too Archaic to Save College Sports | |
| Billionaire Cody Campbell's plan to "save" college sports by, among other things, amending the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 (SBA) would likely require substantial revisions to the law and have far-reaching implications for pro sports. Campbell -- chairman of the Texas Tech board of regents and a member of President Donald Trump's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition -- wants to "extend to college sports the same rights professional leagues" enjoy through the SBA. This change, he contends, would allow colleges and conferences to more "efficiently market" media rights and "maximize viewership through optimized scheduling." The SBA provides a limited antitrust exemption to professional football, basketball, baseball and hockey leagues when they and their teams negotiate TV contracts that provide "sponsored telecasting" of games. The phrase "sponsored telecasting" is crucial, in that the exemption only applies in that context. Sponsored telecasting means a method of broadcasting that has become increasingly rare: free and over-the-air. Not cable. Not paid satellite. Not pay-per-view. Not streaming. One potential roadblock for Campbell's plan is that even if college sports enjoyed the same protection as pro leagues, that protection might not amount to much and would probably be worth less every year. The SBA is an antiquated law that contemplates antitrust immunity for broadcast technologies from a bygone era. |
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