| Tuesday, October 7, 2025 |
| Education: CAAD students at MSU compete to design resource center for local nonprofit | |
 | Thirteen teams comprised of students from each major in Mississippi State's College of Architecture, Art and Design -- architecture, art, building construction science and interior design -- competed for top honors and a cash prize in the annual Brasfield & Gorrie Student Design Competition. First launched in 2011, the competition is sponsored by one of the nation's largest privately held construction firms based in Birmingham, Alabama. Brasfield & Gorrie also has a Jackson office, which opened in 2015. The competition simulates real-world design processes with a goal of helping students overcome preconceived ideas of the roles traditionally assumed by the various disciplines in the college. This year's competition tasked students with developing a comprehensive design, construction and branding plan for a housing resource center serving Starkville Strong, a nonprofit that provides essential support to residents in need. The center, named The Stronghold, is to be housed in an existing building and must include an office with a meeting room, a food pantry, overnight shelter accommodations, staff parking and outdoor space for clients. |
| Events Promote Dairy Education, Industry | |
 | Mississippi State University will host two events this fall promoting agricultural education with an emphasis on dairy production. A 5K Fun Run will be held Oct. 25 at the Joe Bearden Dairy Research Center in Oktibbeha County. Check-in will begin at 6 a.m., with the run starting at 6:30 a.m. The $20 registration fee includes a commemorative T-shirt and chocolate milk at the finish line. Participants of all ages are invited to run, walk or stroll through the dairy unit. Registration is open online until Oct. 10 at msuext.ms/5kfunrun. LegenDairy Farm Friday is set for Nov. 7 from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., also at the dairy research center. Visitors will have the opportunity to take part in dairy tours, hands-on educational activities and games. Doughnuts and milk will be served. The program fee is $10, with free admission for teachers and children under the age of 2. Registration is required by Oct. 24. To register, visit msuext.ms/legendairy. |
| Education: Students get a hands-on look at watershed conservation with MSU Extension | |
| During Jacket Thrive Intersession last week, Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District welcomed guests from Mississippi State University's Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture to the "Let's Get Wild" enrichment camp to share about water conservation and careers in environmental science. Campers spent part of their week learning about water treatment and how environmental scientists work to control water flow in populated areas through hands-on activities led by Beth Baker, assistant director for MSU Extension for Environmental Stewardship. Students tossed balls in class to understand the steps for how water is used, treated and recycled in households and communities. The activity gave students an understanding of the steps involved in treating water and the agencies or services that are needed to provide communities with clean water. Through ongoing partnerships with Mississippi State, SOCSD provides students with hands-on learning experiences, interaction with industry and field professionals, as well as a real-world glimpse at future careers. MSU has partnered with the district to offer these types of experiences through a variety of university departments for every Jacket Thrive intersession since SOCSD began the initiative in 2022. |
| Community Profile: MSU professor blends ancient art with modern tech | |
| When Donna Clevinger takes the stage at Mississippi State University, she's not just directing actors. From robots performing in Roman comedies to 3D animations reviving Roman tragedies, Clevinger is finding new ways to blend traditional arts with modern technology. "I am not here to train students to be actors or technicians," Clevinger said. "I am here to give a foundation for students with many majors a chance to do research and explore beyond what they thought their lives might be here and to go places that maybe professors don't have the opportunity to do." As the senior faculty fellow in Shackouls Honors College and a professor of communication and theatre in the College of Arts and Sciences, Clevinger has spent more than a decade at MSU exploring ways to integrate the arts with students across all majors. "It's really exciting to see that the students are willing to get out of their box and their respective area and see where their imaginations will take them in their own creativity," she said. "... That's arts integration at its best." |
| Interstate 20/59 lane closures planned in Meridian this weekend | |
 | The Mississippi Department of Transportation is alerting drivers to temporary lane closures on Interstate 20/59 this weekend in Meridian. In a traffic advisory, the state road department said eastbound traffic will only have one lane open from the Interstate 20/59 split on the west side of Meridian to 65th Avenue. The second eastbound lane and shoulder will be closed to allow crews to make bridge deck repairs to the 65th Avenue bridge, MDOT said. The closure will begin at 7 p.m. Friday and be in place until 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 6. Drivers are encouraged to slow down and keep an eye out for signage and workers in the area. |
| New Mexican restaurant from Alex Eaton among 24 in, near Jackson set to open | |
 | Alex Eaton's latest restaurant concept highlights 24 restaurants and dining options that have been approved to open this month by the Mississippi Department of Health for the month of October. The popular chef is also the owner of the well-known Jackson and Ridgeland favorite Aplós Simple Mediterranean. He plans to open his La Presa Taqueria, in Highland Village. This one will have a unique Mexican flair. Eaton, who also co-owns The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen, graduated from Mississippi State University with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 2007. While the restaurant has not opened yet, Eaton expects everything to come together in the next week or so. La Presa Taqueria will open just across the courtyard from Aplós, in what was formerly LaCour, which closed in the past few months. La Presa will bring what Eaton says will be an energetic, approachable experience rooted in authenticity, culture and creativity. "I always said that if that space came available, I would make a run at it," Eaton told the Clarion Ledger. "We helped bring that community space to life in the courtyard and it just makes sense to open this restaurant at this time." |
| Two Mississippi Museums offering free admission as part of America250 celebration | |
| The Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson are looking to capitalize on the thousands of tourists flooding into the capital city for the Mississippi State Fair, offering several free days this week. In line with the fair's red, white, and blue semiquincentennial celebration, admission at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History will be free on Friday and Saturday in commemoration of the America250 campaign -- the year-long celebration of America becoming an independent country in 1776. Also, on Saturday, members of the national America250 initiative will be on site at the museums with their Americana Airstream travel trailer and a storytelling kiosk for residents to hop in front of the camera and tell their stories of what being an American is like. The kiosk and interviewers will be set up from 2:30 to 6 p.m. For those who can't make it to the Two Mississippi Museums on Friday or Saturday, admission is free every Sunday. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| US Senate Chairman Grassley asks federal judge in Mississippi to explain possible AI usage | |
| The leader of the Senate committee that oversees U.S. courts is asking a federal judge in Mississippi to explain whether his office used artificial intelligence to write a flawed order in a recent case. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, sent a letter to U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate on Monday that questioned whether the judge or his clerks used AI to write an order. He also asked why the order in question had been removed from the public docket and whether the judge planned to restore the original order to the docket. The letter stems from an error-laden temporary restraining order Wingate issued July 20, which paused the enforcement of a state law that bans diversity, equity and inclusion programs in public schools. Grassley's letter, which cited reporting from Mississippi Today, is a general oversight inquiry and not a subpoena. He has given Wingate until Oct. 13 to respond to his questions. With a U.S. senator weighing in on Wingate's recent case, the Mississippi judge may now be at the center of how the federal judiciary polices itself over AI usage. |
| Trump open to bipartisan health care deal to end shutdown | |
 | President Donald Trump on Monday threw a potential lifeline to Democrats holding out for an extension of expiring health insurance subsidies in exchange for voting to reopen the government, which has been partially shuttered for almost a week. In impromptu Oval Office remarks, Trump said he was open to continuing, in some form, the expanded premium tax credits for coverage purchased on government-run exchanges. "We have a negotiation going on right now with the Democrats that could lead to very good things, and I'm talking about good things with regard to health care," Trump said. "If we made the right deal, I'd make a deal." The president quickly added, however, that the current tax credits have led to "billions and billions of dollars ... being wasted," which has been one of the chief critiques of conservatives opposed to the extension of the current policy. Trump later clarified in a Truth Social post that negotiations haven't begun yet, and that he'd only talk to the Democrats about health care once they "allow our Government to re-open." Insurers are setting their policy rates ahead of open enrollment, which starts Nov. 1 in most states. Without the bigger tax credits, premiums are expected to more than double, on average, for policyholders across the country -- with 3 out of 4 living in GOP-leaning states, according to KFF research. |
| Trump returns to TikTok: Young people 'owe me big' | |
 | President Trump is back on TikTok, just weeks after he signed an executive order to keep the popular video sharing app in the U.S. after months of uncertainty. The president posted a video on the platform Monday for the first time since election day. Trump often used TikTok during his 2024 presidential campaign. "To all of those young people of TikTok: I saved TikTok, so you owe me big," Trump said in the post from behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. "And now, you're looking at me in the Oval Office and someday, one of you are [going to] be sitting right at this desk, and you're [going to] be doing a great job." The post currently has over 766,000 thousand likes and nearly 36,000 comments. A law signed by former President Biden in 2024 gave the company a Jan. 19 deadline to divest, but Trump extended it multiple times after returning to office. On Monday, Vice President Vance also posted on TikTok for the first time since November. The vice president said that his page would be used for updates from the White House. |
| Bondi gets Capitol Hill grilling on Epstein, cases against Trump foes | |
 | Attorney General Pam Bondi is facing tough questions Tuesday -- on the Justice Department's investigations of President Donald Trump's rivals and her decision to withhold the release of more information on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as she sits for her first congressional oversight hearing. The proceedings, before the Senate Judiciary Committee, quickly split along partisan lines. The panel's top Republican hailed Bondi's efforts to end what he described as the "weaponization" of the department under former President Joe Biden, while its top Democrat assailed her for turning the department into "a shield for the president and his political allies" and a spear to attack his foes. "President Biden never directed the attorney general to prosecute his political opponents. President Biden never fired his own political appointees for refusing to prosecute his targets," said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois.) "What has taken place since Jan. 20, 2025 would make even President Nixon recoil." Bondi, in her opening remarks, highlighted the department's recent focus on combatting violent crime, cracking down on drug trafficking and defending the Trump administration's recent deployments of federal agents to Democratic cities like Washington, Portland and Chicago. But under sharp criticism from Democrats, she responded with pugilistic rhetoric that has earned her Trump's favor. |
| Judges appointed by Trump keep ruling against him. He's not happy about it. | |
 | When a Donald Trump-appointed judge delivered a stinging rejection of his effort to put National Guard troops on the ground in Portland, the president had some regrets. "I wasn't served well by the people that pick judges," Trump vented Saturday. His gripe came four months after he similarly sounded off about the "bad advice" he got from the conservative Federalist Society for his first-term judicial nominations --- a reaction to a ruling, backed by a Trump-appointed judge, rejecting his power to impose sweeping tariffs on U.S. trading partners. "This is something that cannot be forgotten!" he said on Truth Social. While Trump and his allies have spent all year leveling pointed attacks at Democratic judicial appointees, labeling them rogue insurrectionists and radicals, the president is increasingly facing stark rejections from people he put on the bench -- including at least one from his second term. The brushbacks have come mainly from district judges, who occupy the lowest level of the three-tiered federal judiciary. So far, it's been a different story among Trump's three most powerful judicial appointees: Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. |
| Government shutdown threatens food aid program relied on by millions of families | |
 | A food aid program that helps more than 6 million low-income mothers and young children will run out of federal money within two weeks unless the government shutdown ends, forcing states to use their own money to keep it afloat or risk it shutting down, experts say. The $8 billion Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, also known as WIC, provides vouchers to buy infant formula as well as fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat milk and other healthy staples that are often out of financial reach for low-income households. The shutdown, which began Wednesday, coincided with the beginning of a new fiscal year, meaning programs like WIC, which rely on annual infusions from the federal government, are nearly out of money. Currently, the program is being kept afloat by an $150 million contingency fund, but experts say it could run dry quickly. After that, states could step in to pay for the program and seek reimbursement when a budget finally passes, but not all states say they can afford to do so. In the event of an extended shutdown, several states have sought to reassure WIC recipients that they will continue to receive benefits. Mississippi also pledged current WIC recipients will continue receiving benefits, but it temporarily suspended enrollment for new participants except for those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or seeking benefits for high-risk infants. |
| Mississippi teacher residency program gets boost with state funding | |
| Efforts to increase the pool of qualified educators in Mississippi got a new boost with the dispersement of more than $2.9 million in grants being awarded to the state's Teacher Residency Program. According to the Mississippi Department of Education, the state-appropriated grants are being provided to nine of Mississippi's institutions of higher learning and will help more than 230 potential educators seek their licensure in elementary or special education. "I'm always looking for opportunities for the state to help and raise opportunities for teachers. This program helps retain and educate teachers using our current IHL system while ensuring the quality we need in our state," said State Rep. Rob Roberson (R), chair of the House Education Committee. "MDE has always maintained that quality is the primary goal for teachers and in return we will get quality in the classroom." The nine institutions that received grant funding -- including Mississippi State University -- went through an application process, with total amounts being awarded based on that institution's proposed budget. |
| Education: SLP students, faculty from The W attend MSHA conference | |
| A team of Mississippi University for Women speech-language pathology students emerged victorious recently, beating out teams of students from universities across Mississippi in the Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association Praxis Bowl at the annual conference, held in Flowood. The Praxis Bowl is a trivia competition which pits teams of Mississippi university students against one another testing their knowledge with real Praxis exam questions. The Praxis-SLP is an exam which tests a student's foundational knowledge and clinical skills. Passing the exam is a requirement for certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as well as for licensure in Mississippi. "These events are important to students in that they provide students opportunities to become more knowledgeable and engage in leadership and scholarship at the professional level," said Hunter Manasco, graduate program director and professor of speech-language pathology. "This year our students assisted in presenting professors' research, presented their own research, attended sessions where they learned new information and attended review sessions for the Praxis-SLP which is their national boards." |
| FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez Talks Free Speech, First Amendment At Overby Center | |
 | Commissioner Anna Gomez of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) spoke at an event on Thursday hosted by the Overby Center for Southern Journalism & Politics. The event served as part of her "First Amendment Tour," on which she discusses her views on free speech and the current status of the FCC in the era of President Donald Trump. "I am visiting colleges (and) community centers. I'm doing all sorts of different events throughout the country ... because I think it's important for me to visit different communities, to have people understand that their First Amendment (guarantee to free speech) rights are actually being violated almost every day by this administration, and we need people to speak up and push back," Gomez said. Gomez explained that the FCC's mission is to provide licensing and resources to broadcasters. "The reason we license broadcasters is because they use the airwaves which we manage, and as part of the licensing of those airwaves, the broadcasters do have some obligations. One of them is to serve their local communities and to offer them a diversity of viewpoints, not just by an individual broadcaster but by having multiple broadcasters that can enable that diversity," Gomez said. "Our job is to ensure that we provide the resources they need and to ensure that there is plenty of competition so that consumers get the value of those free licenses." |
| Alexander recognized for work on prison education with national book award | |
| Patrick Elliot Alexander, Associate Professor of English and African American Studies at the University of Mississippi, has been recognized as co-editor of Teaching Literature and Writing in Prisons, the winner of the 2025 Teaching Literature Book Award, presented by the Idaho State University Department of English and Philosophy. Alexander, who also serves as Director and Co-Founder of the Prison-to-College Pipeline Program, co-edited the volume with Sheila Smith McKoy, CEO and Founder of Smith McKoy & Associates. The book brings together a range of contributors -- including university faculty, graduate students, and incarcerated students -- to explore the theories, practices, and everyday realities of teaching literature and writing inside U.S. prisons. Jessica Winston, Professor of English and Chair of the Award Committee, remarked, "An increasing number of university-level faculty are involved in prison teaching. This book helps these instructors with theories and approaches. It also provides motivation and advice to anyone who wants to start teaching in a detention center or prison." |
| Southern Miss Cuts Ribbon on Renovated Fresh Food Company, Showcases Bold New Look | |
| Eagle Dining celebrated the renovation of The Fresh Food Company at The University of Southern Mississippi Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that showcased the reimagined dining facility. Guests toured the facility and met the culinary team. With a bold new look, expanded menu offerings and immersive dining experiences, The Fresh reopened at the start of the fall semester, welcoming students, faculty, staff and alumni back with open arms and open plates. The $6.1 million renovation refreshed the space with sleek interiors, updated seating and expanded dining options designed to enhance student life. "This renovation is more than a facelift, it's a full-on transformation," said Charlie Dorsa, district manager of Eagle Dining. "We've created a space that's vibrant, inclusive and reflective of the energy and pride of USM. We can't wait for everyone to experience it." The Fresh Food Company originally opened in 2004 under Aramark's management, coinciding with the launch of the Thad Cochran Center, a hub for student life named after U.S. Senator Thad Cochran. Its original design moved away from the traditional cafeteria model and toward a modern, made-to-order dining experience. |
| USM cuts ribbon on renovated 'Fresh Food Company' | |
 | At the University of Southern Mississippi, the Fresh Food Company has a fresh look and the meals to match. School leaders officially cut the ribbon Monday to showcase the reimagined dining facility. The Fresh reopened at the beginning of the fall semester for students. Leaders said highlights include new flooring, more seating and expanded dining options, including an allergy-friendly section. "Last year, we got to give some input into this project and advocate for what students want to see, so its really nice getting to be in here and see it now, knowing that I attend a university that buys into student experience everyday," USM Student Body President Leah Johnson said. The entire renovation cost $6.1 million dollars. "That's through meal plan sales and the dining dollars that students purchase," said Allyson Easterwood, USM Finance/Administration vice president. "That's what made this project possible with our partnership with Aramark (MVP)." |
| Jackson Public Schools students can start college early with Jackson State University program | |
| Junior and senior students in Jackson Public Schools can now begin their college careers early with a new dual enrollment program offered in partnership with Jackson State University. Under the new program, JSU offers college-level courses to JPS high school students who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher or have an ACT composite score of 30 or higher. The courses are online and are part of the JSU general education, typically 100 or 200-level classes. Students in the program will take a 6-hour course-load per semester and will work with JSU advisors along the way. "Students are advised by advisors here at Jackson State, just like other freshmen college students are," said Preselfannie McDaniels, JSU's interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. "They have a certain set of courses within the general education pathway that they can apply for." JPS has an existing dual enrollment program with Hinds Community College. The school district also has an established program with JSU. The Jackson Middle College program allows math majors to take college courses while still in high school. Students in this program sign an agreement to continue their math degrees at JSU after high school graduation. |
| Mississippi towns say 'no' to school choice as state-level push continues | |
| As conservative lawmakers promise to expand school choice next year, a handful of Mississippi cities are taking a public stand against the policy. The resolutions could signal a lack of support for school choice among everyday Mississippians, something opponents have previously noted. Municipal boards in Clinton, Pearl, Florence and Jackson all adopted anti-school choice resolutions in September, citing constituents' disapproval. School choice refers to a number of policies that give more educational options to families outside of traditional public schools, often allowing them to use public dollars to fund this education. Despite the recent success of the state's public education system, powerful state lawmakers such as House Speaker Jason White say the issue will headline the upcoming legislative session. Gov. Tate Reeves has been a vocal supporter of increased school choice, which proponents say parents across the state have been demanding. But Nancy Loome, executive director of the public school advocacy organization The Parents' Campaign, said the local ordinances are a testament to the opposite, and the role public schools play in Mississippi communities such as Clinton, where Loome lives. "The board members believe, rightly, that it is one of the biggest threats to their communities --- not just their public schools, but their whole communities," Loome said. "They're not going to sit by in silence while the folks we elect on the state level push through something that would be very detrimental to their cities." |
| The government has long researched high school experiences. Then DOGE cut the effort | |
 | The academic choices you make as a teenager can shape the rest of your life: If you take high school classes for college credit, you're more likely to go to college; and if you take at least 12 credits of classes during your first year there, you're more likely to finish your degree. These and insights from thousands of other studies can all be traced to a trove of data the federal government started collecting more than 50 years ago. But earlier this year, that effort came to a halt. Researchers, educators and policymakers have relied on this data to form conclusions and shape policy about American education -- everything from how high school counselors should be spending their days to when students should start taking higher-level math classes. On a single day in February, the Trump administration and its Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) canceled the long-running series of surveys, known as the high school longitudinal studies. The contracts were worth tens of millions of dollars. The surveys started in 1972, and have gathered data on more than 100,000 high school students through their first decade or so of adulthood -- sometimes longer. |
| Georgia AIM tour bus brings AI and new technology to Athens, the state | |
 | In the courtyard of the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia, a robotic dog and a robotic man recently walked, ran, and waved at visitors and students. The robot even blew a kiss to the crowd. These mechanized marvels were part of the second annual Georgia AIM Week that brought innovative artificial intelligence and technology platforms to Athens and other cities across the state. The AIM tour bus arrived in Athens on Thursday, but the tour had stops planned for Savannah, Dublin, LaGrange, Albany, Augusta and Warner Robins, and Atlanta. Some of the tour stops were visited by school children and their families. AIM, according to its statement, is a network of projects in the manufacturing community to bring artificial intelligence and new technology to schools, universities, technical colleges, and other institutions to inspire a new workforce. After the first tour last year, AIM Co-Director Donna Ennis said its success prompted the Georgia AIM to continue with the tour and its goal of sharing new technology being used in manufacturing and agriculture. |
| Experts say a sense of belonging is key to the college experience | |
 | Experts say finding a sense of belonging is key to students ability to thrive in college. Christopher Conner, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Missouri, said there are sociological implications of isolation that can occur in a new environment. "There's no handbook once you move somewhere that says 'This is how to behave,' you have to learn it," Conner said. Freshman journalism student Forrest Montgomery said he understands that making strong connections early on can set the precedent for a successful school year. Montgomery, who is interested in sports broadcasting, said he has had valuable experiences in his freshman interest group, or FIG. He enjoyed meeting former ESPN broadcaster John Anderson and getting to know his peers was, but Montgomery said he has still faced challenges. "Coming here, I didn't know anybody," he said. "I didn't know my roommate, the people in my dorm hall, so I had to jump in and meet everyone fresh." Mizzou's Office of Student Engagement and Office of Student Affairs are in place to help students find places to cultivate new relationships. As described by Dean of Students Michelle Froese the offices are meant to provide outlets for "personal development and community-building." |
| Students Struggle With Surprise Costs, Don't Know About Help | |
 | Students link trust in higher education to affordability and financial stress to their academic performance. A new round of results from Inside Higher Ed's Student Voice survey series, out today, delves deeper into the connection between students' finances and their success. One key finding: Most students report some level of surprise with the full cost of attending college, including but not limited to tuition and other directly billable expenses. At least a quarter of students have trouble budgeting as a result. In another set of findings, 36 percent of students say that an unexpected expense of $1,000, or even less (see breakdown below), could threaten their ability to stay enrolled. Another 22 percent say the same of an expense between $1,001 and $2,500. This is the kind of need that many emergency aid programs are designed for, but 64 percent of respondents don't even know if their institution offers such assistance. |
| Higher ed groups sue over Trump administration's $100K H-1B visa fee | |
| Several higher education groups filed a lawsuit Friday challenging the Trump administration's new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas, alleging the policy could cause "catastrophic setbacks" to research in the U.S. The American Association of University Professors and labor unions representing tens of thousands of higher ed workers joined groups representing the healthcare, K-12 and religious sectors to challenge the policy, which the Trump administration abruptly rolled out last month. They argued that the fee would likely result in "sharp cutbacks in the employment of highly talented foreign workers and severe setbacks for university research, graduate programs, and clinical care." President Donald Trump issued a surprise proclamation Sept. 19 declaring that the federal government would impose a $100,000 fee on H-1B applications, spurring alarm in the higher ed world. Large universities often hire foreign academics and researchers using the visas, which allow skilled international workers to work in the U.S. temporarily. Congress has imposed an annual cap on the number of H-1B visas available each fiscal year, but colleges and nonprofit research institutions are exempt from that limit. The steep new application fee could create major financial headaches for the higher ed sector. Before the new policy, each H-1B visa application cost employers between $2,000 and $5,000, according to the American Immigration Council. |
| Trump Says Signing a New 'Compact' Will Benefit Colleges' Finances. It Could Also Do the Opposite. | |
 | The sweeping nature and uncertain ramifications of President Trump's latest deal to universities is sowing confusion and consternation among higher-education leaders and experts for, among other things, its unpredictable impact on college finances. In attempting to codify Trump's vision, the agreement could make it more difficult for institutions to keep afloat. The Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, released last week, offers nine elite universities a stark choice: adopt eight policies familiar from ongoing White House demands and rhetoric, such as eliminating race as a factor in admission decisions, or give up the opportunity for easier access to federal dollars. The threat of losing federal research grants under Trump has been a major source of anxiety and contingency planning for college leaders for months, especially given how much institutions have become dependent on federal funding. The compact arrives at a bad time, when many institutions are already facing tight budgets, increased competition for students, and unpredictable financial futures, even among the wealthiest colleges. Provisions limiting international students and instituting tuition freezes for universities that agree to the compact could hobble them financially over the longer term. If it takes effect, its impact would be uneven depending on whether a university is public or private and its location, experts say. |
| How Colleges Stack Up Against Trump's Sweeping 'Compact' Demands | |
 | An agreement the Trump administration floated this month to nine universities asks them to conform to standards around admissions, hiring and student life in exchange for preferential access to federal funds. Some elements of the proposal, dubbed the "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education," represent things many colleges are already doing. Others would require at times substantial changes to existing policies. The nine colleges being asked to give feedback this month on the proposal are the University of Arizona, Brown University, Dartmouth College, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California, the University of Texas at Austin, Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia. Trump's proposal weaves his America-first approach into college operations. Those signing the compact would agree to cap undergraduate international student enrollment at 15%, with no more than 5% from any one country. None of the universities being asked to sign on currently exceeds that 15% limit, according to federal data. The compact also asks universities to select foreign students "on the basis of demonstrably extraordinary talent, rather than on the basis of financial advantage to the university," and to screen out those demonstrating hostility toward the U.S. |
| Trump administration considers sale of federal student loan debt | |
| Trump administration officials are exploring options to sell off parts of the federal government's $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio to the private market, according to three people familiar with the matter. The discussions have taken place among senior Education Department and Treasury Department officials and have focused on selling high-performing portions of the government's massive portfolio of student debt, which is owed by about 45 million Americans. Trump administration officials have also discussed the issue with finance industry executives, including potential buyers of the debt. The talks earlier this year briefly involved DOGE officials embedded at the Education Department and elsewhere, but they are being led by senior political appointees, according to the people familiar with the conversations who were granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The idea reflects an appetite from administration officials to shrink the size of student loan debt on the government's balance sheet. It aligns with broader Republican efforts to scale back federal student lending and expand private-sector involvement in the economy. Selling federal student loan debt raises significant logistical and legal concerns, adding new uncertainty for borrowers. |
SPORTS
| Men's Golf: Bulldogs Lead After Cullan Brown Collegiate Day One | |
| Mississippi State played some of its best golf of the season on day one of the Cullan Brown Collegiate. The Bulldogs find themselves at the top of the leaderboard before play was suspended because of darkness. State made some history in round one, firing a team score of 9-under 275 – the fourth-best opening round in program history. Ugo Malcor and Dain Richie led the Dawgs with season-best scores of 4-under 67. Jackson Skinner followed suit with a 1-under 70 with Garrett Endicott and Drew Wilson rounding out the lineup with a pair of even-par 71s. Richie found his rhythm in round one, carding four birdies with zero bogeys. It is his eighth round in the 60s as a Bulldog. Malcor put five birdies on the card, notching his fourth par-or-better round this season. Skinner carded the third round of par or better in his young career in the Maroon and White and sat tied for 14th following round one. Wilson made his first appearance this season with a steady round of even par while Endicott put together his fifth par-or-better round of the year. The Bulldogs nearly completed round two before darkness ended play. |
| Bulldogs and Gators time set for October 18 showdown in The Swamp | |
| It's a much-needed bye week for Mississippi State as the Bulldogs try to get healthier and recharged for the next portion of the SEC slate, but the work continues. State (4-2, 0-2 SEC) is back to the drawing board after having back-to-back losses to top 15 teams and another tough challenge is on the way next week at Florida. The Bulldogs and Gators have known that they will be playing afternoon football in the Swamp and now the SEC has announced that they will be playing at 3:15 p.m CT on SEC Network. The Bulldogs will take on a Gator team that is dealing with a lot of internal pressure around head coach Billy Napier. Florida (2-3, 1-1 SEC) is coming off of a 29-21 triumph over then-No. 9 Texas at home. The Gators had lost three-straight games prior to that with South Florida, LSU and Miami all coming out victorious. The Gators play at No. 5 Texas A&M this week in their fourth-straight game against a top 10 team. It's the fourth-straight SEC Network ball game for the Bulldogs as they played against Northern Illinois, Tennessee and Texas A&M on the network. After having a heartbreaking 41-34 overtime outcome against the Volunteers, the Bulldogs were in the game for three quarters against the Aggies on Saturday before things unraveled in the fourth frame. |
| Mississippi buck weights, antlers appear in decline as deer population estimate is at record high | |
 | Mississippi deer hunters have long been recognized for passing on younger and smaller bucks and waiting to harvest a mature buck and hopefully one with exceptional antlers. While this style of management can allow bucks to reach their potential when it comes to big antlers, it appears it can have unintended consequences. "That's both a good and bad thing because we have a record number of deer on the landscape," said William McKinley, Deer Program coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. "This is contributing to too many deer, but not everywhere. We realize this does not apply to every property." One area it does appear to apply is the Big Black River corridor. McKinley said there are 135,855 acres within five miles of the river in Attala, Holmes, Madison, Yazoo, Hinds, and Warren counties that are enrolled in the Deer Management Assistance Program, or DMAP. It's a program where land managers and hunters work with biologists to manage deer. A part of that program involves keeping records of deer harvested including body weights. What's happening in that area, which is known for producing big deer, may surprise some. Records kept in that area show the weights of bucks four years old and older are trending downward. |
| Paul Finebaum Pulled From Some ESPN Shows After Trump Comments | |
| Has Paul Finebaum been benched by ESPN after talking to Clay Travis of OutKick -- and floating a run for the U.S. Senate? That depends on who you believe. And if you separate the flagship ESPN network from ESPN Radio and SEC Network, which has been controlled by the four letters since its debut in 2014. A frequent ESPN critic, Travis got the ball rolling Monday by writing on X/Twitter: "Per sources: Disney/ESPN has removed @finebaum from appearing on @ESPN since his @outkick interview expressing interest in running as a Republican for senate in Alabama. ESPN has canceled all network appearances on all shows, including some that have occurred for a decade plus." But Bill Hofheimer, a top ESPN communications official, responded to Travis with a tweet of his own reading: "This is not true at all. The below is TOTALLY FALSE." Travis responded to Hofheimer, writing, "Why wasn't @finebaum on Sunday AM SportsCenter yesterday? Or First Take this morning? For the first time in over a decade? Reacting to one of the biggest college football weekends of the year? I stand by my sources." Another source familiar with the situation told Front Office Sports that the host has been pulled from his regular studio appearances on the main ESPN network since doing the interview with Travis last week. Finebaum has continued to host his eponymous weekday show on ESPN Radio, which is simulcast on SEC Network, and appeared on the Saturday studio show on SEC Network. |
| The Bill Belichick Nightmare Just Keeps Getting Worse | |
| When the University of North Carolina hired Bill Belichick to coach their downtrodden football team, it looked like a sensational coup. Tickets sold out. Donations poured in. Excitement coursed through Chapel Hill at the prospect of the greatest coach of all time transforming a program that had become a national afterthought into one styled after his NFL success, from schemes and scouting to nutrition and development. But 10 months on, the enthusiasm has all but vanished. North Carolina's blowout loss to a mediocre Clemson team on Saturday dropped their record to 2-3 and marked their third defeat by 25 points or more. Hopes that Belichick would turn the Tar Heels into a contender have quickly evaporated. Along the way, there have been a series of flare-ups involving his 24-year old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, and signs of a frayed relationship with the New England Patriots, the franchise he led to six Super Bowl victories. Even more troubling, the first month of this NFL season has raised questions about Belichick's final years in the pros. His former players, such as current San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones, are thriving without him---and so is his former team. The Patriots are now 3-2 after Sunday night's upset win over the Buffalo Bills, showing signs that they're finally improving the talent-barren roster that Belichick assembled. All told, it paints a bleak picture of both the 73-year-old's chances to fix a college program---and to revitalize his own career in the process. |
| Auburn moving 2026 game vs. Baylor to Atlanta for NIL benefits | |
| Auburn is moving its 2026 home game with Baylor to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta as part of an arrangement with the Aflac Kickoff Game to provide NIL opportunities for Tigers players, a first in college football for neutral-site games. The Peach Bowl, in coordination with the Aflac game, will provide opportunities for promotional appearances for Auburn players promoting ticket sales and ancillary events. "Any time we have the ability to advance Auburn student-athletes' ability to earn third-party NIL compensation, we will take that opportunity," athletic director John Cohen said. "The exposure of playing on a national stage against a Power 4 opponent in one of the premier neutral-site games in the country will not only benefit our student-athletes financially, but it will also enhance their brands." Baylor and Auburn met in this year's season opener for each team, with the Tigers winning 38-24 in Waco, Texas. Next year's game was originally scheduled to be played at Auburn as the second game of a home-and-home. |
| Lawsuit seeks breakdown of how U. of South Carolina is divvying up $20.5M for student-athletes | |
 | A South Carolina freedom of information advocate has sued the University of South Carolina to obtain the school's deals to share more than $20 million with its student-athletes. According to the lawsuit filed Sept. 30 in Richland County, the state's flagship university has denied that it has any records of these multi-million dollar deals, and whatever records they might have would be shielded by a law that protects students' academic records. The university's justification for its secrecy is "contradictory and legally untenable," wrote Frank Heindel, a former grain merchant and open records advocate. "I'm not asking for names or grade point averages. I'm asking how a public university spends public money," Heindel told The State. Heindel sent USC a request for records under South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act on Sept. 4. In it, Heindel requested any executed revenue-sharing contracts or agreements between the university and its football players. Six days later, the university denied the request in an email stating that the documents were "scholastic records" protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law that shields a student's educational records from disclosure. In his lawsuit, Heindel cited comments from women's basketball coach Dawn Staley to argue that these contracts were purely commercial. |
| What a CFP selection dry run revealed about college football's most scrutinized conference room | |
 | The task the College Football Playoff selection committee undertakes each fall to choose the nation's best teams comes with intense pressure from all corners. So how does it not only come up with the best possible field but alleviate the skepticism of its process? With enough data and comparison tools to give committee members information overload. For five hours in mid-September, 13 journalists sat behind placards pre-set for the CFP's 13-member selection committee, relitigating the 2024 field. The invitees, of which I was one, took on the roles of last year's committee members and leaned on a mountain of metrics to debate and differentiate between the teams. Our decisions were hardly unanimous, but they illustrate the challenges of building a 12-team field fairly. "We're ready to go play a Playoff," CFP executive director Lt. Gen. Rich Clark said at the conclusion. "Good games, pretty good matchups. They'd better be good games, or you'd have been writing about yourselves and how crazy you are." The CFP has invited journalists to participate in mock sessions for years, but with scrutiny rising and criteria shifting, it was a good time to get another look at the committee's selection process. In the exercise, we used the seeding rules that will take effect this year, with the four first-round byes going to the top four teams in the rankings, instead of the top four conference champions. We did not apply the CFP's enhanced strength-of-record metric introduced this summer, which places heavier weight on performances against ranked competition. So, how difficult was it to reach consensus? Was the data overload too much or just right? How will potential CFP expansion impact the committee? Here is a glimpse inside the CFP war room. |
| Interest in women's sports is growing. Here's how some women-owned companies are responding | |
| Laura Youngson didn't expect to focus so much on soccer cleats when she organized a group of women to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and play a high-altitude match. The point of the 2017 game was to highlight inequality in sports for women and girls. On that front, Youngson achieved her goal with the match becoming the subject of a documentary and landing the group in the Guinness Book of World Records. Still, something bothered Youngson as the match unfolded. Glancing at the athletes' feet, she was struck that all the women were wearing men's or boy's soccer cleats instead of gear that was designed specifically for them. The realization led her to launch IDA Sports, which makes soccer cleats for the unique athletic needs of women. "There was this real commercial gap for performance footwear for women," said Youngson, whose IDA cleats are worn by players including Washington Spirit midfielder Courtney Brown. "As the game is growing, we're in this moment when everything's professionalizing, but the footwear wasn't really keeping pace, so I wanted to go and change that." IDA is among a growing number of companies founded in recent years to prioritize women in sports. |
| Dems Play It SAFE on College Athlete Organizing Rights | |
| The Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement (SAFE) Act, a newly introduced college sports reform bill sponsored by Democratic Sens. Maria Cantwell (Wash.), Cory Booker (N.J.) and Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) is as notable for what it omits as for what it includes. Unveiled a day before the federal government entered a shutdown, the SAFE Act, which doesn't yet have an assigned bill number, marks the first serious Congressional attempt of the NIL era to allow universities and athletic conferences to collectively pool their media rights---and, therein, generate more revenue -- without running afoul of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Compared to the explicitly NCAA-friendly approach of Republican-led H.R. 4312, also known as the SCORE Act, the SAFE Act has gotten off to a surprisingly upbeat start. Most notably, it drew immediate praise from Cody Campbell, the billionaire Republican donor and Donald Trump acolyte who has made "saving" college sports his cause célèbre. While acknowledging his politics fall on the other side of the aisle, Campbell took to X to applaud the Democrats' bill for "standing up for" women's sports, Olympic sports and smaller schools. Campbell has accused the SCORE Act of disadvantaging these groups while coddling the NCAA. But what the SAFE Act doesn't do is just as important. It steers clear of the two most pressing and controversial issues in the college sports reform debate: whether the NCAA and other college sports governing bodies should be inoculated from future antitrust litigation; and whether college athletes should be entitled to collectively bargain. |
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