| Monday, January 5, 2026 |
| Ask The Dispatch: What construction, renovation projects are underway at MSU? | |
 | Cranes, caution tape, and construction crews have become familiar sights across Mississippi State University's campus, where a wave of about 10 renovation projects and infrastructure upgrades are underway. MSU Executive Director of Campus Services Saunders Ramsey said the campuswide improvements show a continued focus on improving student life. "The projects continue to show a focus on our students and how important they are to us, and just giving them a nice place to live and study," Ramsey told The Dispatch on Friday. "... To me, it just shows a continued investment in our students." What projects are underway? When will they be finished? What's coming next? Ramsey said there are several repair and renovation projects planned to improve some of the older buildings on campus, though no funding has been assigned to the projects yet. |
| MSU hosts international symposium on advanced vehicle technology | |
| Showcasing its groundbreaking work in autonomous vehicles, Mississippi State University hosted the 7th International Symposium on Advanced Vehicle Technology last month. The symposium brought together researchers from around the world to share their latest work on the future of vehicles. The event, held at MSU's Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, included sessions on modeling and simulation, vehicle sensors, human-AI interactions, next-generation traffic safety, lightweight materials and batteries, nature-inspired intelligence, and more. "This is an exciting time as new technologies allow us to reimagine how we interact with vehicles and how our vehicles interact with the world around them," said Daniel Carruth, CAVS associate director for advanced vehicle systems. "This symposium brings together experts from across the globe, all working to solve different mobility challenges. We are proud to host this international gathering on campus." |
| New microscope to help area metal producers improve quality | |
| Metal alloy and composite material production in the Golden Triangle is about to be more effective thanks to a recent wave of state grants. Mississippi State University received more than $1.4 million in grants, which were part of more than $100 million in state funding awarded to benefit Mississippi's economic development, Gov. Tate Reeves said in a Dec. 11 press release. An $800,000 grant will go toward funding a new HighVac Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope for MSU's Institute for Imaging and Analytical Technologies (I2AT), replacing outdated equipment. Under the microscope, an alloy's properties can be analyzed to determine ways to improve its strength, resistance to corrosion or heat resistance during the production process. The new electron microscope will give I2AT the capabilities to more effectively analyze the makeup of metal alloys produced in the region, Director Tonia Lane said. ... An additional $647,500 will cover improvements to the Advanced Composites Institute facilities at MSU to better train workers for Department of Defense-compliant manufacturing and make the institute more competitive for DOD grants, the press release said. |
| MSU's Clary wins prestigious award for advancing geological sciences history | |
 | Mississippi State Professor Renée M. Clary is the 2025 recipient of the Geological Society of America's Mary C. Rabbitt Award, honoring her distinguished scholarship and contributions to advancing the history of the geological sciences. Clary, a faculty member in MSU's Department of Geosciences since 2006 who also serves as director of the university's Dunn-Seiler Museum, specializes in geoscience education. She particularly focuses on the integration of geological and biological knowledge in science instruction, the use of science history to deepen student understanding and how visualization strategies can enhance learning. "It was the history of geology that inspired me to seek education for knowledge's sake, beyond standard coursework," Clary said. "When I began my Ph.D. program as a mother of six, Jim Wandersee [at Louisiana State University] suggested I bring the history of science into my geoscience-education work. Two decades later, I'm still exploring the scientific illustrations of Henry De la Beche, early women in geology and polar exploration." |
| Has the Fed fixed the economy yet? And other burning economic questions for 2026 | |
 | The U.S. economy heads into 2026 in an unusual place: Inflation is down from its peak in mid-2022, growth has held up better than many expected, and yet American households say that things still feel shaky. Uncertainty is the watchword, especially with a major Supreme Court ruling on tariffs on the horizon. To find out what's coming next, The Conversation U.S. checked in with finance professors Brian Blank of Mississippi State University and Brandy Hadley of Appalachian State University, who study how businesses make decisions amid uncertainty. Their forecasts for 2025 and 2024 held up notably well. Here's what they're expecting from 2026 -- and what that could mean for households, workers, investors and the Federal Reserve. |
| Mississippi ag posts $9.5B year in 2025 | |
| Despite some sharp decreases in row crop agriculture, cattle and poultry had a good year, bringing Mississippi's 2025 estimated value of agricultural production to $9.51 billion. Poultry continues three decades as the state's top agricultural commodity, posting an anticipated year-end value of $3.73 billion and maintaining its upward trend. Forestry ranks second with a 2025 estimated value of $1.47 billion. Row crops declined 9% overall, with corn seeing a large increase but cotton, peanuts, rice and soybeans facing significant declines in value. The poultry industry got a boost as eggs rose to an estimated $351 million. Broilers account for the bulk of poultry's value at $3.38 billion. Josh Maples, agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said poultry's overall slight increase in value is the result of more broilers being produced. "Prices were down slightly, but the increase in pounds sold still led to a larger value of production," Maples said. "On the egg side, there was a jump in value of production driven by both increased production and stronger prices." |
| Mississippi soybean farmers end dour year, hope for profitable '26 | |
| Soybeans have been in the headlines a lot this year. Between a trade war with China, rising costs for farming equipment and supplies and low prices, farmers have seen a perfect storm of economic uncertainty. "It's been a doozy of a year for agriculture," said Rob Baker, a Mississippi soybean farmer and Director of the American Soybean Association. Soybeans are the second-largest agricultural product in Mississippi behind chickens. Valued at around $1.6 billion a year, almost all of the state's soybeans are destined for international markets. China is the world's largest importer, but in May, it stopped buying soybeans in response to President Donald Trump's tariffs. China did not place its first order until October, just before Trump met with China's President Xi Jinping. This period of uncertainty left American soybean farmers in limbo. The White House has said that China committed to buying 12 million metric tons of soybeans from the U.S., but so far it has only bought 332,000 metric tons. This has led to concerns about whether it will keep its promises, but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently said that China is still on track to keep up its end of the deal. This year's tariffs alone didn't cause the challenges but they did exacerbate existing problems soybean farmers were facing. In fact, farmers are still experiencing impacts of a 2018 trade war. In May, Will Maples, an assistant professor of agricultural economics at Mississippi State University Extension Service told Mississippi Today that some of the economic challenges soybean farmers were facing were "kind of a holdover from the last 2018 trade war we had with China." |
| Price increases raise the stakes for farm equipment upgrades | |
| Is buying the fancy new farm tech making money or bleeding money? An ag economist's answer is always "it depends." "Ag is just one of those industries where buying new equipment sometimes increases the overall cost of production," said Mississippi State University ag economics specialist Brian Mills. Purchasing new or new-to-you equipment is a multilayered decision-making process. It's not so much about finding a bargain buy on a new planter as it is finding the right piece of equipment that balances cost, efficiency and usability for a specific farm. "Every person has different cost structure, so you need to do your own budgets, and the more accurate information, the better your decision-making," Mills said. "The beginning of the year is a really good time to evaluate where to make improvements, or maybe there's some inefficiencies you can correct that might increase your profitability." Evaluating inefficiencies in equipment and carefully calculating expenses is more important than ever, especially considering the creeping costs of ag equipment. |
| Education: Local graduate students research honored in Mississippi State thesis competition | |
| Mississippi State's Graduate School is recognizing eight students for their superb research presentations given during the university's annual Three Minute Thesis competition. Participants include: Samadhi Nawalage, of Starkville, a Ph.D. student studying sustainable bioproducts, was the grand champion for a presentation on "Turning Waste into Sustainable Iron Composites for Cleaner Water." Uditha Weerasinghe, of Starkville, a Ph.D. student studying physics and astronomy, was the people's choice for a presentation on "Understanding the Strong Force." The event challenges graduate students to present their thesis and dissertation topics in three minutes or less. Student presentations are judged by a panel of academic and non-academic professionals with a wide range of expertise. This year, 41 graduate students competed for the Three Minute Thesis MSU Grand Champion, with nine judges reviewing the presentations. |
| 7,000 mammograms from OCH may need review | |
| Hundreds of patients who received mammograms performed at the Center for Breast Health and Imaging over the past two years are now being told to have their exams re-evaluated. Baptist Memorial Health Care, which now owns the facility that was formerly managed by OCH Regional Medical Center, sent letters to affected patients that said mammography services at the facility have not been compliant with federal regulations. The letter, a copy of which The Dispatch obtained from a recipient who requested anonymity due to privacy concerns, notified patients about a "serious concern about the quality of mammograms" performed at the facility between Oct. 30, 2023 and Oct. 30, 2025. "This does not necessarily mean that the results you and your health care providers were given are wrong," the letter reads. "However, most patients will need to have their mammogram performed at our facility reviewed to determine whether a repeat mammogram at another facility is needed." Rob Roberson, attorney for Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors, said the lapse happened while the imaging facility was under OCH Regional Medical Center management. The county sold OCH and its affiliated clinics to Baptist in October, with net proceeds estimated to land between $55 million and $58 million. "Before Baptist purchased the hospital, there apparently was a technician that had some type of (necessary) certification that had either quit, moved somewhere else," Roberson said. |
| USDA announces new per-acre payments for Mississippi farmers | |
| Mississippi farmers are set to receive new federal support under a U.S. Department of Agriculture program aimed at helping producers weather market and trade pressures. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it will spend $12 billion through its Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, which provides payments to farmers on a per-acre basis. For Mississippi's most important crops, the USDA lists payments of about $132 per acre for rice, $117 per acre for cotton, $44 per acre for corn and $30 per acre for soybeans. State leaders and agricultural groups say the funding is significant for Mississippi, where farming remains a major driver of the economy and rural communities depend heavily on crop production. |
| Massive project to expand South Mississippi beaches begins this year | |
 | All along Mississippi's shoreline, engineers determined to protect coastal cities from nature's forces are confronting an urgent problem: The beaches are shrinking. Years ago, swimmers and sunbathers sprawled across white sand that stretched far beyond the bustling beach highway. But so much of it has disappeared over the decades that now, in some spots, waves are washing close to traffic. "We're really to that critical point," said Trey McKnight, Harrison County's sand beach director. "We've got to make a move here." The federal government is about to. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is starting a massive project this year that will double the size of the beaches by adding more than 2 million cubic yards of sand from Ocean Springs to Bay St. Louis. The plan, which is scheduled to begin in Biloxi as early as February, is in some respects a practical solution. To replace sand lost to erosion on the man-made beaches, the Army Corps will haul more in by truck and dredge it from deep underwater. It is also a complex feat of engineering and an example of how communities across the Gulf South are trying to balance the divergent needs of man and nature. |
| Surprise winner emerges as owner of Marriott in Downtown Jackson | |
 | After initially bidding in an online auction last month to buy the former Marriott building in Downtown Jackson, one developer finalized a deal to buy the building on Jan. 2. In the original auction Dec. 8-10, it was believed there were approximately 15 bidders for the property in which the reserve price was lowered from $2 million to $1.5 million. There was a winner for $1.55 million, but did not secure the property. That's when Kumar Bhavanasi stepped in bought the property at $1.6 million. The New Jersey real estate developer had always been interested in the Marriott but said when he realized there were 15 or more entities bidding, he was happy there was other interest in the building. When the winning bidder didn't work out, Bhavanasi stepped in for the winning price plus $45,000 and completed the purchase. The 15-story building has been vacant since the pandemic and has come into disrepair after a major water pipe burst and flooded much of the first floor and underground, destroying many of the mechanical systems for the structure. The second and third floors above the meeting and convention areas have already been gutted, making those two floors easier to renovate. It is estimated it could take as much as $60 million to completely renovate the facility, whether it be for condominiums, apartments or as its original use as a hotel. However, Bhavanasi said his intention is to keep the property as a hotel. |
| Mississippi Senate seeks to streamline government for savings | |
 | Mississippi Senate lawmakers are interested in passing legislation that would reorganize state government in order to save some money. Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann (R-Miss.) said they're looking at the state's organizational chart for opportunities to potentially cut some boards and commissions within state agencies. "It's been a priority before, but we've had tax issues. We've had all kinds of other issues we've addressed," Hosemann said. State Sen. Tyler McCaughn (R-District 31), who chairs the Senate's Government Structure Committee, said they're looking for ways that lawmakers can help streamline how state government functions. "Reduce any administrative burdens and increase efficiency within state government. But we want to maintain the accountability and the effectiveness of public service. Going in there and stripping everything away is not what we're after," McCaughn stated. They're interested in looking at shrinking some boards and commissions within state agencies. According to Hosemann, there are about 200 of those boards and commissions. |
| Constituents are seldom heard in the Mississippi Legislature; hearings often last-minute, no agenda | |
 | When the Mississippi Legislature reconvenes in the Capitol's marbled halls this month, one voice will scarcely be heard: constituents'. Citizens and advocates are occasionally invited by lawmakers to speak at the Capitol. But unlike some other statehouses in the U.S., there are no formal opportunities for constituents in Mississippi to provide public comment or testimony in committee hearings, remotely or in writing. "Constituents should have a voice when it comes to policy making," said Sarah Moreland-Russell, an associate professor in the School of Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis who has studied testimony's impact on the lawmaking process. Moreland-Russell said she was "very surprised" to learn that there are no opportunities for Mississippi's citizens to regularly provide testimony at the statehouse. "If you're not hearing from the people that are actually being affected by a policy, then how do you know it's truly going to be effective?" she asked. In Mississippi, bills frequently fly through the committee process, oftentimes with little discussion by lawmakers and no input from the public. |
| After stories of alleged neglect, lawmaker will try again to reform Mississippi's prison health care | |
| In the wake of Mississippi Today reports of an amputation from a neglected broken bone, untreated hepatitis C and delayed cancer diagnoses, Rep. Becky Currie will try again in the coming legislative session to push through Mississippi prison health care reforms. A similar effort by the Republican chairwoman of the House Corrections Committee fizzled and died in in last year's session. In an interview outlining her plans, Currie said she will introduce legislation based on findings gleaned from numerous tours of Mississippi's prisons as well as instances of alleged denial of medical care documented by Mississippi Today. The findings have come to light as the state continues to direct hundreds of millions a year to a private medical contractor, VitalCore Health Strategies. "We've got to give patients -- I call them patients because when you're sick, you're a patient no matter where you are – we've got to give them the care that the taxpayers have already paid for," Currie said. |
| Senator McLendon outlines 2026 legislative priorities | |
 | Senator Michael McLendon announced his goal items for his 2026 legislative agenda in a series of Facebook posts before the new year. McLendon's agenda aims to tackle several issues he has campaigned on over his terms in office -- teacher pay, law enforcement retirement packages, tax eliminations, and annexations. One item that has garnered a large response from citizens is McLendon's proposed Whiteside Accountability Act. The proposal is named after sex offender Lindsey Whiteside, who received several letters of support from DCS educators and Board member Michele Henley. This act would allow for a recall process to remove school board members if they downplay or support sex offenders. McLendon said he had heard several concerns about citizens on the matter and started his agenda with this item. "Nothing is more important than protecting children and holding those in positions of trust accountable when they fail." McLendon wrote. |
| State Rep. Felsher details healthcare, sports betting, and school choice policies ahead of legislative session | |
 | State Representative Kevin Felsher said healthcare, retirement system reform, and school choice will be among his top priorities when the 2026 Mississippi legislative session begins in Jackson. Felsher said lawmakers have been reviewing policies related to the Public Employees' Retirement System or PERS, which he called "a huge issue." The retirement system is currently about 55% funded with a $26-27 billion shortfall, according to Felsher. "We need a steady source of funding, whether that be through redoing the lottery, how that's allocated, or perhaps sports gambling," Felsher said. Due to a recent change, PERS now requires law enforcement officers to work for 35 years for full retirement benefits, regardless of age. Felsher said that the timeline is too long, given the daily stress officers face. "I do think we have to come up with a solution to that. I'm working on that as we speak," Felsher said. ... Felsher plans to introduce the Future Innovators Act, which would require computer science and AI courses in all Mississippi schools by the 2029-2030 school year. "Every child in Mississippi will graduate with the knowledge of computer science and AI," Felsher said. The legislation builds on the 2022 Computer Science and Cyber Education Equality Act. |
| Professional wrestler DiBiase Sr. has ongoing defamation suit against State Auditor White | |
| Even as his son faces federal prosecution on Tuesday in the now-infamous Temporary Assistance for Needy Families scandal, former professional wrestler Ted DiBiase Sr. has an ongoing defamation lawsuit against Mississippi State Auditor Shad White filed in August of last year. DiBiase is accusing White of defamation and seeking to halt publication of White's book about the state's welfare spending scandal. In a complaint filed in Hinds County Circuit Court, DiBiase alleges White made false and defamatory statements about him in the book "Mississippi Swindle: Brett Favre and the Welfare Scandal that Shocked America," which was published in August 2024 while related civil litigation was still pending. The lawsuit never hit the news at the time it was filed. Court documents show White was served with the complaint on Nov. 19, 2025. The lawsuit names White in his individual capacity, not as state auditor, and also includes unnamed defendants identified as John Does 1–10. DiBiase alleges White used his position and public platform to promote defamatory claims for personal and political gain. |
| Mississippi Welfare-Fraud Trial Spotlights National Oversight Failures | |
 | The first trial in the Mississippi welfare scandal is set to begin this week, nearly six years after it erupted in one of America's poorest states. The scheme, involving misuse of at least $77 million in federal aid given to the state under programs including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, resembles the sprawling safety-net scandal in Minnesota, Mississippi's Republican auditor, Shad White, said publicly in recent days. He noted on X that "these kinds of programs, both in Minnesota and Mississippi, were shot through with fraud." White, who for years has urged Congress to tighten oversight of TANF, said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that the problem isn't partisan politics, but inadequate monitoring and accountability. "The average working Joe in red Mississippi was upset that a whole lot of welfare money got lit on fire down here," he said. "And I would hope an average working Joe up in Democratic Minnesota would be just as offended." Former professional wrestler Ted DiBiase Jr., is the only federal defendant in the case who opted to stand trial, which is scheduled to begin Tuesday in the state capital. |
| States are tightening limits on what SNAP recipients can do with their benefits | |
| SNAP -- the food assistance program -- is changing. Last year's One Big Beautiful Bill Act changed who is eligible, changed work requirements, and shifted more of the cost of administering the program to the states. And starting Jan. 1, a handful of states have implemented a Trump administration priority by restricting the use of SNAP benefits to purchase what the USDA calls "non-nutritious" items. What that means, exactly, varies by state, but it often includes sodas and candy. By the end of the year, at least 18 states will restrict the use of SNAP benefits this way. There are already limits on what people can buy with their SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, cards. Whether something does or doesn't have alcohol is pretty cut and dry. But is a flavored seltzer a soda? What about a sweetened beverage? Is a granola bar candy? In some of the states, all will be restricted. In others, just some. Margaret Mannion, with the National Association of Convenience Stores, said this is where things are going to get complicated. |
| Will the government shut down? Bipartisan bills try to avoid a repeat | |
 | Top lawmakers in Congress released three bipartisan spending bills on Monday that they're aiming to pass before the end of the month to avoid another government shutdown. On the heels of the record-breaking fiscal crisis last year, there's not much appetite on Capitol Hill to allow funding to lapse past a looming Jan. 30 deadline. Yet even if lawmakers failed to pass more appropriations measures by then, the government would only partially shut down. Congress already approved a series of full-year funding measures in November. The same Democrats who pushed hard last October to shutter federal agencies -- mostly in failed hopes of pressuring Republicans to extend health care subsidies that expired at the start of the year -- are already saying they don't expect to do it all over again. Still, Congress is far from coalescing around any of the many alternative legislative plans that have been floated to attempt to bring down health care costs as they spike for millions of families, particularly Obamacare enrollees. |
| US intervention in Venezuela could test Trump's ability to hold GOP together in an election year | |
| President Donald Trump's military intervention in Venezuela will pose a fresh test of his ability to hold together a restive Republican coalition during a challenging election year that could be defined by domestic concerns like health care and affordability. While most Republicans lined up behind the president in the immediate aftermath of the stunning U.S. mission to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and bring him to New York to face criminal charges, there were signs of unease across the spectrum within the party. In particular, Trump's comments about the U.S. positioning itself to "run" Venezuela have raised concerns that he is abandoning the "America First" philosophy that has long distinguished him from more traditional Republicans and helped fuel his political rise. "This is the same Washington playbook that we are so sick and tired of that doesn't serve the American people, but actually serves the big corporations, the banks and the oil executives," said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a former Trump ally who is resigning on Monday, in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. |
| Wicker commends capture of 'illegitimate Venezuelan dictator' as Thompson calls U.S. action an 'illegal attack' | |
| American military forces captured Venezuela's leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in an early Saturday morning raid. The two now faces arraignment Monday in a New York federal court on "narco-terrorism" charges. Secretary of State Marco Rubio referred to the action as "basically a law enforcement function," saying that the "Department of War supported the Department of Justice." The U.S. Department of Justice says in its filing that Maduro ran a "corrupt, illegitimate government" and an extensive drug-trafficking operation that has flooded America with tons of cocaine. Mississippi U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, commended President Donald Trump (R), the American military, and the U.S. law enforcement community for a successful mission to arrest the "illegitimate Venezuelan dictator" and bring him to America to face the U.S. justice system. Mississippi 2nd District Congressman Bennie Thompson (D), the U.S. House Homeland Security ranking Democratic member, was not as complimentary of the White House and the DOJ as was Wicker. |
| Trump Suggests U.S. Could Take Action Against More Countries | |
 | President Trump suggested on Sunday that the United States could take action against other countries after its attack on Venezuela. He threatened Colombia and its president, described Cuba as "ready to fall" and reasserted his desire to take control of Greenland. Mr. Trump has been facing questions about his plans for Venezuela since a U.S. raid in Caracas captured the country's president, Nicolás Maduro, and brought him to New York City to face federal drug trafficking and weapons charges. As Mr. Trump took questions about that on Sunday, he spoke of other countries in Latin America and beyond. On Air Force One, Mr. Trump told reporters that Colombia was being "run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States." Mr. Trump also suggested that the United States could take action against other countries, including Mexico and Iran, over a range of issues. Mr. Trump suggested that military intervention was unnecessary in Cuba, a key ally of Venezuela, because it was "ready to fall." "I don't think we need any action," Mr. Trump said. "It looks like it's going down." On Air Force One, Mr. Trump also reiterated his desire to take control of Greenland, the semiautonomous Danish territory in the North Atlantic that he has said the United States must acquire for security purposes. |
| Big Tech's fast-expanding plans for data centers are running into stiff community opposition | |
| Tech companies and developers looking to plunge billions of dollars into ever-bigger data centers to power artificial intelligence and cloud computing are increasingly losing fights in communities where people don't want to live next to them, or even near them. Communities across the United States are reading about -- and learning from -- each other's battles against data center proposals that are fast multiplying in number and size to meet steep demand as developers branch out in search of faster connections to power sources. In many cases, municipal boards are trying to figure out whether energy- and water-hungry data centers fit into their zoning framework. Some have entertained waivers or tried to write new ordinances. Some don't have zoning. But as more people hear about a data center coming to their community, once-sleepy municipal board meetings in farming towns and growing suburbs now feature crowded rooms of angry residents pressuring local officials to reject the requests. A growing number of proposals are going down in defeat, sounding alarms across the data center constellation of Big Tech firms, real estate developers, electric utilities, labor unions and more. |
| Boston Dynamics is training an AI-powered humanoid robot to do factory work | |
 | With rapid advances in artificial intelligence, computer scientists and engineers are making progress in developing robots that look and act like humans. A global race is underway to develop humanoid robots for widespread use. Boston Dynamics has established itself as a frontrunner in the field. With support from South Korean carmaker Hyundai, which owns an 88% stake in Boston Dynamics, the Massachusetts company is testing a new generation of its humanoid robot, Atlas. This past October, a 5-foot-9-inch, 200-pound Atlas was put to the test at Hyundai's new Georgia factory, where it practiced autonomously sorting roof racks for the assembly line. Today's AI-powered humanoids are learning movements that, until recently, were considered a step too far for a machine, according to Scott Kuindersma, who is the head of robotics research at Boston Dynamics. "A lot of this has to do with how we're going about programming these robots now, where it's more about teaching, and demonstrations, and machine learning than manual programming." Kuindersma said. As fears grow that AI will displace workers, humanoid robots are learning to perform human tasks. Boston Dynamics is training Atlas to do a job that human workers currently handle at Hyundai's Georgia plant. |
| Inside Elon Musk's Optimus Robot Project | |
| The future of Tesla is an army of humanoid robots that Elon Musk says could eliminate poverty and the need for work. He has told investors the robots could generate "infinite" revenue for Tesla and have potential to be "the biggest product of all time." Musk has bet the company and his personal fortune on this vision of the world in which Optimus, as it is known, works in factories, handles domestic chores, performs surgeries and travels to Mars to help humans colonize the planet. Though today each robot is made by hand, Musk has proposed manufacturing millions of robots a year. Optimus still has a lot to learn about the world before it is capable of replacing its human creators in the type of full-scale societal shift that Musk has in mind. In public appearances, the robot is often remotely operated by human engineers. On the engineering side, it has proven difficult for Tesla to create a hand for the bot with both the sensitivity and dexterity of a human. Inside Musk's companies, some employees have questioned the usefulness of the bots for routine business operations like manufacturing. Musk is motivated to prove the skeptics wrong. |
| President Nora R. Miller announces planned retirement from The W | |
| Following a 30-year career in higher education, Mississippi University for Women President Nora R. Miller has announced her plan to retire, effective June 30, 2026. Miller shared her decision following careful reflection and long-term planning, emphasizing her commitment to continuity and a smooth leadership transition for the university. She will remain fully engaged in her role through her final day. "This is a deeply personal decision, made with gratitude and pride," Miller said. "The W has shaped my life in profound ways -- as a student, as an administrator and for the past seven and a half years as its president. Serving this university has been the privilege of a lifetime." Since assuming the presidency in 2018, Miller has led The W through a period of both challenge and progress, strengthening the university's financial foundation, modernizing operations and navigating the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining institutional momentum. IHL will guide the leadership transition process. The Board of Trustees will share information regarding next steps at the appropriate time. The W remains focused on its mission of access, affordability and academic excellence, with priorities and operations continuing as planned. |
| Education: Wilson named executive director for alumni and development | |
| Mississippi University for Women is pleased to announce alumna Elise Wilson has been named executive director for alumni and development. Wilson, who has served as interim since May 2025, brings a passion for student success and strong community connections to the university's leadership team. "I am honored to serve in this role and to continue working alongside colleagues and partners who are committed to advancing our mission," Wilson said. "Our community is filled with individuals whose passion for this institution runs deep. My focus will be on building intentional collaborations across campus and ensuring we link that passion with purpose -- aligning donor interests with meaningful opportunities that directly support our students." "I look forward to working with Elise in this role," said University President Nora Miller. "Her enthusiasm for students, deep community connections, strong work ethic and exceptional organizational and communication skills make her a great choice for this position. I look forward to her continued work with donors, as well as campus and community partners." |
| Ole Miss launches new program for space economy | |
 | The University of Mississippi School of Law is launching a new master's degree program for fall 2026 that is open to everyone across the galaxy. The first of its kind, the online Master of Science program in air and space law will help students understand how to contribute to the aviation and space industries that are a backbone of the global economy. "Dependence on the air and space infrastructure is only going to grow as we build drone delivery programs and continue to rely on satellites for communications, earth observation and other critical services," said Michelle Hanlon, director of the university's Center for Air and Space Law. Focused on the commercial and practical aspects of space law, the program will equip participants to understand how best to employ the capabilities that aviation and space platforms provide. "Nearly every commercial activity on Earth is already – or soon will be – shaped by drones, satellites and other aviation and space infrastructure," said Fred Slabach, dean of the law school. "This new degree is designed for non-lawyers who want to understand how these laws affect their businesses and careers." |
| Ole Miss research aims to boost nuclear fuel safety with nanoparticles | |
| Nuclear power is among the cleanest energy sources on Earth, but the materials that fuel it can degrade during operation. A new international study may unlock safer, longer-lasting fuel for the next generation of reactors. Samrat Choudhury, University of Mississippi associate professor of mechanical engineering, is a part of a team of researchers looking for ways to make nuclear reactors more stable for long-term use. In a study published in Advanced Materials Interfaces, they found that embedding uranium nitride nanoparticles in a metallic fuel may help it better withstand the extreme environment of irradiation within fission reactors. "One of the major problems with current nuclear fuel, especially metallic fuel, is that during irradiation, the material swells and it touches the surrounding cladding material," he said. The cladding is the protective shell that keeps radioactive fuel and its byproducts sealed off from the reactor. Over time, the interaction of those fission byproducts causes the cladding to degrade and become brittle, potentially shortening the reactor's life. "The idea is, can we trap the fission products within the metallic matrix itself before they reach the cladding?" Choudhury said. "If we can, we are talking about fuels for the next generation of nuclear reactors." |
| New certified nurse midwives help UMMC expand prenatal care in underserved Mississippi communities | |
| The University of Mississippi Medical Center is building a strong foundation for improved maternal and fetal health by investing in foundational care that supports women and families from pregnancy to childbirth. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology will receive more than $2 million from the Roots & Wings Foundation to grow its certified nurse-midwife program. The unrestricted nature of the gift -- totaling $2,145,000 -- made it possible to immediately hire two certified nurse midwives who were already working within the Medical Center as labor and delivery nurses. Founded in 2020 by Judy and Gordon Faulkner, the Roots & Wings Foundation is dedicated to helping children "grow strong from the roots up." Since its inception, Roots & Wings has contributed nearly $4 million to UMMC, with a focus on improving care for children up to age three. UMMC once led the nation with its midwifery education program, creating a blueprint that universities across the country would adopt and build upon. Now, as Mississippi grapples with some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the United States, UMMC is once again working to expand midwifery care---thanks to a philanthropic investment and a renewed commitment to improving outcomes for mothers and babies. |
| USM professor: Maduro arrest 'definitely going to touch a nerve' with Latin American allies | |
 | Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is in the United States to face charges of conspiracy and narco-terrorism after U.S. forces arrested him and his wife in a daring overnight raid in Caracas Saturday. Officials say no U.S. service members were killed. Nicolas Maduro is scheduled to make his first appearance in U.S. federal court Monday. Among those reacting to Maduro's capture is University of Southern Mississippi professor of history Matthew Casey, who teaches Latin American history and U.S.-Latin-American relations. He's concerned about how Maduro's arrest will impact America's relations with allies in the region. He's also worried about potential long-term political instability in that region. "This is definitely going to touch a nerve in Latin America, especially among our allies," Casey said. "The U.S. has a long history of either invading or overthrowing leaders there, and very often, the consequences do not go as policymakers think they will, and people suffer as a result." |
| Alabama senator exploring new funding option for higher education institutions | |
| The Senator chair for Alabama's education budget committee is working on drafting a bill that could change how some higher education institutions are funded. Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, said in an interview Friday the new model, called outcomes based funding, could push the public colleges and universities in the state to attain better graduation rates, increase workforce participation and help with research. "How can we incentivize certain institutions to help them keep those students in school? Well, it all takes money. It takes resources. So the money that we would provide, we would say, 'Okay, college, your four year graduation right now is 8%. We'd like to see that next year get to 10% or 12%.' It's gonna take time, but we're going to reward movement." At the Nov. 12 Joint Modernizing Higher Education Funding Committee, Orr said he was using the Renewing Alabama's Investment in Student Excellence (RAISE) Act as a model for how the new higher education funding bill would look. The RAISE Act, which passed in the 2025 regular session, gives K-12 schools extra funding to help certain classes of students, such as English language learners and special education students. Orr said other states use a similar method to fund higher education institutions. |
| ACHE: College degrees may not pay off right away, but by 30, the gap is clear | |
| As Americans continue to debate whether a college degree is still worth the cost, a new analysis from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education shows the answer is yes, even if college doesn't always look like it pays off right away. Using Alabama wage and earnings data, ACHE researchers found that college degrees continue to provide a lifetime "wage premium" in the state, a finding that mirrors what researchers have found nationwide for years. But that premium can be hard to see early on, as student debt has grown, the labor market has tightened and concerns have mounted nationally about how artificial intelligence could reshape entry-level jobs. At age 18, median wages are similar regardless of education level, according to the analysis. In the years immediately after high school, workers who skip college often earn slightly more than those who enroll. That early advantage doesn't last. By workers' mid-20s, wage differences by education level begin to show up. By age 30, workers with postsecondary credentials, including associate and bachelor's degrees, earn nearly twice as much as workers without them, according to ACHE's analysis. The gap keeps growing as careers progress. |
| LSU AgCenter scientists preserve species with cryogenics | |
 | How can scientists preserve native Louisiana species, boost the state's aquaculture industry, improve extreme weather resilience and advance cancer research? The answer lies with something like frozen fish, it turns out. At the LSU AgCenter Aquatic Germplasm and Genetic Resources Center, or AGGRC, a group of 40 undergraduates, graduate students, staff and faculty members specializes in using liquid nitrogen to freeze and preserve the sperm, eggs and embryos of fish, frogs, salamanders, shrimp, oysters, crawfish, algae and other aquatic species. They strive to improve genetic storage technology, with profound implications for cancer and disease research, biomedical studies and the ability of communities to conserve their native species following natural disasters. "The AGGRC's goal is to preserve Louisiana's identity and culture in aquaculture, to make sure it's passed down to future generations," Engagement Director Irene Marti Gil said. "If we don't act now, this is going to be gone." |
| UGA continues with plan to demolish Legion Pool | |
 | The day after Christmas, officials at the University of Georgia released its decision to stand by its plan to demolish Legion Pool, a swimming pool that has been a place for summer splashes and dives since 1936. Now on the verge of turning 90 years old, UGA reports it still plans to demolish the pool and replace it with an outdoor recreational spot with seating and standing room that can accommodate about 4,600 people. The 150-foot-long pool -- not visible from the roadways -- is located off South Lumpkin Street near Baxter Street. A statement from UGA that was packed with reasons to support the demolition was crafted by the UGA Marketing & Communications and released by James Hataway, the Tennessee native who is senior director for Integrated Media Communications. The design for the location, which includes expansion of the Legion Field green space and an additional 70 parking spaces for students, attracted opposition from many in the community who felt UGA should preserve and upgrade the swimming pool that some felt had historic merit for Athens. |
| Ex‑U. of Florida President Ben Sasse says he has stage‑four pancreatic cancer | |
 | Former University of Florida President Ben Sasse says he has been diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer and that he is "gonna die." "This is a tough note to write, but since a bunch of you have started to suspect something, I'll cut to the chase: Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die," he posted on X from his verified account at 10:12 a.m. on Dec. 23. "Advanced pancreatic is nasty stuff; it's a death sentence. But I already had a death sentence before last week too -- we all do," Sasse said in his 665-word post. "... I'll have more to say. I'm not going down without a fight." The Sun has reached out to Sasse for comment. UF interim President Dr. Donald Landry and Board of Trustees chair Mori Hosseini issued a joint statement later on Dec. 23. "On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the entire Gator Nation, we extend our sincerest thoughts and prayers to President Sasse, his wife Melissa and their lovely children," the statement says. Sasse, 53, abruptly resigned in July 2024 due to his wife's epilepsy diagnosis. |
| Texas A&M System declines to reinstate fired lecturer despite faculty panel's findings | |
| Texas A&M University will not reinstate a lecturer who was fired in the fall after a video of her teaching about gender identity in a children's literature class went viral, despite a faculty appeals panel unanimously concluding that her dismissal was not justified. The New York Times first reported Wednesday that interim Texas A&M president Tommy Williams deferred the decision to the university system, and that James Hallmark, the system's vice chancellor for academic affairs, wrote in a Dec. 19 memo that Melissa McCoul's termination in September was supported by "good cause." He did not explain his reasoning. McCoul's attorney, Amanda Reichek, confirmed to The Texas Tribune that this sequence of events occurred. The controversy at Texas A&M, along with new laws expanding the power of governor-appointed regents over curriculum, hiring and discipline and expression on campuses, sparked changes across Texas higher education, with university systems launching course audits and adopting new restrictions on how race, gender and sexuality are taught. |
| Proportion of Black faculty stagnates at Mizzou as professors describe a 'mass exodus' | |
 | When Aaron Campbell was appointed to be an assistant professor of special education at the University of Missouri in 2023, she became the first Black tenure-track faculty member in her department. Campbell is one in a cohort of Black professors at MU that has technically increased in the last decade, but only by a small amount in relation to the rest of the professoriate: from 2013 to 2023, the proportion of Black professors on campus rose by less than one percent -- from just over 3% to 3.78%, according to data collected from the National Center for Education Statistics. By comparison, the university's total professoriate expanded by about 10% in the same time period. According to self-reported data on MU Analytics, in Fall 2025, there were just 85 Black faculty out of 2,231 total professors -- about 3.8% of the professoriate. From that number, just 36 have tenure or tenure-track status, compared to 1,000 professors total with the ranking. |
| Study: Virginia faces $23 million revenue loss due to international student enrollment changes | |
| With college students returning to class after the New Year, international students face heightened uncertainty in Virginia, as ongoing federal actions -- including visa bans and disruptions to application processing -- have led to a projected $23 million revenue loss for the commonwealth compared to last fall. Virginia received $893.5 million from more than 23,000 international students at its colleges and universities from 2024 to 2025, according to the Association of International Educators (NAFSA). The organization's analysis, conducted by JB International, warns that restrictive federal policy changes, such new four-year caps on visa validity, may deter international students. Rachel Banks, director of public policy for NAFSA, noted that in response, schools are adapting by allowing extended deferrals or online starts to maintain international student engagement and mitigate potential enrollment losses. There is growing global competition for international students, Banks said, stressing that without proactive, student-friendly policies, U.S. institutions of higher learning will struggle to remain competitive, risking program cuts and decreased class enrollments that could impact financial stability. |
| Elite Colleges Are Back at the Top of the List for Company Recruiters | |
| The "talent is everywhere" mantra adopted by U.S. employers when the job market was white hot is giving way to a more traditional entry-level recruiting strategy: hire from a few select universities. Instead of one or two passes through 45 to 50 schools each year, GE Appliances now attends four or five events each semester at a slimmer shortlist of 15 select universities that includes Purdue and Auburn. Bill, a financial technology firm, is focused on recruiting heavily from colleges near its corporate offices in San Jose, Calif., and Draper, Utah. And McKinsey, the white-shoe consulting firm that expanded its recruitment efforts well beyond the Ivy League in the wake of George Floyd's murder, recently removed inclusive language from its career page that said, "We hire people, not degrees." A 2025 survey of more than 150 companies found that 26% were exclusively recruiting from a shortlist of schools, up from 17% that were doing so in 2022, according to Veris Insights, which conducted the research. Nearly all the other firms surveyed said they use a mix of focusing on "target schools," while also accepting online applications from a longer list of colleges. In practice, that means job applicants who attend prestigious universities or schools located close to company headquarters are given priority, said Chelsea Schein, Veris's vice president of research strategy. College students and their parents are trying to assess the future of entry-level work in a white-collar employment landscape marked by slow hiring, layoffs and AI displacement of knowledge workers. The return to old-school recruiting strategies is another reason many graduates are seeing fewer job opportunities. |
| Student loan borrowers in default may see wages garnished in 2026 | |
 | The Trump administration will soon begin garnishing the wages of student loan borrowers who are in default. The Education Department said it will send notices to approximately 1,000 borrowers in early January, with more notices to come in increasing numbers each month. Millions of borrowers are considered in default, meaning they are 270 days past due on their payments. The department must give borrowers 30 days' notice before their wages can be garnished. The department said it will begin collection activities "only after student and parent borrowers have been provided sufficient notice and opportunity to repay their loans." In May, the Trump administration ended the pandemic-era pause on student loan payments, beginning to collect on defaulted debt by withholding tax refunds and other federal payments to borrowers. The move ended a period of leniency for student loan borrowers. The Biden administration tried multiple times to give broad forgiveness to student loans, but those efforts were eventually stopped by courts. |
| NIH Approves 100s of Grant Applications It Shelved or Denied | |
 | The National Institutes of Health is deciding, per court agreements, whether to award or deny droves of grant applications that the agency previously either rejected or shelved. This funding was stalled last year amid the Trump administration's blunt moves to restrict research into certain disfavored topics, such as diversity, equity and inclusion -- though researchers and state attorneys general said officials shot down a greater range of projects, including ones that could save lives. The NIH's agreements, laid out in court filings in two ongoing lawsuits, are already bearing fruit. A spokesperson for the Massachusetts attorney general's office, which is leading one of the cases, said the agreement in that suit promises decisions on more than 5,000 grants nationally. On Dec. 29, the date of the agreement, the NIH issued 528 grant decisions, 499 of which were approvals, the spokesperson said. A spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union, which is leading the other case, said the agreement in that case involves about 400 grants. He said the NIH awarded at least 135 out of 146 applications in a batch of decisions on Dec. 29. |
| Under a Trump Deal, International Students Are Singled Out for 'Open Debate' Training | |
 | For her freshmen year at Northwestern University, Dasha Dubinina arrived two days early from Belarus to learn alongside other international students how to set up a bank account, file taxes, and maintain their visa status. "You arrive, you're jet lagged, you're shocked. You're trying to understand how campus life works, and how to find your place on campus, and how to find a dining hall," Dubinina said. Soon, Northwestern will have to come up with ways to teach its 9,500 international students about another issue, too: the norms of free inquiry and open debate. It's one of several provisions administrators agreed to as part of a November deal with the Trump administration to restore nearly $800 million in frozen federal research funding. International students and their advocates are at odds over whether the unusual ask will help or hurt. Some say training international students in free inquiry could help them better adjust to new academic expectations as they enter an unfamiliar environment. Others are wary that training only international students could enforce the view that they are threats to national security and cultural norms. |
| Congressional Republicans Look to Build on 2025 Higher Ed Reforms | |
| Lowering college costs, boosting accountability and reforming accreditation will likely be at the top of congressional Republicans' to-do list for 2026. But as public approval ratings for President Trump continue to decline and midterm elections loom, higher education policy experts across the political spectrum say congressional conservatives could be running out of time. The push for more affordable higher education has been gaining momentum for years, and while it was a common refrain at the committee level in 2025, complex and sweeping debates over tax dollars soaked up much of lawmakers' attention. First, the Republicans passed their signature piece of legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cut taxes for wealthy individuals, increased them for elite universities and overhauled the student loan system. Then, they turned their attention to disagreements on the federal budget -- an impasse that led to the record 43-day government shutdown. But in the few cases where members of the GOP did get to home in on college cost issues, whether via legislation or hearings, an underlying theme emerged -- holding colleges accountable for their students' return on investment. Higher education experts have no doubt that concern will continue in 2026, but Congress won't have the time or the oxygen needed to nail down real changes unless they figure out how to fund the government, which runs out of money again Jan. 31. |
| Trump's next plan for the US education system: Lots and lots of rules | |
 | President Donald Trump disrupted universities and school districts in 2025 through sheer executive muscle. Now comes the harder part: making sure his policies outlast his presidency. Trump signed a dizzying number of education-related executive orders -- spanning from diversity initiatives to college oversight -- launched a barrage of civil rights investigations into schools, froze billions in federal research cash and started his long-promised dismantling of the Education Department. His actions were designed to pressure schools into adopting policies that align with his political agenda, bolster parental rights and give states more control over their schools. In many ways, the moves worked: Some schools responded by eliminating diversity programs, barring transgender students from women's sports and striking unprecedented deals with the White House hoping to get their federal research cash flowing again. Trump's actions have left school leaders feeling shaky about their relationships with Washington in a way conservatives have wanted for decades. But many educators are fighting back in court, and Trump's focus on using executive actions leaves a lot of his education legacy at the whims of the next president. To make lasting changes, Trump's next move will be to make his policies harder to unravel. |
| Why Universities Can't Be Neutral | |
| When universities' responses to Oct. 7 and its aftermath alienated people on all sides of the issue, interest grew in convincing schools to stay quiet---to embrace a standard of institutional "neutrality." A coordinated campaign from campus speech organizations such as FIRE and Heterodox Academy pushed university trustees to adopt policies like those set out in the University of Chicago's 1967 Kalven Report, which declared that a university is "the home and sponsor of critics; it is not itself the critic." By one estimate, over 150 universities have now done so. The Trump administration's Compact for Higher Education would make institutional neutrality a requirement for federal funding. There is just one problem: The neutrality so many are touting and pledging is largely an illusion. |
| America's citadels of stability are crumbling | |
| Columnist Bill Crawford writes: Chinese leaders at a December meeting led by Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated their consistent focus on "pursuing progress while ensuring stability." Stability, hmmm. Following WWII, global stability became a major goal of a United States tired of fighting wars begun in Europe and Asia. We led development of multinational institutions like the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, the United Nations, and others to promote cooperation. We built a comprehensive global security network through multi-national alliances like NATO, bilateral security pacts such as those with Japan, South Korea, and Israel, and troop, Navy flotillas, and other military asset deployments in Europe and Asia to head off future conflicts. We fostered democratic reforms worldwide, e.g. President George H.W. Bush made the spread of democracy a key part of his national security policy. Today these citadels of stability have begun to crumble. |
| Gov. Reeves, Lt. Gov. Hosemann are not lame ducks yet, but perhaps beginning to limp a bit | |
| Mississippi Today's Bobby Harrison writes: Gov. Tate Reeves and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann may not be lame ducks, but perhaps they could be described as limping ducks going into the 2026 legislative session that begins Tuesday. Reeves and Hosemann, two of Mississippi's most prominent politicians, could be nearing the end of long political careers where they have exercised significant influence. Reeves is in his sixth four-year term in statewide office, while Hosemann is in his fifth. The 2026 session starts the second half of what could be their final four-year term. Hosemann, 78, presides over the Senate and generally wields substantial power in the Capitol. He has in the past said he is considering a campaign for governor in 2027. But it is hard to believe he will enter the race if billionaire businessman Tommy Duff runs, as he is signaling he will do. Term limits will prohibit Reeves from running again for governor, though he is only 51. ... House Speaker Jason White, the third person in the triumvirate that sets the legislative agenda, most likely does not face similar issues. White is in his first term as speaker, and, regardless, the office of speaker of the Mississippi House is not term-limited. The fact that White does not face a lame duck situation puts him in a stronger position on what most likely will be the primary issues of the 2026 session, such as whether to expand the opportunities to provide public funds to private schools. |
SPORTS
| Men's Basketball: The Final Horn: State 101, Texas 98 | |
| Mississippi State opened SEC play in Austin with a thrilling 101-98, overtime victory over the Texas Longhorns on Saturday evening. Josh Hubbard had a monster night to lead the way to the Bulldog triumph. Hubbard came out hot with seven early points to give the Bulldogs a quick boost. Later, State ignited a 9-0 run over a 2:56 span to take a 27-21 lead at the under-8 timeout. Hubbard finished the first half with 20 points, and the Bulldogs held a 48-43 edge at the break. The second half remained tight over the full 20 minutes as the two programs traded blows back and forth. In the extra period, the offense kept its rhythm and was able to keep producing down the stretch. The Bulldogs return to the Hump to host Oklahoma in their SEC home opener on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will air on SEC Network. |
| Hubbard Collects SEC Player of the Week | |
| Mississippi State basketball's Josh Hubbard captured SEC Player of the Week honors announced Monday by the conference office. For Hubbard, it marks his sixth weekly award from the SEC. He was a five-time SEC Freshman of the Week during the 2023-24 season. Hubbard posted 30.0 points, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per contest as State moved its winning streak to five consecutive games. He poured in a career-high tying 38 points at Texas which also marked the most points scored by an SEC player this season. Hubbard brought State to the finish line as he amassed 10 points in overtime and hit the go-ahead trey with 39 seconds remaining to break a 96-96 tie to give the Bulldogs the lead for good. The 38-point effort vaulted Hubbard into 11th place on State's all-time scoring list, while the six treys pushed him into a 2nd place tie at State with 260 career treys. Five of his six career games of 30+ points have come against SEC opponents. |
| Basketball Dawg Talk Returns On Monday | |
| Mississippi State basketball's radio show, "Dawg Talk" presented by Learfield, returns for the first of three exclusive men's basketball episodes on Monday at Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux from 7-8 p.m. CT. The 60-minute program airs on the MSU Sports Radio Network affiliates from Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux which is locally owned by State alumni and located at 996 MS HWY 12 E in Starkville. Neil Price, "The Voice of the Bulldogs", will serve as the show's host. He will be joined by head coach Chris Jans, while Josh Hubbard and Shawn Jones Jr. are scheduled to appear on the Jan. 5 episode. For those unable to attend the show in-person, "Dawg Talk" will be streamed courtesy of Hail State On-Demand at www.HailState.com/watch and The Varsity Network App. Coach Jans is slated to make two additional appearances in February. Fans can purchase single game tickets for the program's remaining home games through Mississippi State's Athletic Ticket Office at www.HailState.com/tickets or by calling (662) 325-2600 / (888) 463-2947 (GO DAWGS). |
| Mississippi State alum Jeffery Simmons breaks Titans record for single-season sacks by DT | |
| Former Mississippi State star Jeffery Simmons etched his name into the Tennessee Titans record book on Sunday, breaking the record for most sacks in a season by a defensive tackle. Simmons took down Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence for an eight-yard loss on the first play from scrimmage on Sunday. It was Simmons' 11th sack of the 2025-26 season, surpassing Jurrell Casey's 10.5 mark set in 2013. Simmons' record-breaking day was one of few bright spots for Tennessee (3-14), which ultimately lost 41-7 to end the regular season. While the season is over for Tennessee, Simmons will get a chance to show off his skills once more when the 2026 Pro Bowl Games happen next month. He finished the 2025-26 campaign 67 tackles, 39 of which were solo, 11 sacks, and three forced fumbles. |
| When Does The 2026 College Baseball Season Start? | |
| With the calendar turned to a new year and college baseball's preseason runway officially extended by the NCAA, the 2026 season is coming into focus. Division I players are set to return to campus for preseason practices, which now begin 35 days before the start of competition in what is a significant expansion from the previous 21-day window. Preseason Division I rankings will soon follow, with non-Division I opening days arriving shortly thereafter. Division I opening day is Feb. 13. In 2025, 30 of the 35 at-large tournament bids went to teams from the SEC (12), ACC (eight), Big 12 (seven) and Big Ten (three). Independent Oregon State also locked up an at-large berth. It left just four at-large tournament spots for mid-majors, the fewest since the NCAA adopted the 64-team super regional format in 1999. Still, six conferences and an independent were represented in the College World Series with LSU and Arkansas (SEC), Louisville (ACC), Arizona (Big 12), UCLA (Big Ten), Coastal Carolina (Sun Belt), Murray State (Missouri Valley) and Oregon State (independent) in the field. Murray State's run marked just the fourth-ever Omaha appearance from a regional-round No. 4 seed. |
| Gonzaga coach Mark Few's criticism shines light on NIL, college basketball and Congress | |
 | The NCAA is staring down intensifying criticism over how it determines eligibility and the role name, image and likeness (NIL) money is playing in the recruitment by universities of top football and basketball players. A growing number of coaches and fans have been raising alarms about NIL's effect on NCAA basketball, even as much of the sports world is focused on the College Football Playoff. The controversy on the hardwood centers on players who have spent time in the NBA's developmental leagues or with semipro clubs overseas and are being recruited to play for Division I basketball programs. In some cases, these players are forgoing the pro draft to pursue NIL deals at top state and private schools instead. Mark Few, the longtime Gonzaga men's basketball coach who is among the winningest in the sport's history, insisted change is needed at the NCAA and suggested lawmakers on Capitol Hill get involved in leveling the playing field. "Our lack of leadership has really shown," Few told reporters this week. "Now it's probably time to get some help from Congress, but they're more screwed up than the NCAA." Few had been asked to respond to news that James Nnaji, a 21-year-old former NBA draft pick, had committed to Baylor University and was awarded four years of eligibility by the NCAA. He's the latest in a string of players who have entered the college basketball scene from outside the traditional recruiting system. |
| NCAA Defends House Settlement From Title IX, Opt-Out Appeal | |
| Objectors to U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken's approval of the settlement between the NCAA, its power conferences and current and former Division I athletes represented by the House, Carter and Hubbard antitrust litigations have raised unpersuasive and unsupported arguments, the NCAA and power conferences insist in a brief filed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit last week. Rakesh N. Kilaru and other attorneys from Wilkinson Stekloff hope to persuade the Ninth Circuit that it should affirm Wilken's historic ruling. The settlement will pay out some $2.6 billion in damages over a 10-year period to Division I athletes dating back about eight years to reflect lost NIL opportunities, including from video games and broadcasting, due to eligibility rules. The settlement also contains an injunctive relief portion, which allows participating colleges to directly pay athletes a share of up to 22% of the average power conference athletic media, ticket and sponsorship revenue and could exceed $20 billion in payments over the next decade. As Sportico has detailed, objectors maintain both the damages and injunctive relief favor male athletes -- particularly football players -- over female athletes in ways that violate Title IX. The NCAA argues there are several flaws with the objectors' theories of appeal. |
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