| Wednesday, January 28, 2026 |
| New Maroon Camp's Rocking Chairs to celebrate the practices and people who make MSU special | |
 | New Maroon Camp's Rocking Chairs event will return on Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. in Lee Hall's Bettersworth Auditorium. Free to all, the event will feature distinguished former Bulldogs who will share words of wisdom about Mississippi State University's traditions and opportunities. Riley Carolyn Walker, New Maroon Camp's marketing coordinator and a junior marketing major, spoke about the purpose of the event. "We host this event to celebrate the traditions and people that make State so special and to help the next generation of students feel connected with the past," Walker said. One of these special speakers, Edwin "Eddie" Keith Jr., will talk about his experiences from a lifetime working at colleges in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. Keith is a 1970 graduate of Mississippi State who also earned a master's degree at MSU before his doctorate at the University of Florida. Keith said Mississippi State will always hold a special place in his heart because of his days as a student as well as his decision to return to the university to work for over twenty years before his retirement in 2014. When asked about the decision to return to Mississippi, Keith spoke about wanting to be closer to his mother. He quoted the famous Alabama football coach "Bear" Bryant's reasoning: "Momma called. And when Momma calls, you just have to come runnin'." At Rocking Chairs, Keith plans to share with students the importance of focusing on the types of relationships that keep drawing people back to MSU. |
| More than Lincoln: Lessons in history and humanity at MSU | |
 | Whether it's a group of elementary school students on a field trip or a crowd of retired visitors coming through on a tour, visitors of the Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana tend to leave having learned something new about the nation's 16th president. Kaelynn Edmondson, the archival project coordinator for the collection housed at Mississippi State University's Mitchell Memorial Library, told The Dispatch Tuesday the preservation of the gallery's more than 40,000 historical artifacts help to educate visitors on Abraham Lincoln's ideals and importance. "I think it's really important to continue this education, whether it be Lincoln or Civil War or anything really, collections like this in universities are important because we reach people you never would think you reach," Edmondson said. "... (Visitors) come to view our collection, and they're just so excited to continue to learn. And that's kind of what it's all about, no matter who you are, what age you are, where you come from." The collection features more than $3 million in items ranging from manuscripts and books written by Lincoln to historical memorabilia all donated by Frank Williams, a former chief justice for the Supreme Court of Rhode Island. The collection, which was first displayed in 2017, is set to become six items larger in February, Edmondson said. The new items will include a doll of Lincoln made during the 1860s, a letter written by Lincoln to political ally Jesse O. Norton and a DeWitt County (Illinois) docket book from Lincoln's time as a judge will be showcased at the Treasures from the Vault lecture and exhibit Feb. 12 at Mitchell Memorial Library. |
| MSU's Archival Project Coordinator Shares Insights on Lincoln Collection | |
 | The lives and legacies of two American presidents are on permanent display at Mississippi State University. MSU's Mitchell Memorial Library is home to the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and the largest private collection of memorabilia related to President Abraham Lincoln. The Archival Project Coordinator of that collection, Kaelynn Edmondson, shared information and insights about the collection Tuesday in Columbus. If he had only been president during the Civil War or written the Emancipation Proclamation, he would have cemented his legacy. Since he did both and more, he has gone down in History as one of our most influential presidents. But there is one question visitors always ask: "Why Mississippi?" |
| Ace your spray drone flights with this free video series | |
| Evolving ag spray drone technologies simultaneously make on-farm autonomy easy to use --- and easy to get confused. Carrying chemical payloads over essential farm ground means drone operators need to keep their skills sharp, which has been made easier with a free 13-part online video course newly released by Mississippi State University. "Aerial application by drone is without a doubt the No. 1 thing we've been receiving questions about at the Ag Autonomy Institute," said Madison Dixon, AAI associate director of research. "Lot of interest, lot of early adoption, lot of benefits associated with this technology when it works right. But as we all know... technology isn't failure proof, and there's a lot of times when it doesn't work right." To help farmers and ag drone operators across the country better understand the in-field ins and outs of high-quality drone applications, the MSU course includes quick and easy videos covering a range of in-demand topics, as well as a more in-depth troubleshooting session. The coursework is highlighted with groundbreaking MSU research. |
| Mississippi state legislative bills to watch that could impact students | |
| The 2026 regular session of the Mississippi Legislature began on Jan. 6, and the deadline to introduce general bills was last Monday. Bills are now in committee, according to the Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System, with a deadline of Feb. 3 for committees to report them in their house of origin. Here are some bills to watch that could impact student life at Mississippi State University. |
| Frostbite races return Saturday with more than 1,000 runners | |
| Kicking off bright and early Saturday morning, the 41st annual Frostbite races are set to host more than 1,000 runners for the second consecutive year. The half-marathon will kick off at 9 a.m. Saturday, followed by the 10K and 5K races starting five and 10 minutes later, respectively. A portion of proceeds from the races will benefit the T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability. Due to ongoing construction near City Hall, starting and finish lines will shift slightly this year. Races will begin and end on University Drive in front of Reed's and Regions Bank. "Downtown's making progress with their construction, and they've been great to work with," Wes Gordon, co-race coordinator, told The Dispatch. "I just ask the runners to have a little patience. We'll be back to better than ever next year, but this year, we had to make some slight adjustments." Runners in all three races will initially head west on Main Street, turn south onto Lafayette Street for one block and then turn west onto Lampkin Street before taking respective routes through the city's central historic districts. The 10K and half-marathon runners will make their way onto the Mississippi State University campus and South Farm, respectively. Registered runners can pick up their race packets from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday at the Mill at MSU on Russell Street. |
| Expert warns of scam spikes during times of crisis | |
| A social media post has been circulating featuring a damaged vehicle from a local utility and an injured man. Tuesday morning, the company addressed the post, letting customers know that the injured person was not one of its employees. It's accessible, it's convenient, but it's not always true. People often turn to social media in times of crisis for updates -- leaving room for scams and misinformation to spread. False information has spread about two agencies that serve the area in the past week. "We see a lot of misinformation, we see a lot of scams on social media. Partly because they are so easy to do because there is very little effort required to put something up that's misinformation or a scam," said Dr. Barry Smith, professor and chair of Communication at the Mississippi University for Women. The misinformation that was spread implied the winter storm was the cause of the incidents. Smith said it's common for scams to rise during hard times. Even if a post is shared by someone you know, Smith suggests fact-checking the information before you believe the post or reshare it yourself. |
| Generators, blankets, candles: Mississippians without power cope in the cold | |
| As frigid temperatures persist, supplies dwindle and roads remain impassable, tens of thousands of Mississippians remain without power. For some, there is no clear end in sight. Heather Hurt of Corinth had been without power for almost 60 hours on Tuesday afternoon. To keep herself and four children between the ages of 5 and 14 warm, she has been using a generator to run one space heater and three heated blankets. The family has been huddling in a bedroom to stay warm since Sunday in their home. The family cannot leave the house because the roads in their neighborhood are impassable without four-wheel drive, Hurt said. She grew up in Indiana and is used to wintery weather, but said the conditions now in the northeastern corner of Mississippi -- ice-covered roads, snapped trees and fallen power lines -- are much worse. "This is a whole different ballpark," Hurt said. Winter Storm Fern has caused subfreezing temperatures, icy roads and power outages across Mississippi. Dangerous roads, low temperatures, and failing limbs are also impacting crews' ability to restore power to northern Mississippi and the Delta. |
| Oxford senator helps coordinate storm relief, warns of price gouging | |
| State Sen. Nicole Boyd is coordinating relief efforts in her storm-damaged district while warning residents about contractors attempting to charge excessive fees for cleanup work. Boyd, whose district covers parts of Lafayette and Panola counties, said residents are struggling without power, and some are without water following the storm. Many cannot leave their homes due to blocked driveways. "People feel helpless right now and that's what's so hard," Boyd said. "When something happens like this, you have no water, you have no heat. There are a lot of driveways where people can't get out right now." Boyd said she has been coordinating phone calls to help residents get assistance. She said the community has seen positive responses from volunteers helping neighbors. "We do see great things coming out of this. A lot of everyday heroes that are coming out of this really trying to help people," she said. However, Boyd said some contractors are attempting to exploit the situation. She reported one incident Monday morning in Oxford where a contractor offered to remove fallen trees from a yard for $19,000. "On my street this morning in Oxford, you had an individual with a truck that showed up, offered to help somebody with the trees that are down the yard and wanted to charge them $19,000," Boyd said. "You see those kind of shysters that are going to be coming in our community." Boyd said such incidents should be reported to the attorney general's office. |
| Mississippi Forestry Commission to celebrate 100 years in March | |
 | The Mississippi Forestry Commission will mark a major milestone in 2026 as the agency celebrates 100 years of service to the State of Mississippi, commemorating a century of protecting lives, property, and forest resources since its founding on March 6, 1926. For the past century, MFC has played a vital role in safeguarding Mississippi's approximately 19 million acres of forestland, supporting one of the state's most important economic engines while protecting public safety and natural resources. From wildfire prevention and suppression to forest management assistance and landowner outreach, MFC's mission has remained focused on serving the people of Mississippi. "Forestry is more than trees -- it's about protecting communities, supporting rural economies, and ensuring Mississippi's forests remain healthy and productive for generations," said Russell Bozeman, Mississippi State Forester. "As we reflect on 100 years of service, we're also looking ahead to the future, and the continued role forestry plays in our state's success." Throughout 2026, the Mississippi Forestry Commission will commemorate its centennial with a series of initiatives designed to honor its history, recognize the people behind the mission, and educate future generations about the importance of forestry. |
| AccelerateMS graduates first class from new workforce training academy | |
| AccelerateMS announced the first group of graduates from its new statewide talent development academy, marking the launch of a program aimed at strengthening workforce training across Mississippi. The program, known as the Facilitation Academy for Certified Excellence in Training, or FACET, is designed to build instructional and facilitation skills among learning and development professionals. The pilot cohort included 14 instructors in career and technical education and workforce training from Northwest Mississippi Community College. Graduates completed a five-day training program delivered in two phases from December 2025 through January and earned the inaugural Mississippi Certified Workforce Facilitator professional certification, issued by AccelerateMS. The academy was delivered by The Career Brand as a beta program in partnership with Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia. Additional certifications are in development, with future offerings planned for industry and business partners later this year. |
| Senate considers pre-funding COLA for future state employees under new PERS tier | |
| The Senate Finance Committee passed a bill that would add $5 million per year over 10 years for future cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for new state employees hired after March of this year under the new Tier 5 in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). The bill, SB 2613, is authored by State Senator Daniel Sparks (R). An account would be established and managed by PERS to hold and invest the funds as is done with other state funding for the retirement system. "This money will grow. We are pre-funding a COLA," Sparks told the committee. "I don't know of anything more conservative than putting money away today for a future expense." Under the new Tier 5, a COLA is not guaranteed for incoming state employees. Sparks said each year the Legislature would determine if a COLA was possible by examining funding and the Consumer Price Index. "We feel this bill would show once again that the Senate is taking the position that we're in the process of stabilizing the PERS system," the senator said. "It's the exact opposite of what we did in 1999, which was give a 3 percent COLA and not pay for it," said Sen. Daniel Sparks, R, adding that the negative cash flow that resulted has contributed the challenges with PERS. |
| Legislator's bill aims to close six-week payday gap for Mississippi public school teachers | |
| Most Mississippi public school teachers are in the middle of a six-week payday gap. Their last payday was on Dec. 19, before winter break and amid several holidays. A bill authored by Rep. Zakiyah Summers, a Democrat from Jackson, would add a payday in early January, giving teachers financial relief before the end of the month. House Bill 1420, or the Spring-Step Teacher Pay Bridge Act, has bipartisan interest, she said. The fight to improve teachers' quality of life has a direct impact on student success, she said. "We know that when we're positioning our teachers to be successful, we're also positioning our schools to be successful, our districts, and of course our communities to be successful as well," Summers said. The bill is with the House Education and Appropriations committees. There is no guarantee that it will progress. "We're looking into it," said Rob Roberson, chairman of the House Education Committee and a Republican from Starkville. "We're trying to find an option that doesn't necessarily include having to change a law, but works with MDE (the Mississippi Department of Education) to help alleviate some of the stress on teachers." "I understand the problem she's trying to solve," Roberson said of Summers. "I want our solution to be one that we can get districts to buy into as well." |
| Judge orders Phillip Moran held in custody overnight over alleged death threats | |
 | Judge Christopher Schmidt ordered former Mississippi State Sen. Philip Moran held overnight in custody pending a decision on whether to revoke his bond in a bribery case over alleged death threats the ex-senator made. The District Attorney's Office is asking to revoke the bond, alleging Moran made death threats during a Jan. 22 conversation with a member of the Hancock County Board of Supervisors. Assistant District Attorney Chris Daniel argued that Moran poses a danger to the community. During a hearing Tuesday in Circuit Court in Gulfport, prosecutors played a recording of a conversation between two FBI agents and the supervisor, identified as Darrin Bo Ladner, after authorities received tips about the alleged threats. In the Jan. 26 recording, Ladner said the conversation occurred Jan. 22, after Moran called him to his Diamondhead home to talk. Ladner said Moran asked who was trying to put him in jail and told him he had plenty of ammunition and could "wipe somebody out tomorrow." In addition, Ladner said he was told pancreatic cancer runs in Moran's family and said the elder Moran said if he found he had the cancer tomorrow, he'd wipe a lot of people out. "You know, ... I think he's so embarrassed right now there is no telling what he is going to do," Ladner said. |
| Multiple projects in the Pine Belt funded if spending package becomes law | |
 | On Jan. 22, the United States House of Representatives voted in a bipartisan manner, 220-207, and approved six, new, spending bills. Those bills would fund the government until the end of the fiscal year, which is Sept. 30. Since the House has passed the funding, the Senate now will vote, and either approve or reject the spending bills. If the legislation passes both chambers, it will then go to President Donald Trump for final approval. Rep. Michael Guest said several Pine Belt projects will receive funding if those bills are passed and become law. "In Sandersville, which is in northern Jones County, we were able to receive several million dollars, I think roughly two-and-a-half-million dollars, for funding for infrastructure work on water and sewage," Guest said. "This is a much-needed project for that part of Jones County. And then, in Covington County, we were able to secure roughly a million-and-a-half dollars for funding for them to build an emergency management center." If the spending bills are not passed in the Senate by Friday at midnight, the government could face a partial shutdown. |
| Yazoo Backwater Pumps, Arkabutla Lake Dam among projects funded in federal appropriations bill signed by Trump | |
| President Donald Trump (R) has signed into law the FY 2026 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill which includes $49 million for the Yazoo Backwater Pumps and $21.9 million for Arkabutla Lake dam repairs, among other appropriations. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and its Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, Mississippi U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) said her office worked to secure the funding for the Mississippi projects. In total, the federal appropriations bill directs more than $184.1 million for 30 authorized U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects in Mississippi. "The Army Corps always has important projects underway in Mississippi to improve our waterways and ports. I've been focused on ensuring it has adequate resources to make headway on securing the Arkabutla Lake dam, moving us forward on the Yazoo Backwater pumps, and sustaining our flood protection infrastructure," Hyde-Smith said in a statement. "This is a responsible bill and I'm pleased it's on a clear path to be signed into law." |
| Trump Returns to Iowa Amid Farm Struggles | |
 | President Trump pointed to his support for agriculture during his first visit to a farm-belt state since his administration announced a $12 billion package aimed at steadying the fortunes of struggling American farmers, who have been dealing with tariffs, lower grain prices and higher costs. "Didn't I just give the farmers $12 billion dollars?" Trump said Tuesday at an Urbandale, Iowa, restaurant where diners listened along. The president told reporters he took the steps "because they were treated unfairly by foreign countries. I said, 'how much?' They said, '$12 billion,' and I said, 'they've got it.' You know where I got it? Tariffs, I got it from the tariffs," he said, prompting applause at the Machine Shed restaurant. In the first nine months of 2025, nearly 300 farms filed for bankruptcy, up almost 40% from 2024, according to U.S. court data. Trump held an economic event on Tuesday in Clive, Iowa, a suburb of Des Moines, where he sought to amplify the administration's message on reducing the cost of goods and energy ahead of the midterm elections. The president has cited a reduction in gas prices and the record-setting stock market in recent weeks, along with lower mortgage rates, as positive signs for the U.S. economy. Many farmers -- a loyal voting bloc for Trump in 2024 -- strongly support the president, but some are growing frustrated with how his policies, including his far-reaching tariffs, have hurt the agricultural economy. |
| Hints of progress to end Senate immigration funding quagmire | |
 | Senators reported positive behind-the-scenes discussions Tuesday night as they returned to Washington in search of a way to end an impasse over Homeland Security funding that could trigger a partial government shutdown this weekend. Without imminent signs of a breakthrough, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., started the legislative clock to get onto the underlying $1.3 trillion, six-bill spending package needed to avert another partial government shutdown when stopgap funding runs out Friday night. He filed cloture on the motion to proceed, which would "ripen" for a vote on Thursday barring a bipartisan deal to speed things up. And there will likely have to be changes for the measure to hit the magic 60-votes target to advance past a filibuster, as Democrats have united against the DHS piece of the package in the wake of two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during a Trump administration immigration crackdown. "Productive talks are ongoing," Thune said Tuesday, while calling on Democrats to "continue their engagement and find a path forward that would avoid a needless shutdown." Homeland Security is facing increased Republican scrutiny as recent polling shows falling approval of the president's immigration agenda. |
| Boozman, Cotton want investigation following recent fatal Minneapolis shooting | |
| Both of Arkansas' U.S. senators want an investigation into the weekend's fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis, yet they offered different positions concerning such an inquiry. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., expressed confidence in the Department of Homeland Security's ability to investigate the death of Alex Pretti, a second U.S. citizen killed by federal officers in Minnesota this month. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., was not as definitive, instead stressing a process capable of receiving the public's confidence. "Well, we'll have to wait and see, and that's really the question," Boozman, of Rogers, said Tuesday. "I think it needs to be very transparent. That's how you keep accountable and keep trust with the public, or how you gain it." Senators returned to Capitol Hill on Tuesday amid fierce questions about the Department of Homeland Security, the Trump administration's nationwide immigration crackdown and recent actions by federal agents in Minneapolis. Whoever leads the investigation, Boozman said, needs to ensure a "transparent process that everyone has confidence in." "Not only people in Congress, but the American public," he said. |
| The Legal Fallout in Minnesota Has Only Just Begun | |
 | The Trump administration and the Republican Party are currently scrambling to deal with the fallout after the unjustifiable killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino have been sidelined after spending the weekend lying about Pretti and blaming him for his own death. The border czar Tom Homan, who was under investigation for public corruption before returning to office, will now oversee Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minnesota. Republicans in Congress are fretting about the public backlash. Whether there will be any actual policy changes remains to be seen, and certainly no one is holding their breath for an apology -- to Pretti's family, to Renee Good's family or to anyone else. But even if Trump were to pull ICE entirely out of Minneapolis tomorrow, long-lasting damage has been done, particularly to the U.S. criminal justice system. The whole episode risks further destabilizing federal-state law enforcement relations throughout the country, ultimately making Americans everywhere less safe. |
| Minnesota judges hit breaking point with ICE | |
 | A high-stakes hearing Friday will bring the immigration crackdown in Minnesota to a head in the courts, as the nation's top Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official will be forced to take the stand to explain the agency's aggressive surge. "The Court's patience is at an end," Patrick Schiltz, the chief judge of Minnesota's federal district court, wrote Monday. Schiltz's contempt threat against acting ICE Director Todd Lyons comes as the court has been overwhelmed with lawsuits challenging the agency's tactics and the Trump administration's efforts to shield it from scrutiny. Minnesota is suing to get ICE out of the Twin Cities. Local prosecutors want a judge to provide access to evidence in this weekend's shooting. Civil rights interests are challenging ICE's antiprotest tactics. And dozens of migrants caught up in the surge have filed individual cases contesting their own circumstances. It's led to an inflection point that will put Lyons on the stand. Schiltz said the court has been "extremely patient" with the administration, even as thousands of agents descended on Minnesota to detain noncitizens without a plan for the hundreds of legal challenges that were "sure to result." |
| Immigration agents, leaders defy best practices honed by U.S. police for half a century | |
 | Drawing on decades of experience after having dealt with the beating of Rodney King, the killing of George Floyd and more, American law enforcement leaders, civil rights advocates and other legal experts have honed best practices for officers making street arrests, conducting crowd control and maintaining public safety amid mass protests. Officers are trained to not stand in front of or reach into moving vehicles, to never pull their firearms unless it is absolutely necessary, and to use force only in proportion to a corresponding threat. They are trained to clearly identify themselves, de-escalate tensions, respect the sanctity of life and quickly render aid to anyone they wound. When police shootings occur, leaders are trained to carefully protect evidence and immediately launch an investigation -- or multiple ones -- in order to assure the community that any potential wrongdoing by officers will be fairly assessed. According to many of those same leaders and experts, it has become increasingly clear in recent days that those standards have been disregarded -- if not entirely tossed aside -- by the federal immigration agents swarming into American cities on the orders of President Trump and administration officials tasked with overseeing the operations. |
| Representative Ilhan Omar Is Attacked at Town Hall in Minneapolis | |
 | During a town hall with Representative Ilhan Omar in Minneapolis on Tuesday evening, a man rushed the lectern and appeared to spray her with a strong-smelling liquid before he was tackled by security. The man, who had been seated directly in front of the lectern in the front row, suddenly jumped up as Ms. Omar was speaking and ran toward the podium. He used a syringe to spray her shirt with a substance that smelled strongly of vinegar. As he stumbled backward and pointed at her, a security officer tackled him to the ground, handcuffed him and removed him from the room. Gasps were audible through the crowd, as well as cries of "Oh my God, oh my God." Some attendees yelled out, "He sprayed something!" A woman in the crowd appeared near tears. The Minneapolis Police said the man, whom they later identified as Anthony J. Kazmierczak, 55, was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of assault. A forensics squad was called to analyze the scene, he added. Ms. Omar, a Democrat who represents part of Minneapolis and has been a frequent target of President Trump, held the town hall in her district of Minneapolis to address the ongoing ICE operations in the city. Hours before, Mr. Trump criticized Ms. Omar at a rally in Iowa and repeated inflammatory remarks about her birth country, Somalia. |
| John Kennedy's book achieves a rare distinction for a senator: It's selling | |
 | A dozen sitting U.S. senators published books last year, including big names such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-New York). But a book by Sen. John Neely Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican who is a regular on Fox News but hardly a household name, outsold all the rest of them last year -- combined --- according to data from NPD BookScan. "How to Test Negative for Stupid: And Why Washington Never Will" has spent 15 weeks on the New York Times hardcover nonfiction bestseller list, including several weeks at No. 1 -- a rare achievement for any book, but especially one by a senator. Among political books published last year, only former vice president Kamala Harris's campaign memoir, "107 Days," appears to have sold more copies, according to the data. Kennedy's book remains one of the 100 best-selling books on Amazon -- which includes new books as well as classics -- nearly four months after it was published. Unlike many of the best-selling political books of President Donald Trump's first term, "How to Test Negative for Stupid" is not primarily about Trump. Instead, it is part-memoir, part-insider account of the Senate, all told in Kennedy's indefatigably folksy, simile-heavy way of speaking. But he is also an Oxford-educated lawyer who spent 17 years as Louisiana's state treasurer -- the first seven as a Democrat -- then switched parties as his state grew redder. |
| Trump's use of AI images pushes new boundaries, further eroding public trust, experts say | |
 | he Trump administration has not shied away from sharing AI-generated imagery online, embracing cartoonlike visuals and memes and promoting them on official White House channels. But an edited -- and realistic -- image of civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong in tears after being arrested is raising new alarms about how the administration is blurring the lines between what is real and what is fake. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's account posted the original image from Levy Armstrong's arrest before the official White House account posted an altered image that showed her crying. The doctored picture is part of a deluge of AI-edited imagery that has been shared across the political spectrum since the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by U.S. Border Patrol officers in Minneapolis. However, the White House's use of artificial intelligence has troubled misinformation experts who fear the spreading of AI-generated or edited images erodes public perception of the truth and sows distrust. In response to criticism of the edited image of Levy Armstrong, White House officials doubled down on the post, with deputy communications director Kaelan Dorr writing on X that the "memes will continue." White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson also shared a post mocking the criticism. David Rand, a professor of information science at Cornell University, says calling the altered image a meme "certainly seems like an attempt to cast it as a joke or humorous post, like their prior cartoons. This presumably aims to shield them from criticism for posting manipulated media." |
| Trump's acting cyber chief uploaded sensitive files into a public version of ChatGPT | |
| The interim head of the country's cyber defense agency uploaded sensitive contracting documents into a public version of ChatGPT last summer, triggering multiple automated security warnings that are meant to stop the theft or unintentional disclosure of government material from federal networks, according to four Department of Homeland Security officials with knowledge of the incident. The apparent misstep from Madhu Gottumukkala was especially noteworthy because the acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency had requested special permission from CISA's Office of the Chief Information Officer to use the popular AI tool soon after arriving at the agency this May, three of the officials said. The app was blocked for other DHS employees at the time. Gottumukkala "forced CISA's hand into making them give him ChatGPT, and then he abused it," said the first official. Gottumukkala's tenure atop the agency has not been smooth --- and this would not be his first security-related incident. At least six career staff were placed on leave this summer after Gottumukkala failed a counterintelligence polygraph exam that he pushed to take, as POLITICO first reported. DHS has called the polygraph "unsanctioned." Asked during Congressional testimony last week if he was "aware" of the failed test, Gottumukkala twice told Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) that he did not "accept the premise of that characterization." |
| To avoid accusations of AI cheating, college students are turning to AI | |
 | On college campuses across the United States, the introduction of generative artificial intelligence has sparked a sort of arms race. Rapid adoption of AI by young people set off waves of anxiety that students could cheat their way through college, leading many professors to run papers through online AI detectors that inspect whether students used large language models to write their work for them. Some colleges say they've caught hundreds of students cheating this way. However, since their debut a few years ago, AI detectors have repeatedly been criticized as unreliable and more likely to flag non-native English speakers on suspicion of plagiarism. And a growing number of college students also say their work has been falsely flagged as written by AI --- several have filed lawsuits against universities over the emotional distress and punishments they say they faced as a result. NBC News spoke to ten students and faculty who described being caught in the middle of an escalating war of AI tools. The competition between AI detectors and writing assistance programs has been propelled by a heightened anxiety about cheating on college campuses. It shows how inescapable AI has become at universities, even for students who don't want to use it and for faculty who wish they didn't have to police it. |
| National award recognizes Ole Miss dean's work to improve teacher quality | |
 | The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education has awarded David Rock, dean of the University of Mississippi School of Education, the 2026 David G. Imig Award for Distinguished Achievement in Educator Preparation. The honor, which will be presented at the association's annual meeting Feb. 20 in New Orleans, reflects Rock's career-long commitment to excellence. Named for the association's longtime president, the award recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to programs and policies that prepare teachers to better educate their students. For Rock, the recognition carries deep personal and professional meaning. "I'm honored to receive an award that bears David Imig's name," Rock said. "David has been a friend and mentor to so many of us in educator preparation and a champion for quality teaching throughout his career." "Quality education for the future generations of teachers has always been a priority for Dr. David Rock," said Noel Wilkin, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. "He realizes the importance of collaborations between the school districts, universities and governments in ensuring teaching excellence at the K-12 level." |
| Local reaction from MCC President on the proposed House Bill of Junior college consolidation into EMCC | |
 | A recently introduced house bill would bring major changes to junior college districts across Mississippi if approved. The potential consolidation could affect two junior colleges in our viewing area, Meridian Community College and East Mississippi Community College. The bill, drafted by two district representatives, proposes that three community colleges merge with other schools and reduce the number of districts from 15 to 12. MCC President Dr. Tom Huebner says he doesn't think this bill will go far, as MCC brings a lot of value to the community and to the area as a whole. "There's a community college system, and there are 82 counties that are divided up among 14 community colleges. Well, then there's us, and so it just seemed I could see why people would want to, I want to use the word pick on us, or we're just unique, we're different. We were created by the city of Meridian for the city of Meridian, and of course, we also have Lauderdale County, so we're very responsive to our community." State lawmakers are reaching out and are showing their support, as Huebner expresses gratitude for their generosity. "The legislators have been fantastic to work with Senator Tate, Representative Billy Adam Calvert, Greg Elliott, Representative Elliott, Representative Horn, and others; they have reached out. They're encouraging, supportive. They understand our value. They are advocates for MCC and for our community, and I'm grateful for that." |
| Educator Fired for Reading 'I Need a New Butt!' to Students Must Be Reinstated, Mississippi Court Rules | |
| Former Gary Road Elementary School Assistant Principal Toby Price may have his job reinstated after the Mississippi Court of Appeals reversed the Hinds County School District's decision to fire him for reading the book "I Need a New Butt!" to elementary students. "This Court finds that the termination of Price's contract was not supported by substantial evidence and was arbitrary and capricious," the judgment reads. "Therefore, we reverse the judgments of the Hinds County Chancery Court and Hinds County School Board and render Price's employment reinstated." In its Jan. 27 ruling, the Mississippi Court of Appeals found that the district had not proven that Price was dismissed for good cause. "...it is not Price's responsibility to prove that the book was appropriate for students; rather, it is Hinds County's responsibility to prove that it was inappropriate," the decision states. The Court remanded the case to the chancery court for further proceedings, including a determination of the amount of back pay Price is owed. |
| Hotel Capstone to become Graduate by Hilton Tuscaloosa in 2027 | |
 | The Hotel Capstone on Bryant Drive, situated on the eastern side of the University of Alabama campus, will convert to Graduate by Hilton Tuscaloosa by 2027. It will be the first of the Graduate brand in the Druid City. According to a written release by Jackson Hospitality Services, the hotel's Birmingham-based managing partner, the facility will be redesigned to Graduate by Hilton's style, drawing from local flavor, built around collegiate nostalgia. The hotel will not close during the renovations, but rooms will be taken out of inventory as needed, according to Neal Jackson, a vice president and partner in Jackson Hospitality Services. "Our restaurant, bar and conference spaces will temporarily close during renovations, but we will make adjustments and accommodations for our guests." Andrew Alford Creative, designer for the previous 35 Graduate by Hilton locations, will lean naturally into the Crimson Tide. There is already a dominant crimson and white scheme throughout, and the hotel was built from the red brick facades that adorn many campus buildings. Built in 1986 and opened as a Sheraton, it has long been the only hotel on the UA campus. n the release, UA President Peter J. Mohler said "The hotel will serve as the front door for many campus guests and will create a welcoming environment while spotlighting UA's unique culture and community." |
| Texas Gov. Greg Abbott halts new H-1B visa petitions at state agencies and universities | |
| Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texas universities and state agencies on Tuesday to halt new H-1B visa petitions, which are used by employers to hire foreign workers with specialized skills, until next year. The pause in the red state, which is home to thousands of H-1B visa holders, comes amid actions by the Trump administration aimed at reshaping the visa program. Critics argue that it has become a pipeline for overseas workers willing to work for lower pay and is taking job opportunities from Americans. But supporters say the program is crucial to attract top global talent, fill specialized roles and drive innovation. "State government must lead by example and ensure that employment opportunities -- particularly those funded with taxpayer dollars -- are filled by Texans first," Abbott wrote in his letter. But proponents of the program argue that it is beneficial to the state, and that any pause could worsen existing staffing shortages and hinder universities' ability to recruit talent. "Freezing those pathways makes it harder to staff classrooms, research centers, and hospitals across our state, raising costs, straining public services, and hurting Texans in every corner of our state," Rep. Ramon Romero Jr., Democrat and chairman of Texas Mexican American Legislative Caucus, said in a written statement. |
| UT Austin becomes NSF's top-funded campus, driven by computing and AI | |
| The University of Texas at Austin was the top university for research funded by the National Science Foundation nationally in fiscal year 2024 -- a sign of the university's leadership in scientific research. Federal funding pays for 60% of UT's research. In 2024, NSF dollars made up $176.4 million of that funding, accounting for roughly one-quarter of UT's total federal research dollars. Two major UT centers studying artificial intelligence computing power and image processing received significant investment from NSF. The research keeps UT on the forefront of the rapidly growing fields while ensuring the public can access its benefits. "I do think people all over Texas, if they're not already, will be using tools that were created by NSF researchers," said Adam Klivans, the director of the AI Institute for Foundations of Machine Learning. The biggest 2024 NSF grant for UT was a multi-year $457 million investment to build a "leadership-class" computing center, with UT receiving $26 million of the grant in 2024. The money will go to creating the largest-ever supercomputer, Horizon, which will have ten times the computing power than the current largest computer, Frontera, which is also at UT. In 2025, the university hit $1.37 billion for research expenditures, exceeding 2024's total. UT currently has 4,400 externally funded projects. |
| Another Red State Wants to Shake Up Higher Ed This Year | |
 | If the opening weeks of Iowa's legislative session are any indication, the state's universities may see drastic new regulation enacted this year. More than 20 bills relating to higher education have been introduced in the Iowa Legislature this month -- all sponsored by a handful of Republican lawmakers. Notably, some of the legislation would follow the lead of Texas, Utah, and Florida in regulating universities' general-education curricula. In November, Republicans in Iowa's House of Representatives created a committee on higher education, whose chairman told local media he was planning a "comprehensive review" of the state university system. Taylor Collins, a 2018 alumnus of Iowa State University, told KCRG his experience with a "liberal agenda" at the Ames campus inspired his legislative focus on the state's public universities. Not all of the bills will become law. But the volume and general thrust of the proposed legislation have raised red flags among faculty at the affected institutions who fear the effects of creeping political influence. Two of the more controversial bills relate to even more structural aspects of higher education in the state. One bill authorizes community colleges to provide bachelor's degrees, and another would force public campuses to seek accreditation from the novel Commission for Public Higher Education. |
| Inside the 'ghost student' scam that uses identity theft to steal college loans and financial aid | |
| Murat Mayor has no need for an associate's degree. The 58-year-old business analyst already has a Ph.D. But when he and his son, a high school senior, attempted last fall to apply for federal student financial aid, they learned that an account associated with both of their identities already existed. Those accounts showed applications to multiple community colleges -- and much more. "We noticed that there [was] a lot of activity" on accounts created in their names, Mayor said in an interview with ABC News. "There are a lot of applications, loan applications, grant applications ... then we panicked." Mayor knew immediately that something was amiss. He assumed his identity had been stolen. But he had no concept of the breadth of the scheme that had ensnared his and his son's identity, and he had certainly never heard of the army of digital fraudsters perpetrating the crime. They are known as "ghost students," and for thousands of colleges across the country, these sophisticated thieves have a become a scourge. The scammers will use stolen or fake identities to enroll in classes online and sign up for Pell grants and loans, then disappear once they get the money -- robbing the federal government of hundreds of millions of dollars and leaving an untold number of victims like Mayor and his son in their wake. |
| U.S. government has lost more than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s since Trump took office | |
| Some 10,109 doctoral-trained experts in science and related fields left their jobs last year as President Donald Trump dramatically shrank the overall federal workforce. That exodus was only 3% of the 335,192 federal workers who exited last year but represents 14% of the total number of Ph.D.s in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) or health fields employed at the end of 2024 as then-President Joe Biden prepared to leave office. The numbers come from employment data posted earlier this month by the White House Office of Personnel Management (OPM). At 14 research agencies Science examined in detail, departures outnumbered new hires last year by a ratio of 11 to one, resulting in a net loss of 4224 STEM Ph.D.s. The National Institutes of Health tops the list with more than 1100 departures, compared with 421 in 2024. On average, the 14 agencies lost roughly three times more of these experts in 2025 than in 2024, with the highest percent increase in departures at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). At most agencies, the most common reasons for departures were retirements and quitting. |
| At CHEA, Kent Blames Accreditors for Higher Ed's Woes | |
 | On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump called accreditation his "secret weapon." Now, a year into his second term, education under secretary Nicholas Kent is the one wielding that weapon. In year one, the Trump administration sought to stamp out diversity, equity and inclusion as part of accreditation standards and steered money toward new market entrants. But in year two, the federal government appears poised to ramp up its efforts to overhaul accreditation by rewriting current regulations this spring, as announced Monday. On Tuesday, Kent offered more insights into what lies ahead in remarks at the Council for Higher Education Accreditation's annual conference, held in Washington, D.C. Kent has previously accused accreditors of failing to hold flailing institutions accountable for poor student outcomes and cast such agencies as "a tool for political and ideological enforcement," and he repeated those themes Tuesday as he laid out plans for the coming accreditation overhaul. In a 35-plus-minute speech at CHEA, Kent cast accreditation as fundamentally broken. "I want to start by saying a bold and uncomfortable truth: Accreditation today is no longer a reliable indicator of the gold standard of education," Kent said. Kent also attributed the plunging public approval of higher education to poor student outcomes, for which he blamed accreditors and their failure to hold colleges accountable. |
| New Alliance Aims to Protect Colleges and Universities From Government Meddling | |
| A new national coalition, the Alliance for Higher Education, announced its launch Tuesday, promising to defend higher education from government interference. The nonprofit's mission is to protect higher ed's role in fostering democracy by ensuring that colleges and universities have academic freedom, autonomy and opportunity for all students to learn and succeed, said Mike Gavin, the organization's inaugural president and CEO. "Our goal -- the joke I've been making -- is to make things less bad," Gavin told Inside Higher Ed. "But in the long run, what we want to see is" higher ed making good on its "democratic promises." He believes that involves ensuring college access and preserving a "healthy separation" between government and higher ed. The plan is to tackle that goal through a multipronged attack. The alliance is providing "rapid-response" resources to counter and pre-empt the Trump administration's political incursions into higher ed. For example, the organization's site is already populated with reports and tool kits, including a template for how higher ed employees can respond to ICE actions as well as a guide for campus reflection and planning after the Trump administration dropped its appeal of the court order blocking its guidance to quash DEI efforts. The alliance has similarly been working on a resource to prepare higher ed institutions in case the Trump administration ever threatens to ax financial aid funding. |
| Restoring Mississippi's ballot initiative in 2026: Long road, real stakes, narrow chances | |
| Columnist Sid Salter writes: For the fifth straight year, lawmakers went back to the Capitol promising to "give the people their voice back." That voice is the ballot initiative -- Mississippi's century-old experiment with direct democracy -- and the 2026 session may be the best shot in years to restore it. But "best shot" doesn't mean "easy shot," and Mississippians should keep both eyes open about what's being offered and what might actually pass. First, the lay of the land. Since the Mississippi Supreme Court's 2021 decision voided the initiative process on technical grounds -- the five-district signature rule couldn't function once the state had only four congressional districts -- citizens have had no operative way to place issues on a statewide ballot. The Legislature's response has been a multi-year game of "almost," as House and Senate negotiators spar over thresholds, topics, and whether the revived process should touch statutes, the constitution, or both. This year, Senate Elections Committee Chairman Jeremy England is again out front. England argues Mississippians deserve a route around a Legislature that sometimes refuses to move, but he wants a tougher petition process designed for an era of viral online mobilization. His floated framework: signatures from 10% of active registered voters -- roughly 170,000 -- with no more than one-third from any single congressional district. Does that formula pass? The politics cut both ways. |
SPORTS
| Why new Mississippi State coach Brian O'Connor wanted dirt batter's box instead of turf | |
 | The playing surface at Charles Schwab Field is dirt where Mississippi State baseball hopes to be playing in the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. So, if that stadium has dirt, why shouldn't MSU's Dudy Noble Field? That was part of the thought process for new Mississippi State coach Brian O'Connor as changes were made to the playing surface. New for the 2026 season is a dirt batter's box and dirt basepaths leading to first and third base. Previously, they were turf. Foul territory and the warning track will remain turf but it has been replaced. The rest of the field is dirt and grass. "I get why it was turf," O'Connor told The Clarion Ledger on Jan. 21. "You get rain, it's better off being turf. But where the national championship is played, your spikes digging into the batter's box are in dirt." O'Connor said it wasn't solely his decision, but a collective one with administration and the grounds crew. There were already plans to get new turf for foul territory and the warning track before O'Connor was hired in June. The new dirt and turf were installed after fall practices and ahead of opening day when Mississippi State hosts Hofstra on Feb. 13. "I do like that," O'Connor said. "That said, it wasn't that big of a deal to me. But there were some things going on actually with the playing surface that by going to dirt base paths helped." |
| Bulldogs punch ticket to ITA Indoor Championships with weekend sweep | |
| Mississippi State men's tennis improved to 6-0 on the season and earned a spot at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Indoor Championships next month with a sweep of Santa Clara and Auburn in Starkville this weekend. The No. 7-ranked Bulldogs have never won the ITA Indoor National Championship before, but have a strong shot with one of the top doubles teams in the sport and a host of impressive players in the singles rotation. MSU somewhat surprisingly lost the doubles match point in both of its wins over Santa Clara and Auburn, but rebounded well in the singles matches. The Bulldogs swept all six singles games against Santa Clara on Friday to advance against Auburn, and would have to repeat the feat to advance to the championships. Niccolo Baroni and Mario Martinez Serrano delivered a strong 6-2 win to open the weekend against the No. 49-ranked duo of Nicholas Heng and Joseph Phillips, but Auburn got on the board with an upset win over No. 2-ranked Petar Jovanovic and Benito Sanchez Martinez. A loss by Bryan Hernandez Cortes and Michal Novansky meant that the Bulldogs had to make up ground on the scoreboard in the singles matches. They responded, taking five of the six games to get past the Tigers. The win was the 217th for head coach Matt Roberts, putting him just three shy of the program record for all-time wins. |
| Women's Golf: Weed, Bulldogs Finish Runner Up At UCF Challenge | |
| The 18th-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs finished runners up in the 2026 edition of the UCF Challenge at Eagle Greek GC in Orlando at 20-under par. The Bulldogs were led by Avery Weed, the top-ranked collegiate golfer, who finished runner up individually at 8-under. The Bulldogs took the course for the third day of action to complete the final four holes of their third round. Due to a forecast of colder temperatures on Tuesday morning, the field started the third round after completing their second round on Monday. Weed earned her fifth top five finish in as many tournaments this season. The junior from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, has now earned eight top five finishes in her three seasons in the Maroon and White. Weed shot a 2-under third round, which extended her streak of under par rounds to 10 straight. On the season, she is now 39-under par. The Bulldogs will be back in action for the Moon Golf Invitational in Melbourne, Florida, beginning on February 16. |
| Jackson State announces schedule change for on-campus 'SportsCenter' airing | |
| "SportsCenter" is still coming to Jackson State, but it will now be at a later date due to Winter Storm Fern's impact across the country. University officials announced Tuesday that ESPN's flagship program will come to Mississippi's capital city two weeks later than originally planned. The show was initially set to air from inside the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center on Monday, Feb. 2, to kick off Black History Month. It has since been rescheduled to take place on Monday, Feb. 16. Doors will open to students and fans at 11 a.m. The live broadcast was originally set to begin at 1 p.m. CT, followed by another live airing at 4 p.m. CT. Interviews scheduled include with Tigers men's basketball coach and former NBA standout Mo Williams, along with an appearance by the nationally-celebrated Sonic Boom of the South marching band. At this time, no changes to the show's format have been announced. |
| College Recruiting Costs Shrink as Football Powers Adapt to Portal | |
| The breakneck transfer portal era of major college sports is reshaping not only who spends the money, but also how the money is spent. Five years ago, recruiting budgets were on the rise for the NCAA's biggest programs, as rivals raced to host more official visits and conduct more in-home meetings. As athletes gained rights to transfer immediately and earn money for their schools, that structure has been replaced by phone calls, text messages and financial offers. That reality is cheaper, according to the NCAA financial disclosures of big-spending SEC football programs Georgia, LSU, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Texas, who consistently rank among the nation's highest recruiting budgets. Tennessee, for example, spent $4.6 million on football recruiting for fiscal 2025, a 15% drop from fiscal 2024, when it spent more than any other public school ($5.39 million). Texas A&M was the third-largest spender in 2024, and its football recruiting budget fell 25% in fiscal 2025 ($3.09 million). Georgia's, which ranked fourth in 2024, fell 27% ($2.98 million). Football recruiting costs also fell 24% at LSU and 6% at Texas. While the 2025 drops are most pronounced in football, they're reflected across the entire recruiting budget. |
| President Trump calls Bill Belichick's Hall of Fame snub 'ridiculous' | |
 | Add President Donald Trump to the long list of football fans who can't understand why legendary New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick didn't make the cut for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026. Belichick, who won six Super Bowls as the Patriots head coach and two more as New York Giants defensive coordinator, failed to receive the required 40 out of 50 votes to be inducted into Canton in his first year of eligibility. Comparing the Hall of Fame election to the NFL's new kickoff rule, Trump stated in a social media post on Wednesday, Jan. 28: "It is the same mindset that gave pro football the new and unwatchable "Sissy" Kickoff Rule, that made it possible for Bill Belichick to not be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Both are ridiculous and should be overturned!" Trump is a longtime friend of Patriots owner Robert Kraft, with their relationship dating back to the 1990s when Kraft first purchased the team. Kraft donated to Trump's first inauguration and was part of a Rose Garden ceremony with Belichick and the Patriots three months later in celebration of their victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl 51. |
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