| Monday, February 9, 2026 |
| Moroccan Ambassador Amrani visits MSU, supporting decade-long education alliance with Université Internationale de Rabat | |
 | Youssef Amrani, Ambassador of Morocco to the U.S., visited Mississippi State University on Friday, Feb. 6, in support of the longtime partnership between MSU and his country's Université Internationale de Rabat. Amrani was present for today's signing of multiple education agreements between both university presidents, MSU's Mark E. Keenum and UIR's Noureddine Mouaddib. Amrani, who has served his country as Ambassador to the U.S. since 2023, also visited with MSU-UIR engineering students and alumni while on campus. "I think that this visit, this agreement and this contact between two important universities, one in Morocco and one in Mississippi, will surely foster a new dynamic in our bilateral relations," Amrani said. He referenced the longstanding relationship between the U.S. and Morocco, which was the first nation 250 years ago to recognize the U.S. after it declared independence. The nations share a focus on education and science, he said, adding, "we can bring people together and build up a common future in this very complex world." Keenum said MSU enjoys a "rich relationship" with UIR. |
| Mississippi State expands academic partnership with Moroccan university | |
 | Mississippi State University is extending its partnership with a Moroccan university as the two work to expand opportunities for their students and faculty members. Moroccan Ambassador to the United States Youssef Amrani and Université Internationale de Rabat President Noureddine Mouaddib visited Mississippi on Thursday to meet with MSU President Dr. Mark Keenum. During their visit, which included stops in Starkville and Jackson, multiple education agreements were signed. The agreements renew and expand the framework for MSU and UIR to develop mutually beneficial academic programs. Previously focused on engineering with some other programs included, the partnership now includes agriculture, business, veterinary medicine, and other fields. It also allows for expanded student and faculty exchanges and joint research initiatives and will remain in effect until 2031. In addition, Keenum and Mouaddib signed three execution agreements establishing new dual-degree pathways for students. |
| UIR, Mississippi University Expand Strategic Partnership in Education and Research | |
| A long-standing academic partnership between Mississippi State University (MSU) and the International University of Rabat (UIR) entered a new chapter on Friday, with university leaders signing expanded agreements this week to broaden cooperation in education, research, and international exchange. At the heart of the event was Youssef Amrani, Ambassador of Morocco to the United States, who traveled to MSU to support the decade-long alliance. He joined MSU President Mark E. Keenum and UIR President Noureddine Mouaddib to sign a series of new agreements that build on a successful history of collaboration. The strengthened partnership extends beyond the original focus on engineering and now includes agriculture, architecture, business, veterinary medicine, tourism, and other fields, according to MSU. The master agreement establishes a framework for joint academic programs, student and faculty exchanges, dual degrees, and collaborative research initiatives. For UIR, this expanded collaboration with MSU represents a strategic milestone. The university, founded in 2010 as one of Morocco's youngest higher-education institutions, has been rapidly building its academic profile and global reach. In recent international rankings, UIR was placed second in Morocco and among the top 1,000 universities in the world in the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. |
| MSU International Fiesta seeks performers, vendors for 34th year | |
 | Mississippi State University's 34th annual International Fiesta is looking for performers, vendors, and cultural groups to take part in this spring's celebration. Interested participants are encouraged to attend one of two interest meetings this month: Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. or Feb. 20 at 11:30 a.m. in Old Main Academic Center, Room 1030, 560 Barr Ave. Attendance is required for anyone planning to perform or host a booth. "Each year the Fiesta fills the university Drill Field with people from all around the globe sharing their cultures through entertaining performances, international cuisine, and crafts," said Kylie Forrester, director of MSU's Center for Student Activities. "It's a wonderful way to celebrate diversity and learn something new about people and countries around the world." The International Fiesta, set for April 11 at 11 a.m., has grown into one of MSU's largest events, attracting hundreds of students, staff and visitors from across the region. Along with the Center for Student Activities, the World Neighbors Association of Starkville co-hosts the annual celebration. |
| College of Arts and Sciences pairs books, MSU cheese at 'book tasting' event | |
| Mississippi State's College of Arts and Sciences invites the campus community to sample something new this month with its first "book tasting" event, a creative twist that pairs books, conversation and Mississippi State flavor. "A&S Book Tasting: A Showcase of Authors" will be held Thursday, Feb. 19 from 4-5:30 p.m. in the John Grisham Room of Mitchell Memorial library. The free event features faculty authors from across MSU's College of Arts and Sciences, each hosting a table where guests can browse books, meet the authors and enjoy selections of Mississippi State cheese. MSU's famous Edam cheese will be featured alongside other varieties made by the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. "The book tasting is designed to celebrate the scholarship, creativity and range of voices within the College of Arts and Sciences while offering a relaxed, social way to engage with faculty and increase collegiality," said Karyn Brown, the college's assistant dean for communication and media. "Guests are encouraged to circulate, sample and discover something unexpected." |
| Theatre MSU brings heat, razor-sharp wit to 2026 season | |
| Mississippi State University's Theatre MSU is heating up Starkville with a spring season that promises both high-stakes drama and dark musical comedy. From dystopian futures to murderous barber tales, the lineup highlights the range and ambition of MSU students on stage and behind the scenes. The season kicks off Feb. 18-22 with an adaptation of Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451." Set in a future where books are banned and critical thinking is discouraged, the story follows fireman Guy Montag as he begins to question the society he has sworn to protect. Chosen by MSU students themselves, the production features an innovative collaboration with the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, whose students designed and executed the projections that bring the futuristic world to life. Later in the season, April 16-19, Theatre MSU presents "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," the Tony Award-winning musical about love, revenge and murder. The darkly comedic story follows a barber determined to get even with those who wronged him, set to the intricate music of Stephen Sondheim. This production is staged in collaboration with the MSU Department of Music. |
| Manatees are making themselves at home on Mississippi's coast | |
| Move over, Florida -- Mississippi's coast is becoming a vacation spot for some very gentle visitors. West Indian manatees, sometimes nicknamed "sea cows," are not just cruising past the northern Gulf of Mexico; new research from Mississippi State University shows these slow-moving mammals are sticking around long enough to mate and maybe even set down roots. Holley Muraco, an assistant research professor at MSU's Coastal Research and Extension Center, recently analyzed rare drone footage capturing a "mating herd" of three manatees off Moss Point last fall. The high-resolution video allowed Muraco to observe these shy sea creatures in action for the first time in Mississippi waters. "Despite their chunky appearance, manatees' fat provides limited thermoregulation abilities," Muraco said. "They're traveling farther from Florida and staying longer along the Gulf Coast than we've seen before." Muraco plans to continue studying the Mississippi coast, identifying warm-water refuges and potential habitats near power plants. Observing these "gentle giants" is not just fascinating – it's important for conservation and boater safety, since collisions are the leading cause of manatee deaths. |
| Free pesticide disposal events to occur in Forrest, Yazoo counties | |
| Mississippi producers, landowners, and property managers will soon have two free opportunities to get rid of pesticides they can no longer use. Officials with the Mississippi State University Extension Service and the college's agricultural and biological engineering department will host agricultural pesticide disposal events in Yazoo County and Forrest County. The Yazoo County event will take place in the parking lot of the former Tal Port building at 2003 Gordon Ave. on Feb. 24, while the Forrest County one will occur at the multipurpose center's parking lot at 962 Sullivan Drive in Hattiesburg on March 3. Both will run from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. "These events are expensive to organize, so we only have a few each year," pesticide disposal program director Mary Love Tagert said. "It's important to participate and dispose of old products sitting in the barn to reduce the chance of spills." |
| Paid parking netting more than $31K/year for Starkville | |
| Thinking back just a few years ago, Hayden Lehman recalls seeing the same cars occupying street parking outside Bulldog Burger day after day, taking up spots meant for customers and leaving little room for turnover. "I think a lot of the restaurants around here found that the parking spots that we had for street parking were being filled by local apartment kids," Lehman, assistant general manager for Bulldog Burger, told The Dispatch on Friday. "... Over here especially, it would be the same cars parked there for the entire day. ... The most common complaint we got was that parking was a struggle." That frustration was shared by other business owners, particularly in the Cotton District, according to Mayor Lynn Spruill, prompting city officials to explore paid parking as a way to improve access to restaurants and retail spaces. In 2022, Starkville aldermen implemented paid parking through management company ParkMobile, initially covering 186 spaces along University Drive and throughout the Cotton District. Since then, the program has expanded to 293 spaces, including areas along Russell Street, East Lee Boulevard and portions of downtown and midtown. |
| High prices, weak labor market are driving sour consumer sentiment | |
| Consumers are not feeling so great about the economy at this moment in time. The latest sentiment data, out Friday from the University of Michigan, improved very slightly from January -- but so little that one might as well call it unchanged. On the whole, consumers are feeling 20% worse about the economy than they were a year ago. People are thinking most about "kitchen table" issues, said Joanne Hsu, a professor at the University of Michigan who runs the Surveys of Consumers. "Their top two concerns are the persistence of high prices, as well as weakening labor markets," she said. Hsu said people are more worried now about the possibility of losing their job than they have been since the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. "The pain of high prices, that's something that has been cited by consumers for the last four years," she said. "But when it comes to the labor market, that's actually relatively new. That only started to emerge last year." The labor market is now a primary driver of consumer sentiment, Hsu said. Hector Sandoval, director of the University of Florida's economic analysis program, said that makes sense given all the headlines lately about layoffs and how companies aren't hiring. "You hear all this news, like it's hard to get a job, job openings are low," he said. "And then, there is low fire, low hire." |
| First reading, now math. Senator wants to repeat 'Mississippi miracle' | |
 | State politicians have basked for more than a decade in the success of the "Mississippi Miracle," the program that transformed the way that reading is taught and launched the state into the upper tiers of reading scores nationally. Now, some senators have said, it's time for the legislature to shift attention to the next area in sore need of reform: elementary school math. Sen. Nicole Boyd, R-Oxford, outlined her plan for the future of the state's math program in the "Mississippi Math Act," which the Senate passed on Feb. 5. The Math Act legislation, she said, is one of the most important bills she has proposed this session. "Your child is monitored throughout, and if there's some deficits they have, they can immediate address those deficits instead of waiting until the eighth grade when they're not ready for algebra," she said in a Feb. 5 interview. "It'll give parents the tools to be able to really help their child very early in the process." Boyd's bill would start intervention early by placing math coaches in classrooms across the state, prioritizing building block skills in elementary schools. Coaches would also work in secondary schools to teach math skills that align with workforce demand. |
| Lawmakers, advocates push early childhood investment as workforce priority | |
 | Mississippi lawmakers, child care providers, and advocates gathered at the Capitol Thursday to call for continued investment in early childhood programs, arguing that access to affordable child care, proper nutrition, and basic necessities has become central to the state's workforce and economic future. During a press conference, speakers highlighted last year's $15 million expansion of child care subsidies and the extension of paid parental leave for state employees as signs of progress. But they warned those steps have not been enough to stabilize a child care system they say remains out of reach for many families. Sen. Nicole Boyd, R-Oxford, said employers across Mississippi consistently raise child care as a barrier to hiring and retention, particularly as the state works to attract new industries. "If we want to grow our workforce, we need help with one thing. Child care," Boyd said. "It's not a social policy debate, it's a workforce reality." Boyd noted that single mothers make up a significant share of Mississippi's frontline workforce, especially in critical sectors like health care and education. When child care options are unstable or unavailable, she said, parents are often forced to leave jobs, costing families income and businesses trained workers. Lawmakers also emphasized the role early childhood nutrition plays in long-term health outcomes. House Public Health Chairman Sam Creekmore, R-New Albany, said inadequate access to healthy food for pregnant women and young children contributes to higher rates of chronic disease and educational setbacks later in life. |
| Jackson Police Chief Pick Is Ex-Charlottesville Chief RaShall Brackney, Mayor Horhn Announces | |
| Jackson Mayor John Horhn announced on Friday that he is nominating RaShall Brackney, who has more than three decades of law-enforcement experience, as the City's new chief of police. If confirmed, Brackney would be the third woman to hold the position in Jackson. "Today, I am pleased to announce Dr. RaShall Brackney as my choice to serve as the next Chief of Police for the Jackson Police Department, following a national search and input from our community," Mayor Horhn, who took office in July 2025, said in a statement on his Facebook page. "This appointment will move forward for City Council confirmation." The city conducted a months-long, nationwide search for its next police chief since Joseph Wade retired in August 2025. Brackney was the only woman in the list of four candidates announced in January. She spent 30 years with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police before taking on the role of police chief in Charlottesville, Virginia, before assuming the same position at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. |
| How a $30 Billion Welfare Program Became a 'Slush Fund' for States | |
 | When the Trump administration targeted billions of dollars in federal welfare funds recently over fraud concerns, it singled out five Democratic-run states. An examination by The Wall Street Journal found that the main federal aid program the administration is seeking to block, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, has long been plagued by poor financial oversight and questionable spending in states led by both Republicans and Democrats. Auditors in numerous states, including Connecticut, Louisiana and Florida, have uncovered problems with TANF -- once America's primary welfare program for low-income families. Created three decades ago, it comprises more than $30 billion. TANF funds flow annually through block grants to states, which have wide latitude to spend them and minimal reporting requirements---a structure critics say hampers oversight. Meant to allow states to be creative in serving needy families, it has resulted in a shift: States now award most of the money to nonprofits, companies and their own state agencies. An average of about 849,000 families got direct cash aid each month in fiscal 2025, federal data shows, down from about 1.9 million in fiscal 2010. Questionable expenditures have included college scholarships that benefited middle- or upper-income families, antiabortion centers, a volleyball stadium in Mississippi, and an Ohio job-training nonprofit where leaders and employees were later sentenced to prison after prosecutors said they used TANF money for vacations, real estate and salaries for people who didn't work there. |
| Byhalia 'ICE warehouse' deal is canned after chat with Noem, Wicker tweets | |
| Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security, has agreed to abandon efforts to acquire a warehouse in northern Mississippi and turn it into a detention center for immigrants, according to U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker. Wicker's announcement came days after he had written to Noem opposing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, acquiring an industrial warehouse in Byhalia. The Republican senator wrote on his X account Friday, "I just spoke with DHS Secretary Noem about the proposed ICE detention facility in Marshall County. I relayed to her the opposition of local elected and zoning officials as well as economic development concerns. I appreciate her for agreeing to look elsewhere." In his letter to Noem, Wicker had said he supported immigration enforcement but worried that putting a detention facility in Byhalia could overwhelm the town's infrastructure. The warehouse would reportedly have held up to 8,500 people -- more than four times the population of the town. Wicker also noted in his letter Tuesday that the warehouse was one of the few existing facilities in northern Mississippi that could draw industrial development and that it had been seen as a key site to bring "meaningful growth" to the region. |
| Inside the 'Cigar SCIF:' How Tom Cole pulled off a House appropriations miracle | |
 | The crucial votes to fund the government last week were brokered in Speaker Mike Johnson's ceremonial office just off the House floor. But the groundwork to get the $1.6 trillion spending package through the chamber was laid in a literal smoke-filled room just steps away. That would be the domain of Rep. Tom Cole, the 76-year-old cigar-and-whiskey-loving chair of the House Appropriations Committee. Inside that haunt, the Oklahoman took an unabashedly old-school approach over the course of months to getting the congressional funding process unstuck after a record-long, 43-day shutdown last year. "That's not actually an office -- it's a smoke room," said Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), a regular in what some members cheekily call the "Cigar SCIF," a play on the "sensitive compartmented information facilities" where government officials review state secrets. Inside, Cole "doesn't dazzle you with numbers, he works on people-to-people skills," Issa said, "and it's the reason we've gotten something done." That's something of a miracle considering who Cole is and what his colleagues have demanded. |
| Mark Amodei, a senior GOP appropriator, to retire at end of term | |
 | Longtime House appropriator Mark Amodei, R-Nev., who currently oversees spending for the Department of Homeland Security, announced Friday that he will not run for reelection in November. "I came to Congress to solve problems and to make sure our State and Nation have a strong voice in the federal policy and oversight processes," Amodei said in a statement. "I look forward to finishing my term. After 15 years of service, I believe it is the right time for Nevada and myself to pass the torch." Since prevailing in a special election in 2011, Amodei has grown accustomed to winning reelection by comfortable margins. His 2nd District spans a wide swath over the northern third of Nevada and includes Reno and the state capital, Carson City. It's also Nevada's reddest seat, and the race to succeed him will likely draw a large crowd of GOP candidates. Amodei serves as one of the 12 Appropriations subcommittee chairs, known as "cardinals." His bill, the Homeland Security measure, is currently the subject of tense negotiations as the only one of the 12 full-year fiscal 2026 bills not enacted into law. That bill was stripped from a final package of several spending measures after a second fatal shooting by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. |
| Trump leaves Republicans guessing on midterms plans as outlook darkens | |
 | Republicans looking to the White House to lead in the face of the party's dimming prospects for November's midterms are facing a crucial hang-up: the president. The party's flagship campaign committee and super PACs have no indication of how President Donald Trump will deploy his $300 million-plus war chest because the president has not approved a spending plan. Republican donors are funding expensive Senate primaries in Texas and Georgia because Trump has not cleared the field with his endorsement, or, in the case of Louisiana, endorsed a challenger to the incumbent Republican. People who have spoken with Trump about these obstacles said he at times can sound detached and noncommittal about his plans for spending and endorsements. One person close to the White House said some days the president seems not to care. Having already been impeached twice and indicted four times, Trump is less afraid of being impeached again than he is determined not to let a Democratic-controlled House halt his policy agenda, a White House official said. But a White House official said Trump is excited to get more engaged in midterm strategy and looking forward to increasing his travel this month, including a campaign-style event outside of Washington this week. |
| Republicans rarely criticize Trump in his second term. A racist post briefly changed that | |
 | President Donald Trump received rare blowback from Republican lawmakers over a video posted to social media that included a racist image of former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, depicted as primates. Since Trump's return to the White House, Republican lawmakers have treaded carefully when disagreeing with the president, often communicating their concerns in private for fear of suffering his wrath. But the swift calls to remove the post, which also echoed false conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, represented a rare moment of bipartisan backlash to Trump's actions from lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Multiple GOP members of the Senate and House joined their Democratic colleagues in voicing disgust and criticism at the post and urged the president to remove it. South Carolina's Tim Scott, the only Black Republican senator and chair of the Senate GOP's campaign arm, criticized the image and urged the president to remove it. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine called the image "appalling." Roger Wicker, the senior senator from Mississippi, denounced it as "totally unacceptable." "The president should take it down and apologize," Wicker wrote. White House officials made multiple shifting statements about how the animated video, which has circulated among conservatives online for months, came to be posted by the president's account. |
| 'Take the vaccine, please,' Dr. Mehmet Oz says in an appeal as measles cases rise | |
| A leading U.S. health official on Sunday urged people to get inoculated against the measles at a time of outbreaks across several states and as the United States is at risk of losing its measles elimination status. "Take the vaccine, please," said Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator whose boss has raised suspicion about the safety and importance of vaccines. "We have a solution for our problem." Oz, a heart surgeon, defended some recently revised federal vaccine recommendations as well as past comments from President Donald Trump and the nation's health chief, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., about the efficacy of vaccines. From Oz, there was a clear message on the measles. "Not all illnesses are equally dangerous and not all people are equally susceptible to those illnesses," he told CNN's "State of the Union." "But measles is one you should get your vaccine." An outbreak in South Carolina in the hundreds has surpassed the recorded case count in Texas' 2025 outbreak, and there is also one on the Utah-Arizona border. Multiple other states have had confirmed cases this year. The outbreaks have mostly impacted children and have come as infectious disease experts warn that rising public distrust of vaccines generally may be contributing to the spread of a disease once declared eradicated by public health officials. |
| Mississippi College announces new date, plans for bicentennial kickoff | |
| Mississippi College has announced revised plans for the kickoff of its bicentennial celebration after the state's oldest university was forced to reschedule events due to the recent winter storm. University officials said in a news release that the rescheduled "Founders Week" celebration will take place Thursday, Feb. 12. Events were originally set for the third week of January before much of the state was impacted by the weekend-long ice storm from Jan. 23-25. The updated lineup – all of the events taking place on the Clinton campus – includes a 200th birthday party, a preview of a bicentennial time capsule, and the official ribbon cutting for "1826: The Exhibition," an interactive exhibit celebrating Mississippi College's 200-year history. The exhibit is located inside the 1826 building near Alumni Hall and was created in partnership with the Institute for Southern Storytelling at MC. It gives visitors the opportunity to walk through the university's history using an immersive diorama and multimedia displays that showcase key moments, people, and milestones from the past two centuries. |
| Two Arrested, Firearms Seized in Hinds Community College Dorm Search | |
| Raymond Police Department officers, with assistance from Hinds Campus Police, executed two search warrants on Hinds Community College dorm rooms Friday afternoon, recovering multiple firearms and arresting two suspects, authorities said. The warrants were served at approximately 2:45 p.m. on February 6. Officers recovered a "significant amount of evidence," including three firearms, the department said in a statement. Authorities were able to consult surveillance cameras on both homes and businesses both inside and outside the city that helped them not only identify the suspects but track their movements as they allegedly committed the crimes they're accused of. Jeremiah Wilson, 19, of Jackson, and Tevyn Haymore, 18, of Greenwood, were taken into custody on auto burglary warrants. Police said additional charges are expected. Authorities said they will contact anyone who may have been visited by the suspects, even if no property was taken, in an effort to compile accurate charges and recover stolen items. |
| $40 million renovation, courses approved for new U. of Alabama school | |
 | The University of Alabama is moving forward with plans for the new School of Leadership and Public Policy along with other construction projects at the Tuscaloosa campus. The UA System Board of Trustees unanimously approved budgets for several construction projects, including at Farrah Hall, which will house the new school. The board also approved bachelor's and master's degree programs to start in the fall of 2027. UA interim provost Lesley Reid told the board the bachelor's and master degrees "mark an important step in transitioning the university and board's vision for the school into tangible academic pathways for students." "Together, they are designed to prepare principled, analytically-talented leaders and continue to strengthen the university," Reid said. The board also unanimously approved the budget and architectural design for renovations of Farrah Hall to accommodate the new school. The 63,000-square-foot building's entire interior space will be renovated and a stairway added to the exterior. The project is expected to cost $40,518,500 using bonds, reserve funding and potential legislative funding. |
| Senate approves bill requiring universities to plan for federal funding cuts | |
| A bill approved by the state Senate on Thursday would require Alabama's public universities to develop contingency plans for major reductions in federal funding, a safeguard lawmakers say is needed amid ongoing uncertainty in federal budget priorities under President Donald Trump. Senate Bill 59, sponsored by Education Budget Chairman Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, directs universities to prepare a written plan for two potential scenarios: a 5% reduction in federal funding and a more severe 25% cut. The requirement mirrors an existing rule for the state's General Fund agencies but would not apply to K-12 schools or community colleges. Under the bill, institutions would be required to review those plans annually and submit them to lawmakers each year. However, universities would not be required to follow the plans they submit, and the legislation includes no penalties for noncompliance. Instead, Orr framed the plans as a flexible tool administrators could draw on if funding declines. "Just so they're thinking forward and they have something on the shelf," Orr said during floor debate. Universities could modify the plans as circumstances change, he said, but would have already identified "the low-hanging fruit" if cuts become necessary. Whether facing a modest reduction or a sharp downturn, Orr said the goal is to help institutions preserve their core missions. |
| How do you challenge hazing culture? A task force named for Caleb Wilson proposed these changes | |
 | Louisiana should start teaching kids about the dangers of hazing as early as elementary school, a report presented to the Louisiana Board of Regents on Friday said. It's one of several recommendations to curb hazing in the state in the wake of the death of Caleb Wilson, a 20-year-old Southern University student who died in an alleged fraternity hazing ritual in February 2025. The task force met four times and sought perspectives from school and university leaders, as well as Wilson's family, to develop the report and submit it to the Louisiana Legislature. The committee's findings focused on challenging the ingrained culture of hazing at colleges and universities and holding schools accountable when they do not comply with reporting requirements. "These measures reinforce institutional responsibility, promote fairness and due process, and signal a stronger statewide commitment to protecting student safety," the report said. On a campus level, comprehensive annual training for students, faculty, staff and advisers about how to prevent hazing can help develop understanding of the resources that are available -- as well as the responsibilities that individuals have when they become aware of incidents, the report said. |
| UGA named 2026 top producer of Fulbright students | |
| Eleven University of Georgia students received Fulbright offers for the 2025-2026 academic year, placing UGA among the top producing institutions for Fulbright U.S. students for the fourth year in a row. Of the 11 UGA students and recent alumni who were offered Fulbright awards, five were able to accept. Three are teaching English in countries including France, Spain and Uzbekistan. Two are conducting research; their countries are Indonesia and Laos. "Being named again a top producer of Fulbrights demonstrates the continued commitment of our students, faculty and staff to international education," said Maria de Rocher, campus Fulbright U.S. Student Program adviser and assistant dean and director of programming for the Morehead Honors College. "It is a tremendous honor to work with these students, each representing such different academic interests and backgrounds, but all of whom are clearly devoted to serving as cultural ambassadors and increasing our understanding of the wider world." As the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, it is designed to increase mutual understanding between the U.S. and countries worldwide. |
| A&M Board of Regents learn more about admissions process | |
| Texas A&M University's Board of Regents listened to briefings on admissions and nuclear security initiatives as it concluded its quarterly meeting Friday. Chris Reed, chief enrollment officer and associate vice president for enrollment management, shared data with regents on the admissions process and where A&M compares to peer institutions. Reed's presentation centered on freshmen admissions and the process to go from applicants to approving entry. A&M received 83,000 applications last year and accepted 30,000 of which half went directly to the College Station campus with the rest spread among six different institutions. Because A&M admits less than half of its applicants, it is considered a "selective" university. According to Reed, there are 2,600 four-year universities in the United States and 186 of those, including A&M, admit 50% or less of the applicants received each year. "There are so many good schools that people don't realize aren't actually selective," Reed said. "There are amazing schools that are 80-plus%. So the nationwide average [admit rate] across all universities, depending on which stat you look at, is somewhere north of 70% at a four-year university in the United States. If you take out those 186 selective schools, it's over 90%. The last data that was verified in 2024 said that the average admit rate in the United States was 92%. And so this can skew it." |
| U. of Missouri School of Medicine receives a grant to improve postcrash care patient survival rates | |
 | The University of Missouri School of Medicine's Department of Emergency Medicine was gifted a $4.6 million grant to launch an advanced EMS program with hopes to bring prehospital blood administration to ground ambulance services. The demonstration grant, "Safe Streets and Roads for All," endowed to Mizzou by the U.S. Department of Transportation, will focus on patients involved in serious vehicle accidents and is directed towards improved patient outcomes. The purpose of the grant is to work with an entity that has established action plans. For it's department, that partner is the city of Columbia. Julie Stilley, PhD, research director and associate research professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, is the grant recipient. Vision Zero Safe Systems Group, the city of Columbia team that Stilley is a part of, has already compiled ground-breaking patient care that the grant will help support. Prehospital blood can be used to treat hemorrhage, which for some is life-threatening. In addition, the team will be providing other advanced care such as advanced airway, medication administration and care coordination. |
| The Fight Over Community College Bachelor's Degrees | |
 | Last month, state lawmakers in Iowa introduced a bill that would allow community colleges to offer four-year degrees -- and unwittingly triggered a turf war. While community college advocates argued the lower-cost degrees would benefit students in a state with vast rural expanses and education deserts, private universities countered that community colleges are stepping out of bounds and infringing on their territory. Greg Steinke, the president of the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, even went so far as to say the move could put some institutions out of business, telling lawmakers a few weeks ago that "without any question and without any doubt," if the bill passed, "some of our private colleges will close." Legislators got the message. On Jan. 28, the Iowa House higher education committee amended the bill to impose some limits. Community college baccalaureate degrees would be introduced as a pilot program: Two-year institutions would be allowed to offer no more than three baccalaureate degrees, and only if they are at least 50 miles away from a university offering a similar option. Similar negotiations -- and tensions -- are playing out across the country as community college baccalaureate degrees expand and pique the interest of state lawmakers. |
| Study Abroad Advocates Highlight Economic Benefits | |
| Study abroad isn't just an opportunity for college students to explore different countries and culture -- it can have a significant impact on their future careers. That's the lesson the Forum on Education Abroad is hoping to impart on government leaders and the business community as part of a new campaign entitled Education Abroad: The Career Catalyst. The forum kicked off the campaign with a presentation into the economic impacts of U.S. students studying abroad to colleagues and legislative staffers at a breakfast on Capitol Hill last week. (The term "education abroad" encapsulates traditional study abroad experiences, as well as other educational opportunities outside of one's home country, like service learning and internships.) Historically, proponents have not emphasized the career impacts of education abroad, thinking of it instead as for national security and soft diplomacy. But according to the forum, going abroad can provide a strong economic boost for individual participants, local communities and the country at large. Melissa Torres, the forum's president and CEO, hopes the campaign will encourage states, institutions and the federal government to continue investing in -- or growing their investment in -- education abroad, which has been struggling as a field since the pandemic stopped international travel in 2020. |
| Trump's 'big beautiful bill' may spur significant changes to higher education in 2026 and the rise of 'un-college,' experts say | |
| For years, a growing number of students have been considering alternatives to a four-year degree. Now the trend toward a two-year program or even shorter-term credential -- also dubbed "un-college" -- is gaining steam. Ballooning college costs and the student loan debt that goes along with them are partly to blame. New borrowing limits for 2026 under President Donald Trump's "big beautiful bill" are another factor. Plus, students are increasingly seeking job training and career-driven pathways to secure a foothold in today's softening labor market. The term "un-college" first emerged about a decade ago to describe the rise of college alternative programs. This year, the shift will be striking, experts say. In the fall, community college enrollment rose 3% from the prior academic year, compared to a 1.4% increase at public four-year colleges, according to a recent report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Enrollment in private four-year nonprofit institutions fell by 1.6% over the same period. "Overall enrollment is up slightly, but the real story is the shift between sectors," Matthew Holsapple, senior director of research at the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, said in a statement. "Community colleges and public universities are gaining ground, while private colleges are down -- a clear departure from the broad-based growth of recent years." |
| Congress, Courts Stymie Trump's Effort to Cap Research Costs | |
| The National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies can't make any changes to how universities are reimbursed for costs indirectly related to research until at least Sept. 30, under the recently passed budget bills that President Trump signed into law. The legislation ends a yearlong effort from the Trump administration to cap reimbursements for indirect research costs at 15 percent. The average reimbursement rate for institutions is 27 to 28 percent, though some colleges have negotiated reimbursement rates greater than 50 percent. When the NIH announced Feb. 7, 2025, that it would cap the rates, colleges and universities warned they would have to cut costs or research operations to make up the difference. The funding for indirect costs helps to pay for hazardous waste disposal, utilities and patient safety. The rate cap would've saved about $4 billion, the NIH said. But lawsuits quickly led to court orders that blocked the NIH from capping the rates. And then the National Science Foundation as well as the Energy and Defense Departments also sought to put a 15 percent cap in place -- policies that federal judges also blocked. The Trump administration has appealed the decisions, so litigation continues. Now, Congress has weighed in as well, blocking any changes to the reimbursement rates for fiscal year 2026, which ends Sept. 30. But the conversation about funding indirect research costs likely isn't over. The legislation also directed the agencies to work with universities on ways to improve the funding model for research. |
| Maybe competition can be good for Mississippi public schools, or at least for teacher pay | |
| Mississippi Today's Bobby Harrison writes: The oft-repeated mantra of the school choice crowd, or those wanting to give public funds to private schools, is that public education needs competition. They might be right. There may be nothing better for public education than competition -- competition among legislators trying to outdo each other to provide funds for public education. On the opening day of the 2026 session, the Mississippi Senate passed a bill that would provide public school teachers a $2,000 per year pay bump. Not to be outdone, the House passed its own bill last week that would provide a $5,000 per year raise for public school teachers, plus an additional $3,000 raise for special education teachers. The House and Senate, both controlled by Republicans, would eventually need to agree on a single plan to send to Republican Gov. Tate Reeves. At this point, it is hard to fathom that the final pay raise for teachers will be much less, if any less, than $5,000. Once that carrot is dangled, it will be hard to take back. And if the Legislature eventually agrees on the House's $5,000 proposal, coupled with the teacher pay raise passed by the Legislature in 2022, it would indeed be historic. |
| Speaker White whines about Senate killing his school choice bill | |
 | Columnist Bill Crawford writes: Poor Speaker White. His omnibus school choice bill got short shrift in the Senate. His resort now appears to be name calling. "Senate leadership has aligned themselves with the ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, the Mississippi Democratic Party, and the status quo," he whined. This has been common rhetoric among school choice proponents -- only liberals oppose school choice. Surely you saw on social media the "pick a side on school choice" ads. One featured President Donald Trump, Gov. Tate Reeves, and Mississippi Speaker Jason White (the conservatives) on top and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (the liberals) on the bottom. "Mississippi Democrats celebrate Republican senators' decision to kill Trump-backed school choice plan," screamed a headline in the Magnolia Tribune, a major dispenser of the pick-a-side rhetoric. However, it was conservative Republicans who killed White's bill in the Senate. The vote in the Senate Education Committee, made up of 10 Republicans and 5 Democrats, was unanimous. And 17 Republicans voted against the bill in the House, where it passed by just two votes after two Republicans failed to vote. The notion that those Republicans who voted against the bill are not conservative and chose a liberal path is ludicrous. And White knows better. |
| These Three Red States Are the Best Hope in Schooling | |
 | Columnist Nicholas Kristof writes for The New York Times writes: A ray of hope is emerging in American education. Not among Democrats or Republicans, each diverted by culture wars. Not in the education reform movement, largely abandoned by the philanthropists who once propelled it. Not in most schools across the country, still struggling with chronic absenteeism and a decade of faltering test scores. Rather, hope emerges in the most unlikely of places: three states here in the Deep South that long represented America's educational basement. These states -- Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi -- have histories of child poverty, racism and dismal educational outcomes, and they continue to spend less than most other states on public schools. Yet, consider: ... Once an educational laughingstock, Mississippi now ranks ninth in the country in fourth-grade reading levels -- and after adjusting for demographics such as poverty and race, Mississippi ranks No. 1, while Louisiana ranks No. 2, according to calculations by the Urban Institute. Using the same demographic adjustment, Mississippi also ranks No. 1 in America in both fourth-grade and eighth-grade math. ... I wrote about Mississippi's educational successes in 2023, but many of my fellow liberals then scoffed at the notion of learning from a state so tainted. ... The critiques have been effectively rebutted --- for starters, they can't explain the continuing gains in Mississippi or the magnitude of the gains. |
SPORTS
| Game Day Economy: Bulldogs' bounce-back pays off beyond the field | |
| In 2024, hopes were not high for Mississippi State University football fans. After opening with a win against Eastern Kentucky University, the Bulldogs dropped seven straight games in two months. The team ended the season with only two wins, neither of which was against a Southeastern Conference team or Power Five opponent Some fans' patience began to wear thin. "Everybody was leaving after the second quarter," said Sara Atwood, a second-generation season ticket holder who lives in Senatobia. "I remember my family, ... (would say things like) 'I'm done. I'm gone. I'm going back to the tent.' ... Because the game was out of reach by halftime." The 2025 season was a different story. Hopes sprang back with the team's four-game winning streak to open the season, Atwood said. The Bulldogs finished with a more respectable 5-8, earning a bowl game against Wake Forest University and bringing fans back to Davis Wade Stadium. More than 30,000 additional people filled the stadium in 2025 compared to the 2024 season, Senior Associate Athletic Director Brandon Langlois wrote in an email to The Dispatch. City officials and local business owners have noticed a tie between fans' excitement and their spending on game day and its impact on the local economy. With the influx of fans also came more shopping, hotel stays and dining in the city of Starkville, reflected by a near 10% bump in restaurant and tourism tax collections for the city. |
| What Ryan Zimmerman, others say Mississippi State can expect from Brian O'Connor | |
| Brian O'Connor was 32 when he was hired as Virginia's baseball coach in 2003. He had never been a head coach and was taking over a Virginia program that had only made three NCAA Tournaments. It was also before social media and college baseball boomed into what it is today. "There wasn't much in the way of knowing people back then," said Ryan Zimmerman, who played at Virgina from 2003-05 before a 17-year career with the Washington Nationals. "Obviously, he was well regarded and came in as a good baseball guy, but we really didn't know what to expect or what it was going to be like." It turned into a program-changing hire for the Cavaliers, who quickly became one of the top teams in the ACC. That success was sustained for 22 years as O'Connor led the Cavaliers to 18 NCAA Tournaments, seven College World Series and one national championship. The Clarion Ledger spoke with several of O'Connor's Virginia players to learn what makes him such a great coach, how they think he'll do at Mississippi State and how they reacted to him leaving Virginia. "I think he'll do great," said Tyler Cannon, a Virginia baseball Hall of Fame shortstop from 2007-10. "I really do. He's an unbelievable coach, but he's an even better leader. The guy never sleeps." |
| Mississippi State Expands Partnership With BankFirst To Add On-Field Logo Placement At Dudy Noble Field | |
| Mississippi State Athletics and BankFirst, in partnership with Learfield's Bulldog Sports Properties, announced an expanded, multi-year sponsorship that will place the BankFirst logo on the first and third baselines at Dudy Noble Field. "There's nothing quite like a day at Dudy Noble," said Moak Griffin, Chief Executive Officer of BankFirst. "It's where generations of families gather, where memories are made, and where Mississippi State baseball brings people together. We're proud to be a part of that experience and to support a program that means so much to communities across Mississippi." The expanded partnership positions the BankFirst brand at the heart of a venue that consistently leads college baseball in attendance and national visibility. "Dudy Noble Field is one of the most recognizable and celebrated venues in all of college athletics, and partnerships like this help us continue building momentum and investing in the future of Mississippi State Athletics," MSU Director of Athletics Zac Selmon said. "BankFirst has been a trusted partner, and we are grateful for their continued commitment to enhancing an experience that brings our fans, alumni, and communities together. This expanded partnership creates meaningful visibility for BankFirst while supporting the long-term growth and success of our baseball program and our department as a whole." |
| Softball: Faircloth Fans 14 As Bulldogs Complete Perfect Weekend In Waco | |
| No. 22 Mississippi State took the lead on the first batter of the game, and Alyssa Faircloth did the rest as the Bulldogs cruised to an 8-1 victory over New Mexico on Saturday morning. Faircloth had the New Mexico hitters off balance all game. She struck out a career-high 14 batters, which ranks fourth in MSU history. The Lobos finally scratched across a run while staring down a potential run-rule in the bottom of the sixth with a sacrifice fly. "Alyssa was cruising, and she was mixing speeds, attacking," Ricketts said. "I think she had strikeouts on every one of her different pitch types, and I love her confidence, her poise. The ball was moving, and, you know, she's really good. It's fun to watch her go out there and just be sharp and do what she does best." The Bulldogs' home opener is set for Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 4 p.m. CT. MSU will host in-state foe Southern Miss with the game airing on SEC Network+. That will open a 12-game homestand over the following two weeks. |
| Museum Miles 5K returns Feb. 21 | |
| Runners and walkers will soon have a chance to lace up their shoes and step into Starkville's past while supporting local history preservation. The Friends of the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum will host the third annual Museum Miles: Race Through History 5K on Feb. 21, inviting participants of all ages and fitness levels to take part in a race that blends exercise, education and community spirit. The race will begin and end at the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum. Registration opens at 7:15 a.m., and the race starts at 9 a.m. The route winds through scenic and historic Starkville neighborhoods, giving participants a unique look at the community's heritage while supporting the museum's mission. Organizers encourage early registration to help with planning race materials, including shirts and race packets, and to ensure a smooth experience for participants on race day. Registration information, race details and sponsor listings are available at oktibbehaheritagemuseum.com/5k. Community members are encouraged to register early. |
| Florida's Kevin O'Sullivan hopes to give 'best version of myself' | |
| Florida baseball coach Kevin O'Sullivan now has a homemade gym in his garage. It's the first place he visits every morning. O'Sullivan used a two-month leave of absence to change his daily routine and eliminate some old habits in hopes of finding "the best version of myself" heading into his 19th season in Gainesville. "It's really that simple," O'Sullivan said Friday, more than seven weeks after resuming his coaching duties with the Gators. "I feel rejuvenated. I feel great. I feel much, much more at peace, if that makes sense." O'Sullivan stepped away in late October to address undisclosed "personal matters." The 57-year-old coach nicknamed "Sully" has led the program to 756 wins, 17 NCAA regionals, nine College World Series appearances, six SEC championships and the 2017 national title. But his most recent season was far from the norm. In August, the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee issued a public reprimand to O'Sullivan for aggressive behavior and profanity-laced language directed at site administrators for the regional in Conway, South Carolina, two months earlier. Florida responded by suspending O'Sullivan for the first three games of the 2026 season, meaning he will have to watch the opening series from home. |
| Tennessee fired student worker for betting on Vols football game | |
 | An NCAA report reveals the University of Tennessee fired a student worker on the sports broadcast team because he bet on a Vols football game through an online app in the 2025 season. The student worker placed wagers using Kalshi, a wildly popular but controversial app in college sports. Meanwhile, the incident happened while NCAA leadership debated its approach to sports betting, briefly loosened its rules and then rescinded those changes amid a gambling scandal involving other schools. UT's sports gambling incident was the most unique among six minor NCAA violations the athletic department reported in the second half of 2025, according to a document obtained by Knox News through a public records request. The remaining infractions were clerical errors, an unsanctioned team workout and inadvertent contact with recruits, which are typical NCAA minor violations. Sports gambling is usually a serious offense, but these circumstances reduced the penalty for UT to little more than a warning. The sports gambling infraction was the most interesting, and not just because it's rare. It sheds light on the confusing nature of NCAA rules regarding new gambling apps that are different from traditional sportsbooks. |
| Bad Bunny celebrates Puerto Rico at Super Bowl, angering Trump | |
| Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny on Sunday turned the Super Bowl into a giant street party, emphasizing unity over division in his groundbreaking Spanish-language set -- but still earning President Donald Trump's scorn. Anticipation was high for the 31-year-old's set, amid rampant speculation about whether he would use his platform to renew his criticism of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in front of tens of millions of viewers. But the wildly popular musician, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, instead made good on his pre-game promise to joyously share his culture -- and largely avoided overt political statements in favor of subtle messaging through symbols. Actors Pedro Pascal and Jessica Alba, and rapper Cardi B were among the guest stars vibing in his familiar "La Casita" backdrop, representing a home in Puerto Rico. A giant screen in the stadium read: "The only thing more powerful than hate is love." Trump nevertheless quickly took issue with the performance, saying: "Nobody understands a word this guy is saying" -- even though government data shows more than 41 million Americans speak Spanish. In Puerto Rico, a US territory since 1898, there was nothing but pride for the island's native son. "For someone from here to be at one of the most important events in the United States is a source of pride for every Puerto Rican," Olvin Reyes, 39, told AFP. |
| As US Olympians call for tolerance and LGBTQ rights, some face Trump attacks and online hate | |
 | When U.S. skiers took the stage for a press conference Friday, at the start of the Milan Cortino Games, they were asked about turmoil back home where ICE agents have detained a growing number of immigrants and clashed violently with protesters in Minneapolis. Most of the athletes who spoke that day voiced concern, calling for de-escalation, tolerance and respect. "The Olympics represent peace, so let's not only bring world peace but domestic peace within our country," said Alex Ferreira, a 31-year-old who won silver and bronze medals at past Winter Games. Svea Irving from Winter Park, Colorado chimed in. "It's definitely a tough time in our country right now," the 23-year-old said. "I just continue to represent my values [which are] compassion and love and respect for others." For reasons that aren't entirely clear, it was the comment of 27-year-old Hunter Hess from Bend, Oregon, that went viral and caught the attention of conservative leaders, including President Trump. "I think it brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now," Hess said. Trump fired back on his Truth Social platform. "U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn't represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics," Trump wrote on Sunday. But the Olympics almost always come with a political dimension and this isn't the first time Trump's attacks on democratic norms and his administration's crackdown on immigrants have stirred controversy at these Winter Games. |
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