| Wednesday, February 11, 2026 |
| Rotary Classic Rodeo rides back into town for 19th year | |
 | The Mississippi Horse Park will soon fill once again with the sounds of clattering hoofs and cheering crowds Friday as the Rotary Classic Rodeo returns for its 19th year. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association-sanctioned event serves as Starkville Rotary Club's largest fundraiser of the year. "It's the primary (fundraiser) we do here in town, and it supports our two ongoing missions, which are Oktibbeha Young Leaders and Boy Scouts, and then other random grants," Rotarian and rodeo co-chair Matt Bowen told The Dispatch on Tuesday. The rodeo kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, though ahead of the main event Saturday there will be pony rides and a petting zoo for kids starting at 5 p.m. on the arena floor. Bowen expects roughly 3,000 spectators each night for two evenings of family-oriented entertainment and professional competition. Planned rodeo events include bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, tie-down, team and women's breakaway roping. Contestants compete for prize money that counts toward qualification for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas each December. This year, organizers hope to raise between $45,000 and $50,000 to go toward Rotary grants and service projects, Mike Kunkle, event co-chair and Rotary vice president, told The Dispatch. Six of those grants, Bowen said, will be highlighted at the event, where local organizations serving the community -- like Starkville-Oktibbeha County Public Library, the J.L. King Center and the Starkville-MSU Symphony, for example -- will be awarded with the funds each night during intermissions. |
| Where it all began: Lt. Col. Victoria Bobo's return to Keesler | |
 | Lt. Col. Victoria Bobo vividly remembers walking into the classroom at Keesler Air Force Base in 2010 as a brand-new second lieutenant, unsure of what the "real Air Force" would look like beyond textbooks and theory. "This was my first experience in the actual Air Force after commissioning," she said. "Everything about it was new." More than a decade later, Bobo stands at the front of those same classrooms, not as a student, but as commander of the 335th Training Squadron, leading a unit responsible for shaping Airmen at the very start of their careers. "It's very full circle," she said. "This was my first experience in the Air Force, and now what I consider the pinnacle of my career is being right back here, in command." Bobo commissioned through the Air Force ROTC program at Mississippi State University and attended the Weather Officer Course at Keesler shortly after graduation. While much has changed since then, some things feel strikingly familiar. As a Mississippi native and daughter of an Air Force maintainer, returning to Keesler also feels deeply personal. The slower pace of the Gulf Coast and the sense of community resonate with her upbringing. “This place feels like home,” she said. “I think that’s why so many people find their way back here.” |
| Heavy rain expected, possible storms in Mississippi on Valentine's Day | |
 | On the heels of the recent ice storm, another weather-maker is moving into Mississippi and this time the state is expected to see heavy rains with some areas forecast to receive up to 3 inches along with possible strong storms. So, if you planned to grill out on Valentine's Day, you may want to make alternative plans. "It looks like we have another frontal boundary moving in this weekend," Sharonda Waddell, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson, said on Wednesday morning, Feb. 11. "It's just heavy rainfall possibly totaling 2-3 inches in the area. "It will start tomorrow afternoon in the northern parts and spreading area-wide by Saturday. It will likely be a rainy weekend." In Oxford and Starkville, rain and possible thunderstorms are expected to move in Friday night with chances of showers continuing through Sunday, Feb. 15. In Hattiesburg, showers are expected to move in on Valentine's Day with heavier rain that night. There is also a possibility of thunderstorms with the weather system, but with limited threat. "It's not looking severe," Waddell said. "A couple of storms could be strong, but nothing severe." |
| 'This work doesn't get done alone': Local crews help with Fern recovery | |
| Tim Adkins was cold and tired, but he still had a lot of work to do. As part of a 19-member crew from 4-County Electric Power Association deployed to Tippah County after Winter Storm Fern, Adkins and his colleagues trudged through the ice and downed trees in below-freezing conditions, trying to get damaged power lines back up and running. Then a van pulled up, the back window rolled down and a girl named Shelby Hamblin handed Adkins a drawing she made of a utility worker repairing a power line. It read, "Thank you for helping my community." "It was a very sweet gesture, and it kind of put things into perspective (because) we're gone from home," Adkins told The Dispatch. "We're not around our families. We're missing our families. We're missing milestones with our families. I had to miss my kid's first ball game, things like that. But it puts into perspective what we're doing and what we're trying to accomplish. And helping these families get back on a normal routine." 4-County, along with other Golden Triangle utility companies, sent crews over the past few weeks to help with recovery efforts in northern areas of the state like New Albany, Tippah and Prentiss counties that dealt with the brunt of Winter Storm Fern. The crews found widespread debris, frozen roads and several snapped poles that have prolonged restoration efforts. While the work has been time-consuming and difficult because of iced-over roads, broken tree limbs and maneuvering through snow, Dedrick Stevenson, a crew leader for 4-County who was also sent to Tippah County, said the crews kept pushing because they would want the same done for their families had they lost power. |
| Spartan Composites creating 45 jobs for new operation in Saltillo | |
 | Advanced composite access mat manufacturer Spartan Composites, is investing $45 million to begin operations in Saltillo, where it expects to create 45 jobs. The Rockledge, Florida-based company expects to begin operations in September 2027 and plans to fill the new jobs by December of that year. Spartan Composites specializes in advanced composite matting used in the infrastructure, oil and gas, defense and utility sectors. The company said its Lee County location will support its growing customer base, diversify production capacity and strengthen supply chain resiliency, while establishing the company in the Southeast to broaden its market reach across North America and internationally. The Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance for road improvements through two grants in the amount of $347,505. MDA also is providing assistance through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive, or MFLEX, program, valued at more than $2.47 million. Lee County and the Tennessee Valley Authority also are assisting with the project. |
| Economic development officials say data center boom will still benefit state if AI growth slows | |
 | Billions in private investment are flowing into AI and advanced manufacturing projects across Mississippi as the state lands a wave of large-scale data center and industrial announcements. Supporters say the projects represent an opportunity to modernize Mississippi's economy and attract high-paying, high-skill jobs. But the scale of the investment and the rapid growth of generative AI have also raised questions about long-term risk, particularly if the technology underperforms or projected industry growth fails to materialize. At the Stennis Capitol Press Forum on Monday, Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Bill Cork said the state's approach is designed to ensure Mississippi still benefits even if markets shift. Cork said that unlike highly specialized industrial facilities, data centers are essentially large warehouses that can be repurposed for other uses. Those sites, he said, could support future manufacturing, logistics or other industrial operations. The state's recent economic development gains have been driven largely by private investment from companies such as Amazon Web Services and xAI, with firms committing billions of dollars to build facilities across multiple regions. Data centers, which employ fewer permanent workers than traditional manufacturing plants, have drawn particular attention because of their energy and infrastructure demands. |
| Mississippi's high-speed internet expansion plan approved by federal government | |
| The state of Mississippi's plan to provide high-speed internet to areas of the state lacking it has received final approval from the federal government. According to Gov. Tate Reeves, the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration approved the plan under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program on Monday. In Mississippi, the Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM) will administer the program and oversee implementation of the state's broadband buildout. A dozen internet providers will participate in Mississippi's BEAD program, though the companies were not listed. BEAM director Sally Doty noted that the plan will be executed efficiently to ensure the most underserved areas are reached in a manner that sidesteps potential waste. "The BEAM office conducted detailed mapping and engineering reviews to make sure this funding goes to those lacking service and to prevent wasteful overbuilding," Doty said. "As buildouts begin, a comprehensive monitoring plan will track progress and ensure that all funding is used in the most efficient manner possible. At the end of the day, this effort is about giving every Mississippian the chance to fully participate in the digital world." |
| US adds surprising 130,000 jobs last month yet revisions cut hundreds of thousands of jobs last year | |
 | U.S. employers added a surprisingly strong 130,000 jobs last month, but government revisions cut 2024-2025 U.S. payrolls by hundreds of thousands. The unemployment rate fell to 4.3%, the Labor Department said Wednesday. The report included major revisions that reduced the number of jobs created last year to just 181,000, less than half the previously reported 584,000 and the weakest since the pandemic year of 2020. The job market has been sluggish for months even though the economy is registering solid growth. But the January numbers came in stronger than the 75,000 economists had expected. Healthcare accounted for nearly 82,000, or more than 60%, of last month's new jobs. Factories added 5,000, snapping a streak of 13 straight months of job losses. The federal government shed 34,000 jobs. "The surprisingly strong job gains in January were driven mainly by health care and social assistance," Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, wrote in a commentary. "But it is enough to stabilize the job market and send the unemployment rate slightly lower. This is still a largely frozen job market, but it is stabilizing. That's an encouraging sign to start the year, especially after the hiring recession in 2025." |
| Lawmakers propose alternate return to work legislation for retired state employees | |
| A program that would allow retired Mississippi state employees to return to work with a state agency for 80 percent of what the position pays is now headed to the House of Representatives. If signed by the governor, SB 2911 would create an alternative route for retirees to return to state employment while still collecting their retirement benefits. State Senator Daniel Sparks (R) authored the bill which could allow experienced personnel to fill empty positions across the state. The current retirement system allows former state employees to return to work, but for only either 50 percent work and 50 percent pay, or 25 percent of their "high four," the average of their highest paid four years of employment. Previous variations of the state retirement system created a situation where there are a high number of retirees who are in their 40s, such as the PERS Tier 3 which allowed retirement after 25 years of service. Sen. Sparks said many are still working, just not for the state, except under certain conditions. "Often, these people are hired in a contract capacity, which is kind of circumventing the PERS contribution that we would have received on their work otherwise," Sparks described. In an effort to bring these experienced people with extensive knowledge in their respective fields back to the workforce officially, SB 2911 would allow them to negotiate with their former employer for up to 80 percent of what a particular position would pay as well as possibly more affordable health insurance. |
| House proposes new fund for construction training | |
| The construction industry has struggled since the Great Recession but now one of its main struggles is finding skilled workers. A bill passed by the state House on Monday proposes creating a fund to help schools with construction training programs and encouraging students to explore these careers. As written, the bill would divert 6.75% of contractor sales taxes to the new Construction Training Assistance Fund. The fund would be administered by Accelerate Mississippi, the state's workforce development office. Accelerate would provide grants to public community colleges and K-12 schools to help provide construction training to students. The bill's author, Rep. Donnie Bell, a Republican from Fulton, said the bill would expose students to more opportunities and start them on a path to success. Bell and others point out that skilled workers, such as electricians and plumbers, are in high demand and can earn large salaries. Skilled workers are especially in demand to build out the infrastructure needed for the state's manufacturing and data center projects. In July 2025, there were 51,800 construction workers in Mississippi, up 2% from the previous year and 15% from Feb. 2020 according to a report from the Associated General Contractors of America. At Monday's Stennis Capitol Press Forum, Bill Cork, director of the state's economic development agency, said construction jobs are in high demand with the companies he talks to. |
| House looks to bring Mississippi's alcohol policy into the 21st Century | |
| State Rep. Hank Zuber (R), the Chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, stepped to the well of the House Tuesday and said, "It's a great day to talk about alcohol policy and bringing Mississippi into the 21st Century." Members then considered a number of alcohol-related measures, ranging from direct shipping to Sunday sales. All of the measures passed and could be considered by the Senate in the weeks ahead. Similar to the direct shipping of wine that was passed in the 2025 session, HB 669 allows for the direct shipping of distilled spirits to Mississippi residents' homes if the state's Alcohol Beverage Control warehouse does not carry the product. "If ABC carries it, you cannot direct ship it. It is only for stuff ABC does not carry in their warehouse," State Rep. Brent Powell (R), the bill's author, explained. The second alcohol-related bill considered by the House Tuesday was HB 670, which would allow a package retailer to have a second permit. The House also passed HB 672 on Tuesday, allowing Sunday sales of alcohol at package retailers. Local governing authorities at the county and municipal level would be required to pass an ordinance allowing the Sunday sales. Hours for Sunday sales would be restricted from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Christmas Day sales would still be prohibited. |
| House passes Sunday alcohol sales and direct shipment of liquor | |
| The House passed a pair of bills on Tuesday that would reshape laws surrounding the sale of alcohol in Mississippi. The first would allow the direct shipment of liquor to Mississippians' homes, and the second would let local authorities pass ordinances allowing the sale of alcohol on Sundays. House Bill 669 would allow the direct shipment of liquor. Rep. Hank Zuber, a Republican from Ocean Springs who chairs the House State Affairs Committee, said the law would bring Mississippi's alcohol laws "into the 21st century." The legislation comes after Mississippi legalized the direct shipment of some wines in 2025. Supporters fought for over a decade to get the Legislature to agree to such a measure, and it was signed by Gov. Tate Reeves last year. Similar measures in the past have attracted opposition from those concerned that allowing for the direct shipment of alcohol could exacerbate alcohol abuse or hurt sales at brick-and-mortar stores. "In my 40 years as a lawyer, I've made a lot of money on DUIs, so keep up the good work," said Rep. Bob Evans, a Democrat from Monticello who voted against the bill, which passed 75-32. |
| Advocates propose special session to keep school choice fight alive | |
| When Sen. Dennis DeBar led the education committee's unanimous vote against the school choice bill from the House on Feb. 3, he told them that the bill died that day. Conservative advocates who championed that legislation argue that universal school choice still has a future in Mississippi. Speakers at a Tuesday, Feb. 10, luncheon, hosted by the conservative think tank Mississippi Center for Public Policy, proposed solutions that would keep key provisions of the school choice bill alive, including special sessions over the summer and voting out Republicans who voted against it. "I won't lie, it was a gut punch. I was sitting in the room when they voted for it," said Stone Clanton, director of grassroots operations for Americans for Prosperity. "But I can go ahead and tell you, the fight's not over." "Irregardless of the vehicle, what matters is that school choice and conservative policy is not dead in 2026," Clanton said. Major amendments to the Senate's more moderate bills likely wouldn't pass the chamber, but a special session called by Gov. Tate Reeves, said school choice advocate Corey DeAngelis, could get the legislation across the finish line. DeAngelis referenced Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who recalled legislators to discuss school choice in 2023, as a model for Reeves' potential course of action. |
| West Point police urge parents to set good examples after deadly shooting involving teenagers | |
 | West Point police urge parents to set good examples for their children after a weekend shooting killed a 15-year-old. The shooting happened Sunday evening at the Ridgewood East Apartments. Police identified the victim as Jordan Logan. Two other teenagers, a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old, were also shot. Police Chief Michael Edwards said the teenagers were arguing over a vaping product. The fight led to the deadly shooting, which has destroyed so many lives. Edwards said it's time for parents to step up and get involved in their kids' lives, set good examples and teach their children right from wrong. "Try to prevent some of these things by talking to your kids, by talking to your loved ones," Edwards said on Tuesday. "It doesn't have to be your kids or your loved ones, if you come in contact with someone that you feel you can have a conversation with." The shooting remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the incident should call the West Point Police Department at 662-494-1244 or the Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 1-800-530-7151. |
| DOJ tried to indict Democrats who taped military video message | |
 | Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a viral video message to the military criticized the Trump administration Tuesday after reports that the Justice Department sought but failed to secure an indictment against them. The four House members and two senators who served in the military or in the CIA urged in the video that those currently serving in U.S. military and intelligence positions to disobey unlawful orders. Reports of the failed attempt at an indictment against some or all those lawmakers -- from NBC News, The New York Times and CBS News -- dovetail with moves by the Trump administration to target critics with criminal charges. The U.S. attorney's office in Washington led by Jeanine Pirro authorized prosecutors to go into a grand jury and ask for the indictment, The New York Times reported. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Sens. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mark Kelly of Arizona and Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, appeared in the video, which President Donald Trump called "seditious behavior" of the sort that is "punishable by death." Crow, the Democrat from Colorado, said in a statement that Americans "should be furious that Trump and his goons tried to weaponize our justice system again against his political opponents." "His attempts to intimidate and silence us will always fail," Crow said. "We will continue to fight back against their rising tyranny, along with all Americans of good conscience. Courage is contagious." |
| Governors won't hold Trump meeting after only Republicans invited | |
 | The National Governors Association (NGA) has canceled its annual White House meeting after President Trump only invited Republican governors to the gathering. The yearly meeting is traditionally bipartisan and offers a chance for state leaders to convene with one another and the president. "Because NGA's mission is to represent all 55 governors, the Association is no longer serving as the facilitator for that event, and it is no longer included in our official program," Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) wrote in a Monday letter announcing plans to forgo the meeting, according to The Associated Press. Stitt said the Trump administration's decision to exclude Democratic governors would not divide the association. "We cannot allow one divisive action to achieve its goal of dividing us," he wrote. "The solution is not to respond in kind, but to rise above and to remain focused on our shared duty to the people we serve. America's governors have always been models of pragmatic leadership, and that example is most important when Washington grows distracted by politics." The NGA is scheduled to meet in Washington Feb. 19-21. |
| U.S. Budget Hole Set to Deepen by Trillions | |
 | The U.S. budget deficit will remain roughly flat for the next two years and then widen over the next decade as interest costs consume an increasing share of spending, the Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday in a forecast that highlighted the country's long-run fiscal challenges. The U.S. is projected to run a deficit of $1.85 trillion, or 5.8% of gross domestic product, in the year that ends Sept. 30, and then stay about level at 5.7% of GDP in fiscal 2027. For every $1 the U.S. collects in taxes and tariffs, it will spend $1.33 this year. That continues a trend of high and persistent deficits that is historically rare outside of emergencies, wars and recessions. The budget gap is forecast to increase over the course of the next decade as the costs of the country's debt load, aging population and healthcare obligations outpace tax collections. Debt held by the public is forecast to cross the 100% of GDP threshold this year and surpass the post-World War II record by 2030. By 2036, the annual deficit will exceed $3 trillion, or 6.7% of GDP, according to CBO. After World War II, that is a level that the country exceeded only in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and during the Covid-19 pandemic. The report, which is CBO's annual big-picture analysis of the federal budget, warns of the dangers of high and rising federal debt. That burden could crowd out private investment, make the U.S. more vulnerable to higher interest rates and increase the risk of a fiscal crisis. |
| El Paso airspace reopened after FAA quickly rescinds 10-day flight restrictions | |
| The Federal Aviation Administration reopened airspace over El Paso and part of southern New Mexico on Wednesday morning after shutting it down for a few hours overnight amid an announcement there would be no flights for 10 days. The White House now says the unusual closure was triggered by Mexican cartel drones breaching U.S. airspace -- contradicting an industry source who said it was because of an impasse with the Department of Defense over the use of unmanned military aircraft. "The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso has been lifted. There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal," the FAA shared on X. An industry official, who had been briefed on the matter by the FAA in a morning call and asked not to be identified, told the Tribune that the Defense Department has been operating unmanned aircraft, or drones, against drug cartel operations from a base near El Paso's airport without sharing information with the FAA. "It has to do with the FAA's inability to predict where [unmanned aircraft systems] might be flying," the official told the Tribune. "They have been operating outside the normal flight paths." But a Trump official on Wednesday said the closure occurred because Mexican cartel drones breached U.S. airspace. |
| IHL board approves up to $10M on winter storm cleanup at Ole Miss | |
| University of Mississippi leaders plan to spend up to $10 million on tree removal and other debris cleanup on the Oxford campus because of an ice storm that caused widespread damage in the northern part of the state. On Monday, the IHL Board of Trustees unanimously approved increasing the amount of the university's contract with Looks Great Services, a landscape service based in Columbia, to ensure the cleanup can be completed. The board, which oversees the state's public universities, has to approve contracts that exceed $2 million. Ole Miss will pay for initial services and seek reimbursements from other funding sources including Federal Emergency Management Agency, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and insurance, according to IHL. Ole Miss officials are still assessing the storm damage, and the final storm recovery costs are unclear. "Snow, ice, power outages and blocked roads were just a few of the obstacles that stood before some of our universities including Ole Miss, Mississippi Valley State and Delta State University," said Gee Ogletree, IHL board president. |
| Across the South, Residents Grieve for Thousands of Storm-Ravaged Trees | |
 | Communities across the South are grieving the loss of dozens of people in connection with the winter storm late last month, which paralyzed much of the region with snow and ice. Thousands more are slowly recovering from the expensive toll of going more than a week without power or heat, and filing insurance claims for mangled roofs, cars and other property. But the most visible damage is to the trees. Limbs cracked and snapped during and after the storms, sounding like gunfire. Trunks plummeted through sheds and fences, dragged down power lines and shed buds petrified in ice. The weight of the ice was unsparing, ravaging wealthy suburban enclaves, rural outposts and urban parks. Trees that had survived decades of unpredictable weather and outlived the people who planted them were reduced to piles of logs and ragged stumps lining the roads. At Rowan Oak, the home of the author William Faulkner in Oxford, Miss., at least two trees believed to have been there while he lived on the property from 1930 until his death in 1962 cannot be salvaged. Century-old trees in the heart of the city, known as the Square, had to be taken down because of ice damage. At the University of Mississippi in Oxford, which closed for nearly two weeks after the storm, the chancellor assured students that two "champion trees" -- a Northern catalpa and an Osage orange, the largest of their species in the state -- had survived. |
| USM senior associate provost named trustee of organization that accredits institutions of higher education | |
 | Dr. Douglas Masterson, University of Southern Mississippi senior associate provost for Institutional Success, was named a trustee for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. His term is scheduled to run through 2028. The SACSCOC is a higher education accrediting body for about 800 member institutions, awarding associate, baccalaureate, master's or doctoral degrees. The organization is dedicated to improving educational quality and ensuring compliance with membership-approved standards. Trustee responsibilities include determining commission policy, making decisions regarding institutional accreditation and reviewing proposed changes to commission standards or dues. A member of the USM faculty since 2004, Masterson is a professor of chemistry and biochemistry and has served the university in several administrative capacities. "Dr. Masterson is a great choice to serve on the SACSCOC Board of Trustees," said Dr. Lance Nail, USM provost/senior vice president for academic affairs. "He's an accomplished scholar who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this role, and we're thrilled to have him represent Southern Miss in this way." |
| Students set to return to Blue Mountain Christian University after an unexpected break | |
 | Although classes don't start back until Wednesday, some Blue Mountain Christian University students are already on campus. "I am ready to be back in class," said BMCU Junior Giana Crassi. The ice from Winter Storm Fern caused damage around the campus, to trees, and some buildings. The Fisher Washburn Building suffered water damage. Virtually all of Tippah County was impacted, not only by the winter storm but also by a natural gas leak in the area. "We had a wonderful plan, we were prepared with generators, but when the natural gas went down, the fuel supply became an issue," said BMCU President Dr Barbara McMillin. Winter Storm Fern disrupted many lives, but students say they have learned some valuable lessons about care and compassion. "The Lord showed me that He always has a bigger picture, John 13 seven says You don't know what I am doing now, but later you will. You question why things happen, but He has a bigger plan, and is doing it for a reason," said BMCU Junior Lindsey Murr. Dr. McMillin said it is possible some classes will have to be relocated, as repairs are made to buildings that had water damage. There are around 500 undergraduate students and 50 graduate students enrolled at Blue Mountain. |
| Itawamba Community College leader a finalist for national honor | |
| Itawamba Community College President Dr. Jay Allen has been named a finalist for the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) CEO of the Year Award, a national honor recognizing exceptional leadership among community college presidents across the United States. The AACC CEO of the Year Award honors leaders whose work has made a significant and lasting impact on their institutions, students and the communities they serve. Dr. Allen will be formally recognized as a finalist during the AACC annual convention, the nation's premier convening of community college leaders, to be held in April in Seattle, Washington. Since assuming the presidency at ICC, Dr. Allen has emphasized student success, workforce alignment and community engagement while maintaining a strong focus on institutional culture and excellence. Under his leadership, the college has continued to strengthen academic programs, expand workforce and industry partnerships and enhance the overall student experience across all ICC locations. "I am deeply honored by this recognition, but it truly belongs to our outstanding employees," Allen said. "Every day, our faculty and staff go above and beyond to serve students and positively impact our communities." |
| New Board of Cosmetology and Barbering modifying guidelines to be licensed as cosmetologist or barber in state | |
| For about a month now, the new Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering has been re-establishing what it takes to be a licensed cosmetologist or barber in the state. Licensed instructor A'Sheena Woods has been operating her barber school, the Art Barber College, since 2019 in Hattiesburg. She said it's been challenging since the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering "lost" its rules in October 2025. This happened because the state Senate failed to confirm members to the board in April 2024. Now, there is a new board, with seven people assigned to take the Magnolia State's cosmetology and barbering craft to a new era with new rules and regulations. Earlier this month, the board eliminated the practical skills-based exam. Now, the board assesses whether or not a future licensee will be able to practice the profession safely via the written theory exam. "So, a candidate for licensure is never even getting to that written theory-based exam unless they can demonstrate all throughout their program of study in school the ability to do the skills and do the skills well," MSBCB Executive Director Catherine Bell said. Bell said Mississippi joins 12 other states that have eliminated that exam. She said this provides a faster avenue for candidates, and Woods agreed. "I believe the board we have now is trying to recover the industry. They're doing a phenomenal job," Woods said. "They're making some changes and putting some temporary rules in place to enhance the industry." |
| 'Lean into being a Volunteer': State of the University address promotes leveraging strengths amid challenges | |
| The University of Tennessee hosted its 2026 State of the University discussion Tuesday morning as part of the Grand Challenges Summit, welcoming the new year through a presentation of systemwide strength and unity. "Together, we are shaping a university system that is accessible, innovative and relentlessly focused on impact," UT President Randy Boyd said, opening the presentation with his presidential address. Boyd was joined by a panel of university chancellors and leaders as they spoke to an audience of faculty members and partners. Drawing upon his experience as a first-generation college student, Boyd emphasized the importance of keeping higher education accessible. "For me, access to higher education is not an abstract idea -- it's not a line of a strategic plan. As a first-generation college student, stepping onto the campus at UT Knoxville back in 1979, it represented both an opportunity and uncertainty," Boyd said. "My UT experience and education changed my life." This is especially important, Boyd said, as higher education institutions face tense national pressure. "There's a raging national narrative that questions the value of college, claiming it's unaffordable and not worth the investment," Boyd said. "That narrative is simply wrong." |
| U. of Tennessee poised to solve state's issues, Randy Boyd says | |
 | As the Volunteer State navigates a changing economy and the value of higher education is under attack nationwide, the University of Tennessee System has positioned itself not as a degree-churning institution but a place that is deeply invested in the success of all Tennesseans. University of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd said the five campuses together are positioned to resolve the state's top challenges in real time as leaders from throughout Tennessee gathered to discuss that very mission. Boyd's annual State of the University speech preceded the 2026 Grand Challenges Summit, which focuses on the UT System's role in the future of K-12 education, artificial intelligence and addiction, among other topics. Many of these programs and initiatives require a new generation of leaders and innovators earning their degrees at the five UT campuses in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Martin, Memphis and Pulaski. After his speech, Boyd was joined on stage by every UT chancellor and two UT institute leaders for a discussion on how the campuses can better work together. |
| How a tiny nonprofit school became one of America's largest universities | |
 | Two decades ago, Southern New Hampshire University was so obscure that most people in New England had never heard of it. It enrolled a few thousand students on its 300-acre campus along the Merrimack River, 25 miles from the Massachusetts border. Many students came from nearby towns looking for practical skills in fields like business, culinary arts or hotel management. Today, SNHU is one of the largest universities in the country after a massive expansion of its online degree programs. Enrollment took off as the school plowed $1.6 billion into advertising and reaped more than $1 billion in profit since 2010. Last fiscal year, the nonprofit school estimates, 300,000 students took at least one class for credit. "The growth has just been absolutely phenomenal," said Margaret Moffett, who is writing an academic book about the school's expansion. The vast majority of SNHU students are completely online and live all over the country. Some visit the campus for the first time at graduation, while many never set foot there. SNHU's growth represents a transformation in higher education, with nonprofit schools barreling into territory once dominated by for-profits. SNHU had a fledgling online program when Paul LeBlanc became president in 2003. But LeBlanc sensed an unusual opportunity after some large for-profit schools came under fire. |
| UNC Administrators Can Now Secretly Record Faculty | |
 | The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recently rolled out a new policy that permits university officials to record classes without notifying the instructor. It's a practice administrators have used in the past to investigate professors but have now formalized in writing. According to the policy, administrators may, with the provost and general counsel's written permission, record classes or access existing recordings without telling faculty in order to "gather evidence in connection with an investigation into alleged violations of university policy" and "for any other lawful purpose, when authorized in writing by the provost and the office of university counsel, who will consult with the chair of the faculty." Mehdi Shadmehr, an associate professor of public policy at UNC, told Inside Higher Ed the policy is "completely outside any kind of norm." University leaders -- from the systemwide Board of Governors to the provost -- have made several decisions in recent months that curb professors' freedoms in the classroom. |
| Surge in Electric Scooter Accidents Spurs School Bans | |
| A surge in electric scooter injuries in recent years has prompted many K-12 schools and colleges to implement bans or significant restrictions on micromobility products. Injuries associated with all micromobility devices -- including e-scooters, e-bikes, and hoverboards -- increased nearly 21% from 2022 to 2021, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) report, Micromobility Products-Related Deaths, Injuries, and Hazard Patterns. From 2017 to 2022, e-scooter injuries rose from 8,566 to 56,847. More recently, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) found e-scooter injuries rose from just under 30,000 in 2020 to 118,485 in 2024 -- nearly twice the 2023 total of 64,329. Emergency departments across the United States have also documented significant increases in e-scooter–related hospital visits. According to a study from the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the annual cost of e-scooter and e-bike hospitalizations rising nearly five times over between 2016 and 2020 -- from 6.6 million to 35.5 million -- according to a study from the American College of Surgeons. Many colleges and universities have issued partial bans or restrictions on micromobility devices. |
| EAB: Higher Ed Facing Confluence of Pressures on Sector | |
| The higher education sector is increasingly squeezed by economic and political pressures affecting even the nation's wealthiest institutions, according to a new report from consulting giant EAB. The report, out today, argues that higher education is in "a new era of scrutiny and conditional legitimacy." EAB finds the sector battered by social, political and market headwinds as it simultaneously navigates a more adversarial relationship with the federal government, a bifurcated enrollment picture, public doubts about return on investment, a rapidly changing athletics landscape and the effects of artificial intelligence on job prospects for recent graduates. The report notes that scrutiny on the sector is sharpening, which is driven by both the Trump administration and state lawmakers who have ratcheted up pressure on institutional autonomy by pressing universities to restrict certain speech and halt diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The authors argue that autonomy is no longer assumed and colleges must justify to the public their need for independence. |
| Millions of student loan borrowers aren't repaying their loans -- and defaults are up | |
 | Roughly a million borrowers defaulted on their federal student loans late last year, with millions delinquent on their payments and sliding toward the same fate. That's according to federal data and the latest Household Debt and Credit Report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which dropped on Tuesday. The report includes student loan data as of the end of 2025. Student loan delinquencies have continued to worsen, said New York Fed researchers on a call with reporters, and they expect the number of borrowers in default to continue to grow. The report offers further confirmation of a crisis in the U.S. student loan portfolio, in which too many borrowers are not repaying their student loans. Nearly 10% of student loan balances are more than 90 days past due, according to the report. The stakes are high, not only for borrowers but for the broader U.S. economy. Americans in default can have up to 15% of their disposable pay garnished by the government. The government can also garnish income tax refunds and Social Security benefits. Borrowers' credit also takes a hit, making it much more difficult to buy a car or home or even rent an apartment. |
SPORTS
| Men's Basketball: Five Things To Know: State vs. Tennessee | |
| Mississippi State men's basketball concludes a stretch of six straight games versus NCAA Net Quad 1 opponents when Tennessee visits Humphrey Coliseum on Wednesday evening. State (11-12, 3-7 SEC) is led by Josh Hubbard and Jayden Epps who have combined to rack up 35.3 points per game which is 4th among SEC duos this season. The Volunteers (16-7, 6-4 SEC) have won four of their last five games and sit in a three-way tie for 5th place in the SEC standings. Ja'Kobi Gillespie (18.5 PPG, 5.3 APG, 1.7 SPG) and Nate Ament (17.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.5 APG) are Tennessee's top two scorers. Last time out, Ament dialed up a season-high tying 29 points at Kentucky on 10-of-17 shooting. Wednesday's game marks only the second time in the last 14 meetings that State will face an unranked Tennessee team dating back to 2017-18. The Bulldogs emerged with an 86-73 victory on Feb. 1, 2020 in that encounter. Overall, the Volunteers possess a 91-46 advantage. |
| MSU preps for 'fistfight' with physical Tennessee team | |
| The clock is ticking closer to midnight for the Mississippi State men's basketball season, but the fight isn't over yet for the 2025-26 group. The team continues to take its lumps through a late-season SEC slump, looking for a way to get up off the mat. The Bulldogs (11-12, 3-7 SEC) have just one win in their last eight games. The stretch of poor form includes blowout losses to ranked teams such as Alabama, Vanderbilt and Arkansas, but also missed opportunities against Ole Miss and Missouri that have seen them fall below the middle of the pack in the conference standings. The team struggled to start the season, and those struggles resurfaced despite a six-game winning run to end nonconference play and takedowns of Texas and Oklahoma in January. The team is trying each week now to regroup as the number of opportunities to turn things around begins to run out. "I've said this before, these young men have been resilient. They come to work with the right mindset and the right approach," MSU head coach Chris Jans said. "If we weren't having quality practices, I just wouldn't talk about it. I wouldn't say we've had bad ones, I just wouldn't talk about it. Because we are (having quality practices)." The visitor this week is Tennessee, previously ranked No. 25 until a loss over the weekend to Kentucky. The Vols (16-7, 6-4 SEC) had won four straight before Saturday, and are currently tied for fifth in the conference standings. |
| Best stories about new Mississippi State coach Brian O'Connor include bizarre plane ride | |
| Viriginia baseball had a potentially awkward cross-country flight before it won the 2015 national championship under new Mississippi State coach Brian O'Connor. The Cavaliers had just won the Lake Elsinore Regional in California as a No. 3 seed. Maryland, also a No. 3 seed, surprisingly won the Los Angeles Regional. So, the teams, in conjunction with the NCAA, decided to charter a flight together back home. The strange part was that Virginia and Maryland were about to play each other a few days later in the Charlottesville Super Regional. Virginia sat on one side of the plane, with Maryland on the other side. "Our team was playing these card games and like having fun and probably looking like idiots," Virginia pitcher Alec Bettinger said. "I just remember Maryland kind of being stern and serious. It was two very opposite sides of the plane." The Cavaliers and O'Connor swept Maryland en route to the program's only national championship. O'Connor told The Clarion Ledger that the 2015 flight was mostly civil. But imagine if, say, Mississippi State gets to a 2026 super regional in O'Connor's first season, and it shares a plane ride with Alabama or even Ole Miss beforehand. |
| Softball: Ammon Shuts Out Golden Eagles As State Claims Home Opener | |
| No. 19 Mississippi State extended its winning streak to five games with 5-0 shutout victory in Tuesday's home opener against Southern Miss. This marks the 13th year in a row that State has started 1-0 in Nusz Park. Des Rivera led the Bulldogs with her first multi-hit and multi-RBI game that saw her homer and double. Gabby Schaeffer picked up her first career hit with a double and later scored the opening run on a sacrifice fly by Nadia Barbary. Kinley Keller also recorded her first career RBI while reaching on a fielder's choice. "[Rivera] brings a big bat, and she took a pitch that we were seeing and struggling with, and she did this. That was just a mature, veteran approach and at-bat from her there.," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "And then she busted it open, expanding our lead there later in the game, which was huge and something we were trying to focus on late in that game." Laila Ammon's debut in Nusz Park saw her claim her first win as a Bulldog, totaling six strikeouts without allowing a walk. Alyssa Faircloth threw in relief, picking up her second career save. With the win, Mississippi State improved to 31-6 against in-state teams under Ricketts. |
| Rapid Recap: No. 19 Mississippi State 5, Southern Miss 0 | |
| Mississippi State softball took the field at Nusz Park for the first time in the 2026 campaign on Tuesday. The Bulldogs (5-0) beat Southern Miss 5-0 to stay perfect on the season. Southern Miss nearly broke the game open in the third inning, but MSU center fielder Abby Grace Richardson ran down a shot deep into center left, making a closedown out and keeping the bases clear on a play that could have easily led to extra bases with the game still in the balance. In the bottom of the third, the Bulldogs got a runner on through freshman Gabby Schaefer's stand-up double for her first career hit. An infield single from Morgan Stiles put runners at the corners for Nadia Barbary. She hit one deep to center field, too short for a home run but far enough for a sacrifice fly to open the scoring. At the top of the fifth, Southern Miss had its best chance to pull level, starting with a two-out stand-up double, had a chance to close the inning on a grounder to second, but Paige Ernstes' throw to first was just late. She made up for it on the next play, fielding a grounder and getting the tag for out three to put another zero on the board. |
| Mizzou athletics looking to sell naming rights for Memorial Stadium | |
 | The days of "Memorial Stadium" are likely numbered. In an effort to generate more revenue for the athletic department, Mizzou is selling the corporate naming rights to Memorial Stadium, per a press release. Should MU find a corporate partner, the university would drop "Memorial" and replace it with a corporate entity. "This is another incredible opportunity to position Mizzou Athletics for the future," Mizzou athletic director Laird Veatch said in the release. "Memorial Stadium enters its second century as college athletics continues to evolve rapidly. Securing naming rights reflects our 'Will to Win,' which includes a commitment to investing aggressively in our ability to recruit, retain and compete to win championships while also being thoughtful and intentional in honoring our past." Mizzou will collaborate with a sports property sales firm called Intersect Properties to help the university find a corporate sponsor. The Atlanta-based firm has previously worked with the WNBA's Atlanta Dream. |
| Big Ten athletes commission urges NCAA to continue push to eliminate college prop bets | |
| Citing reports of death threats, pointed criticism and cyberbullying, the Big Ten Student-Athlete Issues Commission urged NCAA President Charlie Baker and collegiate leaders to continue pressuring state gaming commissions to eliminate or limit prop betting on college athletics. "While we understand that sports betting is becoming increasingly more common across the country and allows for states to generate increased tax revenue, prop betting represents unique risks at the college level," the commission wrote in a letter released Tuesday morning. "We believe protecting student-athletes must be a priority. Limiting or eliminating prop betting on college athletics would be a meaningful step toward reducing harassment, protecting mental well-being, and preserving the integrity of college competition." Pressures have mounted on college athletes since 2018, when the United States Supreme Court struck down the federal law banning sports gambling. Now, 39 states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, have legalized sports betting, and around half allow for prop bets on college athletics. Prop bets include non-outcome wagering that focuses on individual statistics, such as yards or points scored by a player. When players miss on those targets, they often become heavily scrutinized and are subject to online or in-person harassment. |
| Super Bowl LX, Bad Bunny's halftime fall shy of ratings records | |
| Sunday night's Super Bowl and Bad Bunny fell short of setting records for most-watched U.S. broadcast and halftime show. The Seattle Seahawks' 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots averaged 124.9 million viewers on NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, NBC Sports Digital and NFL+, according to Nielsen's Big Data + Panel rating system. That fell short of the 127.7 million U.S. viewers who tuned in for the Philadelphia Eagles' 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs last year on Fox. However, Super Bowl XL is the most-watched program in NBC history. The network is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Bad Bunny's halftime show averaged 128.2 million viewers from 8:15 to 8:30 p.m. ET. That would make it the fourth-most-watched halftime behind Kendrick Lamar (133.5 million, 2025), Michael Jackson (133.4 million, 1993) and Usher (129.3 million, 2024). The Turning Point USA halftime show featuring Kid Rock peaked at 5 million viewers at one point on YouTube. Total social media consumption of Bad Bunny's halftime show set a record of 4 billion views after the first 24 hours, according to the NFL and Ripple Analytics. That is a 137% increase over last year. |
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