| Wednesday, April 1, 2026 |
| Physicist recreates neutron star reaction, reveals how explosive stars forge elements | |
 | A Mississippi State physicist has achieved a significant scientific advancement, producing a direct laboratory measurement of a key nuclear reaction believed to occur during explosive bursts on neutron stars. These bursts forge heavier elements -- the building blocks of planets and life on Earth. The findings appear in The Astrophysical Journal, a top-rated peer-reviewed journal in astrophysics. The article is online at www.iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ae3de6/meta. "The universe began almost entirely with hydrogen and helium," said principal investigator Jaspreet Randhawa, assistant professor in MSU's Department of Physics and Astronomy. "Every heavier element -- from the oxygen we breathe to the iron in Earth's core -- was forged later in stars and stellar explosions. By identifying how stellar explosions build heavier elements, scientists gain a clearer picture of how the elements that form planets and support life are distributed through the cosmos." |
| Physicist recreates neutron star reaction, reveals how explosive stars forge elements | |
| A Mississippi State physicist has produced a direct laboratory measurement of a key nuclear reaction believed to occur during explosive bursts on neutron stars. These bursts forge heavier elements -- the building blocks of planets and life on Earth. The findings appear in The Astrophysical Journal. "The universe began almost entirely with hydrogen and helium," said principal investigator Jaspreet Randhawa, assistant professor in MSU's Department of Physics and Astronomy. "We wanted to know whether nature had a built-in roadblock that stopped heavier elements from forming during X-ray bursts on neutron star surfaces," added Randhawa, whose graduate student, Muhammad Asif Zubair, joined the study. "Our measurements show this roadblock is much weaker than expected, meaning the process that builds heavier elements can continue." Neutron stars are the dense remnants left behind when massive stars explode, Randhawa said. |
| Organic vegetable production workshop set for April 17 | |
 | Small farmers will have an opportunity to learn more about organic vegetable production during an upcoming workshop. The Mississippi State University Extension Service will host the Organic Vegetable Production Workshop on April 17 in Crystal Springs at the Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station. Both producers who currently grow organically and those interested in organic production practices are welcome. Educational sessions will include information on variety selection, food safety, organic certification, and nutrient, weed, disease and insect management. Experts will give scientific updates on horticultural practices for vegetable crops. Extension specialists and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, or MAFES, scientists with MSU and Auburn University will lead the workshop sessions. The Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station is located at 2024 Experiment Station Road in Crystal Springs. The 175-acre facility is one of 12 MAFES branch research stations throughout the state. |
| The Role of Horticultural Research in Powering the Green Industry | |
| The horticulture industry continues to change as new technologies, production practices, and consumer expectations reshape the marketplace. Research plays an essential role in helping growers, landscapers, and retailers adapt and succeed. That's exactly where the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) enters the chat. Every year, HRI selects and funds research projects that advance horticulture. "What makes HRI research so valuable is that it focuses on real challenges the industry is facing right now," says Mark Yelanich, HRI President and Research Director at Metrolina Greenhouses. "The 2026 HRI-funded projects were selected because they develop knowledge, processes, or tools that businesses can actually use." Patricia Knight at Mississippi State University is developing an AI-based drone system to identify, count, and classify southern magnolia trees at different growth stages. This system could give growers real-time inventory data to improve planning and labor management. Although the southern magnolia serves as the model crop, researchers may adapt the technology to other ornamental species over time. |
| Why is snow becoming increasingly rare? | |
| Snow really is becoming increasingly rare, according to new research. A detailed study of weather trends in the Northern Hemisphere found that about one in four regions (24%) have seen declines in snow-covered areas, compared with 9% showing increases. The strongest overall declines occurred in Europe and central Asia, while parts of central Canada and the northern Great Plains of the United States saw increases. The findings, published in the Journal of Hydrometeorology, also showed that the southern edge of seasonal snow cover is retreating in many areas, indicating a general shift toward less persistent snow across much of the hemisphere. Scientists say the study suggests shrinking snow coverage as well as seasonal shifts for when the wintry layer comes and goes. Researchers at Mississippi State University employed mathematics, statistics, and climate science to examine regional snow cover trends dating back to 1967. Research co-author Professor Jonathan Woody said, "We can see how trends vary both geographically and seasonally." Co-author Professor Jamie Dyer said, "Climate datasets are inherently complex. By combining statistical expertise with climate science expertise, we ensure that trends are not artifacts of data bias or methodology." |
| Craig Herrera motivates aspiring Meteorologists at Mississippi State Severe Storms Symposium | |
| Weather enthusiasts, meteorologists and students gathered to reflect and learn about severe weather as we kick off spring. The East Mississippi Chapter of the National Weather Association and American Meteorological Society hosted its 24th annual Southeast Severe Storms Symposium on March 28–29 at Mississippi State University. This impactful event hosted around 120 attendees and four keynote speakers, including FOX Weather's very own Craig Herrera. Samuel Gonzalez, an attendee and senior professional meteorology major from Mayhill, New Mexico, said that meeting Herrera was especially inspiring since they have both moved over one thousand miles to follow their dreams. "I've been dreaming about a career in meteorology for a long time," Gonzalez said. "It's an honor to meet a great meteorologist from my home state of New Mexico at Mississippi State University." During his presentation, Herrera recapped major weather-related events of 2025, honing in on the impacts of meteorology for all seasons, and for all America. |
| First Responders: How police dogs enhance safety at Mississippi State University | |
 | Video: Mississippi State University's police K9 program has expanded with support from donors, enhancing campus safety and fostering community engagement. |
| Firehawk unveils rocket manufacturing facility, plans to expand | |
| Inside a large white warehouse off Wicker Road, federal and local leaders stood side by side Tuesday afternoon as Firehawk Aerospace cut the ribbon on its new rocket integration facility, a site capable of producing 40,000 rockets annually, with plans to triple that output in the coming years. Will Edwards, CEO of Firehawk Aerospace, said the company plans to build on its initial $16.5 million investment with a major expansion by 2028. "Our investment in this state has only just begun," he told attendees. "We're excited to be here for many decades to come. (An output of) 120,000 rockets a year is going to sound very small very soon, so we're excited that Mississippi is our new home. ... Let's get to work." Firehawk, a Texas-based munitions company that develops rockets and motors powered by 3D-printed propellants, acquired three buildings and 636 acres last year at the Crawford site. U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, joined by U.S. 1st District Rep. Trent Kelly, Lowndes County Supervisors Trip Hairston and Jeff Smith, and Golden Triangle Development LINK CEO Iain Vassey, said the United States is facing its most dangerous national defense situation in decades. |
| Lawmakers extend session 'on paper' | |
| Mississippi lawmakers have agreed to a resolution to extend the 2026 regular session "on paper" to April 15, nearly two weeks after the initial sine die date which was set for this Sunday. The state constitution requires that if the session is to be extended, it must be extended for 30 days. Senate Rules Committee Chairman Dean Kirby (R) told his chamber Tuesday that lawmakers could be called back on April 15 unless the Speaker and Lt. Governor jointly agree not to reconvene. Three senators voted in opposition to the measure while many more faces in the chamber showed their displeasure with the move. In the House, the resolution put forward by Speaker Jason White (R) passed by a vote of 116 to 1. Speaker White said late Monday that the intent is to give lawmakers more time to address last-minute issues should there be agreement to do so or should the governor call a special session. |
| Farm equipment tax exemption bill dies as Mississippi lawmakers approve other ag tax cuts | |
| As the 2026 legislative session in Mississippi nears its end, a bill that would have created a tax exemption for certain agricultural equipment is effectively dead. Senate Bill 2272 would have allowed those purchasing tractors and other farm equipment to avoid the current 1.5% sales tax levied on said products. Different versions of the bill passed with near-unanimous consent in both the Senate and House, but when selected negotiators from each side tried to hammer out the details in conference, conversations ultimately fell flat. With rising costs on fuel, labor, and supplies, farmers and others within Mississippi's agriculture industry have long voiced their struggles. Leah Long, Mississippi's director for the National Federation of Independent Businesses, said the bill would have relieved some of the pressure being felt. The overall idea of SB 2272 was to exempt farm tractors and other equipment used directly in production, including machinery for raising poultry, livestock, fish, crops, and ornamental plants. The exemption would have extended to logging, pulpwood, and tree-farming equipment, as well. The bill would have also exempted parts and labor used to maintain or repair farm equipment from the 1.5% sales tax. |
| Mississippi lawmakers cut child care funding, send PERS changes to Gov. Tate Reeves | |
| As Mississippi's legislative session nears its end, two budget decisions are drawing attention for their potential impact on families and state workers across the state. Lawmakers cut $15 million in child care certificate funding from the Department of Human Services budget. The certificates help low-income families cover the cost of placing children in licensed child care centers. Rep. Justis Gibbs, D-Jackson, said the cut could affect thousands of children and that the funding could have been preserved if lawmakers had made it a priority. "I think that if we really wanted to find the funds, we would have found the funds," Gibbs said. On retirement, lawmakers voted nearly unanimously to send changes affecting the Public Employees' Retirement System to Gov. Tate Reeves. Last year, as part of broader legislation to phase out the state income tax, lawmakers overhauled PERS to address a $26 billion unfunded liability. The changes required new hires to work 35 years before drawing full benefits and set retirement pay based on an employee's eight highest-earning years. The overhaul drew fierce criticism from teachers, first responders, and other public employee groups. The new bill walks some of that back. |
| Lawmakers punt on Supreme Court redistricting, send immigration and education bills to governor | |
| Two bills that would have allowed lawmakers to make Mississippi's state Supreme Court districts fairer for Black voters died with a Monday night deadline, likely guaranteeing a federal judge will redraw the maps. While the House and Senate could not reach agreement on redrawing the three court districts, lawmakers on Tuesday debated and passed numerous other bills, hoping to end their 2026 regular session by Thursday. On Monday night, legislators had finished crafting a nearly $7.4-billion state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The legislative wrangling over the state's high court districts stems from U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock's ruling last year that the districts in the northern, central and southern parts of the state violate the federal Voting Rights Act because they do not allow Black voters in one area a fair chance to elect a candidate of their choice. ... Both chambers approved the negotiated version of bills on Tuesday that would increase Mississippi's role in enforcing federal immigration law and force local law enforcement agencies to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ... Though lawmakers appeared to reach an agreement on a teacher pay raise earlier this week, the legislation was sent for further negotiation Tuesday and changed to include a provision similar to the bill's original language about school counselors. |
| Legislators move to fund Medicaid at about half its initial request for a budget increase | |
| Lawmakers approved a roughly $200 million increase in Medicaid's budget for the upcoming fiscal year, delivering about half of what the agency requested. State legislators have also advanced a measure to give the agency a $35 million deficit appropriation to cover a shortfall for the current fiscal year. Senate Appropriations Chairman Briggs Hopson, a Republican from Vicksburg, warned Sunday of a "very real possibility" there could be a deficit appropriation next year, too. The steep increase in state spending for Medicaid has squeezed other parts of the state's $7.36 billion total budget, including an overdue teacher pay raise and spending for child care, lawmakers said. "We've got a massive Medicaid issue that we're addressing, and the funds are not there," said House Appropriations C Committee Chairman Clay Deweese, a Republican from Oxford, on the House floor Sunday in a response to a question about why $15 million for desperately needed child care vouchers was removed from an appropriations bill. Lawmakers proposed $1.17 billion in state spending on Medicaid, but that amount is roughly $190 million less than the agency's January budget request. It also falls about $29 million short of Gov. Tate Reeves' recommendation for the agency. The appropriation bill will next go to Reeves' desk for consideration. |
| Pay raises for judges too much, some Mississippi legislators say | |
 | Members of the Mississippi Senate voted through a substantial raise for judges on Tuesday, March 31, that some legislators said is an unreasonable use of state money. The bill is set to boost salaries for judges on the Supreme Court, court of appeals and circuit and chancery courts, meaning every judge in the state will see a larger paycheck starting in January 2027. Mississippi's nearly two dozen district attorneys will also see a pay bump under the bill. The raises are between roughly $10,000 and $13,000 a year, with Supreme Court justices slated to see the largest pay raises. The Supreme Court, which is currently two members short due to previous members moving into federal positions, will see a more than $95,000 total raise for its seven members next year. Sen. Brice Wiggins, R-Pascagoula, presented the bill to the Senate on March 31 after he led the chamber's side of the conference negotiations. The initial position of both the Senate and House, laid out in early March, left judge salaries alone and focused solely on district attorney raises and clerk fees. Wiggins explained that the salaries proposed in the bill reflect the lowest amount recommended by the State Personnel Board. |
| Legislature directs $56M to South Mississippi projects. Hospitals, coliseum big winners | |
 | South Mississippi projects are expected to receive a total of $41.1 million in grants and another $14.729 million in loans from the Mississippi Legislature for 2026-27. The money comes from the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund, which receives an annual payment from BP through a settlement with Gulf states over the 2010 oil catastrophe in the Gulf. Annual funding through 2033 compensates the state for economic losses. Funding will total $477 million and arrives in annual increments of about $30 million. However, GCRF reserves built up after the Legislature overspent the annual allotment and decided against funding any projects in 2024 or 2025. The Mississippi Development Authority oversees the process and also submits recommendations to the Legislature. This year, MDA Executive Director Bill Cork recommended that most of the GCRF money go into revolving loan programs focused on Coast ports, airport improvements, and technology and entrepreneurship. The Legislature is expected to establish a revolving loan fund through a bill that is being finalized. Sen. Brice Wiggins said legislators have discussed the fund for two years and did not act based on Cork's letter. The loan fund would be administered by the Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District. |
| Trump Orders Federal Government to Create Eligible-Voter List | |
 | President Trump signed an executive order Tuesday for his administration to create lists of people it considers eligible to vote in federal elections, as well as placing new restrictions on mail-in voting. The order requires the Homeland Security secretary to oversee an effort to draw up lists of voters who are U.S. citizens, over 18 and maintain a residence in a particular state. The lists would be based on federal records, such as citizenship and nationalization records and data held by the Social Security Administration, and would then be submitted to state election chiefs ahead of this year's midterm elections. States run most aspects of elections, but Trump has moved to assert more federal authority over voting in the run-up to the midterms in November, where control of the House and Senate is set to be hotly contested. The president's order will likely face a flood of legal challenges. David Becker, the executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, described the order as "wholly unconstitutional." There hasn't been evidence of widespread voter fraud in U.S. elections. Trump moved to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, which he lost, because he claimed there was voter tampering and fraud. A series of audits and recounts commissioned by state and local officials in the aftermath of the 2020 election found no evidence of such fraud. |
| GOP sources see Trump shifting to back Senate bill funding most of DHS | |
 | Senate Republican sources expect President Trump to get behind a Senate-passed bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) but not Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, ending a tense standoff with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) that threatens to prolong a partial government shutdown for weeks. Several Republican sources briefed on conversations with the White House say they expect Trump to endorse the Senate bill, even though it doesn't fund ICE, as the quickest way to end the shutdown and begin work on a second budget reconciliation package to fund immigration enforcement and possibly the Pentagon as well. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) spoke to Trump on Monday to figure out a way through the impasse with House Republicans. Sources cautioned that while Trump is now open to endorsing the Senate bill, which would give Johnson the green light to bring it to the House floor, he could change his mind. |
| How prediction markets landed in Congress' crosshairs | |
 | Lawmakers are quickly coming to a realization: Odds are, Congress is going to have to do something about booming prediction markets. The online platforms where people can bet on the outcomes of future events like elections, sports and the Oscars had already attracted attention in Washington as the industry garnered backing from Wall Street giants, Silicon Valley investors and even Donald Trump Jr. That scrutiny has exploded in recent weeks, however, after unusual trading patterns around markets related to the U.S.-Israel war with Iran suggested possible insider profiteering. The result has been an uptick in legislation targeting the industry amid new questions about the policing of its major players. At the center of the fight is a debate over who should regulate and tax transactions that take place on sites like Kalshi and Polymarket, which operate as financial exchanges but have become best known as sports and political betting platforms. The clash pits states and tribes against an increasingly powerful new industry that has won over key presidential appointees. Lawmakers of both parties are also eyeing various ways to crack down on insider trading on the platforms -- including by members of Congress themselves and their staffs. |
| Markets rally, oil prices fall as Trump prepares to address nation on Iran war | |
 | Financial markets rallied and oil and gas prices fell on hopes of an approaching end to the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran, even as strikes in the region continued and Tehran maintained a show of defiance against opening the Strait of Hormuz. Stock markets in Asia closed higher Wednesday while European markets posted gains. The price of Brent crude, a global benchmark, briefly dipped below $100 a barrel, down from about $118 a day earlier, and European gas prices fell. A day earlier, U.S. markets closed higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite index all gaining more than 2 percent. President Donald Trump is set to address the nation Wednesday with an "important update" on Iran, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, in what is set to be his first prime-time address since the U.S. and Israeli assault on Iran began more than one month ago. Leavitt did not elaborate on what Trump's message would be, but he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio spent Tuesday expressing optimism about the United States' trajectory, after the administration alternated in recent days between saying the war is winding down and threatening to escalate it. |
| Trump Raises NATO Withdrawal as Allies Push Back on Iran War | |
| President Trump has raised with his advisers the possibility of withdrawing from NATO if allies don't help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. officials said, as growing tensions with Europeans threaten the alliance that has been the foundation of the post-World War II order. He hasn't explicitly given an order to pull the U.S. out of the alliance that has stood for more than three-quarters of a century, the officials said. But they added that Trump has discussed leaving NATO or potentially finding ways to weaken the U.S. commitment to the organization. Trump has made no final decision about the future of the U.S. role in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the officials said. Trump's comments, made recently to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others in private conversations, come as he urges Europeans to pry open the Strait of Hormuz so the U.S. can end its military campaign against Iran. He has railed against NATO for not joining U.S.-Israeli military efforts against Iran. Trump's conversations about the U.S. role in NATO come as European leaders have hardened their stances toward Trump. Even leaders who were once considered among the U.S. president's closest allies have expressed growing frustration with him over the Iran conflict and his demands. |
| In unprecedented event, Trump attends Supreme Court | |
 | President Donald Trump's unprecedented attendance at a Supreme Court argument over birthright citizenship comes after he has repeatedly criticized justices and other judges who have ruled against him in previous cases. Trump has focused most of his ire on two justices he appointed, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, who joined the 6-3 majority that ruled the president wasn't authorized to impose emergency tariffs. But Trump has also tangled during both of his terms with Chief Justice John Roberts over the president's criticism of judges ruling against him. Roberts has responded without naming Trump that personal hostility against judges "is dangerous and it's got to stop." No sitting president has previously attended a Supreme Court argument. Trump had previously considered attending the tariff argument, but he decided against it. Trump's appearance would come after repeatedly criticizing judges who ruled against him. Hours after the Feb. 20 ruling against him on tariffs, Trump said Gorsuch and Barrett were "an embarrassment to their families." Trump called them "fools and lapdogs" for "RINOs," or Republicans in name only. |
| U.S. exempts oil industry from protecting Gulf animals, for 'national security' | |
 | A committee of Trump administration officials voted unanimously on Tuesday to exempt the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico from requirements of the Endangered Species Act, a move that would lift protections for endangered whales, turtles and other animals threatened with extinction. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth triggered the vote two weeks ago by asking Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to call it "for reasons of national security," and was present at the meeting. "To be secure as a nation we need a steady, affordable supply of our own energy," Hegseth told the six members of the committee, nicknamed the God Squad for its ability to make life or death decisions about endangered animals. "This is not just about gas prices; it's about our ability to power our military and protect our nation." Until now, oil and gas companies have been asked by federal agencies to protect Gulf species by not discarding trash into the Gulf and suspending their use of loud technology when they spot whales, among other requests. One species of Gulf whale is particularly vulnerable. Scientists estimate that only about 51 Rice's whales are left on Earth, all of them in waters of the Gulf of Mexico, which the Trump administration has termed the Gulf of America. |
| Good Friday is a unique and solemn day for Christians, with ancient prayers and fervent processions | |
 | Good Friday is a unique -- and uniquely solemn -- day in the Christian calendar. It commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus, ahead of what's a central tenet of faith for believers -- his resurrection two days later on Easter Sunday, according to the Gospels. This year, it falls on April 3 for Catholics and Protestants, and April 10 for Orthodox Christians. Across Christian denominations, Good Friday services are unlike those on most other days. They often include centuries-old, once-a-year traditions both during the liturgy and out in the streets, where elaborate processions and other rituals of fervent popular piety are held. Most mainline Protestant denominations and Evangelicals also hold unique services, like the Lutheran devotion focused on the biblical accounts of Jesus' last words on the cross, though they are not as strict on fasting as Catholics and Orthodox Christians. Church services tend to last more than an hour, usually starting at 3 p.m., when tradition says Jesus died. But even though it's not a day of obligation, and it's a workday in the United States, churches tend to be packed. |
| Country musician Brett Young to deliver 2026 Ole Miss commencement address | |
 | Diamond-certified country artist and former Ole Miss baseball player Brett Young will headline the University of Mississippi's 2026 Commencement as the featured speaker. Young will deliver his speech at the university's 173rd Convocation, set for 9 a.m. May 9 in the Grove. "We look forward to welcoming Brett Young back to campus to address the Class of 2026 for this meaningful, celebratory milestone in their lives," Chancellor Glenn Boyce said. "His journey of perseverance from collegiate pitcher to renowned country music vocalist with a devoted following will resonate with our students as they head into the world to chart their own paths of success." Young enrolled as a freshman at the university in 1999 and played one season for the baseball Rebels. He left UM in 2000 and eventually landed at Fresno State University to continue playing baseball. An elbow injury there ended his baseball career but opened the door to one in music. |
| Overby Center hosts documentary screening on famed 'whiskey speech' | |
 | University of Mississippi students, faculty and members of the local community gathered Tuesday, March 24, at the Overby Center for Southern Journalism for a pre-release screening of the documentary film "The Whiskey Speech: Soggy Sweat and the Power of Storytelling." The event was sponsored by the UM School of Law, the Mississippi Judicial College and the Lafayette County Bar Association. The film showcases the life and work of Noah S. "Soggy" Sweat Jr., an alum of the UM law school, judge and a former state representative known for delivering the famed "if-by-whiskey speech" in 1952, the final year of his term in the Mississippi Legislature. The film is in its post-production stages and will air on public broadcasting channels within Mississippi and throughout the country at a later date. The documentary examined the conversation regarding Mississippi's alcohol restrictions during the 1950s, when Sweat was serving his term. Mississippi was the last U.S. state to repeal Prohibition in 1966. |
| $5M donation boosts scholarships for School of Nursing at Oxford | |
 | Students entering the University of Mississippi Medical Center's (UMMC) largest health science school by enrollment will get a boost with a new scholarship program in fall 2026. According to UMMC, the Johnson Scholars program is part of an overall $5 million gift from Lisa and Michael Johnson, of Madison, that provides both an endowment for School of Nursing's Oxford Center and a scholarship fund for Mississippi residents enrolling in the Oxford program. Students in the accelerated BSN program at Oxford are also eligible. "Mississippi is my home and it has been good to me, my family and my company," said Michael E. Johnson, CEO of The Landmark Companies, a Flowood-based residential development company, and one of the benefactors of the gift. "Ole Miss played an important role educating my father ('60), and me ('96). One of the ways we wanted to give back was through financial support of UMMC's expanded nursing school in Oxford. Our hope is the help create a preeminent nursing facility that trains health care workers who will stay in Mississippi to serve the health care needs of our state." |
| State AI initiative comes to USM to teach responsible practices | |
 | As artificial intelligence's capabilities continue to grow, so does the list of questions about how AI can be used as a tool. The Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN) hosted an in-person AI workshop at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) on Tuesday for people of every walk of life looking to learn about the future. "MAIN has continued to make an impact in thousands of Mississippians' lives across K-12, with our students and educators, our universities and community college systems, again, students and educators, administration, as well as state government and beyond, in providing no-cost AI training and education to every Mississippian from the Delta to the Coast," MAIN Director Dr. Kollin Napier said. Associate Provost for Faculty Success, Dr. Kelly Lester, is involved in faculty success and academic integrity at USM. She says the university hopes to soon integrate ethical AI use into faculty life. "There are really intentional ways to bring it into the teaching and learning environment that will help prepare our students to be prepared for their careers when they go out after Southern Miss, and that's really our goal," Lester said. |
| English professor at Alcorn State honors Mississippi history, including Civil Rights icon Fannie Lou Hamer, with her quilts | |
| J. Janice Coleman is an English professor at Alcorn State University and is known as a seamstress who often incorporates history and colorful designs into her quilts, tote bags and other works. Her textile art has been featured at multiple locations, including the Mississippi Museum of Art and at the National Folk Life Festival, both in Jackson. She has been honored by the Mississippi Humanities Council and was commissioned to create a work honoring Mississippi Civil Rights icon Fannie Lou Hamer by the Mississippi Arts Commission. Mississippi Today Ideas thought it was appropriate to highlight Coleman and Hamer during March -- Women's History Month. |
| Tuscaloosans protest University's closure of Harry Pritchett Running Park to public | |
| About 50 members of the Tuscaloosa community rallied at Harry Pritchett Running Park on Sunday against its closure to the public. The University announced last week the trails would be permanently reserved to athletes at the beginning of April. "I have no idea how many miles I've walked here over the years," said Claire Lewis Evans, a Tuscaloosa resident and University alum. "Honestly, it's kept me sane during the 24 years that I've lived here and have worked here." In an email to organizer Billy Field, obtained by The Crimson White, Harry "Sonny" Pritchett III, grandson of Pritchett Sr., the park's namesake, said he hopes the decision will be reversed. "For years, this running park has been exactly that: a place where people from all walks of life can come to walk, run, reflect, and reconnect -- with nature and with one another," he wrote. "Its lakes, its open fields, and its quiet paths offer something rare and meaningful, especially so close to the heart of our city. To limit public access now would not only change how this space is used--- it would change what it represents." |
| Zach Bryan concert boosts Baton Rouge economy: 'A really big win for the city' | |
 | Tiger Stadium's newest concert series raked in big bucks for the Capital City. The Death Valley Live concert series, which began Saturday with a performance from Grammy award-winning country music singer Zach Bryan, generated an estimated $7.6 million economic impact on the city, according to a Visit Baton Rouge estimate. A crowd of about 70,000 filled 75,000 available seats on Saturday, directly spending about $17.5 million on tickets, parking and concessions and $7.6 million outside of the event on needs like hotels and meals. That's a total of $25.1 million in visitor spending for the concert. Most of the event-based revenue, including tickets, concessions and parking, went back to the university's athletic department, LSU Athletics Chief Revenue Officer Clay Harris said. Bryan, known for tunes including "Pink Skies" and "Something in the Orange," headlined the first Death Valley Live show put together by LSU Athletics, Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership and Visit Baton Rouge. A similar turnout is expected on Memorial Day weekend, when Post Malone and Jelly Roll will take the stage in the series' second set of performances. |
| Louisiana May Broaden University Public Records Exemptions | |
 | Louisiana is one step closer to broadening public records exemptions for its public universities. On Tuesday, the Louisiana Senate voted 36 to 2 to advance Senate Bill 289, which would shield universities from having to disclose application materials for top jobs, the names of donors and some research materials. Supporters of the legislation, which now heads to the Louisiana House, say it's designed in part to protect prospective applicants for executive positions at universities -- including but not limited to presidents, chancellors, senior vice chancellors and athletic coaches -- by keeping private all application records until finalists are named. However, the exemption continues for the records of any applicant who is not named a finalist. The bill would also exempt "any record that identifies or could lead to the identification of a private donor or prospective donor" to a public college, university or its affiliated foundation, "unless the donor provides written consent for disclosure." But the amount of the donation and how it's spent would remain subject to public records laws. Critics have said the legislation is too broad. |
| U. of Arkansas to fire professor dismissed over criticism of Israel | |
| University of Arkansas System President Jay Silveria is moving forward with terminating Shirin Saeidi, former director of UA Fayetteville's Middle East studies center, ignoring the unanimous recommendation of a faculty committee that voted to keep Saeidi. Saeidi was dismissed in December, with the university citing several of her social media posts, as well as posts she reposted, critical of Israel's ongoing bombardment of Palestinian land and people. The university also alleged that she improperly used the university's letterhead. Shortly after, Fulbright College of Art and Sciences Dean Brian Raines recommended Saeidi's termination. She appealed the decision, and in February the UA Faculty Committee on Appointment, Promotion and Tenure unanimously voted to recommend Saeidi's reinstatement. Despite that recommendation, Silveria is moving forward with terminating Saeidi, according to a press release from JJ Thompson Sr., Saeidi's lawyer. Saeidi's apparent termination is only the latest in a string of crackdowns on free speech and free political thought in the University of Arkansas system. |
| Tennessee lawmakers codify process Plowman took in Shirinian termination | |
| A bill to streamline termination policy awaits Gov. Bill Lee's signature after being passed by the Tennessee legislature. HB 2194, introduced by Sen. Adam Lowe (R-Calhoun) and Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville), gives the chief academic officer and chief executive officer of Tennessee universities unilateral power to terminate both tenure and non-tenure faculty members, eliminating current policies that require faculty input. "The problem with this bill is it's taking away any shared governance in the faculty termination process," Charles Noble, president of the faculty senate, said. "It really just puts all the power to terminate a tenured faculty member in the hands of one of two people." In the Senate's March 23 floor session, Sen. Lowe clarified the termination is often carried out in conjunction with the University of Tennessee board of trustees. The board comprises 14 members, 12 of which state politicians appointed. Current policy gives the chief academic officer and chief executive officer the majority of the power in termination cases, but it also enumerates specific opportunities for faculty input leading up to the final termination decision. |
| Does UGA reflect Gen Z's decline in alcohol use? | |
| Recent studies have shown a decline in alcohol consumption among college-aged Americans, challenging the long-held stereotype of the drinking and party-obsessed college student. But does campus culture at the University of Georgia reflect this national trend? Gen Z is drinking less alcohol than millennials did at the same age. Data from Statista Consumer Insights shows around 18% of Americans aged 21-28 regularly drink beer, wine and spirits compared to roughly 30% of millennials -- a 12% decrease in alcohol consumption over the past two decades in this age group. The same trend is true regarding college students specifically. A 2020 study published by JAMA Pediatrics found that the proportion of college students aged 18-22 who abstained from alcohol jumped from 20% in 2002 to 28% in 2018. With 80 bars packed into a single square mile in downtown Athens, it appears that alcohol plays a large role in UGA's culture. Alcohol's role is especially prominent during football season, where alcohol is heavily consumed at Sanford Stadium, tailgates, parties and various sports bars on game days. With UGA's culture built on social and sport events involving alcohol, it can be hard to determine if the UGA student body reflects the overall decrease in alcohol consumption among Gen Z. |
| How the Texas A&M University System is Using AI to Scale Student Success from Flagships to HBCUs | |
| The Texas A&M University System is launching a targeted AI intervention to support Pell-eligible first-year students across six diverse campuses. The initiative aims to close completion gaps by using behavioral science and real-time guidance to help low-income and first-generation learners navigate complex financial aid and degree requirements. System leaders have set a mandate to scale system-wide by 2030 and raise persistence rates by 2.5 percent for Pell-eligible and first-generation students in the system. Leaders at the participating institutions are deploying chatbots to provide automated, 24/7 guidance to bridge the gap when human staff are unavailable. The strategy offloads high-volume "transactional" hurdles -- such as registration challenges and financial aid complexities -- allowing university staff to focus their capacity on high-touch, "transformational human interventions" and crisis support, said Texas A&M University System Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Chief Transformation Officer Shonda Gibson. The rollout serves as a deep "institutional study" in student success, forcing a rigorous audit of campus-specific infrastructure. |
| Stephanie Reid-Arndt appointed dean of the MU College of Health Sciences | |
 | Stephanie Reid‑Arndt will become the dean of the University of Missouri College of Health Sciences on June 1, following the leadership of Kristofer Hagglund, who plans to retire in August. Reid-Arndt, now senior associate dean and a professor at the college, was chosen in a competitive national search, according to an Mizzou news release. The College of Health Sciences now includes 12 undergraduate programs, seven graduate programs, two professional programs and five graduate certificates. Reid-Arndt is a clinical psychologist and rehabilitation neuropsychologist with widespread recognition for her research examining cognitive and executive functioning difficulties among cancer survivors and people with traumatic brain injury. She earned doctoral and master's degrees in clinical psychology from the University of Arizona and a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of California San Diego. She joined Mizzou in 1999 as a postdoctoral fellow, and her appointment as dean follows 25 years at the university. |
| Some Colleges Fear Cuts as Missouri Lawmakers Consider New Funding Model | |
| Some college and university leaders are worried for the future of their institutions as the Missouri Senate considers a spending bill for fiscal year 2027 that would reshuffle funding for public higher education in the state. The bill, which narrowly passed the House last week, would mean major cuts for some institutions, including the state's two historically Black universities. The legislation would base state funding to public colleges and universities on full-time enrollments. The bill's sponsor, Missouri representative Dirk Deaton, argued the core funding institutions receive "varies wildly" because these allocations are primarily based on the amounts institutions have historically received for decades, augmented by their political advocacy over the years. Large universities, such as Missouri State University and the University of Missouri, stand to benefit if the spending bill becomes law. Some higher ed institutions are pushing back, even as they prepare for the possibility of major losses if the legislation passes. |
| How Did Ted Carter's Tenure at Ohio State Go So Wrong? | |
 | Decades before Walter E. (Ted) Carter Jr. became one of the nation's most powerful university presidents, he was in Kosovo, leading a squadron of fighter planes. It was 1999, and Carter's unit was assigned to destroy a bridge Serbia was using to transport tanks. Carter directed four tomcats and four hornets, all carrying 2,000-pound bombs, to fly from an aircraft carrier to the bridge, where they would drop the bombs simultaneously. As the planes approached their target at supersonic speeds, Carter realized that there was a traffic jam on the bridge. Civilians were traveling to services on Orthodox Easter Sunday, and hundreds of cars were just sitting there, bumper to bumper. With only a few seconds to go before the planes reached the bridge, Carter transmitted the message to abort. It's the kind of story that makes Carter's fall from grace this month all the more shocking. On March 9, Ohio State University announced that Carter, 66, who'd been president since 2024, had resigned after admitting to having an inappropriate relationship with someone who was "seeking public resources to support her personal business." Some of his admirers in higher ed say they're baffled: How could someone capable of making split-second decisions to save so many lives be capable of such a consequential misstep? |
| Jessica Graves Selected as Director of the Haupert Institute for Agricultural Studies | |
| Huntington University has hired Dr. Jessica Graves to fill the roles of director of the Haupert Institute for Agricultural Studies and assistant professor of agriculture. She will begin her duties on June 1, 2026. The selection of Graves concludes a national search due to the impending retirement of current director Dr. Raymie Porter. Graves will provide oversight for an expanding agriculture program currently celebrating its 10th anniversary. "My first encounter with HU ag was 10 years ago at a National FFA Convention," Graves said. "For the last decade, I have watched the faculty and staff commit themselves to serving students and the agricultural community in a way that is purpose-driven and intentional. I am often noted as a 'people person,' and relationship-building is important to me. As such, I was not only drawn to HU because of the people and the rich HU community, but the University also provides a space for me to live out my faith in Christ while exercising my vocational calling as an educator." Graves earned a Bachelor of Science degree in animal and dairy sciences, a Master of Science degree in agriculture (animal nutrition) and a PhD in agricultural and extension education, all from Mississippi State University. Graves served as an academic advisor and instructor at Mississippi State for over 14 years before taking the director of international capacity development position for the M4 Institute in 2023. |
| ChatGPT fed his students easy answers, so he built an app to argue with them | |
| Something shifted in Dan Wang's class at Columbia Business School in the fall of 2022. Instead of his students showing up prepared with persuasive arguments about business decisions, many students had asked ChatGPT to summarize case studies. It was understandable that they wanted to finish their homework more efficiently, he said. But that made class discussions more challenging. Now, students still pull out their phones to prepare for his class -- but they talk to an artificial intelligence app Wang designed. Before they are faced with tough questions from the professor and classmates, they argue at home with Caisey, as Wang nicknamed it. "A lot of AI tools in education are designed to make things more efficient," he said. "Caisey capitalizes on precisely the opposite: the capacity to slow students down, to actually make them focus and to also make them consider very different ways of thinking about questions." Wang said the idea behind the app that helps students debate case studies is not actually new -- it's millennia old, rooted in the Oxbridge tutorship model that linked an instructor with one or two students for deep, thoughtful exchanges about what they were learning. |
| Colleges Need a New Sales Pitch: The one they've used for decades is unravelling | |
| For years, there has been a dominant narrative about college: Earning a degree is the surest pathway to the American dream. It's the story higher education told about itself. And it's the story others told: Eight in 10 college freshmen said getting a better job was a primary reason for enrolling. Nearly as many said they were there for training for a specific career. Lawmakers, employers, and college rankers all leaned on postgraduate outcomes as a measure of quality. The argument had the virtue of being true. College graduates have historically made better starting salaries and higher lifetime earnings than those with just a high-school diploma. Jobless rates were lower. Applicants without a degree on their résumé were often winnowed out of the hiring pool. Lately, though, that story line has begun to unravel. Recent college graduates are struggling to find work, with an unemployment rate of 5.6 percent, significantly higher than for older graduates or for all workers. Many are in jobs that don't match their education levels. The college-going premium -- the wage differential between degree holders and those with less formal education -- is four percentage points lower today than it was a quarter century ago. |
| Higher Ed Denounces GSA's Proposed Federal Funding Strings | |
| Vague. Undefined. Overbroad. Burdensome. Legally contested. That's how major higher ed groups are describing the Trump administration's latest effort to crack down on what it considers diversity, equity and inclusion by requiring colleges and universities to sign a pledge that they will comply with "executive orders prohibiting unlawful discrimination on the basis of race or color" to receive federal funds. The proposed pledge warns that race-based scholarships, hiring preferences, diversity statements and more may constitute illegal discrimination, in the government's opinion. The General Services Administration's proposed certification requirements would also ban aiding "illegal aliens" or facilitating "terrorism," using wording that organizations say could restrict free speech and academic freedom. Universities found in violation of the new requirements could lose federal funding. |
| For Mississippians of a certain age, everything old is new again at their gas pumps | |
| Columnist Sid Salter writes: The cost of the first gallon of gas I bought as a kid in 1973? It was 28 cents a gallon. In Flowood last week I filled up for $3.60 a gallon. Mississippians of a certain age have seen energy crises come and go. But few eras tested the patience, pocketbooks, and perseverance of everyday Americans like the oil shocks of the 1970s. Those of us who remember the long gas lines and rationing under Presidents Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter can't help but feel a chill of recognition as today's conflict with Iran reverberates through global energy market. ... Fast‑forward to 2026, and the war involving Iran is introducing a new generation to the old anxieties of energy insecurity. This time, the flashpoint is the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow corridor through which some 25% of the world's seaborne crude and 20% of liquefied natural gas (LNG) must pass. With Iran disrupting oil traffic, global oil markets have reacted with the same speed and severity as in the 1970s. Oil prices have surged more than 25%, LNG prices have doubled, and analysts warn that crude could reach $150–$200 per barrel if the conflict drags on. |
SPORTS
| Baseball: Fourth-Ranked Bulldogs Run-Rule Grambling | |
| No. 4 Mississippi State kept its dominant run at home rolling Tuesday night, overwhelming Grambling State 12-0 to extend its winning streak at Dudy Noble Field to 20 games dating back to last season. The victory tied for the fourth-longest home winning streak in program history as the Diamond Dawgs (25-4) controlled the game from the opening inning and never let up until the game was called in the seventh due to the 10-run mercy rule. State wasted no time setting the tone. After loading the bases in the first, the Bulldogs capitalized on a balk before Ryder Woodson delivered a two-run double to left, giving MSU a quick 3-0 cushion. That early burst proved more than enough for a pitching staff that combined for a two-hit shutout. MSU is back in action Thursday against another breed of Bulldogs. Fifth-ranked Georgia comes to Starkville for a three-game series beginning at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+. |
| 'Effort, energy and attitude': Bulldog defense earns praise after first scrimmage | |
| Mississippi State football returned to Scott Field at Davis Wade Stadium for the first time since the Egg Bowl on Saturday, holding a scrimmage with pads featuring 11-on-11 drills. Head coach Jeff Lebby spoke with the media afterward and gave a lot of credit to the defensive side of the ball under defensive coordinator Zach Arnett. "It was good to be back in the stadium, give our guys the ability to go play with coaches off the field," Lebby said. "I really liked what I saw defensively, just the effort and the energy and attitude was what we needed. Offensively, some pre-snap issues with multiple groups that kept us from being able to get into rhythm offensively. Defensively they were on the attack all day and did some really good things." Despite the turnover on the roster and coaching staff, the defense returns several key leaders, with senior Isaac Smith chief among them as a two-time All-SEC linebacker. Smith is set to be one of the few four-year Bulldogs next season, and as such remembers the first stint under Arnett and returning co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, Matt Brock. "They recruited me out of high school," Smith said. "As a freshman, they came with energy and juice every day. Honestly, I feel like that's just increased, and it's great to have those guys back to coach us, lead us on the defensive side of the ball." |
| State's Hubbard and Francis Among Howell and Gillom Trophy Finalists | |
| Mississippi State's Josh Hubbard and Madison Francis were chosen as finalists for the 2026 Bailey Howell and Peggy Gillom-Granderson Trophies announced Tuesday by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. The Howell and Gillom Trophies are awarded annually to the top male and female college basketball players in the state of Mississippi. Hubbard is joined by Daeshun Ruffin (Jackson State) and Tylik Weeks (Southern Miss) as finalists on the men's side, while Cotie McMahon (Ole Miss) and Jakaya Johnson (Southern Miss) were the women's finalists alongside Francis. Hubbard has captured back-to-back Howell Trophies and is attempting to become the award's first three-time male winner. State has secured seven of the last eight Howell Trophies since 2017-18 which includes fellow two-time recipient Quinndary Weatherspoon in addition to Iverson Molinar, Reggie Perry and Tolu Smith III. Francis is looking to etch her name into State's Gillom Trophy legacy as the Bulldogs have won the award 10 times fueled by four-time winner Victoria Vivians, two-time recipient Alexis Rack, Martha Alwal, Jessika Carter and Rickea Jackson. State has swept the Howell and Gillom Trophies on six occasions, most recently by Hubbard and Carter in 2024. |
| MSU holds on against South Carolina for first SEC and Top-25 series win | |
| The tying run was on the way to home plate. South Carolina's Nia McKnight was following in the cleatprints of teammates Tori Ensley and Arianna Rodi in an effort to tie the game after one swing of the bat by Lexi Winters. Mississippi State shortstop Morgan Stiles acted quickly after catching the throw from center field, turning and throwing to catcher Des Rivera just in time for her to tag McKnight and keep MSU ahead in the ballgame. Alyssa Faircloth picked up a strikeout before Peja Goold re-entered after pitching the first four innings, earning a save and earning MSU its first SEC series win of the season. "It creates so much momentum for us," first baseman Paige Ernstes said of the play. Her solo home run got the Bulldogs rolling on the night, followed by RBI hits from Anna Carder, Xiane Romero and Nadia Barbary. "Credit to the pitchers throughout, working their butts off for us, and the great defense," she said. "We work on relay throws every day, so it's second nature to us." "I'm just proud of the fight and toughness that it takes to fall behind after losing Game 1 in the series and bouncing back the way we did," MSU head coach Samantha Ricketts said. |
| Pioneer women's basketball programs fade into the shadows full of pride as money reshapes the game | |
| When fans walk into Immaculata's gym they are immediately reminded of the team's glorious past, when the Mighty Macs ruled women's basketball nearly a half-century ago. Championship trophies are proudly displayed near the entrance while Hall of Fame banners honoring some of the school's icons, including former coach Cathy Rush, adorn the walls. Powerhouses in this weekend's Final Four like UConn and South Carolina stand on the shoulders of schools like Immaculata, Queens College, Wayland Baptist and Delta State. During the early years of the women's basketball poll that debuted in 1976, those programs set the foundation, dominating the now dissolved Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). But during the 50 years of the women's poll, those pioneering programs haven't been able to sustain the dynasty-level success that shaped women's hoops in the 1970s. "You can look back and say, 'Well, it's been a few years since we won a national championship,'" said Delta State athletic director Mike Kinnison, who was a student when the school won consecutive national titles from 1975-1977. "And that's true. But, you know, they don't give those away. You don't buy them at Walmart. You've got to earn them." The Lady Statesmen were the first No. 1 team when the women's basketball poll debuted 50 years ago. |
| LSU Honors College to offer new college athletics course in the fall | |
| LSU Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College announced Tuesday it will be adding a new hybrid college athletics course in the fall. The course, HNRS 3100: The Future of College Athletics, is a first-of-its-kind initiative that combines honor colleges and programs from 10 universities in the Southeastern Conference. According to the press release, students will study athletic department budgeting, licensing, sports marketing, sports journalism and the legal implications of recent policy changes in college athletics. The course will include virtual sessions with athletic leaders and industry experts along with in-person tours of athletic facilities. "I'm excited for our students to see how different things are at other SEC universities, but how some things are also very similar," said Joshua Jackson, assistant professor of sport communication and HNRS 3100 instructor. Along with LSU, Auburn University, Mississippi State University, Texas A&M University, University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, University of Kentucky, University of Missouri, University of Oklahoma and University of South Carolina are a part of the initiative. |
| U. of Arkansas Student Senate passes resolution opposing more money for sports from students | |
| The Associated Student Government Senate at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, adopted a resolution Tuesday opposing any increase in tuition or the implementation of a mandatory student fee to fund Razorbacks athletics without approval through a campus-wide student vote. "We want a seat at the table," said Kevin Durden, senate parliamentarian and co-author of the resolution with Sen. Jaxon Hatfield and Senate Chair Pro Tempore Luis Maya. Students don't want funding for current campus programs reallocated to sports, Durden said. The measure says that any tuition increase or new fee should be approved by the undergraduate student body through a referendum. It requests "transparent and timely reporting" from university leadership and student input regarding any proposed funding mechanisms for athletics. Nearly 40% of UA students experience food insecurity, said senior Jacob Holmes. He suggested directing money to athletics would run counter to the university's various affordability initiatives, such as the Land of Opportunity Scholarship, which is scheduled to start providing additional funds for students in need this fall. |
| Wrigley Field to host Big Ten/SEC volleyball doubleheader | |
| Wrigley Field will host a women's college volleyball doubleheader to highlight the Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week in September. The conferences announced Monday that Nebraska will play Missouri and Penn State will meet Kentucky at the home of the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 6. Matchups between Big Ten and SEC programs will be played at home sites beginning Sept. 1. The matches will mark the first time volleyball has been played at Wrigley Field. Both outdoor matches will be broadcast live on Fox. "Bringing the SEC and Big Ten together for a championship-caliber volleyball showcase, culminating at an iconic venue like Wrigley Field, reflects the extraordinary momentum of the sport," SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said. "This initiative not only elevates volleyball on a national stage but also underscores a continued growth and investment in women's athletics." Nebraska hosted a women's volleyball doubleheader at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Aug. 30, 2023, and attendance of 92,003 was the largest ever documented for a women's sporting event in the world. |
| NFL ending 'Monday Night Football' doubleheaders, exploring adding Thanksgiving Eve game | |
 | The "Monday Night Football" doubleheader is officially a thing of the past. At the NFL's annual league meetings Tuesday, NFL executive vice president of media distribution Hans Schroeder said the league will return to broadcasting one game on Monday nights to put a bow on the NFL week. In recent years, the NFL has experimented with airing two games on Monday night. Sometimes the games would be staggered three hours apart, but there were weeks the two Monday night games would air concurrently. "When we did the deal (with Disney) five years ago, we thought adding two games on Monday night would be a great thing for fans," Schroeder said. "It was more free football that was sort of outside of a Sunday afternoon. I think we collectively struggled and realized that fans felt that they were conflicted to choose between those games." Pulling back on the Monday night doubleheader is not indicative of the NFL's wider strategy. In fact, the league said it will continue to explore putting games in unconventional slots, such as a season opener on a Wednesday night instead of the typical Thursday. After adding games on Black Friday, the NFL will continue to try to control Thanksgiving week, potentially adding a game on Thanksgiving Eve this season. |
| Tiger Woods stepping away from golf to seek treatment | |
| Tiger Woods says he is "stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health," announcing the decision four days after he was arrested on suspicion of DUI and refusal to submit to a lawful test stemming from a rollover crash in Florida. "I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today," the 15-time major champion said in a statement posted to his social media accounts Tuesday night. "I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery." Woods' statement came hours after he entered a plea of not guilty to charges of misdemeanor DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test, according to court documents. Attorney Douglas Duncan of West Palm Beach, Florida, submitted Woods' not guilty plea and demand for a trial jury in Martin County Circuit Court in Stuart, Florida. Woods also waived his arraignment hearing, which had been scheduled for April 23. While he hadn't committed to playing, he had been working to return to competition at next week's Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, where he has won five times. |
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