| Wednesday, April 15, 2026 |
| MSU president visits Tupelo High School to talk college planning | |
 | Video: Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum visited Tupelo High School and encouraged students to plan early and view higher education as an investment in their future. |
| Mississippi State University hosts manufacturing innovation and tech exchange event | |
 | Mississippi is getting a front-row seat to the future of manufacturing as industry leaders, technology companies, and workforce experts from across the country gathered for the Manufacturing Innovation and Technology Exchange Mississippi event. The two-day event is hosted by Mississippi State University at the Nissan Training Plant in Canton. Tuesday's focus was on helping manufacturers keep pace with emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, automation, and 3D metal printing. The goal was to also help leaders learn how to train employees on the emerging tools. "Right now, we're dealing with challenges in our workforce, like not having enough people. Also, the desire to be competitive with others nationwide and foreign, means we need to be more efficient," said Tonya McCall, the director of MSU's Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems Extension. "We need to be more productive. We need to have the ability to do things here within the United States of America." |
| International Fiesta hosts largest crowd to date, draws over 5,000 people | |
| The 33rd annual International Fiesta was hosted by the Center for Student Activities on Saturday. The event drew over 5,000 attendees, 62 booths and 21 performances, making it the largest International Fiesta ever hosted. Guests were counted using a check-in and wristband system. Throughout the day, different performers took to the stage in front of Lee Hall with dancing, singing and other cultural showcases. The main draw of the festival is the many vendors and groups who set up to sell food from their cultures. Judges visited each booth to try the cuisine and view the displays. |
| How a student competition has been building GM's engineering bench for decades | |
| There's a good chance some of the engineers who helped design the car or truck you drive right now got their start in Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions like EcoCAR, debating ideas, missing sleep, and learning things no textbook could teach them. Since the 1980s, GM has collaborated with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Argonne National Laboratory on Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions and the last five EcoCAR series. The programs have gone by different names over the years, but the idea has remained the same: give students a real vehicle, real engineering challenges, and real stakes, and see what they build. The EcoCAR Innovation Challenge is the 15th installment of the ATVC series, and this week, GM helped kick off a new four-year series alongside co-headline sponsors Stellantis, the U.S. Department of Energy, Argonne National Laboratory, and MathWorks. GM is working with 10 universities -- including Mississippi State University -- for the 2026–2030 program, and for the students who make the cut, it's the kind of experience that tends to change the trajectory of their careers. |
| Make sure your replant decision provides profitability | |
| Replanting row crops is a high-stakes decision for farmers, especially in 2026, as economic pressures in agriculture continue to mount. Rising input costs, fluctuating commodity prices and tighter profit margins make it more critical than ever to evaluate replanting decisions through a rational economic lens. Agricultural economist Hunter Biram at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers a framework for determining when replanting is justified versus when it's time to rely on crop insurance. A net return analysis is critical in making this decision. Although the economic landscape in 2026 presents unique challenges, the principles outlined by Biram are applicable across crop seasons throughout the Delta. His emphasis on using a rational decision matrix provides a clearer roadmap for farmers navigating the complexities of replanting. Agricultural economist Aaron Smith at Mississippi State University echoed Biram's advice with five suggestions when making a net return analysis for a replant: |
| Supervisors, Starkville officials back joint anti-litter initiative | |
 | Pattie Little, District 4 Oktibbeha County supervisor, said over the last year she noticed a growing problem when driving on county roads. Whether in ditches, rivers or at four-way intersections, it seems everywhere she looks, people have strewn garbage. Little said the problem is nothing new for the county, but it has become untenable. "You'll find fast-food bags. There's empty beer cans, empty beer bottles, gum wrappers (and) candy wrappers. Sometimes it looks like somebody just opened their trash bag and just dumped it," Little said. "... It happens all the time." After watching an Oktibbeha Board of Supervisors meeting earlier this year where Little voiced those concerns, Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill said she felt compelled to reach out and brainstorm a solution. Those discussions became the "Fight Dirty" campaign, a joint effort between Starkville and Oktibbeha County seeking to raise awareness and promote events to bolster local anti-littering efforts, a Tuesday press release from the city said. |
| Wings Over Meridian weekend delivers strong tourism impact for Lauderdale County | |
 | A high-energy weekend of events anchored by the Wings Over Meridian Air Show generated a significant boost for tourism and the local economy in Meridian and Lauderdale County. With multiple events taking place across the community, Wings Over Meridian weekend drew 43,900 spectators for the air show and resulted in hotel occupancy rates exceeding 82% over the three-day period, a strong indicator of increased overnight stays and visitor spending. Local hotels, restaurants, and retail businesses all experienced heightened activity, driven largely by out-of-town guests. "It was an exceptional weekend for Meridian and Lauderdale County," said Laura Carmichael, executive director of Visit Meridian Tourism. "With strong hotel occupancy, diverse events, and visitors traveling in from outside the area, we saw a meaningful economic impact that benefits our entire community." Another surge in visitors to the Queen City is expected this weekend as thousands attend The Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience's annual Sipp & Savor event Saturday. |
| Blue Magnolia Bread opening in Tupelo Hardware building | |
 | Blue Magnolia Bread Company is adding another location this summer, and like its flagship store in downtown Saltillo, the new store is in a historic spot as well: the Tupelo Hardware building. While the Tupelo Convention & Visitors Bureau will move into the main Tupelo Hardware building and the one next to it, Blue Magnolia will occupy the complex's third building. The Scotts hope to open in late July, but Booth said a good deal of work needs to be done to the space, including a time-consuming complete build-out. They also will use the second floor much like the Saltillo store, a place for customers to sit, read a book, drink coffee and relax. The Tupelo menu will include sourdough loaves, bagels, biscuits, toast, pastries, teas and coffee. A lunch menu will also be on offer. The Scotts said they do not intend to disrupt the lunch and pastry offerings available downtown already; they merely want to complement them. And what also sets apart Blue Magnolia is that it is a strictly sourdough bakery. |
| Fenian's Irish pub plans summer reopening with new features | |
| Fenian's Irish pub in Jackson, which closed in 2024 after 30 years, is undergoing renovations and plans. "This new deck behind us is going to oversee the green space and ultimately, in the stage area, where we'll have local bands and nationwide bands maybe," said William Lake, the pub's new owner. Fenian's revival is part of a broader trend of business development in the area. Rowan's, another popular spot in Belhaven, has been drawing hundreds of customers every weekend. "It's kind of a blast. Rowan's is awesome to have, especially if there is something going on downtown. You can guarantee Rowan's is going to be hopping later that night," said Carl Forsberg, a student in Belhaven. Local residents are embracing the growth, calling it a positive development for Jackson. |
| Governor urges lawmakers not to risk $1 billion in federal funding by overriding his veto | |
| Lawmakers return to the Capitol today, with an eye on attempting to override some of the vetoes handed down by Governor Tate Reeves (R). One of the vetoes said to be up for consideration in for SB 2447, a bill authored by State Senator Hob Bryan (D) that sought to require a competitive bidding process for the establishment of a state health information exchange, restricting the use of the state's emergency purchase procedure. It would have also required every agency that awards grants or funds derived from the Rural Health Transformation Program to submit quarterly spending reports to the Legislature. Governor Reeves took to social media late Tuesday to make his case once again as to why he views the legislation as "a bad idea." He believes the measure risks the state losing upwards of $1 billion in much-needed federal funding to improve rural healthcare. |
| Mississippi Enacts Sweeping Law Targeting Gang Violence | |
| Mississippi has enacted a sweeping new law aimed at reducing gang-related violence and crimes involving minors and firearms, state officials announced. Attorney General Lynn Fitch said Senate Bill 2710, signed into law as part of her 2026 legislative agenda, targets gang activity by increasing penalties and shifting how certain juvenile firearm cases are prosecuted. The law moves crimes of violence involving a firearm out of youth court and into circuit court, increases penalties for transferring stolen firearms to minors, and enhances sentences when stolen guns are used in violent crimes -- including up to 40 years if used in a murder. It also creates a new criminal offense for shooting into a crowd, with stricter penalties if the incident occurs at places such as schools, churches, courthouses, playgrounds or parks, or if minors are present or the offender is a gang member. "There are more than 200 gangs in Mississippi, and they recruit minors to do a lot of their dirty work, knowing that punishment is often disproportionate to the severity of the crime," Fitch said. "Now the penalty fits the crime, making juvenile recruitment less attractive and getting dangerous criminals off the street." |
| Gunn officially enters the Mississippi Governor race | |
| Former Speaker of the House Philip Gunn officially threw his hat in the ring for Governor of Mississippi on Tuesday. Gunn, speaking at a campaign event at the Clinton Visitors Center, launched his gubernatorial run by laying out an agenda heavy on economic development, social issues, and education but also with a vision to make the Magnolia State attractive to young people where they will stay, work and raise a family. "My vision is founded on my love and passion for Mississippi," Gunn told the crowd of about 100 gathered to cheer him on. The former Speaker's message appealed to a group of Mississippi College students. Three students, Juniors Grant McNally and Marco Pineda, and Senior Grey Thompson, said they support Gunn, because he wants to keep young people in the state. "I liked what he said about health care and his economic plan," said Thompson. |
| Ex-House Speaker Philip Gunn enters governor's race, pledging tax reform and job growth | |
| Former Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn announced Tuesday evening that he will run for governor as a Republican next year, making him the second person to announce a run for the state's top office. Gunn told supporters in his hometown of Clinton that he will campaign on reforming Mississippi's tax structure, encouraging young families to stay in Mississippi and bringing more jobs to the state. "My vision is shaped by my passion and love for Mississippi," said Gunn, 63, who is an attorney in private practice. "And my vision is very simple and straightforward: I want Mississippi to be the best place in America to live and work and raise a family." Gunn represented the Clinton area in the state House for 20 years, from 2004 to 2024, serving the last 12 of those as speaker. He joins what is expected to be a crowded field of candidates in the Republican primary for governor. |
| 'We can build on what we've done': Former House Speaker Philip Gunn announces run for governor | |
| Former Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn is officially in the governor's race. Gunn, who retired from the state House of Representatives in January 2024, launched his 2027 bid for the state's highest office Tuesday evening in his hometown of Clinton. He also released his first campaign ad, explaining his return to politics. In his time presiding over the House, Gunn oversaw a successful effort to change Mississippi's former controversial state flag, implement what was the largest tax cut in state history at the time of passage, and give K-12 educators the largest pay raise on record. Gunn, who was present at a $12 billion data center expansion announcement by Amazon last week, also said he will fight to ensure that data centers "pay their fair share" and do not pass on higher energy costs to consumers. Mississippi already has laws in place to protect consumers from rate increases, and Entergy, the state's largest electric utility, assures that investments by major data centers are actually saving customers money. |
| New law requires DMR to have probable cause to stop boaters | |
| Governor Tate Reeves (R) has allowed a bill that prohibits Department of Marine Resources enforcement officers from performing vessel stops or boarding a vessel without probable cause to become law without his signature. The measure, SB 2263, was authored by Coast State Senator Jeremy England (R) after constituents expressed about DMR officers stopping boaters "for no reason when they were out boating or fishing." "After meeting with that group, I heard from even more local people with complaints about being stopped and boarded even though they were not doing anything wrong. I looked into other states, and I learned that Florida has a 'Boaters Rights' law that requires DMR officers to have probable cause before stopping and boarding boats," England said in a recent Facebook post. The senator said the new law provides "the exact same standard that law enforcement officers need before they can stop a vehicle or a person." |
| From packaging to shampoo, consumers can expect higher prices beyond the gas pump | |
| Machines heat, melt and form increasingly costly plastic pellets into random items like bait buckets and medical-grade containers at Texas Injection Molding in southeast Houston. War in the Middle East has strained the global supply of plastic, putting pressure on manufacturers like company founder Jeff Applegate. "When your material goes up 10% or 15%, it puts a real squeeze on you, really quick," Applegate said. Global price increases and supply constraints add uncertainty to his operation, which goes through roughly 8 million pounds of plastic a year. "The longer this goes on, the more disruption there is, we'll have to pass some of those costs on to our customers," he said. While Applegate's customers are manufacturers, consumers are likely to soon feel the effects of higher prices of plastics and other petrochemical products as they trickle through the supply chain. |
| Mississippi shrimpers stuck at dock as diesel prices surge past $5 a gallon | |
 | Charlie Nguyen says tidying up the ship is all he can do right now. He said high diesel prices have him stuck at the dock. "The fuel price is so high. That's why we can't go out," Nguyen said. Nguyen has been a shrimper for more than 40 years. He says a regular boat trip would cost him $20,000 in fuel before the war with Iran. Now, with Mississippi diesel prices jumping to more than $5 a gallon in just a month, that trip will cost him more. "We were looking at about $4.50 a gallon, and now it would take us $80,000 to get it out," Nguyen said. That's a $60,000 increase, but those costs won't stop at the dock. Nguyen said he'll have to raise his prices, meaning consumers will pay more for seafood at the store. At Quality Seafood in Biloxi, Director of Finance and Operations Fernando Mejia is already seeing it. Fishermen are charging him more to pass on the costs. |
| House GOP eyeing late-April floor vote on the farm bill | |
 | House Republicans are looking to bring their farm bill for a floor vote the last week of April, according to four people close to the talks who were granted anonymity to discuss them. The timing is still fluid and could be bumped to after the chamber's one-week recess at the beginning of May as lawmakers continue high-stakes negotiations over immigration enforcement funding as well as a potential second reconciliation package. Republicans have been privately whipping votes since the House Agriculture Committee advanced the farm bill in a 34-17 vote last month, putting pressure on GOP colleagues to help deliver what committee Chair G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) has called a "morale boost" for rural America ahead of the midterms. House GOP leadership senior staff have privately warned that the package could be "in big trouble" on the floor due to intra-party divides over controversial provisions on pesticide labeling and state-level livestock laws. Some Democrats -- particularly those seeking reelection in agriculture-heavy districts this November -- may back the legislation, which includes dozens of bipartisan bills. |
| Iowa Democrats pursue 'once in a generation opportunity' amid farmer woes | |
 | Every day, Seth Watkins wakes with the sun. The 58-year-old farmer raises livestock on a southwest Iowa farm that's been in his family since the 1840s. Like most farmers, Watkins is up and working before much of the rest of the country's alarm clocks go off, feeding his cows and sheep. Also like most farmers in recent years, Watkins has felt an undeniable economic squeeze, and the problem has only been exacerbated by policy decisions coming from the White House, including on tariffs and wars abroad. It's those policies that are also making Iowa increasingly competitive politically ahead of November's midterm elections. Republicans began the cycle heavily favored to keep the Senate seat held by Sen. Joni Ernst firmly in their column. But with Ernst retiring and the political winds shifting, Iowa represents a pickup opportunity for Senate Democrats, who are eyeing gains in a handful of red states in their quest to retake the majority. In a sign of how crucial the state could be to control of the Senate, the Senate Leadership Fund, the top GOP super PAC in Senate races, recently announced it plans to spend $29 million on the Iowa race, as part of a $342 million eight-state plan to maintain their majority. |
| Tax Day arrives with Republicans struggling to sell their cuts | |
| Republicans hoped that last year's tax cuts would offer giant political benefits, with taxpayers receiving super-sized refunds and then rewarding them at the ballot box. That doesn't look like it's going to happen. Refunds haven't jumped as much as Republicans as hoped, which underscores a broader problem for the party. Many taxpayers remain unaware of last year's tax cuts and aren't feeling much relief, even though their "big, beautiful bill" offered substantial benefits to a good portion of them. That's one reason why Republicans are still doing everything they can to keep last year's tax cuts top of mind this Tax Day, even as they also might be guilty of overpromising on refunds. GOP officials also have another problem: Any benefits they might get from talking up the tax cuts are running headlong into the war in Iran and the surging gas prices associated with it, making their goal of holding Congress more daunting. |
| Trump threatens to fire Powell if he doesn't step aside as Fed chair | |
 | President Donald Trump said his administration doesn't plan to drop the Department of Justice's probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, and again threatened to fire him if he stays in the role past mid-May. Trump has nominated former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh to the position, but Powell has said he'll stay in the job on a temporary basis if Warsh isn't confirmed before May 15, when Powell's term as chair ends. "Then I'll have to fire him," Trump told Fox Business on April 15 in response to a question about Powell potentially staying on. "If he's not leaving on time -- I've held back on firing him. I've wanted to fire him. But I hate to be controversial. I want to be uncontroversial." Trump nominated Warsh to the position, but Warsh has yet to be confirmed by the Senate. After a paperwork delay, Warsh has since filed required financial disclosures, setting up a Senate confirmation hearing next week. However, his confirmation isn't guaranteed. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, vowed to stall any nominations to the Fed until the Justice Department ends its probe into Powell related to the budget for a a major renovation project at the central bank's headquarters. |
| Why Pope Leo Is Such a Challenging Opponent for Trump | |
 | Not since Napoleon has a political leader taken on the pope as openly as President Trump. Like Pope Pius VII, who ultimately outlasted the French emperor, Pope Leo XIV is proving a challenging opponent for the president. The mild-mannered pontiff from Chicago is facing the biggest test of his papacy in a fight with Trump over the Iran war -- and he isn't folding. So far, it is Trump -- and not Leo -- who has taken criticism from Roman Catholics in the U.S. and elsewhere over their public spat. One of Trump's challenges in dealing with Leo is that the pope isn't a solo act like his predecessor Pope Francis, making it harder to dismiss or isolate the current pontiff, said Francesco Sisci, director of the Appia Institute, a Rome-based geopolitics think tank. "This guy is systematic and methodical, he is active behind the scenes, and when he speaks, it's the last step," Sisci said. "Francis was a rock star, but Leo is the conductor of an orchestra." The growing disorder in world politics is an opportunity for the Catholic Church to repair its standing as a moral authority, which has suffered in recent decades from the long-running scandals over clerical sexual abuse, say some observers of the Vatican. |
| Iran's Regime Has Changed -- for the Worse | |
| On March 13, a massive billboard appeared in Tehran's Enqelab Square. It showed Iran's newly selected supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, standing in a trench and instructing commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to fire missiles at their enemies. The text suggested the mission is divinely inspired, comparing Khamenei to Imam Ali, a revered Muslim figure known for his legendary victory over Jewish tribes. For opponents of Iran's regime, the image is the visual representation of their worst nightmare: a militarized Iran ruled by a younger, hard-line leader where the Revolutionary Guard plays an even more dominant role. The U.S. and Israel launched the war with the hope that killing top Iranian officials -- starting with Mojtaba's father, Ali Khamenei -- would create the conditions for regime change or at least the emergence of leaders more willing to bend to America and Israel's interests. In an address to the nation one month into the war, President Trump called the new leadership "more reasonable." Instead, the void is being filled by radical new leaders who have shown little interest in political compromise at home or abroad. |
| Boycott of major AI conference exposes a growing US–China divide | |
| A key Chinese research organization is set to boycott the prestigious NeurIPS conference, which is run by a US-based non-profit organization, after a row over a policy that initially seemed to exclude many Chinese researchers. NeurIPS later apologized and watered down the policy. But the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) is standing by its decision to no longer pay for researchers to attend the conference and to discount NeurIPS papers in crucial researcher evaluations. The controversy reflects a growing divide in artificial intelligence (AI) research between the two nations, say analysts. CAST's decision might be "signalling that China can increasingly stand on its own feet when it comes to advanced AI research", says Rebecca Arcesati, who studies AI policy at the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Brussels. "This is their way of showing that if Chinese talent isn't appreciated and welcome to these gatherings, then China will do things more on its own," she says. |
| IHL's Board of Trustees hold discussion for new MUW President | |
 | The Board of Trustees for the Institutions of Higher Learning have a big decision to make in the coming months, and that is who will lead Mississippi University for Women in the coming years. Today, they heard from some of the people who have a vested interest in that decision. The IHL Board was on the W campus to hold two listening sessions. The goal was to find out what students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members want in a new president. The IHL also wants to know what qualities the W's stakeholders are looking for in a new leader, and what issues are important to them. From there, they set the criteria for the job and establish the process for the search. Nora Miller's last day on the job will be June 30. |
| Insider or outsider? MUW stakeholders split, but one name emerges: Sally Burchfield-Doty | |
| The Institutions of Higher Learning board has yet to advertise for a new president for the Mississippi University for Women, but one name is already being floated publicly. During listening sessions held Tuesday at the university where stakeholders could offer their input to IHL board members, two attendees openly endorsed Sally Burchfield-Doty, a W alumna and former state senator, for the role. "She's a leader who turns actions into results and accountability, someone with a proven financial responsibility," MUW alumna Betty Ruth Hawkins told the board before challenging members to expedite the search by naming Burchfield-Doty president. "... The W needs leadership now. ... If there is a long process, The W stands to lose the incredible ground that we have gained this year in public awareness and public sight." A pair of local lawmakers agree. Speaking to The Dispatch after the listening sessions Tuesday, both District 39 Rep. Dana McLean, R-Columbus, and District 17 Sen. Chuck Younger, R-Lowndes County, said Burchfield-Doty is the best candidate for the job. |
| Legislation directing $100 million to new UMMC cancer center signed into law | |
| Legislation directing $100 million to help the University of Mississippi Medical Center construct a state-of-the-art cancer research facility has been greenlit by Gov. Tate Reeves. The Republican governor signed the bill Monday, drastically aiding the state's only academic medical center in its ongoing effort to construct a five-story, 250,000-plus square foot Cancer Center and Research Institute building in Jackson. UMMC officials plan to use the center, which will be constructed adjacent to its main campus, to bring advanced, collaborative cancer care to patients with greater convenience and comfort. It will also be used to help UMMC address cancer care disparities and achieve National Cancer Institute designation. This is anticipated to enhance the center's cancer research capabilities, lead to more scientific breakthroughs, and expand treatment options for patients. Mississippi ranks in the cellar in cancer mortality rates. |
| The Deepfake Nudes Crisis in Schools Is Much Worse Than You Thought | |
 | It usually starts with a photo downloaded from social media. Around the world, teenage boys are saving Instagram and Snapchat images of girls they know from school and using harmful "nudify" apps to create fake nude photos or videos of them. These deepfakes can quickly be shared across whole schools, leaving victims feeling humiliated, violated, hopeless, and scared the images will haunt them forever. The deepfake crisis hitting schools started slowly a couple of years ago, but it has since grown considerably as the technology used to create the explicit imagery has become more accessible. Deepfake sexual abuse incidents have hit around 90 schools globally and have impacted more than 600 pupils, according to a review of publicly reported incidents by WIRED and Indicator, a publication focusing on digital deception and misinformation. As a whole, the analysis shows the worldwide reach of harmful AI nudification technology, which can earn their creators millions of dollars per year, and shows that in many incidents, schools and law enforcement officials are often not prepared to respond to the serious sexual abuse incidents. The true scale of deepfake sexual abuse taking place in schools is likely much higher. |
| Louisiana lawmakers weigh having students repay TOPS scholarships if they leave school | |
| A Louisiana legislative committee advanced a bill Tuesday that would require students to repay their state-funded TOPS scholarship awards if they lose eligibility for the program with poor grades or by leaving school. House Bill 385 by Rep. Dennis Bamburg, R-Bossier City, would only apply to students in the bottom two levels of the program: TOPS Opportunity and TOPS Performance. It requires students to repay the full amount of TOPS money they've received. Students who qualify for the higher levels, and receive more money from the state, would not be required to pay back their awards if they can't meet state standards. "If a student accepts TOPS funds, there is a responsibility to meet the program's requirements," Bamburg said. "If those obligations aren't met with good [decisions], taxpayers deserve a mechanism to recover those dollars." |
| As Vance rallies with Turning Point, some supporters bristle at Trump's war, memes and feuds | |
 | Fresh from a marathon trip to Pakistan that failed to reach a deal for ending the war with Iran, Vice President JD Vance jetted to this Georgia college town for a campus tour organized by the conservative powerhouse Turning Point USA. But instead of showcasing the youthful energy that the organization harnessed to return President Donald Trump to the White House less than two years ago, there was a mostly empty arena, awkward questions and unusually sharp criticism. C.J. Santini, a recent graduate of Liberty University, an evangelical school in Virginia, said he didn't have an opinion on whether Iran was truly close to manufacturing a nuclear weapon and thus needed to be attacked. But he laughed and shook his head when asked about Trump attacking Leo. "It's just stupid. Stupid," he said, calling it a "distraction" from Trump's agenda in Iran and at home. |
| JD Vance visits Athens on TPUSA tour, Erika Kirk absent following threats | |
| Vice President JD Vance visited Athens on Tuesday as part of the "This is The Turning Point" tour. CEO and Chair of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) Erika Kirk, originally scheduled to appear alongside Vance, was notably absent following alleged threats. "It's a terrible reflection on the state of reality and the state of the country, but it underscores a larger point that [Erika Kirk] has received a lot of attacks," Vance said. "It's one of the most disgraceful things that I've ever seen in public life, and I've seen a lot of crazy stuff." Hosted by the TPUSA chapter at the University of Georgia, the event was was held at Akins Ford Arena at the Classic Center with students and community members filling up around a third of the space. Other topics addressed by Vance included his Catholic faith, the housing affordability crisis and the war in Iran. Vance acknowledged public dissatisfaction with the administration's actions while encouraging voter engagement and highlighting Trump's domestic policies. |
| Sports betting may be banned on Tennessee campuses | |
| The Tennessee General Assembly is considering banning online sports betting on public college campuses across the state. In 2019, the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act legalized wagering on athletic events in the state. Now, that access could be limited depending on where a bet is placed. In early 2026, Sen. Jeff Yarbro and Rep. John Ray Clemmons introduced companion bills that would effectively prohibit digital sports wagering on higher education campuses. The proposal would also apply to athletic venues and certain satellite facilities. The widespread participation in sports betting among college-aged individuals has raised concerns among researchers and public health experts. According to a study conducted by the Journal of Gambling Studies, evidence shows gambling can be extremely addictive and cause negative consequences, including feelings of anxiety, guilt and pressure. "What we're looking at is the total normalization of a known addictive product," Harry Levant, current director of gambling policy at Northeastern University School of Law's Public Health Advocacy Institute, said in a Harvard Law article. "Does it get any more normalized than when a 9-year-old child visits Fenway Park and sees MGM and DraftKings on the Green Monster?" |
| Georgia's public universities increase tuition for 2026-2027 year | |
| Students at Georgia's 25 public colleges and universities will pay more in tuition this fall. The state Board of Regents voted Tuesday for a 1% tuition increase for in-state students. Out-of-state and international students will see increases of 3% in 2025. According to data from College Tuition Compare, the average tuition and fees at Georgia public four-year colleges are $5,824 for in-state students and $16,740 for out-of-state students. In a release, USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said the Board will continue to prioritize keeping college affordable. A release from USG also stated that the system supports a Georgia state Senate study committee that will review the state higher education funding formula for recommendations to modernize it. |
| Executive vice chancellor named the sole finalist to be Texas A&M president | |
| Regents on Monday named Susan Ballabina as the sole finalist for president of Texas A&M University. Ballabina currently serves as executive vice chancellor for the Texas A&M University System, where she is Chancellor Glenn Hegar's top deputy and oversees day-to-day operations across the system's 12 universities and eight state agencies. She previously served as chief of staff to former Texas A&M President Mark A. Welsh III. Ballabina initially served on the presidential search committee before recusing herself to apply for the job, according to the system, which said regents conducted a national search that produced a strong pool of candidates. Ballabina is set to lead the state's largest public university, which enrolled 72,289 students in fall 2025, and enforce new system rules that restrict how race, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity can be discussed in class. Ballabaina holds a bachelor’s degree from Tarleton State University, a master’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and a doctorate in public affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas. |
| U. of Texas president says there was no education compact to sign -- but Trump letter says otherwise | |
| When the Trump administration last October offered the University of Texas funding benefits in exchange for adhering to conservative priorities, the UT community anxiously awaited the university's choice. UT Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife said the system was honored and excited to work with the administration. But some students protested and angry alumni pulled funding. Both worried the deal could threaten UT's academic excellence and independence from politicians. As the deadline to sign that compact passed, UT was the only one of the initial eight universities that received the letter to not publicly respond. Last week, UT President Jim Davis commented for the first time publicly on the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. He told The Daily Texan, the university's student newspaper, that there was never anything for him to sign. But Davis' claim directly contradicts the Trump administration's initial letter, which was obtained by the American-Statesman. It also is at odds with how seven other university leaders responded, saying publicly that their institutions would not sign onto the agreement. |
| Getting a Loan for Grad School Is About to Get More Complicated | |
 | Students deciding this week whether to attend graduate school in the fall are navigating the end of a 20-year era of student loan policy. More students will need to find private loans, making access to credit an important factor in determining who can afford graduate programs. Take the master's degree for physician assistants: On average, borrowers take out $45,000 per year for a two-year program. Students were once able to borrow up to the entire cost of tuition and expenses from the U.S. government, but the major policy bill signed by President Trump last year capped federal student loans for most graduate schools at $20,500 a year. At many expensive programs, especially in health-related fields, that is often not enough to cover the cost. That means aspiring physician assistants may have to find an average of $24,500 in private loans starting this summer, and some may not be able to secure those loans at all. |
| Democrats seek to overturn Trump's new rules for student loan forgiveness | |
| Democrats in Congress are trying to overturn the Trump administration's changes to a popular student loan forgiveness program, with lawmakers saying the changes are political and could leave some borrowers without the relief they were pledged. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program cancels loans for qualified public service workers after they've made a decade's worth of payments. It has long been open to those who go to work for the government, public schools, fire and police departments, public hospitals and nonprofits. But last fall, President Donald Trump's administration wrote a new rule that will empower Education Secretary Linda McMahon to kick employers out of the program if she decides their work has a "substantial illegal purpose." Set to take effect in July, the vaguely phrased rule is targeted at employers who support undocumented immigrants or transgender youth, potentially affecting borrowers who work at schools, public hospitals and legal aid groups. |
| Jews Aren't the Only College Students Facing Prejudice | |
 | Nearly half of Jewish students experienced some form of antisemitism on campus last year, a new survey shows. But they aren't the only minority student group facing prejudice. In addition to 47 percent of Jewish students, 34 percent of Muslim students, 31 percent of Black students and 22 percent of Asian students reported experiencing at least one form of prejudice on campus because of their identity, according to a report the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University published Tuesday. The report's findings come at an inflection point for civil rights in higher education. Among other things, they identified a divide among how different racial, ethnic and religious groups perceived the experiences of others. |
| Are College Presidents Now Political Appointees? | |
 | Last week, two college presidents at big research universities abruptly left their jobs. In both cases, politicians from one party accused the other of ousting the president over political differences. In Virginia, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, suggested that the state's Republican-appointed Board of Visitors had forced out Virginia Tech's longtime president, Timothy D. Sands. And in Wisconsin, Republican state lawmakers accused the state's Board of Regents -- all of whom were appointed or reappointed by a Democratic governor -- of doing something similar to Jay O. Rothman, the president of the University of Wisconsin system. While all the details aren't yet known, the leadership upheaval seems to some observers like a vivid signal of public higher ed's hyperpartisan era. College presidents are effectively becoming political appointees. "People just don't value higher education being independent from politics anymore," said Barrett Taylor, a professor of higher education at the University of North Texas. "Partisans want higher education to do what that party wants it to do." To be sure, this isn't a new playbook. |
| A Progressive Group Rolls Out a Campus Competitor to Turning Point | |
| Democrats desperate to win back young voters who drifted rightward in the 2024 election have rolled out a host of projects since then aimed at appealing to Gen Z. The latest high-profile group to join in: More Perfect Union, the progressive media organization run by a veteran of Senator Bernie Sanders's presidential campaigns. On Wednesday, More Perfect Union announced an initiative called More Perfect University, a college campus effort pitched as a liberal antidote to Turning Point USA, the conservative activist group that has spread right-wing cultural values at universities and mobilized young voters for President Trump. The stakes are high on college campuses, where younger voters joined a historic shift of traditionally Democratic groups toward Mr. Trump in 2024. Many young people now say that Mr. Trump has failed to deliver, opening the door for Democrats. Various wings of the party have launched efforts aimed at better understanding Gen Z voters. |
| Mississippi rebuilding America's arsenal | |
| U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) writes: It has been an important two weeks for rebuilding the American military, and I witnessed it firsthand at several events across Mississippi. Each one showcased a different side of our state's contributions to national security. Crucially, each one involved technology that did not exist until recently -- a sure sign that Mississippi is on the cutting-edge of defense innovation. ... These examples illustrate this point: our state is a vital part of America's military modernization. ... For several years, I have been calling for the United States to increase our investment in national defense. Because the dangers of the 21st century are too great for us to sit back, I enthusiastically welcomed President Trump's request for a $1.5 trillion defense budget in the upcoming fiscal year. ... Unfortunately, our defense industrial base is not ready to face these threats. Mississippi has been waking up to meet the moment, and we must continue to do so as we invite the rest of the country to join us. |
| April 15th is the perfect day to focus on the ramifications of federal and state tax gaps | |
| Columnist Sid Salter writes: Talking about taxes, Nobel Prize-winning Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw wryly observed: "A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul." Herman Wouk, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Caine Mutiny," was more pointed when he said: "Income taxes are the most imaginative fiction written today." Leave it to the taciturn Nebraska billionaire investor, Warren Buffett, to put the cherry on top of the Tax Day sundae: "Government can't deliver a free lunch to the country as a whole. It can, however, determine who pays for lunch." But it's not all funny or at least erudite observations that confront us on 2026's Tax Day. There's that pesky thing called The Tax Gap, and there's one at the federal level and the state level. The gross tax gap is the difference between the true tax liability for a given tax year and the amount paid on time. |
SPORTS
| Mississippi State receives $2 million gift for athletics | |
 | Mississippi State University (MSU) announced that longtime supporters, Charlie and Dana Stephenson, gave $2 million to Mississippi State Athletics. "We're so grateful for Charlie and Dana," said Zac Selmon, director of Athletics. "Their love for Mississippi State is evident, and we can't say, 'Thank you' enough for this selfless gift that will help us keep pushing forward and reaching new heights at State. Charlie and Dana are not only generous supporters of our community, institution and state, they are great friends and trusted partners who care deeply for Mississippi State and have been running shoulder to shoulder with us in advancing Mississippi State Athletics forward from day one." |
| Men's Golf: Late Charge Leads Mississippi State To Mossy Oak Collegiate Title | |
| Mississippi State took home the Mossy Oak Collegiate Championship, rallying from nine shots back to share the title with Ole Miss. This is State's second team victory of the 2025-26 campaign and the first of the spring season. This is also MSU's first time claiming the Mossy Oak Collegiate and State's first home event win since the 2014 Old Waverly Collegiate Championship. Dain Richie earned his first collegiate victory in his final regular-season tournament in the Maroon and White, tying for first at 8-under overall. He is State's first individual champion since Hunter Logan won the Visit Knoxville Collegiate in 2023. "I thought it was a heck of a round today," head coach Dusty Smith said. "We knew we had to come out fighting to even have a chance. Our intention was top three or better with a chance to win, and we were able to do that, which is great heading into postseason." The Bulldogs head into the SEC Tournament on April 22-24 in St. Simons Island, Georgia. |
| Baseball: No. 17 State Run-Rules Samford On The Road | |
| No. 17 Mississippi State wasted little time asserting control Tuesday night, riding a pair of big early innings to an 11-1 run-rule victory over Samford in seven innings at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Mississippi State (27-10) scored twice in the first, erupted for five runs in the second and added four more in the fifth to cruise behind a balanced offensive attack and a steady showing on the mound. State set the tone in the opening frame when Reed Stallman launched a two-run homer to right field, plating Ace Reese and giving MSU an early 2-0 edge. The game broke open an inning later. MSU sent nine men to the plate and capitalized on free passes and timely hitting. On the mound, MSU used four pitchers to limit Samford to three hits. Starter Chris Billingsley Jr. allowed one run over three innings, and Maddox Miller (2-2) earned the win with two scoreless frames in relief. Tyler Pitzer and Peyton Fowler combined to close out the final two innings without allowing a run. MSU continues on the road this weekend at South Carolina for a three-game series. |
| South Carolina baseball tops Davidson, pushes win streak to 4 games | |
 | South Carolina baseball extended its win streak to four games with a victory on Tuesday night. Head coach Monte Lee and the Gamecocks (19-19) took care of business at Founders Park and beat Davidson 8-6. The Gamecocks, who have now reached the .500 mark on the season, were powered by early offense and solid relief pitching. "We've been able to find a way to win those close games and get over that hump," Lee said. "So that just gives the guys confidence that, hey, we can do this. We can play nine complete innings of baseball and find ways to win a tight ball game. ... That's what good teams do. They win the tight ball games with nine outs to go. And we've been able to do that as of late, and hopefully we can continue to do that." South Carolina will turn its attention to an SEC series this weekend: The Gamecocks are set to host No. 17 Mississippi State for three games starting Friday. |
| Money and tech have closed the gap between NCAA baseball and MLB. That's good news for coaches | |
| There was a time in the not-so-distant past that many Major League Baseball teams looked at their college baseball counterparts with a degree of skepticism. There were the metal bats, the shorter schedule and a sense that nothing could replace the seasoning that came with years of grinding through professional baseball's minor leagues. Not anymore. Thanks to a variety of factors -- especially money and technology -- the MLB and NCAA versions of baseball have never been more similar. There's also been more movement between the two versions of the sport in recent years. One reason the college game has improved so much is an influx of cash. Coaching salaries have exploded over the past few decades: LSU's Jay Johnson is at the top of the scale at more than $3 million per year while Mississippi State's Brian O'Connor is second at $2.9 million. The highest paid MLB managers make around $8 million per season, but top assistants like pitching and hitting coaches usually make six figures. The advent of NIL money has also made playing college baseball more lucrative, even if payouts lag well behind their football and basketball counterparts. There's also the fact that top-level NCAA programs are investing in technology. |
| Bulldogs showcase explosive plays, glimpse at potential starters during open practice | |
| Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor took a shotgun snap and immediately turned to his right and threw a short pass to running back Fluff Bothwell, who looked as if he was preparing to charge down the right sideline of Scott Field at Davis Wade Stadium before he suddenly stopped running. In an instant, Bothwell reached back and fired a deep pass down the field to a wide-open Anthony Evans III for an explosive and unexpected touchdown that sent a shockwave of enthusiasm through the Bulldogs' offense. That moment was just one of many eye-popping plays the team showcased on Saturday at an open practice in which newcomers, returners and even a glimpse of potential starting lineups were put on display in front of fans and media members. In what could be a preview of the Sept. 5 matchup with ULM, head coach Jeff Lebby rolled out an offense that featured Taylor at quarterback, Brothwell at running back, Evans and Sanfrisco Magee at wide receiver and Sam West at tight end. |
| College Football Playoff rebrands logos as CFP aims to create a clearer identity | |
| The College Football Playoff has crowned a national champion for the last 12 years, and yet a surprising number of fans still don't know who's running the event. Seventy-two percent of fans incorrectly believe the CFP is run by the NCAA, and only 7% can correctly identify the CFP's brand mark, according to the CFP. On Tuesday, the organization that runs college football's postseason took a step toward fixing that. The CFP unveiled a refreshed brand identity and logo system that directly integrates the "CFP" moniker across most of its marks, and includes "subtle yet meaningful" tweaks to its main logos. It's a deliberate push toward brand clarity. "Since its inception, the CFP has represented the pinnacle of college football, capturing the excellence, pageantry and unwavering fan passion that make our sport so unique," CFP executive director Rich Clark said in a statement. "Our refreshed logo system builds on the successes of our first 12 years and positions the brand for continued growth moving forward." |
| Shaw retiring as NCAA secretary-rules editor, national coordinator of officials | |
| Steve Shaw, the NCAA secretary-rules editor for football and national coordinator of officials, will retire from both positions, effective Sept. 1. Shaw began his position as secretary-rules editor for football in September 2017, where he succeeded Rogers Redding. He was named the national coordinator of football officials in March 2020. "It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve and work in college football," Shaw said. Before taking on his national roles in the sport, Shaw served as the Southeastern Conference coordinator of football officials in 2011 and added the Sun Belt Conference coordinator of officials' role in 2014, leading a joint program between the two conferences.Shaw's administrative career in the sport followed his on-field contributions to the game where he was consistently one of the top college football referees. He worked 22 years on the field, including 15 in the SEC and six at the Division II level. |
| U.S. senator introducing bill intended to make sports TV more accessible to fans | |
| As fans, leagues, media companies and various branches of the government grapple with an increasingly complicated and frustrating sports TV landscape, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat from Wisconsin, plans to introduce the "For the Fans" Act that is designed to decrease consumer TV costs and make local games easier to access, while ending blackouts for fans with out-of-market subscriptions. In an interview with The Athletic, Baldwin said that sports can be a unifying experience for fans, like in her backyard with the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Bucks, but also said that too often these days it is bringing people together for the wrong reason. "The other thing that has been unifying us recently is absolute frustration about how confusing it is to watch your games and how costly it is to follow your teams and keep up to date with these streaming services and blackouts," Baldwin said. If enacted, the new bill would impact the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, WNBA, MLS and NWSL, among other leagues. |
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