| Wednesday, April 29, 2026 |
| Keenum thanks lawmakers, College Board for additional MSU program investments during 2026 legislative session | |
 | The recently-completed 2026 regular session of the Mississippi Legislature saw encouraging gains for Mississippi State University, the state's leading research university, as lawmakers invested in the land-grant institution's core missions and in the university's world-class faculty and staff. "While the bulk of our operations saw level funding, I'm extremely pleased that the Mississippi Legislature and the Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning chose to invest in a long needed pay increase primarily for our academic personnel and provided funds to cover rising health insurance and public employee retirement costs," said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. "We are also grateful for increased operating funds for each of our five separate agriculture units, with a raise pool for instructional faculty in that division that mirrors that provided for the main campus." Keenum had made university-wide faculty salaries and stabilizing funds for the agricultural units in the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine (DAFVM) key priorities in the university's legislative requests. |
| MSU Transportation to host blood drive forgiving parking tickets | |
| Mississippi State University Transportation will host a blood drive between the YMCA Plaza and the Chapel of Memories from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 30. At the event, students who donate blood can have one $30 out-of-zone parking ticket forgiven. In recent years, students have proposed alternative ways to pay off parking citations, prompting Transportation officials to explore new options. "We have looked at different methods of allowing students to get forgiveness for parking tickets," said Jeremiah Dumas, the executive director of transportation. The idea for a blood drive came after the staff attended a conference where another university shared a similar program. While the incentive may attract students with tickets, Dumas emphasized that the event is open to anyone willing to donate. Dumas said his father was a longtime donor with Mississippi Blood Services before being diagnosed with cancer last year. "My father had been diagnosed with cancer in October, and he was one of the biggest donors for the Mississippi Blood Services over the last 20 to 30 years," Dumas said. After his father's death, Dumas said organizing the blood drive became a way to honor his legacy. |
| Education: Branch Day | |
 | Photo: Mississippi State cadets board the Army's UH-60 Black Hawk at Fresh Fields on campus Thursday. As part of the Reserve Officer Training Corps' Branch Day, university cadets learned about different Army branches, including aviation, armor, infantry, field artillery and more. Pilots Capt. Brad McWhirter and CW3 Matthew Buckner, both MSU alumni, flew the aircraft from Jackson to mentor the next generation of military leaders, giving cadets firsthand flight experience. |
| What are the best methods for handling spring cleaning? | |
| Spring is the season of renewal. That renewal can include cleaning and decluttering. While not everyone with an overabundance of stuff is a hoarder, it can take a physical and mental toll on our lives and loved ones. On this hour of All Sides, we're talking about how to declutter and organize with guests Mary E. Dozier, associate professor, department of psychology, Mississippi State University, and Dana K. White, decluttering expert. |
| Still no signs of growth in the cattle herd | |
| An ag economist says the cattle cycle is stuck in neutral. Josh Maples with the Mississippi State University Extension says, "We're still looking for glimpses of heading towards expansion." He tells Brownfield while cattle producers aren't liquidating their herds, they aren't growing them either. "Heifers in 2025 made up 31.7% of total cattle slaughtered in 2025," he says. "This was only down marginally from where we were in 2024." Maples says that year, heifers made up about 32 percent of total cattle slaughtered. "Neither of those levels are levels that you would see and think that we're in any sort of retention phase," he says. "Those are relatively large compared to true expansion in the cattle sector." |
| Fossil park to have dinosaur bones, shark teeth. When will it open? | |
 | Mississippi is known for its diverse geography with the flat land of the Delta, hills in the northeast and the pine flats to the south, but there was a time when it was vastly different and some of the animals that lived here were downright scary. It was a time when most of the state was a part of a sea inhabited by ancient sharks, and dinosaurs roamed Northeast Mississippi where land existed. Soon, there will be a fossil park where visitors can find remains of ancient creatures and if they're lucky, they might find some fossilized poop, too. "We're still in the development stages of the fossil park," said Susan Wilder, grant writer and administrator for the City of Columbus. "It's the Dr. John "Jack" Kaye Cretaceous Fossil Park. Propst Park is located in Columbus and the Luxapallila Creek makes its way through part of it and its banks offer a glimpse into a world of long ago. It's a spot that's been known to geologists and fossil hunters for years, but it will soon invite the general public to see what they can find. Kaye was a native of Columbus and taught geology at Mississippi State University and the Mississippi University for Women. |
| Ask The Dispatch: Why are estate sales so popular, frequent? | |
| The Sally Harper estate sale in Starkville last week had all the typical things: McCarty pottery, hardwood furniture, rugs -- essentially all of Harper's belongings, organized neatly and put up for sale in her home over the course of three days. However, for some, there was one surprise: a line of more than 250 people stood outside the door on the first day of the sale. Benny Shelton, owner and operator of Stewart's Antiques and estate liquidator of the Sally Harper estate sale, said it was his largest line ever. "We give out numbers to determine who gets to go in the home first," Shelton said. "(I arrive) about two hours before the sale starts and lately, we'll have people already waiting when I get there." So, what sets an estate sale apart from a typical yard sale, and why are they drawing such large crowds? |
| Security to tighten in Cotton District following weekend violence | |
| New security measures will take effect this weekend in the Cotton District following an out-of-control crowd, a shooting and more than two dozen arrests during Super Bulldog Weekend. Mayor Lynn Spruill said the changes, which will control access to the area, are a "measured and reasonable" response to last weekend's events. Beginning Friday, Starkville Police Department will establish a secured perimeter around the district from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays with five controlled entry points staffed by officers and security personnel. Backpacks and outside alcoholic beverages will be prohibited. Everyone entering must present a valid ID, and no one under the age of 18 will be permitted entry. Attendees will receive wristbands at entry points, and anyone inside the district without one will be required to leave and re-enter through a designated access point. Police Chief Mark Ballard said the changes aim to improve safety and prevent weapons from being brought into the district. Ballard also noted that a growing share of attendees during high-volume weekends at the district are a regional crowd not affiliated with the university, complicating efforts to predict crowd size. Ballard said the Cotton District remains an "extremely safe" area under normal conditions. |
| Pilgrimage ticket sales rebound amid national criticism of similar events | |
| Following a 33% uptick in ticket sales this year, Spring Pilgrimage in Columbus appears to be rebounding after years of lower attendance. But some homeowners wonder if that growth is sustainable without some changes to the event's marketing and its discussion of the interconnectedness between slavery and the homes. "If we don't change something, I don't see the way that we're conducting Pilgrimage as viable (in the future)," said Jace Ferraez, the owner of Twelve Gables home in Columbus. "And it won't be around for me, since I'm 36, in 10 years. So, I do think we do have to implement changes." Spring Pilgrimage sold about 1,000 tickets this year, which was up from roughly 750 tickets sold during last year's Pilgrimage, said Frances Glenn, Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau tourism director. Glenn attributed that growth to improved targeted marketing online and more cohesive messaging for the event. While that increase certainly improved homeowners' revenue, Ferraez said he's concerned about how the event resonates with younger people. Part of the reason behind that composition, he believes, is due to growing national criticism around Southern tourism sites, like plantation homes and historic buildings, showcasing a romanticized portrayal of Antebellum history. |
| Lawmakers tried to steer $2 million to Elvis-themed Tupelo hotel project tied to state official's family | |
| Mississippi lawmakers tried to shell out $2 million in tax dollars to help fund the construction of a private downtown Tupelo hotel project connected to a state official's family, but Gov. Tate Reeves vetoed it. Tucked away in the Legislature's $253-million "Christmas tree" bill to fund local projects across the state was a $2 million line item for the city of Tupelo to help cover costs associated with the Blue Suede hotel development project. But leaders in the city of Tupelo didn't ask for the money, said they didn't want it and don't own the property in question. It was only after the Legislature passed the spending bill that some of the area's lawmakers realized they had just authorized the state to send money to Tupelo for the renovation of a hotel owned by Joshua Brown, the son of Northern District Public Service Commissioner Chris Brown, a former House member. Chris Brown, who served in the Legislature for 12 years, told Mississippi Today that he loaned his son and daughter-in-law money for the hotel development, but that he did not stand to "financially benefit one penny" from the project. |
| Amazon AI data centers may use reclaimed water in Mississippi | |
| As Mississippi's footprint in the global data center economy continues to grow, Amazon and water management company Veolia say a proposed reclaimed water system for cooling Amazon facilities could reduce pressure on local drinking water supplies -- one of the most persistent concerns surrounding the state's largest economic development projects. Under the plan, Veolia would treat wastewater from nearby treatment plants and reuse it to cool Amazon data centers in Mississippi. The companies say the system is expected to begin operating in 2027 and would be the first reclaimed‑water cooling setup used by Amazon in the state. The proposal builds on discussion over how Mississippi's expanding hyperscale data centers, particularly Amazon Web Service's projects in Madison County, will draw on local infrastructure, including water, power and roads. State leaders, including Gov. Tate Reeves, have touted the projects as economic development investments, while there has been pushback from citizens for more clarity about long‑term issues. |
| Gov. Reeves announces office, website for $206M rural health initiative | |
| On Wednesday, Gov. Tate Reeves announced the establishment of a new office that will be charged with implementing a rural health plan in Mississippi, which is being funded by the federal government. The Republican governor unveiled plans for the Mississippi Rural Health Transformation Program in November with the goal of giving every resident in rural areas reliable access to healthcare by 2031. The state received nearly $206 million in funding for the program in December. The new Mississippi Rural Health Transformation Program Office will be housed within the governor's office and "serve as the central hub for coordinating implementation of the State's approved plan, ensuring alignment across agencies, managing program administration, and maintaining a strong focus on accountability and results," a press release from Reeves' office explained. The release added that an accompanying website -- mississippirhtp.com -- has been launched to ensure transparency by allowing residents to view initiatives, funding opportunities, and progress of the program. |
| US Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith proposes tax credits for American cotton sales | |
| Mississippi farmers saw little relief from the state Legislature this session, with relatively few agriculture bills proposed and even fewer passed into law. They may have to turn to their federal delegation for help, where U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith has proposed a bill to revitalize the country's cotton industry. The Buying American Cotton Act proposes tax credits for U.S.-based entities that sell cotton fabric or finished goods. More than a dozen of Hyde-Smith's colleagues have opted to cosponsor the legislation, including her counterpart U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker and five legislators from neighboring states. The tax credit applies to any cotton products that were fully manufactured in the United States or imported into the country after being partially or entirely made of U.S. cotton. At another Senate hearing a month later, Hyde-Smith's bill earned a key ally: U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. She told Hyde-Smith that she was with her "100%" and the bill could be "a gamechanger" for farmers. |
| Senator warns Byhalia mayor about 'ICE warehouse' deal scuttled by Kristi Noem, Wicker | |
| The mayor of Byhalia was among the recipients of a letter sent last week by U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy warning of costs, litigation and humanitarian concerns over proposals to turn warehouses into immigrant detention centers. Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, serves as ranking member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. He sent letters to 21 local governments across the U.S., including the office of Byhalia Mayor Donald Hollingsworth, an independent. Murphy said the local governments are "actively" considering whether to allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement to buy warehouses in their communities for use as detention facilities. But Murphy's April 21 letter came over two months after former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem had already agreed to abandon efforts to acquire a warehouse in the northern Mississippi town. Sen. Roger Wicker, who opposed the proposed Byhalia facility, on Feb. 6 announced that he had relayed local opposition and economic development concerns to Noem and that she had agreed "to look elsewhere." About a month later, Trump fired Noem and replaced her with Markwayne Mullin, a former U.S. Senator from Oklahoma. Murphy's office told Mississippi Today it did not have confidence DHS would stick to its promises regarding ICE facilities. |
| Pro-pesticide provisions complicate farm bill's passage | |
 | A contentious pro-pesticide provision in the farm bill could create hurdles to the legislation moving through the House, as lawmakers aligned with the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement rage against the measure. The language in question, which seeks to block some lawsuits against pesticide companies, has emerged as a major flash point among some Republicans in recent months. House GOP leaders are aiming to bring the farm bill across the finish line this week, but Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) likely will face a tough time mustering up support for it on the floor, as a number of Republicans are vowing to oppose the legislation unless the pesticide provision is removed. While some moderate Democrats may cross the aisle to support the farm bill, the same provision has also alienated many on the party's left flank. The provision would prevent states and courts from penalizing pesticide makers for failing to include warnings on their labels about health effects that go beyond those formally recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). |
| Supreme Court limits Voting Rights Act | |
 | The Supreme Court significantly narrowed a key provision of the Voting Rights Act in a 6-3 ruling Wednesday, further eroding the impact of the landmark civil rights-era law. For decades, Section 2 -- a provision that broadly outlawed discrimination in voting on the basis of race -- has been interpreted to allow, and sometimes demand, the use of race-conscious data in redistricting, to protect the voting power of minorities. But the court's new opinion, which split the justices along ideological lines, throws into question exactly how states can utilize race in their mapmaking process. The case involves a challenge to two majority-Black districts in Louisiana. Liberal groups had feared the court would fully gut the law, allowing red states to redraw maps nationwide and effectively lock in GOP control of Congress. Republicans, meanwhile, believe that considering race in drawing congressional districts is discriminatory and unconstitutional. Now, the gray area left by the court's ruling adds further uncertainty to redistricting, which has become a pivotal tool for both parties this cycle. |
| US Supreme Court triggers Mississippi redistricting special session | |
| The Supreme Court threw out Louisiana's redrawn congressional map on April 29, siding with the Trump administration and triggering Mississippi's special session on redistricting. The court's six conservative members agreed that the newer version of the U.S. House voting districts map was an unconstitutional gerrymander that violates the voting rights of the non-Black voters who challenged it in court. The decision is a major blow to the 1965 Voting Rights Act, effectively rendering its second section moot. Justice Elena Kagan, one of three justices who dissented, wrote that the protections of the law are "all but a dead letter." Mississippi now has free reign to redraw its voting district maps at all levels without having to abide by the minority voter protection clauses in the Voting Rights Act. Gov. Tate Reeves called for a special session on redistricting to take place three weeks after the court's decision, meaning legislators will come together on May 20. |
| For one very brief moment, a king unites a divided Congress | |
 | Inside the House chamber for King Charles III's historic address to Congress was all the pomp and circumstance expected of a royal visit, including a ceremonious entrance, standing ovations and even a George Washington impersonator in the galleries. But while U.S. leaders put on an appearance of unity during the king's visit commemorating America's 250th anniversary of independence, behind-the-scenes, the colonies -- er, lawmakers -- were fighting. In the hours before and after Charles III's visit to the chamber, lawmakers squabbled over a rule overseeing floor debate on a patchwork of high-stakes measures, including a bill to authorize agriculture programs, a budget resolution aimed at ultimately funding part of the Department of Homeland Security and the renewal of a key government surveillance authority due to expire Thursday. During his remarks, Charles called Congress a "citadel of democracy created to represent the voice of all American people to advance sacred rights and freedoms" and the House chamber as one "of debate and deliberation." But as soon as Charles exited the chamber, the citadel went back to bickering. |
| Prosecutions of Trump's foes add to GOP's headaches in midterms | |
 | Republicans hoping their party's standard-bearer will stay focused on voters' priorities heading into the November midterms caught no relief on Tuesday as the Trump administration announced charges against former FBI director James B. Comey and an aide to former chief medical adviser Anthony S. Fauci, as well as a review of Disney's broadcast licenses. The latest instances of turning government power against President Donald Trump's critics and pursuing years-old grievances added to frustrations felt by Republicans who say the president isn't doing enough to address the signature issues that won him a second term. "No Republican wants to run on 'I stand with Donald Trump's retribution tour'" while gas prices are so high, said Barrett Marson, a GOP strategist in Arizona. "There is no doubt that the vast majority of non-MAGA voters want Trump to focus on anything but his personal animus toward a wide variety of people." The White House said the Comey prosecution has no bearing on Trump's efforts to bring down costs. Other Republicans, however, asked about the administration's priorities. |
| Trump Tells Aides to Prepare for Extended Blockade of Iran | |
 | President Trump has instructed aides to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran, U.S. officials said, targeting the regime's coffers in a high-risk bid to compel a nuclear capitulation Tehran has long refused. In recent meetings, including a Monday discussion in the Situation Room, Trump opted to continue squeezing Iran's economy and oil exports by preventing shipping to and from its ports. He assessed that his other options -- resume bombing or walk away from the conflict -- carried more risk than maintaining the blockade, officials said. Yet continuing the blockade also prolongs a conflict that has driven up gas prices, hurt Trump's poll numbers and further darkened Republicans' prospects in the midterm elections. It has also caused the lowest number of transits through the Strait of Hormuz since the war began. For now, Trump is comfortable with an indefinite blockade, which he wrote Tuesday on Truth Social is pushing Iran toward a "State of Collapse." Trump's decision represents a new phase of sorts of the war and highlights the fact that the president, who always seeks a quick and salable victory, is devoid of a silver bullet. |
| Hotel prices rise as UM students don caps and gowns | |
 | As graduating students at the University of Mississippi return their textbooks and prepare to start their professions, hotels across Oxford are looking to profit from students' big day. Some hotels in Oxford say graduation reservations begin much earlier than many people expect, especially for those close to campus. Hannah Holbrook, sales manager at The Oliver Hotel, said she watches the books fill up quickly as soon as spots become available during graduation week. "We open up rooms 365 days in advance. Typically, we have a waitlist for those that are booking," Holbrook said. Kristin Oglesby, catering and sales manager at Marriott's Courtyard Oxford, said the hotel started booking guests early in 2026 for what is their biggest weekend of the year. She said visitors should not be surprised if prices look a little higher than they do on many other weekends in Oxford. Oglesby detailed the weekend room price tag. "(The price is) around $580 per room per night for Thursday and Friday. I think it's around $460 for Saturday," Oglesby said. |
| Controversial Ole Miss professor shares '86 47' post days after Trump assassination attempt | |
| Secret Service apprehended a suspect Saturday night at the White House Correspondents dinner in Washington D.C. after gunfire rang out in the halls of the Washington Hilton Hotel. Cole Allen, 31, faces charges that include attempting to assassinate the President. It was the third such attempt in as many years. On Tuesday, University of Mississippi sociology professor James M. Thomas posted to his social media channels a photograph of seashells on a beach arranged to read "86 47." Thomas captioned the post "waves in 1A," presumably a reference to the First Amendment. In the hospitality industry, "86" represents shorthand for tossing out or cancelling. However, in military and law enforcement circles, "86" is used as slang for killing someone. Donald Trump is the 47th president of the United States. Magnolia Tribune sought comment from University officials moments after Thomas posted the photograph, but as of press time, had not received a response. |
| New state-of-the-art radiation oncology systems offer advanced cancer care at UMMC | |
| Patrick McCarthy is fighting squamous cell carcinoma with the help of new advanced radiotherapy systems at the University of Mississippi Medical Center's radiation oncology center, part of the UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute. The two new Varian systems, Edge and Ethos, offer patients faster, more precise radiotherapy. The Medical Center has the only Ethos system in Mississippi. The state-of-the-art system uses artificial intelligence for adaptive radiation therapy, which allows for adjustments in real time. After a 13-day hospital stay, McCarthy, of Jackson, is undergoing radiation therapy as well as chemotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma, the most common type of tonsil cancer. He is among the first patients in Mississippi to receive radiotherapy with the Ethos system. The Medical Center has the only Ethos system in Mississippi. The state-of-the-art system uses artificial intelligence for adaptive radiation therapy, which allows for adjustments in real time. "If a tumor shrinks or moves, adjustments are made to reduce radiation exposure for healthy tissue and minimize side effects," said Dr. Neil Duggar, associate professor of radiation oncology. |
| U. of Arkansas removes professor's door poster bearing pro-Palestinian phrase | |
| The University of Arkansas has removed a poster from the office door of a professor of comparative literature and Middle East studies, weeks after removing other displays from the same professor's door. In December, UA leaders told Mohja Kahf, a distinguished professor in the university's King Fahd Center for Middle East Studies, to remove two items on her door for being in violation of university policy following a student complaint to the office of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The complaint focused on a comic titled "I'm Not a Terrorist" by artist Jennifer Camper -- which included the satirical use of a racial slur -- and a poster with the word "Palestine" and the phrase "from the river to the sea," written in English and Arabic. The university's Office of Equal Opportunity, Compliance and Title IX told Kahf in a letter that those postings violated the university's discrimination policy and needed to be taken down. Kahf's attorney, JJ Thompson Sr., said she declined to remove the signs, and the university removed them earlier this month. |
| U. of Tennessee professor's research targets gaps in expungement laws for trafficking survivors | |
| Known for humorous social media skits, University of Tennessee assistant professor of advertising Matthew Pittman doesn't usually cover heavy topics. But his latest work is contributing to a research initiative that could help survivors of human trafficking rebuild their lives. Every year, approximately 27.6 million people worldwide are human-trafficked, many for forced labor or sex. While many states allow survivors to vacate, expunge or seal criminal records tied to their exploitation, there are limits on what can be sealed. In many cases, survivors are only allowed to expunge prostitution and drug charges, failing to account for other offenses they were forced to commit. This often prevents survivors from successfully rebuilding their lives. "If I would've seen someone that had a prostitution charge or a drug possession charge, and I owned a small business like a bakery, I'm not gonna hire her. She's a criminal. But a lot of these women were put in a bad situation," Pittman said. That's why Pittman, alongside his sister, Margaret "Meg" Kelsey, formed a partnership between Regent University School of Law's Center for Global Justice and UT's Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations. |
| Texas A&M students prepare projects for AI Venture Challenge | |
| Students at universities across the country are readying projects to submit to the Texas A&M University Mays Business School AI Venture Velocity Challenge. According to event organizer Levi Belnap, 39 colleges and universities have had teams submit projects to the challenge. The final day for project submissions is Friday. The challenge is designed to reward students for experimentation, learning and intelligent use of AI to accelerate venture progress. According to Belnap, executive director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Mays Business School, the students can submit any kind of idea as long as it is something that they can use AI in the process of creating the plan. In late September, the top 12 projects will be invited to the A&M campus where those groups will be able to present their business plans that leverage AI to address real-world challenges. The top three teams will receive cash prizes of $100,000, $50,000 and $25,000, respectively. |
| Student governments are decreasing on Mizzou's campus, here's what it means | |
 | In early April, leaders of the University of Missouri's five multicultural umbrella organizations were called into a meeting with student affairs, where they were told their organizations would no longer receive funding through a portion of the student activity fee. This marked the second time this school year that a longstanding student government has lost funding. Among the multicultural organizations is the Legion of Black Collegians, which has held student government status since 1969. Earlier in the school year, another longstanding student government -- the Associated Students of the University of Missouri -- also learned it would lose funding. With these changes, the number of student governments on campus will decrease from seven to five by the end of 2026. The student activity fee is $304.80 for undergraduates, part of which funds student governments. Starting in July, the multicultural organizations will join over 600 Recognized Student Organizations, meaning they will have to apply for the chance of receiving a fraction of the funding they used to have. |
| 3 Brown University Students Sue Over December Shooting | |
 | Three Brown University freshmen who say they were seriously injured in December's mass shooting on campus are suing the institution, saying the violence occurred "as a direct and proximate result of Brown's" negligence. Claudio Neves Valente killed two students and injured nine others on Dec. 13. Valente went on to kill a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor before killing himself. The unnamed students' lawsuits, filed last week in Rhode Island Superior Court, say they're among the nine survivors, and their injuries are permanent. They say Brown failed to properly secure and monitor the Barus and Holley building, where the shooting occurred in an auditorium. The students' attorneys wrote that "students and non-students alike were free to enter and move through the building without meaningful restriction" and that it had "only two exterior cameras, and interior camera coverage did not include Tanner Auditorium or the hallways immediately surrounding it." The lawyers further allege Brown didn't properly respond to multiple warnings of Valente's suspicious behavior, including a custodian's report that he appeared to have been studying the building before the day of the attack. |
| Historically Black colleges team up to pursue top research status | |
| Fifteen historically Black colleges and universities have united to pursue the nation's highest research status in partnership with leading research universities. The coalition hopes to upend discriminatory assumptions about what HBCUs can accomplish and reverse some historical trends that have held them back. The newly announced Association of HBCU Research Institutions (AHRI) aims to help its members reach Research 1 status, a designation that gets more federal funding and makes it easier to recruit top faculty and students. The group will work with the country's foremost research universities, with space within the Association of American Universities (AAU) headquarters in Washington, and support from Harvard University. The group plans to hold its first annual symposium on Wednesday. Only one HBCU, Howard University, has R1 status now. |
| Linda McMahon punches back at senators questioning Education Department cuts | |
 | In a fiery hearing Tuesday, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon defended her work dismantling the very department she leads, with Senate Democrats saying the results have made life harder for parents and students. McMahon's first appearance on Capitol Hill in nearly a year was intended to unpack the White House proposal on education spending for the 2027 fiscal year -- and gave senators a chance to take stock of McMahon's actions. Some Republicans, including Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy, cheered McMahon's changes, like her push for expanding school choice, while many shared the concerns of their Democratic counterparts about proposed cuts to TRIO, a group of federal programs that help disadvantaged students get into and through college. In one testy exchange, Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington asked why parents must now contact more than one federal agency for services that were once solely provided by the Education Department. McMahon retorted that she disagreed with Murray's characterization and said that regardless of which agencies federal education programs are housed in, parents will "still get the same treatment, the same funding." |
| Reeves' decision to preemptively call a special session for judicial redistricting is shrewd | |
| Columnist Sid Salter writes: Mississippi's Republican Gov. Tate Reeves made a politically shrewd decision to issue a special session call to authorize lawmakers to draw new state Supreme Court district lines 21 days after the U.S. Supreme Court rules in a controversial Louisiana congressional redistricting case that many high court observers believe will weaken the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA). Reeves' decision gives the GOP legislative majority a chance to draw new state Supreme Court lines for the first time since 1987 if the nation's highest court indeed mandates changes in VRA interpretation of election law changes and enforcement. The governor's call has encouraged his fellow Republicans and angered Democrats. |
SPORTS
| No. 10 MSU Claims Governor's Cup Victory Over No. 17 Ole Miss | |
| No. 10 Mississippi State struck early and never let No. 17 Ole Miss recover Tuesday night, rolling past the Rebels 7-3 in the sold-out Governor's Cup at Trustmark Park. Kevin Milewski went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, Jacob Parker added two hits and two RBIs and the Diamond Dawgs used a four-run first inning to take control of the neutral-site, non-conference rivalry matchup. Mississippi State improved to 35-10, while Ole Miss fell to 31-15. State wasted no time jumping on Rebels starter Owen Kelly. Gehrig Frei opened the bottom of the first with a single to left, moved to second on Ace Reese's groundout and scored when Parker lined an RBI single through the right side. Noah Sullivan, who walked earlier in the inning, came home on Bryce Chance's infield single before Milewski delivered the biggest swing of the frame -- a two-run double to right that gave MSU a 4-0 lead. Milewski led Mississippi State's 12-hit attack and was named the game's Most Outstanding Player. MSU hits the road for No. 4 Texas this weekend for a three-game series starting on Friday at 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network+. |
| MSU beats Ole Miss again, claims Governor's Cup | |
 | Mississippi State now has won nine in a row and continues its dominance over Ole Miss lately. Behind a big first inning, the No. 10-ranked Bulldogs got past rival and No. 17-ranked Ole Miss 7-3 in the 18th annual Governor's Cup at Trustmark Park on Tuesday night. It's Mississippi State's fourth straight win over Ole Miss, and MSU has now won nine out of the last 10 series. "Tonight was a great example of unselfish team baseball. We had a great two-strike approach and a bunch of base hits with two strikes," Mississippi State head coach Brian O'Conner said. "The ball wasn't going anywhere tonight in this ballpark, so it was going to be the team who put the ball in play the most and moved the ball around. Just really proud of how we came down here and played after an emotional series." Both teams continue SEC play this weekend as Mississippi State (35-10, 13-8 SEC) travels to Texas, while Ole Miss (31-15, 11-10) travels to Arkansas. |
| CBSB: No. 10 Mississippi State handles No. 17 Ole Miss 7-3 in Governor's Cup | |
| For the first time since 2019, Mississippi State has earned both a clean sweep of arch-rival Ole Miss in a weekend series while also winning the annual Governor's Cup. The No. 10 Bulldogs (35-10, 13-8 SEC) leaned on an explosive first inning, a few insurance runs, and a solid pitching performance to defeat the No. 17 Rebels (31-15, 11-10 SEC) 7-3 in front of the third-largest crowd in Trustmark Park history. Officials reported there were 8,223 fans in attendance at the Pearl ballpark on Tuesday night. Brian O'Connor made a strong statement in his debut season as the maroon and white's head coach by having his club display dominance over its in-state foe. The seasoned skipper noted after the game that, when he was hired, Mississippi State President Dr. Mark Keenum emphasized the importance of winning the Governor's Cup -- a rivalry in which the Bulldogs now have a 12-6 all-time advantage. "He's got a tremendous amount of pride in this state and Mississippi State representing it. We're excited to take that trophy home to him and bring it to Starkville." |
| Why it meant so much to Mississippi State baseball, Brian O'Connor to win Governor's Cup | |
| Coach Brian O'Connor found out within the first few days after being hired how much winning the Governor's Cup mattered to Mississippi State baseball. "My third day on the job, President (Mark) Keenum brought me up to his office, and he said, 'Coach, there's nothing more important than the Governor's Cup,'" O'Connor said. On April 28, the first-year coach added another win for No. 9 Mississippi State (35-10) in the rivalry, winning 7-3 over No. 18 Ole Miss (31-15) at Trustmark Park. "Obviously, (Keenum's) got a tremendous amount of pride in this state," O'Connor said. "... We're excited to take that trophy home to him and bring it to Starkville." For freshman outfielder Jacob Parker, the significance of the matchup held considerable weight. The game was played in the same stadium where he won an MHSAA state championship in 2023 with Purvis and was runner-up in 2025. Parker went 2-for-4 against Ole Miss and recorded two RBIs. "It was fun," Parker said. "Obviously, you're playing against your rivals, so we want to go out there and win, but it was a fun game. ... Obviously, we're competing not in Starkville, not in Oxford, but in Jackson, the capital ... and I thought it was pretty special to compete in front of those fans." |
| MSU men's tennis team earns No. 5 national seed and will host Starkville Regional | |
| For the fourth straight year, Mississippi State's men's tennis team is staying home and hosting a regional in the NCAA tennis tournament. On Monday, the Bulldogs tuned into the tournament's selection show and cheered when they were given the No. 5 seed in the playoffs and the opportunity to host first and second round matches in the Starkville Regional at A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. The postseason tennis action for MSU begins at 1 p.m. Friday with the Bulldogs taking on fourth-seeded Tennessee Tech. No. 2-seeded Wisconsin will take on No. 3 seed Samford at 10 a.m. to get the party started. The winners on Friday will battle each other beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday to advance to the Sweet 16. The tournament berth marks the 15th consecutive postseason appearance for Mississippi State, the SEC tournament runner up, and its 34th overall. The Bulldogs have advanced to the Sweet 16 in each of the last three seasons. |
| Neyland Entertainment District breaks ground in 2026, Danny White says | |
 | Tennessee athletics director Danny White said the Neyland Entertainment District project will break ground this summer, beginning with the demolition of the G10 garage. The $280 million project is still pending approval by the UT Board of Trustees. But White doesn't anticipate any major obstacles, he said during a Big Orange Caravan stop near Chattanooga on April 28. "It'll just be awesome," White said. "We are really excited about the entertainment district -- the hotel, condo, restaurant, amenities. It's a private development -- about a $280 million development -- that will happen on the south end of our stadium. "I think it will transform not just gameday but 365 days out of the year for our student body, for our student-athletes and for the Knoxville community." Sports entertainment districts have become very popular in recent years, but they've mostly been in professional sports. Tennessee is believed to be the first university to attempt a sports entertainment district on such a large scale. |
| BCTC vacating Cooper Drive campus as U. of Kentucky moves ahead with entertainment district | |
 | The construction of a fan entertainment district near Kroger Field will mean the end of Bluegrass Community and Technical College classes in the school's original home on Cooper Drive. Kevin Locke, the University of Kentucky's associate vice president of planning, design and construction, told the Champions Blue LLC board of governors Tuesday the school is moving forward with the "Cooper Connector" plan for the proposed entertainment district. Of the four renderings presented to the UK Board of Trustees in February, the Cooper Connector plan was the only one that involved construction at the current BCTC site. The "Cooper Connector" plan for UK's fan entertainment district would include retail, dining and a hotel conference center. While construction plans will not be finalized until this summer, the initial rendering included new construction on both sides of Cooper Drive between University Drive and Sports Center Drive. A final decision has also not been made on whether a multi-use facility that would include a new basketball practice facility will be constructed as part of the Kroger Field entertainment district or as part of a district to be built near Memorial Coliseum. |
| NCAA remains on track to expand to a 76-team March Madness bracket for next season | |
 | The NCAA is still deliberating expanding March Madness on both the men's and women's sides to 76 teams for next season -- a much-expected development that's been in the works for years. The NCAA released a brief statement Tuesday in the wake of an ESPN report that cited unnamed sources saying a decision to add eight teams to the bracket is a mere formality that's expected in May. "Expanding the basketball tournaments would require approval from multiple NCAA committees, including the men's and women's basketball committees, and no final recommendations or decisions have been made at this time," the statement said. Earlier this month at the Final Four, NCAA President Charlie Baker said the committees would, in fact, return to discussing the expansion once this year's tournament was over. The new format would add eight more at-large teams and take eight more teams out of the main bracket for play-in games. |
| The NCAA's old prize‑money rule is gone. Here's why that matters | |
 | The NCAA has agreed to strike down another one of its old rules in order to resolve another antitrust lawsuit against the organization, this time filed by tennis players who challenged NCAA restrictions on their earnings before college. The details were revealed in a federal court filing April 28 after the NCAA was initially sued by North Carolina women's tennis player Reese Brantmeier in 2024. As part of the proposed class-action settlement, the NCAA agreed to eliminate restrictions on pre-enrollment prize money for athletes in all sports, not just tennis. Former Texas tennis player Maya Joint also joined the case as a named plaintiff after being forced to forfeit much of the $147,000 in prize money she earned at the U.S. Open in order to maintain her NCAA eligibility in 2024. "The proposed settlement is an extraordinary outcome for the Classes, and the injunctive relief obtained will positively impact future generations of student-athletes," the plaintiffs said in their motion to approve the proposed settlement April 28. |
| Sorsby gambling addiction casts light on issue that could affect thousands of college athletes | |
| In the eight years since the Supreme Court cleared the way for legal sports gambling across the country, the bad headlines for college sports have picked up. Coaches being tainted by scandals at their programs. The social media pressure on athletes to perform for gamblers. The arrests and indictments of players, former players and associates betting on the outcome of games few remember. The back-and-forth over whether to allow college athletes, who can now earn millions, to bet on pro or college sports. This week, the problems were underscored in a dramatic way: Brendan Sorsby, set to become the well-paid quarterback of Big 12 defending champion Texas Tech, stepped away to seek treatment for a gambling addiction. Investigations are reportedly under way involving a potential Heisman Trophy hopeful and his stays at Indiana and Cincinnati before his transfer to Texas Tech ahead of next season. Details have not been released about Sorsby's gambling. But experts estimate that thousands of athletes in men's college sports are engaged in compulsive gambling. |
| Brendan Sorsby, Amid Gambling Treatment, Argues Against NIL Deal | |
| As Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby takes a leave of absence for gambling addiction treatment, his lawyers are busy arguing that the so-called NIL contract Sorsby signed with the University of Cincinnati was "actually an employment agreement that provides for payments to Mr. Sorsby for his performance as a quarterback." Through a motion to dismiss submitted by attorneys Joseph Braun and Richard Wayne of Strauss Troy on Monday, Sorsby insists that while NIL is supposed to concern the commercial use of his name, image and likeness, "NIL," in terms of his Cincinnati contract, functioned as a pretext to superficially comply with NCAA rules that prohibit pay-for-play. The argument comes as college athletes still attempt to gain recognition as employees of their schools through Johnson v. NCAA and hinge on the economic realities of the relationship between athletes and their schools. Sorsby argues that "in reality," his "NIL rights have very little monetary value." |
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