| Monday, May 4, 2026 |
| Inside the Mississippi Database Making Sure Names are Not Forgotten | |
 | A call to work on a decades-old cold case has sparked a movement aimed at helping all missing and unidentified persons in Mississippi. It starts with Dr. Jesse Goliath, an assistant professor of anthropology at Mississippi State University. He was asked to assist on the forensic recovery of Felicia Cox in December 2021. From that case, Dr. Goliath asked if the state had a repository for missing and unidentified persons. After being met with a "no", he decided to take matters into his own hands. The following year, the Mississippi Repository for Missing and Unidentified Persons was born. It is currently housed at the Cobb Institute of Archaeology at Mississippi State University. The repository operates with three separate teams: a missing persons team, an unidentified persons team, and a website team. In May 2025, the university signed a memorandum of understanding with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. |
| Professor helps uncover widespread genetic exchange in disease-causing parasites | |
| Mississippi State University biologist Matthew W. Brown is part of an international research team whose latest findings, published this spring in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, are reshaping scientific understanding of how parasitic organisms evolve and ultimately spread disease. Focusing on the protistan parasite Leishmania, a genus of trypanosomatids that is globally spread through insect bites, the study provides critical insight for developing more effective interventions and treatments of parasitical infections. This latest publication builds on Brown's broader body of work exploring how complex organisms evolved from microbial ancestors. Last fall, Brown was part of a different international team whose groundbreaking discovery was published in Nature, identifying a new organism, Solarion arienae, and establishing a new phylum and previously unrecognized eukaryotic supergroup. That work provided new insight into the earliest stages of complex life on Earth. |
| Widespread genetic exchange in disease-causing parasites revealed | |
| Mississippi State University biologist Matthew W. Brown is part of an international research team whose latest findings, published this spring in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, are reshaping scientific understanding of how parasitic organisms evolve and ultimately spread disease. Focusing on the protistan parasite Leishmania, a genus of trypanosomatids that is spread globally through insect bites, the study provides critical insight for developing more effective interventions and treatments of parasitical infections. "Understanding how these parasites exchange genetic material fundamentally changes how we think about their evolution and adaptability," Brown said. "This work shows these parasitic organisms readily exchange genetic material -- it's actually a dominant force shaping these organisms, with real implications for disease dynamics and control strategies worldwide." |
| Future of the Catch: the Modernization of Recreational Red Snapper Data Collection | |
| Red snapper is a cultural and economic cornerstone for coastal communities in the Gulf of America. The species is a massive driver for tourism and local commerce. For many in the Southeast, red snapper fishing is a multi-generational tradition, making it a flagship species for the world's largest recreational fishery. Effectively managing and preserving this vibrant species requires more than just accuracy, it demands a swift, responsive flow of data. In 2025, NOAA Fisheries and the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission announced seven new red snapper data improvement projects. On January 1, 2026, these projects began, marking the beginning of a collaborative, state-federal initiative to improve recreational fishing effort and discard data collection in the Gulf. To see this transformation in action, meet three of the partners redefining how we understand and protect the fishery. Mississippi State University is developing and fine-tuning the disCARD -- a novel, hybrid catch card. By combining traditional catch cards with modern AI-driven machine image recognition, the project aims to make reporting discards easy, fast, and reliable. |
| Small gardens can support pollinators with nectar, pollen | |
 | Gardeners who want to support pollinators do not need a complicated, elaborately planned landscape. "A container with blooming annuals on a porch, a small bed along a walkway or even a couple of hanging baskets can provide valuable nectar and pollen," said Eddie Smith, host of Mississippi State University Extension Service's Southern Gardening. "Plants like lantana, pentas, salvias and even herbs, when they are allowed to bloom, can turn a simple space into a pollinator stopover." Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, birds, bats, moths, wasps and other insects, play an essential role in ecosystems. According to the Xerces Society, they are responsible for transferring pollen on more than 85% of the world's flowering plants, which provide food for humans and wildlife. That statistic may sound overwhelming, but gardeners can make a significant impact in a small space by following a few simple guidelines. |
| Heavy rains offer relief from historic dry spell, burn bans | |
| Farmers and firefighters got a brief reprieve this week after nearly four inches of rain fell across the Golden Triangle, easing conditions during one of the driest starts to a year in more than a century. Still, the drought is far from over. Meteorologist and climatologist Andrew Mercer, a professor in Mississippi State University's Department of Geosciences, said the rainfall has provided some relief, but the state remains about seven inches below normal for this time of year. "Most of the water has been absorbed in the soil at this point, so we need a little bit more, but we're definitely better than we were," Mercer told The Dispatch on Friday. "... Just having the extra rainfall will probably help replenish some reservoirs and ... help with crop watering to not have to rely on irrigation. ... But we still have a ways to go because we're getting into the dry season." |
| Starkville eyes outdoor gyms at two parks by 2027 | |
| Residents who frequent McKee and J.L. King parks could see new outdoor gym areas constructed by January. But the city still needs at least an additional $330,000 to bring both sites to fruition. "There's enough activity already (at those parks) that people would support these kinds of things," Ward 2 Alderwoman Sandra Sistrunk told The Dispatch on Friday. "... People at J.L. King Park have asked for additional activities up there. "... Now it's just a question of, can we come up with the additional money?" she added. The city was awarded a $30,000 grant in April for the project from the National Fitness Campaign, a wellness consulting firm that partners with local municipalities across the country to build fitness areas, Sistrunk said during the board of aldermen work session Friday at City Hall. The board now has until Oct. 21 to find additional funding or forfeit the $30,000. The board placed approval of entering into the nonbinding agreement on its consent agenda for consideration during its Tuesday meeting at City Hall. |
| New CTE center expands student pathways, industry ties in Lauderdale County | |
 | With a ceremonial ribbon cutting Thursday, the Lauderdale County School District officially unveiled its long-awaited Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center -- a project leaders say represents a transformational investment in students, workforce development and the future of the local economy. Standing before a large crowd of educators, state officials, as well as business and industry leaders, Superintendent Dr. John-Mark Cain made clear the significance of the moment stretched far beyond the walls of the new facility. Cain credited a broad coalition of partners for bringing the vision to life, including the Lauderdale County Board of Education, the Mississippi Legislature, local officials and regional economic development groups. He offered special recognition to Mississippi House Speaker Jason White, whose leadership he said helped push the project across the finish line. The superintendent also highlighted collaboration with higher education institutions such as Meridian Community College, East Mississippi Community College and Mississippi State University -- partnerships visible throughout the building |
| New Neshoba County Fair historical marker unveiled | |
| A new historical marker recognizing the Neshoba County Fair was unveiled Friday morning at the intersection of Highway 15 and Highway 21 South. The new marker replaces the original, which dates back to 1952 and stood in the area for decades. The original marker has been preserved and relocated to the Fairgrounds, where it is now on display near the Exhibit Hall. Fair Association president C. Scott Bounds thanked the Mississippi Department of Archives and History for assisting with the new marker's wording and production and supporting other historical efforts at the Fairgrounds. "They have been an invaluable friend of the Fair," Bounds said. Sarah Campbell, director of programs and communications for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and Caleb Ellison, program manager for the department, were in attendance and officially recognized the Fair's history. |
| Trump pushes Mississippi to redraw congressional districts after Supreme Court ruling. But legal and political hurdles loom | |
| President Donald Trump is urging Mississippi officials to redraw the state's four congressional districts as part of his national push for Republican states to flip Democratic districts to the GOP before this year's federal midterm elections, several state and federal officials familiar with the communication told Mississippi Today. But there would be significant hurdles in the Magnolia State, and it's unclear if the state's Republican leaders are on board with the plan. Mississippi has already conducted primary elections for congressional races, so to redraw the districts, state lawmakers and the governor would need to invalidate the primary elections. Erasing primary results would be unprecedented, and it's unclear if that action would survive a legal challenge. It's also unclear if Mississippi's three incumbent Republican congressmen would be on board with having to run again in new primaries, a costly endeavor. Also, further gerrymandering in the state with the highest Black population might backfire on Republicans and make Democrats more competitive. |
| Alabama, Tennessee governors call for special sessions on redistricting | |
 | More states on Friday began planning special sessions next week to revisit their congressional maps as they consider the fallout from a Supreme Court ruling this week limiting the Voting Rights Act. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee joined Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey in announcing a special session as states race to respond to the court ruling as they prepare for this year's midterm elections. "We owe it to Tennesseans to ensure our congressional districts accurately reflect the will of Tennessee voters," Lee said in a statement. The Tennessee special session is set to begin Tuesday. The GOP holds eight of the states' nine House seats, but since Wednesday's Supreme Court decision, state Republicans have been calling for a new map that would give their party a chance to flip the Memphis-based 9th District. Ivey, a Republican, on Friday said she was hopeful the state would "receive a favorable outcome" from the Supreme Court, which could weigh in on legal challenges to Alabama's congressional map after the justices invalidated Louisiana's map earlier this week. On Thursday, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry postponed his state's May 16 primaries for the House in light of the decision. |
| Gov. Reeves delays Jackson water board appointments after injunction | |
 | Republican Gov. Tate Reeves postponed naming his three appointments to the Metro Jackson Water Authority Board on Friday, May 1, a day after a federal judge temporarily blocked the new Mississippi law from taking effect. Reeves made an announcement in a detailed social media post at 3:43 p.m. Friday, saying he was holding off appointments out of respect for and due to the court's entry of a "status quo" injunction. "The State will continue to work with the Court to ensure that when the receivership is terminated, control of the water system will be transferred to an entity that can best serve the residents, state offices and businesses of Jackson," Reeves wrote. Reeve's statement comes one day after U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate ordered Thursday, April 30, to temporarily block House Bill 1677, which creates the Metro Jackson Water Authority. |
| In Mississippi, a Democrat Challenges the Senator Who Blocked His Judgeship | |
 | Three years ago, Scott Colom, a state prosecutor in Mississippi, was on a bipartisan glide path to a lifetime appointment to a federal judgeship when his nomination was blocked by a single Republican senator. Now Mr. Colom, a Democrat, is seeking to unseat that senator, Cindy Hyde-Smith, in a long-shot challenge to the incumbent in a deeply conservative state. The race is far from the center stage in the developing battle for control of the Senate, considering that Mississippi has not elected a Democratic senator since 1982, as the era of Southern segregationist Democrats came to a close. But the history between the two candidates adds a unique twist to a contest that would not even be taking place had Ms. Hyde-Smith not upended Mr. Colom's nomination by President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to a district court seat. "It is fair to say that I would not have resigned from the federal bench to run for Senate," Mr. Colom, who is Black and who has been elected three times as the prosecutor for a four-county district in northeast Mississippi, said in an interview. |
| South Mississippi man accused of dozens of death threats against Sen. Wicker, his family | |
 | A Mississippi Coast man arrested on a federal charge is accused of threatening to kill U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker and his family in voicemails left at the senator's Washington, D.C., office, according to a federal criminal complaint. The defendant, identified as Jason Allen, a resident of the Hurley community in Jackson County, also is accused of threatening to blow up Tupelo First Baptist Church and burn down Wicker's Washington office. According to FBI agent Jason Dufault, Allen made more than 100 calls to Wicker's office between April 13 and April 21, leaving profanity-laced voicemails that escalated to threats against Wicker's children and other relatives. Federal agents arrested Allen on a criminal complaint charging him with using a communication system -- in this case, a phone -- to transmit threats to harm or injure someone across state lines. Allen is being held without bond pending a preliminary detention hearing in federal court in Gulfport. |
| US claims progress in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, saying 2 merchant ships have transited | |
 | The U.S. military said Monday that two American-flagged merchant ships had successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz after it launched a new plan to restore traffic. Iran has effectively closed the critical waterway since the U.S. and Israel launched the war in late February. U.S. President Donald Trump's new initiative to break Iran's chokehold has escalated the standoff. The U.S. military denied Iran's claims that it had struck an American Navy vessel. The United Arab Emirates meanwhile issued its first missile alert since a ceasefire reached in early April and accused Iran of targeting an oil tanker. Iran's effective closure of the strait has caused a spike in worldwide fuel prices and rattled the global economy. As part of Trump's latest effort to reopen it, the U.S.-led Joint Maritime Information Center advised ships to cross the strait in Oman's waters, saying it set up an "enhanced security area." It was unclear whether shipping companies, and their insurers, will feel comfortable taking the risk given that Iran has fired on ships in the waterway and vowed to keep doing so. Hundreds of ships have been bottled up in the Persian Gulf for weeks. |
| Democratic leaders want an affordability debate on AI. Critics say they're ducking the real fight. | |
 | House Democrats are heading into the midterms with a pocketbook-focused message on artificial intelligence -- one narrowly centered on the energy costs of data centers, but far milder than the populist outcry against Big Tech that is stymieing AI projects across the country. The theme that party leaders are settling on -- articulated by multiple House Democrats who spoke to POLITICO -- meshes with Democrats' wider attacks on soaring fuel prices and other affordability flashpoints of the second Trump era. It also avoids a direct collision between Democrats and the AI industry, which has amassed hundreds of millions of dollars it could spend on this year's elections. The thrust of the message: The U.S. needs to win the race to dominate AI. But ordinary Americans shouldn't bear the burden of supplying data centers' voracious energy needs. But critics say it risks placing Democrats out of step with growing public alarm about AI's potential to wipe out jobs, eradicate privacy and possibly even endanger humanity. Those fears have prompted some progressives to call for a temporary ban on building data centers, along with an expanded social safety net to combat potential job loss. |
| Civil Rights Movement will be focus of new Mississippi Archives and History research fellows | |
| The Mississippi Department of Archives and History recently announced its two newest research fellows whose primary work will center on the Civil Rights Movement. Christina J. Thomas is the inaugural Robert "Bob" Moses Civil Rights Research Fellow. Named after the late Civil Rights activist, the fellowship is intended to support early-career scholars and foster public and academic appreciation for Civil Rights history and the human rights struggle. This year's Religion in Mississippi History Research Fellow, Zachary Clary, will investigate how religion and morality shaped how African Americans viewed the violence and subjugation of the Civil Rights era. "The archival materials in Jackson will be a tremendous help to the development of my dissertation project on martyrdom and sacrifice in the American Civil Rights Movement," he said in the press release. Both winners will conduct their research over the summer using materials from MDAH's archives. |
| Post Malone, Jelly Roll concert at Ole Miss included in stadium tour cancellations | |
| Post Malone and Jelly Roll will not be performing at Ole Miss this year. The two hit artists were originally set to take the main stage at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on June 5 as part of The Big Ass Stadium Tour Part 2. The Oxford show is the latest to be axed by Post Malone, who notably canceled college town performances at Baylor, LSU, and UTEP. As for the cancellations, Post Malone said he needed more time to finish his latest project. The "Congratulations" and "Sunflower" singer added that he is not quite ready to go on tour and needed just under a month to finish making new music. However, some of his upcoming shows seemingly struggled to sell tickets, with promoters offering discounts and other incentives to entice the masses to attend. The Ole Miss Athletics ticket office notified ticketholders via email that refunds would be delivered in the next 14 days and that fares ranging from admission, parking, fees, order changes, and VIP packages would be reimbursed. |
| Mississippi advocates work to empower the autism community through action | |
 | A 2024 study from the National Survey of Children's Health reports that about 13,000 children ages 3 to 17 in Mississippi are living with autism. Dr. Gabrielle Banks, a licensed clinical psychologist at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, said decades of research show autism has complex causes. She added studies have found no link to vaccines or Tylenol. "I think one of the things I think we can be glad about in this generation or in this day and age is that there is more awareness of the fact that people can be different and can still have a lot to offer," said Banks. Banks said families may struggle after a diagnosis but often find ways to support their child. She said communities should be more supportive and responsive to families' needs. "We should recognize that children with autism may have a harder time regulating their emotions, but they may have a harder time internalizing or receiving sensory stimuli from their environment," Banks said. |
| JSU twins honor late father, earn master's in speech-language pathology | |
| Twin sisters Ebonee and Ebonea' Harrison, 28, earned their master's degrees in speech-language pathology and audiology from Jackson State University, accomplishing yet another major milestone together. The St. James Parish, Louisiana, natives graduated on Friday, May 1, celebrating sisterhood and stepping into a career they chose in honor of their late father. Prior to their birth, their father endured a tragic collision with a train that left him in a week-long coma, paralyzed on one side of his body, and unable to speak due to a traumatic brain injury. Sadly, as they approached their 16th birthday, the girls and their father were caught in a devastating car accident with a drunk driver that ultimately took his life. Growing up, the twins' mom would play home videos and share stories about their dad's recovery and how physical therapy and a speech pathologist were instrumental in restoring his mobility and voice back to "normal." |
| JSU chemistry major makes history, earning university's first Barry Goldwater Scholarship | |
| A Jackson State University chemistry major is the school's first recipient of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship. Of more than 5,000 applicants nationwide, Mia Robinson was selected for the distinguished award. She is from a family of JSU graduates. "Even if it feels daunting or intimidating, don't let it stop you," said Robinson. That drive earned Robinson the coveted Goldwater Scholarship. She is the university's first recipient of the prestigious award. Since starting college, the 21-year-old has been conducting research in meteorology, a passion since childhood. "I would sneak outside to play in the rain when it was thundering, when there were hurricanes, floods, all that stuff. I would sneak outside just to experience that," Robinson said. She credits Dr. Pamala Heard for help with the nomination process. |
| Pair of Millsaps students win national award only handed out to 6 U.S. undergraduates | |
| A national honor that only goes to six undergraduates each year has been awarded to two Millsaps College students -- or one-third of all honorees across the country. The liberal arts college in Jackson announced Friday that seniors Elyse Warren and Olivia Danos were named National Leaders of the Year by Omicron Delta Kappa, one of the nation's oldest and most selective leadership honor societies. Warren, from Memphis, Tenn., was named Gen. Russell E. Dougherty National Leader of the Year, the society's highest undergraduate leadership honor. Danos, from Houston, Texas, was named National Leader of the Year in Athletics for her roles both on and off the volleyball court. Both Warren and Danos serve as officers of the Omicron Delta Kappa Circle at Millsaps, with Warren serving as president and Danos as secretary. "These awards are among the most competitive recognitions within Omicron Delta Kappa," said Megan James, vice president of student life, dean of students, and Omicron Delta Kappa advisor at Millsaps. |
| Cornell President Hits Protesters With Car at Low Speed | |
 | Cornell University president Michael Kotlikoff struck a student and recent graduate with his car Thursday night in what he described as an incident of harassment and intimidation against him. The low-speed incident, which did not yield any serious injuries, according to The Cornell Sun, happened after an Israel-Palestine debate on campus where Kotlikoff offered introductory remarks. As Kotlikoff left the event, he was followed by protesters. Videos obtained by the student newspaper show several people following Kotlikoff to his car and asking him about speech and disciplinary policies. After Kotlikoff entered his car, he backed into the individuals behind it. Although he accused protesters of banging on his car, that is not seen in videos published by the newspaper. In a message following the incident Kotlikoff condemned the actions of the protesters. |
| Higher Ed's New Crisis Managers | |
 | If your college isn't already feeling financial strain, it probably will be soon. The wealthiest and most-selective institutions may be insulated from the worst financial turbulence, but many colleges that must compete for a limited number of traditional-age students are falling short of enrollment and revenue goals. A cadre of college-finance experts have come to specialize in parachuting into struggling institutions to stop the bleeding. Those experts are busier than ever. Interim chief financial officers can be a godsend for an institution drowning in red ink, says Charles M. Ambrose, a senior education consultant at Husch Blackwell Consulting, a company that works with colleges, and a former college president. An interim chief financial officer can come in and take stock of the situation unbeholden to the institution and without worrying about protecting their jobs for the long term, he says. They can break bad operational habits and get an ailing college on the mend. "Certain interim CFOs can come in and translate prior experience to current needs," Ambrose says, "as if they've never missed a beat." |
| These Are the Hiring Hot Spots Where College Grads Are Landing Good Jobs | |
 | A string of cities across America's Sunbelt are emerging as graduate-hiring hot spots in an otherwise challenging job market for young professionals, an exclusive analysis shows. Birmingham, Ala., tops the list of the places where newly minted graduates are landing jobs with a college-level career track, followed by Tampa, Fla., according to the new study by payroll processor ADP. In fact, six of the list's top 10 -- including Raleigh, N.C.; Tulsa, Okla.; Nashville, Tenn.; and Charlotte, N.C. -- are in the South. Other pockets of the country also punch above their weight as early-career launchpads for their mix of 20-something hiring, pay and affordability. Columbus, Ohio, and California's San Jose area unexpectedly got top scores this year -- evidence that even places with so-so earning potential or high costs of living can be prime locations for landing that first job postgraduation. Altogether, the ADP analysis -- which measured 53 of the country's biggest metro areas -- shows that what looks like a nascent recovery in graduate hiring is happening unevenly. |
| Higher Ed's Enrollment Cliff Is Here. Now Meet the Graduate Glut. | |
| Hello, demographic cliff: The decline in 18-year-old Americans, anticipated since birth rates dropped sharply during the Great Recession, is now here. The population contraction, forecast to stretch for the next decade and a half, could lead to institutional belt-tightening and a surge in college closures as competition heats up for a smaller pool of students. It's not the only troubling trend line for higher education: Unemployment among young college-educated workers, already unsettlingly high, is on the rise. Artificial intelligence has received much of the blame for the hiring slowdown, but economists suggest something more basic may be at play -- the number of college graduates is outpacing the supply of jobs that require a bachelor's degree. Whoa, wait -- not enough students and too many graduates? How can both things possibly be true? Each thesis is supported by data. On one side, there's demographic math. "The birth rate has been set in stone for almost 20 years," said Patrick Lane, vice president for policy analysis and research at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, or WICHE. |
| 'Vulnerable' Medical Schools Caught in MAGA's Crosshairs | |
| When the Department of Justice demanded years of admissions data to identify possible racial discrimination at three top medical schools in late March, one official called the federal government's latest efforts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education "another day in paradise." But experts say those and other moves by the second Trump administration to assert control over the nation's medical education system -- including terminating billions in grants and coercing changes to accreditation and curricular standards -- have felt more like an inferno fueled by growing public mistrust of scientists and doctors in the aftermath of the pandemic. "I'm not aware of there ever being such a wholesale attack on medical schools," said David Seres, retired director of medical nutrition and professor of medicine in the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University Medical Center. "Funding from the government is often impacted by politics, and it's not as if medical schools have always been immune. But [the Trump administration's actions] are so out of proportion to any of that impact. This has been an overt, politicized attempt to reshape medicine by people who are not experts in medicine." |
| Why GSA's anti-DEI certification is raising alarm in higher education | |
| The U.S. General Services Administration is the latest federal agency to take direct aim at diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, proposing in January that all federal funding recipients -- including colleges and universities -- certify their compliance with the administration's DEI-related executive orders and guidance. The certification language lists potential violations as awarding race-based scholarships and using "overcoming obstacles" narratives or diversity statements in hiring. Failure to sign the certification or comply with its requirements could lead to severe penalties, including the loss of all federal funding. As a result, a host of higher ed groups have urged GSA to rescind the proposal. If finalized in its current form, however, the GSA plan is likely to draw legal challenges. Institutions that didn't comply with GSA's certification requirement could risk expensive legal battles to defend their position, said Beth Akers, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. |
| The Path to Student Loan Forgiveness Is Narrowing | |
| It is getting harder for Americans to free themselves of their student loans. The Trump administration is revamping the federal student-loan program, pushing borrowers into plans that might require bigger monthly payments or take longer to be discharged. Those who do have their loans forgiven could now face a tax bill. The changes mark a turnaround from recent years, when the gates of student-loan forgiveness were flung open under the Biden administration. Starting in July, the Education Department will be able to deny the public loan forgiveness status of previously qualifying employers who engage in activity the department considers illegal, with reasons including the harboring of people living in the country unlawfully. As SAVE ends, a new repayment plan called the Repayment Assistance Plan, or RAP, is being introduced. |
| There are more timely topics than civil discourse | |
 | Columnist Bill Crawford writes: Civil discourse? What? Let's talk about controversies – the Iran war, immigration, the farm bill, spying on Americans, etc. Those are more dynamic and timely topics, right? But I found myself Tuesday night at Millsaps College listening to President Dr. Frank Neville and Assistant Professor of Government and Politics Dr. Eric Schmidt hold forth on "Major Topics: Reflections on the American Experiment at 250 Years of Age." This year, we do celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation's independence. Yes, we probably ought to pay attention to our history during a year like this. So, okay, I went. The two formed a distinctive duo – Neville, the former professional diplomat, Schmidt the scholarly researcher. |
| Even with Callais voting rights decision, eliminating Rep. Bennie Thompson's district could be difficult | |
| Mississippi Today's Bobby Harrison writes: State Auditor Shad White and other Republican politicians gleefully boasted on social media that last week's U.S. Supreme Court decision in Louisiana vs. Callais could lead to the redrawing of Mississippi's four U.S. House districts to eliminate the seat long held by Rep. Bennie Thompson. Thompson, the state's only Black member of Congress and only Democrat, is often the target of disdain for Mississippi Republicans. That disdain has intensified since Thompson led the congressional investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the nation's Capitol and the attempt to stop a legal transfer of federal executive power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden. "Will the district gerrymandered to protect Jan. 6th Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson soon come to an end?" White asked on social media. It is a brave new world where often the courts seem to be saying anything goes. Still, it does not seem feasible that the Mississippi Legislature, despite White's obvious obsession, could redraw districts to eliminate Thompson's seat before the November general election. |
SPORTS
| Men's Tennis: Bulldogs Roll Past Wisconsin, Punch Super Regional Ticket in Dominant Sweep | |
| No. 6 Mississippi State punched its ticket to the NCAA Super Regionals with a 4-0 sweep of Wisconsin at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. The Bulldogs, now 40-30 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, set the tone early by securing the doubles point. The pair of Mario Martinez Serrano and Niccolo Baroni earned a 6-3 win on Court 2 before Bryan Hernandez Cortes and Petar Jovanovic clinched the point with a 6-4 victory on Court 3. In singles play, Mississippi State wasted little time building separation. Bryan Hernandez Cortes extended his career-best winning streak to 11 matches with a straight-sets win on Court 6, while Benito Sanchez Martinez followed with a commanding 6-3, 6-0 victory on Court 1 to put the Bulldogs firmly in control. Mario Martinez Serrano delivered the deciding point on Court 4, notching his eighth dual-match clinch of the season with a 6-1, 6-4 win to seal the sweep. |
| Women's Golf: Avery Weed Named First Team All-SEC | |
| Mississippi State's Avery Weed earned First Team All-SEC honors, the Southeastern Conference announced on Friday. Weed, a junior from Ocean Springs, has earned an SEC honor in each of her first three seasons. She was named to the All-Freshman team in her first season and earned second team honors last season. She continues a five-year streak of at least one Bulldog earning all-conference honors. Weed has finished in the top 20 in seven of nine State's stroke play events and finished in the top five on five different occasions. She's shot a team-leading 70.22 scoring average this season, which would be the second-best single season scoring average in program history. Weed has etched her name in almost every category of the Mississippi State record book. Weed and the Bulldogs will continue their postseason journey in the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional, which kicks off on Monday, May 11. |
| MSU adds two forwards from transfer portal to bolster roster | |
| Mississippi State's men's basketball team added two new forwards to the team via the transfer portal this week -- one from Washington State and one from Florida State. Head coach Chris Jans and the Bulldogs got the recruiting ball rolling with the signing of former Cougar ND Okafor Thursday. Okafor previously committed to play at Ole Miss before flipping over to MSU, according to multiple reports. Okafor, a 6-foot-10 junior is a Lagos, Nigeria, native who found his way playing for the Irish National team in 2019 before spending two years in the NBA Academy of Latin America. He started his college career at California in 2022 and missed the majority of the 2023 season due to a leg injury. He transferred to Washington State and came off the bench for the 2024-2025 season and averaged 5.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks a game. The Bulldogs also landed the commitment of Thomas Bassong on Friday. Bassong, a 6-foot-8 native of Paris, France, joins MSU after spending his freshman season with the Seminoles. He made 17 starts and averaged 5.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and swatted 13 shots. |
| Big Ten distributes $1.37B in revenue for 2024-25 fiscal year | |
| The Big Ten Conference distributed a record $1.37 billion to its 18 members in the 2024-25 fiscal year, an increase of nearly $500 million. The league announced its most recent revenue numbers Friday for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, up from $883 million in the previous fiscal year. The Big Ten's 55% increase was fueled in part by its first full year as an 18-member conference after the additions of Oregon and Washington. The league also gained more revenue through its success in the first 12-team College Football Playoff, won by Ohio State following the 2024 season. Sixteen of the Big Ten's member schools are fully vested but received different revenue payouts because of CFP participation and other factors. In February, the SEC announced it had distributed more than $1 billion to its 16 members for fiscal year 2024-25, an increase of $200 million, and averaged $72.4 million per school. |
| Big Ten miffed about Duke's landmark Amazon deal to broadcast Madison Square Garden game against Michigan | |
| A broadcast dispute is emerging in Duke's landmark, three-game streaming package with Amazon. The Big Ten has notified the ACC and ESPN that it owns the rights of the announced neutral-site basketball game between Duke and Michigan next season from Madison Square Garden, scheduled for streaming on Amazon. Duke collaborated with the ACC and television partner ESPN to strike the first-of-its-kind arrangement, agreeing to future scheduling commitments in exchange for the three games: against Michigan on Dec. 21 in New York, UConn on Nov. 25 in Las Vegas and Gonzaga on Feb. 20 in Detroit. However, there's a disagreement on which broadcaster owns one of those matchups. The Big Ten, backed by its primary broadcast rights holder, Fox, has communicated with both the ACC and ESPN about the matter. The league believes it owns the broadcast rights as part of a rights-holder agreement between the conferences. |
| PGA Tour warms back up to Trump after long freeze | |
 | The PGA Tour returned to President Trump's golf resort in Doral, Fla., over the weekend, ending a decade-long absence and signaling a new era of warmer relations between the president's sprawling resort business and the world's most popular golf league. The tournament came as LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed and Trump-allied rival tour, appears on the verge of folding. But the Trump-PGA Tour thaw was already well underway. "The PGA [Tour] executives are fairly savvy, right?" Kevin Van Valkenburg, the director of content at Fried Egg Golf, told The Hill. "So they're going to, over time, read the tea leaves and say, 'Well, this person is a powerful, influential person in the world of golf. Maybe we're better off making nice with him than we would be, being in conflict with him." But this iteration of the Cadillac Classic also marked a homecoming. It was the 56th time the event was held at the Blue Monster course at Trump National Doral, featuring seven of the top 10 players in the Official World Golf Ranking as part of its 72-man field. |
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