| Friday, May 31, 2019 |
| City of Starkville gearing up for a busy weekend | |
 | The regular season is over, but there's still one more high stakes weekend series at Dudy Noble Field. Mississippi State is hosting the NCAA regional baseball tournament, and Starkville is playing host to fans from across the country. And the city is getting ready to greet the crowds. "We just spend the time the week before really preparing to roll out the red carpet for all of our visitors making sure that our restaurants and our hotels are ready to be at capacity and prepared so they can people can navigate the city while they're here," said Greater Starkville Development Partnership interim president Jennifer Prather. With an expected increase in customers, some stores are treating the weekend like a warm-up for fall. "Definitely feels like fall you know the out-of-state and out of town customers so we really just get to prepare for that and get ready for the busy season," said Deep South Pout marketing director Olivia Chatham. |
| Tiny bull calf named Lil' Bill dies at Mississippi State veterinary school | |
 | Mississippi State University says a tiny bull calf named Lil' Bill has died of an infection after nearly seven months at the university's veterinary school. The prematurely born calf was brought to the vet school in early November, and weighed only 7 pounds 9 ounces (3.4 kilograms) -- about one-sixth to one-tenth the weight of an average newborn calf. A photo taken in March shows the calf in low grass that reaches his belly. A news release on Tuesday said the tiny bull died Monday. It quoted veterinarian Gretchen Grissett as saying his immature digestive system and lungs contributed to his death. |
| Northsiders cautioned against bugs | |
 | From West Nile to Zika Virus, a new bug-transmitted illness seems to make its way to Mississippi every few years. Instead of worrying about what could be, though, at least one insect expert says Northsiders have enough home-grown infectious diseases to worry about. "People certainly pay attention to something new. But people need to pay attention to the stuff that's here." said Jerome Goddard, professor of medical and veterinary entomology with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. "There's stuff here that can kill you," He said residents shouldn't worry only about mosquitoes, but ticks, an oft-forgotten but equally dangerous bloodsucker. Between five and 50 cases of "Lyme-like illness are reported to the Mississippi Department of Health every year, although cases are almost never confirmed," according to Mississippi State University Extension. |
| Starkville voters OK one percent tax increase | |
 | Starkville will implement a new one percent addition to its tourism taxes after voters overwhelmingly approved it in Thursday's special election. Nearly 74 percent of voters in Thursday's election voted in favor of the tax, which passed with 1,689 votes for and 600 votes against. City Clerk Lisa Hardin said the city will review about 20 affidavit ballots Friday morning. The city has sought to implement the tax, which will add one percent to its restaurant and hotel/motel taxes, to fund the construction of Cornerstone Park. The park, which is planned to be a tournament ready facility with a focus on baseball and softball, is expected to cost $20-plus million. It will be built southwest of the Highway 12-25 intersection in west Starkville. In Ward 5, Hamp Beatty won election to the board of aldermen outright over his two competitors. Beatty was one of three candidates, along with John Michael VanHorn and Kayla Gilmore, seeking election to follow former alderman Patrick Miller. Miller, elected in 2017, resigned in April to take a job on the Coast. |
| Increase to city's hotel, restaurant and beverage tax passes with 74% of the vote | |
 | Starkville voters approved a 1% addition to the city's current food, beverage and lodging tax on Thursday to support the construction of Cornerstone Park along with other related improvements to Starkville parks. The referendum was held Thursday, and 60% of the votes were needed in favor for the measure to pass. The facility will cost between $18 million and $22 million to build, and will house several tournament quality ball fields. It will be located on the Cornerstone property on the west side of town. Changes are also planned for other Starkville parks, including removing baseball fields from McKee Park, and turning it into a more family focused park, and adding more soccer fields to the Starkville Sportsplex. In total, 74% voted in favor, with 2,284 total votes cast, not including affidavits. Approximately 17% of Starkville's 13,338-strong electorate participated in the election. The 1% will be added to an existing 2% tax. |
| Long-serving U.S. Senator Thad Cochran remembered for decency, wit | |
 | Thad Cochran, the long-serving Mississippi congressman who died on Thursday, is being remembered for his service to his country and the state. Following the announcement of his death, tributes poured in from colleagues and friends. "I was blessed to have the honor of working with Senator Cochran for nearly 18 years in Washington, DC, including 10 years as his chief of staff. I am grateful for our time together and for his service to our state and nation. He was truly a statesman and a man of the highest integrity. He provided extraordinary leadership and walked with giants, yet remained humble and true to his Mississippi roots. Senator Cochran had a tremendous influence on my life. He taught me how to respect people, how to listen, how to make decisions based on facts and then to move forward. My wife Rhonda and I extend our deepest sympathies to the family during this difficult time," said Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum. |
| Sen. Thad Cochran passes away | |
 | U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, who represented Mississippi in Congress for more than 45 years, passed away peacefully early Thursday morning in Oxford. Cochran was remembered by numerous people in public statements, including Commissioner of Higher Education Alfred Rankins, Jr.: "The passing of Senator Thad Cochran is a great loss to our state and our nation. He was a statesman, a gentleman, and a servant leader. He understood the importance of higher education and was a staunch supporter of the university system in his home state. We are forever grateful for this support, which has left an indelible imprint on our universities, the academic experiences our students enjoy, and the research capabilities that seek to improve the lives of Mississippians on many fronts." And Mississippi State University President Dr. Mark E. Keenum: "I was blessed to have the honor of working with Senator Cochran for nearly 18 years in Washington, DC, including 10 years as his chief of staff. I am grateful for our time together and for his service to our state and nation. He was truly a statesman and a man of the highest integrity. He provided extraordinary leadership and walked with giants, yet remained humble and true to his Mississippi roots." |
| Former U.S. Senator Thad Cochran passes away | |
| U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), who represented Mississippi in Congress for more than 45 years, passed away early Thursday morning in Oxford. Cochran resigned from the Senate in April 2018 due to health concerns. Several Mississippi leaders have since released statements regarding Cochran's passing, including Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum: "I was blessed to have the honor of working with Senator Cochran for nearly 18 years in Washington, DC, including 10 years as his chief of staff. I am grateful for our time together and for his service to our state and nation. He was truly a statesman and a man of the highest integrity. He provided extraordinary leadership and walked with giants, yet remained humble and true to his Mississippi roots. Senator Cochran had a tremendous influence on my life. He taught me how to respect people, how to listen, how to make decisions based on facts and then to move forward. My wife Rhonda and I extend our deepest sympathies to the family during this difficult time." |
| Reaction to passing of former U.S. Senator Thad Cochran | |
 | Former U.S. Senator, and Pontotoc native, Thad Cochran died Thursday morning in Oxford. Here was the reaction across social media: Mourning the passing of my friend and former Sen. Thad Cochran, shown with former chief of staff and current MSU President Mark Keenum, whose career he influenced in a major way. Mutual respect and integrity were hallmarks of their professional and personal relationships. pic.twitter.com/JwQslJ5pYj --- Sid Salter (@sidsalter) May 30, 2019 |
| Cochran remembered as 'a great statesman' | |
| Local officials expressed sadness and condolences over the death of former U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, who died Thursday at the age of 81 in Oxford. "We have truly lost a gentleman and a scholar," Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said. "One of the most respected congressional persons who served in my lifetime. My condolences, and I call on all of Vicksburg, to be in prayer with his family and many, many friends." "It's a sad day for Mississippi," State Sen. Briggs Hopson said. "Thad was special guy and he was an outstanding statesman who represented our state so remarkably well in the U.S. Senate." He said hearing the news of Cochran's death "was sad personally. He was a dear friend of my father's. I knew him, and it's a loss personally and a huge loss for the state of Mississippi." |
| Remembering Thad Cochran's legacy and impact on Mississippi | |
| Senator Thad Cochran's legacy and impact on his home state of Mississippi is being remembered today. Cochran died early Thursday morning in Oxford. He was 81. Then-Congressman Gregg Harper was alongside Cochran for much of his 2014 re-election campaign. "What a gentleman, a statesman," said Harper. "I'm going to miss him so much. I can't think of anybody that encouraged me more or helped me in small ways over the years and really just inspired not just me but countless others to get involved in politics." Those who knew and worked with him will tell you he was known as the "Quiet Persuader." "He was as comfortable walking among the cabins at the Neshoba County Fair as he was walking into the Oval Office," explained Governor Phil Bryant. "And he was just a kind gentle soul. But I think people need to understand that that gentleness did not mean there was a weakness about him. He was as strong and determined when he set his mind to something than anyone I've ever known." |
| Former U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran passes away at age 81 | |
| A political trailblazer, a shrewd wrangler of the federal budget and a politician famed more for quiet determination than bombast, Mississippi's Thad Cochran died Thursday at the State Veterans Home in Oxford at age 81 after spending more than half his life representing Mississippi in both chambers of the U.S. Congress. "People would ask, 'Why don't I hear Sen. Cochran in the media?'" said Bennett Mize, a Tupelo native who worked as a legislative aide in Cochran's office during the last decade of the senator's career. Mize recalls that once someone questioned Cochran directly about his lack of television appearances. In response, Cochran pointed to a nearby screen that showed a feed of the Senate floor. "You'll see me on that TV," Cochran said, to Mize's recollection. That response, short and to the point, captures Cochran's approach to public services, as Mize saw it. "He truly thought he was doing more for Mississippi by being in committee markups and appropriation rooms working for Mississippi than being on TV," Mize said. |
| What family, friends and officials are saying about Thad Cochran, a 'giant' of the Senate | |
 | They called him a "giant" of the U.S. Senate, a "tireless champion" for Mississippians and a "true statesman." Former longtime Sen. Thad Cochran died Thursday morning, and the outpouring of affection and gratitude for the 81-year-old was swift. He served in Congress for 45 years, mostly in the Senate, before resigning in April 2018 due to health issues. Cochran died in his sleep at the State Veterans Home in Oxford, his former Chief of Staff Brad White said. He had stayed at the home for several months. Connie Cochran, Thad Cochran's sister-in-law, told the Clarion Ledger she remembers the man as far more than a quiet politician with an outsize influence on his home state. He was a joy to be around, she said. "There were no airs about him," said Connie Cochran, a retired Hinds County elections commissioner. "He didn't think he was any different than anyone else. He is someone you could easily talk to." She said Cochran had increasingly struggled with several health issues as he aged, and "is in a better place." |
| Mississippi loses former U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, who died quietly after a life of leadership | |
 | Mississippi is mourning the death Thursday morning in Oxford of former U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, who will be remembered as a statesman and leader quick to give credit while rarely claiming any for himself, although year after year he steered home federal dollars and resources. Cochran served 45 years in Washington, joining the House of Representatives in 1973 and the U.S. Senate after winning election in 1978. The 81-year-old never lost a general election. He ushered in an era of Republican dominance in Mississippi, becoming the first from the party to win a statewide election in more than 100 years. Cochran was at the height of his power when Hurricane Katrina devastated Mississippi and New Orleans. As chairman of appropriations, he helped secure $87 billion in Hurricane Katrina relief for Gulf states, including a bailout of Mississippi homeowers without flood insurance. |
| Wicker lauds Cochran's legislative acumen | |
| They weren't quite born in the same hospital room, but it made a good story all the same, at least for a while. Republicans Roger Wicker and Thad Cochran served together as Mississippi's two U.S. senators for a little over a decade, from the very end of 2007 when Wicker took office until April 2018 when Cochran resigned his seat. But it was not Washington that bound the two men together. The relationship between them goes back much further. It began, in a certain fashion, in a rural Northeast Mississippi town. In a strange crossing of political and geographic paths, Wicker and Cochran were both born far from Mississippi's centers of power in the small town of Pontotoc, Cochran in 1937 and Wicker in 1951. t was, of course, nothing other than politics that brought the two men finally together. "I campaigned door to door for 34-year-old Thad Cochran in 1972 when I was a student at Ole Miss and he was running for Congress for the first time," Wicker said. "I have been a personal friend of his since that time." |
| Former Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran dies at 81 | |
 | Former Sen. Thad Cochran died on Thursday morning in Oxford, Miss., according to a statement from his longtime spokesman. He was 81. Cochran served as the Senate Appropriations Committee chairman, most recently from 2015 until April of 2018, and helped direct millions of dollars to his home state in his 45 years in Congress. He stepped down last spring as his health deteriorated. The GOP senator was a throwback from a more genteel era of American politics, rarely engaging the brutal fights and pitched partisanship of today's modern-day Senate. In his farewell speech last year, Cochran reminisced of serving in Congress "with nine presidents during times of conflict and peace." "We have engaged in heated arguments. But even in full disagreement, I believe all our motivations begin at the same point: the sincere desire to serve our states and country," he said then. "Thad Cochran was a giant in the United States Senate and one of the greatest champions Mississippi has ever known," said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), who served alongside Cochran. |
| Thad Cochran, Long-Serving Mississippi Senator, Dies At 81 | |
 | Thad Cochran, the Republican senator from Mississippi who served for some four decades, has died at the age of 81, his successor, Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, said on Thursday. Cochran used his considerable influence, especially while serving as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, to direct billions of dollars to Mississippi. "Mississippi has suffered a tremendous loss today," Hyde-Smith, a fellow Republican, said in a statement. "He treated everyone with distinction, and had a caring and concerned heart for the constituents and the state he so dearly loved." Before he was elected to the Senate, Cochran also served three terms in the House of Representatives. He was nicknamed "Gentleman Thad" and known for playing the piano in his office. "One of my most cherished moments, which I will hold in my heart forever, is playing God Bless America on the piano while he sang it in his Senate office on his last day there," said Hyde-Smith. |
| Thad Cochran: A life in photos | |
 | Former Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran died Thursday at the age of 81. The mannerly former chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee -- where he was a dependable provider for his home state -- spent more than four decades in Congress. Cochran retired from the Senate in April 2018 after dealing with health issues. The longtime Republican lawmaker began his congressional career in the House, winning election to Mississippi's old 4th District in 1972. After three terms, he ran and won a race for Senate in 1978, becoming the first Republican to win statewide office in the Magnolia State since Reconstruction. Here are a few photos from the late senator's years in Washington, as captured by CQ Roll Call's photographers. |
| Flags at half-staff following Cochran's passing | |
| Former U.S. Senator Thad Cochran passed away at the age of 81 earlier today in Oxford. Following Cochran's passing, Governor Bryant issued a statement ordering that flags across the state be flown at half-staff. "Mississippi and our nation have lost a true statesman in Thad Cochran," he said. "He was a legend in the United States Senate where he worked tirelessly to move his state and country forward. He was one of our longest serving senators, and his influence can be felt in every corner of Mississippi. Whether it was fighting for resources during the dark days following Hurricane Katrina on the Coast or being a zealous advocate for farmers in the Delta, he dedicated himself to serving all Mississippians. The Quiet Persuader dominated Mississippi politics for nearly half a century, and he did so by being a gentleman. Senator Cochran has left a legacy of public service that should serve as an inspiration for all Americans. I am requesting that flags be flown at half-staff in Mississippi. Deborah and I are praying for the Cochran family during this difficult time." |
| Funeral arrangements for Senator Thad Cochran | |
 | A visitation will be held Sunday, June 2, 2019, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at The University of Mississippi Robert C. Khayat Law Center (481 Chucky Mullins Dr., Oxford, MS 38655). A funeral service will be held Monday, June 3, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at the Mississippi State Capitol (400 High St., Jackson, MS 39201). Another funeral service will be held Tuesday, June 4, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at Northminster Baptist Church (3955 Ridgewood Rd., Jackson, MS 39211). Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Senator Cochran's name be directed to the donor's choice of the Thad Cochran Law Scholarship at The University of Mississippi (406 University Ave., Oxford, MS 38655), The Nourishing Place (P.O. Box 7785, Gulfport, MS 39506), or Northminster Baptist Church (3955 Ridgewood Rd., Jackson, MS 39211). |
| Lawsuit calls Mississippi's way of choosing governors racist | |
| In 1890, as white politicians across the South cracked down on the black population with Jim Crow laws, Mississippi inserted into its constitution an unusually high bar for getting elected governor or winning any other state office. The provision, which remains in force to this day, says candidates must win not only a majority of the popular vote -- that is, more than 50% -- but also a majority of the state's 122 House districts. On Thursday, more than a century later, four black Mississippians sued in federal court to put an end to what they say is a racially discriminatory system, unique in the U.S. and deliberately aimed at thwarting the election of African Americans. "The scheme has its basis in racism --- an 1890 post-Reconstruction attempt to keep African Americans out of statewide office," said former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, the first black person to hold that position. He added: "In the 21st century, it's finally time to say that this provision should be struck down." |
| Trump's Mexico tariffs: Republican lawmakers alarmed as president issues 5 percent levy | |
 | U.S. lawmakers expressed alarm at the potential economic fallout from President Trump's plan to quickly impose import penalties on all Mexican goods, part of a widening backlash to the White House's surprise announcement Thursday evening. Trump announced Thursday his intentions to levy 5 percent tariffs on Mexican imports starting June 10, penance for what he sees as a failure to stop the flow of Central American migrants through the southern border. With every month that passes without action from Mexico, the tariff would jump in 5 percent increments until they hit 25 percent on Oct. 1, according to a White House statement. They'd stay at that threshold until Mexico substantially stops the inflow of illegal immigration, the statement said. Despite widespread backlash, Trump showed no signs of wavering Friday. |
| Trade war, flooded fields leave Midwestern farmers thinking about skipping a year | |
| Between the country's trade dispute with China and the seemingly endless storms that have drenched the central U.S., Iowa farmer Robb Ewoldt has had plenty of time to think about whether it's too late to plant this season, how much federal aid he might get if he does or whether to skip it altogether and opt for an insurance payment. Instead of driving his tractor, he's driving a truck these days to earn a living while wondering how long it will be before he can return to his fields. "Sometimes I think, what the heck am I doing farming?" he said recently by phone while returning home after hauling a shipment of dry ice to Chicago. "When you owe the bank money, you do some pretty crazy stuff." Ewoldt is one of thousands of Midwestern farmers facing such decisions as they endure a spring like no other. It started with poor corn and soybean prices falling even further as the U.S. and China imposed new tariffs, and was compounded by torrential rain and flooding that has made planting impossible and killed off crops that were just starting to emerge. |
| How soybeans became China's most powerful weapon in Trump's trade war | |
| Soybeans may not seem all that useful in a war. Nonetheless they've become China's most important weapon in its ever-worsening trade conflict with the U.S. China, the world's biggest buyer of the crop, has reportedly stopped purchasing any American soybeans in retaliation for the Trump administration raising tariffs on US$250 billion of Chinese goods. This is very bad news for U.S. farmers. While China's targeting of soybeans may have come as something of a surprise to most Americans, to a professor of agricultural economics who studies international commodity markets for a living, this was not at all unexpected. Even before the conclusion of the 2016 presidential race, trade analysts were already weighing the possibility that China might impose an embargo on U.S. soybean imports based on protectionist rhetoric from both candidates. As a result, with the trade war in full swing, American soybean farmers are now among its biggest losers. Here are a few figures that show why. |
| New provost, vice president for academic affairs at MUW named | |
| The Mississippi State University for Women has named a new provost and vice president for academic affairs. Dr. Scott Tollison will begin his new duties on July 1, 2019. Tollison has served in an interim capacity since 2018. Tollison also served as the dean of the College of Business and Professional Studies from 2012-2018. Prior to being named dean, he was business chair for three years. Under the guidance of Tollison, the college had 33% enrollment growth and a 54% increase in the number of degrees awarded. He was instrumental in establishing the Health Care Management program and Master of Business Administration Program. Tollison, a West Point native, holds an undergraduate and a master's degree in business information systems from Mississippi State University. He received his doctoral degree from MSU in 2009. |
| Auburn president: 'Time will tell' if abortion ban will hurt university | |
 | Auburn university president Steven Leath was in Destin, Florida to discuss issues related to SEC athletics. Afterward, he spoke with AL.com about a number of issues -- including one that could have large and possibly adverse impacts on his university. The Alabama legislature voted to effectively ban abortions in the state. Leath was asked if he was concerned that the law, which could be implemented later this year, might hurt his school. "We're not seeing immediate impact, but time will tell," Leath said on Thursday afternoon. "Obviously there are some issues across the state with that university, and hopefully they'll work through those. But we have not seen the immediate impact." The ban will include pregnancies caused by both rape and incest, and abortion clinics in the state have vowed to stay open despite the ban. It is unclear if Auburn has taken an official position on the abortion ban. |
| Prosecutors push back on enforcing new state abortion laws | |
| New state abortion laws likely to become bogged down in legal challenges face another potential obstacle: prosecutors who refuse to enforce them. The Associated Press reached out to nearly two dozen district attorneys across seven states, and several said they would not file criminal charges against doctors who violate the laws. Even a few who left open potentially charging doctors said they would not prosecute women for having an abortion, which some legal observers say could be a possibility under Georgia's law. "I am never going to enforce a law that's unconstitutional, and furthermore, especially not one that targets women and girls," said David Cooke, chief prosecutor in Macon, Georgia. Of the district attorneys AP contacted in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Utah, Louisiana, Ohio and Missouri -- states that have recently enacted or are about to enact abortion restrictions -- most did not respond or declined to comment. |
| College students in Alabama file class action lawsuit against e-cigarette makers | |
 | A class action lawsuit filed last week claims the country's largest producers of e-cigarettes concealed health risks and marketed to children. Lawyers for two Alabama college students filed the suit against Juul Labs Inc., Altria Group and Phillip Morris last week. University of Alabama student Elizabeth Ann Swearingen and Auburn student John Thomas Via Peavy both became addicted to Juul products without knowing they contained nicotine, according to the lawsuit. The class action seeks to represent adults and minors in Alabama and across the United States who have used a Juul e-cigarette. According to the lawsuit, the two college students preferred Juul's mango flavor, which critics have said is marketed to young users who prefer a fruity taste over traditional tobacco. Swearingen, 19, is a former cross-country athlete, the attorneys said, who now has trouble breathing while performing simple tasks. Peavy, also 19, claims similar problems including severe chest congestion and decreased appetite. |
| Judge: UK HealthCare's medical foundation is a public agency | |
 | The foundation that bills patients and collects millions of dollars for UK HealthCare doctors is a public agency and must turn over documents under the Kentucky Open Records Act, a Fayette Circuit Court judge has ruled. Judge Kimberly Bunnell agreed with a 2015 decision from Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear's office that the Kentucky Medical Services Foundation is a public agency because it was created by the University of Kentucky and is still run by doctors at UK HealthCare. In a separate case in March, Bunnell affirmed another opinion from the attorney general's office and ruled that the UK HealthCare Compensation Planning Committee, which decides how much doctors should be paid, is also subject to Kentucky's open records and open meetings laws. Both cases were initiated by former UK medical student Lachin Hatemi, who was seeking various financial records of KMSF and the compensation committee. The foundation was created in 1978 to help the university pay doctors competitive salaries and support its academic and service missions. |
| UGA student-run agency helping Porsche market driving school | |
 | Advertising students at the University of Georgia are learning what it takes to make it in the fast-paced world of advertising by teaming up with a company that knows a thing or two about speed: Porsche. The high-performance carmaker asked if students could help them boost their social media following for the Porsche Sport Driving School, a luxury car experience in which people learn how to take on the corners like a seasoned racecar driver. The students are all part of Talking Dog Agency, a student-run advertising organization housed at UGA's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. But this is no simple classroom exercise; they work with real clients who expect real results. "This is probably the most agency-style internship opportunity that I've had," said David Feldman, an advertising major who worked as an account executive for the project. "I'm definitely better prepared for a job in this field just because I know what to expect in an agency setting." |
| Researchers want less restrictive policies on accepting Huawei funding, but that appears unlikely | |
 | More and more research institutions are cutting their ties to Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications powerhouse, either officially or unofficially. And institutions have reasons to be wary of research money from the world's largest supplier of telecom equipment, given that Huawei's been accused of serious crimes in the U.S. It's also hard if not impossible to separate Huawei from the Chinese government. But professors on a number of campuses are growing increasingly restless with blanket Huawei funding bans, especially on research they say poses zero threat to U.S. national security. Some professors see these bans as an infringement on academic freedom, given that research funders and topics are generally things individual scholars decide. And critics see universities as moving quickly to satisfy political demands -- without faculty input. Some professors worry that the federal government is putting pressure on institutions to cut off Huawei or risk federal funding. The mounting trade war with China only adds to that suspicion. |
| Colleges Challenge a Common Protection in Sexual Assault Lawsuits: Anonymity | |
 | The former college student said she had been raped three times as an undergraduate at Florida A&M University, twice by students and once by an acquaintance who was on campus regularly. She withdrew from the university and filed suit, saying that campus officials did not do enough to investigate the claims and protect her from being attacked again and again. As a precaution, she identified herself in public court papers only as S.B. Her school fired back three times with a demand for the court: Reveal her full name or toss out the case. For years, students have filed sexual assault complaints under pseudonyms, which allow them to seek justice without shame or fear of being targeted. Universities have generally accepted the practice. But in two recent lawsuits -- S.B.'s case against Florida A&M University and a suit by nine women against Dartmouth College -- the schools have demanded that students publicly reveal their identities, going against longstanding legal practice intended to protect plaintiffs in sensitive disputes. |
| Panel focuses on mental health needs of international students | |
| International students may be more reluctant than other students to seek mental health counseling for a wide variety of reasons, including stigmatization of mental illness in their home countries and common (incorrect) myths that seeking treatment could result in a notation on their transcript or the revocation of their visa, panelists told attendees Thursday at a session focused on international student mental health at the annual NAFSA: Association of International Educators conference. Patricia Burak, the former longtime director of the Slutzker Center for International Services at Syracuse University and the editor of a new book published by NAFSA, Addressing Mental Health Issues Affecting International Students, discussed steps international student offices can take. Burak also stressed common courtesy -- things like not talking about students in the hallway outside one's office and learning how to pronounce students' names correctly. |
SPORTS
| Bulldogs begin postseason play at home | |
| Mississippi State hasn't hosted an NCAA Regional since 2016, when Jake Mangum, Cole Gordon, Keegan James, Kale Breaux, Ethan Small and Trysten Barlow were all freshmen. Most of those players are expected to play a much bigger role this year as the top-seeded Bulldogs begin the Starkville Regional, hosting No. 4 seed Southern University today at noon on the SEC Network. "The fans deserve it," Mangum said. "We built this (stadium) for this reason. I think it's going to shine this weekend. I think we're going to show up, be loud and it's going to be about Mississippi State baseball for three days." It marks the 14th time that Mississippi State has hosted a regional and the 38th time the Diamond Dogs have reached a regional. Last year, MSU was down to its final strike in the Tallahassee Regional before Elijah MacNamee belted a walk-off home run against Florida State, which eventually propelled the Bulldogs into a semifinal finish at the College World Series. |
| What to know before Game 1 of NCAA Baseball Tournament's Starkville Regional | |
| Jake Mangum sat in between his head coach Chris Lemonis and teammate Jared Liebelt in the Griffis Boardroom, which is essentially the lobby of the Palmeiro Center on Mississippi State's campus, on Thursday. The Bulldogs' senior center fielder remembered the last time he took questions in that space. His team had just lost to Arizona in Game 2 of the 2016 Starkville Super Regional. The defeat ended his freshman season. Mangum wants to make it through the supers and back to Omaha for the College World Series this year. The journey through the postseason begins Friday at noon CT against Southern (32-22). This is everything you need to know about Mississippi State's first game of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. |
| Miami, Mississippi State coaches sound off on NCAA Baseball volunteer assistants | |
| Three name plates were placed on a table inside the media center on Mississippi State University's campus on Thursday afternoon. Chris Lemonis. Jake Mangum. Jared Liebelt. The Mississippi State baseball team was minutes away from a pre-NCAA Tournament press conference, and there's nothing unusual about those three faces appearing before the media. Then a fourth nameplate was placed just to the left of that of Lemonis. Kyle Cheesebrough. Cheesebrough, Mississippi State's volunteer assistant, has never formally answered questions in front of the entire hoard of Mississippi State media. That's above his paygrade -- which is essentially non-existent. Volunteer assistants are usually only paid through camps put on by the schools they work for. In the wake of last month's vote to deny college baseball coaches the right to hire their volunteer assistants as full-time, paid assistants, Lemonis wanted to give Cheesebrough the credit that he -- and the rest of the volunteer assistants across the country -- deserves. |
| Four Mississippi State players named Collegiate Baseball All-Americans | |
 | As one of the most successful seasons in program history enters the NCAA postseason, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper has honored the Mississippi State baseball quartet of sophomore Tanner Allen, sophomore Justin Foscue, senior Jake Mangum and redshirt-junior Ethan Small as All-Americans. The four All-America selections mark the most from a single publication in program history and are the second-most All-Americans in a single season behind the 2013 edition's five All-Americans. The group is highlighted by Small's selection to the first team. Foscue was named to the publication's second team, while Allen and Mangum each earned a spot on the third team. Mississippi State (46-13) opens the NCAA Starkville Regional against SWAC champion Southern on Friday at noon. Tickets are still available by calling 1-800-GO-DAWGS, by visiting the ticket office at the Bryan Building or at the gates to Dudy Noble Field on the day of the game. |
| Four Bulldogs, Kessinger earn All-American status | |
| Collegiate Baseball Newspaper recognized four Mississippi State players and one Ole Miss Rebel on its annual postseason All-American teams. MSU pitcher Ethan Small last the lone first team selection from the state while Bulldogs second baseman Justin Foscue found a spot on the second team. MSU first baseman Tanner Allen and outfielder Jake Mangum were both picked to the third team along with Ole Miss shortstop Grae Kessinger. Small is also one of five finalists to be the College Baseball Foundation Pitcher of the Year. |
| Four Bulldog 2019 football game times, networks set | |
| Four of Mississippi State's 2019 football game times and television networks, including the first three weeks of the season, have been announced as part of Southeastern Conference Spring Meetings on Thursday. The Bulldogs' Aug. 31 season-opener against Louisiana in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans will kick off at 11 a.m. CT on ESPNU. MSU's home opener against Southern Miss on Sept. 7 features a 2:30 p.m. CT start time on ESPNU. A week later on Sept. 14, Kansas State visits Davis Wade Stadium for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff on either ESPN or ESPN2. It will be the first matchup in Starkville between the Bulldogs and Wildcats since Oct. 5, 1974. The final network designation for that contest will be announced a week prior to the game. The annual Egg Bowl matchup against Ole Miss is slated for a 6:30 p.m. start on ESPN on Nov. 28 from Davis Wade Stadium. It marks the third straight season the contest will be played on ESPN primetime on Thanksgiving night. |
| Kickoff times, TV set for four Mississippi State football games | |
| A third of the kickoff times for Mississippi State's football schedule have already been set. The Bulldogs' season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette at the Superdome in New Orleans on Aug. 31 has been slated for an 11 a.m. start on ESPNU. MSU is 4-1 all-time against the Ragin' Cajuns, including a 56-10 victory in Starkville last season. The Bulldogs' home opener the following week on Sept. 7 against Southern Miss is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff, also on ESPNU. The series with the Golden Eagles is tied 14-14-1 all-time with Mississippi State winning the last meeting 34-16 in Hattiesburg in 2015. The remainder of the Bulldogs' kickoff times and television coverage plans will be set at later dates. |
| SEC's football officials coordinator walks through LSU-Texas A&M calls, new overtime rule | |
 | The SEC's coordinator of football officials Steve Shaw went into great detail during his 90-minute press conference with reporters at the league's spring meetings. One of those topics was the 7-overtime game between LSU and Texas A&M and how it was the catalyst for the NCAA's rule change on lengthy overtime games. "That game kinda gave a shot in the arm to a rule change," Shaw said. Shaw later added: "Could you imagine in College Station in September if we had a seven overtime game? I don't know if our officials could have made it through that. Certainly there may have been a lot less players. I think this is a good change." Shaw spent approximately 10 minutes walking through the new overtime rules, as well as the perceived controversial calls in that game. During his explanation, Shaw admitted that the flag Greedy Williams drew for pass interference on the 2-point conversion in the seventh overtime was a "potentially, marginally, missed call." |
| Auburn AD Allen Greene wants to 'keep amateur athletics amateur' | |
| Auburn athletic director Allen Greene said that he's glad the NCAA has formed a working group to look into the idea of athletes profiting off their name, image and likeness. It was announced on May 14 that the work group would be formed. It's a lightning-rod issue for so many -- with fans, athletes, coaches and administrators often on opposite ends of the opinion spectrum. At the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin on Wednesday, Greene was asked about his opinions on the topic, and said he believed the discussion surrounding athlete compensation for likeness was "overly-simplified." "I think it's complicated, I think it's really complicated," Greene said, before later going into his more firm opinions. "Amateurism is the linchpin of intercollegiate athletics, and so we just want to make sure that, whatever we do, that we make sure that we keep amateur athletics amateur." |
| After SEC meetings, Q&A with LSU's Scott Woodward: Will Wade, alcohol sales, more | |
 | New LSU athletic director Scott Woodward seems right in his element this week as he represents his alma mater as a key player during the Southeastern Conference Spring Meetings. The only SEC athletic director currently serving on the league's executive committee, Woodward was relaxed and engaging as he spoke to reporters at the Sandestin Hilton about a wide range of topics from being back at LSU to Will Wade, alcohol sales to SEC football scheduling and the headache of LSU football game-day traffic (spoiler alert: Woodward doesn't have a magic wand for that one). Here's a sample of some of the topics Woodward spoke about this week. |
| Bill Hancock reacts to Mike Leach's 64-team playoff plan: 'I salute Mike for his creativity' | |
| By now, you've heard Mike Leach's plan for an expanded college football playoff. While many are campaigning for an expanded field for the CFP -- Big Ten athletic directors said this month a Big Ten championship warrants an invite -- no one has come up with a plan quite like Leach. The Washington State coach's vision is a 64-team format, which would cut back the number of regular-season games. On Thursday, Bill Hancock, the executive director of the College Football Playoff, joined me and Lee Shirvanian on "The Opening Kickoff" on WNSP-FM 105.5. We asked him about the format. "Oh my friend Mike. My friend," Hancock laughed. "He's probably the most unique character in our game and very intelligent. He's been floating the 64 plan for a long time now. I did look at the first time but since then I said, 'You know what? I'm just going to let others analyze this.'" Hancock was asked, hypothetically, if the plan was even feasible from a scheduling perspective not considering contracts, TV and more. "When I talk to people in the business about it, that is the furthest thing from their mind. There's a lot more important things to spend time on. I salute Mike for his creativity, but I think that one is a stretch." |
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