| Tuesday, August 6, 2019 |
| Multiple Construction Projects Underway at Mississippi State | |
 | If you drive on Mississippi State's campus, you can't help but notice all of the new projects that are underway. One of those projects includes a brand new apartment complex for students. The $67 million complex includes 656 beds and comes fully furnished. Students are expected to move into in the new apartments in time for the new school year. School leaders said the new facilities will help MSU meet its growing demand for academic research and student living. For a full list of construction projects happening at MSU visit www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2019/08/msu-campus-construction-projects-underway-enhance-academics-research for more information. |
| Late planting seen hitting yields of major row crops | |
 | Late planting due to flooding will have a negative impact on yields of major row crops in Mississippi, according to Dr. Josh Maples, assistant agricultural economics professor at Mississippi State University. For example, only 55 percent of Mississippi cotton is currently setting bolls. The five-year average is 74 percent, Maples said, adding that soybeans setting pods are at 63 percent, compared with 71 percent a year ago. On the national level, the story is worse. Soybeans setting pods in Indiana is at 8 percent, Iowa at 13 percent, and Illinois at 14 percent setting pods, he said. The average is about 50 percent for those states at this time of year. Corn maturity across the country is similarly behind. And the Mississippi planting numbers are not going to be drastically different, because of flooding in the Delta and heavy rains across the state. About 250,000 acres of cropland were flooded in the spring, about 9 percent of the arable land in the 4.4 million-acre Delta, Maples said in an early-June interview. The Delta accounts for about 75 percent of the state's total acreage planted in soybeans, cotton, rice and corn, he said. |
| Some common garden plants might help keep bugs away | |
 | If mosquitoes, gnats, black flies and no-see-ums are driving you buggy, then consider cozying up to some lavender, marigolds or basil. Scientists question their overall effectiveness, but many fragrant ornamental flowers and herbs grown around the home have properties that can repel insects. Insect repellents are divided into two primary chemical classes: natural and synthetic. How effective they are depends on the targeted insects and the host plants' essential oils. If you do plan to try natural repellents, then the top herbs for which there is scientific evidence of mosquito deterrence are lemongrass, lemon balm, bee balm and lemon thyme, said Gary Bachman, an Extension horticulturist with Mississippi State University. Rosemary, lavender, basil, mint, citronella and catnip also may help discourage insect pests, he said. |
| Crowd-pleasing plants: Caring for your customer's roses | |
 | One of the most popular plants in landscaping is the rose, and it's easy to see why, as they come in a variety of colors and fragrances and they thrive well in most environments. If your customers are showing an interest in roses for their landscape, take a look at the preparation you'll need to administer to the site before planting and what to keep an eye out for once they are established. The Mississippi State University Extension recommends placing roses in areas that will receive ample amounts of sun, along with light shade during the early afternoon. "Roses cannot stand deep and continuous shade," the MSU Extension says online. "Shelter from cold wind is helpful. A nearby hedge or fence is useful, but it should not be close enough to shade the bushes. Avoid planting in the lowest part of the garden if it is a 'frost pocket.' Roses do not thrive in exposed, low-lying sites." |
| Processing Industrial Hemp: One Mississippi Farmer Explains the Ins and Outs | |
| Cultivation of industrial hemp was legalized under federal law in December 2018, and while the plant was technically legalized, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has not yet approved regulations for its production. Hemp is derived from a plant similar to marijuana, yet only contains a small amount of THC, which is the active ingredient in marijuana. The House bill legalizing industrial hemp would require any plant grown not to exceed 0.3 percent THC. Brent Brasher is president and CEO of Kengro Corporation in Charleston. Brasher has been growing kenaf, a once relatively unheard of fiber for Mississippi Delta farmers, since the 1980s. With his wife, Gabriela, they have been growing and processing kenaf into very successful oil absorbent products. Today, along with kenaf and other crops, Kengro processes industrial hemp. Brasher got into the industrial hemp business through his overseas partnerships. |
| Vote today: Mississippians head to the polls for statewide primaries | |
 | Mississippians head to the polls Tuesday for the Democratic and Republican primaries. Voters will decide which statewide, legislative and local candidates advance to the November general election. The polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and any voter in line at 7 p.m. is entitled to cast a ballot. To find out where your polling place is located, visit sos.ms.gov/pollingplace. Sample ballots for statewide and legislative candidates are at sos.ms.gov/elections-voting, or visit your county's election site. Some races where no candidate receives at least 50 percent of the vote will go to an Aug. 27 primary runoff between the top two vote-getters. The winning Democrat and Republican in each race face off Nov. 5. Voters must present a form of government photo identification at their polling place. |
| Waller, Reeves visit the Pine Belt ahead of governor primary | |
 | With less than 24 hours before Mississippians head to the polls, two candidates for governor were visiting supporters and volunteers in the Pine Belt. Bill Waller Jr. was at Chesterfield's restaurant in Hattiesburg thanking his staff for all the hard work the group has done in turning out the vote for him. He encouraged everyone to take advantage of the remaining time to canvass their neighborhoods and get online to contact undecided voters. "It's great to be here in Hattiesburg, in the Pine Belt area, this has been a very, very important part of the state," Waller said, "I've spent a lot of time here and held teacher town halls here and visited the hospital here and all points between, we got a great group of supporters here, I'm urging them to get on the phone, email and let's get a good vote out tomorrow." Across town, Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves was at his campaign headquarters off Highway 98, thanking volunteers for their efforts in getting out the vote. He reminded the group that he was the man to lead Mississippi forward and to keep the state out of the hands of Democrats. |
| Mississippi Primary for Governor: Why the GOP Frontrunner Might Lose | |
| Tate Reeves began the year as the odds-on favorite to become Mississippi's next governor. He's still favored, but there's now a plausible scenario in which he doesn't even make it to the fall ballot. Reeves, the sitting lieutenant governor, is leading in the polls ahead of Tuesday's Republican primary to replace GOP Gov. Phil Bryant, who is term-limited. State Attorney General Jim Hood is expected to have no trouble on his way to the Democratic nomination. But according to a Mason-Dixon poll released last week, Reeves is well short of the majority needed to avoid an Aug. 27 runoff. "It's fairly normal that a lieutenant governor has to take positions on legislation for years and is unable to avoid taking controversial positions," says Marty Wiseman, a retired Mississippi State political scientist and longtime observer of politics in the state. |
| Mississippi governor's race: Finance reports offer glimpse at who's funding top candidates | |
| Attorney General Jim Hood, the favorite to win the Democratic nomination for this year's governor's race, is depending heavily on both out-of-state funds and donations from lawyers to support his campaign. Over 40 percent of his itemized donations came from outside Mississippi, and almost a third came from lawyers. That was one of several takeaways from Mississippi Today's look at the top-funded gubernatorial campaigns' finance reports, which included Hood, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr., and state Rep. Robert Foster. However, Mississippi Today also discovered a gap in enforcement of the state's reporting requirements. Foster's campaign, for instance, didn't include the occupation or employer for any of its itemized contributions, despite it being a required field, in any of its periodic reports. |
| Wealthy Doctors' PAC, 'I.V. League' Help Tate Reeves Lead in Campaign Donations | |
| With one day left before state primary elections, Mississippi Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves has raised millions of dollars more in incoming donations for his bid to become Mississippi governor than his closest challenger, Bill Waller Jr. Wealthy donors and corporate PACs, including those who oppose Medicaid expansion to insure more Mississippians, have helped him raise more than $5 million so far this year. The Mississippi Medical Political Action Committee donated $20,000 to Reeves, who is the only candidate in the governor's race who does not support some form of Medicaid expansion. Reeves' closest opponent in the Republican primary, former Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr., has raised $1.2 million so far this year; he has spent $1.1 million. He had $117,501 on hand heading into Tuesday's primary election. The other Republican in the race, Mississippi House Rep. Robert Foster, lags far behind. He has raised just $179,401 so far this year. |
| In Republican treasurer's race, Sen. Buck Clarke's experience faces off against David McRae's bucks | |
| The television ad for state treasurer candidate Sen. Buck Clarke, R-Hollandale, opens with the candidate on a porch swing with his wife, Paula. Over the next 30 seconds, Clarke, an accountant and Senate Appropriations Committee chairman, squeezes in mentions of his work and legislative experience; he cracks a joke about his thriftiness and the wide-lapeled sportcoat he said he's worn since the 1970s, and he ends with this cheeky slogan: "If you'll send one more Buck to the treasurer's office, I'll look after the rest of them," Clarke repeated. "And you know, I've had people everywhere I've been mention my ad to me. It's a good (ad)." It's also the only one that Clarke, who raised just under $350,000 through July, has budgeted before the Republican primary. In contrast, his opponent, Madison businessman David McRae, has produced six different ads. There's a humorous one with his daughter and a heartfelt one with his wife, Katherine. There's one outlining his plan for the state, and, most notably, the one where Gov. Phil Bryant endorses him. |
| Michael Watson Wants to Flag Citizen Status When Voters Register | |
| If elected, Mississippi Sen. Michael Watson wants to use the secretary of state's office to run background checks on people when they register to vote -- and flag people who may not be in the country legally. The Republican senator, who is running in a heated contest against fellow conservative Sam Britton in their party's primary, shared the proposal with a crowd at the Neshoba County Fair on July 31. The Jackson Free Press asked Watson if his proposal would involve racial or ethnic profiling. "I don't think there would be any profiling. It's the same as E-Verify now," Watson said, referring to a federal system that allows employers to check potential employees' immigration status. Last year, a judge found a similar Kansas statute that required people to show proof of citizenship before they could register to vote unconstitutional. Watson's proposed Mississippi system would be different, he said. People could register to vote, but Watson said he would run the background checks afterward -- not as a prerequisite to registering. |
| Parchman health inspection uncovers hundreds of problems, many repeat violations | |
| A state inspection of Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman this summer found hundreds of cells with environmental health problems. The inspection, which the state Department of Health performs annually, documents more than 400 cells with problems such as flooding and leaks, lack of lights, power and water, broken toilets and sinks as well as missing pillows and mattresses. This year's annual inspection was conducted from June 3 to June 7, according to documents prepared by inspector Rayford Horton, which Mississippi Today obtained. A spokesperson for the state health department said an official report will be released in this week and declined further comment. Hundreds of other environmental sanitation deficiencies are also identified across the prison, including instances of black mold and mildew, exposed wiring, raw sewage as well as showers and ice machines that were inoperable. |
| El Paso shooting heightens 'tremendous fear' of daily life for Latinos in Mississippi | |
| In the wake of a deadly mass shooting in Texas, many members of Mississippi's Latino immigrant community are shocked and anxious. That's according to Luis Espinoza, an organizer with Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance, also known as MIRA. "Parents, even kids, get scared because they don't know how it's going to be when they go back to school," said Espinoza, who is originally from Ecuador and has lived in Mississippi for about 20 years. Espinoza said the El Paso shooting has introduced the specter of a mass shooting into yet another public space previously thought to be safe. "Not only schools, not only nightclubs, it's in places like Walmart .... It's happening in churches," he said. |
| 'Corn, soybeans and landmines': Dems sweat early state blunders | |
 | With two sets of debates and six months of fundraising finished, a new stage is opening in the Democratic presidential primary: The summer slog. For six weeks until the next debate, in mid-September, candidates will shift their focus more completely to the early primary states, grinding through a ritualistic run of picnics, forums, and party fundraisers: The Wing Ding, the Iowa State Fair, the Summer Sizzler, Londonderry's Old Home Days. For the frontrunners, the rigors of a month full of intimate, often less scripted public appearances will present a significant test. But the weaker contenders will also come under considerable pressure. Some will likely begin running out of money or will fail to qualify for the next set of debates, culling the now-sprawling field. "The political landscape in Iowa is full of corn, soybeans and landmines," said Dave Nagle, a former Iowa congressman and state Democratic party chairman. "An offhanded comment when a candidate is tired, a flippant remark can be blown way out of proportion and put a candidate significantly behind." |
| Newspaper chain GateHouse buying Gannett, USA Today owner | |
| Two of the country's largest newspaper companies have agreed to combine in the latest media deal driven by the industry's struggles with a decline of printed editions. GateHouse Media, a chain backed by an investment firm, is buying USA Today owner Gannett Co. for $12.06 a share in cash and stock, or about $1.4 billion. The combined company would have more than 260 daily papers in the U.S. along with more than 300 weeklies. It would be the largest U.S. newspaper company by far, with a print circulation of 8.7 million, 7 million more than the new No. 2, McClatchy, according to media expert Ken Doctor. According to a study by the University of North Carolina, the U.S. has lost almost 1,800 local newspapers since 2004. Newsroom employment fell by a quarter from 2008 to 2018, according to Pew Research, and layoffs have continued this year. Both GateHouse and Gannett are known as buyers of other papers. Bulking up lets companies cut costs -- including layoffs in newsrooms -- and centralize operations. |
| U. of Alabama professor: Mass shooters latch on to hate-driven ideologies | |
 | Reports that the shooter suspected of killing 20 people in El Paso on Saturday held contempt for Hispanic immigrants are fueling concerns about the role of hate-driven ideologies in gun massacres. Investigators believe Patrick Crusius, the 21-year-old suspect in the massacre, wrote an anti-Hispanic immigrant rant posted online shortly before the shooting, the Associated Press reported. Adam Lankford, a criminology professor at the University of Alabama who researches mass shootings, said the motives of perpetrators are more complex than devotion to an ideology. "Sometimes you have these disturbed people who want to commit an attack like this and they kind of latch on to a broader ideology because it makes them feel like part of something bigger and more important," Lankford said. "These shooters are often suffering in their own lives and looking for someone to blame. These ideologies do give them someone to blame. But if it wasn't this ideology they would probably find someone else to blame." |
| Trustees advised former Auburn president to focus on morale, communication | |
| Auburn University trustees advised then-President Steven Leath to focus on communication, collaboration and morale several months before his sudden departure from the university, according to university records. A performance assessment obtained by The Associated Press through an open records request sheds light on trustees' potential concerns in September 2018 after Leath had been on the job for a year. The 2018 review was positive. Trustees thanked him for his efforts to improve Auburn, and made no direct criticisms. But trustees repeatedly suggested Leath focus on communication with the board and others on campus, including listening to the "Auburn family." Leath left the university in June under a separation agreement with the university that paid him $4.5 million. |
| South Carolina President Caslen's contract has few guarantees: 'I will have to prove myself' | |
 | Former University of South Carolina President Harris Pastides will earn $1.8 million during his first five years of retirement as he works as a consultant and representative for the state's largest college. Meanwhile, new USC President Bob Caslen is working on a $650,000-a-year contract with few guarantees. His agreement has no fixed length and he could be let go at any time. The 65-year-old former West Point superintendent said that he serves "at the will of the board." Contracts that can be ended when the board desires are typical for USC presidents, university trustees chairman John von Lehe said. Even Pastides' retirement agreement that runs through mid-2024 is "at-will," per a copy of his contract obtained by The Post and Courier. But unlike Pastides' contract, Caslen's agreement does not run for a specific period of years. |
| Nine weeks later, college student interns tell Gov. John Bel Edwards what they learned | |
 | Thirteen college students who spent the summer as interns in the administration of Gov. John Bel Edwards described their experiences Monday to the governor and others, including how to improve state operations. Grace Bordelon, an LSU student who worked in the governor's office of communications, spelled out how social media allowed officials to get information to residents during Hurricane Barry, and around the news media that she said sometimes "sensationalizes" the issue. All the students are Louisiana residents and all but three attend state schools. No state tax dollars are used. The students were provided housing at LSU, and LSU offered three hours of credit through its Public Administration Institute. |
| UGA's ICorps helps Athens man bring home building idea to life | |
 | Josh McCauley had an idea he just couldn't shake: an affordable, build-it-yourself housing option that used recycled plastic that otherwise would end up in landfills. McCauley had worked in an architectural design and small manufacturing firm where he'd learned the basics of designing in 3D computer programs, but he didn't have an engineering background. He was a history education major in college, and he wasn't working in construction. And, despite living in Athens for over a decade, he didn't have any ties to the University of Georgia. But a serendipitous conversation with family friend and UGA alumnus Peter Dale was all it took to help connect McCauley with the university resources that could help him turn his idea into a reality. Dale introduced McCauley to David Sutherland, a senior lecturer in innovation and entrepreneurship at the university, and at one of Sutherland's classes, McCauley met Ty Frix, a UGA alumnus and current lecturer in the Terry College of Business. |
| U. of Tennessee grad programs rated among best in nation by U.S. News & World Report | |
 | The University of Tennessee has already received good marks from U.S. News & World Report's most recent ranking on graduate school programs. UT's new chancellor, Donde Plowman, touted the results on her Twitter account. In addition to the accolades from U.S. News & World Report, Plowman shared some more good news from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The school ranked No. 9 in fellowships from the National Endowment, tying with University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and passing Harvard University and UC Berkeley. "I like that company," Plowman tweeted. These rankings put UT on the leader board on their race to being one of the top 25 public universities and put the school in competition with other high-performing institutions. |
| Title IX emerges as top obstacle to higher ed law deal | |
 | For the past two years, Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, the chairman of the Senate education committee, has set ambitious goals for producing new landmark higher ed legislation. But lawmakers never came close to reaching an agreement on reauthorization of the Higher Education Act last year. And as the August recess begins this week, there's little sign of a deal coming together soon. One of the biggest sticking points in negotiations, according to several individuals with knowledge of discussions, is addressing how colleges should handle complaints of sexual misconduct on campus. Specifically, members of the committee are discussing how language addressing live hearings for campus proceedings and cross-examination rights for accused students should figure into a bill. Federal guidance under the Obama administration discouraged cross-examination of complainants, but a proposal from the Trump administration would require colleges to allow it. |
| Poll shows widespread frustration among teachers over pay and respect | |
 | Half of teachers say they have seriously considered leaving the profession, and most said they would strike if given the opportunity, according to a survey released Monday. The poll found widespread teacher complaints about low pay and poor funding for their schools, and nearly half said they felt unvalued by their communities. Most said they would not want one of their own children to follow them into teaching. The annual survey was conducted by PDK International, an association of teachers, administrators and other education professionals, which has measured public attitudes toward schools for 51 years. This year's version surveyed teachers as well as parents and members of the public. It found that nearly two-thirds of all adults supported teaching Bible studies in public schools, a trend taking hold in parts of the country. It also found, as in years past, that Americans rate their local schools far higher than the nation's schools in general. |
SPORTS
| Mississippi State's Tommy Stevens settles in to new surroundings | |
 | Being the new guy isn't always the easiest position to be in. However, quarterback Tommy Stevens said he has felt comfortable in his new surroundings at Mississippi State since he arrived as a graduate transfer from Penn State in June. "I've found ways to interact with people wherever I've been so I wasn't too worried about the relationship aspect," Stevens said. "Obviously, it was going to be different coming here and not really knowing anybody but everybody has been great with me and treated me like their own and I'm really thankful for that." Since all of Stevens' coursework consists of online classes, it has allowed him to not only spend more time getting to know his new Bulldog teammates but also teaching them the intricacies of Joe Moorhead's offense that he was able to learn during their two seasons working together with the Nittany Lions. "This is my fourth year in this offense so I guess that really makes me the most experienced person here in this offense," Stevens said. "It really helps me be able to be a coach at some point and help guys learn and give them examples of things that we did at Penn State." |
| Mississippi State football: 'Experienced' Tommy Stevens feels like veteran with Bulldogs | |
 | He looked like he'd been there before, but he hadn't. Mississippi State graduate transfer Tommy Stevens stood behind a podium at the Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex in front of a herd of reporters. He wore a maroon MSU polo, grey gym shorts and all-white Crocs. Yes, the goofy-looking sandals. Stevens said his old roommate at Penn State used to wear them "all the time," so he would steal them because they were easy to put on. Stevens liked wearing them so much he bought himself a pair. When Stevens walked up to the podium in his Crocs, it was the first time he had done so to speak to local media since he made his transfer from Penn State official on May 31. Stevens started practice with his new Mississippi State teammates this past Friday. The biggest adjustment he's had to make since coming from up north hasn't had to do with learning new plays or getting acclimated with new teammates. It's been adapting to the weather. |
| Hot topic: Mississippi State QB battle story of preseason | |
| The first question for Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead following the Bulldogs' initial preseason practice was a tongue-in-cheek inquiry about whether the much-anticipated quarterback battle had been settled after just one session. The second-year coach grinned and played along. "Right after stretch we picked one," Moorhead quipped. If only it were that easy. The main story of Mississippi State's preseason camp is the two-man quarterback competition between last year's backup Keytaon Thompson and Penn State transfer Tommy Stevens. The winner will be expected to improve the Bulldogs' passing offense, which was inconsistent on good days and awful on the bad ones last season. If Moorhead has identified a leader in the QB race, he's not letting anyone know. Like most coaches, he'd like to know his starter sooner than later, but won't rush the decision. |
| Mississippi State's Keytaon Thompson keeping composure despite added QB competition | |
 | Mississippi State quarterback Keytaon Thompson isn't letting pressure get to him. As recently as MSU's spring football game in April, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound junior signal caller seemed to have a firm grasp on the starting quarterback job. Now, he'll have to beat out graduate transfer Tommy Stevens in fall camp if he wants to line up under center in MSU's season opener against Louisiana on Aug. 31. And Thompson doesn't plan on backing down. "There's always competition," Thompson told reporters Monday. "You always want to go out there and get better every day, regardless of if you're first, second or third string." Stevens announced his intention to transfer to MSU from Penn State in May, a move Thompson and the rest of the quarterback room knew was possible. "Our coaches let us know ahead of time he may or may not be coming in," Thompson said. |
| Mississippi State football: Observations from preseason practice No. 3 | |
| It was only practice No. 3 of preseason camp Monday, but Mississippi State football coaches weren't taking it easy on the Bulldogs. "That was a (BS) effort right there!" defensive coordinator Bob Shoop told one of his defensive backs during positional drills. In a different exercise, redshirt defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy crashed into a tackling dummy. "Crumedy! Crumedy! Go again! Go again, go again," linebackers coach Chris Marve told him. "Yes sir! Better, better, better," Marve said when Crumedy hit it again. Mississippi State's practice sessions have been intense, and the team isn't even in full pads yet. The Bulldogs strap everything on for the first time this summer on Wednesday. Here are some observations from Day 3 of MSU's training camp. |
| Baton Rouge pitched as site of college baseball hall of fame; governor touts 'storied baseball history' | |
| The College Baseball Foundation will hold its annual "Night of Champions" in Baton Rouge later this year, and state officials are actively courting the organization to establish a permanent hall of fame in the Capital City. Gov. John Bel Edwards said Monday he hopes the event, which is scheduled for Nov. 2 at the Raising Cane's River Center, will mark the beginning of an ongoing relationship with the College Baseball Foundation. The "Night of Champions" event is where the foundation doles out awards and will induct its newest class into the hall of fame. Specifically, the governor said he hopes the foundation will establish a permanent hall of fame in Baton Rouge, a city with a "storied baseball history." Founded in 2004, the College Baseball Foundation is currently seeking a new, permanent site for a facility to house its Hall of Fame. The current Hall of Fame is part of the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library on the campus of Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas. |
| New sod put down on field at Reynolds Razorback Stadium | |
| The laying of the new sod at Reynolds Razorback Stadium on the University of Arkansas campus began Monday morning after four semitrailers carrying the grass from Winstead Turf Farms outside of Memphis rolled across the state over night. Razorbacks football Coach Chad Morris has advocated for a return to natural grass in the Natural State since his hiring 20 months ago, and Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek was on board. "Ten other SEC schools play on a natural grass surface, so the majority of our games are played on natural grass, and Coach Morris and I agreed that this is where football should be played," Yurachek said during a news conference at the stadium. "We both love the smell of the freshly cut grass and the look of the freshly painted grass. "That's where the game of football should be played, and it should be played for sure in the Natural State." Bobby Winstead of Winstead Turf Farms made the drive to Fayetteville to observe the installation of the Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass above an Evergreen matrix atop the drainage system and sand. |
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