Tuesday, January 19, 2021   
 
MLK Day in the year of COVID
In typical times, Martin Luther King Jr. Day would find Anna Jones circulating among a crowd gathered in West Point for a procession. When blessed with good weather, the march can draw up to 300 participants, Jones said. In this year of unrelenting pandemic, however, the capacity rooms, the big breakfasts, health fairs, performances and processions usually seen in the Golden Triangle have been subdued by COVID-19. The Mill in Starkville is traditionally the scene of a large unity breakfast, complete with speaker, followed by hundreds of volunteers dispersed to local nonprofit agencies such as Starkville Parks and Recreation, Boys & Girls Club, Sally Kate Winters and Habitat for Humanity. It's part of Mississippi State University's MLK Days of Service. The 27th annual breakfast this year will be a virtual event featuring a keynote by former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Reuben Anderson. MLK Day of Service is a way to honor the legacy and teachings by engaging in community activities that address social problems," said Jordan Laster of the MSU Office of Student Leadership and Maroon Volunteer Center. "Mobilizing people from different experiences brings us together; it can instill unity and solidarity while building stronger communities."
 
Neighborhoods with MLK streets are poorer than national average and highly segregated, study reveals
Shrinidhi Ambinakudige, a professor in the Department of Geosciences at Mississippi State University, and Sweta Tiwari, a postdoctoral research fellow at Saint Louis University, write for The Conversation: Poverty rates are almost double the national average in areas surrounding streets named after Martin Luther King Jr., according to our recent study, and educational attainment is much lower. Our geography research, published in the GeoJournal in September 2020, analyzed the racial makeup and economic well-being of 22,286 census blocks in the U.S. with roadways bearing the slain civil rights leader's name. Streets named after Martin Luther King typically run through multiple census blocks; we identified a total of 955 such streets in the United States. The areas surrounding MLK streets are predominantly African American, with very few white residents, we found. This is particularly true in the South and Midwest. A notable exception includes California, where MLK neighborhoods have seen a recent increase in their Latino population. American cities began naming streets for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. after his 1968 assassination to commemorate the civil rights movement and King's fight against social inequality.
 
Bang for the buck: Starkville museum owner starts GoFundMe to raise $150K for field cannon
An addition to the Starkville Civil War Arsenal building sits virtually empty, with only construction materials scattered throughout the space that is scheduled to be finished this week. Duffy Neubauer, the arsenal's owner and curator, already has the large new room filled in his mind. He's acquired four fiberglass mannequin horses he plans to hook to a limber wagon carrying a cannon. Neubauer has five of the latter to choose from -- three American Civil War-era cannons most likely used in battle and true-to-specs replicas of two others -- sitting idle in other parts of his four-room arsenal. The new exhibit, he believes, will "really give you the feel of what these carriages are all about." But to make Neubauer's developing addition complete to his liking, there's something specific he wants that he doesn't have -- at least not yet. "I would love to hook it to a Howitzer," said Neubauer, 67, a retired facilities manager at Humphrey Coliseum on the Mississippi State University campus. "I know it's a long shot." Acquiring a 24-pound field Howitzer (meaning it shoots a 24-pound projectile) would make Neubauer's arsenal the only place in the world where visitors could see models of every type of heavy artillery gun used, by both sides, in the Civil War.
 
Starkville police getting new body, vehicle cameras in $621K contract
Starkville aldermen on Tuesday plan to approve a $621,600 contract for a new police department body and vehicle camera system. During Friday's work session at City Hall, aldermen placed the contract with Select Utility Inc. on its consent agenda, meaning it could pass Tuesday without discussion. Ward 2 Alderman Sandra Sistrunk, who chairs the city's budget committee, said the city would pay for the camera system through a multi-year financing or lease purchase agreement. The city budgeted about $200,000 this fiscal year toward the camera upgrades, one of the listed goals of the city's 2-mill property tax increase approved in September. Equipment would include 60 body worn cameras and 40 vehicle cameras, along with sensors that would automatically activate the cameras in certain situations without the officers having to do it themselves, SPD Public Information Officer Brandon Lovelady said. All cameras are GPS capable, he said, and they would replace the aging manual camera system and offer better internet connection in the vehicles. Police Chief Mark Ballard told aldermen the system would provide the "transparency and accountability people want from public safety."
 
Hunt named Partnership director for tourism
Greater Starkville Development Partnership has named Paige Hunt as the organization's new director for tourism, according to a Partnership press release. Hunt, who has an "extensive background" in promoting locations for cultural tourism, conventions and sporting events, will begin in the role on Wednesday. Her duties will be to develop and implement programs to increase tourism in Starkville. "Mrs. Hunt's knowledge and experience coupled with her enthusiasm for Starkville and Mississippi's College Town will benefit our entire community," Partnership President and CEO Mike Tagert said in the press release. "She brings a wealth of experience to our tourism post and an understanding of how important tourism is to the economy of our city." Hunt said she is "thrilled" to join Partnership's team. "I began my career in the tourism industry in Starkville some 20 years ago, and while I've served other Mississippi destinations, none hold my heart like Starkville," she said.
 
NASA rocket engines fire up, but test ends early at Stennis Space Center
A group of deer wasn't scared away by the shorter-than-expected test firing of four RS-25 rocket engines Saturday at Stennis Space Center in Hancock County. The deer stayed where they were, grazing in a field between the B-2 test stand where the rockets fired, and the cameras lined up to capture the sight. Instead of a test that NASA said could run for as long as 8 minutes, the test lasted for about 1 minute. Those who witnessed the firing cheered when they saw the first glow of the engines fire and heard the rumble of power. When the engines turned off, they watched as a rainbow formed above the billows of vapor. A NASA blog posted after the test said that all four engines ignited successfully, but the test was stopped early after about a minute. "At this point, the test was fully automated," the report said. "During the firing, the onboard software acted appropriately and initiated a safe shutdown of the engines. During the test, the propellant tanks were pressurized, and this data will be valuable as the team plans the path forward. The blog said engineers will continue to analyze data and inspect the core stage and its four RS-25 engines to determine the next steps.
 
More than 100,000 have had 1st vaccine dose in Mississippi
More than 100,000 people in Mississippi have received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, and officials are taking further steps to administer the state's supply of shots more efficiently, Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday. "There is no higher priority and we're acting accordingly," Reeves told a news conference. "We're not where we need to be and we've got a long way to go. With 100,000 Mississippians vaccinated, we've got hundreds of thousands more to do in the coming weeks and months." Inoculation rates in Mississippi have lagged far behind most of the U.S., according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But Reeves insisted Monday that health officials are making changes to speed things along. The state's website for making vaccine appointments has been upgraded to handle increased traffic, and more people are answering calls from those booking by phone, he said. Meanwhile, state officials are working to free up more shots for the general population aged 65 and older by getting several thousand doses from nursing homes that received more than they need, Reeves said.
 
More COVID-19 vaccines in Mississippi available: Reeves shares progress, takes shot at Biden plan
Gov. Tate Reeves on Monday said more than 105,000 Mississippians have received first doses of the coronavirus vaccine and more than 9,000 are fully vaccinated, meaning they have received both of the required doses. Reeves said his COVID-19 team is working day and night to get more vaccines available in the state. He announced an additional 20,000 COVID-19 vaccine appointments were uploaded into the state health system Monday, and even more appointments should be available beginning Jan. 25. In all the state has more than 37,000 first doses available this week. He said about 10,000 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were reallocated from long-term care facilities, which he said were over-allocated. A new drive-thru clinic in Hinds County will have about 1,200 doses available, Reeves said, but the location of the clinic was not announced during a news conference Monday afternoon. Around 5,800 vaccine first-doses are available at private hospitals and clinics throughout the state, he said.
 
Mississippi ramps up COVID-19 vaccinations after early hiccups
Gov. Tate Reeves on Monday said that more than 100,000 Mississippians have received COVID-19 vaccinations, and the state has improved from 50th in the nation to the mid- to high 30s in getting "shots into arms." Reeves said that the state had administered 114,947 doses as of Friday -- practically all its allotment through then -- including 9,719 fully inoculated with a second dose. He said the state hopes this week to administer up to 67,800 doses. As of Monday, appointments will be available for next week for those 65 and older and health care workers, Reeves said, and he hopes the inoculations can soon begin for first responders and teachers. Reeves said the state expects to have about 30,000 doses available for next week. The state website and call center were overwhelmed in first weeks of the state providing inoculation appointments for senior citizens and health care providers. Reeves, at a press conference Monday with health department, emergency management and military officials, said the website and call center have been improved and "bulked up" to better meet demand. "We will do everything in our power to remove every roadblock and provide access to as many people as possible," Reeves said. "There is no higher priority."
 
Use it or lose it: Reeves says clinics slow on vaccine deployment won't receive more doses
As Mississippi surpasses 100,000 vaccination doses administered statewide, Gov. Tate Reeves announced during a press conference on Monday that hospitals and clinics that haven't administered at least 65% of their vaccine allocation will not receive additional doses this week. Reeves said he received a report on all 147 local vaccination providers that have partnered with the state to administer one of two COVID-19 vaccines. As of Friday, 94 of those providers had administered fewer than half of the vaccine doses allocated to them. Only 29 were above 65%. "We made the decision that this week, we will only send additional vaccines to those providers who have given out at least 65% of their current doses," Reeves said. "The vaccines that we don't send to sites that are falling behind can be used to support sites that are efficiently getting the vaccine out, whether it's our drive-thrus or our hospitals or a clinic." Mississippi surpassed 100,000 vaccinations administered over the weekend, with 105,228 residents having received their first dose, along with 9,719 who received their second dose for a total of 114,947 across the state.
 
Quiet at the Mississippi Capitol: Legislators return to work Monday, a day after no protest
The Capitol building in Jackson was quiet Monday, a day after warnings of potential armed protests across the country. Few such protests, however, materialized. Some parking spaces were filled as lawmakers returned to the Capitol on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, which also is the Legislature's deadline to introduce general bills and constitutional amendments. A few Capitol Police vehicles were visible around the Capitol, but the police presence was far less than it had been Sunday. No law enforcement presence was visible at other state and federal buildings in Jackson. A construction crew was seen on the grounds of the Governor's Mansion early Monday. Gov. Tate Reeves at a news conference Monday said despite Sunday's "non-event" the state is still on alert in case protests or riots erupt in the days leading up to the inauguration. "We are fully prepared to protect our people and our property," he said. Reeves praised Mississippians for their peaceful protests over the summer, when thousands of Mississippians across the state spoke out against racism and in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Reeves said he does not expect there will be protests this week, "but in case there are, I hope and pray it will be true this time as well."
 
Despite pandemic spotlight on election hurdles, early voting proposals at standstill
Mississippians faced long lines and crowded polling places on Election Day, but legislative leaders do not appear eager to make major reforms to the state's voting system this session. Voting laws in the Magnolia State are among the strictest in the nation. Leading up to the November election, Mississippi was the only state where leaders had refused to provide all citizens an early-voting option during the pandemic, according to a report from the Democracy Initiative. That meant many voters waited in long lines -- some as long as three or four hours. In Mississippi, voters who wanted to avoid crowded precincts on Election Day needed to swear to one of a half-dozen excuses to vote early in-person at their county clerk's office. Or, they could try to decipher the state's complex multi-step process for mail-in voting, which also only applies to people with a valid excuse. Another reform that has been debated in the past would make absentee voting easier for college students away at school. Two Senate bills filed this year would allow college students to submit some voting materials electronically, and would allow those students to automatically receive absentee ballots for a certain amount of time, instead of repeatedly applying for one before every election. As it stands now, students must jump through multiple hoops, including finding someone
 
Analysis: Mississippi pump fight unresolved as Trump departs
Farmers and environmentalists have been arguing for decades over proposals for a massive federal flood-control project in the south Mississippi Delta. The fight is continuing into a new presidential administration. Four conservation groups are suing the Environmental Protection Agency, with the ultimate goal of blocking construction of pumps in the Yazoo Backwater area north of Vicksburg. The pump project moved closer to reality during Republican President Donald Trump's four years in office, propelled by lobbying from Mississippi elected officials. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Friday gave a green light to the project, but Congress has set aside only a portion of the money needed. The estimated price tag is at least $400 million. It's unclear how the EPA will view the pumps once the agency gets a new leader as Democrat Joe Biden becomes president, or if the lawsuit by the conservation groups will block what the Corps of Engineers has done. The Mississippi Levee Board said in a statement Friday that it will vigorously oppose the lawsuit. The board statement added: "Our community knows better than outsiders how backwater floods can devastate lives, homes and our natural resources."
 
Democrats see Georgia as model for success across South
Democrats are looking to their stunning success in Georgia as they aim to make further inroads in the Deep South, a region where they've long been shunned. The victories of President-elect Joe Biden and Sens.-elect Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock were the product of years of on-the-ground organizing in Georgia, with a particular focus on turning out suburban and Black voters. Now Democrats are eyeing possible opportunities to replicate that model in states like North and South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana in future election cycles. However, it remains to be seen whether the playbook that won Georgia can be employed in states across the region. While similar -- albeit nascent -- organizing efforts are underway in other southern states, Georgia Democrats benefited from having a massive metropolitan center in Atlanta. On top of that, the Deep South remains among the most conservative areas of the country, one in which Republicans have formed deep roots. South Carolina's Jaime Harrison and Mississippi's Mike Espy raised millions of dollars in their high-profile bids to unseat Republican incumbents and were showered with support from Washington establishment figures. North Carolina's Cal Cunningham ran in one of the most expensive Senate races in history to oust Sen. Thom Tillis (R) in a purple state. Polls showed all three races were tight, and Democrats wondered if 2020 was finally their year in the South. Harrison and Espy still ended up losing by 10 points, and Cunningham lost a nail-biter after his campaign was derailed by reports of an extramarital affair.
 
Trump team tries to milk the politics of food boxes to its final days
Just before her father was impeached for the second time Wednesday, Ivanka Trump was on a Zoom call with Christian leaders to promote government food aid. It was her first known public event since a violent mob overtook the U.S. Capitol a week earlier, but the first daughter and top adviser to President Donald Trump steered clear of the insurrection and impeachment. Instead, she talked about the power of distributing boxes with fresh food to people in need during the coronavirus pandemic -- and got showered with praise from religious leaders. The first daughter for months has been touting the USDA's Farmers to Families Food Box Program through events, social media posts and photo ops, contributing to speculation that she's looking to launch her own political career in Florida, her father's soon-to-be home and one that Trump won in both 2016 and 2020. She's been quick to claim credit for the food aid program, which she's said she helped launch last spring, at the urging of her father, to help connect surplus crops with people in need. The flurry of self-promotion, following other efforts by Trump administration officials to leverage the food program for alleged political gain, has triggered mounting complaints from anti-hunger advocates who are concerned the $6 billion aid program is being brazenly leveraged for political purposes.
 
FBI tracking chatter that extremists could pose as National Guard to access Inauguration, report says
The FBI has uncovered online chatter indicating some far-right extremists are considering posing as National Guard members in Washington as the nation's capital prepares to host the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. The Post said the FBI privately warned law enforcement agencies that some extremists have also reviewed maps of areas of the city that could be considered vulnerable, the intelligence report warns. The Post described the document as a summary of threats that the FBI identified in a Monday intelligence briefing. "Lone wolves" and adherents of the QAnon extremist ideology, some of whom joined other supporters of President Donald Trump -- who falsely believe the election was rigged -- in the violent siege on the Capitol on Jan. 6, have indicated they plan to be in Washington for Biden's swearing-in ceremony, the Post said. The report comes as the Pentagon continues to vet the 25,000 National Guard members who will bolster security for the event. "While we have no intelligence indicating an insider threat, we are leaving no stone unturned in securing the capital," Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller said in a statement.
 
Biden has set sky-high expectations. Can he meet them?
Back when the election was tightening and just a week away, Joe Biden went big. He flew to Warm Springs, the Georgia town whose thermal waters once brought Franklin Delano Roosevelt comfort from polio, and pledged a restitching of America's economic and policy fabric unseen since FDR's New Deal. Evoking some of the nation's loftiest reforms helped Biden unseat President Donald Trump but left him with towering promises to keep. And he'll be trying to deliver against the backdrop of searing national division and a pandemic that has killed nearly 400,000 Americans and upended the economy. Such change would be hard to imagine under any circumstances, much less now. He's setting out with Democrats clinging to razor-thin House and Senate control and after having won an election in which 74 million people voted for his opponent. And even if his administration accomplishes most of its top goals in legislation or executive action, those actions are subject to being struck down by a Supreme Court now controlled by a 6-3 conservative majority. Even so, the effort is soon underway.
 
'A huge accomplishment': Meridianites inspired by Kamala Harris' political success
When Kamala Harris is sworn in on Wednesday, she won't just be making history as the first Black, South Asian and female vice president of the United States. Her rise to the position will also serve as an inspiration for a number of people around Meridian. "I think it's a huge accomplishment," said Angela Savage, the director of field education and instructor in the social work department at MSU-Meridian. "I think it's very inspiring as well as motivating not only for African-American women, but for all women." Stacey McNeil, assistant clinical professor of management at Mississippi State University-Meridian, said that Harris' win not only has a local impact; it also has a global impact. "A lot of women and girls are watching," she said. One of McNeil's interests as a professor is entrepreneurship. She described entrepreneurship as doing something new -- so Harris is entrepreneurial, she said. McNeil said that women often need a higher level of self-efficacy than men do to take an action. Women want to know that they are qualified and able to do the action, she said. "By seeing others do it -- whether that's in their family or whether it's someone who they think is similar to them in some way -- it gives them the ability to act," she said.
 
Biden taps Warren ally Chopra to lead Consumer Bureau
President-elect Joe Biden will nominate Rohit Chopra to be the next director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, according to four sources familiar with the decision, choosing a strong consumer advocate aligned with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). If confirmed, Chopra, now a member of the Federal Trade Commission, would be returning to helm an agency he helped Warren set up after its establishment by the landmark Dodd-Frank financial reform law of 2010. The selection of Chopra signals that the Biden administration plans to return the CFPB to the more-muscular posture of its early days following three years of Trump administration appointees curbing the agency's reach. Biden also plans to nominate Gary Gensler, a former financial regulator known for aggressive bank oversight, as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, a source familiar with the matter said. Chopra, a Wharton-trained MBA, worked as a consultant at McKinsey before joining government. Over the course of his term at the FTC, he has pushed the agency to be more skeptical of private equity buyers and more aggressive in using its rulemaking powers to rein in businesses.
 
Census director quits amid criticism that delayed count was politicized
Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham announced his resignation Monday amid criticism of his handling of the decennial census and allegations he allowed the count to be politicized. Dillingham made the announcement in a statement that thanked the bureau's staff for their work conducting the count amid a global pandemic. For the first time, the agency missed its Dec. 31 statutory deadline to deliver a count of the nation's population. The delay was caused by disruptions from the global pandemic as well as decisions from the Trump administration. Civil rights groups and Democrats in Congress called on Dillingham to resign in the past week following reports he prioritized work on identifying immigrants in census records for President Donald Trump over finishing work on the decennial count. Dillingham's departure came after a Commerce Department Office of Inspector General report highlighted whistleblower concerns that he made work on identifying immigrants a "number one priority" in the closing days of the administration. Dillingham later said he had told staff to stop working on that project in response to the report, but the damage had already been done. Civil rights groups that the agency viewed as key stakeholders in the effort called for him to resign.
 
'Civil society is much more fragile than I think Americans appreciate,' says outgoing FCC Chair Ajit Pai
Ajit Pai, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, steps down next week, as is customary at the change of administrations. When we talked early Friday, Pai offered a list of things he's proud the agency has done during his tenure: working to bridge the digital divide, establishing 988 as three-digit national suicide prevention hotline and lots of deregulation under the Trump administration. But the defining ruling of the FCC under Pai has been his decision to undo something called net neutrality -- earlier policies that said internet service providers can't slow down some traffic on their networks in favor of others. The market, Pai believes, should decide. "A light touch framework," he calls it, and he thinks it's worked out pretty well.
 
Mortyakova elected to international board
Julia Mortyakova, professor and chair of The W Department of Music, was recently elected to the board of the International Alliance for Women in Music (IAWM). Mortyakova started serving in the new position January 2021. "I am extremely honored to represent and serve the music profession on an international level and to continue to advocate and provide opportunities for past, present and future women musicians," said Mortyakova. As a concert pianist, Mortyakova has dedicated her career to sharing the music of women composers with the public. She often performs concerts where the entire program is comprised of works by women. Mortyakova said she was excited to run for a board position at IAWM because of the opportunity to engage with the larger world committed to advancing activities of women in music. She is also the founder and artistic director of The W's annual International Music by Women Festival, an event dedicated to highlighting contributions of women composers to classical music. Celebrating its fifth year, the 2021 festival will be held virtually, March 1-31.
 
Lucky Day Scholarship Provides a Sweet Deal
As a high school student, Chadrick Franks dreamed of one day attending college and becoming a teacher. Thanks to a Lucky Day Community College Transfer Scholarship, the University of Mississippi alumnus has been able to fulfill that dream ­-- and more. The scholarship, which provides $6,000 per year for two years, is awarded competitively to 25 community college transfer students entering UM. Eligibility requirements include that recipients must be Mississippi residents, have a minimum 48 credit hours completed at a community college in Mississippi and a college GPA of at least 3.0. The Mantachie native moved to Oxford, where he met and married his wife, Jessica, in 1998. He found work as a forklift operator at the Walmart distribution center in New Albany. While accepting the responsibilities of marriage, work and family, Franks still yearned to go to college. "At 30 years old, I went from full-time to part-time at Walmart and began taking classes at Northwest Community College here for two years." Franks learned of the Lucky Day scholarship program through Donna Patterson, senior academic counselor in the UM School of Education. The Lucky Day Scholarship guaranteed that Franks could earn his bachelor's degree in secondary education with no debt. At the time, he and his wife were raising their two young children.
 
'A Promise to God': James Meredith Embarks on His Third Mission with New Bible Society
In 1962, James Meredith's first mission from God was integrating the campus of University of Mississippi amid violence and chaos. His second mission from God was in 1966, when he led the March Against Fear from Memphis headed south to Mississippi's capital city to challenge Black Mississippians to register to vote and all of any race to challenge the racial order here. As he walked, a white supremacist shot him, sending him to the hospital, but other activists continued the journey on his behalf. In 2021, Mr. Meredith is embarking on his third mission, a promise from God that has been more than 50 years in the making, he said. His latest project is the Bible Society, a religious order with the goal to uplift moral character in Black families using the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Ten Commandments to reach kids and the uninstructed, he said. Immorality for Meredith means doing anything that you know isn't right, and he doesn't know anyone over 2 years old who doesn't understand that concept, he says.
 
Jackson State's Sonic Boom to perform in virtual inauguration program
Jackson State University's Sonic Boom will be a featured band in the "We Are One" virtual event in advance of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is slated to speak at the event. "We Are One" will stream live from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday at bideninaugural.org/watch. Hosted by Terrence J, "We Are One" will honor the Black community and African Diaspora through speakers, stories and musical entertainment. "We are incredibly honored that the Sonic Boom was asked to join in such a historic occasion. This is a significant opportunity and unforgettable moment for our students in the band program," said Thomas Hudson, president of Jackson State University, on JSU's website. "We are truly proud of the work they do on and off the field, and this special performance is a reflection of their commitment to their craft." Roderick Little, JSU assistant professor of music and director of bands, in a statement called the invitation "one of the most prestigious honors bestowed upon our program." The JSU Sonic Boom marching band has been entertaining fans for decades. The marching band formed in the 1940s and in 1971 was dubbed the Sonic Boom of the South.
 
Auburn University extends remote operations through Jan. 31
Auburn University has extended its current method of remote operations an extra week, according to an email sent to University employees on Friday, Jan. 15. This extra week will allow instructors teaching in-person courses to teach online until the end of the month if desired. "Faculty teaching face-to-face courses have the option to continue remote instruction through Jan. 31 if they choose," the email states. "Faculty are not required to teach remotely and may continue to offer face-to-face courses."Similar to faculty, employees who are currently working from home may continue to do so through Jan. 31 with approval from their supervisor. The email continued by saying that all members of the campus community, vaccinated or not, should continue to follow the University's "A Healthier U" COVID-19 safety protocols, like social distancing, wearing face coverings and completing daily Healthcheck screeners.
 
Auburn University moving 'rapidly' through Phase 1 of COVID-19 vaccinations
Auburn received its first batch of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine last Wednesday, with 3,500 doses being delivered. As of Friday afternoon, 842 vaccine doses had been administered by the Auburn University Pharmaceutical Care Center. So far, so good. "The shots were being very professionally administered," said Herb Rotfeld, a professor in the university's graduate business program. Rotfeld said the process was quick and easy. He was directed to a table, given his shot, told to return in four weeks for the next shot, and directed to the 15-minute waiting area. Rotfeld did report a sore arm after his shot Thursday, a common side effect reported by vaccine recipients. The Moderna vaccine is delivered in vials made by SiO2, an Auburn manufacturer that started up with help from state and local officials, as well as Auburn University engineering faculty and graduates. The company is undergoing a major expansion on the city's southwest side to accommodate demand from Moderna. Dr. Fred Kam, director of Auburn University Medical Clinic, said the initial phase of frontline healthcare workers and campus responders went "pretty well" and that the university is moving "rapidly" through the current phase, Phase 1b.
 
U. of Kentucky senior accused of entering U.S. Capitol facing federal charges
A University of Kentucky senior is facing federal charges in connection with the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to court records. Gracyn Dawn Courtright is accused of knowingly entering a restricted building, engaging in disorderly conduct in a restricted building, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds and theft of government property, according to a federal criminal complaint. FBI investigators reviewed screenshots from Courtright's Instagram and Twitter accounts that indicated she was in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6 and went into the U.S. Capitol, according to court records. A federal affidavit in the case also mentioned a story by the Kentucky Kernel that outlined Courtright's involvement in what happened at the U.S. Capitol. Courtright was criticized on social media after she posted video from inside the Capitol. A petition that was started on Change.org calling for her to be expelled from UK has been signed more than 1,450 times.
 
U. of Missouri invites former UN Ambassador Andrew Young to celebrate King
Ambassador Andrew Young, ordained minister and former mayor of Atlanta, will be the keynote speaker next week at MU's virtual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. Young will speak from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 26 via Zoom, according to the MU Inclusion, Diversity and Equity website. The theme of the university's celebration is "infinite hope," an exploration of the ways Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy can be used to navigate present-day hardships. During the event, the MLK Community Award, which recognizes people and advocacy groups who have made tangible contributions to race relations, social justice and human rights in Boone County, will be presented. Andrew Young was appointed ambassador to the United Nations by President Jimmy Carter in 1977. He was the first African American to hold the position and served until 1979. After leaving his position as ambassador, he was elected mayor of Atlanta in 1981 with 55% of the vote. After his time in elected office, Young went on to establish the Andrew J. Young Foundation to bolster opportunities in education, health and human rights in the United States, Africa and Caribbean.
 
HBCUs receive boost from capital loan forgiveness
Historically Black colleges and universities received much-needed debt relief from the federal government as part of the recent COVID-19 relief bill, a change leaders say allows them more financial freedom to invest in their futures. Congress passed a behemoth spending bill last month that included a variety of COVID-19 relief measures and earmarked $20.2 billion for colleges and universities. Also buried in the omnibus spending package is $1.3 billion in loan forgiveness for HBCUs that borrowed money through the federal government's HBCU Capital Financing Program. The program was established in the 1990s to provide access to low-rate capital that would allow HBCUs to refinance existing debt, make infrastructure repairs and renovations, and work on new construction. With more than a billion dollars wiped from their cumulative books, the country's HBCUs will be able to invest in overdue infrastructure improvements, new construction and student recruitment and retention efforts that had been put off due to high monthly loan payments. Representative Alma Adams, a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina, first introduced HBCU debt relief in June as HR 7380 -- called the HBCU Capital Finance Debt Relief Act. Adams's home state boasts 10 historically Black colleges and universities, which generate $1.7 billion in total economic impact for North Carolina each year and employ more than 15,000 people.
 
Access to college admissions tests -- and lucrative scholarships -- imperiled by the pandemic
The pandemic has laid bare inequities in education across the country, and access to college admissions tests is one of the latest examples. Even though many colleges scrapped SAT or ACT requirements this year because of the pandemic, students are scrambling to take the exams anyway -- including the PSAT -- as they chase lucrative scholarships and attention from some selective colleges that still require test scores. "More than 1,450 US colleges and universities announced they are moving to a test-optional policy, and more will surely follow," the National Association for College Admission Counseling said earlier this year. "By going test-optional, institutions are making a definitive statement that they will not need test scores to make admission decisions this year." Yet colleges and universities including Loyola University Chicago, Clemson University and the University of Oklahoma, among those that made scores optional, continue to require test results for their most prestigious merit scholarships. Advocates say the nation's most vulnerable students, including low-income and minority students and students with disabilities, struggle the most with access to the exams.
 
Search to find how much funding your college or university will receive in the new round of COVID-19 funding
The U.S. Department of Education last week released details on exactly how much money thousands of colleges and universities are receiving out of $21.2 billion in COVID-19 emergency funding signed into law at the end of December. In total, about $20.5 billion is going to public and nonprofit colleges and universities. Another $681 million is flowing to for-profit, or proprietary, institutions. The money for public and nonprofit institutions is split between funding reserved for student grants and funding that can go toward other institutional costs like lost revenue or paying for technology used in distance education. For-profit institutions are required to use the money for financial aid grants for students. The exact formula for determining payment amounts is based on relative shares of students receiving federal Pell Grants, which are often used as a proxy for low-income status. One important caveat: amounts listed below might not be the final allocations certain colleges or universities receive. Those who had to pay an excise tax on large amounts of investment income -- the so-called endowment tax -- might have their payment amounts cut.
 
Private colleges wonder if they are in Biden relief plan
Private colleges and universities are dismayed that President-elect Joe Biden might be leaving most of them out of getting additional help in the coronavirus relief package he will be proposing upon taking office Wednesday. Causing the concern is that they were not mentioned in a fact sheet Biden released Thursday about the $1.9 trillion plan, including $35 billion of additional relief for public colleges and universities and private colleges serving minority students. "The president-elect's plan will ensure colleges have critical resources to implement public health protocols, execute distance learning plans, and provide emergency grants to students in need," the fact sheet said. "This $35 billion in funding will be directed to public institutions, including community colleges, as well as public and private Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other minority-serving Institutions." The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the Association of American Universities both said they have reached out to Biden's administration asking for clarification. A spokesman for Biden's transition team hasn't responded to several inquiries seeking clarification since Thursday.
 
Biden elevates head of science office to Cabinet level
President-elect Joe Biden on Friday nominated Eric Lander to be his science adviser and director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy -- and also elevated the role of science adviser so that it will have cabinet rank. Lander is president and founding director of the Broad Institute at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Biden spoke of his respect for science. "We're on the cusp of some of the most remarkable breakthroughs that will fundamentally change our way of life," he said. "We can make more progress in the next 10 years than we made in the last 50 years. But we also face some of the most dire crises in generations, where science is critical to whether we meet this moment of peril with the promise we know that is in reach." In addition, Biden announced that Francis Collins will continue in his role as director of the National Institutes of Health. He also named Alondra Nelson as OSTP deputy director for science and society. She is a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J., and president of the Social Science Research Council. The American Association for the Advancement of Science praised Biden's selections to several key science positions in the administration on Friday, particularly his decision to create a position in his cabinet.
 
Capitol Riot Becomes Civics Lessons in Schools
At the start of class, Logan Ridenour reminded the high school juniors of the ground rules for discussing the Capitol riot: Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and everyone should be a respectful listener. Mr. Ridenour, a social sciences and civics teacher at Dupo High School in southern Illinois, one of 40 states that require civics class for graduation, was used to having tough conversations with his civics students whose political views span both sides of the aisle, with more of them leaning to the right. But the conversation in the wake of the storming of the Capitol was particularly daunting because of its historic nature and the political sensitivities embedded in it, he said. Some students said President Trump incited the riot; others said he just gave a speech. In a vigorous, civil debate, the teens looked up the definition to incite and discussed the constitutional right to protest and the 25th amendment. At the end, Mr. Ridenour tied what happened at the Capitol back to their lesson on civic virtues like honor, respect and responsibility. "Regardless of where you stand on this, if you look at these virtues did you feel like it was on display with what occurred?" he asked. The students held firm to their different opinions, he said. The Capitol riot and this week's presidential inauguration have become teachable moments in classes around the nation, pulling civics education to the forefront as teachers say they face new questions from students and others say it all exemplifies the need for a better civics curriculum and funding.
 
Here's what lawmakers could do to transform Mississippi's troubled MAEP education formula
Alan Lange writes for Y'all Politics: When Republicans took over the Mississippi House in 2011, there were certainly a few things high on the to-do list to make good to the voters that put them there. But making arrangements for education innovation and breaking the political hammer lock of teacher unions, liberal interest groups and education administrators over education spending to allow for innovations Charter Schools, Education Savings Accounts and generally how we allocate education money was high on the list of things to do for Republicans. While there have been great strides in education funding and innovation, the one political driving force at the core of the education problem has been the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) formula. At its core, it funds schools and not students and is designed to keep the status quo firmly in place for the billions of dollars spent by grown ups regardless of the best interest of students. A lot has happened since MAEP was introduced in 1997 and since Republicans took control of the Legislature in 2011. The formula has been used as a political cudgel over the years and Republicans, to their detriment, have allowed it to go on. It's prohibitively complex and nearly impossible to understand for legislators and parents.
 
Destructive politics scorns truth telling
Syndicated columnist Bill Crawford writes: Insurrection in the world's greatest democracy. What a way to start the New Year! So have we learned any lessons? I fear not. But our politicians should take heed of what has occurred. When you cater to the worst in us to advance your ambitions, you will ultimately reap our worst behaviors. We saw this on the left with the riots in Portland. We saw this on the right with the attempted coup in Washington. Nothing suggests this year will be better. President Abraham Lincoln warned us that "America will never be destroyed from the outside." Instead, he said, "it will be because we destroyed ourselves." That has become the politics of today -- destroy the opposition, which means destroy each other. Cable news, blogs, social media posts, and tweets are the carriers of this self-destruction. One really sad feature that this politics of hate and division has given us is the scorn and contempt so many show for truth tellers, often resulting in threats of violence against them and their families. Others have revealed they dodge the truth to avoid such threats.
 
Mississippians are drinking at a record pace during the pandemic
Bobby Harrison writes for Mississippi Today: The COVID-19 pandemic has driven Mississippians to drink. "When COVID hit, apparently everybody started buying toilet paper, liquor, fitness equipment and they started renovating their homes," said Chris Graham, commissioner of the Department of Revenue. "Just overnight, our numbers (liquor sales) went through the roof. In March our numbers went way up and continued through December." Such is the dichotomy that is Mississippi: the heart of the conservative Bible Belt, where liquor was not made legal until 1966 and where until this day four counties remain dry for liquor and beer sales. Heck, in some counties before the law was changed in 2020, it was illegal to even possess liquor. Former Gov. William Winter, who passed away recently, used to tell stories of collecting a liquor tax for the state in the 1950s during his tenure as tax collector even though the entire state was dry. For much of the time since the pandemic hit in full force in March, socially conservative Mississippi has led the nation in terms of growth of liquor sales, Graham recently told a legislative committee.


SPORTS
 
'This is the biggest game of the year': Mississippi State men ready to clash with Ole Miss for first time in 2021
Almost predictably and without fail, you can count on Mississippi State men's basketball coach Ben Howland to say something paying homage to the "one game at a time" cliche every press conference. The next opponent on the docket could be an Anthony Davis-led Kentucky team, the Fab Five or a directional school you've never heard of, the sixth-year MSU coach will always tell reporters his team is approaching each matchup with the same mindset. Well, maybe with one minor exception. In the continuation of a historic rivalry, Ole Miss and MSU will meet for the 263rd time at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Humphrey Coliseum. "I think both teams are always up for this game being a long-standing rivalry in the conference," Howland said. "Of all the SEC teams that play basketball, Mississippi State and Ole Miss have played the longest and played the most games. Our fanbase in this state and as we know living in this state, understand this is the biggest game of the year for everybody each and every year." Both teams enter Tuesday eager for a win, but for vastly different reasons. MSU, picked 12th in the Southeastern Conference preseason poll, has surpassed expectations and is fighting for its first 5-2 start in SEC play since the 2008-2009 season. More importantly, the contest marks the finish of a three-game homestand before the Bulldogs venture out for four straight SEC road contests.
 
Gameday: Five Things to Know about MSU-Ole Miss
he Mississippi State men's basketball team will look to end its three-game homestand on a high note as the Bulldogs play host the first of two installments of the SEC's most played hardwood rivalry when Ole Miss makes its annual trip to Humphrey Coliseum on Tuesday. The Bulldogs (9-5, 4-2 SEC) move into the second-third of their conference schedule in sole possession of fourth place in the SEC standings. State trails LSU by a full game for the second spot and is separated by a half-game with No. 6 Tennessee for the third position. Mississippi State has won nine of their last 12 decisions with its three losses coming by a combined nine points and two of the three setbacks being double overtime affairs. The Bulldogs bounced back with a 72-69 victory over Florida on Saturday. Tolu Smith turned in a performance for the ages with career-highs 27 points and 14 rebounds. He also matched his career-best with three blocks. Mississippi State has two of its last three, three of its last five and holds an overall 145-117 series advantage over Ole Miss. The Bulldogs have won 16 of the 20 meetings during the 2000s at Humphrey Coliseum.
 
Mississippi State prepares for return to play as SEC announces 2021 softball schedule
The Mississippi State softball team never even got to start last year's Southeastern Conference schedule. But as of Friday, the Bulldogs know who they'll be up against for their 2021 conference slate. The SEC released its 24-game conference schedule Friday morning, featuring eight weekend series for each team. While Mississippi State's nonconference schedule has yet to be announced, the news marked a step toward a long-awaited return to play for the Bulldogs, who went 25-3 last year before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down everyone's season. "We are thrilled to be making strides towards getting back on the field after a long hiatus," head coach Samantha Ricketts said in a news release from Mississippi State. "The leadership and collaboration from Commissioner (Greg) Sankey, the SEC office, and each institution has been tremendous in the collective effort to return to competition this year. We are looking forward to providing our student athletes the championship experience that comes along with competing in the Southeastern Conference and are ready to start the season." Mississippi State will begin its "second season" -- the SEC slate -- March 12 at Ole Miss in Oxford. The Bulldogs will return home to host Florida for the first time since 2018 the following week.
 
Mississippi State guard Dareuan Parker declares for NFL draft
Another Mississippi State draft decision has been made. Bulldogs starting guard Dareuan Parker announced Sunday afternoon that he will forgo the extra year of eligibility the NCAA has afforded players amid the COVID-19 pandemic and will enter the 2021 NFL draft. "First and foremost, I would like to thank God for giving me the ability to play the sport I love," Parker wrote on Twitter. "I would also like to thank my coaches and teammates for helping me become the football player I am today. To my mom and dad, thank you for your unconditional love and continued support. Lastly, to the greatest fans in the world, thank you for giving me the best college atmosphere and welcoming me to the Bulldog family. After much thought and prayers, I have decided to pursue my dream and enter my name in the NFL draft." Parker was one of the few stalwarts along an MSU offensive line this fall that endured ample changeover and mismatching combinations. Having started all 10 games in 2020, he was named third-team All-SEC by Pro Football Focus for his efforts. Parker, a former three-star recruit out of DeSoto Central High School, he appeared in 46 games, starting 21, over his Bulldog career.
 
In crucial moments, Mississippi State women's basketball is losing production from its most important pieces
In a game Mississippi State needed them most, its brightest stars were held largely silent. Sunday's 69-41 throttling at the hands of No. 8 Texas A&M was disheartening on plenty of levels. It was a chance for the Bulldogs to claw their way back from an upset loss to Alabama three days prior. It was an opportunity to re-cement themselves toward the top of the Southeastern Conference ledger. Instead, it proved more an indictment on how far the program has to go and how mortal MSU is when its stars aren't clicking. "First of all, we just did not play well tonight at all," head coach Nikki McCray-Penson said Sunday. "From the start, we knew that they were going to change defenses against us. We've been working against it. We just acted like we didn't know what was happening. We didn't play well. It is that simple." Turning in a program-worst three points in the opening quarter in College Station, the Bulldogs' top-two leading scorers -- junior Jessika Carter and sophomore Rickea Jackson -- were nowhere to be found. For Carter, Sunday is the latest in a string of recent slow and relatively average outings despite her gaudy 15.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. The larger issues for MSU's semi-dominant big has come in games like Sunday's when faced with stiffer competition.
 
MSU Golf Course offering spring membership special
Throughout the month of January, the Mississippi State University Golf Course is offering a spring membership special. Available to MSU students, faculty and staff, the $550 special includes unlimited golf green fee and golf car fees for the entire spring semester. A green fee only option is available for $300. This special can be purchased in the golf shop until Jan. 31. For more information or with questions, contact PGA Head Golf Professional Tim Basel at 662-325-3028 or tbasel@business.msstate.edu.
 
Jeremy Pruitt fired as Tennessee football coach for cause after internal investigation
Jeremy Pruitt is out as Tennessee's football coach, ending one of the worst tenures in program history. Pruitt was fired for cause Monday after an investigation showed evidence of multiple Level I and Level II NCAA recruiting rules violations under his watch, according to his termination letter obtained by Knox News. The letter cites six fire-for-cause provisions violated by Pruitt. As a for-cause firing, the university will not pay his $12.6 million buyout. Pruitt lasted just three seasons and leaves behind a program that remains under investigation. Additionally, athletics director Phillip Fulmer will retire, a University of Tennessee source with direct knowledge of the situation told Knox News, after UT hires an AD to replace him. Fulmer wants his successor to choose the next football coach, the source said. Fulmer made the decision to step down, and his departure is not tied to the investigation.
 
After firing Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee chancellor vows football will operate 'with integrity'
Jeremy Pruitt is out as Tennessee's football coach, ending one of the worst tenures in program history. UT announced Monday that it has fired Pruitt for cause amid an ongoing investigation that Chancellor Donde Plowman said revealed evidence of sweeping NCAA violations that occurred under Pruitt's watch. Athletics director Phillip Fulmer also is on his way out, but Plowman said that it's Fulmer's decision to step down and that he is not tied to the investigation. Fulmer hired Pruitt in December 2017 in his first move as AD, and he awarded him a contract extension in September. Tennessee will begin an AD search with the help of Parker Executive Search, and Fulmer will remain on the job until his replacement is hired. The next AD will hire Pruitt's replacement. "Based on what we know and the counsel we've gotten, it is clear that Coach Pruitt did not adequately promote an atmosphere of compliance or monitor it," Plowman said in an exclusive interview Monday with Knox News. "I'm unflinching about integrity," Plowman said, "and we're going to run our football program with integrity."
 
South Carolina athletics turns to school to cover COVID shortfall
The pandemic crunch on the University of South Carolina's athletic department will be severe and require a bailout from the school. The amount of the loan will be determined near the end of June, athletic director Ray Tanner told The Post and Courier. The COVID-induced woes of this financial academic year are expected to continue into next year. "We'll talk about ... in the coming days or weeks, what the real bridge funding strategy is going to be for athletics," USC Chief Financial Officer Ed Walton told trustees at a meeting on Friday. "It's going to have to be constructed, in my opinion, as a loan, but we'll be able to loan athletics enough money that it can stay afloat, get itself righted again with the fans in the stands and new (multimedia) contracts. "But all that said, we're going to have to loan significant money to athletics and then collect it over the years that come afterwards." Tanner has previously estimated that COVID would cause a shortfall of $58 million for the athletic department, due to the loss of two home football games and restricted attendance at the five that were played.
 
Vanderbilt women's basketball season discontinued over COVID-19, depleted roster
Vanderbilt women's basketball has discontinued the remainder of its season due to its depleted roster because of COVID-19, opt-outs and injuries, the school announced Monday. According to athletics director Candice Lee and coach Stephanie White, the decision was driven by the players. Only half of the 14 players were available to play in the Commodores' final game, an 80-73 loss at Kentucky on Sunday. And that active roster included Kyndall Golden, who was returning from a torn ACL last season. "We fully support and respect the decision of our student-athletes. Their health, safety and well-being have always been, and will continue to be, a top priority," Lee said in a statement. "We know that this was a tough call for them, in a year full of tough calls, and a disappointing outcome for the student-athletes and the program." This could also mean the end of White's tenure. White posted four straight losing seasons before this abbreviated campaign. She has a 46-83 overall record and 13-54 SEC mark.
 
NCAA head of enforcement is 'frustrated and disappointed' most bribery and corruption cases are still ongoing
The head of NCAA enforcement is "frustrated and disappointed" resolution in the sweeping college basketball scandal announced by the FBI 3 ½ years ago has taken so long. Only one program (Oklahoma State) has been penalized since the FBI in September 2017 announced a broad federal investigation into the scandal that impacted approximately a dozen schools. Some of those are the sport's bluebloods -- including Kansas, Louisville and Arizona -- who continue to be under NCAA scrutiny and are almost resigned to severe sanctions. But there is no end in sight. "I've said it before publicly and I'll say it here again -- I'm frustrated and disappointed those cases aren't resolved yet," enforcement chief Jon Duncan said via Zoom Friday during the NCAA Convention. "It's no surprise we get that question here [when it will be over]," he added. "We get it multiple times each day." Forty months after it began, the corruption and bribery scandal still stands as one of the biggest in college sports history. It resulted in the formation of the Commission on College Basketball headed by former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice that recommended several reforms.
 
Indianapolis' 'once-in-a-lifetime' March Madness will go on -- because for NCAA, it has to
Against a difficult financial backdrop, in the midst of a global pandemic, the NCAA is going to try something unprecedented. The association announced Jan. 4 that it would host the entire Division I men's basketball tournament in central Indiana, even as the state reported 3,630 new cases of coronavirus and an additional 39 deaths, and saw a steady rise in the positivity rate from Dec. 23 through the early part of January. Those numbers have begun trending better recently. The NCAA is taking what it hopes will be a once-in-a-lifetime approach to the 2021 tournament after last year's tournament was shut down by COVID-19 before it could begin, costing the NCAA revenues approaching $1 billion. Which is why, even given the unprecedented challenges, the wider public health situation and the fact that this has never been tried before, there exists a firm belief that the NCAA will, come hell or high water, find a way to make it happen. No one can afford the alternative. The show must go on because the NCAA tournament is one of the country's most recognizable and popular sporting events -- and among its most lucrative. Annual revenues underwrite NCAA programs, fund disbursements to 1,200 member schools and, in effect, pay for the bulk of the association's functional existence.
 
College Football Player Sarah Fuller To Take Part In Inauguration Special
Sarah Fuller is no stranger to making history. The Vanderbilt University senior shattered glass ceilings this winter as the first woman to play and score in a Power Five college football game. And she's now slated to take part in Wednesday's inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. "It's an honor to be invited to participate in one of America's greatest traditions," Fuller tweeted on Sunday. "This historic inauguration is especially meaningful for American women and girls. The glass ceilings are breaking and it is the time to#LeadLikeAWoman." Fuller is listed as one of the "everyday Americans who have stepped up in their communities." In addition to her historic role on the Vanderbilt football team, she is credited with helping lead its women's soccer team to an SEC championship -- its first since 1994. The soccer goalie was tapped for the men's football team after several coronavirus-related quarantines left it without a kicker. On Nov. 28, Fuller became the first woman to play a football game in the Power Five, a group of the country's largest and most popular athletic conferences. And she became the first woman to score in a Power Five football game on Dec. 12, when she kicked a pair of extra points for Vanderbilt in a game against rival University of Tennessee.



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