| Monday, April 20, 2026 |
| Nursing graduate from MSU-Meridian shines in early patient care | |
 | Two months after earning a Master of Science in Nursing degree and becoming a Mississippi State University-Meridian graduate, Dekendrick Rushing stepped into a role few nurses face -- caring for the mother of a faculty member from his alma mater. Rushing, who is now a registered nurse at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, met Mary Smith, an MSU-Meridian assistant professor, during her mother's stay at UMMC in 2025. Not knowing his backstory at the time, Smith said she observed Rushing's "seasoned" delivery of skill, compassion and confidence following her mother's neurosurgery, even though he was just three months into his new career. "My mother was the one who asked where Dekendrick had graduated from because his level of care was exemplary. When he said he earned a Master of Science in Nursing, I knew immediately he had graduated from Mississippi State," said Smith, a 30-year nurse who teaches in MSU-Meridian's healthcare administration program. "Dekendrick was very patient and very detail oriented. It speaks so much of the program that he is so comfortable and confident." Rushing, who also holds a 2018 MSU bachelor's degree in business administration, said, "I feel like God was leading me to this path." |
| Weeks-long drought hard on Mississippi's crops | |
 | About half the normal rainfall has fallen in Mississippi so far in 2026, making it the 10th driest in state history. Mike Brown, state climatologist with the Mississippi State University (MSU) Department of Geosciences, said February was the driest on record for Mississippi and March was the third warmest and 11th driest. "This is very early for a drought in Mississippi," Brown said. "Most winter and spring months, we are normal to just above normal for rainfall. For us to develop this severe a drought this early is quite rare." Drew Gholson, a MSU Extension irrigation specialist, said the gradually expanding drought conditions displayed on the U.S. Drought Monitor map are raising concerns. "In most seasons, our primary challenge is identifying suitable planting windows between rainfall events," Gholson said. "This year, we have been ahead of schedule on planting due to favorable dry field conditions. However, as drought intensifies, this early planting advantage may rapidly become a significant risk." |
| MSU Extension launches Magnolia Moves Activity Challenge on April 20 | |
 | Mississippi, it's time to get moving. Let's increase our physical movement, improve our eating habits, and make ourselves healthier and happier! The Mississippi State University Extension Service invites everyone to join the Magnolia Moves Activity Challenge, a free six-week exercise and nutrition program. When you download the MoveSpring app, you'll be able to sync your digital device to automatically track your activity, and you'll get a real-time view of your progress and achievements. You'll set your own pace, track your activity, and get more active in a fun, interactive way. An alternative to the app is a desktop version available through any web browser that will allow everyone the chance to participate. Registration is open for individuals and teams, and the program will kick off this Monday, April 20, and continue through May 31. |
| SOCSD moves closer to breaking ground on new high school | |
 | A Monday site meeting with contractors will mark the first concrete step in Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District's efforts to build a new Starkville High School. And while the total cost of the project -- and its potential impact on taxpayers in the school district -- has yet to be nailed down for certain, Superintendent Tony McGee is certain the build will be worth it for the community. "We know that people look to move to a community, there's areas they look for: health care, safety and public education," McGee told The Dispatch on Thursday. "... (Oktibbeha County) has done a good job of securing Baptist (Memorial Health Care) to come in here to strengthen their health care. The police department, sheriff's department, Mississippi State, our (school resource officers) have done a tremendous job with safety. The last piece of that is to really build a high school our community can be proud of." District 43 Rep. Rob Roberson, R-Starkville, who chairs the House Education Committee, told The Dispatch earlier this month he intends to continue seeking funding for the school's construction in future sessions. |
| Chris Williams updates garden club on City of Starkville projects | |
| Chris Williams, associate engineer for the City of Starkville, updated Starkville Town and Country Garden Club members on construction and beautification projects throughout the city at the club's April 2 meeting held at the home of Sonjia McReynolds. "My State of Starkville presentation is long, but I'm mainly going to focus on providing the garden club an overview of the Highway 182, Main Street and Highway 12 roundabout construction projects as well as several park and beautification projects that I know y'all are interested in," Williams said. A roundabout is planned for Highway 12 and Garrard Road to reduce accidents in a high-traffic area near Walmart and other businesses. Traffic is expected to increase with new developments. "I don't care if you are Mario Andretti, you are not going fast in a roundabout," Williams said. "You physically can't go more than 26 miles an hour through this roundabout." Construction is expected to begin in fall 2026 and be completed in 2028. |
| Injured Starkville officer walks out of hospital after weeks of recovery from crash | |
| A Starkville Police Department officer critically injured in a February motorcycle crash has reached a major milestone in his recovery, walking out of the hospital after nearly two months of intensive treatment. Cpl. Colby Huffman, who was hurt Feb. 21 while escorting a funeral detail, is continuing his recovery in Atlanta, where he will undergo four to eight weeks of outpatient therapy, according to an update from his family shared by SPD on April 19. Huffman will remain in Atlanta for continued therapy before eventually returning home to Mississippi. His family said they recently relocated to a new apartment during this phase of treatment and encouraged supporters to continue sending messages of encouragement. The officer's recovery has drawn widespread community support in Starkville, where residents and local businesses have organized fundraisers to assist with medical and travel expenses. |
| College Graduates Are Finally Catching a Break in This Job Market | |
 | At long last, the job market might be giving the Class of 2026 an early graduation present. After years of steady deterioration, there are early signs entry-level hiring is picking up. A widely watched survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers out Monday shows employers expect to boost new-graduate hires by 5.6% this spring from a year ago -- a turnaround from their much grimmer forecasts last fall. Another recent survey by ZipRecruiter found nearly a third of employers planned to hire a greater share of entry-level workers this year than the previous one. Big companies such as McKinsey and International Business Machines say they have also increased graduate hiring this year. Meanwhile, unemployment among 20- to 24-year-olds with bachelor's degrees and higher dropped sharply in March to 5.3%, according to an analysis by BofA Global Research published Friday. That is down from a decade high, excluding the pandemic's early months, of 8.9% last fall. Those signals suggest that, for now, some employers feel the need to replenish their pipelines of entry-level workers after holding back for several seasons. |
| Busy Biscuit celebrates grand opening in downtown Meridian | |
| A new locally owned bakery is bringing a fresh take on biscuits to downtown Meridian. The East Mississippi Business Development Corporation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, April 15, to celebrate the opening of The Busy Biscuit, located on Front Street. Community leaders, business representatives and supporters gathered to welcome owner Victoria Martin and her new storefront. Martin said The Busy Biscuit grew from her passion for baking, which began in her childhood. "I grew up baking with my grandmother," Martin said. "I started baking again during COVID in 2020, and then began selling biscuits from home in 2022. We decided to expand and open a brick-and-mortar location, and we opened April 2." The Busy Biscuit offers a variety of sweet biscuits with unique flavors baked into the dough, including strawberry, blueberry and white chocolate raspberry. The biscuits are topped with a sugar glaze and designed to be enjoyed at any time of day. |
| ERDC workshop draws record crowd | |
| The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) recently hosted RD26, the fifth installment of its biennial research and development workshop, bringing together a record number of participants from across the enterprise. RD26 was one of the largest workshops to date, highlighting the value of the event. Brig. Gen. Kirk Gibbs, deputy chief of engineers and deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said he looks forward to the research and development that could emerge from the agency's RD Workshop series, which brings together experts from across its laboratories. Other keynote speakers included Austin Golding, president and CEO of Golding Barge Line, and Stephen Hill, director of Operations and Regulatory for USACE. The final day's keynote speaker was Nick Boone, director of ERDC's Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, who stressed that a culture of collaboration must remain at the heart of ERDC's mission to serve the warfighter and the nation. |
| Backlog in liquor, wine deliveries frustrates retailers in Mississippi | |
 | Brandi Carter needs her wine. As the owner of Levure Bottle Shop in Jackson, Mississippi, she sells natural wine delivered to her business by a state agency responsible for distributing alcoholic beverages to liquor stores, bars and restaurants. But delays caused by problems in a state warehouse have led Carter and many other retailers to see their inventory dwindle and their business drop as they wait for new shipments. Carter, who also handles the beverage program for a restaurant in Jackson, said she has been dealing with delays since February, and she's feeling helpless as traffic in her store goes down. "I've just reached acceptance that this is our new normal, and it's awful," Carter said Wednesday. In Mississippi, the state's Alcoholic Beverage Control department -- an arm of the Mississippi Department of Revenue -- is responsible for distributing wine and liquor to businesses that sell it. That's different than other states, where individual companies handle alcohol distribution, Carter said. |
| Hernando looking at zoning changes to regulate data centers | |
 | Hernando is considering adjusting its zoning ordinances to define what data centers are and where they can be located in the city. The discussion comes as companies like xAI and Google are looking to build large data centers to expand their artificial intelligence footprint around the globe. Google is building a data center in West Memphis, Arkansas, while Elon Musk's xAI is building a new data center in Southaven to go along with its existing data center in Memphis and a third one. Mayor Chip Johnson said Hernando hasn't received any inquiries yet from a business looking to build a data center, but that the city needs to look at its zoning laws to address where any potential data centers could be built. The city's ordinance committee met briefly before the April 7 Board of Aldermen meeting to discuss the matter. |
| EXCLUSIVE: Now running for governor, Philip Gunn sits for wide-ranging interview | |
| t has been 80 years since a former Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives became Governor. Philip Gunn is trying to change that. In fact, if there was a theme to Gunn's storied political career it may well be change. Gunn sat down for an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with Magnolia Tribune following his gubernatorial campaign announcement. He talked openly about his time as Speaker, what separates him from a potentially crowded field, and the next steps he sees in continuing to strengthen Mississippi through conservative policymaking and its implementation as the state's chief executive. Since leaving office, Gunn has had "enormous numbers of requests to reengage." He is answering the call back to public service, a career that dates back to 1994 when he was appointed to the Clinton school board. |
| Former Rep. Nick Bain to announce 2027 bid for state auditor | |
| Former state Rep. Nick Bain is set to announce a 2027 bid for state auditor. The Republican from Corinth posted an invitation to a campaign announcement event on X early Monday morning. The invitation states he is running for auditor and invites supporters to Corinth City Hall on April 27 at 9 a.m. The expected announcement comes roughly nine and a half months after Bain told attendees at an Independence Day 2025 event in Jacinto that he was planning a return to political office. He served in the House from 2012 to 2024 before dropping a reelection campaign by 26 votes. "Right now, I stand at the cusp of an open door, and I'll tell you this -- I will be on the ballot in 2027," Bain said at the event. "I'm going to ask you and a whole lot of people to vote for me." Bain, an attorney, played a role in Mississippi's effort to change its state flag that featured a Confederate battle symbol -- a move he asserts contributed to his most recent election loss. |
| Senate Republicans hope Supreme Court 'surprise' could help save majority | |
 | Senate Republicans who fear their three-seat majority could be in danger in this year's midterm election would welcome the retirement of conservative Justice Samuel Alito as an "October surprise" that could change their political fortunes by rallying GOP-leaning voters to the polls. GOP senators are being careful not to prod Alito, a leading conservative voice on the high court, out the door, but privately hope that a retirement announcement in the fall could shift several races in their direction. They think this would help their party in this year's Senate elections just as the battle over Justice Brett Kavanaugh did in the 2018 midterms. Some Republican lawmakers would love to tackle the fight to confirm Alito's replacement this year when they have a comfortable 53-seat majority, which political handicappers project is likely to shrink after the November election. GOP senators now acknowledge that control of the Senate may flip to Democrats in 2027, even though Democrats would need to win a race in GOP-leaning states such as Ohio, Alaska, Texas or Iowa. |
| Oil prices jump after U.S. seizes Iranian vessel, imperiling ceasefire | |
 | Iran threatened to retaliate Monday after the U.S. military seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, sending oil prices soaring and further imperiling a fragile ceasefire. The seizure on Sunday came hours after President Donald Trump renewed his threats of broad attacks on Iran's infrastructure if no deal is reached in talks expected this week in Pakistan. Oil prices jumped by 5 percent overnight into Monday amid the escalating tensions, while stock markets in Europe were down before rallying. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said at a news conference Monday that Tehran had not "made any decisions regarding the next round of negotiations," according to the semiofficial Tasnim News Agency. The White House said Sunday that Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner would depart Washington on Monday to attend fresh talks in Pakistan that could begin on Tuesday. A two-week ceasefire is due to expire Wednesday. |
| Data centers are expensive, unpopular -- and could be a tipping point in the midterms | |
 | Fifteen minutes after Susan Bourgeois was appointed to lead Louisiana Economic Development, the state agency responsible for strengthening business growth, she got her first data center pitch. "I was pulled aside in the lobby of the Hilton hotel by the CEO of Entergy Louisiana, who said, 'We have a project and need to talk,'" Bourgeois said. It was a proposal from Meta to build one of the largest-ever AI data centers in the world. Bourgeois jumped on it. Data centers, which are large warehouses full of servers that power parts of the internet and increasingly artificial intelligence, infuse massive amounts of capital into communities and are much needed in rural areas where populations are declining, she said. That was in 2024. Since then, the demand for AI and the colossal computing power it requires has only grown. Technology companies are building data centers across the United States at an unprecedented pace. Business demands, consumer usage and even U.S. government investment are all propelling the boom. But the strain they place on the physical environment -- from energy to the environment to aesthetics -- has ignited fierce opposition in many communities across the country. It has become a voting issue for many people ahead of the midterm elections. |
| Muslim Southerners Face a Fresh Wave of Hateful Political Rhetoric | |
 | The number of Muslim Americans in the South has grown over the last two decades, with many drawn to economic opportunity and family and friends who were already there. Many scoff at the demands that they leave after spending their formative years in the United States and embracing the constitutional freedoms that allow them to practice their faith. For some Muslims, the number of Christian, Jewish or atheist residents reaching out to learn about Muslim traditions offers hope that they can counter stereotypes or distortions. In some communities, they have become welcomed neighbors, as they have built food pantries and invested in community infrastructure. There is a bitter exhaustion among some Muslim Southerners, who feel the need to explain and justify their faith, even if they were born in the United States or have become naturalized citizens. |
| Tollison named interim MUW president | |
| The Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees on Friday named Scott Tollison interim president of Mississippi University for Women. Tollison, who currently serves as provost to the university, will step into the role July 1 following President Nora Miller's retirement June 30. "The board of trustees has full confidence in Dr. Tollison and appreciates his acceptance of this responsibility," Gee Ogletree, president of the board, said. A West Point native, Tollison earned an undergraduate and master's degree in business information systems at Mississippi State University, earning a doctorate there as well in 2009. He served as dean of The W College of Business and Professional Studies from 2012-2018. After a brief stint as interim, he was named provost in 2019. |
| From Jordan to Morocco: Arabic Flagship students face sudden change due to travel advisory | |
 | The Arabic Flagship freshman cohort at the University of Mississippi will no longer be traveling to Jordan over the summer as originally planned due to safety concerns because of the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran. Instead, the freshman cohort will be joining the graduating seniors on a trip to Morocco. Graduating seniors will stay in Morocco for their capstone year, but the freshmen will stay only over the summer. Both trips are mandatory to graduate from the Arabic Language Flagship Program. Daniel O'Sullivan, chair and professor of modern languages, said the university and language flagship staff want to give their students the opportunity to study abroad in Jordan, but the decision is not up to the university. The language flagship will still fund the graduating senior Arabic students' study abroad capstone year in Morocco, which is why Morocco is a summer abroad option for the freshmen cohort. |
| Ole Miss pharmacy program expands access to prenatal services in underserved communities | |
 | Mississippi is experiencing a maternal and infant health crisis, and the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy and its alumni are stepping in to help resolve it one patient at a time. Lindsey Rayborn, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice, is working with Ole Miss alumna Amy Catherine Love Baggett, owner of Love's Pharmacy on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, to pilot a community pharmacy-based maternal health program called Medications Optimizing Maternal Safety, or MOMS. "Community pharmacists bring knowledge, accessibility and trusted patient relationships that uniquely position them to support pregnant women that can change outcomes for mothers and babies across Mississippi," said Donna Strum, dean of the pharmacy school. "Community pharmacies are many times the front door to local health care infrastructure," Baggett said. "Patients see their doctors, on average, three to five times per year, but they see their pharmacist, on average, 35 times per year." |
| Southern Miss military historian wins prestigious lifetime achievement award | |
| Mississippi-based military historian, author, and professor Dr. Andrew Wiest has received one of the most distinguished national awards honoring contributions to military history. Wiest, who is a professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, is this year's recipient of the Society for Military History's Samuel Eliot Morison Prize, which recognizes a scholar's "body of contributions in the field of military history, extending over time and reflecting a spectrum of scholarly activity contributing significantly to the field." Wiest's areas of expertise include British military history, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, the latter of which is the focus of "The Boys of '67." The book eventually inspired the National Geographic documentary "Brothers in War," for which Wiest served as lead historian and was nominated for an Emmy. Another one of his books, "Vietnam's Forgotten Army," won the Society for Miliary History's Distinguished Book Award. |
| USM scientist left his mark on Gulf, knew enough to learn from fishermen | |
 | A boy from the mountains of Tennessee, inspired by a great American novella, became one of the best-known fisheries scientists on the Gulf of Mexico. James S. "Jim" Franks of Ocean Springs was smart enough to know that he could learn from folks in South Mississippi who plied Gulf waters daily, said his close friend Reed Hendon. Franks became a mentor to Hendon at the University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, where both worked for decades. "He was probably the most dedicated and driven scientist that I ever met," said Hendon, former GCLR director. "Science and fisheries and his job, that was his life." Franks retired as a senior fisheries scientist in 2024 from the University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs. Although he never smoked, Franks died of pulmonary fibrosis on Wednesday at age 83. His study and understanding of fisheries extended to those who ply Gulf waters daily: recreational and commercial fishermen. |
| Columbus native selected to lead Jackson State University | |
| A Columbus native will take the helm as president of Jackson State University following an eight-month national search. Denise Jones Gregory, who has served as interim president since May 2025, was selected from among 79 applicants by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning to serve as the 14th president of the university, according to an IHL press release. "The Board of Trustees put a tremendous amount of time and energy into this search process, and we are confident in Dr. Gregory's ability to help write the next chapter in Jackson State University's long history," Steven Cunningham, vice president of the IHL Board of Trustees and chair of the Board Search Committee, said in the press release. She is a 1990 graduate of Lee High School. |
| Denise Jones Gregory named Jackson State's 14th president | |
| After months of searching and interviewing dozens of candidates, the Board of Trustees for the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning has named a new president for Jackson State University. Thursday evening, the Board announced that Dr. Denise Jones Gregory, who has been serving as interim president of JSU since May of last year, is officially the institution's 14th president. "Dr. Gregory is an excellent choice by the IHL, she is a Jacksonian," JSU alumni State Rep. Chris Bell (D) told Magnolia Tribune. Bell said her background in academia and knowledge of what Jackson State University needs will be a perfect fit for the institution. Under her leadership Rep. Bell sees great things for JSU. "We look forward to the university growing in a higher direction with respect to student population as well as opportunities with academic programs that can be implemented in Jackson State University," Bell said. "I think it's just an overall great selection, and I am thoroughly excited and proud that she was selected as president of the University." |
| Denise Jones Gregory Named 14th President of Jackson State University | |
| Jackson State University has a permanent leader again. The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning named Dr. Denise Jones Gregory to the position after its April 16 board meeting. She is the 14th president of the state's largest historically Black college and university. Gregory has served as the university's interim president since May 2025, when President Marcus Thompson abruptly resigned. The eight-month national search drew skepticism from JSU alumni who questioned past IHL selections and the process's transparency. "This has been a long and involved process, and we've worked closely with the Board of Trustees through the reviewing and interviewing of candidates to reach this point," JSU National Alumni Association President Patrease Edwards said. "Today we begin a new and exciting part of the story of Jackson State, and we are prepared to support Dr. Gregory as she takes on this role." |
| Mississippi law school is the first in the Southeast to require AI education | |
| Mississippi College School of Law is one of the first schools in the nation to tackle the growing influence of artificial intelligence in jurisprudence by making AI education mandatory for all students. For John Anderson, dean of the school, the goal is to train law students "to use the technology effectively, efficiently, and ethically and avoid a lot of the headlines that you've seen already where lawyers take shortcuts by using these technologies." MC is the first law school in the Southeast to require all students to complete an AI course. While the school has other AI classes, a general course is now mandatory for all first-year students. Last month, first-year students completed the college's first mandatory class on AI, a two day intensive course that culminated with a hands-on project. |
| Book bans and attempted bans remain at record highs, with 'Sold' topping the list | |
| Book bans and attempted bans remain at record highs, according to the American Library Association. And efforts to have titles removed have never been more coordinated or politicized. The ALA on Monday issued its annual list of the books most challenged at the country's libraries, part of the association's State of America's Libraries Report. Patricia McCormick's "Sold," a 2006 novel about sex trafficking in India, topped the list for 2025. Others targeted include Stephen Chbosky's high school novel "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," Maia Kobabe's graphic memoir "Gender Queer" and Sarah J. Maas' romantasy favorite "Empire of Storms." The ALA usually features 10 books, but this year has 11, with four tied for eighth place: Anthony Burgess' dystopian classic "A Clockwork Orange," Ellen Hopkins' sibling drama "Identical," John Green's boarding school narrative "Looking for Alaska" and Jennifer L. Armentrout's paranormal romance "Storm and Fury." |
| Should students who lose TOPS scholarships pay Louisiana back? The idea is stirring a debate | |
 | A major shift could be coming to TOPS, the well-known scholarship that helps Louisiana high schoolers pay to attend in-state colleges. The Legislature is debating having students who stop meeting the requirements of the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students scholarship not only lose their funding, which is the current practice, but pay what they have received back to the state. "If a student accepts TOPS funds, there is a responsibility to meet the program's requirements," bill author Rep. Dennis Bamburg, R-Bossier City, said. "If those obligations aren't met with good cause, taxpayers deserve a mechanism to recover those dollars." Some legislators immediately expressed reservations about the bill. TOPS is widely recognized as a significant incentive for the state's high schoolers to pursue a college education. |
| Sit and Stay Seated? Walkouts at One State's Public Universities Could Soon Be Banned. | |
 | A state legislature says a new ban on "staging walkouts" at public universities will protect free speech by preventing protesters from disrupting campus speakers. But some faculty members and speech advocates believe it's inappropriate to prohibit what they see as a legitimate form of protest at public campuses. That, and they argue that a walkout is one of the most peaceful and least disruptive forms of protest. The Tennessee legislation, sent to Republican Gov. Bill Lee's desk Friday, is dubbed the Charlie Kirk Act -- adding to a growing number of red states that are using the conservative activist's legacy to reform campus speech. Despite HB 1476's name association, Tennessee Rep. Gino Bulso, a Republican and the bill's sponsor, said it is nonpartisan in nature. HB 1476 also prevents colleges from disinviting speakers due to their beliefs or in response to opposition from students or faculty. |
| 'Turning Point Was Charlie Kirk': Why This Student Group Moved On | |
| Shortly after the assassination of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk, hundreds of students at the University of Arkansas gathered in the school's amphitheater to pay their respects and support the campus chapter of Turning Point USA, the student group he co-founded. Six months later, there was a surprising announcement. The campus chapter would no longer be affiliated with Turning Point USA, Dino Fantegrossi, the chapter president, said in a statement. The national group, he added, had "lost sight" of "conservative policy, principles and values" in the post-Kirk era. The campus group, he said, would now be known as Young American Revival. Though the change at Arkansas's flagship university is a minor setback for Turning Point -- and it is unclear what many of the chapter's hundreds of members will do now -- the local turmoil highlights some of the national group's most pressing long-term challenges. Chief among them is whether it can cement its place at the center of American conservatism now that the charismatic Mr. Kirk is gone. |
| Faculty Defect From Texas Publics, Citing Censorship Concerns | |
 | Texas A&M philosophy professor Martin Peterson is leaving the university after administrators told him in January that he couldn't teach Plato's Symposium in his philosophy class; they said the ancient Greek philosopher's work violated the system's restrictions on gender and sexuality content. Peterson's colleague Linda Raznik, a philosophy professor and associate department head, is jumping ship with similar concerns about academic freedom. Lucy Schiller, a nonfiction writing professor at Texas Tech University, also has plans to leave her job. They are just a few of the faculty members giving up their jobs at Texas public institutions as the systems deploy escalating censorship policies that restrict or explicitly ban any instruction, writing, research or discussion on gender identity and sexual orientation. |
| Mizzou researcher raises the heat in new tomato study | |
 | When describing the flavor of tomatoes, words like "sweet," "juicy," "rich" and "fresh" are common adjectives. "Spicy," on the other hand, is not. University of Missouri doctoral student Kishan Biradar is looking to change that. For the past year and a half, Biradar has been researching why tomatoes do not produce capsaicin (cap-SAY-sin), a chemical compound that activates nerve receptors in the tongue that act like thermometers, creating the sensation of heat. The fruit has the necessary genes to produce the chemical compound, but it doesn't. Capsaicin contains anti-inflammatory properties and has been linked to weight loss but is also found in products like pepper spray and pain relief medication. If the concentration of capsaicin is high enough, it can also have anticancer properties. Biradar and his adviser, Erin Sparks, are figuring out the pathway functions -- growth, development and physiology regulation -- in tomatoes versus peppers with an end goal of modifying the pathways to create capsaicin. |
| 3 students, 2 others shot along nightlife district near the U. of Iowa, authorities say | |
| A shooting during a fight in a nightlife district near the University of Iowa campus wounded five people early Sunday, including three students, police and university officials said. Multiple victims were transported to hospitals for gunshot wounds, according to Iowa City police. One person was in critical condition while four others were stable, police said. No arrests had been made as of Sunday morning, according to a campus alert. Police released photos of groups of people that were identified as persons of interest. Officers were responding to reports of a large fight in downtown Iowa City close to a pedestrian mall filled with bars and restaurants when they heard shots being fired, police said. University President Barbara Wilson said three students were wounded and that support was available for the campus community. The university has about 31,000 students. |
| The Hidden Factor in Choosing a College: Did It Rain on Your Tour? | |
| Researchers have spent years pondering what drives college decisions, including older siblings' choices, campus amenities or even whether the football team just won big. Now, a new study reveals another influence that matters more than you would expect: The weather on your college tour. Don't underestimate drizzle. Researchers at Amherst College found that poor weather on a campus visit actually reduces a student's likelihood of applying -- and the impact is notable, according to a study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Applications dipped 10.1% when a tour was hot and 5.9% when it was cold, relative to moderate temperatures. They also dipped 8.3% when there was precipitation and 4.9% when it was cloudy, compared with sunny days. "This isn't just a story people tell," said Olivia Feldman, an Amherst senior and co-author of the paper. "It's actually something that exists" and affects "one of the most important decisions many people make in their lives." |
| College Students Are More Polarized Than Ever. Can AI Help? | |
| Over the past few years, higher education institutions have adopted emerging artificial intelligence tools in an effort to enhance nearly every aspect of campus life -- not just teaching and learning but also admissions, alumni networks, fundraising and advising. Now some are even experimenting with AI's ability to advance one of the hottest trends on college campuses: fostering constructive dialogue among students, who are more divided over politics now than at any point in the past 40 years. That's largely a reflection of the broader political polarization that has plagued American society over the past decade, a dynamic that intensified on college campuses over the pro-Palestinian protests that broke out during the Israel-Hamas war. Indeed, the share of students who said they were uncomfortable sharing their political views on campus climbed from 13 percent to 33 percent between 2015 and 2024. To help bridge those divides, colleges are increasingly partnering with organizations aimed at promoting civil dialogue, including Braver Angels, BridgeUSA, the Institute for Citizens and Scholars, and the Constructive Dialogue Institute. And lately, AI is becoming part of the conversation. |
| The Lesser-Known Way That Trump's Accreditation Overhaul Could Change College Programs | |
| In the Trump administration's crusade to reshape college accreditation, one area is getting an outsized amount of attention: specialized academic programs in fields like engineering, health care, and veterinary medicine. Much of the focus of those draft regulations has been on institutional accreditors -- the private, nonprofit associations that are meant to assess the academic quality of entire colleges, and serve as the gatekeepers for federal student-aid programs such as direct student loans and Pell Grants. But a number of the proposed rule changes are aimed at changing the operations of accreditors that typically oversee only one field of study, including nursing, physical therapy, and some types of mental-health counseling. Those organizations make up more than 60 percent of the accreditors recognized by the Education Department, according to the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors. |
| Philip Gunn eyes rare Mississippi feat of serving as speaker and then governor | |
| Mississippi Today's Bobby Harrison writes: As speaker of Mississippi House from 2012 until 2024, Philip Gunn was a zealous defender of the powers of the Legislature from the overreach of the governor. Now, he wants to be governor. Gunn announced last week he will be running for the state's top elected position in 2027. The Clinton Republican, who has been in private law practice since choosing in 2023 not to seek another four-year term in the state House, is trying to accomplish what has seldom been done in Mississippi politics. He is vying to become the first person to serve as speaker of the state House and then as governor of Mississippi since Fielding Wright's tenure as governor from 1946 until 1952 after a stint as speaker. Wright, a Rolling Fork native, also has the distinction of being the vice presidential nominee for the segregationist Dixiecrat Party in 1948. |
| Mississippi powered Artemis II | |
| U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker writes: For nine days this month, space travel captivated the world. Families gathered around their screens as four astronauts strapped into the Integrity spacecraft docked at the Kennedy Space Center. As the launch countdown ended, four Mississippi-tested RS-45 engines ignited, and the ground shook. Seven seconds later, the Integrity had liftoff. For six intense minutes, the RS-45 engines rocketed the crew into high Earth orbit, sending them on their historic lunar flyby mission. Mississippi should take a bow. The four RS-45 engines were tested at our very own Stennis Space Center, where Mississippians have been ensuring the quality of rocket engines since the Apollo program. ... One Mississippian in particular helped make the mission a success. Hernando native Matthew Ramsey handled a great deal of responsibility as the mission manager for Artemis II. The Mississippi State University graduate helped set the focus for the mission and equip the astronauts and staff for the job. |
SPORTS
| Baseball: No. 17 MSU Completes Sweep At South Carolina | |
| No. 17 Mississippi State completed a historic weekend Sunday, edging South Carolina 4-3 in 11 innings at Founders Park to finish the program's first-ever three-game sweep of the Gamecocks. The Diamond Dawgs (30-10, 10-8 SEC) leaned on timely hitting, dominant pitching and steady defense to close out the milestone series win. MSU grabbed the early lead in the second when Gehrig Frei reached on an error and Blake Bevis followed with a two-run homer to left field, scoring both runners for a 2-0 advantage. It was Bevis' fourth home run of the season and second in as many days. Mississippi State starter Charlie Foster turned in a career performance, striking out a career-high eight batters over seven innings. Foster allowed six hits and three runs while keeping the Gamecocks quiet through the first seven frames. MSU returns to Dudy Noble Field to host Memphis on Tuesday at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+. |
| Mississippi State basketball star Josh Hubbard will return for senior season | |
 | Mississippi State basketball star Josh Hubbard will return to the Bulldogs for the 2026-27 season. The junior guard announced he will return for his senior season in a social media post on April 17. "Playing at Humphrey Coliseum has meant a lot to me," Hubbard said in the video. "It's very important to me in my life to play here for my home state in this arena. Growing up seeing all the highlights that's happened in this arena, it's definitely just been a blessing. "The kind of memories I've made in Starkville will last a lifetime, with friends, family. Here in Starkville, the connections I've built, it's just been a full circle moment for me and my family. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support over the years. ... With that being said, let's call 12 one more time. Let's run it back." Hubbard has been MSU's leading scorer in all three of his seasons. He scored a career-high 22.1 points per game in 2025-26. |
| Men's Tennis: No. 6 Mississippi State Falls to No. 1 Texas in SEC Championship | |
| The championship run came up just short for the No. 6 Bulldogs, as they fell 4-2 to top-ranked Texas in the SEC Championship on Sunday at the Mitchell Tennis Center. Texas took early control by securing the doubles point with wins on courts two and three, putting the Bulldogs behind heading into singles play. Mississippi State responded with strong performances taking five of six first sets. No. 123 Bryan Hernandez Cortes put the Dawgs on the board with a solid 6-3, 6-4 victory over No. 93 Abel Forger on court five, tying the match at one all. No. 7 Benito Sanchez Martinez delivered a statement win on court one, defeating No. 3 Sebastian Gorzny in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4 to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 advantage. However, Texas proved to be too deep down the stretch. The Longhorns captured three hard-fought singles matches, including a comeback win on court two and a decisive three-set victory on court six to clinch the title. Despite the loss, Mississippi State finished an impressive tournament run with a 22-5 record and a runner-up finish in the SEC marking the program's strongest showing in the conference championship since 2019. The Bulldogs now turn their focus to the NCAA Tournament. |
| Mississippi State nominees for McWhorter Post-Graduate Scholarships announced | |
| Rickyla Fagan of the Bulldogs' women's track and field team and Petar Jovanovic of the Mississippi State men's tennis team have been nominated for the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship by Mississippi State University. The H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship has been presented by the Southeastern Conference since 1986 to the league's top male and female scholar-athletes. The Southeastern Conference will name the 2026 recipients of the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship in late April. The SEC provides the league's male and female McWhorter Scholar-Athlete of the Year Post-Graduate Scholarship recipients with a $20,000 post-graduate scholarship. The 30 remaining male and female finalists for the award will also receive a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship. The award recipients are chosen by a committee of Faculty Athletics Representatives from the 16 SEC institutions. |
| NCAA Eligibility Rules Spark Lawsuits, Reforms and Political Moves | |
| The NCAA is weighing new eligibility rules that would allow athletes five years to compete from the time they turn 19 or when they graduate from high school -- whichever is earlier. In the meantime, it is litigating challenges brought in state and federal courts across the country. Don't expect that dynamic to change anytime soon, even if new eligibility rules are adopted. The NCAA has won most of the eligibility cases, but "most" doesn't work for a national association whose members contractually agree to equal treatment of member schools and their coaches and athletes. Each of the more than 70 eligibility cases involves an athlete who seeks to play past their NCAA eligibility, which is generally limited to four seasons of play within five years. These athletes want to stick around college to continue their athletic development and potentially capitalize on NIL and revenue-sharing opportunities that, in some instances, are worth millions of dollars. For athletes whose pro prospects are questionable or non-existent, it's rational to pursue the prospect of lucrative opportunities -- even if it requires hiring an attorney and suing. NCAA member schools also have a voice on the matter. |
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