| Thursday, August 6, 2026 |
| Gatewood receives international Omega Psi Phi award for fraternity advising at MSU | |
 | According to an MSU press release, a Mississippi State University Information Technology Services leader, also serving as a campus fraternity advisor, is this year's recipient of the international Dr. Ernest E. Just Undergraduate Chapter Advisor of the Year Award, a prestigious accolade given by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Ronald Gatewood, director of User Services within ITS, recently was honored at Omega Psi Phi's conclave in Cincinnati, Ohio, for demonstrating exceptional commitment to mentoring and advising undergraduate members while fostering their personal, academic and leadership development. Recipients are selected for their ability to positively influence members to pursue the fraternity's ideals and mandated programs, along with supporting meaningful contributions at the local, district, state and international levels. "Dr. Gatewood's recognition on the international stage reflects his unwavering dedication to the students he serves and the positive impact he has made within the fraternity and MSU community," said Roderick Davis, MSU assistant director of fraternity and sorority life. |
| From Miss Mississippi to medicine: Vicksburg's Morgan Nelson begins medical school this fall | |
 | Vicksburg resident Morgan Nelson, first runner-up to Miss Mississippi 2026, begins her first year of medical school this fall at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. Nelson, who has competed for the title four times, plans to become an OB-GYN. Since her sophomore year at Mississippi State University, Nelson has been a valued member of the PROMISE Program, said Dr. Dan Coleman, medical school outreach director. "It has been an honor to watch her grow from a pre-med student into a medical student," Coleman said. "The Office of Admission has directly observed her growth, not only as a PROMISE student but also during her tenure as Miss Mississippi State. Throughout her journey, Morgan has shown discipline, focus, and a steadfast dedication to excellence. Whether studying for the MCAT, excelling academically at Mississippi State University, preparing for the pageant, or being a member of the dance team at MSU, she consistently demonstrates an exceptional ability to manage multiple high-level commitments while maintaining outstanding performance. We have no doubt that the discipline, focus, and perseverance that have defined Morgan's success will enable her to excel in the rigorous environment of medical school and ultimately become an outstanding physician." |
| Bald Eagles Make a Remarkable Comeback Across the Mississippi Delta | |
| The bald eagle, once pushed to the brink of disappearing across much of the United States, is soaring again -- and the recovery is becoming increasingly visible across the Mississippi Delta. From rivers and lakes to wooded areas throughout the region, more people are spotting America's national bird, a sign of one of the nation's most successful conservation efforts. Emily Tillman Donovan, an MSU Master Naturalist in Belzoni, has witnessed the transformation firsthand. Growing up in the 1980s, she said seeing a bald eagle was a rare event. Today, nesting pairs have become a regular sight in Humphreys County. The dramatic rebound is reflected nationwide. According to the American Eagle Foundation, the number of nesting bald eagle pairs in the Lower 48 states has increased from just 417 in 1963 to more than 71,000 today. Researchers at the Mississippi State University Forest and Wildlife Research Center have documented that recovery across Mississippi and the Southeast. Dr. Scott Rush said the species has rebounded remarkably since populations were devastated by the widespread use of DDT, habitat loss and persecution. |
| Know how to protect pets from New World Screwworm | |
| While most confirmed cases of New World Screwworm in the U.S. have been detected in cattle, sheep and goats, animal health officials in Mississippi want pet owners to know dogs and cats are vulnerable to the pest. "This pest is still contained in Texas and New Mexico, and there is no reason to panic," said Carla Huston, Mississippi State University Extension Service veterinarian and professor with the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine. "But it is important to know that any animal is susceptible to these flies and how to protect your pets." The New World Screwworm is a type of blowfly that is attracted to wounds and lays its eggs on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, including livestock, wildlife, pets and less commonly people and birds. Within 24 hours, these eggs hatch into the deadly larvae. These larvae, or maggots, burrow into the flesh of hosts and cause severe injury and even death if infections are not quickly caught and treated. Animals treated in a timely manner can fully recover. The best way to protect pets is to carefully monitor them and make sure they are up to date on flea and tick preventives. |
| Research supports state watermelon growers | |
| Sources from MSU press release say, on a hot July morning, more than 60 people walked through dusty research fields at Mississippi State University to see for themselves how melon varieties performed in the state's summer climate. The 2026 Watermelon Field Day was hosted by the MSU Extension Service outside at the R.R. Foil Plant Science Research Center and indoors at MSU's A.B. McKay Food Research and Enology Lab. Growers joined researchers, graduate students, and Extension agents to learn what affects this sweet crop in Mississippi. According to the most recent USDA Census of Agriculture, there were 306 farms growing watermelons on 1,401 acres across the state in 2022. This report found 101 farms grew cantaloupes and muskmelons on 203 acres, and 14 farms grew honeydew on 16 acres. "It is likely that some of these farms grew all the different kinds of melons, so it is hard to determine the number of farms and total acreage in melons in the state," said Pawel Orlinski, MSU Extension vegetable specialist and field day organizer. his year was especially hard on watermelons. |
| Mary Means Business: Restaurant news rampant in Starkville | |
 | Restaurant news is rampant in Starkville this week, with food spots ranging from fried chicken and wings to Japanese ramen. First up, although Osake Steakhouse closed at 211 Hwy. 12, renovations are officially underway for a new concept. Building owner representative Nancy Lian confirmed that a Japanese ramen restaurant will open soon in the space, though an official name and opening date have yet to be finalized. ... Just down the road in the Asian Foods Market strip mall, another culinary addition is in the works. WingGold, located at 210 Hwy. 12, Suite G, will be a full-service restaurant, according to filings with the Mississippi Secretary of State's office. ... Downtown, Colorado-based chicken joint Birdcall is officially open for business at 213 E. Main St., right next to the State Theatre. ... Right down the street, The Lily Pad has officially opened its doors at 220 E. Main St. in the former Fleur de Lis Flowers and Gifts building. The Oxford-based boutique, which celebrated 26 years in business this year, brings women's apparel, gifts and Greek life gear to downtown shoppers. ... Mockingbird Hobby and Games is set to host its grand opening on Aug. 14 at 114 Willow Road. The new retail store will carry trading cards, tabletop miniatures and hobby supplies. |
| Oktibbeha OKs garbage rate increase | |
| Starting Oct. 1 Oktibbeha County residential garbage collection rates are set to increase from $15 to $16 per household a month. This is the second year in a row the county has raised its pickup rates following Golden Triangle Waste Services increasing the rate it charges the county. Prior to last year the county had not raised rates for 18 years. The board of supervisors voted unanimously to pass the increase onto residents during Monday's board meeting at the chancery courthouse. "Unfortunately, we had to raise the rate," District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer told The Dispatch. "They raised it on us $1, and what we did, we just passed it along to keep us from having a deficiency in the fund." Last year Oktibbeha County increased its rate by $2, a larger increase than the corresponding GTWS hike at the time. The county needed a larger increase because it was running its waste service at a deficit, a position it has since recovered from, County Administrator Wayne Carpenter told The Dispatch. |
| Residents encouraged to 'Think Big, Start Small' at Business After Hours | |
 | Lauderdale County community leaders were encouraged to continue efforts to grow the area's cultural identity at a Business After Hours event Tuesday organized by the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation. Hosted at Soulé Steam Museum, the event provided an opportunity for networking, and a presentation by Stennis Institute Project Director Chance McDavid. McDavid, who also serves as president of the Mississippi Main Street board, has a wealth of knowledge about community development, strategic planning, civic engagement and more. "For 20 years plus, I have worked under the belief of asset-based community development. In other words, looking at what communities have as opposed to what they don't have," he said. "And it's very, very important to realize that the people, their knowledge, skills and abilities, and the resources they bring to the table are the very things that build community, and that's where we start." McDavid encourages local leaders to "think big and start small" by leveraging the assets already present in the community and making small but impactful change. |
| 50 years fresh: Hitching Lot Farmers Market to host 50th anniversary celebration | |
| When Chelsea Best, farmers market coordinator with Main Street Columbus, was doing the math last year and realized the Hitching Lot Farmers Market was going to turn 50, she knew she wanted to do something big. So she organized a celebration to commemorate the storied building and its importance to the community. "I don't know of many markets that can say they've been around that long," Best told The Dispatch Wednesday. "... It takes a lot of work to make that market happen, whether it's from the city, whether it's from the volunteers, whether it's from Main Street, or anyone who's involved. ... It's really impressive to see it go for that long and to be that strong at 50 years." The event is planned for 7-10 a.m. Saturday at the Hitching Lot and will include live music, arts and crafts, a splash pad and games like giant checkers, Best said. It will also feature its usual cast of roughly 20 vendors offering seasonal vegetables like tomatoes, corn and squash. Best said her goal in planning the anniversary event was to have something for all ages who may stop by the market. |
| Mississippi Senate to form select committee on cybersecurity | |
| As concerns about cybercrime continue to grow in Mississippi, the state's lieutenant governor has announced a new select committee focused on protecting government systems, providing more resources to law enforcement, and reviewing penalties for cybercriminals. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, a Republican who oversees the Senate, announced Thursday plans for the Senate Select Committee on Cybersecurity. "Too many Mississippians find themselves the victims of cybercrime," Hosemann said. "Criminals are using technology to steal identities, target state assets, and exploit vulnerable individuals. We have a responsibility to ensure our laws keep pace with these evolving threats and provide law enforcement with the tools needed to protect Mississippians." The select committee will be co-chaired by Sens. Bart Williams, R-Starkville, and Tyler McCaughn, R-Newton. Other members include Sens. Bradford Blackmon, D-Canton; Scott DeLano, R-Biloxi; Jeremy England, R-Vancleave; and Rod Hickman, D-Macon. The committee will begin holding hearings this fall before developing recommendations to be considered by the full Senate during the 2027 legislative session. |
| Governor Reeves announces second round of Rural Health Transformation Program | |
| A new round of application opportunities for funding under Mississippi's Rural Health Transformation Program was promoted by the governor Wednesday morning. Mississippi received $206.5 million in federal funding as part of the first round of the Rural Health Transformation Program. Governor Reeves said Mississippi is expected to receive more than $1 billion over five years as part of the nationwide effort to fill healthcare gaps across the nation. Mississippi has until October to award grants as part of the first round of funding. AccelerateMS is working to expand the healthcare workforce in the state as part of the Workforce Expansion Initiative. Dr. Courtney Taylor, Executive Director of AccelerateMS, said the initiative aims to locate and recruit more people to healthcare fields by exposing them to opportunities. Those efforts will start at the K-12 school level and continue into community colleges and universities. It will also include people currently in the workforce. "The governor has tasked us, very simply, with working on things that get more people working, making higher wages," Taylor said. |
| Reeves announces pilot programs to improve rural health for Mississippi | |
| Gov. Tate Reeves announced Wednesday new pilot programs aimed to combat obesity, eliminate obstetric care deserts and expand mental health services in rural Mississippi. The programs will be funded with federal Rural Health Transformation Program dollars. The Mississippi State Department of Health will oversee the projects designed to reduce obesity through Make America Healthy Again movement principles, track chronic conditions through remote patient-care monitoring and deploy mobile clinics to areas lacking access to prenatal or obstetric care. The Department of Mental Health will launch a new telehealth program for veterans and first responders, expand crisis diversion centers to provide an alternative to emergency departments and jails for people experiencing mental health crises and expand access to evidence-based training programs for behavioral healthcare staff. "This is not a collection of individual or separate projects," said Reeves, who spearheaded the state's application for the federal dollars last fall and is overseeing their distribution. "It's one, coordinated project." |
| 'Coordinated effort to improve outcomes': Governor expounds on Mississippi's rural healthcare plan | |
| Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced Wednesday that money has been made available through the state's rural healthcare initiative, while expounding on efforts to meet the needs of residents in underserved areas. In a press conference, Reeves revealed that $81.7 million has been made available to organizations serving rural Mississippians through three grant opportunities. The governor did not go into detail about the grant requirements but said specifics would be announced at a later date. The funding comes from a nearly $206 million pool provided to Mississippi by the Trump administration as part of a $50 billion federal program created through the "One Big Beautiful Bill." The nearly $82 million sum Mississippi is granting to organizations is just the first phase of a greater plan to hand out all of the money the state has been awarded from the federal government. According to the governor, the state received applications from 236 organizations serving rural Mississippians, requesting more than $676 million in funding. "The need is greater than the funding available in this first round," Reeves said. "That's exactly why getting these decisions right matters. Our job now is to implement this program the right way, deliver lasting results, and continue being good stewards of these dollars." |
| Lynn Fitch kicks off governor campaign with promise to speed up income tax phase-out | |
| Attorney General Lynn Fitch kicked off her statewide tour promoting her 2027 campaign for governor by promising to speed up the income tax elimination, improve the state's healthcare outcomes and work to make Mississippi more affordable. Speaking at the Mississippi Republican Party headquarters in downtown Jackson on Wednesday, Fitch described herself as aligned with President Donald Trump and said she wants to make Mississippi the "leader in conservative governance." "Together, we will make a bold and sustaining change for Mississippi," Fitch said. "That is how we make the most of this moment in time. That is how we make Mississippi the nation's leader. That is how we give you and your family the best future." In 2025, the Legislature passed a bill to phase out Mississippi's income tax, which Republican Gov. Tate Reeves signed into law. |
| Auditor Shad White will have 'plenty to say about governor's race' once deployment, midterms wrap up | |
| State Auditor Shad White gave a teaser about his possible future political aspirations. After informing SuperTalk Mississippi News in May that he is not seeking a third term as auditor, White's team on Tuesday announced that the state official will be more politically active once he returns from an overseas deployment. Along with his civic duty as auditor, White is a captain in the Mississippi National Guard. His team said he is currently deployed in the Middle East, where he is participating in the ongoing American-Israeli conflict with Iran. After the midterms wrap up, White's team said the auditor will weigh in on the Mississippi governor's race. While not announcing a bid for the state's highest office, White's name has been floated as a possible candidate. The statement from White's team came hours after Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, also a Republican, launched her candidacy for governor. Fitch and White have long feuded politically, with the primary scuffle between the two being related to the investigation into the largest welfare scandal in state history. |
| County level redistricting in wake of Callais unlikely ahead of 2027 elections in Mississippi | |
| While legislative, congressional and state Supreme Court redistricting all appear to be in the works following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Callais v. Louisiana, county level mid-decade redistricting in Mississippi does not seem to be top of mind for local Boards of Supervisors heading into the 2027 election cycle. The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Callais determined racial gerrymandering to be unconstitutional as it had been practiced under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The decision raised the evidentiary bar for proving a violation of the Voting Rights Act, requiring proof of actual discriminatory intent in drawing voting districts. Nearly every voting district in Mississippi, from city council to congressional seats, has been drawn under the prior understanding of Section 2. Black voting age population was given precedence over simple population totals and other factors, such as communities of interest and logical geographical boundaries, when setting voting districts. |
| GOP-led Senate committee votes to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress | |
 | A Republican-led Senate committee voted on Thursday, Aug. 6, to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal official who led the government's coronavirus response in 2020, in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions during a hearing last week. The panel advanced the resolution on an 8 to 5 vote, with two senators also voting no by proxy, to rebuke the infectious disease expert for asserting his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination during congressional testimony. The contempt vote marks the start of what could become a long, drawn-out legal battle for one of the nation's most recognizable pandemic-era figures. Potentially hefty fines, and even the prospect of jail time, are at stake. Democrats accused their GOP colleagues of an "immensely historic step" and warned that the dramatic vote would erode the legislative branch's oversight powers. "What it will do is create a damaging precedent that future witnesses will use to resist legitimate congressional oversight," Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, the ranking member on the Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, said. "Future witnesses will argue that appearing before Congress exposes them to punishment ... They will point directly to this vote as a justification for refusing to appear at all." |
| Moderate Democrats Prepare for 'War' Against an Ascendant Left | |
 | The embattled establishment of the Democratic Party searched furiously for a political reset after Dr. Abdul El-Sayed's progressive victory in Michigan handed the party's long-dominant moderate wing its most painful defeat of the year. Some strategists urgently pressed to adopt a sharper edge to tap into the fury among Democratic voters that was felling its centrist candidates. Others wanted to attack democratic socialism, undercutting a budding movement now set to have far more than a toehold in the next Congress. Yet another young democratic socialist ousted an incumbent congressman in Detroit on Tuesday. "We are preparing for the next war that is coming," said Jonathan Cowan, the president of Third Way, a leading centrist Democratic group, revealing to The New York Times a new $15 million effort between now and 2028 to discredit democratic socialism. Centrist Democrats say their purpose is to make progressives understand the risks of some of the more radical planks of the official D.S.A. platform: defunding the Department of War, taking "steps toward fully abolishing the police and prison system," enacting "reparations" and establishing a 32-hour workweek. |
| Trump's Economy Speech Veers Into an Extended Riff on Communism | |
| President Donald Trump came to Las Vegas on Wednesday to rally voters on the economy and tax relief. But, after a pivotal week for left-leaning candidates in Michigan and Wisconsin, he couldn't help but turn to communism. "You lose your home, you lose your apartment, and that's where the communists will take us," Trump said. "You got to nip it in the bud." The president's broadsides at the Red Rocks Casino came during a nearly 75-minute rally, evoking repeated cheers from the audience. Trump diverged from his economic remarks multiple times, including minutes-long segments calling out this week's main characters: Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who edged out moderate Rep. Haley Stevens by a narrow margin, and Wisconsin gubernatorial hopeful Francesca Hong, who went viral over old posts describing a hatred of Thanksgiving (and Christmas, and Halloween). El-Sayed's primary win was the latest example of left-wing challengers succeeding against more moderate, establishment-backed Democrats. It's a shift that has coincided with a deepening party splinter since Trump entered office -- and one Republicans hope to take advantage of during the summer campaign season by amplifying distrust of communism to push more centrist voters away from progressive candidates. El-Sayed's victory makes that effort easier, Trump said Wednesday. |
| Celebrity culture is one thing. For TMZ, Congress is the new 'reality show' | |
 | During a recent visit to Reagan Washington National Airport, TMZ's Charlie Cotton was chatting up with Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff for an interview that would later post to the online tabloid's site. "You don't look like Pee-wee Herman," Cotton told Ossoff, who's locked in a high-profile reelection campaign against Republican challenger Rep. Mike Collins. President Trump recently called Ossoff "Pinky Herman," an apparent reference to the iconic 1980s character Pee-wee Herman. But on this day, Cotton wanted to talk more about their shared roots. Cotton is from Australia, and Ossoff's mother is a native Australian too. "You know, there is a laid-back culture, I think, in Australia," Ossoff said. "We get a little wound up over here sometimes." That can be particularly true on Capitol Hill, where TMZ is bringing a new approach to reporting on Congress since launching a bureau in the nation's capital this year. Now, the site that carved out a reputation for celebrity scoops is putting a lens on Washington, mixing levity, gossip and also more legitimate exclusives in hopes of drawing new readers who might not be politically inclined. The site started gaining attention in Washington this year when TMZ founder Harvey Levin asked the public to share photos of vacationing members of Congress during a partial government shutdown. The photos went viral. |
| Hiroshima marks 81st atomic bomb anniversary as mayor deplores the pursuit of nuclear weapons | |
 | Hiroshima on Thursday marked the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the western Japanese city, with its mayor criticizing major powers for waging wars and urging them to stop justifying the possession of nuclear weapons as a method of deterrence. "Downplaying the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and accepting the use of force to pursue one's own prosperity risk cycles of violent retaliation that could ultimately result in another Hiroshima or Nagasaki," Mayor Kazumi Matsui said. Too many political leaders still consider nuclear deterrence a realistic approach and legitimize violence, which "simply pushes a world without nuclear weapons further into the distance," Matsui said in his peace declaration at the ceremony at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. He also called on each citizen to learn lessons from the past and take action. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who attended the memorial for the first time as prime minister, said she will take "a realistic approach" toward achieving a world where nuclear weapons are never used, within the framework of the United Nations' treaty to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. |
| Gen Z is spending more across all income brackets | |
| In this K-shaped economy, where higher-income Americans bounced back from the pandemic and started spending money again much more easily than lower-income peers, one generation isn't acting K-shaped at all. The youngest adults among us, Gen Zers, are actually all spending more, across all income brackets, according to fresh data from Bank of America. And it's not all student loans and car payments, either -- they're spending on travel, and coffee, and jewelry. Gen Z came of age during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. So they're comfortable spending more of their income, "because people just stayed at home and bought stuff," said Matt Britton, author of "Generation AI." While they were stuck at home during the pandemic, young people were also scrolling on social media. "Looking at everybody else living their highlight reel, and they think that they need to spend the money now," Britton said. On top of that, Gen Zers have adopted a "YOLO" mentality, said Jason Dorsey, head of the Center for Generational Kinetics, a research firm. (It stands for "you only live once.") "They don't believe in a lot of the sort of traditional life promises, such as retirement or even if Social Security is going to exist." he said. "And so they are choosing to spend now rather than save for things such as a house or others that might seem out of reach." |
| Mississippi Nonprofit and Colleges Step In to Help Foster Students Denied Scholarships as Lawmakers Vow Fix | |
| After 170 Mississippi foster students were denied full-ride scholarships due to a funding gap, the Woodward Hines Education Foundation has dedicated $800,000 to fund the affected students' FAITH scholarships. " Philanthropy cannot replace government funding," said Jim McHale, president and CEO of the Woodward Hines Education Foundation, a Jackson-based nonprofit dedicated to accessible postsecondary education. He made the remarks at an Aug. 5 press conference at the Mississippi State Capitol. "State financial aid programs are a public investment ..., but at the same time, we realize that when students are facing an immediate barrier, we believe there is a responsibility to help them find their way." And across Mississippi, community colleges and universities alike are coordinating to prevent any of the students with completed applications for the FAITH scholarship from being denied this fall. " Because of our incredible partners around the state -- private (institutions), our nonprofits, our universities and colleges across the state -- we are going to make sure that every one of these students has the opportunity to take advantage of the scholarship," said Mississippi Sen. Nicole Boyd, R-Oxford, who marshalled many of the individuals and institutions responding to the scholarship funding crisis. |
| Sorority coaches talk about what it takes to get a bid in Mississippi | |
 | For today's sorority hopefuls, recruitment begins long before they walk through chapter doors in August. Months before bid day, high school seniors spend hours curating their Instagram feeds, stalking chapter profiles, curating resumes and learning the hidden language of sorority recruitment. Some are even hiring professional help. "It's not just the mamas anymore," said Heather McCraney, co-founder of RushedMS, a sorority recruitment preparation service based in the Jackson area. "The girls are coming into this wanting to be prepared." Sorority recruitment, once a tradition largely passed down through family connections and alumni networks has now become a yearlong preparation project complete with consultants, online courses, workshops and personalized coaching. Recruitment experts say the biggest change in recent years is that more students are participating in recruitment, forcing sororities to take on more girls, or make more cuts. One of the biggest forces reshaping recruitment is social media. Recruitment content on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram have turned sorority rush into a highly visible cultural event at Southeastern Conference universities. |
| Dorm decor trends bring Pinterest to life in Mississippi's colleges, universities | |
| Scroll through TikTok during the weeks leading up to college move-in, and it's hard to miss. Videos of perfectly styled dorm rooms rack up thousands of views as students reveal patterned bedding, custom artwork and spaces that look straight out of a magazine. Mississippi State University student Addison Rose knew going into her freshman year that she wanted her dorm room not to look like anyone else's. "We just wanted to bring something different to the table, something with a fun design and a bunch of different colors going through the room," Addison said. "I wanted everybody to feel comfortable when they came into my room, so I tried to make it as homey as possible." Addison said she still uses the furniture for her apartment this year. Her mother, Candace Rose of Flowood, said the process started in May when Addison got her dorm room assignment. |
| Jones College hosts student orientation, welcoming around 500 freshmen | |
 | Jones College is welcoming incoming freshmen to 'Jones Up Close' orientation. "We want to make sure that our students are supported and they're going to have a really good day when they get on campus," said Dean of Students Adam Butler. Traditionally, Jones College hosts a presentation at orientation, but this year they're switching it up. Students can take care of all their needs at the A.B. Howard Gymnasium and the administration building with faculty to make sure they are "Seat Ready." "Seat Ready is all about getting things done on the business side of things," Butler said. "You'll get things like your student ID, parking decal, asking questions about financial aid and scholarships, and asking about different clubs and organizations." This year, Jones has more than 500 freshmen registered to attend orientation. |
| Trump administration unveils major Head Start overhaul | |
 | The Trump administration announced plans on Thursday to roll back regulations for Head Start, a popular federal program that provides free education, health and nutrition services to hundreds of thousands of low-income children. Federal officials say the proposed rule from the Department of Health and Human Services would give the nation's roughly 1,600 Head Start programs that receive federal funds more "flexibility" by scaling back a number of rules they must currently follow. The program has traditionally received robust bipartisan support in Congress and across presidential administrations, but has been heavily criticized as ineffective by conservative and libertarian groups. Those criticisms have been rejected by Democrats, early childhood education advocates and even Trump administration officials such as HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "These are the poorest kids in our country," Kennedy told reporters. "Ninety percent of them are at or below the poverty line. The program works." Head Start programs currently serve roughly 700,000 infants, toddlers and pregnant women across the nation. |
| Stuart Bell hires ex-Alabama executive for Florida role | |
 | A top University of Alabama administrator has left the university to join former UA President Stuart Bell at the University of Florida. Chad Tindol will serve as senior vice president for administration under Bell, who was confirmed as Florida's new president July 1. Bell said Tindol will report directly to him in the newly created position, which is intended to strengthen the University of Florda's ability to advance key priorities, enhance collaboration among senior leaders and support UF's continued success. Tindol's appointment marks Bell's first major hire since becoming UF president. Bell said Tindol will begin his duties in early August. Before departing for Gainesville, Tindol served as UA's senior vice president for partnerships and strategy. He also spent seven years as UA's chief administrative officer. A UA graduate, Tindol earned a bachelor's degree in English language and literature before receiving a law degree from Yale University. |
| U. of South Carolina celebrates record $358M in fundraising, other SC colleges also set records | |
| The University of South Carolina is touting a record-breaking year of fundraising. The eight-school system, with a main campus in Columbia and seven other two- and four-year schools scattered around the state, raised $357.6 million in the budget year that ended June 30, according to a statement Wednesday. That's nearly $100 million more than the record set by the college system last year. "This historic year reflects great confidence in the mission of the University of South Carolina," USC President Michael Amiridis said in a statement. "Our alumni, friends and partners are investing in the people, ideas and discoveries that will shape USC's future. Their generosity is expanding opportunity, accelerating innovation and strengthening our impact across South Carolina and beyond." Most of the money raised will go to athletics: $81 million for scholarships across all sports and $147 million for improvements to Williams-Brice football stadium. The remaining $129 million is academic-related. The largest gift of the year -- $30 million -- went to the medical school. |
| Buc-ee's and Texas A&M team up for exclusive merch launch | |
| Two beloved Texas brands are joining forces in a way that Aggies and Buc-ee's fans have been waiting for. Texas A&M University and Buc-ee's officially launched their first-ever co-branded merchandise Tuesday, starting with a limited-edition T-shirt available at select Buc-ee's travel centers and the Barnes & Noble bookstore on Texas A&M's College Station campus. The collaboration celebrates the longtime connection between the university and Buc-ee's founder Arch "Beaver" Aplin III, a member of Texas A&M's Class of 1980. "As an Aggie, it's special to see Buc-ee's and Texas A&M come together in a way that celebrates both brands," Aplin said. "Texas A&M has always felt like home." The launch comes months after Texas A&M became the first university to sell Buc-ee's products on campus, offering more than 45 of the retailer's popular snacks and merchandise. The new partnership also highlights the future Aplin Center, a hands-on learning facility under construction at Texas A&M that will focus on hospitality, retail, food innovation, marketing and customer experience. Aplin has pledged $60 million toward the project. University officials say more co-branded merchandise is expected ahead of Texas A&M's 150th anniversary celebration. |
| Public Colleges Anchor State Workforce Pipelines | |
 | The type of college a person graduates from is one of the strongest predictors of whether they'll remain in the state to work after graduation, new data shows. According to a report the Strada Institute for the Future of Work published Thursday, 62 percent of workers between the ages of 20 and 65 who graduated from a public institution attended college in their home state and now work there, compared to 44 percent of workers who graduated from a private, nonprofit institution who did the same. "State support permits public colleges to subsidize tuition for in-state students, helping to retain these students for college and often after college as well, making public postsecondary institutions anchors for states' talent development," the report says. "Private colleges typically do not offer such discounts; thus, students are less incentivized to choose a private college in their home state." About two-thirds of workers who graduated from a public institution with broad access admissions policies (such as California State University, Long Beach, Texas State University or Ball State University in Indiana) attended college in their home state and remained for work, compared to about half of workers who graduated from the most selective public universities, including the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of Virginia. |
| To Catch AI Cheating, Turnitin Wants to Monitor Students' Keystrokes | |
 | As college instructors become increasingly desperate to squash students' use of AI to cheat, one of higher-education's leading technology companies has come up with a new solution. Ed-tech giant Turnitin's latest software, Clarity, monitors typing, revisions, use of the copy-and-paste function and time spent writing to detect AI use. The tool is just one of a variety of ways colleges are trying to manage rampant AI use. Professors have banned laptops in the classroom, shifted to pen-and-paper and oral exams, and started proctoring tests again. AI-text detectors -- which analyze a student's writing to see if it matches AI patterns -- often fail to determine whether a student used AI and sometimes issue false accusations. One 2023 study found AI-detection technology to be "neither accurate nor reliable." Turnitin's AI-text detector, which Clarity uses in conjunction with the other tracking measures, was between 70% and 80% accurate, according to the study. But given the harsh sanctions universities often impose, these tools need to be bulletproof, said Patrick G. Traynor, a computer- and information-science professor at the University of Florida. Several institutions -- including Yale, Vanderbilt and Johns Hopkins Universities -- have disabled Turnitin's AI-detection feature, citing concerns about false positives. |
| Dems continue to hammer Trump Education Department transfers | |
| U.S. Senate Democrats on Tuesday rebuked the Department of Education's efforts to transfer its special education programs and civil rights enforcement to other agencies. Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii convened a panel of advocates and former department officials in Republican and Democratic administrations to blast the department's moves, which represent a key step in President Donald Trump's efforts to dismantle the Education Department. Education announced in June that the Department of Health and Human Services would administer programs under Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, or OSERS, while civil rights enforcement under its Office for Civil Rights would be transferred to the Justice Department. Democrats have been highly critical of the moves since they were announced. Families of students with disabilities "deserve an educational system that is going to provide their kids with the education services that (are) required under IDEA," Hirono said Tuesday. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, guarantees a free public education for students with disabilities. OSERS is responsible for managing and supporting IDEA. |
| Cassidy Eyes Final Push to Pass College Transparency Act | |
| For nearly a decade, Sen. Bill Cassidy has sought to advance legislation that would collect more information about how college students fare after they graduate. And though the effort to turn this bill into a law has consistently been an uphill climb, the senator hasn't backed down from the fight. Now, with just five months left in office, Cassidy is making one last attempt to leverage mounting bipartisan support and get his College Transparency Act across the finish line after a Senate committee voted 21-to-1 to advance it last week. Some political experts are skeptical Cassidy can pass CTA, saying the bill faces steep opposition from two key Republicans in the House and passing it would require a lot of political muscle. But if the Louisiana Republican does secure the win, higher ed lobbyists say it would be a major advancement for the nation's college data infrastructure and help better inform students' decisions on what college programs they can afford. And even if Cassidy doesn't pass the bill, they add, the momentum he generated for CTA is still a solid victory to hang his hat on after more than 10 years as a denator and more than 15 on the Hill. Cassidy lost his bid for reelection in May. |
| Public Benefits Are a Hidden Engine of College Completion | |
| When Congress tightened work requirements for federal benefit programs in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last summer, the rationale was familiar: Benefits should be a pathway to self-sufficiency. Get people into a job, the logic goes, and the rest follows. This work-first framework, however, leaves out something research shows matters enormously for long-term economic well-being: education beyond high school. Our newly published study of nearly 3,800 low-income young adults finds that federal public benefits -- including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Medicaid, or food and housing assistance -- help people invest in college credentials. The result is higher earnings, lower poverty rates, and greater upward mobility in the years that follow. Designed with this in mind, benefits could do more. ... So, what's going on here? It is often short-run financial constraints -- not enough money to cover rent, food, or basic expenses while also paying for school -- that keep young adults out of the classroom. Public benefits appear to relieve enough pressure to make enrollment possible. Once enrolled, benefits also help students stay. ... The payoff is substantial. |
SPORTS
| MSU's 5 things to watch at fall camp | |
 | Jeff Lebby's Mississippi State Bulldogs: Take 3. MSU will soon take the practice fields at the Leo M. Seal Complex for the first day of fall camp. As the Bulldogs go through drills, scrimmages and the like, there will be much to watch, including what you see below. State added a handful of bodies to the offensive line over the offseason in hopes of improving depth, creating competition and building continuity. Another hope is that, through that added depth, the staff can find a set group that works well together. So who will make up that group? Senior center Canon Boone is probably the safest bet, and if Blake Steen lives up to the hype and stays healthy, that's another. After that, it gets a bit murky. The Bulldogs will have five transfers and four other players who come back to Starkville. Do they roll with one set five for the majority of the time? Do they switch things up depending on the situation? That remains to be seen. |
| Pulliam Earns Sporting News Preseason All-America Nod | |
| Mississippi State punter Ethan Pulliam has been named to The Sporting News 2026 Preseason All-America second team, the publication announced Thursday. The Sporting News is one of five outlets used to determine consensus All-American status at the end of the season. Pulliam enters the 2026 season carrying a remarkable mantle of career notes and accolades following a stellar sophomore campaign. During a record-breaking 2025 season, the Starkville native earned Sporting News All-America Second Team and Phil Steele All-SEC Third Team honors, while also being named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll. He blasted 45 punts for 2,104 yards, averaging a single season program record 46.8 yards per attempt to anchor the Bulldogs' special teams. |
| GOP infighting erupts as Thune warns of legislative 'train wreck' | |
 | Internal squabbles erupted in the Senate Republican Conference on Wednesday as GOP senators battled each other and the White House over a variety of issues, prompting Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to warn that his colleagues face a potential legislative "train wreck." Thune also has to referee a Republican-versus-Republican fight over the Protect College Sports Act. Thune on Wednesday filed a cloture motion to advance the bill but it faces an objection from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). Hawley warns the legislation could overturn state-enacted bans on transgender athletes participating in women's sports. "I'm concerned about that," Hawley said of Thune's effort to move forward on the college sports bill. Cruz, however, disputed the criticism that the bill would undermine state bans on transgender athletes in women's sports. "That's simply inaccurate. The legislation explicitly has language, number one, that nothing in the bill alters Title IX in any way. And, number two, it explicitly says on eligibility that you can be blocked from eligibility for violating a state law," Cruz said. "That was written very deliberately to avoid disturbing the 27 states that have acted to protect women's sports." Thune said he hopes the fight over the college sports reform bill won't stop it from passing before the August recess. |
| LSU concludes informational meetings with top donors about a proposed sports funding plan | |
| LSU completed a series of two meetings with top donors on Wednesday night to outline what university President Wade Rousse has billed as a "first of its kind" revenue-generating proposal for athletics. The meetings hosted by Gov. Jeff Landry at the governor's mansion outlined the potential creation of an LSU-controlled limited liability corporation that could generate sustained revenues through targeted investments, a person familiar with the matter said. The person spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the plan has not been made public and is still being refined, as well as being reviewed by legal and tax analysts. A meeting attendee who spoke on a Baton Rouge podcast said the meeting alleviated boosters' concerns that the university might be eying a deal with private equity firms to raise capital. "It's not private equity," Southern Regional Medical Center president Charles Harvey, who attended Monday's meeting, said on a Louisianasports.net podcast. "LSU will maintain control." |
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