| Friday, January 9, 2026 |
| Social media surge: MSU jumps more than 150 spots in Division 1 social media ranking | |
 | Mississippi State is celebrating a major leap in national visibility, jumping more than 150 spots to earn the No. 13 overall ranking for Division I schools in the country for social media engagement. Released in November, the 2025 Higher Education Social Media Engagement Report, from Quid and Rival IQ, ranks MSU among the top 15 Division I colleges. The university's TikTok lands at No. 5, recognizing the university as one of the nation's top institutions for digital engagement. "Visual digital storytelling and messaging on social media meet MSU's potential students and the other vital markets we seek where they are," said MSU Vice President for Strategic Communications Sid Salter. "MSU President Mark E. Keenum and the university's senior leadership are committed to these strategies. We have assembled an excellent team to develop strong content that tells MSU's story as Mississippi's powerful economic engine through our research and service." The report analyzed data from all Division I institutions to generate an overall engagement ranking score based on a weighted formula. The top-ranked schools on social media have an active profile, strong following and high engagement rates. |
| In Memoriam: From Rotary to the runway, Stuart Vance shaped region's future | |
 | From the governor's office to the Golden Triangle Regional Airport to the wall of Little Dooey's in Starkville, it's hard to miss the legacy Stuart "Stu" Preston Vance leaves behind. Vance, 94, passed away Dec. 30 in Starkville. A businessman by trade and a community builder by instinct, Vance led and was involved in efforts that helped shape Starkville and the Golden Triangle's economic and civic identity. "He was hard-nosed. If he had an idea, he was a very strong advocate of that idea, and that's what you need," said Mike Hainsey, former executive director for GTRA. "You need people that are thinking (and) planning, and he was always thinking ahead. He wasn't happy with just staying where we are. He was always thinking, 'Where will we be?'" Born in Memphis, Vance came to the Golden Triangle after graduating high school to attend what was then Mississippi State College, graduating there in 1952 with a business degree. Beyond business, Vance's influence was felt across nearly every corner of civic life in Starkville, particularly with the Starkville Rotary Club. "Stuart was really organized and really focused, and I think that spilled over not just into his professional work, but into his civic life as well," said fellow Rotarian Sid Salter. "When you have a guy that is able to live his life and perform at a very high level for virtually all of this and to be relevant and plugged into a community for the length of time he did, you get the sort of reaction that I think his death has generated." |
| Mayor Percy Bland discusses 2026 goals for the City of Meridian | |
 | One week into the new year, and 2026 goals are still plenty within reach. The City of Meridian has some New Year's goals it is looking to accomplish. It looks to build on the success Mayor Bland's administration has seen so far. In 2025, citizens saw an increase in public safety. That will continue in 2026, as roughly a dozen officers are expected to join the force within the next few weeks. And, citizens can expect to see abandoned properties being cleared out, along with more home ownership in the city. "... Knocking down a lot of abandoned and blighted properties across the city, and you're going to be seeing us try to work with local banks in rebuilding some of these communities," said Mayor Bland. Mayor Bland also wants to focus on positive vibes. "Along with changing the culture, and changing the energy of this city, and also messaging and marketing and communicating to the citizens about things that are going on in the city. I think those have been very important." |
| Meridian City Hall voted among most beautiful buildings in America | |
 | Meridian City Hall has been named one of the nation's most beautiful public buildings, according to a new survey commissioned by wallpaper company LovevsDesign.com. The survey asked 3,014 people what public buildings in their states are most beautiful but overlooked. Meridian City Hall was one of three Mississippi buildings to make the list coming in at No. 110. Ahead at No. 85 is the Tippah County Courthouse in Ripley and the Old Courthouse Museum an Archives Library in Iuka came in just behind at No. 111. "Public buildings are meant to serve their communities, but many of them also quietly elevate the places we live -- through thoughtful design, historic character, or simply the way they make a street feel more grounded," says Eric Mortensen, o-founder of LovevsDesign.com. "What our survey shows is that Americans still value beauty in everyday spaces. These aren't headline-grabbing landmarks, but they're part of the architectural soul of their towns, and they deserve to be appreciated." |
| Elon Musk's xAI investing over $20 billion in Mississippi for data center | |
| Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI is investing over $20 billion in Mississippi through the establishment of a data center and additional computing infrastructure in Southaven. The project announced Thursday afternoon makes for the largest private-sector investment in the state's history. The facility will be over 800,000 square feet on Stateline Road just south of the Tennessee line, where Musk has already invested billions through two Memphis centers for his Colossus supercomputer project, described as the largest supercomputer on record. What it does, in essence, is train xAI's Grok family and other AI models. While Musk was not in attendance for the Mississippi announcement, xAI CFO Anthony Armstrong vouched that Southaven will be a "critical part of the world's largest supercomputer and also home of the power" behind it. The facility will be known as "MACROHARDRR" and will help xAI approach two gigawatts in capacity when combined with the other Colossus sites. Armstrong was joined by a bevy of government officials for the announcement, including Gov. Tate Reeves, Southaven Mayor Charlie Musselwhite, and Mississippi Development Authority executive director Bill Cork. |
| Musk's xAI Burns Almost $8 Billion in Cash, Reveals Optimus Plan | |
| Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup xAI is burning cash quickly, with losses mounting as it spends to build data centers, recruit talent and develop software that will eventually power humanoid robots, according to internal documents. XAI reported a net loss of $1.46 billion for the September quarter, up from $1 billion in the first quarter, the documents reviewed by Bloomberg show. In the first nine months of the year, it spent $7.8 billion in cash. Like other fast-growing AI startups, xAI is quickly using what it raised in recent funding rounds, it said in its most recent earnings report and a call that xAI executives held with investors, according to people familiar with the matter. The company told investors that its goal is to build AI that is self-sufficient and that will eventually power humanoid robots like Optimus -- Tesla Inc.'s (TSLA) robot that was created to replace human labor. On the investor call, xAI leadership, including Chief Revenue Officer Jon Shulkin, told investors that now xAI's core focus is building out AI agents and other software at speed, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private conversations. Those products will feed into what's called "Macrohard" -- a term Musk has said refers to an AI-only software company, the name a play on "Microsoft" -- until it eventually can power Optimus. The firm's executives signaled to investors that xAI had the necessary resources to continue spending aggressively. |
| Tupelo CVB will preserve the legacy and history of Tupelo Hardware | |
 | On the first floor of now-closed Tupelo Hardware, next to the Front Street entrance, is a hulking black steel Mosler safe made in 1917. On its surface, in fading gold letters, is "Tupelo Hardware Co." The story long passed down is that the behemoth fell through the floor when it was moved many decades ago to its present location. "It took a team of oxen to move it," said George Booth III, whose family started the company 100 years ago. While the store has closed as of Dec. 31, the safe isn't going anywhere. Neither will many of the displays or some of the store merchandise when the Tupelo Convention & Visitors Bureau moves in later this spring. Much of what visitors have become accustomed to seeing when they visit the place where Elvis got his first guitar will remain, by design. "A lot of the feedback that we got when we announced the store was closing, most of it from social media, is that preservation is top of mind," said Booth, who represents his father, George Booth II, and who helped negotiate the sale of the store to the TCVB last month. "Or the comments were, 'That's so sad that the store was having to close.' It is sad, and I don't want to discount that at all, but it doesn't have to remain a sad story." The CVB will convert the second and third floors of the main building to office space, while keeping the first floor much like it is. And Booth is working closely with the CVB to ensure its continuity as a tourist draw. |
| Job Gains Cooled in December, Capping Year of Weak Hiring | |
 | Employers hired at a subdued pace in December, closing out a year that saw the U.S. labor market cool into a "low hire, low fire" stasis. American employers added a seasonally adjusted 50,000 jobs in December and the unemployment rate fell to 4.4%, the Labor Department reported Friday. That was below the 73,000 new jobs that economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had expected to see, and was weaker than the revised 56,000 jobs added in November. October's job losses were revised even lower in Friday's report, to a decline of 173,000. November's job gains were also revised down, meaning employment was 76,000 lower than previously reported in those two months. Payroll employment rose by 584,000 in 2025, averaging 49,000 new jobs a month. That was less than the two million new jobs added in 2024, when the average monthly gain was 168,000. The Labor Department in September signaled that the figures for April 2024 through March of last year will likely be revised substantially lower. December's job growth was concentrated in the healthcare and leisure and hospitality sectors. The retail sector cut jobs, as did transportation and warehousing. Friday's report closes out a year in which demand for labor slowed markedly and companies reined in hiring. |
| Lowndes, Oktibbeha county court judges seek re-election | |
| Two candidates have submitted qualifying paperwork for the elected county court judge seats in Oktibbeha and Lowndes counties, one week into the qualifying period. Incumbents Allison Kizer of Lowndes County and Lee Ann Turner of Oktibbeha County are both running for re-election. Qualifying began Jan. 2 and runs through 5 p.m. Feb. 2. The election is Dec. 1. County court judges can hear civil cases that exceed a jurisdiction of $3,500, the maximum for justice court, but do not exceed $75,000. County court judges also preside over youth courts and hear appeals from municipal and justice courts. Turner is nearing the end of her first term in Oktibbeha County, where the county court was established in 2023. "To start a court, it's a lot of work (and) a lot of logistics," Turner told The Dispatch on Thursday. "... It's just grown in leaps and bounds. We started from a little unfinished office with a desk to now, we're a fully-fledged court, and we have really premier programs thanks to where we are and our local people ... all pitching in together." Turner said she is hopeful to serve another term to continue building on that progress. |
| House Education Committee hears arguments for, against school choice | |
| Members of the Mississippi House Education Committee heard testimony from parents and others invested in education about the potential impacts school choice may have on the state during a hearing held Wednesday afternoon. The committee hearing came just hours after Speaker Jason White (R) unveiled his education freedom reform package. The comments during the committee hearing ranged from success stories of students finding the help they needed to be successful to concerns that school choice may worsen educational outcomes. |
| Mississippi House, Senate agree education reform is top focus for 2026 | |
 | Both chambers of the Mississippi Legislature agree that education is a main focus of the 2026 legislative session. What leaders in the Senate and the House disagree on are the education policies that deserve the Legislature's attention. The Senate took the first stab at shaping the state's approach to education by passing a slate of bills on Wednesday, including a $132 million package earmarked for a statewide educator pay bump. The bill, if passed by the House and signed by the governor, would give a $2,000 pay raise to each teacher, teaching assistant and full-time junior and community college and university professor. "I've met with some of our junior college board members," Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said. "What's happening is they're training students that go out and make more than they do the first day. That's happening in nursing, for example, so for us to keep somebody to teach nursing, we've got to keep their salary up." Speaker Jason White, R-West, proposed his own vision for the education system on Wednesday, introducing a 550-page bill that covers controversial school choice issues, private school vouchers and the underfunded state employee retirement system. What the bill did not mention was teacher pay raises. |
| Democrat state representative seeks to strip Tasers from Mississippi police officers | |
| State Rep. Omeria Scott, a 32-year Democratic lawmaker representing Clarke, Jasper and Jones counties, has filed a longshot bill to prohibit Mississippi police officers from using Tasers or stun guns. In response, Lumberton Police Chief Elsie Cowart said she believes the measure would be "a terrible thing for law enforcement." Rep. Scott's legislation -- HB 182 -- would outlaw the "use, possession, or deployment of tasers or stun guns by any law enforcement officer in the State of Mississippi, employed by a state, county, municipal or special law enforcement agency" as of July 1. As such, should her bill become law, all Tasers and stun guns currently in possession of law enforcement agencies across Mississippi would be removed from active service by June 30. Chief Cowart said her department has not had any trouble with excessive or improper use of Tasers. "Nor am I aware of any of my surrounding agencies [having issues]," she said. "The use of the Tasers has been one of our most prized tools for less lethal force." |
| Trump Sees A.I.'s Economic Promise, While Dismissing Potential Threats | |
 | President Trump expressed confidence in the future of artificial intelligence, asserting it would produce an abundance of jobs, and he dismissed the idea that it could fuel cyberattacks. "Whoever wins the artificial intelligence war is going to be really the leader of the world," Mr. Trump said in an interview with The New York Times on Wednesday. But to him, that war seems primarily an economic contest, not a cybersecurity race. "I think A.I. is going to be a tremendous job producer," Mr. Trump said, predicting that the expanding sector would produce "so many jobs" that "we don't have enough people to fill the jobs, and that's where robots come in." Mr. Trump's assertions challenge widespread fears that automating tasks through A.I. technology will render wide swaths of the labor pool obsolete. There is also a debate among work force and labor experts whether A.I. will foment sweeping unemployment, or create jobs demanding different skills than are necessary for the positions now available. As he focused on the potential job-creating promise of A.I., Mr. Trump seemed unbothered by warnings that there could be a dark side to its expansion. |
| Donald Trump can't count on Congress to have his back any more | |
 | A cadre of congressional Republicans dealt President Donald Trump significant defeats Thursday -- a series of rebukes that demonstrate how his iron grip on Capitol Hill has weakened at the start of a critical election year. The defiance kicked off in the Senate with a stunning vote, backed by five GOP senators, to move ahead with a measure that would constrain Trump on a matter he has presented as a signature triumph -- his military intervention in Venezuela. Later in the day, 17 House Republicans joined with Democrats to rescue Obamacare subsidies Trump has repeatedly railed against. And in a surprise move, senators of both parties agreed unanimously to erect a plaque honoring the officers who fought the mob at the Capitol on Jan, 6, 2021 -- breaking from Trump's false narrative about that day. Speaking at the White House after the Senate vote, Vice President JD Vance rejected the notion that Trump's grip on Congress was slipping, saying the GOP opposition was "based more on a legal technicality than any disagreement on policy." But the internal GOP dissent came to the delight of Democratic leaders, who are growing jubilant over their ability to highlight the splits and hammer Republicans heading into the midterms. |
| GOP lawmakers question Noem's handling of ICE-related shooting in Minnesota | |
 | Republicans on Capitol Hill are expressing skepticism over Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem's handling of the Trump administration's response to an Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shooting a woman Noem has said was committing an "act of domestic terrorism." Noem's hasty characterization of the shooting as an entirely justified use of federal force against a woman who "weaponized" her vehicle has raised questions on Capitol Hill and differed in tone from other senior administration officials. "It was very unusual to have a senior law enforcement official to draw a conclusion about an event where the scene was still being processed," Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said of Noem's conclusion that the shooting was in response to a domestic terrorism incident. Public officials in Minnesota, including Gov. Tim Walz (D) and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have slammed the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) justification for the shooting as "propaganda" and "positively ridiculous." They are pushing for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate the shooting to determine if it was justified or was a crime. |
| How RFK Jr. Won Over His Skeptics and Overhauled Federal Food Guidelines | |
| Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for years took pains to eat what he viewed as a healthy diet, avoiding anything that came in a package. This week, his personal habits snowballed into sweeping changes to dietary guidelines for the entire nation, with healthy food serving as his most politically palatable message. Along the way, some Trump administration officials were anxious to maintain the popularity of the food message and avoid the kind of widespread criticism from academics and scientists that has dogged Kennedy's vaccine moves. President Trump's advisers worked behind the scenes to get mainstream medical groups to back the administration's new guidelines and avoid a potential controversy over saturated fats, according to administration officials. One of their priorities: to keep Kennedy from looking fringe on food. After a series of private meetings in recent months -- including at the White House with author and Kennedy adviser Calley Means -- the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association publicly backed Kennedy's new guidelines when they were rolled out Wednesday. A White House official called the groups "unlikely allies." |
| Mississippi college savings program ranks 6th nationally | |
 | Mississippi's Affordable College Savings program has been ranked sixth in the country by Forbes for Best 529 Plans, State Treasurer David McRae announced. 529 plans are savings accounts that offer tax benefits to help cover college and higher education expenses. Forbes recognized the state's MACS plan among the nation's top college savings options for 2025. "I am so proud of the state of Mississippi. I'm so proud of the treasury, and I'm proud of my team that got us this incredible ranking," McRae said. McRae said his team has been promoting the college savings plans at sporting events and academic competitions across the state. The plans can be used for traditional college expenses as well as vocational training in fields like welding, plumbing, HVAC, and cybersecurity. McRae said workforce development has become increasingly important as new businesses announce projects in Mississippi. "These technical jobs are amazing jobs because they pay such a high wage, and a new generation of kids are understanding, hey, I can forgo a four-year college and go make a lot of money by going to learn vocational training," McRae said. |
| Oxford announces call for Yokna Sculpture Trail | |
| The city of Oxford, the University of Mississippi, and the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council have announced the call for entries for the Yokna Sculpture Trail, an outdoor public art program located throughout Oxford. The application deadline is Jan. 19. There is no entry fee, and submissions are open to artists 18 years of age or older. The Yokna Sculpture Trail features between 15 and 20 large-scale outdoor sculptures installed across campus and community locations. Approximately half of the works rotate each year on a staggered two-year exhibition schedule. Selected sculptures for the 2026 cycle will be on display from April 15, 2026, through March 1, 2028. Exhibition sites include Pat Lamar Park, which provides nine sculpture pads in a landscaped park setting near downtown and the University of Mississippi; the Powerhouse Sculpture Garden, which offers four pads adjacent to the historic Powerhouse Community Arts Center near the downtown Square; the UM Sculpture Park, with three pads located in a courtyard in front of Meek Hall; and the University of Mississippi Museum, which includes three sculpture pads at the western entrance to campus. |
| $3M from TVA to U. of Tennessee could shape our nuclear future | |
 | The Tennessee Valley Authority is giving $3 million to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville's nuclear engineering department, as the nation's largest public power provider aims to ramp up nuclear development in alignment with President Donald Trump's quest for U.S. energy dominance. The $3 million endowment announced Jan. 8 will be used to fund the department's chair and "reflects a shared vision for advancing clean energy solutions and strengthening East Tennessee's role as a hub for nuclear innovation," according to a joint news release from UT and TVA. New nuclear companies promised to invest nearly $2 billion in Oak Ridge alone during the last quarter of 2025, and UT regularly taps into East Tennessee's energy infrastructure and expertise. California-based Kairos Power opened a nuclear simulator on campus in 2025 to mimic a control room for training operators and teaching students, and U.S. News and World Report ranked UT's nuclear engineering graduate program No. 3 among all universities that same year. |
| Emily Suski Named Dean of the School of Law at U. of Arkansas | |
| Emily Suski has been appointed as the dean of the University of Arkansas School of Law, effective July 1, 2026. She will succeed Dean Cynthia Nance, who will return to a full-time faculty position in the School of Law. "I'm pleased to name Emily Suski the new dean of the School of Law and welcome her to the University of Arkansas," said Provost Indrajeet Chaubey. "She has extensive experience in leadership roles in legal education and practice and is an accomplished scholar. She has also been very successful in establishing medical-legal partnerships in South Carolina to support children's health and overall well-being. I look forward to working with her to continue the great momentum the School of Law has experienced under Dean Cynthia Nance's leadership and increase the school's footprint in Northwest Arkansas and the rest of the state." Suski holds a Master of Laws with honors from Georgetown University Law Center. She also holds a Juris Doctor, a Master of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts with distinction from the University of North Carolina. |
| DeSantis reappoints Heavener to U. of Florida board amid federal fraud allegations | |
 | Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis reappointed James W. "Bill" Heavener to the University of Florida Board of Trustees on Jan.7 after his term ended on Jan. 6. Heavener continues to serve on the board despite being accused of defrauding the government out of millions of dollars. Heavener, in his capacity as partial owner of the Los Angeles Film School and Full Sail University in Winter Park, has been accused of lying to government officials about students' employment outcomes for over a decade to continue receiving federal funding, a violation of federal law and accrediting standards. Former Los Angeles Film School executives David Phillips, who served as vice president of career development, and Ben Chaib, who served as vice president of admissions at the school, filed the complaint against Heavener, former president and CEO of the LAFS Diana Derycz-Kessler and her husband, Paul Kessler, in 2024. Heavener graduated from UF in 1970. He is a longtime donor to the university and has served on the Board of Trustees since 2013. |
| The Influential Center Filling the Ranks of America's Civic-Thought Schools | |
 | In the early 2000s, Jack Miller, a wealthy entrepreneur who made his fortune founding and selling an office-supply company, became interested in fixing higher education. So he convened a meeting of 50 professors at the University of Chicago in 2004, and he walked away having identified a problem he wanted to help fix: what he deemed a crisis in civics education. More than 20 years later, the organization that grew out of that gathering -- the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America's Founding Principles and History -- is playing an influential role in staffing the civic-thought schools that are cropping up at campuses across the nation. The center offers research fellowships and has a fellowship-alumni network of over 1,300 scholars and partnerships on over 300 college campuses. It said in its 2024 annual report that one in three faculty at colleges' civic-thought schools were a part of its academic network, and "nearly all the deans and directors" were former fellows. |
| Parenting Students Bear the Brunt of Federal Cuts | |
 | Cuts to federal funding that supported students of color and undocumented students dominated headlines in the first year of the Trump administration. But advocates for student parents say the administration has gutted benefit programs these students rely on, leaving a fifth of the country's college students vulnerable to financial hardship or even at risk of stopping out. Federal funds for programs providing a critical element of support for student parents, childcare, could be frozen or canceled. In a recent example, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services froze billions of dollars in childcare and family assistance funds to five Democrat-led states, citing fraud concerns. About $2.4 billion in Childcare and Development Fund grants and $7.35 billion in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds are on the line. The Education Department also nixed grants for on-campus childcare at more than a dozen colleges this summer; ED officials claimed the institutions didn't hire childcare staff based on merit or hired staff who taught gender identity and racial justice to children. Funding for the federal grant program Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) was already uncertain after Trump recommended axing it in his proposed budget for 2026. |
| 3 major policy changes college leaders should keep tabs on | |
| Higher education policy reached a watershed moment last year. Congress passed a massive spending package over the summer, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, that makes major changes to federal student lending and other higher education policies. And the Trump administration pursued large-scale policy changes, such as new restrictions on international enrollment. This year, colleges will begin to bear the brunt of many of those changes, with the end of the Grad PLUS loan program and the introduction of new lending caps taking effect July 1. The Trump administration is likewise expected to finalize several regulations governing the higher education sector in the coming days and months. Meanwhile, lawmakers are weighing further changes to student aid in the federal government's budget for fiscal 2026, including the potential elimination of some major programs. This week, higher education experts at the Council of Independent Colleges' Presidents Institute -- an annual gathering of hundreds of top leaders at private nonprofit institutions -- broke down some of the policy changes expected in the year ahead and called on college presidents to advocate for their sector's interests. "We really all do rise or fall as a sector, certainly in terms of federal policy," CIC President Marjorie Hass said during a conference event Wednesday. "Even the largest and loftiest institutions have discovered that." |
| Education Department Panel Divided as Consensus Vote Looms on Earnings Test | |
| With just one more meeting to go, the Department of Education and an advisory committee tasked with ironing out the details of how to hold college programs accountable appear far from reaching consensus. The 13-member panel, comprised largely of state officials, think tank researchers and higher ed lawyers, spent the last four days negotiating the rules of a new college earnings test called Do No Harm -- which applies to all degree programs -- as well as changes to the existing gainful-employment rule, an accountability metric that only applies to certificate programs and for-profits. The department's proposal, which aligns the two accountability metrics and holds all programs to the Do No Harm's standards, has gone largely unchanged in the first four days of negotiation. Under Do No Harm, all college programs, except undergraduate certificates, that fail to prove their students earn more than someone with only a high school diploma could lose access to federal loans, whereas the current version of gainful employment requires programs to show their graduates pass the earnings test and can reasonably pay off their debt. Programs that fail either test are cut off from all federal student aid. Although officials have agreed to a series of smaller changes and said they were open to considering larger ones, none made so far address the key issues that are dividing the committee -- axing the debt-to-earnings ratio and the Pell Grant penalty. |
| Our AI Future Is Already Here, It's Just Not Evenly Distributed | |
| There is a huge gap between what AI can already do today and what most people are actually doing with it. Closing that gap will take years. Meanwhile, fortunes will be created, not just for giant tech companies, but for the everyday folks who use those companies' AI models to build products and services of their own. The curious among us are already leading the charge. A goatherd (and software developer) in rural Australia discovered a simple but radical new technique to optimize the performance of the leading software-writing AI. An almost 50-year-old horticulture company in Bakersfield, Calif., is rolling out an AI agent that connects its growers with decades of wisdom from professional agronomists. A copywriter who saw her business decimated by her clients' use of AI pivoted to coaching those same clients on building their own AI tools. Technological diffusion happens every day as people adopt innovations to suit their personal or business needs. With AI, there's a fresh twist: Today's generative AI is much more accessible than past technologies, and can be used even by nontechnical people. There is no "right way" to use it. The biggest AI innovations might come from users at work or at home, rather than tech giants and research labs. The companies making AI models know this, and are now promoting applications their own users pioneered. |
SPORTS
| Men's Basketball: Five Things To Know: State vs. Kentucky | |
| Mississippi State men's basketball hits the road for another NCAA NET Quad 1 opportunity as the Bulldogs meet Kentucky for a Saturday night matchup at Rupp Arena. The Bulldogs (10-5, 2-0 SEC) have won six straight games and seven of their last eight games since the start of December. State has overcome a second-half deficit to win on seven occasions this season, the latest coming during a 72-53 romp over Oklahoma on Jan. 7. Kentucky (9-6, 0-2 SEC) has dropped its first two SEC outings, most recently a 73-68 decision to Missouri. The Wildcats have three players averaging in double figures ignited by Otega Oweh (15.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.9 SPG), Mouhamed Dioubate (11.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.3 SPG) and Denzel Aberdeen (11.0 PPG, 3.1 APG). |
| Hubbard leads Mississippi State against Kentucky after 30-point game | |
 | Mississippi State faces Kentucky Saturday night in Lexington after Josh Hubbard scored 30 points in Mississippi State's 72-53 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners. The Wildcats have gone 8-2 at home. Kentucky is fourth in the SEC with 17.5 assists per game led by Denzel Aberdeen averaging 3.1. The Bulldogs are 2-0 in SEC play. Mississippi State is 4-2 in games decided by 10 or more points. Kentucky's average of 8.3 made 3-pointers per game this season is only 0.6 more made shots on average than the 7.7 per game Mississippi State gives up. Mississippi State averages 8.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.6 more makes per game than Kentucky allows. The Wildcats and Bulldogs match up Saturday for the first time in conference play this season. Quincy Ballard is averaging 6.8 points and 7.1 rebounds for the Bulldogs. Hubbard is averaging 22.6 points over the last 10 games. |
| Kentucky's next big challenge has been an outlier in the transfer portal era | |
 | The speculation started almost as soon as the game was over. Two years ago, following an epic performance in which he hit three 3-pointers in the final minute of what turned out to be a 91-89 loss to Kentucky, freshman guard Josh Hubbard encountered John Calipari in the postgame handshake line. Correctly anticipating that the transfer portal was going to get crazy in just a few short weeks, some UK fans joked -- with a good deal of seriousness mixed in --- that Calipari, a coach with an always-be-recruiting reputation, was planting the seeds to bring Hubbard to Lexington with that brief exchange on the sideline. This was the game in which Reed Sheppard further solidified his status as UK basketball folk hero, scoring 32 points, dishing out seven assists and hitting a floater to beat the buzzer and fend off the Hubbard-led comeback attempt. Hubbard scored 34 that night, including that trio of triples in the final 53 seconds, the last one tying the game up with just eight seconds remaining. In the days that followed, Hubbard and Sheppard directed complimentary messages at each other on social media. Kentucky fans had fallen in love with Sheppard even more after his performance in Starkville, and Hubbard's own showing -- during and after the game -- won him plenty of admirers within the UK fan base. Of course, neither Calipari nor Hubbard were with the Wildcats by the time the next season rolled around. The Hall of Fame coach left Lexington for Arkansas, and the budding SEC star stayed put in Starkville. The Cats will get another look at Hubbard on Saturday in Rupp Arena -- with UK and Mississippi State set for an 8:30 p.m. ET tipoff on SEC Network -- and the league's fans know by now that Hubbard is capable of a highlight-reel performance on any given night. |
| Kamario Taylor injury update on Mississippi State football QB's ankle procedure | |
| Mississippi State football quarterback Kamario Taylor underwent a successful procedure to address a sprained left ankle, the program announced Jan. 8. He is expected to make a "quick and full" recovery for MSU spring practices. Taylor was carted off the field late after a low hit in the fourth quarter during MSU's 43-29 loss to Wake Forest in the Duke's Mayo Bowl on Jan. 2. The freshman from Noxubee County was making his second career start and will be MSU's starter in 2026. Coach Jeff Lebby said after the game that Taylor was doing well. He was spotted leaving the stadium walking with a slight limp, but no crutches, boot or cast on his leg. Mississippi State has not announced when spring practice will begin, but last season's started in March. Taylor finished the 2025 season with 629 passing yards, five touchdowns and one interception. He rushed for 458 yards and eight touchdowns. |
| Third baseman Ace Reese named preseason All-American | |
| Mississippi State star third baseman Ace Reese picked up another All-American honor this week, as he was named to the Preseason All-America First Team by Perfect Game on Wednesday. His is the 166th All-American recognition for a Bulldog in program history. Reese garnered praise for his 2025 season, earning five All-American selections, the SEC Newcomer of the Year, and was MSU's nominee for the Ferris Trophy. The third baseman started 57 games for the Bulldogs last year, posting a .352 batting average with 80 hits, 18 doubles, 21 home runs, 66 RBI and a .718 slugging percentage. Reese ranked in the top seven in the SEC in each category, and his home run total was the eighth-best single-season tally in MSU baseball history. Reese and the Bulldogs are set to open the 2026 season at home in a three-game series against Hofstra on Feb. 13. |
| Volleyball: Julia Brooks Joins Volleyball Staff | |
| Mississippi State volleyball head coach Julie Darty Dennis has added Julia Brooks to the staff as an assistant coach and coordinator of volleyball operations. "I am thrilled to welcome Julia to StarkVegas!" said head coach Darty Dennis. "Julia came highly recommended and checked all the boxes and more of what I was looking for in this hire. She is a tireless worker with great energy, and she has a passion for serving and helping people. I can't wait for her to make an impact on our program and for her to help us give our student-athletes a transformative and special experience!" Brooks joins MSU by way of Troy, where she most recently served as a graduate assistant with the volleyball team in the 2025 season. She also worked as a graduate assistant with the athletic business office and as a volunteer coach with Troy volleyball in 2024. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Brooks received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and a Master of Science in Strategic Communications, both from Troy. |
| Former Starkville QB Luke Altmyer declares for NFL Draft | |
| Starkville High School alumnus Luke Altmyer declared for the 2026 NFL Draft this week, turning professional after playing quarterback at Illinois for the last three seasons. Altmyer was selected to the 2026 Senior Bowl, where he will get a chance to practice with NFL coaches and scouts and showcase his skills alongside other NFL Draft hopefuls. In his senior season, Altmyer threw for 3,007 yards with 22 touchdowns to just five picks, leading the Fighting Illini to a 9-4 record. Altmyer ends his five-year collegiate career with a 63.7 completion percentage, 60 touchdown passes and 24 interceptions, posting a career efficiency rating of 142.4. The former Yellow Jacket committed to Ole Miss in the Class of 2021, and was backup to Matt Corral for two seasons before transferring to Illinois in 2023. Altmyer led the Illini to back-to-back bowl appearances in 2024 and 2025, recording wins over South Carolina and Tennessee for the program's first postseason wins since 2011. |
| Brett Favre denies report he has 'given up hope' in Parkinson's battle | |
 | Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre said Wednesday that anyone who says he has thrown in the towel on his battle with Parkinson's disease is spreading fake news. "Thank you everyone for your prayers and concerns, but contrary to reports, I have not given up hope in my battle with Parkinson's!" the 56-year-old Super Bowl champion wrote on X. "Not sure where this came from -- but just like I never gave up on the gridiron -- not going to start now. I pray there will be a cure one day and I appreciate you all." The former Packers/Jets/Vikings quarterback revealed his Parkinson's diagnosis last year but hadn't gone into much detail about it until last week's episode of his "4th and Favre" podcast. On the podcast, Favre sounds like he's trying to be realistic about his condition while also remaining hopeful. Favre's comments on Wednesday may have been in response to a recent online article that seemed to interpret his podcast remarks in a different way than he intended. Also on the podcast, Favre said he's in the early stages of idiopathic Parkinson's disease, which is the most common type of the disorder. He said his major symptoms are "rigidity and stiffness," which is worst in the morning before he takes his medication and has particularly affected his right side. |
| Are there solutions to the messy transfer portal era in college football? | |
| A starting quarterback at Washington allegedly reneging on a lucrative deal to hit the transfer portal. Another starting QB, this one in the College Football Playoff, awaiting approval from the NCAA to play next season, an expensive NIL deal apparently hanging in the balance. A defensive star, sued by his former school after transferring, filing a lawsuit of his own. It is easy to see why many observers say things are a mess in college football even amid a highly compelling postseason. "It gets crazier and crazier. It really, really does," said Sam Ehrlich, a Boise State legal studies professor who tracks litigation against the NCAA. He said he might have to add a new section for litigation against the NCAA stemming just from transfer portal issues. "I think a guy signing a contract and then immediately deciding he wants to go to another school, that's a kind of a new thing," he said. "Not new kind of historically when you think about all the contract jumping that was going on in the '60s and '70s with the NBA. But it's a new thing for college sports, that's for sure." Court rulings have favored athletes of late. |
| Washington QB's Flip-Flop Previews New College Sports Legal Issue | |
| University of Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. announced on Thursday he won't transfer. For now and unless Williams changes his mind again, the move averts a potential historic litigation where Washington planned to sue Williams over his plan to switch schools. Washington and Williams litigating would have reflected the latest example of college sports treating student football players as if they are professional athletes. The outcome could have further pushed the needle in the direction of college athlete employment and the legal separation of power conference football from the rest of college sports. While the Williams-Washington dispute appears to have been resolved, the underlying dispute of a college threatening to sue a star athlete for switching schools after the athlete signs a revenue share deal could easily play out again. There are different ways of weighing the situation from educational and legal perspectives. |
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