| Friday, May 1, 2026 |
| MSU bio engineering senior McComb awarded UMMC's top academic scholarship | |
 | A Mississippi State University biomedical engineering senior from Amory now holds the most prestigious scholarship in the School of Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Will McComb, a 4.0 GPA student at MSU during his four years in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, has been awarded UMMC's William K. Purks, M.D., Merit Scholarship for the upcoming academic year. At Mississippi State, McComb said he's received a "phenomenal education." "That's especially true in medically relevant classes like organic chemistry, general chemistry and biology subjects," he said. "The biomedical engineering program has been particularly valuable, giving me in-depth experience in complex problem-solving unique to the field. It's helped shape how I think going into medicine." McComb also is quick to point out the invaluable role MSU's Health Pathways Resource Center and Director Mary Celeste Reese have had in his medical school acceptance and securing the Purks Scholarship. |
| Four SEC students named 2026 Truman Scholars | |
| The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation honored four Southeastern Conference students as 2026 Truman Scholars. From the organization's website, Truman Scholars demonstrate outstanding leadership potential, a commitment to a career in government or the nonprofit sector, and academic excellence. Each Truman Scholar receives funding for graduate studies, leadership training, career counseling, and special internship and fellowship opportunities within the federal government. This year's SEC representatives include: Aminata Ba, University of Mississippi; Julia Dieter, University of Tennessee; Evan Garrison, Mississippi State University; and Muskan Taori, University of Arkansas. SEC universities have totaled more than 240 honorees in the scholarship's history. |
| MSU professor helps uncover widespread genetic exchange in disease-causing parasites | |
 | Mississippi State University biologist Matthew W. Brown is part of an international research team whose latest findings, published this spring in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, are reshaping scientific understanding of how parasitic organisms evolve and ultimately spread disease. Focusing on the protistan parasite Leishmania, a genus of trypanosomatids which is globally spread through insect bites, the study provides critical insight for developing more effective interventions and treatments of parasitical infections. Brown, the Donald L. Hall Professor of Biology in MSU's Department of Biological Sciences, contributed to the study's genetic analyses and interpretation of evolutionary patterns. This latest publication builds on Brown's broader body of work exploring how complex organisms evolved from microbial ancestors. |
| State farmers change way they grow rice | |
| When a system works, there is little reason to change and many reasons to stick with success; any change in that system is often small things to improve efficiency. Mississippi's rice industry is not following that pattern. In the Midsouth, rice is drill seeded then grown in upland, or non-flooded conditions for roughly six weeks. Water is typically pumped from ground wells to flood rice fields once seedlings are established. That flood is maintained for the next ten to fourteen weeks as the rice grows. Dave Spencer, irrigation specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said in Mississippi, that water comes primarily from the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer. "Rice is only about 20% of acres in the Mid-South, but it uses 45% of the water we draw from the alluvial aquifer," Spencer said. "Rice markets are down this year, and with margins being tighter, it becomes that much more important to manage your risks more effectively." Spencer said under a traditional system, rice uses 30-36 inches of water a year. The majority of rice acres in the state and across the U.S. are grown using a traditional flood system. But research has shown that rice can be grown without the flood. |
| Cattle Market Outlook: U.S. Red Meat Production Declines as Auctions Gain Ground | |
| U.S. red meat production moved lower in 2025, with beef leading the decline. Dr. Josh Maples at Mississippi State University said total red meat output fell about 2 percent from 2024, with beef production down 3.6 percent and pork off 0.8 percent. Cattle slaughter showed the sharper shift. Commercial cattle slaughter totaled 29.8 million head, down 6 percent from the previous year. Average live weight rose by 33 pounds, helping offset some of the production loss. Those heavier cattle have become an important part of the supply story. Average live weights are now 67 pounds above 2023 levels, indicating that larger carcass weights are making up for some of the herd contraction. Cold storage numbers support the tighter beef picture. Red meat inventories were down 2 percent from a year earlier, with beef down 3 percent and pork up 2 percent. As production continues to see drops, cattle auctions are hotter than ever. |
| Delta Council Annual Meeting to be Held on May 8 | |
| Delta Council President, Clint Dunn of Itta Bena, has announced that The Honorable Glenn William "GT" Thompson, Jr., Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, will serve as the keynote speaker for the 91st Annual Meeting of Delta Council. The event will take place on Friday, May 8, at a new venue, "The Lawn", at the Delta Research & Extension Center-MSU in Stoneville. This move marks a significant change from the 90-year tradition at Delta State University. The Annual Meeting was moved to Stoneville due to Delta State's commencement ceremony. "We are honored to welcome Chairman GT Thompson to the Mississippi Delta for our 91st Annual Meeting. His leadership on agricultural policy and commitment to rural America make him uniquely qualified to address the challenges and opportunities facing our region," said Dunn. |
| Officers, private security to patrol Cotton District on weekends | |
 | Business owners in the Cotton District are preparing for their first weekend under new city security measures following a Saturday shooting that left one victim hospitalized. Jacob Gordon, general manager of Bin 612, said he and his staff did not hear the gunshots that rang out shortly before midnight, but news of the violence was unsettling. He believes the new security measures will help "tremendously" in preventing future incidents. "... Employee safety is always one of our number one concerns, and I think that'll help a lot with the employees' ... mental state at work, just knowing that this is an action we're taking on the streets," Gordon told The Dispatch on Thursday. Beginning Friday, Starkville Police Department will establish a secured perimeter around the district from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays with five controlled entry points staffed by officers and security personnel from Oxford-based company Shielded Security. Backpacks, outside alcoholic beverages and masks or other face coverings will be prohibited. Everyone entering must present a valid ID, and no one under the age of 18 will be permitted entry. |
| Cadence customers to receive new account numbers under Huntington | |
| Cadence Bank customers will soon see significant changes to their accounts as the bank transitions to the branding under its new owner, Huntington Bank. In February Columbus, Ohio-based Huntington Bancshares Inc. closed on its $7.4 billion merger with Cadence Bank. With the merger, the Cadence name will give way to Huntington's. This change will also bring with it new account and routing numbers for Cadence customers, who will need to update any services that use this information -- direct deposits, automatic withdrawals for bills, etc. Customers will be notified of these changes officially in mid-May via mailed welcome packages that include a personalized account summary and details about their new Huntington Bank accounts. According to information provided by the bank, while many customer accounts will convert on June 22, 2026, some loan products and services will transition earlier or later. Customers will receive personalized communications outlining their specific timelines. |
| Numbers say Columbus prime for downtown hotel | |
| Based on last year's hotel occupancy rates, Berkeley Young, president of Young Strategies Inc., believes downtown is prime for a new hotel. With the Sen. Terry Brown Amphitheater expected to open by spring 2027, bringing with it an influx of visitors from additional city events, a new hotel can accommodate that growth and also bring more attention to the Trotter Convention Center. "You're in a competitive game here, and the civic pride portion of your job is the work you're doing in the community ... building amphitheaters and things," Young told the board. "... But when y'all get down ... into marketing the destination, that's when civic pride goes out the window. And now we're in a competitive battle, and we're just trying to get our piece of the pie. And so you've got to be very aggressive." During a workshop with the Columbus-Lowndes and Visitors Bureau board Thursday, Young presented several potential improvements for the CVB's strategic plan based on survey results, including increasing social media marketing, expanding staff and collaborating with the Golden Triangle Development LINK to attract developments such as a new hotel and additional dining and entertainment options. |
| CEO of The MAX Discusses Plans with Rotary Club | |
 | In its relatively short existence, the Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Experience has become a vibrant arts and cultural center that inspires Mississippi pride. Penny Kemp has been CEO & President of the MAX for two years and says over 30-thousand people participated in more than 400 events in this past year alone. She shared with Rotarians about some short-term and long-term goals that will keep the MAX as one of the top tourist attractions in Mississippi. "Where are we going in the next five to ten years," said Kemp. "How are we giving back to this community and how are we strengthening the community through the arts. How are we creating a better Mississippi by celebrating our creative legacy but also lifting up those current artists and nurturing that future generation." |
| Felder Rushing shares gardening philosophy at Earth's Bounty event | |
 | Celebrated Mississippi gardener, radio personality and author Felder Rushing is making a return to Meridian where he is scheduled to appear in connection with Earth's Bounty at The Mississippi Arts+Entertainment Experience (The MAX) on Saturday May 2 at 10 a.m. Rushing, widely known as the long-time host of the Mississippi Public Broadcasting show The Gestalt Gardener, has built a career encouraging everyday people to rethink their relationship with plants. At the heart of Rushing's philosophy is what he calls "Slow Gardening." The concept pushes back against rigid landscaping rules and high maintenance expectations. He encourages people to cultivate plants that thrive naturally in their environment. "Your yard doesn't have to look like a magazine. It just has to make you happy," he urges. |
| In major reversal, Nissan drops EV production plans at Canton plant | |
 | Nissan Motor Co. told U.S. suppliers April 30 that it has dropped plans to build electric vehicles in Mississippi. Nissan confirmed to the Clarion Ledger its plans on Nov. 30. "To better align with market conditions, customer demand, and Nissan's updated strategic direction, the company will not move forward with previously announced EV programs at its Canton, Mississippi facility," Nissan spokesperson Jennifer Swanner told the Clarion Ledger. It was just April 13 Nissan officially unveiled plans to build the Xterra SUV at the Nissan Assembly Plant in Canton with hybrid vehicles available. The vehicle was to have V6 and V6 Hybrid models, with a total of five body-on-frame models built in the United States. The Xterra would share its body on frame with the Pathfinder and Frontier, as well as an Infiniti model, all of which have been built in Canton previously. It is not clear if all will be built in Canton. |
| Jim Flanagan retiring as CEO of DeSoto County Economic Development Council | |
 | If you look up the definition of economic development in the dictionary, it should probably say see Jim Flanagan. Flanagan has been CEO of DeSoto County Economic Development Council for nearly 40 years and has been involved in just about every deal that has brought a major industrial prospect or expansion to DeSoto County. Medline. Google. Amazon. Milwaukee Tool. Williams-Sonoma. Helen of Troy. xAi. The list goes on and on. "It has been such a blessed experience for 38 years," Flanagan said. Flanagan will be calling it a career at the end of June. While it will be tough to leave a job he loves, he will be moving to the Orlando area to be closer to his daughter and four grandsons. Flanagan came to work for DeSoto County at a time when north Mississippi was experiencing a major population boom. He said his job was made easier by the county's excellent school system, good road infrastructure, and leadership at county and city levels that were pro-business. |
| Mississippi Democrats, Black Caucus vows to fight after Supreme Court ruling on voting rights | |
| Mississippi's Legislative Black Caucus and the state Democratic Party say the fight over voting rights and fair representation is far from over following a Supreme Court ruling. "Our history is not written in ink. It is written in blood," said Rep. Kabir Karriem, chairman of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus. Karriem said communities of color stand to lose the most in redistricting battles. "Let me be clear to anyone who thinks Black people are just going to sit quietly while our hard-fought gains are stripped away, you got to be out your mind," Karriem said. Advocates pointed to the sacrifices made by civil rights leaders and called on those still living in the state to help them mobilize. Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Cheikh Taylor warned the stakes could be significant. "Worst case scenario is that we lose almost half of the African-American representation in our House seats and also in our Senate seats," Taylor said. Taylor urged voters to stay engaged by watching for community meetings and peaceful protests aimed at pressuring state leaders. |
| With Kirby not seeking re-election, Yancey announces run for Senate District 30 | |
| Senate President Pro Tempore Dean Kirby (R) has announced that he will not be seeking re-election to the Mississippi Senate in 2027. Kirby, who turns 80 this year, has served in the state Senate since 1992. He represents Senate District 30 and has been the chamber's Pro Tem since 2020. As the chamber's Pro Tem elected by the members, Kirby oversees the operations of the Senate and chairs the Rules Committee. He also the vice chair of the Interstate and Federal Cooperation Committee and currently serves on Senate committees for Corrections, Drug Policy, Finance, Insurance, Judiciary A, Medicaid, and Municipalities. Kirby has been actively involved in Republican Party politics since the late 1970s when he chaired the Rankin County Republican Executive Committee. His election to the Mississippi Senate came after redistricting following the 1990 Census. In 1991, Kirby ousted then incumbent State Senator Barbara Blanton despite being outspent by a 5-1 margin. Well-wishers poured across social media Thursday. |
| Case determining who controls airport going before judge | |
| It's been almost A decade since Gov. Phil Bryant signed a bill into law that would change the make-up of the board that governs the state's largest airport, the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport, and Hawkins Field. City of Jackson leaders and the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority sued to block the law, saying it was meant to take control from the majority-Black city. U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Harris is scheduled to hear the lawsuit that resulted from that action in 2016 starting on June 15. Sen. Josh Harkins doubts he'll be in the courtroom when the case is heard, but he plans to keep up with what happens. "I'll be watching and checking in," he said. "I'll get updates from the attorneys." He has frequently heard the law referred to as "the state taking over the airport," but "the state isn't taking over anything," he said. The gist is to expand the make up of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority and make sure its members have knowledge and expertise that would bring value to the board, he said. |
| Crop Undercount Raises Questions About Reliability of U.S.D.A. Data | |
 | The Agriculture Department projected last July that farmers would harvest 86.8 million acres of corn in autumn. The projection was repeatedly revised upward until, in January, the department found 1.3 million more acres of corn -- an area larger than Delaware -- and concluded that the final amount harvested was 91.3 million acres. "It was a miss. No other way to call it," said Seth Meyer, who served as the department's chief economist until leaving in December. The 5 percent undercount may seem small, but it was the department's worst projection in recent memory. It came as the Trump administration was cutting staff at the Agriculture Department and as President Trump's trade war raised prices for equipment and hurt exports. Some people in agriculture have become increasingly worried about the reliability of department data. That skepticism could lead to a breakdown of the historically close relationship between the department and farmers it serves, they said. "U.S.D.A. always had a great relationship with its farmers," said Mr. Meyer, who now leads the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri. "That seems to have weakened." |
| Three American Farmers on How the Iran War Is Changing Their Plans | |
 | Farmers overseeing millions of acres of land from North Dakota to Kentucky are switching up which crop seeds to plant, cutting fertilizer purchases and using fewer seeds than originally planned this planting season. Fighting in the Middle East has sent fertilizer prices soaring. The cost of diesel fuel for tractors and other farm machinery is also rising, leading farmers to cut whatever costs they can from their budgets. One easy answer: More soy and less corn. Soybeans require less fertilizer to grow than corn. American farmers intend to plant 84.7 million soybean acres in 2026, up 4% from last year, according to a March report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Corn acres planted are expected to decline from 2025, but remain the country's most popular crop. Corn growers are estimated to lose nearly $150 per acre this year, according to USDA estimates. Ninety-four percent of farmers said their financial situation had worsened or remained the same since last year, according to an April survey from the American Farm Bureau Federation, a trade group. |
| Mississippi Republicans back farm bill as it clears U.S. House, heads to Senate | |
| Mississippi farmers could soon see relief as the U.S. House advanced a sweeping farm bill Thursday, with most of the state's delegation backing the measure. The House voted 224-200 on the Farm, Food, and National Security Act, sending it to the Senate for consideration. Mississippi Republican Reps. Michael Guest, Trent Kelly, and Mike Ezell voted in favor of it, while Rep. Bennie Thompson did not join 14 of his fellow Democrats in the mostly GOP-powered vote. "This long-awaited legislation will support our farmers and ranchers and secure the notion that food security is national security," Guest said. "If we want to remain the most powerful nation in the world, we must control the basics -- our land, our food, and our livelihoods. That's why I am proud to support the farm bill." The bill also expands rural broadband access and extends authorization for conservation programs, agricultural research, and rural development grants. |
| Lawmakers agree the data center boom shouldn't hurt ratepayers. Now comes the hard part | |
 | House lawmakers expressed support Wednesday for protecting energy ratepayers from price hikes driven by surging data center demand, but remain far from a legislative solution. A congressional hearing focused specifically on legislation to address large data center energy use came as the issue gains national political relevance and after President Donald Trump called on Congress to act. Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.) put the issue leaders are dealing with back home bluntly. "There's a lot of resistance in rural areas to building those data centers. Local mayors and commissioners, they just don't want them. We need to educate them on why they need them." In the Senate, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has a bill with Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to force data centers to find independent power sources, but it and other proposals have yet to get a hearing. The rapid growth of data centers has complicated utilities' ability to predict future demand, a key component of grid planning, due to their large and often variable energy use. |
| Something Liberals and Conservatives Agree On: Hatred of Data Centers | |
| The monthly meeting in Lyon Township, a small town in southeast Michigan, was packed on a recent Monday, even though the main item on the agenda was an easement for a drain. Residents, holding notes and water bottles, lined up at the mic to talk about the actual issue on everybody's minds: the proposed large-scale data center. They had come prepared. Lyon Township voted for Donald J. Trump in 2024, but party loyalties hardly seemed to matter. In an era when Americans are divided on everything -- even the cars they drive and the TV shows they watch -- data centers seem to have bridged the partisan divide. Early evidence suggests that Americans -- once agnostic -- are now souring on them. Last month, Maine became the first state to pass a moratorium on data centers -- only to have the governor, a Democrat, to veto it -- and similar measures have been introduced in at least 13 other states and dozens of municipalities. Meanwhile, data center construction is surging, with politics racing ahead of policy, sometimes with dangerous consequences. Last month, an Indianapolis councilman said a gunman fired 13 shots into his home, injuring no one, after he voted to approve a center. An accompanying note read, "No Data Centers." |
| White House presses tech companies for support on AI-driven cyberattacks | |
| The White House has asked a group of tech companies to answer a set of questions this week about how to ward off digital attacks that frontier AI tools could soon enable, according to four people with knowledge of discussions between the administration and the tech sector. The questions, from the White House's Office of the National Cyber Director, focus on how specific sectors in the tech and cybersecurity industries can work with the White House to boost their defenses with AI, these people said. Companies have been asked to respond to them by Friday. Some of the questions were discussed during a Tuesday afternoon meeting between White House cyber officials and approximately 30 industry representatives, said one of the people, who, like others in this report, was granted anonymity to share details of ongoing, highly confidential discussions. The request for additional, detailed information from these companies reflects the intensifying focus in Washington on the evolving threat that hyper-advanced AI tools may pose to national security and digital infrastructure. |
| Funding bill to end Homeland Security shutdown signed into law | |
 | President Donald Trump signed a bill funding most of the Department of Homeland Security within hours of it clearing the House on Thursday, effectively ending an 11-week partial shutdown. The bill, which the House cleared on a voice vote, funds all of the vast department -- covering the Secret Service, Coast Guard, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency and more -- with the exception of immigration enforcement agencies. Republicans plan to fund those agencies through a separate filibuster-proof reconciliation bill over Democratic opposition in the coming weeks. The decision by House leadership to push the bill through under suspension of the rules -- after weeks of resistance and without a roll call vote -- brought a surprisingly speedy conclusion to the longest partial shutdown in history. The twin votes this week aimed at ending the shutdown marked another test of leadership for Johnson, who has struggled to govern with a razor-thin GOP majority and a divided GOP conference. |
| Iran Is Grasping for a Solution to an American Blockade It Can't Break | |
| For almost five decades, Iran's Islamic government has survived financial pressure from the U.S. by selling oil to China. It confronted American military might with guerrilla tactics. But with the U.S. Navy's blockade, that strategy might have met its match, analysts said. Tehran thought it was gaining the upper hand after the war started in February as it attacked ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz, shutting down commercial traffic and blocking a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. Six weeks into the conflict, the U.S. responded by blockading shipments from all Iranian ports. That shut down Iran's network of shadow ships, which for years defied U.S. sanctions on Iran's substantial oil exports by going dark at sea before clandestinely transferring their cargoes to China. The tankers have been unable to breach a cordon of U.S. warships that have chased them all the way to the Indian Ocean. In Hormuz, "Iran was able to create a crisis of market confidence. But disruption is not control," said David Des Roches, a former director responsible for Persian Gulf policy at the Defense Department. "With the U.S. blockade, it's facing a reckoning." |
| Trump drops MAHA favorite for surgeon general pick who has critiqued RFK Jr. | |
 | President Donald Trump on Thursday announced his latest pick for surgeon general, Nicole Saphier, putting an end to Casey Means's nomination process that had stretched nearly a year. The choice of Saphier -- a longtime Fox News contributor and radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center -- represents Trump's third attempt to fill the job of the nation's top doctor, after first nominating and then withdrawing Janette Nesheiwat last year. The role of surgeon general, which offers a prominent bully pulpit but limited influence over policy, has been ensnared by broader fights over vaccines, public health and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again movement. Kennedy, the founder of an anti-vaccine group, has a long history of disparaging vaccines and has attempted to upend the public health system. The shift is the latest shake-up in Kennedy's health department. In recent months, Kennedy has largely stopped publicly talking about vaccines as polling suggests vaccine skepticism carries political risks. Earlier this year, his top aides were restructured, and his new nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has expressed support for vaccines. Meanwhile, Saphier has been openly critical of Kennedy on social media. |
| Bessent wants Americans to avoid easy-money traps and invest in financial literacy | |
 | Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent winces at the allure of easy money -- whether it's lottery tickets, buy now, pay later loans or the promise of a crypto windfall -- warning that the get-rich-quick mindset often leads Americans farther from financial stability, not closer to it. "There are a lot of young people, mostly young men, going to blue-collar construction jobs, playing the lottery. It drives me crazy," Bessent said in an interview. "The best thing you can do is not play the lottery," he said -- rather, people should invest and "then watch it grow." Bessent spoke to The Associated Press about the basics of building a workable budget and saving for the future at the tail end of Financial Literacy Month, an initiative the billionaire hedge fund manager has made a priority since joining President Donald Trump's administration, driven by a childhood marred by poverty. The nation is enmeshed in record levels of debt, which surpassed $39 trillion in March, and critics wonder how Bessent can persuade Americans to save for their futures when the government itself is drowning in debt. |
| U.S. Debt Tops 100% of GDP | |
| The U.S. national debt now exceeds 100% of gross domestic product, crossing a once-unthinkable threshold, on the way toward breaking the record set in the wake of World War II. As of March 31, the country's publicly held debt was $31.265 trillion, while GDP over the preceding year was $31.216 trillion, according to data released Thursday. That puts the ratio at 100.2%, compared with 99.5% when the last fiscal year ended Sept. 30. That figure will likely climb for the foreseeable future because the federal government is running historically large annual deficits of nearly 6% of GDP, which add to the debt. The government is spending $1.33 for every dollar it collects in revenue, and the budget deficit this year is projected at $1.9 trillion. That is little changed from 2025 as Republicans' tax cuts kick in before their spending cuts take effect. The final tally will depend on Iran war spending, tariff refunds and the strength of the economy. By itself, the milestone doesn't mean much. Still, the triple-digit mark is a potent symbol of the fiscal stresses on the U.S. that have been building for decades. Lawmakers in both parties have expressed alarm but given priority to tax cuts and spending increases with clearer short-term political benefits. |
| Outspoken Ole Miss professor's social media post fuels conservatives' calls to fire him | |
| James "JT" Thomas said he was calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump on Tuesday when he posted a picture of seashells arranged to say "86 47" on the social media app Bluesky. Thomas, a sociology professor at the University of Mississippi, said he worked in the hospitality industry between 2002 and 2011, and among restaurant staff, to "eighty-six" something means to discard it. The image, which former FBI Director James Comey posted to his Instagram account last May and later deleted, spurred a federal investigation and charges of threatening the president. In slang, "eighty-six" can mean "to kill." On Tuesday, a federal grand jury indicted Comey on charges of threatening to "take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon" Trump and transmitting a threat across state lines. As of Thursday, university officials have not publicly addressed the issue. A university spokesman did not respond to Mississippi Today's requests for comment. Thomas told Mississippi Today he's not afraid of being fired. "I have not received any blowback from the university or suggestions to keep my mouth shut," Thomas said. |
| Cliff Johnson campaigns for transparency and accountability | |
 | Cliff Johnson, the Democratic nominee for Mississippi's 1st Congressional District election in November, attracted national attention to the North Mississippi race when Joseph Kennedy III, the former Massachusetts congressman and grandson of 64th U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, hosted a fundraiser for Johnson at Big Bad Breakfast in Oxford on Friday, April 17. Johnson, a clinical professor of law instruction at the University of Mississippi School of Law, said he is running on a platform for all Mississippians. "I am committed, first and foremost, to representing those among us who are suffering the most," Johnson said during an interview with the Mississippi Media Lab on April 17. Johnson hopes to win over Republicans in the largely conservative 1st District who are frustrated with the Trump administration. "I think that there are plenty of conservative Mississippians who recognize that whatever this is, (MAGA) this doesn't represent Mississippi values, and it doesn't represent what they thought they were getting into when they declared themselves Republicans," Johnson said. Rep. Kelly did not respond to a request for an interview with the Mississippi Media Lab. |
| Governor announces $13 million for youth mental health care service expansion | |
| More than $13.4 million in federal funding is being allocated to the University of Mississippi Medical Center to bolster mental health programs in the state. Governor Tate Reeves (R) announced the approval of the allocation by the Mississippi Development Authority on Thursday. The Community Development Block Grant funding is made possible under the CARES Act. The funding gives UMMC extra resources to build telehealth capacity, provide support for workforce training in the areas of specialized mental healthcare and ultimately provide more access to mental health treatment for the state's youth, particularly in underserved areas of the state. Of the total monies allocated to UMMC, just over $3.4 million will go to Universities Network of Integrated Telemental Expansion Clinics to connect students attending UMMC and other public universities in the state to free mental health services by covering personnel and marketing campaign expenses. Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs at UMMC, said the hospital greatly appreciates the state's investment in the mental and behavioral health care of youth and young adults. |
| Jackson State announces three spring commencements | |
| Jackson State University will celebrate the Class of 2026 with three spring commencement ceremonies. Nearly 900 graduates are expected to walk the stage to receive their degrees, including more than 600 undergraduate students and approximately 226 graduate students. JSU alumni will serve as commencement speakers for all three ceremonies. They are noted researcher Jelani C. Zarif, Ph.D., Emmy Award-winning actor Tramell Tillman, and licensed clinical psychologist and educator Jasmin Searcy-Pate, Ph.D. Their work spans cancer research, entertainment and psychology. All ceremonies will be held at the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center. |
| ICE releases brothers from custody as Mississippi Coast community rallies support for the two teens from Republic of Congo | |
| Two brothers from the Republic of Congo were released to their Mississippi host family Thursday, more than a week after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained the teens as they waited for a school bus. Their lawyer Amy Maldonado said Israel and Max Makoka intend to restore their student visas. "I don't know if it was the media coverage or political interest in their cases or what it was, but somebody made a good decision somewhere to let these boys try to reinstate their status and go through the process now that they're aware that there's an issue," Maldonado said. Maldonado told Mississippi Today that Piney Woods School was aware when the teenagers transferred from there to Hancock High School that their visa status was jeopardized but didn't properly explain it to their host family. "There's no reason they didn't communicate this," Maldonado said. Maldonado could not confirm the extent of involvement by U.S. Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Roger Wicker but she did thank the Republican lawmakers and their offices for reaching out to the agency on behalf of the brothers. |
| Preschool enrollment is at an all-time high in Mississippi according to a recent report | |
 | A report released from NIEER shows Mississippi is one of only six states in the nation to meet all ten of the recommended benchmarks for preschool quality. The study shows 4-year-olds being served, with a national enrollment of 37%, but only 9% of 3-year-olds. Jill Dent is the executive director of early childhood at the Mississippi Department of Education. Dent said the department has $29 million allocated for the Early Learning Collaboratives and $13 million for state funded pre-K programs. "That is a really big deal to be able to have all of those programs focused on high quality for each one of those children that are participating," said Dent. Dent says there are districts that utilize federal and local funds to implement programs for 3-year-olds. "Every year we go through a continuous quality improvement process to ensure that our programs are implementing what they're supposed to be doing as they are receiving state funds," said Dent. "We make sure they're meeting grant requirements. So those are all, parts of the NIEER benchmarks folded into what a class should look like, as we support them with grant funding." |
| U. of Kentucky student accused of assault that caused fractured skull at a bar, investigators say | |
 | A University of Kentucky student has been charged with assault after he allegedly punched a man in the face at a Lexington bar, causing him to have a potential traumatic brain injury, according to court documents. The incident happened around 1:45 a.m. April 10 at 2 Fisted Willie's, a rooftop patio country music sports bar located off-campus on Woodland Avenue. Court documents say Hunter Hawthorne, 20, was in an argument with someone when a man intervened in an attempt to defuse the situation. It was determined that Hawthorne was a UK student during the investigation. University spokesperson Jay Blanton said Hawthorne is still enrolled at the school and does not have any comment on the allegations. Hawthorne is charged with first-degree assault and nine counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument. Court documents say officials found nine fake IDs in his bedroom while serving a search warrant at his residence. |
| 'Culture on a plate': U. of South Carolina class tells a story about the South through barbecue | |
 | Southern history is as rich as a smoked brisket smothered in a thick, tangy sauce and slapped on a paper plate. Students at the University of South Carolina get to learn about both -- at the same time. On Wednesday, students got to see barbecue in action. At City Limits Barbeque in West Columbia, owner Robbie Robinson welcomed Professor Matt Simmons at USC's Institute for Southern Studies, and his students to the smoke house. In the back of his restaurant, Robinson worked shoveling coals and cooking pork shoulder. He explained the difference between Carolina and Texas barbecue and what makes a "good bite" It was a finale to a semester of classroom learning about sauce traditions, Southern Reconstruction and so much more. Simmons designed the class as a study Southern history, culture, civil rights, economic development, demographic change and politics, all through the lens of barbecue. Instead of a traditional final exam, students made their own barbecue sauces and meat rubs, often taking elements from their own background and family history as inspiration. |
| Mizzou campus dining prices prompt food insecurity concerns | |
 | While a variety of choices are available to students at the University of Missouri campus, recent studies reveal that high price margins across campus dining locations can lead to food insecurity among students. Across multiple studies, food insecurity has also been directly linked to lower GPAs and reduced graduation rates. "For students to be successful at Mizzou, this needs immediate attention," said Marin Chamberlin, Mizzou student and president of Universities Fighting World Hunger-Mizzou. Chamberlin also collected data regarding price margins throughout Campus Dining Services. In her sample of more than 50 products across several Mizzou Market locations, more than half were priced over 50% higher than average surrounding market costs, like Target and Walmart. While markup percentages varied widely, some of the largest increases were found in basic household items. These included triple-digit percentage markups on certain medicines and cleaning supplies, along with a 500% increase on items like bananas. |
| Man charged with possessing meth lab chemicals in Michigan State building | |
| Michigan State University scrambled to relocate some final exams after police said they discovered a man inside the school's largest academic building with household substances that could be used to run a methamphetamine lab. The 31-year-old man was charged Wednesday with malicious destruction of property and possessing substances to operate a meth lab. Wells Hall has been closed since Monday. Campus Police Chief Mike Yankowski did not explicitly say investigators discovered an active drug lab inside the building. But he noted that flooring, doors and carpet would need to be cleaned or replaced. Citing federal privacy law, Yankowski declined to say if the man is a student. He was ordered to jail on $500,000 cash bond. Michigan State in East Lansing is holding final exams this week followed by graduation events. |
| A University Is Scraping Course Materials for Its New AI Platform. It Didn't Ask the Faculty. | |
 | Arizona State University is no stranger to testing out new ways of delivering education. This month, the institution began piloting a new artificial-intelligence platform that, for a fee of $5 a month, purports to turn faculty lectures, slide decks, and quizzes into instant, personalized courses. The problem? Many professors are discovering that the tool, known as Atomic, has repackaged their own words, faces, and ideas without their knowledge. The platform draws on existing ASU course materials -- apparently scraped from Canvas -- to generate short, modular lessons tailored to a user's stated goals. A university spokesperson told The Chronicle that Atomic is part of the university's larger plan to explore "how ASU can use existing digital content in new ways to reach learners beyond those enrolled in degree programs." But its debut has sparked alarm across campus. Early versions of the system appear to flatten complex subjects into decontextualized clips and error-prone summaries. "Our faculty were not part of the planning or launch of the platform and are still learning about what it entails," said Elisa Kawam, president of the University Senate, which represents faculty at all ASU campuses. |
| UVA's new Guesthouse Hotel open to visitors, students and community | |
| University of Virginia students, staff, alumni, visitors and others can now gather at one of the newest features in the Emmet-Ivy Corridor. The Virginia Guesthouse Hotel and Conference Center has officially opened on Grounds, after years of planning and construction. Its general manager, Gregg Hiker, says this facility is designed to have a different feel from the typical hotel. "The Guesthouse name is not without a lot of input," he said. "It sounds like a small bed-and-breakfast, and that's by design -- to make it feel welcoming, whether it's somebody from the University or somebody coming from afar." Inside, people will also find the new UVA Welcome Center, a student-staffed desk to greet visitors coming in the ground-floor entrance of the building. The center can help prospective students and their families meet with current students who can then offer information, directions and resources for a visit to Grounds. "We want students here," Hilker said. "We want them interacting with our guests who are non-student-centric." |
| Teaching AI by Doing, Not Studying | |
 | Institutions nationwide have responded to the rapid growth of artificial intelligence by introducing everything from drop-in workshops to research centers dedicated to the ever-evolving technology. At the University of Virginia College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, a new initiative launched last month aims to establish a more comprehensive framework for how colleges and universities engage with AI. Developed in partnership with the UVA Library, the AI Literacy and Action Lab is designed to equip students, faculty and staff with structured, evidence-based AI competency embedded directly into courses across disciplines. It will initially be delivered through course pilots led by faculty, a flagship one-credit seminar, a series of three one-credit AI courses and an incubator pathway for AI projects that extend beyond a single semester. Leo Lo, UVA's librarian and dean of libraries, said the lab is built on a framework he developed around five core competencies: technical knowledge, ethical awareness, critical thinking, practical skills and an understanding of AI's societal impact. |
| The College-Admissions Chess Game Is More Complicated Than Ever | |
| For high-school seniors across the country, May 1 is the denouement of a college-admissions chess game that has become more complicated than ever. Friday -- the deadline for students to tell colleges their final decisions---marks the culmination of an admissions process whose intensity has accelerated in recent years. Schools are pushing to get commitments sooner, adding new early-admission rounds, and using wait lists aggressively. The tactics force students, in turn, to strategically optimize their odds. "Some students have this mentality of being a shopper, being the buyer," said Adam Nguyen, founder of admissions-consulting firm Ivy Link. "You're not the buyer -- you are at the mercy of these colleges." Schools are trying to maximize their yield rate, or the percentage of admitted students who enroll. That figure is important for optics, rankings, logistical planning and finances; bond ratings even use it to assess how in-demand colleges are. At the same time, it has become harder for colleges to predict how many applicants will enroll because students are applying to more schools. Students now submit an average of nearly seven applications each on the Common App, up 46% since 2015-16, according to a 2024-25 report from the provider. |
| Loan Limits Finalized, but Litigation Looms | |
| The Trump administration finalized regulations Thursday that will put in place new loan limits for postbaccalaureate degree programs, which could potentially limit college access for hundreds of thousands of students and weaken pipelines for several high-demand health-care professions. Multiple trade associations quickly announced plans to challenge the rule in federal court. The lawsuit has yet to be filed, but leaders from the American Academy of Physician Associates and the Physician Assistant Education Association say it can be expected "soon." They plan to argue that the rule exceeds executive authority and overrides lawmakers' intent when they established a framework for the loan limits in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed last summer. A spokesperson from the American Federation of Teachers, one of the largest higher education faculty unions, said the union is also considering legal action. The crux of the lawsuit will be which programs have access to how much in federal loans. |
SPORTS
| Academic Success And Community Service Lead To SEC Honors For Four Bulldogs | |
| Four Mississippi State student-athletes have received recognition from the Southeastern Conference for their outstanding work either in the classroom or community. Izzy Pellot of the women's golf team and Jacoby Jackson of the football program have each been announced as winners of the Brad Davis Community Service Award. Meanwhile, Rickyla Fagan of women's track and field as well as Petar Jovanovic of men's tennis were selected as MSU's nominees for the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarships. The SEC's Brad Davis Community Service Award honors male and female student-athletes for their outstanding leadership and community service efforts. All 16 of the SEC's member institutions have a male and female winner of the honor, with each individual receiving a $7,500 post-graduate scholarship from the conference. While the Brad Davis Awards celebrate community service, the H. Boyd McWhorter scholarships honor academic excellence and success in competition. It has been presented by the SEC since 1986 to the conference's top male and female student-athletes. |
| Baseball: State Set For Top 10 Showdown At Texas | |
| No. 10 Mississippi State has spent the last two weeks getting back on track and strengthening a postseason resume that already stacks up among the nation's best. Now comes the biggest test of that surge. MSU travels to UFCU Disch-Falk Field this weekend for a top-10 Southeastern Conference series against No. 4 Texas, a matchup that carries weight nationally and inside a crowded SEC race. The Diamond Dawgs enter the series 35-10 overall and 13-8 in league play, riding a nine-game winning streak after sweeping South Carolina and LSU, beating Memphis in midweek action and knocking off No. 17 Ole Miss 7-3 in the Governor's Cup. Texas enters 33-9 overall and 13-7 in the SEC. The series begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday and continues at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, with both games streamed on SEC Network+. Sunday's finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. on ESPN. |
| As Mississippi State visits, Texas first baseman Casey Borba begins to hit again | |
| As UT continued to chip away at a surprising six-run deficit at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, Borba's three-run home run in the fifth inning -- launched to left field at a 45-degree angle -- made it a one-run game in what ended up being a wild walk-off win that Carson Tinney sealed with a two-run shot in the ninth. After rounding the bases, Borba made his way back to the Texas dugout. But before he could partake in the Longhorns' post-homer traditions of running through a man-made tunnel in the dugout and a celebratory curtain call with fans, he was embraced by head coach Jim Schlossnagle. While usually stoic, Schlossnagle had a reason to embrace his first baseman. Borba ranks on the team in home runs, but he hadn't hit one since March 31. This weekend, Texas welcomes No. 10 Mississippi State (35-10, 13-8) to Disch-Falk for a three-game series. Schlossnagle told reporters this week that the Bulldogs are "certainly an Omaha team." "This will be the most complete team that we've played this season," Schlossnagle said. "A&M probably has the best offense that we've seen this season. Mississippi State has as good of an offense. ... Then they complement that with just a really, really good pitching staff." |
| Softball: Faircloth Shuts Out Ole Miss In Oxford | |
| Alyssa Faircloth couldn't have asked for a better start to the series at Ole Miss. The junior led No. 18 Mississippi State to a 1-0 shutout victory on the road in the rivalry on Thursday night. Faircloth allowed just two baserunners on an infield single down the first base line and a hit batter. She struck out 14 on the night but was extremely impressive early on. In her first four innings, she retired all 12 batters she faced on just 40 pitches while racking up seven punchouts. "I mean, just a phenomenal game by Alyssa," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "She just does what we know she can do, and she looked confident and poised and attacked. She wanted the ball. I just loved the composure out of her, the way she attacked the zone, mixed speeds, kept them off balance, and just really kept the momentum in our dugout the whole game." The series continues at 6 p.m. CT on Friday night. First pitch will air live on SEC Network+. |
| Men's Tennis: No. 6 Mississippi State Hosts Tennessee Tech in NCAA Tournament First Round | |
| No. 6 Mississippi State begins its NCAA Tournament run Friday as the No. 5 national seed, welcoming Tennessee Tech to the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre for the opening round of the Starkville Regional. The top-seeded Bulldogs will face the fourth-seeded Golden Eagles at 1 p.m., following a 10 a.m. matchup between No. 2 seed Wisconsin and No. 3 seed Samford. Friday's winners will return to the courts Saturday at 1 p.m., with a trip to the NCAA Round of 16 at stake. Mississippi State enters the postseason riding the momentum of a historic campaign. The Bulldogs have totaled 22 victories, matching the fifth-highest single-season mark in program history, and their 11 conference wins are among the best ever recorded in SEC play. It also marks the program's 15th consecutive NCAA appearance, a stretch that underscores one of the most consistent runs in college tennis and the 34th trip overall. The all-time series heavily favors Mississippi State, which owns a 9-1 advantage, including an unblemished 7-0 record against Tennessee Tech during the Matt Roberts era. The Bulldogs have also been dominant in Starkville, winning eight of nine meetings on their home courts. |
| Track & Field: Dawgs Sweep The Throws On Day One Of Maroon And Tune Up | |
| Mississippi State track and field concluded the first day of the home meet, with athletes competing in the throwing events. Juha Narhi took the first win of the day, throwing 65.86m in the hammer throw. Narhi's mark is a new program record and moves him to the top eight in the SEC. Jewel Giles took the next win of the day, throwing 47.56m for a new personal best. Kevin Grubbs earned the final event win for the day, with a 58.27m throw, beating the field by over five meters. Action will continue Friday morning, with the women's pole vault beginning the day at 10 a.m. The first event on the track will be the women's 4x100m, set to begin at 3 p.m. Friday will also hold the senior day ceremony, where 18 Bulldogs will be celebrated. |
| Amazon to televise 3 marquee Duke basketball games as part of landmark deal | |
| Duke is entering into a first-of-its-kind enterprise partnership with Amazon that also includes the retail giant and streaming service televising three marquee men's college basketball games next season. The Blue Devils will face UConn in Las Vegas on Nov. 25, reigning champion Michigan at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 21, and Gonzaga on Feb. 20 in Detroit. The deal will include extensive NIL opportunities for Duke athletics and is part of a broader retail partnership expected to be announced at a later date. While a significant move for Duke, the agreement also represents Amazon's first foray into broadcasting live college sports. Prime Video has televised select NFL games since the 2017 season, including the exclusive rights to "Thursday Night Football" through 2033. The streaming service also began an 11-year media rights agreement with the NBA this season. The move will raise eyebrows around college sports. The deal could end up marking a harbinger for the future, as streamers are expected to be more aggressive in acquiring rights in upcoming collegiate sports rights discussions. |
| Tennessee AD cites 'huge advantages' in being everything school | |
| The perception that Southeastern Conference athletic programs have unlimited amounts of financial resources took a hit last Friday when Arkansas announced it would be dropping its men's and women's tennis programs. Arkansas and Tennessee are similar in their mountainous settings and in their investments into sparkling facilities and high-profile coaches, but Tennessee athletic director Danny White said before his Tuesday night appearance at the Big Orange Caravan at Riverdance Restaurant that athletic programs remain strong across the board in Knoxville. Tennessee won the SEC All-Sports Trophy three consecutive school years from 2021-22 to 2023-24 before Texas entered the league and won it in 2024-25, bumping Volunteers and Lady Vols teams to second. "Depending on how you count it, we have the second- or third-biggest budget in America now," White said. |
| How Kentucky's athletics super power turned into a weakness | |
| In the aftermath of Tuesday morning's Champions Blue board meeting, University of Kentucky publicist Jay Blanton noted that, until now, UK had not conducted a search for a new athletics director in almost a quarter of a century. The search that yielded outgoing Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart commenced in 2002. With Barnhart set to step down June 30, UK president Eli Capilouto said Tuesday he is winding down a "listening tour" in which he has spoken to more than 70 people to gather ideas on the qualities needed in the next Kentucky AD. Since it has been so long since UK has hired an athletics director, I asked Blanton what the process for actually making the hire will be. "It is the president's choice," Blanton said. "... It is ultimately his decision that the (AD) reports directly to him, traditionally is part of our cabinet. So that is his decision. But he will consult with lots of people." That it has been so long since the University of Kentucky conducted a search for a new athletics director underscores the unusual level of stability in its most high-visibility positions that has defined UK athletics in the past decade-plus. Alas, the stability upon which so much Kentucky athletics success was built eventually seemed to morph into something akin to stagnation. |
| Big 12's Private Equity Marriage Yields Cash and Legal Questions | |
| The Big 12's five-year, multimillion-dollar private equity deal with RedBird Capital and Weatherford Capital is a major development in the economic landscape of college sports -- and its legal ramifications could reset the relationship between athletes, schools, conferences, the NCAA and now PE companies. The deal is called a strategic partnership and was first reported by Yahoo Sports. It is the first of its kind with a major Division I conference. The partnership will provide $12.5 million to the Big 12 and allow conference schools to opt into an arrangement where they receive a capital credit line of $30 million. The partnership doesn't involve either the Big 12 or individual conference members selling equity, which was likely helpful. Of the 16 universities in the Big 12, 13 are public. The prospect of a public university selling equity to a private entity would raise complications with university charters, enabling statutes and other documents that make clear the university belongs to the state and its people -- not private businesses. Private equity companies are attracted to college sports because of the perception that media rights deals could, and should, be more lucrative. |
| NFL replacement refs wouldn't come from the top of college football | |
| If the NFL uses replacement referees this fall amid a labor dispute with game officials, the highest division of college football is not expected to lose officials or be impacted, a half-dozen college sports administrators and officials confirmed to The Athletic. The expectation has long been that the NFL would use lower-division college officials or retired officials, as it did during the 2012 referee work stoppage. That dispute, which lasted into the season and drew widespread backlash for mistakes like the "Fail Mary" that decided a primetime game between the Packers and Seahawks, largely featured officials from Division II and lower levels of football. "I don't anticipate it impacting where our guys work this fall," one Football Bowl Subdivision conference official said. While the NFL uses a single pool of unionized officials in the NFL Referees Association, college football officials are independent contractors split up between conferences. Some leagues, such as the SEC and the Sun Belt, partner together for an officiating pipeline and share resources. College Football Officiating (CFO), which is made up of conference commissioners and outgoing NCAA coordinator of officials Steve Shaw, works at the national level to create standard practices between the groups. |
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