| Monday, September 21, 2026 |
| MSU celebrates Famous Maroon Band's national Sudler Trophy, special halftime presentation | |
 | Mississippi State's Famous Maroon Band is being formally recognized as the 2026 recipient of the highest national collegiate band award, the Sudler Trophy. Multiple university events celebrate the milestone Sept. 24-27, reaching a crescendo with a special halftime presentation during Saturday's football game at Davis Wade Stadium. Regarded as the Heisman Trophy of the collegiate band world, the Sudler Trophy is awarded biennially by the John Philip Sousa Foundation and can only be won by a band program once, recognizing the program's history of excellence, tradition and national respect. "We are deeply humbled to have been selected for this prestigious award," MSU Director of Bands Elva Kaye Lance said. "This recognition belongs to the many people who, throughout the decades, have proudly performed with the Famous Maroon Band and served in leadership roles within the band program." "It also belongs to the countless individuals and organizations who have supported the band and our university through their time, talents, resources and encouragement. Their contributions have been essential to our success, and we are truly grateful for each of them," she added. "We are delighted to share this celebration with everyone who has been a part of the Famous Maroon Band's journey and who has helped make this honor possible." |
| Fine art majors create colorful, welcoming space for Bulldogs in Recovery program | |
 | An important space at Mississippi State now features a welcomed and encouraging addition, thanks to two senior art majors who enjoy sharing their talent with others. Gabrielle "Gabby" Castleman of Brandon and Sara Beth Messemore of Madison spent the summer creating a colorful wall mural in MSU's Bulldogs in Recovery program lounge that's part of the Office for Student Well-Being. BIR is an initiative using a holistic approach in support of students in or seeking recovery from various addictions. Part of the broader Collegiate Recovery Community serving schools across the Southeast, it's free and open to any university student. BIR Coordinator Trey Griggs said the recovery lounge featuring the new mural is where the "magic" of the program happens, and Castleman and Messemore quickly learned the space's importance when discussing program goals with him. Also sharing insight was MSU Department of Art Professor Soon Ee Ngoh, who coordinates mural artwork across campus. "The Office for Student Well-Being is a beautiful space for not only those in recovery but for those who want a safe space to connect," Castleman said. "Our hope is our mural continues to attract students to the space, and more can learn about the recovery center and how it supports students in many ways." |
| DYSKOLOS or Old Cantankerous presented on Tuesday, Wednesday | |
 | DYSKOLOS or Old Cantankerous, a Greek Comedy by Menander, will be presented on Tuesday and Wednesday at Lee Hall Bettersworth Auditorium on Mississippi State campus. The production, which begins at 6:30 p.m. with free admission, is part of the Shackouls Honors College Classical Week 2026, a celebration of Greek, Roman, and other cultures of the ancient world. Mississippi State University's historic Bettersworth Auditorium in Lee Hall will serve as a backdrop for this rarely produced and most complete surviving play of this period. Set in the farming village of Phyle, Greece in the 3rd century BCE, the play centers around a bad-tempered old man, his beautiful daughter, a rich young nobleman, various family members, their witty servants all of which are orchestrated by the god Pan. Today's audience will find Menander surprisingly contemporary: his characters wrestles with family tensions, stubborn personalities, unexpected love, and the messy, but joyful business of being human through love, intrigue, and redemption. The play is directed by Dr. Donna L. Clevinger, Senior Faculty Fellow at the Shackouls Honors College and Professor of Communication, Media & Theatre. |
| Classical week returns to MSU with 'Dyskolos' performances | |
| A 2,300-year-old Greek comedy will take the stage Tuesday through Wednesday for Mississippi State University's Classical Week, an annual celebration of the art and culture of the ancient world. "Dyskolos," or "Old Cantankerous," will be performed at 6:30 p.m. each night in Bettersworth Auditorium in Lee Hall. Admission is free, and doors open at 6 p.m. The production is directed by Donna L. Clevinger, senior faculty fellow in the Shackouls Honors College and the professor of communication, media and theatre. Clevinger said the production brings together students from across the university, including both experienced performers and students who have never appeared onstage. "Some have been working with me since they began their college careers here at MSU, while others have never been onstage before," Clevinger said. Written by Menander and first performed in 316 B.C., "Dyskolos" is the only play by the ancient Greek playwright that survives in nearly complete form. |
| Hyde-Smith promotes bill to codify NOAA cooperative research | |
| U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) joined colleagues in promoting bipartisan legislation they introduced to ensure the future of a long-standing National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) program that involves Mississippi universities in academic research partnerships. Hyde-Smith is an original cosponsor of the Cooperative Institute Act of 2026 (S.5332), which would codify the NOAA Cooperative Institutes program that involves a nationwide network of universities that support the NOAA mission. The bill was introduced by U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), with Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) as an additional cosponsor. "The Cooperative Institute Act will create greater certainty for NOAA and the wonderful universities, like Mississippi State and Southern Miss, in understanding, protecting, and harnessing our natural resources," Hyde-Smith said. "We want to ensure that the Northern Gulf Institute and the Cooperative Institute for Fostering Aquaculture Research and Markets, which benefit Coastal Mississippi, can continue to benefit our nation and grow to meet future challenges and opportunities. This bipartisan legislation is national in scope, which should help generate broad support in Congress." |
| August placements, marketings lowest on record | |
| Cattle placed into feedyards in August were down 9 percent from last year. Mississippi State University Extension ag economist Josh Maples says, "This is the lowest for any August placements number that we've got on record." He says placements have been below year-ago levels for the 10 of the past 12 months. But the trend goes back much further. "We've been below a year ago for the past 46 consecutive months if you look at that 12-year rolling average," he says. "So all of this tells the story that we know is happening in terms of getting tight supplies of cattle out there, fewer calves coming along." He tells Brownfield it's important to take a closer look at regional placements. "Nebraska really drove a big chunk of the decline in placements that we saw during August," he says. "Nebraska placements were down 14%, or about 65,000 head. This accounted for about 40% of that decline, the national decline. Kansas was down 7%." And while placements have declined, Cattle on Feed were actually up. "Because we're feeding cattle longer," he says. "Cattle are staying in feed lots longer, and so we end up with a higher than what might be expected on feed number." |
| Does limiting Airbnbs fix rising rent, housing costs? | |
| Though Ocean Springs implemented a 115-property cap on short-term rentals allowed in the city more than a decade ago, it has done little to slow rising housing prices and rental figures, said Alderwoman Shannon Pfeiffer, who represents Ward 4 for the city. Pfeiffer views the cap as just a starting point for addressing issues associated with short-term rentals and said the board is currently back to the drawing board on addressing their local impact through additional legislative steps. "We have some situations here in Ocean Springs, for instance, a woman that's lived here her whole adult life. She's in her later years, and she's burdened by having (a short-term rental) on all sides," Pfeiffer said. "That's a problem. ... You want to offer housing opportunities for year-round residents because there's that quality that you get from that." Pfeiffer said Ocean Springs' cap was primarily developed to help get an idea of how many short-term rentals were in the area and create a registration process for them. Columbus and Starkville both created ordinances with similar purposes over the last year, but neither city has implemented a cap. |
| Priced out: Low-income renters, homebuyers run out of options as housing costs surge across the Golden Triangle | |
| Yolanda Young was born and raised in Starkville. If it were up to her, she'd live in Starkville for the rest of her life. But because her apartment complex is no longer participating in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Housing Choice Voucher Program, Young doesn't know how much longer she can stay there once her lease is up in January. "It's a concern to me that I may not be able to find a place," Young told The Dispatch. "... (There) was never a time that I had to go back to my mama's house. (There) never was a time when I had to put my things in storage and go stay with anybody. ... I'm still out here looking, and I don't know when, and I don't know where, but I (hope) something is out there for me." Since she began renting her apartment in 2023, Young said her rent rose from $925 to $1,056. Without the assistance from HUD lowering her share to about $300, Young said she would have no way to afford her rent, groceries and other living expenses on her fixed income. Young is not the only one feeling the strain. Starkville Strong Executive Director Brandi Herrington said she believes there is a top-down effect pushing on all Starkville residents. |
| Precision Hose and Industrial Supply expands presence in Golden Triangle | |
| More than 50 years after Transport Trailer Service got its start, five more companies have grown and flourished under the same corporate umbrella. Among them is Precision Hose and Industrial Supply. The Tupelo-based subsidiary provides hydraulic hoses, industrial hoses, custom assemblies and hose repair services for manufacturing, construction, agriculture and industrial customers. It added a West Point location this year to serve the burgeoning industrial base in the Golden Triangle. Today, TTS and its affiliated companies employ about 100 people who work in 10 buildings in Tupelo and one in West Point. Transport Trailer Service was founded in 1972 by Larry Michael and has grown to become a premier truck and trailer parts and repair provider in the Southeast. |
| Industrial Timber expanding operations in Ripley with $2.6 million investment | |
| Industrial Timber is expanding its operations in Ripley with an investment of more than $2.6 million. The company plans to create 11 jobs as part of its latest project in Mississippi. Industrial Timber is the nation's largest independent furniture frame manufacturer and supplier of custom wood-based solutions. The expansion includes the rehabilitation of the company's Ripley facility, the construction of a new 36,000-square-foot building, and the addition of new machinery and equipment to support the domestic manufacturing needs of major furniture brands' bed slat production. In addition to its Ripley site, Industrial Timber notably has locations in Tupelo and Mantachie. The Ripley expansion is expected to wrap up sometime this fall. "Furniture manufacturing has helped shape North Mississippi's economy for generations, with companies like Industrial Timber continuing to create jobs for hardworking Mississippians," Gov. Tate Reeves said. |
| Younger will 'miss Senate', eyes transportation commission | |
| Pick up the phone. That's the advice Chuck Younger said he has lived by in his 12-plus years as Mississippi's District 17 senator, and it's the advice he would offer anyone seeking public office. "Have your phone available and take care of your people," he told The Dispatch during a meeting with editorial board members on Friday. "When somebody called me, if they needed something, I'd try to get it fixed or help them out as much as I could. ... That's what you're supposed to do as a public servant." Younger, of Lowndes County, announced this week he intends to run next year for transportation commissioner for the Northern District, which includes 33 counties, following incumbent John Caldwell's announcement that he does not intend to seek reelection. At age 63, Younger admitted with a chuckle, that job might come with fewer phone calls. "I've got grandkids, fixing to have another grandchild on the way," he said. "Believe it or not, this will be less time." But it is work with which Younger is familiar, as he serves as chairman of the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee. Caldwell, in his second term, has clashed with colleagues as well as with MDOT director Brad White during his tenure, according to reporting by Mississippi Today. Younger said that has delayed projects unnecessarily. |
| Lawmakers say Ag Commissioner order on excused school absences is non-binding | |
| An order issued by Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson (R) on Thursday allowing student participation in agricultural events to be considered an excused absence from school is believed to be moot. Gipson issued a release stating he was issuing "a Commissioner's Order Designating Educational Opportunities of Substantial Merit." Under his "order," agricultural, livestock and equine events, such as those conducted under local 4-H clubs and Future Farmers of America, are to be classified as excused absences under the state's recently updated Compulsory School Attendance law. However, lawmakers contend that Commissioner Gipson's order holds no weight. "His proclamation or order has no authority or legal rights," House Education Committee Chairman Rob Roberson (R) told Magnolia Tribune on Friday. Senate Education Committee Chair Dennis DeBar (R) agreed, saying Gipson's order is not legally binding. "I appreciate what the Commissioner is attempting to do. However, executive orders of this type issued by an agency head, to my knowledge, have no legal effect whatsoever," DeBar explained. "The proper avenue to change law is to utilize the legislative process." |
| Farmers want relief from Congress. Here's the holdup. | |
 | Farmers are struggling under the pressure of higher energy costs, tariffs and fluctuating crop prices. Congress wants to help but has been deadlocked for three years on how to do so. Now, lawmakers are the closest they have come in nearly eight years to getting a new farm bill done. The Senate Agriculture Committee voted Wednesday to advance its bill to the full Senate. The House passed its bill in April. Farmers may not get relief anytime soon, though, because there is still a lot of work to be done, including resolving differences between the House and Senate versions. And many Democrats say they will not support either bill, which would doom the effort in the Senate, where the measure needs some bipartisan support. The current farm bill expires at the end of September, but most of the funding for programs in the law will not run out until the end of the year. |
| Southern Organizers Bet Redistricting Will Fuel Democrats | |
| Voting rights organizers in Southern states are banking on anger over Republican redistricting to push Democrats beyond expectations come November. Across the South, organizers are taking steps to get out the vote -- organizing at block parties and arts events, as well as hosting rallies and voting drives. They're also sending trained, nonpartisan poll monitors to districts with predominant populations of color. The push is taking place across the South, including in Alabama, Louisiana and North Carolina. The April Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais effectively stripped Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which protected and sometimes required majority-minority districts. The loss of those protections threatens the seats of several Black incumbent lawmakers including Figures and Rep. Don Davis (D-North Carolina). Rep. Cleo Fields (D-Louisiana) decided not to run for reelection after the Callais decision eliminated his district. In North Carolina, organizers say they're gaining momentum. College students in the state are holding "stroll to the poll" events for historically Black colleges and universities whose campuses lost early voting locations. Massey and a coalition of other organizations are also hosting education programs to inform voters about the changes to their districts and a hotline to support voters on Election Day. |
| Senate GOP sees battleground map widen amid voter anger over economy | |
 | Senators in both parties say the Senate midterm election battleground map has expanded significantly six weeks before Election Day, putting the GOP majority in greater jeopardy. Several solidly Republican-leaning states -- including Kansas and Nebraska -- are now seen as being in play, the senators say. Democrats can also add New Hampshire to the list of toss-up seats they are defending. The Granite State and Michigan are hosting competitive races that are providing hope for Republicans and some nervousness for Democrats. But overall, the widening map is putting more pressure on Republicans. While Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) is seen as relatively safe in Georgia, a number of GOP incumbents are looking nervously at polls given the changing dynamics. The senators point to voter anger over rising gas and diesel prices as the biggest factor driving the shift of sentiment toward Democrats even in traditionally GOP-leaning states. Senate Republicans acknowledge they now face tough Senate races in several Midwestern states because farmers are angry over the cost of fuel and the impact of Trump's trade policies, especially a recent decision by the president to allow 300,000 metric tons of foreign beef imports into the United States. |
| US Sen. John Kennedy predicts end of Iran war in 6 months | |
| U.S. Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana told a crowd of Iowa conservatives Saturday he believes current high inflation is being caused by the U.S.-Iran war -- but said he sees an end to the conflict within six months. Kennedy was the keynote speaker for the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition's annual fall fundraiser in Des Moines Saturday evening. The crowd of more than 1,300 expanded into an overflow room at the Airport Holiday Inn. During his address, Kennedy spoke in support of U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson's campaign to join him in the Senate, while defending Republicans' move to lower taxes through the "One, Big Beautiful Bill" Act. While praising 2025 tax cuts for small businesses and Social Security recipients, Kennedy also acknowledged high costs from recent inflation -- though he claimed inflation was higher under former President Joe Biden. He said the 3.7% increase in inflation, referencing the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, is because of the U.S. war with Iran. Kennedy said, "That's just a fact." "There's no sense bubble-wrapping it," Kennedy said. "That is that is the genesis of the inflation that we have right now." |
| AI-powered online scams targeted in bipartisan bill | |
 | Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.) and Del. James Moylan (R-Guam) are preparing to introduce a bill aimed at combating online fraud, including scams powered by artificial intelligence. The bill, named Stopping Abuse and Fraud Enabled by Platforms Act, or SAFE Platforms Act, and shared first with POLITICO, is an attempt to combat the growing number of increasingly sophisticated online scams -- many powered by AI -- that target vulnerable users such as elderly people. "Scammers often exploit platform features to target users -- especially seniors, veterans, and other communities -- with few consequences for the platforms that enable and profit from this abuse," Foushee said in a statement. The proposal is the latest in a string of congressional efforts to address risks associated with AI, although with few legislative days remaining this year, the bill faces long odds of becoming law. President Donald Trump also announced plans over the weekend in a post on Truth Social to appoint an AI czar and create an "AI Force." |
| President Trump welcomes Mississippi's Reeves, other governors to Oval Office for Medicaid announcement | |
| Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (R) joined President Donald Trump (R), cabinet officials and other state leaders at the White House on Friday as the administration announced a plan to lower prescription costs for Medicaid programs. Every state Medicaid program in the nation now gets Most Favored Nation drug prices. According to the White House, that means all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are "unlocking nearly $65 billion in Medicaid drug savings over the next decade." The plan aims to provide relief for low-income families, children, seniors, and the disabled. Through Most Favored Nation pricing, the White House said 26 of the world's largest drugmakers, covering 90% of the branded U.S. market, have agreed to bring U.S. prices in line with the lowest paid by comparable developed nations. These agreements are projected to save Americans more than $600 billion. When President Trump turned the floor over to Governor Reeves, the Mississippi chief executive thanked the administration for their work to improve healthcare and bring down drug prices. "I just want just to put this in perspective. Our entirety of our state budget general fund is $7 billion. We spend almost $700 million a year in state and federal dollars on prescription drugs for our Medicaid program alone," Reeves said. "This is a big deal." |
| Trump decries Democrats as 'communists,' even as he looks to impress China's communist leader | |
 | Communism, President Donald Trump says, is the greatest threat the U.S. has ever faced. This summer, citing similarly grave concerns, he took the rare step of delivering a primetime address to the nation, accusing China of "sinister election meddling" in 2020 and reviving his yearslong push to dispute his loss in that year's election. Even as Trump seeks to decry Democrats as communists ahead of November's midterm elections, he is rolling out the red carpet this week for Chinese President Xi Jinping, the leader of the world's most powerful communist country. The state visit comes as the president himself has increasingly directed his administration to take large stakes in private companies to try to stimulate the economy -- something even some Republicans decry as corporate socialism. The contradictions between Trump's words and actions risk muddying Republican attack lines on Democrats. "I do think that we're not offering a clear contrast," said Marc Short, who was chief of staff to former Vice President Mike Pence and worked in Trump's White House in his first term. |
| On eve of China summit, Trump raises stakes on AI competition | |
 | Since long before he became president, Donald Trump has been all about "winning" – in business, on TV, in politics. Today, in his second White House tour, President Trump's focus is on economic supremacy as he touts the United States' status as No. 1 in the world. Enter the artificial intelligence revolution, and China's rapidly rising capabilities as the globe's No. 2 economic superpower. When Mr. Trump meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Washington this week, AI will be a top focus amid warnings of its potential existential threat to humanity and growing calls for regulation. To that end, Mr. Trump announced Saturday the formation of an "AI Force," modeled after the Space Force, and plans to appoint an "AI Czar," who will oversee the growing sector. But the president also repeated his staunch opposition to government regulation of AI or a slowdown of its development – calling U.S. dominance in AI an economic imperative. "AI is the next Industrial Revolution, or Internet, but will be even larger and more impactful, possibly as much as 25% of our Country's GDP," the president wrote Saturday on Truth Social. "We are leading China, and the rest of the World, and I intend to keep it that way!" |
| Law students take on real appeals through new clinic | |
| A new clinic at the University of Mississippi School of Law is putting law students to work on real appeals this semester. The Appellate Litigation Clinic, sponsored by Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP, pairs its inaugural class of student-attorneys with firm counsel to research, write, and argue cases in their final year of law school. The Clinic's six student-attorneys were sworn in for limited practice on Aug. 26 by the Honorable Magistrate Judge David Sanders of the Northern District of Mississippi and the Honorable Lawrence L. Little of the Eighteenth Chancery District of Mississippi, granting them the authority to represent real clients in civil and criminal appeals. Since then, students have been working under close faculty and attorney supervision to review case records to identify appealable issues, research and draft legal memoranda, and draft briefs in three active cases ahead of oral arguments before the Mississippi Court of Appeals. |
| Bolton native, JSU student launches Christian motivational apparel brand | |
| A Bolton native and Jackson State University student has launched a Christian motivational apparel brand inspired by a biblical declaration of faith. D'Jaydyn Readus, a 2023 graduate of Clinton High School, created All Is Well as what he describes as a "visual ministry" designed to spread faith, hope and encouragement to people facing difficult circumstances. The brand takes its inspiration from the story of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4, who continued to declare that "all is well" despite facing a devastating situation. "All Is Well is more than a phrase printed on a shirt," Readus said. "It is a declaration that regardless of what we face, we can continue trusting God and believing that He is working." Readus is a senior business administration major at Jackson State. |
| Mississippi Christian University named among nation's 'Great Colleges to Work For' | |
| Mississippi Christian University has been recognized as one of the nation's "Great Colleges to Work For" by ModernThink, an organizational development firm. The recognition was announced Sept. 18 as part of the Great Colleges to Work For program, which surveyed about 200 colleges and universities. A total of 76 institutions received recognition for specific workplace practices and policies. MC was recognized among medium universities with 3,000 to 9,999 students and also was named to the program's Great Colleges Honor Roll. The university received honors in five categories: professional development, mission and pride, supervisor/department chair effectiveness, faculty and staff well-being, and shared governance. "This recognition would not be possible if not for the dedicated faculty and staff on our campus that make Mississippi Christian University a vibrant place to work and learn every day," said Laura Jackson, MC chief operating officer and chief financial officer. "We strive every day to create a workplace where employees feel valued, supported and encouraged to grow." |
| U. of Alabama's School of Leadership and Policy prepares for Fall 2027 opening | |
| The University of Alabama's School of Leadership and Policy has begun accepting applications for its new Master of Public Policy program ahead of the school's Fall 2027 opening. The school will offer a Bachelor of Arts in public policy, a Bachelor of Arts in organizational leadership and a Master of Public Policy. UA announced the School of Leadership and Policy in November 2025 after the UA System of Trustees approved its creation. At the time, the school's degree programs were still being developed. Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Parker Wright began serving as the school's inaugural dean Aug. 1. Wright is overseeing the development of the school's faculty, academic programs and partnerships ahead of its opening. Wright said the school's programs are designed to prepare students for leadership and public policy work. "The school will launch with programs in organizational leadership and public policy, designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills and real-world experiences needed to lead organizations, solve complex public challenges and serve communities across Alabama and beyond," Wright said. |
| Louisiana Higher Ed Commissioner gives update on the state of public universities | |
| Kim Hunter Reed, Louisiana's Commissioner of Higher Education, visited Monroe Friday. Reed says Louisiana is on it's way to exceed the goal of 85,000 working age degree or certification holders from universities with only 5,00 left to go by 2030. "So the Board of Regents in 2019 set two goals to double the number of credentials and to get our attainment to 60%," Reed said. "This means that more people, more residents in Louisiana have credentials of value beyond high school. It's important because the knowledge economy requires that people have those skills and talents in order to participate in the workforce." Despite recent additional funding, she says public universities are still more than $850 million under funded. "So we're trying to make sure that we have enough funding so that the institutions can provide the kinds of programs that the workforce needs and so that students can have the lowest tuition possible and the highest value possible as they enroll in these institutions," Reed said. Food insecurity on college campuses is also priority The Board of Regents is working to address. They found it impacts 38% of four year and almost half of two year students. |
| 'We will deliver our best for Tennessee:' Chancellor Donde Plowman delivers eighth annual Flagship Address | |
| Two glowing Power Ts illuminated the dim Student Union auditorium. Faculty, donors and administrators shuffled about the room, exchanging pleasantries as they waited for Chancellor Donde Plowman to take the stage. Following open remarks from Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor John Zomchick, Plowman took the stage before a backdrop of silver shimmering curtains. On Sept. 18, Chancellor Donde Plowman delivered the eighth annual Flagship Address. This tradition, which began during Plowman's inaugural year, marks a time of reflection and anticipation for the university. "Our greatness is defined by the difference we make for others," Plowman said, "the problems we solve, the opportunities that we create and the impact we have." During the address, Plowman acknowledged the current momentum of the university. This year, the university is experiencing record enrollment numbers, with 41,287 students enrolling in the fall semester. Retention rates are also on the rise as 93.1% of students returned to UT following their first year. Plowman used the address to announce the launch of the "It Takes a Volunteer" campaign. The campaign is set to be funded by $3.5 billion in donations. The campaign's goals are centered around research, athletics and the student experience. |
| Vanderbilt University, MTSU lead the nation in free speech on campus | |
 | Vanderbilt University ranks 5th in a survey assessing free speech on campus, according to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression's annual College Free Speech Rankings report. The private institution headquartered in Nashville continues "to stand firm in their reinvigorated support for the First Amendment," the survey said. "This is the way." The findings come as Vanderbilt prepares to host the Global Free Speech Summit on Oct. 2-3 and promotes Dialogue Vanderbilt, a series of gatherings meant to spark conversation. "We really get to talk through things," said graduate student Samantha Taylor. "The faculty is amazing. They do a great job." "I feel completely comfortable," sophomore Clayton Ramey said. "I think that friendly disagreement is something that brings universities together," sophomore Frank Bagolie said. "When we can open dialogue on things that we don't agree about, I think that is what a university is all about in the grand scheme of things. We all come from different paths of life. Not every opinion is going to be the same." Middle Tennessee State University, having joined the survey last year, jumped two spots to land in 13th place. |
| Florida's state colleges, preK-12 schools must implement AI guardrails before July | |
| The body regulating Florida public schools and state colleges Wednesday approved what the Florida Department of Education calls "one of the most comprehensive, parent-centered AI frameworks in the country." The State Board of Education policies require public school districts and charter school governing boards to amend their internet safety policies to include specific guardrails and directives related to AI by July 1. "We are neither going to one extreme, i.e. banning AI, nor are we going to the other extreme, which is just unfettered access," Education Commissioner Henry Mack said during the board's meeting in Winter Haven. "The rule that you accepted is not a prohibition, it empowers faculty to decide what to do, it allows the instructor to explicitly permit it or prohibit it with respect to their assignments," Mack said of the college-level policy. "I just think it's a great thing that we put the guardrails, but the guardrails are so nuanced that it allows for flexibility and innovation and faculty ownership in a way that does not compromise or usurp the faculty's ability to teach what they want." |
| Georgia's first need-based aid comes to campus this fall -- but is it enough? | |
| The Georgia General Assembly just allocated millions of dollars to establish a new need-based scholarship. But experts warn that it won't cover the cost of attendance for low-income and rural students. The state's DREAMS (Dedicating Resources to Educationally Advance More Students) scholarship ends Georgia's designation as one of two states without state-funded need-based aid for higher education. "It takes us off the naughty list of not having a program like that," said Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia (USG), which oversees the state's public colleges and universities. "We still have compassion for those students who have to struggle to make the cost and the sacrifices for obtaining a higher education." This legislative session, the state legislature appropriated $325 million to start the state's need-based aid program. More than $12 million will go to Georgia's students this academic year with maximum awards of $3,000 per student annually. Another $12.5 million will go out next year, while the remaining $300 million will serve as a scholarship endowment. |
| Students gather to canvass ahead of Georgia election | |
| University of Georgia Young Democrats, Dawgs for Ossoff, the Spencer Frye Fellowship and other campaigns and organizations hosted a canvassing event at Bishop Park on Sunday. Aarov Malhotra, field director for Dawgs for Ossoff, described the event as an introduction to canvassing for students who had never done it before. "We wanted to introduce people to canvassing early on, and we're still a little bit away from the election," Malhorta said. "...We want this to be a really positive experience -- have some community, enjoy some food and find joy in knocking doors this election cycle." College and high school students participated in the event. Students came to canvass for a variety of different reasons. Nora Grady, a sophomore political science major and Spencer Frye Fellow said she believes in the importance of getting people out to vote. "With everything being too expensive, housing costs being crazy, a lot of these problems are directly affecting young people," Grady said. "...We can't have older people have all the say." |
| Secretary of War Hegseth speaks to A&M Corps of Cadets | |
| Hours after running up and down the Kyle Field steps Saturday morning with the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed those same cadets at Rudder Theatre. "The best part of my day was this morning at 0630, running Kyle Field up and down those steps. It was all the proof I need that the warrior spirit is indeed alive and well," Hegseth said. "Sweating up and down those steps through that legendary stadium reminded me yet again, as if I needed it -- I didn't -- that the grit and the discipline and the endurance in this corps is second to none." Hegseth came to College Station on Saturday as part of a tour of Texas that included a stop in Austin on Friday. Hegseth shared why the College Station portion of his trip through Texas was called the "Send Me" tour and his visit to Austin was known as the "Arsenal of Freedom" tour. Also in attendance Saturday were Texas A&M Chancellor Glenn Hegar, former Texas Gov. and Aggie Rick Perry, A&M System regents, Corps of Cadets Commandant Chip Bierman, Texas A&M President Susan Ballabina and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, another A&M graduate. |
| 'I keep dissenting': Justice Sonia Sotomayor talks Supreme Court during OU-Tulsa fireside chat | |
| U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor took the stage at OU-Tulsa Wednesday evening to discuss civic education and her law journey, with a few pointed comments about her fellow justices. "All I can do is write what I think is the right answer and explain why, and hope that history will prove either that they're right or I'm right, but put us on the right course -- whichever course that may be," she said. The Northern/Eastern Oklahoma Chapter of the Federal Bar Association hosted the fireside chat at OU-Tulsa's Schusterman Center, marking the second time Sotomayor visited Oklahoma to speak. University of Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz Jr. introduced Sotomayor to the 250-person crowd, and U.S. District Judge Sara Hill moderated the discussion. This summer, the Supreme Court ruled in a number of contentious cases. Sotomayor joined the majority to uphold birthright citizenship and post-Election Day ballot counting. She dissented in rulings that stated the president can remove Federal Trade Commissioners without cause, and that federal courts can't review decisions about a country's protected status, resulting in the removal of protections for Haitian and Syrian citizens. "I don't always write 'I 'respectfully' dissent,'" she said to Hill. "But you're right, I keep dissenting." |
| 'Ghost students' becoming national threat to colleges and universities | |
 | A new AI-enabled fraud called "ghost students" has become a threat to institutions of higher education across the nation, administrators say. A ghost student participates in a scam that uses fake, stolen or synthetic identities to enroll in online classes and collect federal student aid. This most commonly affects community colleges, according to The Associated Press. The University of Missouri made its faculty aware of the threat on Tuesday and has designed a new identity verification system where professors can submit information about suspected fraud. Characteristics of a ghost student include minimal participation in class, written work that changes dramatically in style and ability, inconsistent information about the student's identity and consistent avoidance of identity verification or direct communication, according to an email to Mizzou faculty from Matthew Martens, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. |
| Campus Tours Have Never Been Bigger | |
 | Rides in shiny, branded shuttles. Personalized parking spots and goodie bags. Free flights and hotel rooms across the country. Multithousand-dollar scholarships, and multimillion-dollar welcome centers. These are some of the ways colleges and universities are investing in campus tours and visits, in the hopes that new and improved experiences will convince more prospective students who visit to eventually enroll. Campus tours have long been an important way for institutions to capture the interest of students and parents. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Americans broadly weren't traveling or attending in-person events, some campuses launched virtual versions of their tours, raising questions about whether in-person tours would become obsolete. Six years on, families and institutions alike seem to agree: In-person campus visits are more important than ever. Today's juniors and seniors, were in elementary school when COVID-19 shut down their schools, leaving much of their generation with social deficits and, in some cases, mental health struggles, whose impact still lingers. That means the amorphous campus vibe -- the pure energy of a normal day on campus that every tour seeks to capture -- carries special weight. Studies have found that whether a student visits campus is one of the strongest predictors of their matriculation. |
| Can 'A Different World' sequel change lives like the original series? Hillman is back in session | |
| Netflix's new "A Different World" arrives with a burden few television comedies have to carry: The original entertained millions while helping some viewers decide where they went to college, what careers to pursue and even how they saw themselves. Kadeem Hardison still hears about that impact nearly four decades later. "I'm learning that every day still," said Hardison, who played the mathematically gifted, flip-shade-wearing Dwayne Wayne. He said people would approach him, saying they went to college because of the show, became engineers because of him or even gained the confidence to pursue relationships after watching Dwayne and Whitley Gilbert's famously winding romance. Now a new generation is discovering Hillman College, including some of the original actors bringing it back to life. The 10-episode sequel series premieres Sept. 24 on Netflix. The original "A Different World," a spinoff of "The Cosby Show," premiered in 1987 and ran for six seasons. Set at the fictional Hillman College, the series introduced many viewers to HBCU life while tackling subjects ranging from apartheid and HIV/AIDS to racism and sexual assault. |
| Why Workforce Pell Programs Have Been Slow to Materialize | |
 | After years of debate and lobbying and wrangling, Workforce Pell Grants are finally here. It's seen as a watershed moment for higher education, a game-changer, a huge opportunity for students and institutions alike. But since the official opening of applications on July 1, there hasn't been an explosion of workers taking advantage of the new form of aid, and applications for program approval haven't come rushing in. In August, the emergency medical technician program at Iowa Central Community College became the first to be approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Even states and institutions that were working on submitting programs right out of the gate are just now beginning to see the first fruits. In North Carolina, where leaders began assiduous preparations for Workforce Pell as soon as the grants became a reality, only 16 of the state's 58 community colleges have applied for eligibility. Only five programs nationwide, in Indiana, Iowa, and Nebraska, have been approved for the grants by the Education Department as of this writing. |
| Ahead of Fiscal Year End, NSF Over a Billion Behind, IES to Award Funds | |
| The slower pace of federal research funding awards since President Trump returned to the White House, coupled with his administration's mass cancellations of existing grants, have repeatedly alarmed researchers, universities and their supporters. As another fiscal year under Trump comes to a close Sept. 30, advocates are watching federal spending data to see if the outlook for research funding improves. Grant Witness, a group tracking federal agency grant funding, is reporting that the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality are far behind where they were this time last fiscal year---which itself was a tumultuous one for research funding. "NOAA, AHRQ, NSF: They're all different flavors of the same story," said Scott Delaney, co-founder of Grant Witness. "Horrible, bitter, sour flavors that nobody bought. Bipartisan -- Congress doesn't want this. And yet, that's where we're at." |
| White House Moves to Take Control of N.I.H. Grants | |
 | The White House has begun drafting a new executive order that could further cement President Trump's ability to control billions of dollars in scientific grants and expand the administration's pressure campaign against elite universities. Discussed at a highly contentious meeting at the White House on Friday, the order aims to create a new external committee with the power to veto awards in the National Institutes of Health's vast research portfolio that do not conform to Mr. Trump's political agenda, according to people with knowledge of the effort. During the meeting, Mr. Trump repeatedly complained about his administration's failure to bring Harvard University in particular to heel. The administration has been unable to hammer out a deal with the nation's oldest and wealthiest university, a central plank of his broader push against "woke" ideology in higher education. The White House has also lost a pair of lawsuits to Harvard, including one ruling that blocked cuts to the university's existing federal research grants. The government has said it plans to appeal. Inside the White House, some of Mr. Trump's top lieutenants have expressed frustration about a perceived slowdown in the administration's attempt to force conservative cultural changes on academia. |
| Allen, Johnson, Till -- beacons of love among us | |
| Columnist Bill Crawford writes: Six years ago I wrote a series of columns about Mississippi "good souls," the nurturers, givers, and difference makers in our communities. Both Lois McMurchy and Liz Cleveland recommended I write about Martha Allen. Robert St. John had hired Martha to lead his nonprofit Extra Table. "She illuminates every space with sincere warmth, has unlimited compassion, and is the most giving person I know," said Liz. "My parents taught servanthood from an early age," Martha told Lois. Early this month, I got to meet the ebullient Martha face to face at a North Jackson Rotary Club meeting. When I told her who I was, she exclaimed she kept a copy of my column framed on her office wall. Then when she was introduced, her bio included that she had been designated "a good soul by syndicated columnist Bill Crawford." That made my day. That good feeling evaporated just days later when another Mississippi good soul perished tragically. C.D. Smith had recommended that I write about Fannie Mae Johnson, the joyful, loving executive director of L.O.V.E.'s Kitchen in Meridian. Fannie clearly fit my "good soul" criteria but was engaged in city politics at the time, so I did not. Fannie died September 4 when a woman hijacked her car in the L.O.V.E.'s Kitchen parking lot. |
SPORTS
| Mississippi State cracks AP Poll | |
| Mississippi State is back in the AP Top 25 for the first time since the final poll of the 2022 season. The Bulldogs (3-0, 1-0 SEC) are ranked No. 24 in the latest rankings ahead of Houston. They are one of two teams with multiple road wins over Power 4 opponents. After dismantling Louisiana-Monroe 62-13 to start the year, MSU beat Minnesota 38-14 in Week 2 on the road. State is fresh off a 41-34 win at South Carolina, during which the Bulldogs overcame a 16-0 second-quarter deficit. However, the schedule ahead will pit the Bulldogs against some tough SEC foes. Each of their next five games are against conference teams currently ranked in the top 20. Their first of those tests comes this Saturday night, when MSU hosts No. 19 Missouri. |
| Mississippi State's plan: Limit LaNorris Sellers, get USC home fans moving to exits | |
 | Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor passed his first road test last week at Minnesota. On Saturday, Taylor aced his first road start in the SEC at Williams-Brice Stadium. The sophomore overcame an interception on his first pass attempt and went on to throw for 251 yards and four touchdowns in the 41-33 win over South Carolina as the Bulldogs moved to 3-0 on the season. Taylor and Mississippi State caught fire in the second half, scoring on their first five possessions to erase a nine-point deficit in building a 41-23 lead. During the Bulldogs' run, a sizable chunk of the sold-out crowd made its way toward the exits. Those fans didn't see South Carolina make a late run to try and pull off the comeback win. "It was good coming in this unique environment, this hostile environment and get a dub in my first time coming out here," Taylor said. "It was very live. And I'm out there on the field, telling (running back) Fluff (Bothwell), it is so turnt out here. Fluff told me, 'Once we get to scoring, they are going to be quiet and are going to leave, bro.' "And we did just that. And after the game, he was like, 'I told you they were going to leave the game.' It is a big win. We don't take any win lightly. It is an SEC win, a big win for our program." The defense also had its moments and did their part to silence the raucous crowd that had to endure more than hour-long weather delay before the game. |
| Dak Prescott loving Kamario Taylor, Mississippi State's start to 2026 | |
 | Dak Prescott is in on the Kamario Taylor hype. And it didn't take the four-touchdown performance by the Mississippi State football quarterback against South Carolina on Sept. 19 to convince him. Prescott, the former MSU and current Dallas Cowboys QB, was asked by reporters on Sept. 18 his thoughts about Taylor's big start to the season that is bringing national attention to the Bulldogs (3-0, 1-0 SEC). Prescott said he has been following Taylor closely and came away impressed with him and the program led by third-year coach Jeff Lebby. "We've shared some messages," Prescott said. "I definitely have watched him play. I've talked to numbers of people that obviously know him that work hand-in-hand with him that only have amazing things to say. It makes me more of a fan of him. I just know from our short conversations through text and just hearing his interviews that I love the mentality. "I love the belief in himself and what he's allowed Mississippi State to feel again. The excitement, I'm as excited about that program as I've ever been since I was playing." |
| Dak Prescott throws four TD passes and the Cowboys reclaim their season | |
| An explosive offense. A defense that was at least mildly improved over last year's version. A quarterback in full control, and a final outcome that was rarely in doubt. The Dallas Cowboys got their season back on track with a comfortable 37-20 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday. The game turned when Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels exited with an elbow injury at halftime, but the Cowboys were already on their way to erasing last week's disappointment by then, and they were rarely threatened in the second half. Quarterback Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes, passing Tony Romo for the most in franchise history, and CeeDee Lamb had a monster afternoon with eight catches for 153 yards and two of those scores. |
| Women's Golf: Bulldogs Win 2026 Mason Rudolph Championship | |
| Mississippi State women's golf earned their first team title since the 2024 SEC Championship on Sunday as they took the 2026 Mason Rudolph Championship with a three-day total of 2-under par, beating out Arizona State and Florida by one stroke. The Bulldogs entered the final day of action in second place, three strokes behind the then leaders Florida, who were 8-under at the beginning of the day. The Dawgs put together a team performance to take the title, as all five State golfers finished inside of the top 20, while three finished inside the top 10. Samantha Whateley was the top Bulldog finisher at T5, her fourth career finish inside of the top five and her tenth inside the top 20. She was one of just eight golfers in the field to finish under par in the event. Whateley's finish of 3-under was her best finish since The Ally in October of 2025 and marked just her third career finish under par. Mississippi State will return to action for their annual home event, The Ally, hosted at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point. The tournament is set to kick off on Monday, October 5. |
| Schedule Set For Amegy Bank College Baseball Series | |
| The schedule for the 2027 Amegy Bank College Baseball Series was released on Monday and again has Mississippi State facing some stiff competition for the second year in a row. The Diamond Dawgs opens the weekend with Dallas Baptist on Friday, March 5 at 7 p.m. MSU has a rematch against UCLA on Saturday, March 6 at 3 p.m. and will wrap up the event by taking on Wake Forest on Sunday, March 7 at 10:30 a.m. All three games from Globe Life Field, home of MLB's Texas Rangers, will be streamed live on FloCollege. Brian O'Connor's Bulldogs were mere inches away from winning the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series last season. Mississippi State won its matchups against Arizona State 8-4 and Virginia Tech 15-8 before falling 8-7 in 10 innings to the then top-ranked Bruins in the championship game. The 2027 Amegy Bank College Baseball Series will mark just the second-ever meetings against Dallas Baptist (2007) and Wake Forest (1949) for the Diamond Dawgs. It will be the 10th time MSU has squared off with UCLA. |
| Student-athletes report need for suicide prevention, training | |
| A survey of college athletes found nearly 40% reported having suicidal thoughts during their lifetime. Some 86% also said the NCAA should require mental health and suicide prevention training for all athletes. The University of Mississippi and Rutgers University recently worked together to survey 78 student-athletes across NCAA Division I, II and III universities regarding suicidal thoughts and prevention strategies. They published their findings in Behavioral Sciences. "Our results show that athletes want more widespread information on suicide and mental health, and most haven't gotten that in college," said Taylor Rodriguez, Ole Miss assistant professor of psychology. "Since nearly 40% of the athletes have experienced suicidal thoughts themselves, I wonder if this desire stems from their own experiences having difficulties but not having adequate information to navigate them. "If the NCAA recognized these common struggles by requiring athletes to learn about suicide and mental health, it might make them feel more supported and comfortable reaching out for help." |
| Disaster in Hattiesburg: Southern Miss blown out by UConn, loses starting QB | |
 | Familiar vibes are creeping back into Hattiesburg. Southern Miss (1-2) hosted UConn (2-1) in its first test against a peer opponent and turned in an uncompetitive showing with a 48-20 loss to the Huskies. The Golden Eagles utilized two quarterbacks on one end while the Huskies ate up turf with ease on the other. Ethan Hampton threw an interception on USM's opening drive for the second straight game and would leave by halftime after suffering a hand injury with his team down 27-6. In the meantime, the Huskies efficiently moved the ball behind dual-threat quarterback Kalieb Osborne. UConn gained over 300 yards in the first half alone and at one point built a 41-6 lead. "Obviously, very disappointed in the outcome," USM coach Blake Anderson said. "I honestly this would be a 60-minute close game and we just didn't play well enough to create that opportunity... Just felt like we got manhandled, a little bit." Hampton's timetable for return is murky, at best, given the nature of the injury and his very recent slower-than-expected recovery from the same problem. |
| Tennessee AG Skrmetti has been a force on NIL. Now it's Congress' turn | |
 | Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti could go unnoticed in a crowd of Vols fans, but in the football-crazed town of Knoxville, he's had more impact than anyone on the changing landscape of NIL. The state of Tennessee, through Skrmetti's work, has been a leader in the NIL space for years and an outspoken voice when it comes to protecting the rights of athletes, particularly those enrolled at the University of Tennessee. Skrmetti forcefully pushed back against the NCAA on possible punishments tied to former head coach Jeremy Pruitt's indiscretions and led a handful of states into successfully suing the NCAA over its antiquated NIL recruiting ban. He called on Congress to fix the NIL patchwork, calling it a "train wreck." Enter the Protect College Sports Act, Congress' plan to begin to get a handle on NIL, including a one-time transfer rule and other eligibility issues, though the proposed bill does not address employment status of collegiate athletes, nor does it establish a potential framework for collective bargaining. Skrmetti was in town Sept. 17 -- Constitution Day, with a tie to match -- and spoke with media outlets. |
| This week: Senate still at work on college sports bill | |
 | The Senate returns Tuesday, and with the House already on recess until after the midterms, the big question might be: How long will senators stay in town? The Senate is also scheduled to be in session next week before departing for election season, unless GOP leaders decide to cut it short like House leadership did. In the meantime, this week's agenda is headlined by ongoing consideration of the name, image and likeness legislation for college sports. The Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee released an updated version of the college sports bill text last week, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has already taken procedural steps to limit amendments. "Fans, student athletes, coaches, and representatives on both sides of the aisle agree: college sports desperately needs stability," Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said in a Sep. 17 statement. "This updated bipartisan bill text incorporates feedback and ideas from our Republican and Democrat colleagues who have been meeting with student athletes and others about how to improve upon a sensible piece of legislation. For the hundreds of thousands of student athletes and millions of fans tired of the chaos, we are going to get this done." The bill's most recent procedural vote was 77-22, and even some of the bill's detractors have acknowledged that the measure appears likely to pass. |
| Once Star Athletes Themselves, Senators Clash Over College Sports Bill | |
| Senators Cory Booker and Eric Schmitt were both scholarship athletes in college. Now they find themselves on opposite sides of potential landmark legislation the Senate is considering that would impose a sweeping new regulatory framework on collegiate sports. "While a college student and a player, I saw how unjust the N.C.A.A. is," Mr. Booker, the New Jersey Democrat and former Stanford tight end who is a leading opponent of the bill, said of the governing body of college athletics. "It is a serial monopolist, controlling an industry over $15 billion strong and rapidly growing." Mr. Schmitt, a Missouri Republican who played baseball and football at Truman State University, is one of the proposal's most ardent supporters and argues that the legislation is the only way to preserve popular college sports that teach valuable life lessons. "I had the opportunity to play in college and throughout my life," Mr. Schmitt said on the Senate floor. "When you are on a team, you want to win, and you want to win with your teammates." At the moment, Mr. Schmitt's team is winning big after his colleagues gave the measure two strong, bipartisan shows of support last week, moving it toward Senate passage and an uncertain future in the House. More than 70 senators have backed the bill so far, a significant showing in the sharply split chamber, though some may ultimately vote against it if changes are not made. |
The Office of Public Affairs provides the Daily News Digest as a general information resource for Mississippi State University stakeholders.
Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.
