Wednesday, March 10, 2021   
 
How 18 million Americans could move into rural areas -- without leaving home
Devon Brenner, assistant vice president for outreach and initiatives in the Office of Research and Economic Development and a professor of education at Mississippi State University, and Jesse Longhurst, an assistant professor of education at Southern Oregon University, write for The Conversation: About 46 million Americans -- 14% of the nation's inhabitants -- are currently classified as living in rural areas. That number could jump to 64 million -- an increase of nearly 40% -- without anyone moving into a new home. That could actually hurt small cities and rural communities across the country. The federal government classifies communities' characteristics based on their populations, according to a definition created by the federal Office of Management and Budget. The criteria haven't substantially changed since the 1940s. Since then, the U.S. population has more than doubled, from 152 million in 1950 to more than 328 million in 2019. The main dividing line is between communities -- which include both towns and cities and their surrounding counties -- with more than 50,000 people and those with fewer than that number. Over the past 70 years, the number of areas with at least that many people has increased from 168 to 384 as small towns have grown into small cities. For example, from 1950 to 2010, the population of Lawrence, Kansas, grew from 23,351 to 87,643.
 
Temporary closure of Atlas Street starts 6 a.m. Thursday
Due to installation of new sidewalks, curbs and pedestrian crossings, there will be a temporary road closure starting at Magruder Street and going down Atlas Street between Oak and Rice halls to Morgan Avenue. The closure will begin 6 a.m. Thursday [March 11] and be in effect through March 18. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience and support. For questions or other assistance, contact the Facilities Management Service Desk at 662-325-2005.
 
Starkville leaders set to debut first draft of plans for MLK Corridor Revitalization Project
Wednesday, the city of Starkville will hold an open house to let members of the public view the planned improvements for the Mississippi Highway 182/ MLK Corridor Revitalization Project. "I do think that this is one of the largest, if not the largest transportation projects that the city has ever been a part of," said City Engineer Edward Kemp. After being Awarded a BUILD Grant in 2019 for just over $12 million, Kemp says they have been working on the design for the last nine months and are now ready to unveil the first draft of that plan to residents in the open house. "The roadway corridor has changed," he said. "All that heavy traffic is now located on the perimeter of the city and we're trying to re-imagine what this corridor could be." City officials say the MLK corridor is an important business area for Starkville, especially it's minority community. Mayor Lynn Spruill believes the upgrades could turn it into an economic driver, cultural connector, and improve beatification efforts. "[The project is] intended to take our Main Street and our main, core business corridor for our downtown and expand it into that area in a very positive way," Mayor Spruill said. The plan is focused around three main elements; addressing the area's problems with flooding and storm water infrastructure, upgrading the area's utilities and aesthetics by moving power lines underground, and creating multiple sidewalks, wheelchair ramps, crosswalks and bike lanes to make the area as accessible as possible.
 
SOCSD announces administrative changes for next school year
Both Overstreet Elementary School and Partnership Middle School will have new principals next year. Overstreet Principal Cynthia Milons is taking a position as graduation coach at Starkville High School. Partnership Principal Julie Kennedy will take Milons' current position at Overstreet. Both will start their new duties on July 1. The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District approved both administrative changes at its regular board meeting Tuesday. "Principals Kennedy and Milons are veteran educators with more than 30 years of experience between them," Superintendent Eddie Peasant said in a prepared statement after the board meeting. "I am grateful for their dedicated service to our school district and our greater school community." Milons previously taught English and served as a lead teacher at SHS before taking the reins at Overstreet in 2018. Kennedy has served as principal at Overstreet, Armstrong Middle School and the Partnership school. The district is currently searching for a principal to take the reins at Partnership. The board also passed a $7 million bond package for capital improvements throughout the district at the meeting. The bond will not require a tax increase. During Tuesday's meeting, the board also voted unanimously to approve a traditional calendar for the 2021-22, ending a weeks-long debate among district administrators, faculty, parents and stakeholders about whether to switch next school year to a modified schedule that would keep students out of school for only six weeks in the summer and spread more breaks throughout the year.
 
Mississippi State Department of Health reports 437 new COVID-19 cases, 11 deaths
The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) on Wednesday reported 437 additional cases of COVID-19 and 11 additional deaths. Oktibbeha and Tippah counties in Northeast Mississippi each reported one additional death. The statewide total number of cases since March 11, 2020 is now 298,445 with a death toll of 6,845. As of this week, around 290,697 people are presumed recovered from the virus. The seven-day moving average for new COVID-19 cases in Mississippi is 13 per 100,000 people, as of March 8. In Mississippi's 1st Congressional District, the seven-day moving average is 9 per 100,000 people. MSDH also reported 50 ongoing outbreaks in long-term care facilities. Several counties in the Daily Journal's coverage area reported new cases: Alcorn (1), Calhoun (4), Clay (1), Itawamba (3), Lafayette (2), Lee (7), Marshall (4), Monroe (1), Oktibbeha (6), Pontotoc (7), Prentiss (2), Tippah (5), Tishomingo (1) and Union (2).
 
House kills effort to shuffle Archives and History board by historic margin
A Senate bill, opposed by many of the state's historians, that would give the governor and lieutenant governor authority to appoint members of the Mississippi Archives and History board of trustees was overwhelmingly defeated Tuesday in the House. Just 18 House members voted for the proposal and 104 opposed it, and it appeared likely that other members who voted for the bill would change their vote before the end of the day. It is historically unusual for a bill that has passed out of committee to suffer such a resounding defeat before the full House. The bill, the subject of broad public scrutiny this session, would have made the nine-member board that governs the Department of Archives and History subject to appointment by the governor and lieutenant governor and to confirmation by the Senate. Currently, board members appoint their own successors, who are subject to Senate confirmation. About 50 Mississippi historians wrote a letter in opposition to the bill, asking lawmakers to "not interfere with the independence of an entity that has done so much good work for our state."
 
House spikes bill that could have politicized Mississippi archives and history board
The Mississippi House on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a proposal that dozens of historians and archivists worried would inject political influence into the state Department of Archives and History. Senate Bill 2727 failed a House vote 19-103, which likely spells its death this session. The legislation would have turned the historical agency's nine-member board of trustees into a panel appointed by the governor and lieutenant governor rather than one that selects its own members, as has been the case since 1902. The bill cleared the Senate on a party-line vote last month. But the proposal quickly garnered opposition. Forty-six Mississippi historians signed a letter urging state lawmakers to reject the legislation -- a letter recently distributed to House members -- and a group of state archivists also strongly opposed it. They expressed several concerns about the potential for political interference at MDAH, which runs the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, oversees state historical archives and conducts educational programs.
 
Mississippi House rejects plan to restructure history board
The Mississippi House on Tuesday rejected a proposal to restructure the board that governs the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. The nine-member board was established in 1902. Its members have always nominated their own successors and those nominees have been confirmed by the state Senate. Senate Bill 2727 said the Archives and History board could recommend nominees, but the governor or lieutenant governor could ignore those recommendations and nominate any person they want. The nominees would still need Senate confirmation. The proposal was pushed by Senate leaders, who argued that Archives and History board members would be more accountable to the public if they were nominated by elected officials. But the plan was broadly condemned by historians who said the change could politicize the way Mississippi examines its own legacy. Democratic Rep. John Hines of Greenville spoke against the bill, saying the current Archives and History board "is nationally recognized for the great work it's been doing in changing the image of Mississippi." Hines called the Archives and History Board "a beacon of light and hope." Then, switching metaphors, he added: "If you make the best biscuits in town, why change the recipe?"
 
House passes heavily amended ABC reform bill, setting up a battle with the Senate
The fate of any changes to the state's wholesale distribution monopoly on wine and spirits will likely be decided in a conference committee in the Legislature. The Mississippi House voted to pass Senate Bill 2806 by a 107-9 margin on Tuesday. The bill that was authored by state Sen. Josh Harkins, R-Flowood, and was designed to be a vehicle for changes to ABC by bringing forth the relevant code sections. The House rewrote the bill to get the state out of the wholesale distribution business in a manner similar to House Bill 997 that was authored by state Rep Trey Lamar, R-Senatobia. That bill was passed by the Senate Finance Committee on March 2 after being rewritten with what's known as a strike-all amendment. Mississippi is one of 17 states nationwide that are known as control states, which means government has a monopoly on wholesale distribution of at least one of the three categories of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine and spirits) and even retail, like Alabama. The House also voted to approve SB 2804, which would allow home delivery of alcoholic beverages from a licensed retailer such as a package store. The bill is being held over on a motion to reconsider (a holding tactic that keeps a controversial bill alive after a deadline) and the Senate will have to concur with the House's changes to the bill.
 
MDOT Director Melinda McGrath resigns amid Capitol political fire
Mississippi Department of Transportation Director Melinda McGrath, who has led the agency for a decade, announced her resignation Tuesday under political fire from lawmakers. Lawmakers, particularly in the Senate, have been critical of MDOT for cost overruns, delays on projects and other issues and have proposed a bevy of legislation this session aimed at stripping the agency of money and authority. McGrath, an engineer who worked for MDOT for more than 30 years, announced her resignation to the three-member elected Transportation Commission in a closed-door meeting on Tuesday. She will be leaving March 31, Transportation Commission Chairman Tom King said after the executive session. McGrath was up for re-confirmation by the state Senate, which would typically be pro-forma. But Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann had "double-referred" her confirmation to two committees instead of the usual one. Neither has taken up her confirmation, even as the legislative session enters its final weeks. Political observers have raised doubts whether McGrath had enough votes in either the Transportation or Accountability committees to be confirmed.
 
Mississippi transportation director will retire March 31
The leader of the Mississippi Department of Transportation is retiring March 31. Melinda McGrath is an engineer who has worked for the department for 36 years. She has been executive director the past 10 years. News outlets reported that she met with the elected transportation commissioners on Tuesday and told them she would step down at the end of the month. The commissioners had nominated her to remain as executive director until April 2025. But with the legislative session entering its final weeks, McGrath's nomination had not yet advanced through two Senate committees. Commissioners issued a statement praising McGrath, saying she has worked to provide "a safe, efficient and effective transportation system." McGrath is the first woman to have been chief engineer and executive director of the department. Jeff Altman will become interim executive director on April 1. He has worked at the department since 1998 and has been assistant executive director since 2019.
 
Don't count Mississippi out of mobile sports betting just yet
Mississippi was one of the first states to launch sports betting, but three bills aimed at expanding that to mobile platforms died in committee. Larry Gregory, the Executive Director of the MS Gaming and Hospitality Association says all 26 operators in our state just couldn't come to an agreement. "When most people say sports betting, they have a picture of what sports betting is. In front of the TV. Or with mobile sports betting, on a phone. But when you get down into the weeds and it is very, very complex. Different companies have different models that they use throughout the country with mobile sports betting. Getting one to agree to certain things, in the weeds, becomes challenging at times." Gregory says while there was no agreement this year, they're still discussing the possibility. "I wouldn't say we've shut the door to it." Mobile betting is allowed on a casino's property in the state for now. But none of the commercial casinos are using the "Mississippi mobile" option.
 
Study: House tax proposal increases burden on poor Mississippians
The bottom 60% of Mississippi's income earners would be paying more taxes under legislation that has passed the House while the top 40% would be paying less, according to an analysis conducted by a Washington, D.C.-based policy think tank. A person in the top 1% with average income of $924,000 would pay $28,610 less in combined state taxes under the sweeping legislation authored by Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, while the next 4% of state income earners would save about $3,760 in taxes on average. Based on the analysis conducted by the Institute of Taxation and Economic Policy, those earning $49,100 or above would pay less in taxes, while individuals earning less than that would pay more in state taxes than they currently are paying. A person earning $11,000 per year would pay $220 more in taxes, while a person earning $23,000 would pay an additional $270 in taxes, based on the analysis. A study released Monday by Joshua Hendrickson and Ronald Mau, economics professors at the University of Mississippi, found that the bill would increase the state’s gross domestic product by $371 million annually by making the tax structure more efficient. In general, the study found that the income tax, which the House plan would eliminate, creates inefficiencies in the economy while a tax on consumption, such as the sales tax which would be increased by the House plan, does the opposite.
 
'A Respectful Conversation': Lt. Gov. Hosemann, Mayor Lumumba Break Tension Over Jackson Water
Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba and Lt. Gov Delbert Hosemann met today at the Capitol for a "respectful conversation," in the mayor's words, to discuss a concrete plan to address Jackson's short-term water-system needs. The meeting was a preface to the much more complex discussion of how to permanently address the city's aging water infrastructure. Now, both House and Senate leadership have formally received the City of Jackson's requests, which includes nearly $47 million for immediate water distribution and treatment maintenance and a proposal to add an additional 1 percent to the sales tax in Jackson for ongoing improvements. The meetings come at what residents hope is the tail end of the immediate crisis, an interminable month without drinkable water for the city's roughly 160,000 residents, and for many, weeks without any water at all. The meeting is the first sign of warming in a relationship that chilled significantly after Hosemann's comments at last week's Stennis Press Forum. There, the lieutenant governor told the Mississippi Free Press that he had "no contact from the city at all" about the ongoing crisis, that he had yet to see plans for the requisite water improvements, and lamented what he portrayed as a lack of action to repair water and sewer lines since the administration of Kane Ditto, who was Jackson's last white mayor.
 
Reentry and voting: New report shows barriers faced by Mississippians after time in prison
A new study suggests that Mississippians who finish prison sentences should have a clear path to reestablishing their voting rights instead of a system in which they often don't find success. The report, "Our Voices, Our Votes: Felony Disenfranchisement and Reentry in Mississippi," weaves together data, personal stories and state history to show how some laws and policies continue to silence the incarcerated, even after they're released from prison. The report states Mississippi had the third highest incarceration rate in the United States in 2018 with 1,039 out of every 100,000 Mississippians being locked in jail or prison. In 2020, a total of 235,152 people, or 11% or the state's population, were deprived the right to vote due to a felony conviction. Further data showed in the same year 130,501 Black residents, nearly 16% of the Black electorate, were deprived the right to vote. The report was put together by the Advancement Project, a multiracial civil rights organization, One Voice Mississippi, a group working to achieve progressive civic infrastructure in the South, and Mississippi Votes, a group invested in progression of the state.
 
Women still have to choose between a job and child care
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has said the American economy is accelerating nearly twice as fast as expected. But the recovery looks different for women. More than 2 million women have left the workforce since 2020. Many of them did so initially to care for children. The American Rescue Plan, poised to be passed this week, is offering an expanded child tax credit that could give up to $300 a month per child under the age of 6. It also includes nearly $15 billion to help support child care facilities. Even so, experts say child care is still the primary stumbling block for many women who want and need to get back to work. Women's participation in the workforce hasn't been this low since 1988. And women of color are disproportionately affected. Melissa Boteach, vice president of income security and child care at the National Women's Law Center, calls the administration's plan groundbreaking. "The American Rescue Plan represents a shift to an understanding that it is working people, and especially women and women of color, that are the economy," she said. But even a monthly child tax credit of up to $300 will not pay for full-time child care in the United States.
 
Angie Thomas speaks on the importance of diversity in literature at Oxford Conference for the Book
Square Books kicked off the 2021 Oxford Conference for the Book on Monday night with a conversation between Mississippi-raised authors Angie Thomas and Kiese Laymon. They discussed Thomas's new novel "Concrete Roses," her literary inspirations and her hopes for young Black writers. Thomas received critical acclaim for her 2017 young adult novel "The Hate U Give," the story of a 16-year-old Black girl named Starr Carter who witnesses the death of her childhood friend at the hands of police brutality. The novel's film adaptation released to even stronger popularity, so Thomas spent time reflecting on before and after the novel's boom in pop culture. "Had you told me 15 years ago -- when I was in Georgetown trying to rap that one day -- the First Lady of the United States is going to say she just bought (my) book and is reading it, I would have been like, 'Get out of here,'" Thomas said. Her new book "Concrete Roses" released in January and serves as a prequel to "The Hate U Give," telling the story of Starr Carter's father Maverick. Acting as a role model for the younger generation is important to Thomas. As a resident of Jackson, she wants to remain present in the community to interact with the youth and serve as a reminder that their goals are achievable.
 
Preparations Begin for Ole Miss Double Graduation
Oxford can expect twice as much fun for graduation this year, with both the 2020 and 2021 Ole Miss graduating classes scheduled to celebrate their academic achievements in May. Tyler Wolford, general manager of the Chancellor's House, is eager to have the hotel full again. "The moment they announced that, we sold out within 24 hours," Wolford said. All 38 rooms of the hotel will be full for graduation ceremonies on May 1 and 8. The staff is currently preparing for the influx of people the hotel will be hosting for both weekends. "It's just one of those things we're going to have to monitor," Wolford said. "We'll probably have sort of, you know, people at the door kind of monitoring occupancy and things like that, just so we don't exceed anything and kind of put anybody in any kind of danger." Just up the road from the hotel is another Oxford business gearing up for graduation. Sierra Dexter, catering director at The Main Event Oxford, has been preparing for commencement weekends for about three months now. According to Dexter, many families have indicated they will celebrate with small gatherings at locations like an Airbnb or family home, rather than in crowded restaurant dining environments.
 
USM students, faculty reflect on year of COVID-19 changes
In the past year, teachers and students at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) had to adjust to the way they teach and learn due to the coronavirus pandemic. "It was interesting to have some classes online and do a hybrid mixture, which was really helpful. I think it was all about balancing school during the pandemic, and setting up your own personal boundaries was the most difficult over the course of the past year," said Wryleigh Shearing-Anderson, a USM student. Kelly Lester, the head of the Center of Faculty Development at USM, said one of the biggest changes she has noticed is that students are attending more online office hours. "I think that's been a really nice silver lining of students feel comfortable to reach out to their faculty and connect to them and talk one on one and get support if they need it in the classroom," said Lester. Ireland Little, who is a junior at USM, said learning during a pandemic over the last year was a hard transition initially, because she did not take online classes before. Little said the new way of learning challenged her to become better.
 
HDA, USM Archives collaborate on St. Patrick's Day exhibit
Irish eyes are smiling on a new, temporary exhibit in downtown Hattiesburg that focuses on the upcoming St. Patrick's Day holiday. The exhibit is in the storefront of the former Kress Department Store on Main Street. It's the result of a collaboration between the Hattiesburg Downtown Association and the University Archives at Southern Miss. The exhibit includes items belonging to the Rev. Tommy Conway, a native of Ireland who is pastor of St. Fabian Catholic Church. The display also features items on loan from university archives that provide details on the legendary 1889 prizefight between John L. Sullivan and Jake Kilrain. The fight took place just outside Hattiesburg in the Richburg community on July 8 of that year. It was America's last officially-sanctioned bareknuckle brawl. Both fighters were Irish-American.
 
'A place to gather': Auburn's NPHC Legacy Plaza garners funding for fall opening
Auburn's National Pan-Hellenic Council took another step towards its goal of building a Legacy Plaza on campus during this year's Tiger Giving Day on Feb. 24. The Auburn Family raised $31,240 for the Legacy Plaza by the donation deadline at the end of the day. The Legacy Plaza will be a physical commemoration for the Greek organizations of NPHC, all nine of which have been on Auburn's campus at one point. "I have been dealing with this project from the beginning, and I think the Legacy Plaza specifically is important because it is going to be the first architectural indication of NPHC's existence on campus," said Ada Ruth Huntley, senior in global studies and 2020 SGA president. Auburn currently hosts five NPHC organizations: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Bobby Woodard, senior vice president for Student Affairs, said this contributes to construction costs, as well as several years of upkeep on the finished plaza. The Student Government Association voted to make this project a 2021 Tiger Giving Day campaign.
 
New documents reveal strained relationship between U System of Ga. and dorm operator Corvias during pandemic
Months after the University System of Georgia engaged in a back-and-forth over a financial proposal with the company that operates some of its dormitories, the contractor said it wouldn't be cleaning adequately to meet state health department guidelines for the pandemic, according to newly disclosed emails and notes from university staff members. The company cut its staffing, and university employees began noticing maintenance issues in company-operated dorms, the documents indicate. The documents, obtained by a faculty and staff union in Georgia through a public records request, provide a detailed look at the sometimes-tense relationships between universities and the companies they pay for services. As the pandemic sapped sources of revenue and drained bank accounts, Corvias, a privately owned Rhode Island-based company that contracts with universities to provide housing services, proposed a plan that would improve key financial indicators for its campus dorms. But the university system said no, and the company didn't like its reasons. The partnership between Corvias and the University System of Georgia began in 2014, when the two signed a 65-year deal covering nine campuses. Public-private partnerships -- also called P3s -- like this one often allow the operator to get a cut of rental revenue in exchange for providing the up-front capital for a project. When a university doesn't want to borrow money for big project, like building a dorm, a company like Corvias can borrow it instead.
 
U. of Tennessee identifies 12th COVID-19 cluster of the spring semester
The University of Tennessee has identified its 12th COVID-19 cluster of the spring semester. The cluster is located in the Alpha Delta Pi sorority house, and is unrelated to the large cluster that was announced on Tuesday, UT spokesperson Owen Driskill said. It includes one COVID-19 case and 23 close contacts because of the house's living arrangements. "Contact tracing has been completed, and the cooperation of the students is greatly appreciated," Driskill said. Greek housing is more susceptible to clusters because of how the houses are arranged, with common living areas. Sorority houses often include shared kitchens, living spaces and bathrooms, which means a case of COVID-19 can cause the entire house to have to quarantine, UT administrators have said. Of the 12 clusters identified this semester, nine have been in sorority houses. A large cluster was identified by UT on Tuesday, coming from a ministry retreat that was held in Townsend. Sixty-seven UT students attended the retreat, and all were advised to quarantine.
 
Spring break? CDC has updated travel guidelines, even if you're vaccinated against COVID-19
As news of relaxed guidelines for those fully vaccinated against the coronavirus spreads, experts suggest skipping travel, or taking precautions if you do go -- at least for now. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintained that Americans should refrain from traveling, referring to the organization's travel guidance last updated on Feb. 16. Because of the risk of getting and spreading COVID-19 during travel, fully vaccinated people should still take all CDC-recommended precautions before, during and after travel," read a CDC statement provided by spokesperson Caitlin Shockey read. Those measures include pre- and post-travel testing and self-quarantine, along with wearing a well-fitted mask, the CDC said. With spring break at hand for most districts in Middle Tennessee, some families may be eyeing travel plans, despite CDC warnings. Most universities across Tennessee canceled or shortened spring break this year as the pandemic continues, including Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee Knoxville. The move was designed to discourage students from traveling and then returning to campus.
 
Proposed Senate Bill could affect Florida Bright Futures
Students are protesting a proposed Florida Senate bill that may dramatically change who benefits from the Bright Futures Scholarship program. Senate Bill 86, filed by Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, on Feb. 23, would limit students' Bright Futures financial aid based on their major. For the scholarship program to cover all 120 credit hours needed to earn a bachelor's degree, students must be enrolled in a program of study that will "lead directly to employment," according to the bill. Students and parents around the state felt angered by the proposed bill -- over 80,000 have signed a petition and some created a website called "Save Bright Futures" to explain the bill, its next steps and how to help prevent it from being passed. The list of degrees that would qualify for Bright Futures funding under the proposed bill would be determined by the Board of Governors and the State Board of Education on an annual basis. The bill was originally on the Florida Senate Education Committee agenda for Tuesday but postponed "for planning purposes," according to Baxley's Facebook page. Established in 1997 and funded by the Florida Lottery, the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program awards college tuition to high-achieving high school students.
 
Missouri Online launches as unified platform for all UM System campuses
A one-stop platform for online courses at all University of Missouri System campuses launched Tuesday as Missouri Online. More than 260 programs, including 22 new programs, are accessible from all four universities in the single platform. A $20 million investment was made to support the system-wide infrastructure, according to a news release. The platform could be useful for the 900,000 Missourians who started college and never finished, said Matt Gunkel, UM System chief online learning and technology officer, during a presentation. The system has a goal of 10,000 online students by 2023, said system President and MU Chancellor Mun Choi. "In 2018, together with the Board of Curators, we made a declaration to be a premier e-learning provider," Choi said. "We've made significant growth." The infrastructure was important when all classes were forced online last spring because of the pandemic, Choi said.
 
Expect College Wait Lists to Be Obnoxiously Long This Year
Many college admissions officers are stumped this spring over how many applicants to admit. Their mathematical models to predict which admitted students might accept their offers and enroll as freshmen are proving useless because the coronavirus pandemic threw most traditional elements of the admissions process -- campus visits, standardized tests, essays about busy extracurricular schedules -- into disarray. Accepting the right number of students is critical. If too many say yes, dorms may be overcrowded. If too many spurn the offers, the school could face a revenue shortfall. Applications submitted via the Common App, which is used by more than 900 schools, rose by 11% nationwide through March 1. But the number of applicants increased by just 2.4%, meaning nearly the same number of students are casting a wider net. Yield, or the share of admitted students who enroll, is closely tracked by enrollment management offices, university leaders and even bond-rating agencies who use the number to determine how much demand there is for a school. Nationwide, the average yield for freshmen was about 33% in the years just before the pandemic, down from 48% in 2007, according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling.
 
COVID-19: A moment for women in STEM?
Colleges and universities had to react quickly to COVID-19, including with respect to the faculty. A year into the pandemic, it's time to pause and assess the impact that it has had on professors -- especially on women, who face disproportionately more caregiving work at home and corresponding blows to their productivity. Then it's time to move forward more thoughtfully, guided by policies that center equity and intersectionality. This is the essential message of a massive new consensus report on COVID-19 and the careers of women in academic sciences, engineering and medicine from the National Academy of Sciences. "We as a community in academia, we have to pay attention," said Eve Higginbotham, chair of the report committee and vice dean of inclusion and diversity and a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania. "This is an issue we have to be intentional about, as we are at risk of losing a significant portion of valued members of our community." As dire as some of the report's findings are, Higginbotham and other committee members who spoke at a news conference Tuesday said their work -- and the general moment -- present opportunity.
 
UC Davis offers to pay students $75 to stay put for spring break
No caravans of college students in Miami or beach parties in Malibu during a pandemic, please. UC Davis is offering a sure-fire incentive to keep students from traveling during spring break and potentially spreading the coronavirus: money. Students who agree to stay on campus during the break can receive $75 gift cards to spend locally, according to the university's spring break grant program announcement last week. "The idea behind this was to provide a positive incentive for students to follow public health guidance," said Sheri Atkinson, associate vice chancellor for student affairs. "Based on how our students have done so far, we're pretty confident that this group is conscientious and will do what they signed up to do." About 50% of the student body is living either on campus or in the Davis area, she said. To receive the gift cards, students must apply for the grant by giving a basic description of their spring break plans. They must pledge to stay in town for their weeklong spring break, beginning March 22, and complete a COVID-19 test. Atkinson said the university initially planned to give 750 grants, but because of an outpouring of student interest, it upped the cap to 2,000. The anticipated $150,000 program will be paid through philanthropy and other university funds -- not student fees or tuition, Atkinson said.
 
A price tag on trauma? College town weighs Black reparations
Professor Edwin Driver arrived in Amherst in 1948 as one of the first Black teachers hired at a flagship state university in the country. But the 23-year-old sociology instructor at what would become the University of Massachusetts Amherst says he was denied pay raises for decades, despite being one of its most published professors. Driver and his wife, who was from India, also encountered roadblocks trying to buy a house in the mostly white college town. Their three children faced racism from neighbors and school officials alike. "There's a lot of people in Amherst that have not gotten a proper share of things," the now 96-year-old professor emeritus said at his home in nearby South Hadley recently. "I ended up being the lowest paid professor in the department, but also its most productive." Driver and other current and former Black residents may one day be compensated for their hardships. Amherst, some 90 miles from Boston, is among hundreds of communities and organizations across the country seeking to provide reparations to Black people. They range from the state of California to cities like Providence, Rhode Island, religious denominations like the Episcopal Church and prominent colleges like Georgetown University in Washington.
 
National debt fears remain part of the stimulus debate
Syndicated columnist Sid Salter writes: On March 1, the national debt of the United States exceeded $28 trillion dollars. What is the national debt? It's everything our government owes to the public – think bonds and borrowed money -- and everything the government owes to itself -- think Social Security and Medicare obligations. It's $22 trillion in debt held by the public and $22 trillion in so-called "intragovernmental" debt -- the government owes it to citizens through entitlement programs. The highly respected and nonpartisan Peter G. Peterson Foundation explains the national debt crisis in these ways: Our $28 trillion national debt is larger than the economies of China, Japan, Germany and India -- combined. It amounts to $218,000 per every U.S household or $85,000 for every American. If every American household paid $1,000 per month toward the debt, it would take 18 years to pay it off. Currently, Americans are paying $800 million per day in interest on the national debt. With yet another massive COVID-19 relief stimulus package teed up on Capitol Hill, some financial analysts are predicting unprecedented additional national debt growth on the nation's horizon. But that's after Republican former President Donald Trump increased the national debt by $7.8 trillion on his watch. As has been the case for years, Social Security and Medicare entitlements as they exist today are in deep trouble and fiscally unsustainable under current law while at the same time 78 million Baby Boomers like me hurtle toward retirement.


SPORTS
 
No. 3 Mississippi State drills Grambling State to open five-game week
Pulling himself off the right field grass, fourth-year junior Tanner Allen offered a smirk toward centerfielder Rowdey Jordan. As the undergrads perched upon the Bancorp South berm erupted in applause and moments after Allen narrowly cleared the fence with a 395-foot homer, Allen traded jabs with his outfield mate. Mississippi State head coach Chris Lemonis joked Allen jumped into Jordan's air space to make a full-stretch dive that sent him headfirst into the turf. Allen wouldn't go quite that far, but conceded he has a tendency to play closer to center field than he might intend. "We always joke with each other at practice about invading each other's territory," he said through a wry smile. "But he always stays out of mine and it seems like I always find my way into his." Flashing an improved glove and extending his hitting streak to nine games, Allen's dual-ability paced No. 3 MSU to a 10-0 win over Grambling State Tuesday night in the first of five Bulldog home games this week. "Being an alpha, man, I feel more free," Allen said of how he's taken to the outfield since transitioning from the infield a year ago. "I feel like I can kind of do my thing. I can play like a wild man and that's what I like to do." With Tuesday's win, MSU moved to 21-1 in midweek contests since the 2019 season. The Bulldogs are also 8-1 against SWAC competition over that same span, the lone loss coming to Texas Southern last spring.
 
No. 3 Mississippi State baseball blows out Grambling State for ninth win
Tuesday was just another day at the park for Mississippi State. The No. 3 Bulldogs beat Grambling State 10-0 at Dudy Noble Field. The Tigers played MSU close through four innings. They only trailed by a run. Then the Bulldogs (9-3) broke out for five in the fifth and three in the sixth to squash any hope the Tigers (0-8) might have still had. MSU sophomore Will Bednar set the tone on the mound in his first start of the season. He pitched two innings, retiring five of the six batters he faced on 31 pitches. He had five strikeouts, one hit and zero walks. "He was great tonight," MSU head coach Chris Lemonis said. Lemonis put seven pitchers on the mound over the final seven innings. They combined to hold Grambling to two hits and two walks. Mississippi State finished with 13 strikeouts as a team. Mississippi State hosts Louisiana (9-4) at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The Ragin' Cajuns took two of three from Houston Baptist last weekend. They opened the season by taking two of three from Tulane, who Mississippi State also beat twice in three tries the following weekend.
 
Mississippi State baseball cruises past Grambling
Eight Mississippi State pitchers combined for a shutout gem on Tuesday night. No. 3-ranked Mississippi State beat Grambling State, 10-0, at Dudy Noble Field. The Mississippi State pitching staff combined to allow only two hits and struck out 13 batters on the night. The Bulldogs (9-3) will now host Louisiana-Lafayette (9-4) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. "Getting guys the opportunity to get out there and stay sharp is huge," head coach Chris Lemonis said. "Tonight was a really big night getting eight guys out there and all eight came out and were really crisp. We didn't work ourselves in a jam or anything all night." Will Bednar, the projected Saturday starter in the preseason, made his first start of the season after missing the first two weeks due to injury. He only pitched two innings but struck out five batters and gave up one hit on 31 pitches. He is expected to make another appearance this weekend to try and get some more innings under his belt before SEC play begins.
 
What to expect from Mississippi State men's basketball against Kentucky in SEC Tournament
Mississippi State must do something it hasn't done in over 12 years to keep its season alive: beat Kentucky. The No. 9 seed Bulldogs (14-13, 8-10 SEC) are up against the No. 8 seed Wildcats (9-15, 8-9) at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Thursday at 11 a.m. CT. Win, and Mississippi State's season continues. Lose, and it's all but over. "Right now it's about surviving and staying alive," MSU coach Ben Howland said. "That's what you're trying to do in this tournament setting. Everyone is really good and everyone is fighting." Mississippi State knows this position well. The Bulldogs would have likely had to make a good run in last year's conference tourney to make the NCAA Tournament. Howland never got the chance to see them do it; both tournaments were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's team has the opportunity last year's didn't. Howland said he is thankful and feels fortunate. But if the Bulldogs do beat John Calipari for the first time ever since he's been the coach at Kentucky, then the reward is playing No. 1 seed Alabama (21-6, 16-2) on Friday.
 
Mississippi State softball routs Alabama State 10-4
Mississippi State softball is rolling. The Bulldogs continued their recent offensive explosion by scoring 10 runs for the third time in four games and the seventh time overall this season in a 10-4 rout of Alabama State in Montgomery. It was the sixth straight win for MSU (14-5). "It was good to see production from the middle and bottom part of our order, turning it over," MSU coach Samantha Ricketts said in a news release. "AK (Segars) and Paige (Cook) both had great days, same with (Christian) Quinn in the nine hole. I thought we did a good job of holding our ground, having quality at-bats with the hit-by-pitches and walks." The Bulldogs scored three quick runs in the second inning thanks to a triple from Segars and a double from Quinn. After adding two more runs in the third, Mia Davidson broke the game wide open with a two-run shot in the fourth inning. Davidson's home run was the 58th of her career, which puts her in the top 10 of SEC career home run leaders. MSU is back in action against Memphis Wednesday in Starkville.
 
Starkville boys basketball coach Greg Carter leaving to become Hattiesburg athletic director
The coach who shaped the Starkville High School boys basketball program into a modern dynasty is leaving big shoes to fill along Yellow Jacket Drive. Coach Greg Carter is leaving his position with the Jackets to become the athletic director for the Hattiesburg Public School District, Carter confirmed to The Dispatch after his hiring became official at a board meeting Tuesday night. Robbie Faulk of the Starkville Daily News first reported the move. Carter won four state championships in his 19 years at Starkville, going all the way in 2010, 2015, 2019 and 2020. The 2021 Jackets saw their season end Saturday in Jackson with a 56-51 loss to Clinton in the MHSAA Class 6A title game. Hattiesburg reached the MHSAA Class 5A semifinals, falling 56-51 to Lake Cormorant. Carter's son Tyson is currently playing in Europe after a standout career at Starkville and at Mississippi State.
 
Mississippi College AD Mike Jones announces retirement
Mike Jones announced his retirement as athletic director and head men's basketball coach at Mississippi College. MC has been a part of Jones' life for many years. He received his Bachelor's and Master's degree from the school while being a basketball star on the court. Upon graduating, Jones served as a recruiting and scouting assistant. Jones coached the Choctaws for 19 seasons and posted an impressive 342-127 record. He led his teams to four American Southwest Conference Championships, one Gulf South Conference Championship, and three Sweet 16 appearances in the NCAA Division III tournament. Mike Jones' legacy extends further than MC, however. Not only is he a member of the Hall of Fame at Mississippi College, but also at Co-Lin and Mississippi Sports. He looks to continue working part-time at MC with President Blake Thompson on initiatives for the athletics department. Coach Jones states that he looks forward to spending time with his family more than anything. "My whole family has been so supportive of what I've done. It's hard to coach if that's not the case. I've been blessed to have a family that's been behind me, and I can't thank them enough," said Jones.
 
Southern Miss to increase capacity for outdoor sporting events
More fans will be allowed to watch the Golden Eagles at outdoor sporting events this spring. The University of Southern Mississippi announced Tuesday seating capacity at all spring sports venues will be increased. First priority will be given to people who are on waiting lists for season tickets. Additional student tickets for baseball and softball will also be released. Limited individual game tickets will be made available for purchase during the week of the scheduled contest from Monday at 8 a.m. through Friday at noon each week, beginning with this weekend's home baseball series against the University of Louisiana. Tickets will not be sold at facility box offices on gameday. Athletic venues will observe the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Face masks are required when entering and exiting the stadium and when fans move about within the concourse, elevators, restrooms and concession areas. They are also encouraged while in seating areas.
 
Ed Orgeron 'deeply saddened' by Husch Blackwell report, commits to new LSU protocols
LSU football coach Ed Orgeron said Tuesday he was "deeply saddened" by the findings in the Husch Blackwell investigation into how the university has handled allegations of rape and dating violence. The 150-page report led LSU interim President Tom Galligan to announce appropriate changes to policies and bolstering the university's Title IX staff, plus suspending executive deputy athletic director Verge Ausberry and senior associate athletic director Miriam Segar without pay for 30 and 21 days, respectively. The troubling report detailed a "failure of leadership" at LSU, which did not appropriately staff or fund its Title IX office. Husch Blackwell also investigated cases involving 10 different LSU football players accused of sexual misconduct in recent years, nine of whom played under Orgeron. "Obviously was deeply saddened and disappointed about what it revealed," Orgeron said in a Tuesday morning interview with 104.5 ESPN's "Off the Bench." "But myself and our staff are committed to fully implementing the protocols described by the university and the experts it retained. It's a very serious matter."
 
Gov. John Bel Edwards says he was 'mortified' upon reading LSU sexual misconduct report
Gov. John Bel Edwards said Tuesday that he was "sick to the stomach" while reading a recent investigation into LSU's failures on addressing allegations of sexual misconduct and domestic violence on campus. LSU released the report last week from law firm Husch Blackwell, which found that the university had botched several sexual misconduct allegations and that LSU lacked the necessary staffing and organizational structures to properly handle such complaints. Asked at a Tuesday news conference whether LSU had taken enough action by suspending two officials, Edwards said that he would not second-guess the decision-making from Interim LSU President Tom Galligan. But Edwards also did not hide his disdain for the culture that Husch Blackwell described. "I will tell you that I was obviously very, very troubled by that report," Edwards said. "I did have an opportunity over the weekend to read it in its entirety and what I'm about to say is true not just for LSU but it's true for any institution of higher education in Louisiana. It is imperative that young people know, and that their parents know, that when they attend a university or a college here in Louisiana, they're going to be safe."
 
Football Has Long Been the Third Rail for College Leaders. It's Even More Perilous Now.
Whatever their intention, the message from college leaders in the Big Ten athletic conference was clear: Please leave the room, kids; Mom and Dad are talking football. In sensitive deliberations this past fall about whether to mount a football season in the middle of a pandemic, the top academic officials in one of the nation's premiere athletic leagues discussed moving their email conversations onto a secure conference portal that the chancellors and presidents viewed as exempt from public-records laws, The Washington Post reported on Friday. "I would be delighted to share information," Rebecca M. Blank, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, wrote in an email in August to Mark S. Schlissel, president of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, "but perhaps we can do this through the Big 10 portal, which will assure confidentiality?" The leaders' desire for secrecy speaks to the acute sensitivity of deliberations in the Big Ten, which had decided in August to scrap football, only to reverse course in September after other elite leagues charged ahead and then-President Donald J. Trump pressured the conference to resume. (The Pac-12 had a similar reversal). Pandemic politics aside, the Big Ten leaders' preference for privacy highlights the combustible nature of football controversies in the nation's so-called Power 5 conferences.



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