Thursday, August 19, 2021   
 
Mississippi State athletics officials say championship worth investment
Carey Edwards hoisted the trophy gingerly. "It's heavier than it looks!" the Rotary Club of Columbus president exclaimed. The three Mississippi State athletics administrators who ferried college baseball's ultimate prize to Columbus in the backseat of a black GMC Yukon could say the same. At Tuesday's meeting at Lion Hills Center, the MSU staffers told Rotarians the Bulldogs' first-ever College World Series trophy required quite an investment -- and one the school was more than willing to make. "I will always hope that we win the national championship," Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director and Chief Financial Officer Eric George said. "I'll never take the financial savings over holding that trophy. But it is a cost." Make no mistake, though: Mississippi State's first national title did the school a world of good in branding, licensing, development and a host of other areas. While George admitted it was his job to be "the wet blanket," Deputy Athletic Director for External Affairs Leah Beasley and Deputy A.D. for Development Bo Hemphill both shared numbers indicating the Bulldogs' first national title had blown previous MSU sports successes out of the water.
 
Back to school for the Mississippi State Bulldogs
Students filled the classrooms once again at Mississippi State University (MSU) as the school started its fall semester. The campus was packed on Wednesday with students walking to and from class. Each classroom is back to full capacity, making it feel a little more normal for students. WTVA spoke with a senior and a freshman at MSU about their emotions for the first day of school year. "I kinda forgot that I had to go to class today. I was like man, I gotta walk to class," said senior, Adrain Andrews. "It's all good though. I was excited. I was pumped. Ready to finish out strong." MSU freshman, Chloe Greer said she was a little nervous. "I was like, 'Oh my gosh. What if I forget where the classes are?' And I didn't know where the rooms were," she explained, "but it was really fun to see everybody like walk in, so I'm not the only one."
 
Mississippi State students are excited for new school year
Wednesday was the first day of classes for the new school year at Mississippi State and plenty students were glad to come back to Starkville for what should be another fun year for the maroon and white. One of those students is Tara Smith, a sophomore animal and dairy science major from Clarksville, Tennessee who is beyond excited to be back in Starkville after a memorable freshman year. "I absolutely love being back. The traffic is kind of crazy, but Starkville and the campus have such a hometown feel that makes you overlook any negatives you may find," Smith said. For Smith, she has high expectations for the new school year.
 
Scooters rolling again in Starkville
After hitting a few bumps in the road, Bird Scooters are back in Starkville. Earlier this Summer, the Starkville Board of Aldermen voted to ban scooters in the city. Mayor Lynn Spruill vetoed that move, and the outgoing Board voted to override that veto. Last month, the newly elected Board of Aldermen reinstated the city's contract with Bird Scooters with some conditions. The scooters aren't allowed on the Mississippi State University campus, and they are GPS fenced to prevent them from going some places in town. On Wednesday, company representatives were in town to educate potential riders and get things rolling again -- safely. "We have worked closely with Mayor Spruill and all the Aldermen, and they have been great. We're invested in being here in the city of Starkville, and we're ready to educate the community on what safe riding and parking look like." To help make sure that potential users ride safe, Bird also handed out free helmets and some other goodies today.
 
Aldermen approve plan to narrow Main Street
Aldermen on Tuesday approved a proposal to reconstruct Main Street to extend sidewalks and allow for more accessible outdoor patio and seating areas and streetscape modifications. After discussion with the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, the Starkville Main Street Association and several downtown businesses, Mayor Lynn Spruill told the board at its regular meeting she believes now is the time to reconfigure the design of sidewalks and outdoor areas of Main Street to be more accommodating to residents to coincide with the Highway 182 reconstruction the city plans to implement. Kimley-Horn Landscape Architect Henry Minor created two proposals for the board on different designs for Main Street. "Our design process is one that always begins with understanding existing conditions and making a deep dive into really understanding the stretch of Main Street we're looking at, really analyzing how it functions today and understanding what can be improved upon," Minor said. While this proposal will take away a small portion of road space, Minor said the design will not create a confined road or eliminate any parking spaces. Spruill said Main Street has not been overlaid in more than 20 years. The city was planning on an overlay project soon, so instead of just repaving the road, she said the best idea would be to take the Highway 182 plans and work the Main Street reconstruction design into that project.
 
Private, Uber-style company to bring curbside recycling back to Starkville
A new recycling program will arrive in Starkville this fall. Recyclops, an Uber-like technology company, will offer curbside recycling services to Starkville residents beginning the third week of September. Recyclops uses local drivers to pickup recyclables from people's houses. Vice President of Sales Dennis Wise said his company operates in more than 160 municipalities and is excited for Starkville to be the next. "We feel that what we are doing is providing a public service," Wise said. "Having curbside recycling is one of those things that really should be available no matter what. In these places that it's not, we feel that we're offering a public service." Through the company's website, individuals can sign up for services or become a driver. For $12 every other week or $20 every week, individuals can pay for pickup. Initial outreach with the city began in March. Wise said 63 customers have already registered for Recyclops, and he hopes to have more than 100 by the start date. There is no maximum number for how many people can utilize these services. Earlier this year, Starkville restarted its own recycling program with a drop-off box at Douglas L. Conner Drive. It discontinued its curbside recycling program in September 2020 after it became financially unfeasible to operate.
 
Starkville Utilities becomes first partner for SHS academic house
Starkville Utilities Department is the first program partner for Starkville High School's academic houses. SHS launched academic houses in fall 2019 as a way to prepare students for their potential career paths, and Starkville Utilities agreed to become the lead partner of the Technology, Engineering and Construction house at SHS. Superintendent Eddie Peasant said this will create a community-based learning approach that highlights local employers and to prepare students for the workforce. "Starkville Utilities' investment in our students connects the classroom to the workplace creating a new kind of high school experience through engaging hands-on opportunities that leverage students' interest to make school more relevant," Peasant said at a press conference Tuesday announcing the partnership. Starkville Utilities General Manager Terry Kemp began discussions with the school district a few months ago about becoming involved with SHS. He said through partnering with the TEC house, he hopes his department can offer field trips, classroom visits, internships and mentorship opportunities to students interested in technology and science.
 
Starkville-Oktibbeha Unity League seeks votes for State Farm $25K grant contest
The Starkville-Oktibbeha Unity League (SOUL) seeks online votes to win a $25,000 grant from State Farm. The funds will support its work to make Starkville stronger and better by building understanding, relationships and unity among neighbors from different races, backgrounds, beliefs, sexual identity and faiths. SOUL was selected as one of 200 national finalists from 2,000 applications for the State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant. Voting began Wednesday on www.neighborhoodassist.com, or votes for SOUL can be cast directly on https://www.neighborhoodassist.com/entry/2038187. The 40 nonprofit groups receiving the most online votes will receive $25,000. The SOUL grassroots group formed nearly three years ago to develop and implement initiatives to break down barriers and build unity. "We live in a wonderfully diverse community that is experiencing growth not only in population, but in quality of life as well," said Rex Buffington, who co-leads SOUL with Jeanne Marszalek. "As we break down artificial barriers that sometimes divide us, we can make our community stronger and better for all our neighbors." Voting will continue through Aug. 27. Individuals aged 18 and over with a valid email address can cast up to 10 votes each day.
 
Plan under way to reopen Eola Hotel; Dickie Brennan and Co. will be in charge of food and beverage
The Eola Hotel will reopen as a hotel, City of Natchez officials said during a press conference this morning. Groundbreaking for renovations are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2022, Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson said. Developer Hayes Dent of Jackson said he has been working in partnership with Kevin Preston of the Magnolia Bluffs Casino to make the project possible, as well as Dickie Brennan of New Orleans, who is expected to be in charge of food and beverage operations at the new Eola Hotel. Dent said the hotel would be affiliated with a major chain, but did not name the hotel chain. A major factor in the project moving forward, Dent said, was the donation of the Fry Building by Natchez resident Walter Davis and the Fry family to the City of Natchez. Natchez officials plan to turn the Fry Building into a parking garage. Gibson said the project would not have happened without a plan for additional parking.
 
Jobless claims hit new pandemic-era low in a sign of hope for the employment picture
First-time filings for unemployment insurance hit a pandemic-era low last week, a sign that the jobs market is improving heading into the fall despite worries over the delta Covid variant. Jobless claims for the week ended Aug. 14 totaled 348,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That was below the Dow Jones estimate for 365,000 and a decline of 29,000 from the previous week. The last time claims were this low was March 14, 2020, just as the Covid-19 pandemic declaration hit and sent the U.S. economy spiraling into its deepest but briefest recession on record. In the weeks that followed, more than 22 million Americans would be sent to the unemployment line, sending the jobless rate skyrocketing to 14.8%. The jobs market has been on a steady recovery trajectory since then but remains well off its pre-pandemic health. Stocks were volatile following the news, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average well off its lows for the morning and down just slightly in early trading. Continuing claims also fell, dropping to 2.82 million on a 79,000 decline from the week before. That data runs a week behind the headline claims number and also represented a new low since the pandemic struck.
 
Nursing shortage leads MSDH to authorize paramedics and EMTs to care for patients at hospitals
To help hospitals wade through the current staffing crisis amid a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections that is stripping the state's healthcare system down for parts, the Mississippi Department of Health issued an order on Wednesday that permits certified paramedics, as well as regular and advanced emergency medical technicians to care for patients in any part of a Mississippi hospital. "This has been a pandemic of resource squeezes," State Health Officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, said. "We are fighting amongst ourselves for resources. Outside the state, companies are paying a lot to lure staff away. So it is a challenge, but a lot of people are staying here." The lack of staffed hospital beds in Mississippi has left patients waiting days for a hospital bed. As of Thursday morning, there were only six open intensive care unit (ICU) beds open across the state, with 46 patients waiting for an ICU bed. Additionally, 251 Mississippians were waiting for an emergency room (ER) bed. "We are clearly at the worst part of the pandemic that we've seen throughout, and it's continuing to worsen," Dobbs said. This fourth wave of COVID-19 infections continues to be a pandemic of the unvaccinated. Between July 20 and Aug. 16, 98% of cases (56,748), 89% of hospitalizations (302) and 86% of deaths (303) were among unvaccinated people.
 
Nearly 1,000 Mississippi beds empty because of lack of staff
Mississippi health officials say almost 1,000 hospital beds that could be used to treat patients during the latest surge of coronavirus in the state are unstaffed because of a shortage of healthcare workers. That's while Mississippi is facing a record number of people hospitalized with the virus -- 1,633 on Tuesday, according to the state Department of Health. "We're still nowhere near the staff we need for the beds we need," said Jim Craig, Senior Deputy for the Mississippi Department of Health and Director of Health Protection, during a virtual briefing with press Wednesday. Craig said 73 hospitals in Mississippi requested over 1,451 staff members to treat patients. More than 250 people were waiting in Mississippi emergency rooms for beds Wednesday morning, according to health officials. If those positions were filled, the state could staff 771 medical-surgical beds and 235 intensive care unit beds, Craig said. Mississippi is one of the lowest-paying states for healthcare workers. State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said that is one reason why healthcare workers have left. Dobbs said workers on the frontlines are exhausted.
 
'We are in trouble': Dr. LouAnn Woodward delivers desperate plea to Mississippians as COVID crisis worsens
Dr. LouAnn Woodward, the chief executive of Mississippi's largest medical center, is no longer mincing words about so many Mississippians' unwillingness to protect their neighbors. The chief executive of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, long the most outspoken state leader since the COVID-19 pandemic began, delivered a brutal, tough-love message to Mississippi on Tuesday as the state's hospital system is on its last breath: Get vaccinated. Wear masks. Protect the future of the state. Do better. Woodward gave the speech as state officials unveiled a second field hospital set up in a UMMC parking garage -- a necessity because the large medical center, like every other hospital in the state, has no additional staff capacity to adequately serve the surge of COVID patients. Samaritan's Purse, a national disaster relief organization, is staffing and funding the second field hospital that will also include ICU beds. Mississippi, Woodward said, has "failed to respond in a unified way to a common threat" and "failed to use the tools that we have to protect ourselves, to protect our families, to protect our children, and to protect our state."
 
Gulf Coast's 'Redneck Riviera' a COVID hot spot but people keep coming: 'They've got to live their lives'
Tourists and servers alike dance atop tables and in the aisles at one restaurant on the "Redneck Riviera," a beloved stretch of towns along the northern Gulf Coast where beaches, bars and stores are packed. Yet just a few miles away, a hospital is running out of critical care beds, its rooms full of unvaccinated people fighting for their lives. On maps that show virus "hot spots" in red, this part of the U.S. coast is glowing like a bad sunburn. And a summer of booming tourism that followed the lockdowns and travel restrictions of 2020 is making the turn toward fall with only a few signs of slowing down. Health officials believe the spike is due to a combination of some of the nation's lowest vaccination rates, unabated tourism, a disregard for basic health precautions and the region's carefree lifestyle, all combining at a time when the mutated virus is more contagious than ever and conservative states are balking at new health restrictions. On a recent afternoon, one shopper after another walked through the mouth of a giant, fake shark into a Gulf Shores souvenir shop. Mini-golf courses, bars, go-kart tracks, hotels and condominium towers were full. The National Shrimp Festival, which draws as many as 250,000 people to the Alabama coast, is set for October despite the COVID-19 explosion. The revelry came as just 12 miles (19 kilometers) to the north, South Baldwin Regional Medical Center was treating more than three dozen COVID-19 patients, nearly 90% of whom weren’t vaccinated, said spokesperson Taylor Lewis.
 
GOP governors embrace Covid cocktails over masks as cases surge
Republican governors in some of the states hardest hit by the pandemic are pushing expensive Covid cocktails over cheap masks. The governors in Florida, Missouri and Texas are promising millions of dollars in antibody treatments for infected people even as they oppose vaccine and mask mandates, saying they can potentially keep people with mild Covid symptoms out of hospitals that are being swamped by new cases. But the treatments and cost of providing them are thousands of dollars more than preventive vaccines, and tricky to administer because they work best early in the course of an infection. The push to medicate rankles public health officials and some within the Biden administration, who say the governors' stance misleadingly implies Covid-19 can be treated easily, like the common cold. But in states where vaccination rates are low and masks remain taboo, monoclonal antibodies are increasingly being looked at as the last, best hope to save the health system. On Sunday, Mississippi state health officer Thomas Dobbs issued a standing order so that anyone in the state can receive treatment even if they don't have a physician.
 
Pandemic has never been worse in Mississippi, top doctor says as 20,000 students are quarantined
Mississippi's top health official concluded Wednesday that the state with the nation's second-lowest vaccination rate is now suffering through "the worst part of the pandemic," in a week in which more than 20,000 students have been quarantined for exposure to coronavirus. Mississippi State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs acknowledged the severity of the state's health crisis, which has seen a surge in cases among the unvaccinated population overwhelm hospitals, leaving only a handful of intensive care unit beds still available for dozens of patients who need them. "We are clearly at the worst part of the pandemic that we've seen throughout, and it's continued to worsen," Dobbs said at a news briefing. "We're seeing higher and higher numbers of not just cases but hospitalizations, people in intensive care units, life support. And sadly, as we've seen, additional deaths are going to follow. Without a doubt we have surpassed our previous peaks by a substantial margin, and we expect to see that continue." While Dobbs said he was encouraged by the recent increase of residents getting their first shots, he noted that 89 percent of hospitalizations and 86 percent of deaths in the state were among unvaccinated people. The state's top doctor, who has likened this latest surge in Mississippi to a "tsunami," has repeatedly stressed that vaccination remains "our best way out of this pandemic." "It's effective and extremely safe," Dobbs said of the vaccines. "Covid has killed almost 8,000 Mississippians, but we've seen very few side effects from the vaccine."
 
State Board of Education allows hybrid learning through October
The Mississippi Department of Education's State Board of Education on Thursday unanimously approved the use of hybrid learning schedules, which is a combination of virtual and traditional learning, by K-12 schools through the month of October. Mississippi schools and districts can begin using the hybrid scheduling option immediately through October 31 of this year. Use of the hybrid scheduling option is only available in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and districts/schools must adhere to all virtual learning requirements set by MDE. Students must still receive 330 minutes of instruction per day for 180 days of school. The goal is to allow for better social distancing among students, in line with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Mississippi State Department of Health guidelines. "The use of this hybrid scheduling for this period of time has to directly tie back to the pandemic, and to ensure the safety of students," Dr. Paula Vanderford, MDE's Chief Accountability Officer, said. Virtual days can not be used for professional development days, testing days, etc.
 
Mississippi lawmakers consider special session on pandemic
There are rumblings about the possibility of a special session to deal with the pandemic. Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann said last week he'd spoken with House Speaker Philip Gunn, and they want to be prepared if the Governor sends out the call. During an interview with SuperTalk Mississippi, House Minority Leaders Robert Johnson says the fact that lawmakers have been holding hearings on issues like medical marijuana and the income tax signal that the legislature is in business. "The business we ought to be conducting is finding a way to offer support to our essential workers, our health care institutions, in our schools...places where they need our help and support. And there are things we can do." Johnson pointed to the $1.8-billion in Cares Act funding Mississippi has already received. "Let's take some of that $1.8-billion and give it to us so we can hire more nurses. Or we can pay the ones we have more money so they won't be encouraged to leave and go places where they can make more money." Other states offer 13 week contracts to nurses where they can make as much as $120.00 per hour. Mississippi hospitals can't compete with that. Johnson says the Cares Act funding can be used to enhance the pay of essential workers. "That's not just health care workers. You can do it for grocery store workers, and people who are working every day to keep our utilities going. All those kind of things that you need to do, that money is for that," he explained.
 
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker tests positive for COVID-19
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker has tested positive for COVID-19 according to a press release from his spokesperson. Philip Waller, communications director for Wicker, said that the state's senior U.S. Senator tested positive for the virus on Thursday morning. "Senator Wicker is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, is in good health, and is being treated by his Tupelo-based physician. He is isolating, and everyone with whom Senator Wicker has come in close contact recently has been notified," Waller said. Wicker, a Republican, visited with several officials and constituents this week in Tupelo, where he lives. People who are fully vaccinated from COVID-19 may still test positive for the virus, but it only occurs in only a small percentage of vaccinated people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. State and federal health officials also say that when someone is fully inoculated from the virus, their chance of becoming seriously ill or hospitalized from COVID-19 is severely diminished.
 
How historic food stamps boost will bring relief to southern families: 'This is a really big deal'
Benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), often referred to as food stamps, will go up about 25 percent starting October 1. The change will equal to an increase of a little more than $36 for the average person on SNAP -- the largest single increase the program has seen to date. Advocates and experts hail the move as a big win in the United States' battle against hunger and poverty for the 38 million Americans who receive SNAP benefits each month to help cover food bills, especially in Southern states that more heavily rely on the program due to higher rates of poverty. In the Gulf South, about one out of every six people received benefits across Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi in 2019. The increase also bolsters the social safety net at a time when families face financial burdens as coronavirus pandemic relief programs expire. "This is a really big deal," said Wafa Orman, associate professor of economics at The University of Alabama In Huntsville. "A lot of people's budgets were being pinched very badly and this will come as a huge relief." The program's update is due in part to keep up with inflation, which drove up food prices over the last year during the pandemic. SNAP benefits were temporarily increased by 15% in March through the end of September, though families and advocates worried what would happen when that additional increase ended. The new boost is not only higher in amount but also permanent, relieving some of those concerns -- going into effect right as the temporary increase ends. The increase will also be a big economic boost for Southern states. Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana will get an additional $950 million from SNAP estimated for this next fiscal year. According to the Centers On Budget And Policy Priorities, SNAP is one of the fastest ways of injecting dollars into a state's economy.
 
President Biden picks first Native American for parks post
The White House said President Joe Biden would nominate Charles F. Sams III to be director of the National Park Service, moving to fill a post that has gone without a Senate-confirmed leader since 2017. Sams has a background in conservation management, has worked in state and tribal governments for more than 25 years and served in the U.S. Navy, the White House said Wednesday. "I look forward to working with him to welcome Americans from every corner of our country into our national park system," Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement. "The outdoors are for everyone, and we have an obligation to protect them for generations to come." A member and former executive director of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, in Oregon, where he lives, Sams would be the first director of the agency to be an enrolled member of a Native American tribe, Interior spokeswoman Melissa Schwartz said. Chief among Sams' likely priorities would be administering funding approved under a bipartisan public lands bill that became law last Congress. That law authorized spending up to $1.9 billion a year in maintenance for the parks.
 
President Jay Gogue mingles with students over pizza, popsicles
Student Involvement hosted Pizza and Popsicles with the President from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on the lawn of the President's Home on Wednesday to get students out of their dorms or apartments, meet new people and say hello to the president. "At Auburn we consider both the in-class and the out-of-class experience a very important part of the whole college experience," President Jay Gogue said. "For us to say, 'Welcome,' and 'Glad to have you,' to new incoming freshmen, that's an important thing. To say we care about you, you're a part of the Auburn Family as soon as you get here." A total of 239 students checked into the event using their digital event pass on AUInvolve, according to Brad Smith, director of Student Involvement. Bobby Woodard, senior vice president of Student Affairs, said that Student Affairs has planned more events for this year than in previous years to make up for all those missed during the pandemic. These introductions to Auburn's campus are important for new students, Woodard said. "If they're connected to our campus, they know where to go for support. They do better, they feel a part of our community -- that's our ultimate goal," Woodard said. While the event is typically geared toward freshmen, Gogue said they encouraged sophomores -- whom he referred to as "redshirt freshmen" -- to come out as well since the event, typically held every year, was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
 
LSU says nearly 85% of students reporting COVID status are vaccinated to some degree
LSU says that, of students who have shared their COVID-19 status with the university, an overwhelming majority are at least partially vaccinated. School spokesman Ernie Ballard said 15,354 had reported their status ahead of classes beginning Monday, and that 12,967, were either partially or fully vaccinated. LSU also said that wastewater treatment monitoring found either no trace or very low amounts of the virus. Ballard also said 6,860 students living on campus have completed their "entry protocol" and that 75 percent were vaccinated to some degree. About 90 percent of fraternity and sorority members were vaccinated, the school said. LSU President William F. Tate IV said this month that students who have not received at last one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine will be tested monthly for signs of the illness. The school's coronavirus entry guidelines this semester require all students to provide either proof of a negative COVID-19 test result no more than five days before arriving on campus, proof of vaccination or proof that a student tested positive for COVID no more than 90 days prior to showing up on campus.
 
'Nerve-racking': UF researchers project the COVID-19 Delta outbreak to peak in late August or September
As students return to campus for Fall classes, UF is approaching a seven-day case average peak comparable to January, which was one of the largest since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The wave in cases is expected to keep growing -- UF researchers project the Delta outbreak to peak in late August or September. UF Health Shands Hospital has more COVID-19 patients now than ever, pushing the hospital to postpone certain elective procedures for the second time. The number of patients 19 years old and younger in the intensive care unit for the virus is higher than ever before. The report from UF biostatisticians predicted the peak would take place over the first three weeks of Fall classes at UF -- projecting to reach 33,000 reported cases per day and 220,000 per week in Florida. As of Aug. 17, Florida's highest number of weekly cases during the pandemic was over summer, with over 151,000 cases reported for Aug. 6 to 12. From Aug. 8 to 13, UF reported 141 positive tests and a record-breaking 1,512 people in quarantine or isolation as of Tuesday. UF no longer provides on-campus quarantine or isolation spaces for students.
 
'Listen to your workers for God's sake': U. of Missouri union rallies as contract nears its end
Chanting "if we don't get it, shut it down," union workers at the University of Missouri on Wednesday gathered at the Columns around a giant, inflatable rat. The menacing rat, with sharp teeth and claws and red eyes, had a sign around its neck that read "Mizzou." Around 30 members of Laborer's International Union local 955 representing custodial, maintenance, construction services and food service workers at MU participated in the protest rally as the start of the fall semester and the end of its contract approaches. The end date of the contract is Aug. 31. The union claims the university isn't bargaining in good faith. Members complain that the university can enact policies that supersede the contract. Another complaint is union representatives can't speak on behalf of a member during a grievance hearing. The university administration has had three productive contract negotiation sessions with union representatives, and a new contract is expected, said MU spokesman Christian Basi. Addressing some of the other complaints, Basi said employees can consult with union representatives during grievance hearings and get advice from them. There can be a break for consultation outside the meeting room, but the consultant can't speak on behalf of the employee. "During those grievance procedures, we want to hear directly from the employees," Basi said.
 
Colleges Grapple With Costs for Covid-19 Tests, Unvaccinated Students
Colleges and universities are wrestling with how to treat, and budget for, unvaccinated students, with a few schools making those students pay to be tested regularly for Covid-19. At the University of Texas, Austin, the difference between a student vaccination rate of 60% and 80% would cost the school about $4 million to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and treat additional students projected to get infected, the head of the school's Covid-19 Modeling Consortium said. If fewer students return to campus vaccinated, the school will spend more on tests, contact tracing, quarantine housing and online classes, said Dr. Lauren Meyers, a professor of integrative biology and data science who directs the consortium. The school recommends vaccines, but state law prevents them from being mandated. "There are these two different worlds: There's a world where we do all this mitigation, it's successful enough that we could actually safely continue school in person and we don't have to go online," she said. "Or there's the world where we don't do enough to mitigate, or there's not enough vaccination in the community, and we're forced to go online and that incurs additional cost to UT."
 
College Move-In Was Supposed To Mark A Return To Normal. Then Came The Delta Variant
Rental trucks in the parking lots; joyful hugs as students find old friends; a crowd in the campus store as families stock up on Husker gear: It's move-in week at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The center of the action here is the Devaney Center. It's usually home to track and field, but this week it's where students and their families are shuffling in to get their room keys, maps of campus, move-in directions, a mandatory COVID-19 test -- and this year -- a booth where they can get a vaccine shot. Phoebe Feis, a junior, skips that table because she's already vaccinated. It's a major reason, she says, for why she's back on campus this year. As a sophomore last year, she spent the academic year at home in northwest Iowa, taking classes online and making sure to protect her grandmother, who is a cancer survivor in her 80s. "Everyone I know has been vaccinated," says Feis, who in her third year of college has only one full, in-person semester under her belt due to the pandemic. "With [the vaccines] and other safety protocols, I feel really safe coming back." This sprawling university of about 20,000 undergraduates, nestled in the Great Plains, was hoping -- like many colleges -- for a normal fall semester. But as millions of college students descend on campuses throughout the U.S., the delta variant is raging, raising questions about how to pull this off without outbreaks.
 
Advocacy groups push for Title IX changes ahead of 'double red zone'
A campaign launched Monday by several advocacy organizations is demanding the Department of Education immediately begin rolling back changes made to Title IX last year, as a new academic year begins on campuses and the number of students at risk of experiencing sexual violence doubles. At the heart of the #EDActNow campaign -- led by the groups Know Your IX, End Rape on Campus, Equal Rights Advocates, It's on Us and Girls Inc. -- is a petition that asks Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Acting Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights Suzanne Goldberg to take three actions toward undoing the regulations for Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 put into place in 2020 under former secretary Betsy DeVos. President Biden issued an executive order in March asking the department to re-examine the regulations -- and revise them, if necessary. It held five days of public hearings on the Title IX rules in early June, but later that month, it was announced that the department doesn't plan to release its proposed rule changes until May 2022. ED Act Now is a relaunch of a campaign that began in 2013, when advocates heard from survivors that they were being shrugged off by colleges and universities that were refusing to protect students from sexual assault. Now, they're hearing those same stories again as a result of the recent regulations, said Sage Carson, manager of Know Your IX.
 
Biden Administration to Discharge $5.8 Billion in Student Debt for Disabled Borrowers
The Biden administration is wiping out more than $5.8 billion in student loans for more than 323,000 borrowers who are permanently disabled, the latest step in the government's piecemeal effort to lessen the burden for millions of adults struggling to repay their debts. The Education Department said Thursday it will automatically discharge loans for borrowers with total and permanent disabilities by matching borrower files with Social Security Administration records. A similar policy has been in place since 2019 for those deemed disabled via the Department of Veterans Affairs. Borrowers found to have total and permanent disabilities are generally limited in their ability to work and to repay the loans. The government will also stop asking such borrowers to provide earnings records going forward; currently, failure to respond can lead to loans being reinstated. A 2016 report by the Government Accountability Office found that 98% of reinstated discharges were due to borrowers not submitting documentation, not because borrowers' earnings were too high. "We are working to improve targeted loan relief and help our borrowers," said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, adding that a goal of the department is to simplify the process for borrowers seeking debt relief. President Biden has resisted calls from fellow Democrats and activists to cancel most of America's roughly $1.6 trillion in federal student-loan debt via executive action.


SPORTS
 
Steve Spurrier Jr. touts Bulldogs' talent at outside receiver
Mississippi State outside receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr. didn't have high expectations for his players early in the 2020 season. With no spring ball, a late start to summer camp and a brand-new coaching staff touting a novel offensive system, Spurrier and his fellow coaches knew perfection wouldn't be on the table. "Going out there in the first couple games, we were just hoping guys knew where to line up and how to play," Spurrier said Tuesday. But this year, with a full offseason under their belt, the Bulldogs' outside receivers will be asked to do more. Spurrier thinks they're ready to deliver. "We're really far ahead of where we were last year," he said. "We've got a good group of guys, and we'll be ready to play here in a couple weeks." While inside receivers coach Dave Nichol's room includes star sophomore Jaden Walley, who set Mississippi State's freshman record in 2020 with 718 receiving yards, Spurrier touted the talent within his group. Senior Malik Heath, who totaled 307 yards last season after transferring from Copiah-Lincoln Community College, will be a big target for whichever quarterback earns the starting job. Heath showed his speed and catching ability in Tuesday's practice, hauling in a beautiful deep ball from sophomore Will Rogers for a touchdown in team drills.
 
College Roundup: Four Mississippi State soccer players on all-SEC watch list
Mississippi State's Maddy Anderson, Alyssa D'Aloise, Onyi Echegini and Monigo Karnley were named Wednesday to the preseason all-SEC watch list. Anderson earned All-Freshman team honors a year ago after drawing the starting nod in 12 of MSU's 13 matches. She made 44 saves and posted a 5-4-3 record. In her debut season, she earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors following a six-save effort in a draw with Alabama and was twice named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week. D'Aloise, one of three Bulldog captains, played in eight matches last season, starting all of them. The midfielder posted seven shots in 656 minutes. Echegini and Karnley were State's leading scorers last year with 11 points apiece. Echegini scored five goals and added an assist in 2020-21. Karnley tallied four goals with three assists. She now boasts six career game-winning goals and is MSU's active career leader in the category. Both players started all 13 matches.
 
Southern Miss baseball coach Scott Berry signs contract extension
Southern Miss director of athletics Jeremy McClain announced that baseball coach Scott Berry agreed to a contract extension Wednesday. "Scott has does an outstanding job of continuing to develop a nationally competitive program that is built on a foundation of 'doing it the right way,'" McClain said in a press release Wednesday. "We are fortunate to have him leading our student-athletes, and I look forward to their continued success." The contract's length was not specified by Southern Miss although the maximum allowed by the state of Mississippi is four years. Berry is entering his 13th season with the Golden Eagles and has accumulated 435 wins, 34 shy of the program's all-time record. Southern Miss has reached the NCAA Tournament seven times under Berry and has won four Conference USA regular season titles and four conference tournament championships. The Golden Eagles finished 40-21 last season, losing to Ole Miss in the Oxford Regional.
 
MHSAA adjusts virtual learning plan slightly
The Mississippi High School Activities Association is giving local school districts the option of continuing practices for fall sports even if schools are temporarily barred from playing games. The surge of the COVID-19 Delta variant in Mississippi has already affected some MHSAA member institutions by forcing them to go to 100% virtual learning due to the number of students who tested positive for COVID-19. Last week, the association passed a rule saying schools whose campuses were temporarily closed to in-person learning would not be allowed to practice or compete against other teams in fall sports contests as long as students weren't allowed on campuses. On Monday, MHSAA Executive Director Rickey Neaves announced a slight alteration to that rule in a video posted to the association's official Twitter account. Neaves said while schools who have moved to temporary virtual learning due to COVID cases would still not be allowed to compete against other schools, the option to practice during the virtual learning period would be in the hands of the member institutions' school districts. "Because of the times we're in and the 14-day acclimation period, we have revised that rule (Monday) to state that if a school is 100% virtual, then with school district permission, they will be able to practice only for those sports that are in season," Neaves said in the video. "However, there will be no contests held as long as a school is 100% virtual. Those contests scheduled during this time will have to be forfeited, and if practices are going on, that will keep the student-athletes and participants acclimated to where once the school returns to in-person learning, then the schedule can be picked up at that point."
 
Nick Saban to ESPN: Alabama football has all but one vaccinated
Alabama football is well above the 80% vaccination threshold that SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey mentioned at SEC Media Days in July. In fact, the Crimson Tide is nearing 100%. Coach Nick Saban told ESPN that all but one in the program have been vaccinated. "But it could still be an issue," Saban said. "They say if 90% (of your team) is vaccinated, you're OK, but who knows? At least if you're vaccinated, you don't have to quarantine guys." Saban said at his Nick's Kids Foundation event on Aug. 5 that Alabama football would be using same COVID-19 protocols as 2020 for the next six weeks or so. The SEC does not have a forfeit policy in place, but Sankey said at media days that they are being considered. In 2020, games would be re-scheduled if teams didn't have enough healthy players. Sankey said in July they are considering removing those roster minimums. Sankey told The Athletic in the past week that they are still determining game management of COVID-19 protocols. "Our athletics directors will continue to discuss the COVID roster policies, particularly my reference that, 'Be ready, be healthy to play, if you're unable to field a team, that would be deemed a forfeit,'" Sankey said. "We'll have to finalize that one before the start of the season."
 
State mandate may force Washington State football coach Nick Rolovich to get COVID-19 vaccine
Washington State football coach Nick Rolovich has so far kept his reasons for not getting the COVID-19 vaccine private. However, a new mandate from Washington Gov. Jay Inslee will make Rolovich's decision a much more public matter. On Wednesday, Inslee announced that all staff, faculty, contractors and coaches at the state's public schools, colleges and universities must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18, unless they have a medical or religious exemption. Rolovich was the only head coach who did not appear in person at the Pac-12 's football media day last month after the conference mandated that all participants must be fully vaccinated. "I have elected not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine for reasons which will remain private. While I have made my own decision, I respect that every individual -- including our coaches, staff and student-athletes -- can make his or her own decision regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. I will not comment further on my decision," Rolovich said July 21 in a statement posted on social media. A week later, the second-year Cougars coach told reporters on a Zoom call he planned to follow university policies for the unvaccinated. "I'm not against vaccinations," he said, "and I wholeheartedly support those who chose to be vaccinated including our players, staff, coaches." However, in the wake of Inslee's order, the stakes have been raised. According to the governor's news release: "(I)ndividuals who refuse to get vaccinated will be subject to dismissal."



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