| Thursday, August 26, 2021 |
| MSU alumnus Kenneth E. Miller dies at age 69 | |
 | Kenneth E. Miller, a Columbus native who enrolled at Mississippi State University at age 15 among the first group of African Americans admitted to the university, died Aug. 17 at age 69 in Arlington, Virginia. Miller became the second African American to graduate from MSU's aerospace engineering program, and he later received his master's degree in systems management from the University of Southern California. He served his country with over 30 years of civilian service to the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force, and retired as one of the highest-ranking civilians in the Department of Defense. He also founded KEM and Associates and became a recognized strategist and trusted advisor to a broad range of national and international defense, security, and aerospace firms. Miller was the recipient of the Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Award (1996 and 2001) and Nathaniel Stinson Award. He was also honored as an MSU Bagley College of Engineering Distinguished Fellow, and he enjoyed cheering on his beloved MSU Bulldogs. Throughout his career, he earned the respect and admiration of peers, colleagues, and leadership in both government and industry. Memorial donations in honor of Miller's legacy of mentorship, generosity, and gratitude and his unwavering commitment to supporting future MSU Black engineering leaders may be made to the MSU Kenneth E. Miller Excellence Endowment at https://bit.ly/3B59OyP. |
| Oktibbeha County supervisors still concerned about trash pickup issues | |
 | Oktibbeha County's relationship with the Golden Triangle Regional Solid Waste Management Authority is again under scrutiny after two county supervisors claim some residents are waiting weeks to get their garbage collected. District 4 Supervisor Bricklee Miller told The Dispatch on Monday several of her constituents are not receiving the consistent services for which they are paying. Many residents complained to her that rural areas of the district will be skipped over weeks at a time, causing trash to continuously pile up, she said. "A county supervisor never knows things like this happen until a citizen calls," Miller said. "A lot of times, the citizen does not realize if they have trash service on a Friday and (are skipped over), they won't get their trash picked up again until next Tuesday." District 1 Supervisor John Montgomery said he has seen sections of particular roads in his district that have also been passed over. Once instances like these occur, the supervisors contact the authority board to address the issue. Miller said typically those areas are not missed again. Along with skipped routes, Oktibbeha County has run out of its allotted number of trash cans for the current fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. Montgomery said the county receives roughly 600 cans for residents who utilize trash services and cannot obtain anymore for the year once they are all distributed to residents. Miller said she has also received complaints about garbage truck drivers taking away trash cans or crushing them altogether for no apparent reason. |
| Mary Means Business: Prime 44, Redd Family Insurance, Right Track Medical Group | |
| Looks like the owner at TASTE got a bite of Starkville and just could not get enough. Prime 44, 211 S. Jackson St. Suite B., opened Aug. 20. According to the Secretary of State's office, TASTE owner Michael Fant is the registered agent for Starkville's new steakhouse. The steakhouse is in the former King's Craft Butcher shop that closed in April. Judging by Prime 44's social media, the inside has undergone quite the makeover since Prime 44 took over. Customers can choose from select USDA prime steaks, soup and salads, seafood appetizers, various cocktails, wines, desserts and more. Also in Starkville, Jimmy Redd opened his new insurance office this month. Redd Family Insurance opened on Main Street above the Greater Starkville Development Partnership building. Though his office just opened, Redd said he's worked remotely from home for the last seven years helping clients find affordable insurance coverage. Businesses are moving in Starkville. Right Track Medical Group, a counseling and therapy clinic, has moved from its Starr Avenue location. Check out Right Track Medical Group's new location at 200 Hwy. 12., formerly the Giggleswick building. The Starkville office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Mississippi Ag Commissioner announces organic certification cost-share program | |
 | Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) is currently offering a cost-share program for Mississippi organic producers and handlers receiving certification or continuation of certification by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) accredited certifying agent. "This is a great opportunity for farmers that have received the USDA Organic Certification in the past year to help offset some of the costs associated with this certification," said Gipson, "I am glad that we are able to offer this program again for 2021, and I encourage our farmers to take advantage of this opportunity." The National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program currently recognizes the following certification scopes eligible for reimbursement: crops, wild crops, livestock, and handling (i.e., processing). The deadline to submit applications is November 1, 2021. |
| Invest 99L will likely strengthen into hurricane in the Gulf | |
 | Invest 99L is near Jamaica and heading into the Gulf of Mexico, where it is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane and target the northern Gulf Coast. It's too early to say where the system will come ashore, but the forecasts from the National Hurricane Center and meteorologist Rocco Calaci urge South Mississippi residents to keep an eye on the severe weather system. The latest forecast from the National Weather Service says the system is expected to enter into the Gulf of Mexico Friday night and continue moving northwestward toward the central or northwestern U.S. Gulf Coast. The storm could bring "dangerous impacts" including storm surge, wind and heavy rainfall to portions of the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle by Sunday and Monday, the NWS said. The system's exact track and intensity are still unknown. Landfall is projected to be close to the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina that devastated South Mississippi on Aug. 29, 2005. "Things have changed overnight that will result in a scramble for people in Louisiana (and the northern Gulf Coast) to prepare for a hurricane early next week," Calaci said in his daily weather newsletter Wednesday. |
| After 27 years as Fair manager, Doug Johnson is retiring | |
 | This year's Neshoba County Fair was the last for longtime Fair manager Doug Johnson who will retire in January after roughly three decades in the role. Johnson has been the Fair Manager for the past 27 years but he started with the Fair Association much earlier than that selling tickets in 1976 and worked his way up to gate supervisor before taking on the manager role. In his roughly 45 years working the Fairgrounds one event sticks out in his mind. "I can say that the best thing that happened while working the Fair is that I met my wife," Johnson said. He has been married to Kaye for 34 years now. Johnson has forgotten more Fair stories than many Fairgoers are likely to experience in their lifetime. He said he has enjoyed his time managing the grounds and is mostly left with happy memories though the experience was not without its tense moments. Johnson said he cannot remember the year off the top of his head but recounted a recent Fair where water pressure on the Fairgrounds meant most of the cabins were without water for most of the week. "That was a hectic time," Johnson said. "We still don't know exactly what caused it." After his retirement in January, Kevin Cheatham will take over the job at the first of the year. In the meantime, Johnson said he has plenty of maintenance to do on the Fairgrounds and is not sure how much time he will be able to spend in the office as the year winds down. The 2022 Fair is scheduled for July 22 through July 29. |
| PERS won't ask lawmakers for taxpayer contribution increase | |
| The governing board of Mississippi's defined benefit pension system voted unanimously at their scheduled meeting Tuesday to not ask lawmakers to increase the employer (taxpayer) contribution. The Public Employees' Retirement System of Mississippi -- which is the retirement fund for most state, city and county employees -- will keep the employer contribution at 17.4 percent rather than increasing it to 19.6 percent as recommended by the plan's actuaries Cavanaugh Macdonald. If the increase would've been approved, it would've marked the sixth time in the last decade that the employer rate has been increased. The last rate increase went into effect in fiscal 2020 from a rate of 15.75 percent. The board's Administrative Committee recommended keeping the contribution rate the same at its Monday meeting. The board's vote would've been the first step toward a rate increase, as lawmakers would have to agree to the proposal. In addition to the state, cities and counties would've also had to increase the amount they contribute to PERS for their employees. Only the Legislature can authorize changes to the contribution rate for employees, which has remained at 9 percent since the last increase was passed into law by then-Gov. Haley Barbour. |
| State retirement board opts not to take additional funds from state, local governments | |
| Investment earnings of nearly 33% during the past year allowed the governing board of the state's Public Employee Retirement System to vote not to increase the contribution rate paid by the state and local governmental entities to the pension plan. Earlier this year, it looked as though the board would vote to increase the employer contribution rate, meaning state and local governments would have to provide more funds to the massive system that about 10% of the state's population is invested to some degree. But earlier this week, the board opted to continue monitoring the system, but not to make any changes at this point. "The board voted to retain the 17.40% employer contribution rate for fiscal year 2023," said Ray Higgins, the executive director of PERS. "After considering the impact of last year's 32.71% investment return on the fund and estimated actuarial projections, we felt it was appropriate to stay the course for now and continue to monitor." The large return on the system's investment comes after earnings of 3.35% on investments in the previous year. Based at least in part on those earnings, there was a belief that the employer contribution rate was going have to be increased to move the system closer to full funding |
| Mississippi COVID: 6th child death, probe into threats | |
 | Mississippi health officials said Wednesday that a child younger than 5 has died from COVID-19. Dr. Paul Byers, the state epidemiologist, said it was the state's sixth pediatric death from the virus since the pandemic began. He said the Health Department would not provide any identifying information, including where the child lived. State Health Department spokeswoman Liz Sharlot also said Wednesday that law enforcement officers are investigating threats against the state health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs. He has been imploring people for months to get vaccinated, but Mississippi still has among the lowest vaccination rates in the United States. As students and faculty are returning to Mississippi's colleges and universities, schools continue to push vaccinations through incentive programs and on-campus vaccine drives. None of Mississippi's public colleges and universities require students to get COVID-19 vaccinations. However, they all are encouraging staff and students to get the shot. All of the state's institutions of higher learning require masks to be worn indoors. They also require that students and employees who have symptoms or have had contact with someone who has tested positive to be tested and self-isolate. |
| At least 22 Mississippi hospitals were out of ICU beds last week, according to the latest federal data | |
| At least 22 hospitals in Mississippi had no open intensive care unit beds last week as a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations due to the delta variant pressing the state's healthcare system to the brink of collapse. The lack of ICU bed capacity at these hospitals offers a snapshot view of the strain all healthcare providers in Mississippi are seeing across all departments. It is only a limited view, however, as many other hospitals were near capacity on paper but had no ability to staff ICU beds. "The real focus has been on trying to get staffing so we can keep people in hospitals and utilize those beds to release the pressure on the system," State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers said during a press conference on Wednesday. As of Wednesday morning, only 15 ICU beds were available across the state. There were also 63 patients waiting for an ICU bed -- 31 of them being COVID-19 patients. At the same time, more than 400 of the contract workers had been deployed to 11 of the 61 hospitals that submitted staffing requests to MEMA. This included 347 nurses, 11 nurse practitioners and 78 respiratory technicians. |
| Military medics working at UMMC to battle wave of new COVID-19 cases | |
| Mississippi officials are bringing hundreds of outside medical workers to help the state battle the enormous wave of new COVID-19 cases. An Air Force team of medics are already hard at work at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where officials said they do need the help. Not only because of the growing COVID-19 patients, but because of the number of medical staff who have left in the latest surge of the pandemic. "We brought 20 medics with us: 14 (nurses), four medical doctors and two respiratory technicians," said Lt. Col. Frank Porcell, with USAF 59th Medical Wing. Porcell came with that team from Texas to help the staff at UMMC. The hospital admits the caseload has been overwhelming. "Our workforce is tired. They have been doing this, the pandemic has been going on for 18 months. But the last few weeks, this has really been torturous on our staff," said UMMC CAO Jonathan Wilson. UMMC said it has lost workers, too, but this latest help from the military and contract workers being brought in by the state are needed because no one seems certain when this latest wave of the pandemic will subside. "They are all working side-by-side with our clinical patients, taking care of our patients, the emergency department, the medical surgical floor -- just helping out," Wilson said. |
| Biden Administration Likely to Approve Covid-19 Boosters at Six Months | |
 | Federal regulators are likely to approve a Covid-19 booster shot for vaccinated adults starting at least six months after the previous dose rather than the eight-month gap they previously announced, a person familiar with the plans said, as the Biden administration steps up preparations for delivering boosters to the public. Data from vaccine manufacturers and other countries under review by the Food and Drug Administration is based on boosters being given at six months, the person said. The person said approval for boosters for all three Covid-19 shots being administered in the U.S. -- those manufactured by Pfizer Inc. and partner BioNTech SE, Moderna Inc. and Johnson & Johnson -- is expected in mid-September. The Biden administration and companies have said that there should be enough supply for boosters that they plan to begin distributing more widely on Sept. 20. The U.S. has purchased a combined 1 billion doses from Pfizer and Moderna. A White House spokesman declined to comment. An FDA spokeswoman declined to comment on interactions with vaccine manufacturers. Pfizer and BioNTech said Wednesday that they had asked U.S. health regulators to authorize boosters of their Covid-19 vaccine and submitted additional data showing a third dose improves protection against the virus. Health authorities already have authorized booster shots for people 12 years old and above whose immune systems are compromised. People 65 and older and individuals in chronic-care facilities are expected to get boosters first, along with health workers and anyone else who was vaccinated earliest, according to federal health officials. |
| Mississippi legislators revive talk of erasing income tax | |
| Some members of the Republican-controlled Mississippi Legislature are renewing an effort to eliminate the state income tax -- a proposal that failed earlier this year amid concerns it would drain budgets for schools, roads and other services in one of the nation's poorest states. Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn is leading the effort, and he said Wednesday that phasing out the state income tax could help Mississippi attract new businesses and new residents. "I don't think if we just eliminate the income tax that it's going to be 'happy days are here again,' but we fight enough obstacles in this state to attract people already. That's one of them," Gunn told reporters at the Capitol. Democratic Sen. Hob Bryan of Amory, opposes erasing the income tax. He said Mississippi has "crumbling" roads, widespread water and sewer problems and areas that lack reliable internet access. "Do you know a single human being on the face of the earth that would move to Mississippi if only we didn't have a state income tax?" Bryan said. "It's laughable on its face." Their comments came after several members of the House and Senate spent hours listening to the state revenue commissioner, the state economist and others. The hearing extends into a second day Thursday. |
| Lawmakers hear from experts as they ponder eliminating income taxes | |
| As the Legislature considers eliminating Mississippi's personal income tax and raising sales taxes, a panel of lawmakers on Wednesday heard about the nuts and bolts of state revenue -- which is way up in part due to federal pandemic spending -- from state tax and budget officials. They also heard about broader theories of tax structure and policy from national experts. "For the nine states without an individual income tax, population growth is more than twice the rate of those with one," said Jared Walczak of the Tax Foundation. "Why it matters? Whatever we tax, we get less of ... A sales tax is a tax on present consumption. An individual income tax, in a way, is a tax on present and future consumption. In some ways it's double taxation." The two days of tax hearings Wednesday and Thursday are in response to House Speaker Philip Gunn's proposal to eliminate the state's individual income tax and raise the state's sales tax from 7% to 9.5%, along with increases in other user or "consumption" taxes. Gunn says his plan will give a big tax break to a vast majority of Mississippians while creating a better tax structure. Others say it could hamstring the state budget, unfairly shift more tax burden onto the state's poorest and retirees or hurt businesses with more sales taxes. |
| House Speaker Philip Gunn again touts income tax elimination plan at legislative hearing | |
 | House Speaker Philip Gunn at a legislative hearing on Wednesday claimed vindication over his plan to eliminate the state income tax, even as critics continue to say the proposal is unnecessary and a waste of time. State lawmakers on Wednesday convened for the first of two legislative hearings to examine the state's tax structure and determine whether the state can afford to cut its income tax -- one of the primary revenue streams for the general budget. Gunn, R-Clinton, is strongly advocating for a plan to gradually eliminate the state individual income tax and replace the revenue with a 2.5% increase in the state's current 7% sales tax. The speaker's plan would exempt most Mississippians from individual income taxes in its first year, then completely phase it out over a decade. The speaker remains determined despite ongoing criticism, including from Gov. Tate Reeves. "The objections to our plan have been answered," Gunn told the Daily Journal. "Our plan is the best plan that's out there." Since Gunn initially introduced his tax plan last year, critics have said that the sales tax increase would place a larger burden on lower income Mississippians and potentially leave a revenue gap in the state's budget. |
| The Mississippi clinic at the center of the fight to end abortion in America | |
 | The battle plays out in dueling soundtracks. On one part of the sidewalk, longtime antiabortion demonstrator Coleman Boyd belts out a steady stream of Christian music, with lyrics about Jesus's love for the unborn. "Your precious baby is going to be murdered in this place," Boyd, a physician, preaches between songs. Nearby, supporters of the Jackson Women's Health Organization, the last abortion clinic in Mississippi, turn up their own playlist of "Jagged Little Pill," by Alanis Morissette, and other female empowerment anthems. The struggle on the sidewalk will soon play out at the Supreme Court, where the Jackson clinic -- known as "the Pink House" for its bubble-gum color -- is at the center of the most consequential women's reproductive rights case in decades. Later this year, the court will hear arguments about a Mississippi law that if allowed to take effect would ban nearly all abortions after 15 weeks. If the court's conservative majority permits the law to stand, it could deal a major blow to abortion rights. Such a ruling could give states greater latitude to limit how and when abortions are performed. And if the court goes further and accedes to Mississippi's request to overturn Roe v. Wade, the decision giving women a constitutional right to an abortion, some legislatures are poised to ban nearly all abortions. Twelve states, including Mississippi, have passed "trigger" laws with stringent abortion restrictions that could go into effect immediately, or soon after, if Roe were overturned. |
| DOJ forgoes appeal of order blocking money for minority farmers | |
 | Justice Department lawyers did something highly unusual this week: They passed up the chance to appeal a judge's order blocking a congressionally created program supported by President Joe Biden from going into effect. The Biden administration faced a deadline Monday to appeal the first of three preliminary injunctions that federal judges have issued against provisions in a March coronavirus aid bill that created a $4 billion program aimed at forgiving the debts of minority farmers. While the Justice Department has filed appeals within hours to defend the administration's high-profile priorities in areas like immigration, this time federal government lawyers let the 60-day appeal period run -- and then run out. "It's very unusual not to defend a statute that you support," said Neal Devins, a professor of law and government at William & Mary Law School. "Maybe they fear a more consequential loss." A Justice Department spokesperson referred questions to the Agriculture Department about the lack of an appeal. A spokesperson there did not directly address the decision not to contest the preliminary injunction at an appeals court or the Supreme Court, but insisted the administration would keep defending the program at the trial court level as the litigation moves forward. |
| Biden administration will continue challenging 'Remain in Mexico' | |
 | The Biden administration vowed to continue fighting to end a controversial Trump-era border policy that forces asylum-seekers to wait out their cases in Mexico, after the Supreme Court ruled against its attempt to rescind the program. "The Department of Homeland Security respectfully disagrees with the district court's decision and regrets that the Supreme Court declined to issue a stay," it said in a statement after the Tuesday night ruling. "DHS has appealed the district court's order and will continue to vigorously challenge it." The Supreme Court denied the administration's request to temporarily block an Aug. 13 order by U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk of the Northern District of Texas, a Trump appointee, to reinstate the "Remain in Mexico" policy while the government appealed the lower court's ruling. Formally known as Migrant Protection protocols, or MPP, the policy required asylum-seekers to remain in Mexico while their claims were adjudicated. The administration formally ended the policy on June 1. DHS said it would comply with the district court's order "in good faith" but will continue its appeal at the district court level even as it reinstates the policy. It also said it had started "diplomatic discussions" with Mexico over how to restart the program. |
| White House seeks to plug cybersecurity job hole | |
| The White House today held a cybersecurity summit with business leaders in the tech, finance and energy sectors, in what was described as a "call to action" for the private sector to shore up its cyber defenses of vital infrastructure and services. Hackers have stepped up attacks against a broad range of targets recently -- from meat processors and Microsoft to local governments and the Colonial Pipeline. The Biden administration is now looking to industry to partner on strategies to combat the threat, which requires many more cybersecurity workers. The Commerce Department estimates there are about 500,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs across the economy. The need for cybersecurity skills is only going to grow, but the U.S. is already lagging behind, according to James Lewis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "We haven't mentally adjusted to the fact that everything we do is now pretty much done on the internet, your car, your work, your refrigerator," Lewis said. Right now, the majority of cybersecurity jobs require a four-year degree in computer science, and that's a problem, said Ambareen Siraj, a professor at Tennessee Tech University. "The pipeline problem in cyber roots back to the pipeline problem in computer science because computer science is still not a is not widely accessible to students in K-12," Siraj said. |
| Mississippi Public Universities mitigate spread of virus while offering excellent educational experience | |
| The beginning of the fall semester on a university campus is always an exciting, but challenging, time. Welcoming students and faculty back to campus and preparing for fall athletics and events creates an energy and excitement that runs through the campus. In addition to the usual issues to address, this fall, Mississippi Public Universities must also help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus, particularly the Delta variant. Earlier this month, the Mississippi State Department of Health issued guidance to the universities, its COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for Colleges and University Settings. MSDH recommends that all eligible students, faculty, and staff receive COVID-19 vaccination. In keeping with MSDH guidance, all universities require masks to be worn indoors and they are requiring students and employees who have symptoms or have had contact with someone who has tested positive to self-isolate and make an appointment to be tested. The universities are also supporting social distancing by offering some virtual and hybrid classes and opening larger campus facilities, such as basketball arenas, that are not normally used for classrooms to allow for students in large classes to spread out and maintain the distance recommended by MSDH. Throughout the pandemic, guidance and recommendations have evolved to reflect the status of the disease. The universities have maintained robust COVID microsites on their websites with information on campus protocol, links to campus, state, and national resources, and dashboards reporting numbers of cases within the campus community. |
| USM's Pride of Mississippi Marching Band, Dixie Darlings to put on free concert Friday | |
 | The University of Southern Mississippi's Pride of Mississippi Marching Band and the Dixie Darlings will kick off the 2021 football season with a free concert Friday. Pride Preview will start at 7 p.m. on the Centennial Green next to Bennett Auditorium on the Hattiesburg campus. The concert is open to the public. "This is a special group of students," said director Travis Higa in a media release. "Throughout the challenging times we have faced, these dedicated students have shown up in record numbers and given their all to support the university and our Golden Eagles." The Pride will be playing its traditional pre-game show and a special preview performance of their first halftime show, featuring music dedicated to first responders for a show that will take the field on Sept. 11. USM will play the Grambling State Tigers on Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. The public is invited to bring lawn chairs, but no staked tents, vehicles, smoking or chewing tobacco is permitted. Face masks are encouraged. In the case of rain, the event will be canceled. |
| COVID-19 cases at UGA double after first week of class, university ups vaccine incentive | |
 | The University of Georgia has reported its COVID-19 cases for the first week of classes. For the week of Aug. 16-22, UGA reported there have been 231 positive COVID-19 cases submitted through DawgCheck, the campus's system for tracking cases for students and employees. People on campus are required to report a positive COVID-19 test. The data report states that the data is not "an accurate barometer of the current status of COVID-19 at any point in time at any one of UGA's campuses," due to delays in reporting and the inclusion of individuals who have recovered or who have not been on campus recently. The university does not have a mask mandate or vaccine mandate. The 231 cases is over double what was reported the week prior, which saw 104 cases for Aug. 9-15. Classes began at UGA on Aug. 18. Of the 231 cases, 42 were employees and 189 were students. UGA conducts voluntary surveillance testing on campus to find positive cases among those who are asymptomatic and for this weekly report, 938 tests were conducted and there were 40 positive results, a positivity rate of 4.3%. The voluntary testing was made up of 72% students. UGA has been offering COVID-19 vaccine incentives, including a $20 gift card and a chance to win a $100 gift card. Beginning Sept. 1, any current and fully vaccinated student or employee can submit their name for a chance to win $1,000, where 100 total prizes will be awarded. |
| U. of South Carolina released its first COVID case count since students arrived | |
 | The University of South Carolina is recording 121 active coronavirus cases on campus, according to data published Tuesday afternoon. The case count is the first since students returned to campus. Classes began Aug. 19, but many students moved in before that. However, USC officials are expecting the number of cases on campus to increase. "We do expect there will be an uptick on numbers as students come back on campus," USC interim Chief Health Officer Jason Stacey told reporters Tuesday. Stacey also has his eye on the days following Labor Day, during which he expects to see a surge of coronavirus cases, he said. The 121 cases on campus are fewer than last year during a similar time frame. In the second week of the 2020-2021 school year, USC reported 188 active cases, The State reported previously. Last year, after classes began, USC's COVID-19 cases briefly soared on campus, at one point reaching 1,461 active cases, before declining in mid-September. After USC's first surge of cases, COVID-19 numbers never got close to that highest amount again in the 2020-2021 school year. Buoyed by a recent Supreme Court victory in which judges determined S.C. colleges can require everyone to wear masks on campus, USC officials say students are following the mandatory mask policy. "I have not heard one instance where students weren't compliant" with mask mandates, interim Provost Stephen Cutler told reporters Monday. |
| U. of Missouri appoints vice chancellor for research and economic development | |
 | The University of Missouri announced Thomas Spencer as the new vice chancellor for research and economic development after he spent eight months in the role as an interim appointment. Spencer serves as the chief research officer in this position and is responsible for fostering relations across the University of Missouri System. He helps faculty obtain federal grants, license discoveries and share them with the greater public. He will also continue his work in implementing the NextGen Precision Health Initiative , which prioritizes medical health research. The initiative launched in 2019, and the building it will be housed in will be completed in the fall. "This is really going to elevate our research, excellence and our ability to impact Missourians," Spencer said of the initiative. A reproductive and developmental biologist, Spencer has experience working with academic leaders and coordinating between the departments under research and economic development. He started as a professor of animal science and obstetrics gynecology in 2015 and held a previous role as the associate vice chancellor for research and strategic initiatives in biomedicine and agriculture. Spencer's predecessor Mark McIntosh retired in August 2020. Spencer was selected as interim vice chancellor in January. |
| Without mask rules, should professors pay for incentives? | |
 | Many professors feel they've entered the Bizarro World this semester, with campuses shedding COVID-19 prevention policies just as the Delta variant drives a case surge. At the University of Texas at Austin, where professors have repeatedly and unsuccessfully pushed for an indoor mask mandate, vaccine requirement and regular testing, one policy adds insult to injury: the university says that faculty members and programs may offer nonacademic incentives of up to $50 each to students to get them to wear masks in class, but it's not footing the bill for any of these rewards. Some professors interpret the FAQ-style guidance as suggesting that they are responsible -- financially and otherwise -- for the safety conditions in their classrooms, when they can't even require masks. "I'm starting to think my institutions has a dark sense of humor," one professor commented on social media. "'Let's offer donuts and put it on the website!'" "So apparently we can bribe our students?!!" wrote another professor. Said yet another, "Amazing that this is real -- I can't require students to wear masks but I am allowed to give them $50 gift cards, with my own money, as a reward if they do." UT Austin says that rewards cannot be paid for with university or state funds. J. B. Bird, a university spokesperson, said that as "a state agency, we are limited to how state funds may be used." Incentives can be donated or privately funded, he added, but can't be paid for with state funds. Like public institutions in a number of states, the university appears to be caught between Republican lawmakers who have banned mask mandates -- and who help decide how much money their institutions get -- and faculty members' concerns about being in the classroom with unmasked students. |
| Freeman Hrabowski: Longtime UMBC president, who turned school into top producer of Black scientists and engineers, to retire | |
| The longtime president of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, who transformed a small school into one of the nation's top producers of engineers and scientists of color, will retire at the end of this school year. Since his rise to the presidency in 1992, Freeman A. Hrabowski III has developed a culture in which low- and middle-income minorities can excel in science, technology, engineering and math -- or STEM -- fields. He is one of the nation's longest-serving university presidents and among the most influential leaders in higher education. Hrabowski's leadership has helped UMBC more than double its number of annual graduates, from 1,700 to nearly 3,500, officials said. The school has also expanded degree offerings during his tenure, grown the international student population and more than doubled the proportion of students from low-income households. After three decades of leadership, Hrabowski has become synonymous with the public university in Catonsville, notably molding the campus into one recognized nationally for its innovation in STEM -- particularly for groups who have been historically shut out of those fields. UMBC graduates more Black students who go on to earn PhDs in the natural sciences and engineering than any other college, according to data from the National Science Foundation. Among those is Kizzmekia Corbett, a 2008 graduate and immunologist who lead the team that developed the Moderna coronavirus vaccine at the National Institutes of Health. She also belonged to the Meyerhoff Scholars Program -- founded in 1988 and accelerated during Hrabowski's tenure -- one of the university's signature efforts to increase diversity in STEM. |
| Bill would improve access to accommodations for disabled students | |
| A bipartisan, bicameral bill introduced last month contains a proposal for a simple policy change that would make a considerable difference in how students with disabilities access postsecondary education. The Respond, Innovate, Succeed and Empower Act, or RISE Act, would allow students with a disability to use documentation from their secondary education as proof that they have a disability and need accommodations while attending a college or university. It would also authorize an additional $10 million in funding for a resource center to provide students and families with information on college disability services and professional development for professors about disability. The bill is led in the Senate by Senators Bob Casey, the Democrat from Pennsylvania, and Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana, and in the House by Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, a Democrat from Oregon, and Larry Bucshon, a Republican from Indiana. "No student with a documented disability should have to jump through extra hoops or incur extra costs to access the services and support that they need to thrive," Casey said in a release. "All students deserve the opportunity to realize their full potential." Students with a disability typically have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan during their K-12 education to provide them with the supports and services they need. But colleges often don't accept that documentation as proof that a student has a disability and needs accommodations during their postsecondary education, said Lindsay Jones, president and CEO of the National Center for Learning Disabilities. |
SPORTS
| Mike Leach on Will Rogers: If we were to play today, he would be starting quarterback | |
| Mike Leach all but announced his starting quarterback Wednesday with 10 days to go until Mississippi State's regular season opener against Louisiana Tech. "If we were to play today, it would be Will (Rogers)," Leach said. He added it's hard to tell if that decision will change before gameday. South Alabama transfer Chance Lovertich was the top guy competing with his roommate. Southern Miss transfer Jack Abraham was expected to be the most likely candidate to compete with the incumbent Rogers heading into the season, but he has been unavailable in fall camp. Rogers stepped in as a true freshman last season when injuries and ineffective play derailed K.J. Costello's previously promising start to the season -- an SEC record 623 passing yards in a win over then-No. 6 LSU. Rogers showed flashes of what he could bring as a starter in the SEC. He threw for 336 and 440 yards in consecutive weeks in roads losses against Georgia and Ole Miss, respectively -- making him the first MSU freshman with multiple 300-yard passing games. But like any young quarterback in the Air Raid offense, he was inconsistent. The fall camp takeaways from Leach give the sense some of that has been cleaned up with reps. |
| MSU Football Camp: Mike Leach says Will Rogers would start 'if we were to play today' | |
| The question of who would be Mississippi State's starting quarterback seemed to have a clear answer. Sophomore Will Rogers, the only returning signal-caller who threw a pass for the Bulldogs last season, seemed the logical choice. Throughout preseason camp, Rogers' teammates praised his leadership and consistency without fail. And it appears those attributes -- and the Brandon High School product's experience -- have paid off. On Wednesday, Mississippi State coach Mike Leach named Rogers the current favorite to start Sept. 4 when the Bulldogs open their season against Louisiana Tech. "If we were to play today, it would be Will," Leach said when asked about the Bulldogs' Week 1 starter. That certainly can change, but with less than 10 days to go until Davis Wade Stadium fills up with clanging cowbells, it's Rogers' job to lose. Leach said last week Rogers had shown more consistency than South Alabama transfer Chance Lovertich, the other lead contender for the job, and that Rogers' work ethic set him apart. "I think as far as just throwing the ball, they all do a pretty good job with that, and then they have various other physical attributes," Leach said of his passers. "(Rogers) is a very committed guy as far as watching film and has thrown with these guys more than anybody else." |
| Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach says Will Rogers would be QB if season started today | |
 | Mississippi State coach Mike Leach hedged ever-so slightly, but all signs point to Will Rogers leading the Bulldogs onto the field as the starting quarterback in the season opener against Louisiana Tech. Leach said after Wednesday's practice that if "we were to play today, it would be Will." When asked whether another quarterback could supplant Rogers as the starter by the time Louisiana Tech visits Davis Wade Stadium on Sept. 4, Leach said: "It's hard to tell. Difficult to say. We'll see." Much of Leach's decision to choose Rogers as the quarterback for the coach's air raid offense comes down to Rogers' consistency, Leach said, edging him over the newcomers competing for the job. Rogers started six games last season, becoming the first quarterback in program history to record 30 or more completions in three straight games. Rogers finished with 1,976 passing yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions -- although four of those giveaways came during his first three games, where he came off the bench to replace K.J. Costello. But Rogers impressed in both of Mississippi State's scrimmages this summer, separating himself from the pack through his consistency. Still, there's room for Rogers to grow entering his sophomore year. Leach said he'd still like Rogers to work on "nearly everything" as the first game of the season approaches. |
| For now college football tailgating expected to make a comeback at Mississippi State | |
 | Many people can't wait to pack the stadiums; while others are ready for the pregame. Before the first kickoff in front of a packed crowd takes place there will be people packing the Grove in Oxford or the Junction at Mississippi State. After a year of no tailgating at all, an area tailgating owner and restaurant have their fingers crossed that nothing will prevent them from giving people the best game-day experience. Orders slowed down at the peak of COVID-19 last year at Slim Chickens in Starkville, but franchise owner David Bagwell said they already have an order for the first bulldog football game, and they're setting their starting line-up for the home opener. Things weren't just slow at Slim Chickens. Tailgating was nonexistent last year, forcing companies to close down all season. Brad Vickers, owner of Southern Tradition Tailgating, the wait had been even longer. "We were completely shut down the whole year we have not set up on campus in 21 months. Some people look at that and say well you know coronavirus was only you know 2020, but the last tailgate that we did on campus was the egg bowl of 2019, " said Vickers. Vickers said business is booming now. "We're about at our max capacity we've got about 90 to 95 percent of our tents sold so I think there's a lot of excitement and a lot of energy around ... people want to get out," said Vickers. |
| Bulldogs Host First Pac-12 Foe On Thursday | |
| For the first time in school history, Mississippi State's soccer team will host a school from the Pac-12 conference on Thursday night. The Bulldogs are set to meet Arizona State, which is receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches' poll, at 7 p.m. CT on Aug. 26. The match will be broadcast on SEC Network+ with Anthony Craven and Bart Gregory on the call. "It's a great opportunity for the girls to be tested against a really good Arizona State team," head coach James Armstrong said. "[Arizona State] is well-organized. They've won two games now. Obviously, we're 1-1. We're just looking forward to playing in front of our home crowd again and testing ourselves against a very good team." MSU has played one match against the Pac-12 in its history, dropping a neutral-site meeting with USC in 2004. Arizona State enters the match with wins against Central Arkansas (6-1) and Southeastern Louisiana (2-1). The Bulldogs, meanwhile, boast a five-match winning streak at home dating back to last spring that includes four straight shutouts in Starkville. "We have every belief that Arizona State will have a really good season," Armstrong added. "Playing in the Pac-12, they'll have a strong strength of schedule for us to get ready for SEC opposition and have a good RPI game as well." |
| Volleyball Opening Weekend At The Griss | |
| The Mississippi State volleyball program turns its attention to the 2021 campaign and begins its fourth season under Julie Darty Dennis as the Bulldogs welcome Gonzaga and Southeastern Louisiana for the StarkVegas Classic over the weekend at the Newell-Grissom Building. Mississippi State and Gonzaga will meet Friday at 4 p.m. CT and Saturday at 10 a.m. CT. Then, the Bulldogs cap the weekend with a Saturday 4 p.m. CT tilt with Southeastern Louisiana. All three matches will be streamed live courtesy of SEC Network+ and available online courtesy of the Watch ESPN app. Admission is free for all home volleyball matches with gates opening one hour prior to first serve. In accordance with Mississippi State University policies, face coverings are required to be worn at all times during all indoor athletic events unless fans are actively eating or drinking. Mississippi State Athletics has designed a socially distanced seating plan to welcome fans to the Newell-Grissom Building in the healthiest manner possible for 2021 season. |
| The W hires Dave Beyer to lead athletic communications | |
| Mississippi University for Women Director of Athletics Jennifer Claybrook has announced Dave Beyer, a 35-year veteran of college athletics communications and operations, as the university's new director of athletic communications. Beyer, a native of Whittier, California, spent the past two years at Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell. Prior to that, he spent seven years at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas, where he helped oversee the War Hawks' transition to NCAA Division III. The W is currently in year two of its transition into Division III and eventual membership in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. "Dave is an exceptional individual with a tremendous work ethic, unparalleled passion and extensive experience," Claybrook said. "He will assist in promoting and celebrating our incredible student-athletes, teams, department and university. His expertise in communications, marketing, fundraising, championships and unwavering commitment to excellence made him the ideal choice. We are fortunate to have him as part of The W family." Beyer has worked at every level of collegiate athletics. He spent two years at NCAA Division I Mercer University from 2010-11 and has spent 24 years of his career working for NCAA Division III schools and conferences. Beyer is a 1984 graduate of Biola University in La Mirada, California, earning his bachelor's degree in communications. He was a four-year member of the Eagles' wrestling team. |
| Coach Prime eager to raise profile of Jackson State, HBCUs | |
| Coach Prime, aka Deion Sanders, sauntered into the office of Nick Saban with a marching band following his lead. "Coach Prime, what, no smoke machine?" the Alabama coach quizzically asked. Yep, that happened -- in a scene for an Aflac commercial featuring the two high-profile college head coaches. It's the sort of splash Sanders hopes to make this fall in his second season at Jackson State. With that, another objective: Raising the profile of schools such as Jackson State and other historically Black colleges and universities. "We're going to fight and do our darndest to start changing the landscape of HBCU football," Sanders said in an interview with The Associated Press. "Then, consequently, we can go to the next step and the next level. The fight is not going to be easy. Getting the players to commit to a historically Black college is not easy because you've got to level the playing field. "You're competing against a Power Five that has 100 times more resources than we do, and the exposure," said Sanders, whose upcoming docuseries "Coach Prime" will debut Sunday on Barstool Sports. "So it's not a level playing field whatsoever. But with the type of person that's coming to these historical Black colleges, I think we can." Sanders took full advantage of his time on the commercial set with Saban, the architect behind six national championship teams with the Crimson Tide. Sanders even brought some of his staff with him. In between commercial takes, they talked X's and O's. "Nick Saban to a coach is like heaven," said Sanders, who partnered with Aflac in an effort to help close support gaps for HBCUs. "That's like a basketball player meeting (Michael) Jordan." |
| JSU receives $75K donation from Aflac to celebrate return of college football | |
| Jackson State University has received a $75,000 donation from Aflac for professional development and for Coach Deion Sanders' camp. Aflac says that this campaign is to close the gap for individuals and families dealing with unexpected medical bills that health insurance does not cover. The new campaign, "The Comeback," welcomes football fans back to the game on social media, through activations at HBCU's, ESPN, and through paid media ads. |
| Mississippi HBCU's represented at Daytona on FedEx car this weekend | |
| FedEx is spotlighting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) on Denny Hamlin's special #FedExCares Toyota at the Daytona International Speedway this weekend. Jackson State University, Tennessee State University Tigers, LeMoyne-Owen College and Mississippi Valley State University are featured on the rear bumper. |
| SEC commissioner Greg Sankey is willing to 'collaborate' with ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12, but no one called him | |
 | Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey appeared on "The Paul Finebaum Show" on Wednesday afternoon -- and they talked about a wide range of topics. A large section of the conversation was about the alliance between the ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences announced Tuesday. "Part of what I heard yesterday was about the willingness to collaborate," Sankey said referencing the press conference held by the ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 commissioners. "And what I heard was they're certainly talking amongst themselves -- they spoke to 11-member athletic directors. But my cell phone hasn't changed, and my willingness to collaborate hasn't changed. My interest in having deep conversations about the future -- not only of the College Football Playoff -- but of the overall collegiate athletics enterprise is still at the center of my existence every day. And we are going to have to be part of that conversation together. I've offered that before. I think we can get there." Earlier this summer, the SEC announced it was adding current Big 12 Conference members Texas and Oklahoma as SEC members in 2025. The alliance between the ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 was seen as a response to that move by the SEC. "There has always been change around college athletics," Sankey said. "That is happening now. And we all have a responsibility to put our feelings aside and engage in the kind of conversations that will move us forward. And I am certainly willing to participate, and I'm willing to lead with others in that effort." |
| 'SEC Nation,' including Tim Tebow, announces Week 1 destination | |
 | "SEC Nation" kicks off the 2021 season from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta for a Week 1 doubleheader with shows on Thursday and Saturday. The shows will be live streamed on fuboTV. "SEC Nation" will broadcast from the College Football Hall of Fame ahead of the SEC Network's season-opener featuring Bowling Green at Tennessee. The show will air from Atlanta on Thursday, Sept. 2 at 5:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. ET) leading into kickoff in Knoxville at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. ET). he show then returns Saturday from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. (10 a.m.- noon ET) in Atlanta prior to the Alabama-Miami game. "I'm so thrilled to be with the show," Paul Finebaum told AL.com. "It's been one of the most enjoyable parts of my time at ESPN. Also, to do our Friday shows on campus every week is extremely special and a great way to showcase the schools." Laura Rutledge returns for her fifth season as host and sixth overall, along with Finebaum, Roman Harper, Jordan Rodgers and Tim Tebow. A limited number of fans will be admitted for Saturday's show with access granted on a first come, first serve basis. Fans in attendance will be required to wear face masks in accordance with the mandate in place for the city of Atlanta. |
| Hey, Auburn fans! Learn about eagles and other raptors on every Friday before a home game | |
 | The Auburn University Southeastern Raptor Center will bring back its Football, Fans and Feathers educational series this year to take place every Friday prior to home football games, an announcement from the university said Tuesday. The raptor center will present seven shows to its guests, who will be able to see up-close views of the center's birds of prey and learn more about their lives and ecological purposes. Each show will feature about 10 raptors, including hawks, eagles and other birds of prey, with each show featuring a different selection of birds, according to the university. The showings will be held Sept. 3, 10 and 24; Oct. 8 and 29; and Nov. 12 and 26. All shows will be at 4 p.m. at the Edgar B. Carter Educational Amphitheater at 1350 Pratt-Carden Drive off Shug Jordan Parkway. Tickets for the hour-long shows are available for $8 per person and can be purchased in advance online at www.aub.ie/fff. Children ages 3 and below are admitted for free, the university said. Gates for the shows will open one hour prior to the start of the presentations, and seating will be first-come, first-served. While concessions will not be sold at the events, guests are free to bring their own food, drinks and chairs to the open-air amphitheater. |
| Tennessee football policies for Vol Walk, masks in Neyland Stadium announced | |
 | Tennessee football has added some bells and whistles to its gameday experience. Beginning with the Sept. 2 opener against Bowling Green, the 2021 season will have these features at Neyland Stadium, the university announced Wednesday. A vibrant LED lighting system is being installed in Neyland Stadium. It will be used in a light show for pregame and during the game at Neyland Stadium. Vol Walk returns this season, going down Peyton Manning Pass and Phillip Fulmer Way. Due to COVID-19 safety protocols, the pathway will be expanded. Fans are encouraged to cheer on the Vols during the walk, but physical contact with the team will be prohibited. Also, UT encourages face coverings to be worn in Neyland Stadium, but they will not be required. The Pride of the Southland Band will return to the field for its pregame performance, culminating with first-year coach Josh Heupel and the Vols running through the T. Smokey X will also return to the field in 2021. Neyland Stadium's 100th year will be celebrated throughout the season with in-game videoboard content. Fans can also share their memories of the stadium on Neyland100.com. |
| Kentucky basketball launches five-year series vs. SWAC to promote HBCUs | |
| Former Kentucky star Sean Woods will bring his Southern basketball team to Rupp Arena in December in the first of a five-year series the Wildcats will play against SWAC teams. The five-game series, dubbed the Unity Series, is designed to promote the historically Black colleges and universities of the SWAC and "raise funds to provide opportunities for students at their institutions." "I am really proud of our leadership for identifying an opportunity to take what we do on the basketball court and leverage it into an annual weeklong event that will have a major impact on HBCUs and their students," Kentucky coach John Calipari said in a news release. "My hope is this event not only opens the door for opportunities for students at HBCUs, but that others at our school and across the country will take advantage of the educational opportunities that we will put together to continue the meaningful conversations and changes that have taken place over the last year." The week before the Unity Series game each season will include "virtual panels and leadership workshops available to students at all institutions that tackle current issues in multiple disciplines and highlight on-campus educational opportunities." Woods, who previously coached against UK at Morehead State and Mississippi Valley State, was a key member of the 1991-92 Kentucky team dubbed the Unforgettables. |
| Former SEC softball coach Vann Stuedeman is coaching pitchers at TCHS | |
 | She thought it was a long shot but took the chance just the same. Tuscaloosa County High School softball coach Taylor Cook suddenly found herself without a key member of her staff -- pitching coach Blake Gray -- when, in late July, Gray accepted a job as head softball coach at Austin-Decatur. "Growing up playing, I was never a pitcher or a catcher," said Cook, a Hillcrest graduate who is in her third season at Tuscaloosa County. "But I understand the importance of having a pitching coach or someone who specializes in pitching on your staff because it's such a huge part of the game." Cook had heard that former Mississippi State softball coach Vann Stuedeman, who was the long-time pitching coach at Alabama, had moved back to the Tuscaloosa area. "I talked to my principal the morning our other coach resigned. I said it was probably a long shot but I'm going to at least make the phone call and see what happens," Cook said. Turns out, Stuedeman was looking for a job within the state's teacher retirement system. Stuedeman returned the call. And last week, she began her first day of school as a fulltime ninth-grade career preparedness teacher and the Wildcats' softball pitching coach. "One random day I get a message, and I thought that would be perfect for me," Stuedeman said. "It's one of those things you don't even know is going to be an option, and all of a sudden the opportunity is placed in front of you." Said Stuedeman, "It was timed perfectly. It was exactly what I was looking for. Even the teaching part is fun, getting in the classroom." |
| 1 in 4 college athletes say they experienced sexual abuse from an authority figure, survey finds | |
 | For Evan Cooper, who grew up playing football in Miami, becoming a star defensive back who never missed a game at a major college such as the University of Michigan was "a dream come true." But during his time on campus in the early 1980s, he would also become one of the hundreds of U of M survivors who have since accused late athletic doctor Robert Anderson of sexual assault and misconduct. Cooper, 59, who sued the university along with dozens of anonymous male athletes last August, said at the time he wasn't fully aware he was being abused. And he didn't want to come forward and risk jeopardizing his spot on the football team. Decades later, he said the abuse has taken a toll on his marriage and caused him to avoid doctors almost entirely. "I felt trapped," he said. "I don't like to talk about what happened at Michigan. It's very stressful." Cooper's story is part of several high-profile cases of sexual misconduct by authority figures on college campuses that have recently come to light, and a new survey has found the abuse may be particularly common among student athletes. The findings come from a digital survey that included nearly 800 adults under the age of 45 who attended both private and public universities conducted in early June. More than 1 in 4 current and former student athletes surveyed reported being sexually assaulted or harassed by someone in a position of power on campus, compared with 1 in 10 of those in the general population, according to the survey commissioned by Lauren's Kids, a nonprofit that seeks to educate parents and kids about sexual violence. |
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