| Monday, September 20, 2021 |
| MSU Honors College to present 'Prometheus Bound' | |
 | Mississippi State's Shackouls Honors College is gearing up for Classical Week 2021. As part of the week, which celebrates Greek, Roman and other cultures of the ancient world, students will perform Prometheus Bound, a Greek tragedy by Aeschylus, on Tuesday and Wednesday. The free, outdoor performances start at 6 p.m. and will be held at the university's Zacharias Village Courtyard. In case of inclement weather, the play will be performed at Bettersworth Auditorium in Lee Hall. The cast and crew of this year's production are made up of all honors students, said director Donna Clevinger. All students are first semester freshmen except for one sophomore. Majors come from all corners of campus. "There was a huge turnout for auditions," she said. "In fact, the auditions began before the classes did. I cast as many students as the script would allow and others were cast in backstage roles." This annual event has been presented for almost 10 years. Clevinger said the play would not be possible without the help of the Starkville community. "The costumes for the production are lovely. Connie Willsey, owner of Costume Party in Starkville, always does a great job with our costumes for the Classical Week show," she said. "I think with this production, however, she outdid herself." |
| Fossils of prehistoric marine animals found in Noxubee County | |
 | The kids who dig in the dirt and rifle through the gravel do grow up, and many of them still keep their eyes on the ground whenever they're outside. And, if they find an old bone or even a shell from an extinct oyster, they know they've found something special. So often, that's the end of the story. The finder doesn't know where to go to request an expert opinion and may have concerns about expenses for testing and analysis. The bones or rocks go into a drawer or back outside. In October 2020, Corey Unruh almost found himself in that position. He was deer hunting on private property in Noxubee County, and, when he shined his truck light across the ground, he saw what he thought were vertebrae, shells, and at least one tooth. He called his brother, then his mom. She called her local Mississippi State University Extension Service agent, Crayton Coleman, a longtime friend of the family, to find out if her son had made the find of a lifetime -- dinosaur bones. Because Extension has a variety of programs for hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts, Unruh figured Extension could get answers about the fossils he found. Coleman wasn't sure what Unruh had discovered, but he knew whom to ask: Dr. Leslie Burger, assistant Extension professor. Although Burger's expertise is in wildlife ecology and conservation education initiatives, not in the study of fossils called paleontology, she knew that getting good pictures for the experts was critical to identifying the bones. Also, she knew where to send the images: to paleontologists Dr. Renee Clary, director of the MSU Dunn-Seiler Museum and MSU professor of geology, and George Phillips, curator of paleontology at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Sciences. |
| Mississippi Stories: Jeffrey Rupp | |
| Podcast: In this episode of Mississippi Stories, Mississippi Today Editor-At-Large Marshall Ramsey sits down with Jeffrey Rupp, director of outreach for the Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach at Mississippi State University. Rupp, also an alderman in the city of Starkville, talks about the E-center, it's missions, its successes and how it helps reduce brain drain. He also discusses his career in the media and as mayor of Columbus, Miss -- and his time playing rock and roll. Rupp stresses that one way to reduce brain drain is to encourage entrepreneurship and to do that, listen to what young entrepreneurs want in the towns they live in. |
| State's mostly good corn crop nears harvest's end | |
 | Mississippi's corn crop faced challenges ranging from a midseason flood to an early-September hurricane, but yields and quality look positive on the nearly complete harvest. On Sept. 13, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated the crop was 75% harvested. Its most recent evaluation indicated 84% was in either good or excellent condition. Mississippi had about 640,000 acres of corn in 2021. Erick Larson, grain crops specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the state's high corn acreage -- while not reaching the high of 850,000 acres set in 2007 -- was boosted by strong prices and favorable planting conditions. "We had less rainfall than normal during March and April, which promoted corn planting and allowed growers to plant their full intentions, or even exceed those," Larson said. "That is a rare occurrence, as rainfall normally prevents farmers from planting as much corn acreage as intended." Benefitting from timely planting and a dry May, the crop developed in outstanding condition early in the season, Larson said. The second week of June brought drenching rainfall, especially across north Mississippi where 10-15 inches produced extensive flooding. |
| Parking spots in Starkville may soon be paid | |
| Starkville may soon turn free parking spots into paid parking. The board of aldermen will vote at its regular meeting Tuesday on outsourcing a parking company and converting several parking spots in the Midtown and the Cotton District areas into virtual metered parking. ParkMobile, a third-party parking service, would provide a way for residents to pay for a parking spot through its app. ParkMobile Southeast Regional Sales Manager Brooke Bustle spoke at the board's work session Friday on the benefits and services of her company. Using location services, the app allows users to simply reserve a spot. "It's a very quick streamlined process," Bustle said. "It's supposed to take no time at all. That's kind of the idea." Mississippi State University currently partners with ParkMobile to assist in parking. MSU Executive Director of Parking and Transit Services Jeremiah Dumas said ParkMobile has helped with efficiency and flexibility. "Park Mobile has been great for (the university)," Dumas said. " ... It's been great to transition into this. From the market of parking, the whole word of flexible and frictionless is the big thing of people wanting to use multiple tools." ParkMobile parking would not be implemented until at least the beginning of 2022 if the city chooses to partner, Mayor Lynn Spruill said. She said she does not know exactly how many spots in Midtown, the Cotton District and surrounding areas this would affect as the board would have to make those decisions, but she said she would like to see roads such as University Drive, Russell Street, Maxwell Street and Montgomery Street utilizing this service. |
| COVID aid could give more money to Cornerstone, other parks | |
| The board of aldermen is considering spending COVID-19 relief dollars to further expand Cornerstone Park. Starkville received nearly $3.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds in August 2021 and will receive $3.2 million more by December 2022, totalling $6.4 million in COVID-19 aid. ARPA funds are allocated to municipalities and local governments that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Board attorney Chris Latimer said these funds must be spent on specific areas. One of the potential uses of ARPA funds is tourism. To find the best use of this aid, Mayor Lynn Spruill worked with Latimer to create a plan that would largely benefit Starkville Parks and Recreation Department. Along with spending $2 million on two additional fields at Cornerstone Park, renovations would be made to J. L. King, McKee, Patriots, George Evans, Moncrief and Josey Parks and the Starkville Sportsplex. "I think this money is best spent as broadly as possible, and to me, that's creating opportunities to help our park areas," Spruill said during a special-call city council meeting Thursday to discuss ARPA. "... That is part of tourism, and that is part of what Mr. Latimer has spent time on." Hiring two new police officers to the Starkville Police Department is also in the ARPA plan Spruill and Latimer laid out Thursday. The cost of this would be $150,000 per year until 2026. The city must work their salaries into the yearly budget after that. |
| Grocery gains: Food prices are soaring, with little relief in sight | |
| Perusing the meat department at Palmer's Shoppers Value Foods, Kendall Johnson was looking for deals. She found some, and at a time when food prices are soaring, that's something that's getting more difficult. "Some things have gone up, but they have some sales right now that are pretty decent," she said. Johnson, of Tupelo, said she does more shopping around to find the best prices. And she's also had to adjust her buying habits to fit her budget. "There are some things I used to buy that I don't anymore, especially at Walmart," she said. "I don't even buy meat from Walmart anymore because it's gone up so much. But I try to go to the closest place I can." Inflation has reached an 11-year high, and consumers are feeling the brunt, from grocery stores to gas stations. But it's at the former where they're experiencing some of the biggest sticker shocks. A combination of factors has led to the higher prices, including increased demand, supply chain issues, labor shortages and soaring transportation costs that are driving prices higher across the board. And there is no relief in sight: The U.S. Labor Department said inflation at the wholesale level climbed 8.3% last month from August 2020, the biggest annual gain since it started calculating the number in 2010. Also, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an additional overall food price increase of 0.4% in August compared to July, after larger increases in recent months. |
| Revenue reports $101.4 million over sine die estimates for August | |
 | Total revenue collections for the month of August FY 2022 are $101,416,240 or 25.32% above the sine die revenue estimate. Fiscal YTD revenue collections through August 2021 are $154,743,145 or 17.57% above the sine die estimate. Fiscal YTD total revenue collections through August 2021 are $32,968,799 or 3.29% above the prior year's collections. The FY 2022 Sine Die Revenue Estimate is $5,927,000,000. As of August 31, 2021, total revenue collections for FY 2021 were $6,741,384,975. When compared to the total General Fund appropriations for FY 2021 of $5,576,886,000, the General Fund will end the fiscal year with an estimated excess of $1,154 million. August FY 2022 General Fund collections were $39,324,236 or 8.5% over August FY 2021 actual collections. Sales tax collections for the month of August were above the prior year by $18.3M. Individual income tax collections for the month of August were above the prior year by $17.9M. Corporate income tax collections for the month of August were above the prior year by $2.9M. |
| OCH frontline workers receive community support | |
 | Over the last year and a half, hospital staffs across the country have been put through the wringer. They have had to treat COVID-19 cases as well as their usual loads as emergency rooms and ICUs became overwhelmed on top of being understaffed. It's been a hard time for all, but especially for the frontline workers in hospitals. Oktibbeha County Hospital Regional Medical Center is no exception to this, and just as they believed they were out of the woods and could breathe a sigh of relief, the Delta variant of Covid hit Mississippi. However, throughout the ongoing pandemic, there has been tremendous community support for all of the workers at OCH and in the medical field in Starkville and Oktibbeha County. With this current wave of Covid, different members of the community asked OCH how to help. On August 26, Lauren Gardner, the Director of Volunteer Services at OCH, created an Amazon Wishlist of goodies nurses, lab technicians, doctors, and more contributed to, and every day since then her office that is shared with Mary Kathryn Kight, the Director of Marketing and Public Relations, has been piled high with snacks and other items to help the frontline workers get through the day. |
| Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District passes virtual learning day policy | |
| The Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District now has an option for virtual learning if unforeseen circumstances occur due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The SOCSD board of trustees passed a virtual learning policy Tuesday at its regular meeting. The policy says that if unforeseen circumstances present themselves, students may utilize virtual learning days on an as-needed basis in accordance with district policy. Virtual learning days require a minimum of 330 minutes of synchronous teaching in accordance with Mississippi law. All virtual learning will be held to the same standard as in-person learning. In order to participate in virtual learning, parents and students must sign a contract stating that the students will comply with the virtual learning policy. "The virtual learning policy approved allows the district to serve its most vulnerable students who are unable to attend school in person due to a medical condition that places them or a loved one in their family at greater risk of serious illness from COVID," Superintendent Eddie Peasant said. Peasant said the school district has implemented numerous safety protocols to return to in-person learning as recommended by the Mississippi State Department of Health to protect students, staff and families, but this policy provides a virtual learning option to students and families who greatly need virtual learning. |
| One state representative hopes to pass a bill that compensates families of first responders who die from COVID-19 | |
| One state representative is working on a bill that would compensate the families of officers who die from COVID-19. Right now, when a first responder dies in the line of duty, their family is given $100,000. But it's unclear whether that state statute considers dying from COVID-19 as a line of duty death. That's why Representative Tom Miles wants to make sure the families of first responders who die from the virus are covered. COVID-19 is currently the leading cause of death for law enforcement officers nationwide. A recent report by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund said 71 officers died of COVID-related causes in just the first half of this year. That's more than firearm and traffic-related incidents combined. "You never know who you're dealing with, or you may have to deal with somebody who's COVID positive, which puts that officer in harms way," Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing said. Rushing said he's felt the impacts of the virus. Within the last two months, Mississippi lost Hinds County Sheriff Lee Vance and Jackson Police Sergeant Bryan Pippin to COVID-19. "We're losing people left and right to it in our field," Rushing said. Representative Miles said the families of police officers, first responders, and healthcare workers deserve compensation for those lost to COVID-19. "It's the least that we can do to honor their memories since they did put their lives on the line to try to keep us all healthy and safe during this time period," Miles said. |
| COVID has killed about as many Americans as the 1918-19 flu | |
 | COVID-19 has now killed about as many Americans as the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic did --- approximately 675,000. And like the worldwide scourge of a century ago, the coronavirus may never entirely disappear from our midst. Instead, scientists hope the virus that causes COVID-19 becomes a mild seasonal bug as human immunity strengthens through vaccination and repeated infection. That would take time. "We hope it will be like getting a cold, but there's no guarantee," said Emory University biologist Rustom Antia, who suggests an optimistic scenario in which this could happen over a few years. For now, the pandemic still has the United States and other parts of the world firmly in its jaws. Winter may bring a new surge, though it will be less deadly than last year's, according to one influential model. The University of Washington model projects an additional 100,000 or so Americans will die of COVID-19 by Jan. 1 , which would bring the overall U.S. toll to 776,000. The 1918-19 influenza pandemic killed an estimated 675,000 Americans in a U.S. population one-third the size of what it is today. |
| Tate Reeves clashes with CNN's Jake Tapper on COVID deaths | |
 | In a Sunday morning appearance on CNN's State of the Union, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves did his best to avoid questions about the state's high COVID-19 death rate, instead using the platform to again attack President Joe Biden's COVID-19 vaccine requirement for American workers. Mississippi has the highest COVID-19 death rate per capita in the nation, surpassing New Jersey at the end of last week. "Unfortunately fatalities is a lagging indicator when it comes to the virus ... and so timing has as much to do with where that statistic that you use as anything else," Reeves said. He added he expects death rates to rise elsewhere as the delta variant takes hold. State of the Union Host Jake Tapper asked Reeves if he had any plans to change how the state responds to COVID-19, the same question local reporters have asked Reeves for months, one he frequently answers with some version of "no." "So, with all due respect, governor, your way is failing," Tapper said. More than 9,000 people, or roughly one out of every 320 Mississippians, have died from the virus. Rather than respond to the question directly, Reeves criticized Biden for what he has repeatedly called a tyrannical move: Requiring American workers to either get vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to weekly testing for the virus. |
| Mississippi governor: Biden vaccine mandates an 'attack' on 'hard-working Americans' | |
 | Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) in an interview on Sunday criticized President Biden's vaccine mandates as an "attack" on "hard-working Americans." "The question here is not about what we do in Mississippi, it's about what this president is trying to impose on the American worker," Reeves said on CNN's "State of the Union." "The reality is this is an attack by the president on hard-working Americans and hard-working Mississippians who he wants to choose between getting a jab in their arm and their ability to feed their families," Reeves said. Reeves also argued that the mandates were in an effort "to change the political narrative away from Afghanistan and away from the other issues that are driving his poll numbers into ground." CNN's Jake Tapper noted that Mississippi leads the nation in COVID-19 deaths per capita, adding that if the state were a country, it would rank second in the world for most COVID-19 deaths. In response, Reeves said that deaths were "a lagging indicator" and said the state's deaths had declined from spikes earlier in the pandemic. |
| Mississippi's governor plays down state's high death rate | |
 | Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi on Sunday downplayed his state's high Covid death rate, calling it an inadequate benchmark to measure the pandemic's toll in the state. The state is among the top three in the nation for Covid-19 deaths per capita, behind only Florida and Alabama, according to The New York Times database. Just 42 percent of Mississippi's residents are vaccinated, well below the national average of 54 percent, according to The New York Times database. The number of deaths increased by 18 percent in the last 14 days, bringing its total to more than 9,200 reported fatalities. "Unfortunately, fatalities are a lagging indicator when it comes to the virus," Mr. Reeves said on CNN's "State of the Union." "Timing has as much to do with that statistic as anything else." Mr. Reeves attributed the deaths to the presence of the more-contagious Delta variant, suggesting that current conditions in the state are temporary. He also noted that new cases in Mississippi have been falling recently. Mr. Reeves, who is vaccinated, said that vaccination is "the best thing Americans can do to protect themselves against the virus." |
| Mississippi's governor criticizes Biden's vaccine mandate while suggesting people get vaccinated | |
 | Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves argued against the White House's vaccine mandate, calling the "unilateral action" an attack on the people of his state and threatening to sign onto a Republican-led lawsuit against it, despite the state having the country's highest death rate per capita. In a contentious interview on CNN's "State of the Union," Reeves on Sunday criticized President Joe Biden's push for more vaccinations by requiring employers with over 100 employees to require their workers to be vaccinated. CNN's Jake Tapper pushed back on Reeves to point out that the governor himself has received the vaccine and the state has historically required vaccines, for example, in schools. "The Mississippi Legislature has enacted laws for many years regarding vaccines of many types. It is unique to kids and their ability to go to our public schools. It's not vaccines mandated in the workplace," Reeves said. "This is an attack by the president on hardworking Americans and hardworking Mississippians who he wants to choose between getting a jab in their arm and their ability to feed their families." Reeves said the president was attempting to distract the country from other issues: "He knows he doesn't have the authority to do this in my opinion, but he wants to change the political narrative away from Afghanistan and away from the other issues that are driving his poll numbers into the ground." |
| COVID Vaccine For Kids Ages 5 To 11 Is Safe And Effective, Pfizer Says | |
 | The first results from the highly anticipated trial studying the effectiveness and safety of the Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 showed promising results. The pharmaceutical companies said early results of their trial indicate the vaccine is safe for children and establishes a strong antibody response against the virus. Giving a two-dose regimen of 10 μg (micrograms) administered 21 days apart for children between 5 and 11 years old was well tolerated, according to Pfizer and BioNTech. Side effects were also generally comparable to those of people between the ages of 16 and 25 years old who received the vaccine. This trial used a smaller vaccine dosage, 10 micrograms, rather than the 30 microgram dose used for people 12 and older. The dosage was selected as the preferred dose for safety and effectiveness in young children. News of the results come as pediatric cases of COVID-19 are increasing amid a nationwide surge of infections. Despite the strong results, it will be some time before the general public can see an official rollout of vaccines for children ages 5 to 11. Once analysis of the trial is completed, Pfizer and BioNTech will submit the results "in the near term" to the Food and Drug Administration for review and possible emergency use authorization. |
| Mississippi develops website for reporting human trafficking | |
| The state of Mississippi has developed a website for people to report suspected cases of human trafficking and find help for victims. There were 214 reports of suspected human trafficking in Mississippi from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2020, according to the Department of Public Safety. Out of those reports, 210 were sex trafficking reports and eight were sex and/or labor trafficking reports. Just over 200 victims were reported as being potential minors. Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell said human trafficking happens across Mississippi. "We want the public to be our eyes and ears and help us when there are victims of human trafficking, people that they suspect may be victims," Tindell said. "Giving them a means and a way to report that information and recognize those victims when they come across them." To report a suspected human trafficking case in Mississippi or for more information the department has a link on its website: https://www.dps.ms.gov/humantrafficking/. |
| 'Un(re)solved' exhibit focuses on civil rights-era killings | |
| An interactive exhibit in Mississippi prompts visitors to speak aloud the names of people who were killed in acts of racist violence in the United States during the civil rights era -- incantations in a darkened room to honor some 150 men, women and children whose lives were cut short. The names appear on lighted glass panels, backed by images of trees. Next to each name is a code that visitors can scan with their cellphones. "Say his name to begin his story," or "Say her name to begin her story," says the recorded narrator, journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault, who made history in 1961 as one of the first Black students to enroll in the University of Georgia. The traveling exhibit, "Un(re)solved," was created by PBS Frontline with artist, filmmaker and technologist Tamara Shogaolu. It is on display until Oct. 24 at the Two Mississippi Museums in downtown Jackson. The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History are under one roof and share a lobby, meeting areas and exhibit spaces. The exhibit opened in Mississippi on Aug. 28 -- 66 years to the day after Emmett Till, a Black teenager from Chicago, was abducted, tortured and killed in the Mississippi Delta after witnesses said he whistled at a white woman working in a country store. His mother insisted on an open-casket funeral in Chicago, and photos of his brutalized body became a catalyst for the civil rights movement. |
| Trump Looks for Challenger to Depose Mitch McConnell as Split Widens | |
 | Mitch McConnell's record-long reign as Senate Republican leader has lasted long enough for former President Donald Trump. Mr. Trump has spoken recently with senators and allies about trying to depose Mr. McConnell and whether any Republicans are interested in mounting a challenge, according to people familiar with the conversations. There is little appetite among Senate Republicans for such a plan, lawmakers and aides said, but the discussions risk driving a wedge deeper between the most influential figure in the Republican Party and its highest-ranking member in elected office. Since failing to be re-elected, the former president has maintained high levels of support among conservative voters, and polls show he has convinced much of the party that the 2020 results were fraudulent. Mr. McConnell has said that President Biden won the election and that Mr. Trump's "wild falsehoods" about the outcome were responsible for the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol. They have also split on policy this year. Mr. McConnell joined 18 fellow Senate Republicans in voting for a roughly $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, despite Mr. Trump saying the deal "makes the Republicans look weak, foolish, and dumb." The feud between the two men threatens to splinter the party when Republicans could be building momentum in their bid to recapture control of Congress next year. Mr. McConnell declined to comment. But his grip on the party's 50 senators appeared steadfast. "Naw, I'm not going to get in that fight," said Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R., Ala.), one of Mr. Trump's top allies in the Senate. Mr. McConnell, he added, "is doing a good job." |
| Low turnout, low drama mark rally for jailed pro-Trump rioters | |
 | The "Justice for J6" rally to advocate the release of jailed pro-Trump insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6 lacked much drama Saturday. Only a small number of protesters showed up, matched by a heavy media and law enforcement presence. Demonstrators came out on a muggy day in less than droves to a sleepy Capitol complex shrouded in a black security fence and a large law enforcement footprint, with members of the media appearing to rival the protesting crowd in size. Capitol Police put the turnout at the protest area at approximately 400 to 450 people. Unlike Jan. 6, Saturday's rally, which took place near the Capitol Reflecting Pool and lasted just over an hour, was not marred by violence. Capitol Police tweeted that one man armed with a knife was arrested on a weapons violation. After the rally ended, law enforcement officers, some in riot gear, worked to separate pro-Trump protestors and counterprotesters near the rally site. With the House and Senate both out of session on a weekend, the campus was largely vacant Saturday. Leading up to the rally, House Sergeant-at-Arms William J. Walker --- on more than one occasion --- wrote to members and staff, strongly encouraging them to avoid Capitol grounds. Congressional offices took precautionary steps, with some encouraging or mandating remote work in the days leading up to the protest. |
| Mississippi Writers Trail unveils Richard Ford marker | |
| The Mississippi Writers Trail has unveiled a marker for Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and short story writer Richard Ford. The marker for Ford, a Jackson native, was placed recently at the Clarksdale Carnegie Public Library. Ford won acclaim with his first two novels, "A Piece of My Heart," and "The Ultimate Good Luck." "Our library here in little Clarksdale, Mississippi, is just so pleased to pay tribute and to honor one of the most well-known greatest writers of all times, a native Mississippian, a novelist, a short story writer, and a Pulitzer Prize Winner," Mary Caradine, interim director of the Carnegie Public Library of Clarksdale and Coahoma County said in a press release. "Mr. Ford's achievements are known far and wide." Ford's novel "The Sportsman" was named one of TIME Magazine's Top 100 novels published since the magazine's inception. Ford wrote "The Sportswriter" while living in rural Coahoma County, and he used the book's protagonist in future novels, including "Independence Day," for which he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction in 1996. “Richard Ford is a true international author and cultural essayist who brings a rich view of the Southern experience to his readers,” Visit Mississippi Director Craig Ray said. “Mississippi has an enviable literary tradition, and we are happy to add this name to the list of authors who have contributed to that great legacy.” |
| Jackson tech event to highlight career opportunities for students, community | |
 | A three-day business networking event in Jackson is projected to bring about $15 million in economic impact to the capital city Sept. 23-26, city officials said. For the third year, TECH JXN, a business networking event hosted by the City of Jackson, is partnering with Visit Jackson to highlight the best of tech, film, music and food in Jackson. TECH JXN will also coincide with Visit Jackson's first inaugural 'Soul-filled Weekend' featuring back-to-back football games between four Historically Black Colleges and Universities. City officials said one goal for the weekend is to show high school seniors what kind of work opportunities there are in the capital city and Mississippi. On Sept. 24, students and the public can attend a college and career fair featuring representatives from universities, corporations and the city. The event is expected to draw some 1,200 people, including 700 to 800 students from Jackson Public Schools, the news release said. On Sept. 25 at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, the W.C. Gorden Classic will pit Jackson State University against Delta State University. Mississippi Valley State University will play Southern University on Sept. 26 in the Delta-Bayou Classic. |
| A Million Dollar feeling: U. of Alabama marching band returns to the field | |
 | The band's getting back together. The Million Dollar Band, that is. During the 2020 pandemic season when attendance in Bryant-Denny Stadium was held to 20 percent of capacity, that extended to the University of Alabama's loudest collective of fans, and its largest performing organization: the woodwinds, horns and pounding percussion of the marching band, nicknamed the Million Dollar Band back in 1922 for its rich sound, which at the time was outplaying UA's football teams. For each home football game in 2020, only 96 of the more than 400 Million Dollar Band members were allowed to dress and perform. The Elephant Stomp, a pre-game performance on the Quad, got stamped out. No bands were allowed on the field, before or during games, so no precision marching halftime show, either. And while the rotating squads of musicians made the most of the time and numbers they were allowed, it just couldn't feel or sound right, to a lot of fans, those lucky few who snagged some of the mere 20,000 seats allotted for home games. "It was so odd during the pandemic to see the band sitting in the stands and not being on the field," said Rebecca Todd Minder. "And they also showed video of the band performing on the Jumbotron, while the band was still sitting in the stands. It was surreal." But with Bryant-Denny allowed back at its full 100,077 capacity, the 400 came back in full force for the this season's home opener, the Sept. 11 Mercer game. And yes, the players were ready, having ramped up since fall camp, said Ken Ozzello, professor of music and director of bands, including the Million Dollar Band, at UA. The band starts its rehearsals at the same time football players return for fall practice. |
| LSU expels 27 students for failing to comply with pandemic protocol: 'Everyone has to do their part' | |
 | LSU on Friday said it expelled 27 students for failing to comply with coronavirus protocols despite multiple warnings. University spokesman Ernie Ballard said Thursday that 78 students faced disenrollment because they did not submit proof of vaccination, a recent negative test or a positive test from the last three months. The school gave those students a 50% refund and the opportunity to re enroll if they turned in their information before Friday at 4 p.m. He said 51 of those 78 students "took the necessary steps to remain part of the LSU community," however. Ballard said that expulsion was the school's last resort. With their ouster, he said LSU hopes to send a message that to be part of a community, everyone needs to do their part to keep COVID off campus. "Everyone has to do their part for us to have a successful fall," he said, "and that started with students letting us know if they had been vaccinated or to show proof of a negative COVID test or that they had recently had COVID." "The goal from the start has been to get students in compliance and not for us to unenroll students," he said. |
| U. of Kentucky passes 85 percent vaccination rate | |
 | The University of Kentucky will now begin updating its COVID-19 data dashboard twice a week, President Eli Capilouto said in his weekly update on Thursday. As of Sept. 15, 85.4% of students and employees who physically come to UK's campus are fully vaccinated or are in the process of being fully vaccinated, according to UK's COVID-19 dashboard. That percentage includes UK HealthCare employees. When broken down: 82.9% of students are vaccinated. 92.8% of faculty are vaccinated. 87.9% of staff are vaccinated. There are 117 active COVID-19 cases at UK, as of Sept. 15. At this point, there is no COVID-19 vaccine requirement on campus. UK HealthCare employees are required to get the vaccine. Capilouto has said discussions about a mandate are ongoing, and things could change depending on the COVID-19 situation. Over 2,300 people signed an open letter calling on the UK administration to implement a vaccine requirement. On Monday, the university senate passed a resolution asking for a vaccine requirement on campus. Speaking to the university senate on Monday, Capilouto said the university will not implement a vaccine mandate at this time. "(Vaccines) are the best tool we have in our efforts to return to something more normal," Capilouto said. "And although a mandate has many benefits, I will continue to take in all of the available information. I believe we have the right approach at this time to continue increasing campus vaccination levels." |
| Protesters at UGA, other schools end week-long push for COVID-19 mandates. What's next? | |
 | Statewide protests on university campuses in Georgia concluded Friday with demonstrators continuing to demand COVID-19 mask and vaccine mandates. Through the American Association of University Professors and the United Campus Workers of Georgia, protesters gathered for a week-long series of demonstrations that began Monday. Faculty, students and others joined the protests at the University of Georgia. The protest had two demands: a requirement to wear masks in all campus buildings and a vaccine mandate with regular testing for anyone who was exempt. Students began fall semester at the University of Georgia with no mask mandate in place, following an announcement in May that UGA was returning to normal operations. The university is currently following guidelines set by the University System of Georgia and its Board of Regents, which encourages but does not require mask-wearing and vaccinations. On Friday, about 50 to 60 protesters turned out at UGA, with a handful of counterprotesters in the mix. |
| UF Bookstore deferment program causes confusion among students | |
| Two weeks after the drop-add period means course expenses are in full effect. Charges and payments are around every corner, but one seems to be hitting students harder this Fall. On April 30, Florida legislators voted to eliminate the annual $600 textbook stipend normally included in the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. Many UF students were unaware of this change in funding. The UF Bookstore offers a $600 educational expense allowance that acts as a deferment option for students to use as a loan to be paid back once financial aid has been disbursed. This option led many students to believe it was equivalent to the $600 received from Bright Futures or additional aid given to them from the bookstore. "The $600 was never given as a credit at the bookstore for students to charge against," UF spokesperson Hessy Fernandez wrote in a statement. "This has been a source of confusion in the past." Daniela Casillas, a sociology sophomore, understood that the $600 from the bookstore was just a loan, but used it thinking it would be reimbursed by her Bright Futures scholarship. "It wasn't really made clear to me that that no longer existed," Casillas said. "I had heard from other friends, 'Oh, we don't have that anymore. It doesn't exist,' and I didn't really understand what was going on." |
| Texas A&M students search for unmarked graves in College Station Cemetery | |
 | Driving down Texas Avenue, it is easy to miss the College Station Cemetery. Quiet, well-manicured and sprinkled with shade trees, the cemetery was established in 1948 and is home to more history than most local residents are aware. Sherry Frisk, a three-year member of the College Station Historic Preservation Committee, said although the College Station Cemetery was created just over 70 years ago, two other cemeteries with more than a century of history lie within its gates. "[Members of the Historic Preservation Committee] knew we wanted to do a project concerning the cemetery, so it started as just wanting to identify the graves of people who had a major impact on College Station," Frisk said. "I just started wandering the cemetery and was interested in the older cemeteries." Salem Cemetery, one of the preexisting cemeteries within the larger area owned by College Station, dates to 1894 and is where many local Black residents were buried. Several calls and a bit of research later, Frisk was connected with Mark Everett, a professor in Texas A&M's Department of Geology and Geophysics. Everett, an expert in near-surface applied geophysics, offered not only his technology and expertise, but the help of his students as well. "Getting ground-penetrating radar here was really important to us," Frisk said. "Getting in touch with Professor Everett and A&M worked out beautifully, and these are the benefits of having a world-class university in your backyard." |
| U. of Missouri Police Department warns public about drugged drinks | |
 | The University of Missouri Police Department and Columbia Police Department are investigating several reports of drinks being drugged throughout Columbia, according to a news release Friday. Some of the incidents might have occurred at fraternity events, according to the release. MUPD recommended tactics for avoiding drinks being drugged, including watching food and drinks being made or opened, never leaving a drink unattended, implementing a buddy system with a friend or group of friends and getting help immediately when experiencing symptoms. A person who has been drugged might: Have difficulty breathing. Feel drunk despite drinking little to no alcohol. Experience sudden nausea. Experience a sudden change in body temperature, potentially even to the point of sweating or chattering teeth. Become dizzy or disoriented or have blurred vision. Wake up with no recent memory. Anyone with information about an incident should contact the Office for Civil Rights & Title IX, MUPD or CPD. |
| University of Memphis president proposes an on-campus high school | |
| University of Memphis President M. David Rudd Wednesday announced a proposal for the addition of an on-campus high school program. The school would be named University High School and, although still in its planning phase, the school may be located in the Fogelman Executive Building. "They would be separated, but there's a way to do that. Structurally, there's enough space," Rudd said. "There's room for growth, so there is also enough room for the high school." Rudd made the impromptu announcement after a tour of the building, where the University Middle School is now located. He was accompanied by Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray to view the new facility. Both Campus School -- the kindergarten through fifth-grade branch -- and University Middle are laboratory schools, where research is conducted to find the most effective educational techniques. University High School will also be a laboratory school and teachers will use a model known as project-based learning, sometimes referred to as inquiry-based learning. In a study conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, students taught under the project-based learning model scored 63 percent higher in social studies and 23 percent higher in informational reading than traditionally taught students. |
| 2021 survey of admissions leaders finds 32% had filled classes by May 1 | |
 | The 2020-21 year was a shock to the entire system of higher education. Admissions was hurt throughout, beginning as students were sent home and banned from campuses (before the 2020-21 year had even started), making it impossible for many students to see the campuses at which they would enroll. In the fall of 2020, many campuses remained closed to in-person instruction (and campus visits by prospective students). Even as some campuses started to reopen in the spring of 2021 and vaccines started to become available, many campuses were operating on anything but a normal schedule. With all of these challenges, how did admissions fare? And how did that the challenges of the last year reshape the landscape for admissions? In our survey of 206 admissions officials, Inside Higher Ed found: Admissions officers were very worried about filling their classes this year and most did not fill their classes by the traditional May 1 date for the following fall's class. Add in the months of May and June, and most admissions offices were still searching for students. Despite various difficulties in recruiting, just under half of all admissions officers expect to enroll more students this fall than last. Three-quarters of admissions officers favor continuing test optional indefinitely. |
| Academic Pipeline Programs for Underrepresented Students That Work | |
| Despite decades of trying to bolster faculty diversity, the number of women, minorities, and people with disabilities who become professors, especially in science and engineering, remains starkly low. But some academic pipeline programs stand out at bringing more underrepresented students into the academy than their peers. So, what's working? And what's not? That was the central question during a virtual panel on Thursday, spurred by Academic Pipeline Programs: Diversifying Pipelines from the Bachelor's to the Professoriate, a new book from Drs. Curtis Byrd and Rihana Mason at Georgia State University (GSU). The researchers outlined the best practices of 21 successful programs, detailing how their learnings can be used, replicated, and promoted to tackle the persistent diverse talent gap. "We went out and found the top-tier initiatives to show in a concise and regimented way what these programs can do from pre-K to 12 all the way to college and graduate or professional schools," said Byrd, special advisor to the Provost at GSU. On a panel with Byrd and Mason, Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), shared insights from what has consistently been seen as a national STEM pipeline program model: UMBC's Meyerhoff Scholars Program. Dr. Jamal Watson, moderated the discussion. "We all know the challenges. Students of color all see the problem," Hrabowski said. "You have over 70% of professors who are white, and you're talking about 10 or 11% of underrepresented minorities who are faculty." |
| Governors shun vaccine mandates as colleges beg for help | |
| College presidents fighting Covid-19 outbreaks in many Republican-controlled states are pushing to enact campus vaccine mandates but are running into a problem: lawmaker resistance. School leaders in states like Florida, Arizona, Texas and Tennessee hoped to bring life back to their dorms and lecture halls this fall as the pandemic appeared to wane earlier this year and vaccinations were on the rise. Instead, they're in the throes of combating the highly contagious Delta variant and vaccine resistance, scrambling their defenses and pleading with GOP lawmakers who left them to fight the disease without strong safety protocols. Following advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, college presidents have been pushing students and staff to wear masks and enticed students with prizes if they get inoculated against Covid-19. But unlike schools in many blue states, several institutions in conservative regions lack the stick that might nudge holdouts, which in some cases represent 40 percent or more of the student body. Some university leaders are publicly battling mask and vaccine bans; others are taking a quieter approach and speaking with government officials who have significant sway over the budgets and operations of public universities. |
| Letter urges Congress not to forget job-focused education | |
| Democrats in Congress are seeking to send billions of dollars in new funding to community colleges to support free two-year postsecondary education for students, but that could leave job-focused education behind in the process if policy makers aren't careful, according to prominent community college and workforce education leaders. Twenty college administrators, researchers and entrepreneurs said in a recent letter to leaders of the House and Senate education committees that they are concerned the "college promise" provisions under consideration by lawmakers leave out job-focused learners. As a result, the policies would only serve a fraction of the population looking to pursue higher education. Democrats on the House Education and Labor Committee have included a free community college program -- called America's College Promise -- in their part of the Build Back Better Act currently being crafted in Congress as a budget reconciliation package. The overall legislation's current form is heavily focused on traditional higher education, though $2 billion has been set aside for community college workforce development grants. The letter outlines three main elements of support from Congress that are needed for job-focused education: adequate funding for both job-focused and academic programs, funding for noncredit workforce programs, and financial aid for learners enrolled in shorter programs. Currently, many short-term, workforce-based community college programs aren't eligible to receive Title IV financial aid. The authors acknowledge that funding has to go only to high-quality programs, and they described benchmarks for policy makers to consider for both credit and noncredit programs. |
| Latino senators want more investment in Hispanic-serving colleges, universities | |
 | On the heels of the release of 2020 Census data showing about 18.8 million Latinos are under 18, two U.S. Senators moved to bolster attention and money from Congress for Hispanic Serving Institutions, HSIs. Sens. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Bob Menendez, D-N.J., said Thursday they have formed the first Senate HSI Caucus to promote education equity. They also hope the caucus can help educate more members of Congress about the universities and colleges that have been certified as HSIs and that some have them in their districts and states. For the first time, Latinos under 18 are over one quarter of the nation's total youth population (25.7 percent), according to 2020 Census figures. A university or college is considered an HSI when 25 percent of its full-time undergraduate students are Hispanic or Latino and when it meets other criteria regarding students with financial need and spending per student. Padilla said the formation of the caucus came about after he was asked by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., if he was interested in getting involved in the Senate's Historically Black Colleges and University Caucus. "My answer was I was absolutely interested and is there also an HSI caucus and how can we get the two caucuses to work together?" Padilla said. |
| Mississippi procrastinates as other states plan for, spend billions in pandemic stimulus | |
| Geoff Pender writes for Mississippi Today: In Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson formed a committee of executive branch and legislative leaders to plan spending the state's $1.5 billion in American Rescue Plan Act money. He directed them to include community, private sector and nonprofit leaders in decisions. Tennessee created a task force that has held public meetings, and the state has already earmarked $1.35 billion of its COVID-19 stimulus money for water and sewerage infrastructure and $500 million for broadband expansion. Florida and Louisiana have already allocated millions in ARPA funds to help their tourism industries. Louisiana earmarked $300 million for local governments for water and sewerage. Florida is providing $1,000 bonuses to first responders, teachers and others who have soldiered on through the pandemic and child care assistance for health care workers. At least 32 states have begun allocating ARPA funds, and others are actively seeking input and planning how best to use the money. But Mississippi's leadership, for the most part, has procrastinated on planning or spending the $1.8 billion coming directly to the state, half of which has been sitting in the state's coffers for months. |
| Mississippi State Economist admits 'woodwork effect,' higher taxes are risks of Medicaid expansion | |
| Frank Corder writes for Y'all Politics: Earlier this week, Mississippi State Economist Corey Miller released a report titled "A Fiscal and Economic Analysis of Medicaid Expansion in Mississippi under the Affordable Care Act." The report (below), on the surface, appears to make the case that should Mississippi lawmakers decide to expand Medicaid it would pay for itself. Predictably, Democrats and members of the mainstream media in Mississippi attempted to use it to show up Governor Tate Reeves and Republican legislative leaders. They falsely labeled the report as the state economist calling "BS" on those opposed to Medicaid expansion. To seek to clarify the technical aspects of the report and to delve a bit deeper into the numbers and the policy arguments, Y'all Politics sat down with State Economist Corey Miller in a video interview. Miller said this new Medicaid expansion report was not prompted by lawmakers or other entities, but rather he believed that it was time to look at the issue again given the recent movement through the American Rescue Plan. The last time the state economist reviewed the matter was in 2012, and Miller said the estimates needed an updated look. "I'm not trying to start anything with anybody," Miller said of his report, comparing his efforts to the Congressional Budget Office analysis. He said his office is non-partisan and has no agenda, and as the state economist he does not make policy recommendations. "I hope the report didn't come out as being pro-[Medicaid] expansion. That was certainly not our intentions, to be pro- or anti-," Miller said. |
| Mississippi politicians don't believe what they keep being told about Medicaid expansion | |
| Bobby Harrison writes for Mississippi Today: Legendary baseball announcer Jack Buck once proclaimed, "I don't believe what I just saw." Perhaps some Mississippi politicians opposed to Medicaid expansion should proclaim, "I don't believe what I keep on hearing and reading from the experts." A report released last week by Mississippi's University Research Center is among a plethora of studies telling politicians that expanding Medicaid to provide coverage for primarily the working poor (between 200,000-300,000 Mississippians) will be an economic boon for the state. The expansion is allowed under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. The latest study, authored by state economist Corey Miller and senior economist Sondra Collins, showed that besides the positives of providing health care coverage for the uninsured, expanding Medicaid would produce an average of 11,000 jobs per year between 2022 and 2027 and provide an additional $44 million per year for the general fund. Mississippi has given multiple private corporations -- ranging from car manufacturers to tire companies to green energy companies -- hundreds of millions in tax breaks based on studies showing they would deliver far fewer benefits to the state than Medicaid expansion. |
SPORTS
| Mississippi State AD John Cohen disappointed after Memphis punt play | |
| After an officiating error allowed a 94-yard punt return touchdown to stand late in Memphis' 31-29 win against Mississippi State football, Bulldogs athletic director John Cohen issued a statement Sunday morning expressing his disappointment in how the sequence played out. The SEC issued a statement after Saturday night's game admitting mistakes were made by the conference's officiating crew on Calvin Austin's return touchdown, which helped widen the gap against Mississippi State. The play wasn't reviewed, and if it had been, it wouldn't have resulted in a score. The back judge began signaling the play dead before Austin scooped up the ball that Bulldogs players thought had been downed. A replay would have brought the ball back to the spot where the signal was made. Additionally, two Tigers players wore No. 4 on the play, which should have been a 5-yard penalty. "I appreciate the transparency of the SEC and the admission of officiating errors yesterday," Cohen's statement read. "It is extremely disappointing when student-athletes are not fully in control of a game's outcome, especially when taking into consideration the time, effort and resources put into an officiating system created to eliminate human error on the field whenever possible. The entire SEC has an expectation that the process will work as intended. Our football program's focus is now on LSU." |
| Bulldogs Roundup: Volleyball team secures another winning weekend | |
| Mississippi State's volleyball team concluded its nonconference slate with a tidy 25-8, 25-17, 25-20 sweep of Jackson State to finish up the Hail State Invitational on Sunday afternoon at the Newell-Grissom Building. The Bulldogs (9-3) tucked away their fourth consecutive winning weekend of the 2021 season. For their efforts, Gabby Waden earned her third all-tournament team nod, followed by Lauren Myrick who captured her second all-tournament team pick of the season. The Bulldogs blitzed Jackson State for 49 kills on 74 swings with only 3 attack errors for a sparkling .622 hitting percentage. They registered all five blocks for the match and controlled the back row by a healthy 36-21 margin in digs. Shania Cromartie dialed up a match-high 10 kills on 13 errorless swings for a .769 hitting clip, while Waden added 8 kills and 2 blocks. Callie Minshew provided a strong all-around effort with 8 kills, 6 digs and 2 aces as a six-rotation outside hitter. The Bulldogs turn their attention to SEC play and travel to No. 14 Florida for matches on Thursday and Friday. Both matches will be streamed online courtesy of SEC Network+ and the Watch ESPN app. |
| SEC could tweak scheduling philosophy once Texas, Oklahoma arrive | |
| A chorus of boos showered down from the sellout crowd at the Swamp as Alabama coach Nick Saban led his players onto the field before kickoff between the top-ranked Crimson Tide and No. 11 Florida. It was a matchup typically found on a Saturday in the SEC. But this was the first time that Alabama has been to Gainesville since Oct. 1, 2011. It's unusual that the two top football programs in the conference, who have appeared in 13 championship games apiece, haven't faced each other during the regular season in a decade. "This is a huge opportunity and the Texas-OU situation provides a great opportunity for us to dig in and look at how we schedule from a football standpoint. We need more variety," Florida athletics director Scott Stricklin told the Orlando Sentinel last week. "Of our eight SEC games right now, seven are the same each year in a 14-team league. It makes no sense. I know why we do it but we have to get creative." SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, who was in attendance for Saturday's game, said the league is studying ways to alleviate those scheduling quirks, especially with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma set for July 1, 2025. "Obviously it's going to be different when we go to 16 [teams]," Sankey said. "Let's take a step back; let's think big picture. Let's figure out how to rotate teams through campus, and then what does that allow? I haven't excluded anything beyond that." |
| The Bar Is Now Open at More College Football Stadiums | |
| There once was a time when college football was so flush with cash that it could afford to turn up its nose at partnerships with "sin industries" -- alcohol, cannabis and sports gambling. The pandemic changed that. Universities are throwing their moral qualms out the window as they struggle to recover from the massive financial blow dealt by truncated seasons and fanless football games in 2020. The result is a lot more booze for sale in stadiums and a lot more betting partnerships in college sports. More universities have started selling alcohol in their stadiums on game days as a means of milking more concessions revenue out of patrons. Some schools are opting for more potent partnerships. In December, New Mexico State added Pistol Pete's Six Shooter rye whiskey to its arsenal of official athletic department beer and wine. Wake Forest debuted "Deacon Brew," a craft beer brewed specifically for the university by local outfit R&D Brewing, at its first home game in September. "Everyone is looking for ways to add revenue streams right now," said Rhett Hobart, associate athletic director of fan experience at Wake Forest who helped spearhead Deacon Brew. |
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