| Thursday, September 8, 2022 |
| Mississippi State research leads to nearly 60 percent increase in catfish production over last 10 years | |
 | Mississippi State published a study Tuesday showing that their research has played a major role in increasing area catfish farming productivity over the last 10 years. Nationwide, the catfish industry has contracted nearly 70 percent since 2003, but it remains a major economic driver in Mississippi. According to Ganesh Kumar, research professor for Mississippi State's Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, the catfish industry contributed $1.9 million to the Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi economies in 2019. "(The state is) a major processor, major grower and major manufacturer of (catfish farming) equipment," says Dr. Jimmy Avery, MSU extension aquaculture specialist and director of the Southern Regional Aquaculture Center. According to the school, research efforts at MSU, along with several other schools (Virginia Tech, Auburn University, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), have led to a 59 percent increase in catfish production in Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas. "(We) look at the economic impact of catfish in the region and also look at how these new technologies are being adopted," Dr. Avery says. |
| Mississippi Public Broadcasting gets new executive director | |
 | A broadcast industry veteran has been named to lead Mississippi Public Broadcasting. The Mississippi Authority for Educational Television's Board of Directors named Royal Aills to lead the agency after a national search to replace Ronnie Agnew, who left MPB in December 2021 to become general manager for WOSU -- a public media station in Columbus, Ohio. Prior to his appointment to MPB, Aills served as general manager of RSU Public TV at Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma. Aills officially starts his new role on Sept. 19. "We look forward to supporting him as he begins his work to take MPB to the next level of excellence," said Board Chairman David Allen. Aills, who began his career working as a photojournalist and producer at KHBS-TV in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and KJRH-TV in Tulsa, Oklahoma, said he is grateful for the opportunity to advance MPB's mission of providing more than a half-century of educational and entertaining programming. |
| Mississippi governor and Jackson mayor appear together for second time at Jackson State | |
 | In their second joint news conference since the water crisis began in Jackson more than a week ago, Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and Gov. Tate Reeves appeared side-by-side Wednesday. Joining them at the Jackson State University Student Center was Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan. The three men appeared to present a unified front as the state's capital city entered the next stage of potential improvements to its failing water system. Pressure in the system has been elevated to levels it has not seen in years, and despite some concern over water tank levels decreasing Tuesday, those levels have again increased, according to the city. "Significant gains were made overnight in the overhead storage tanks. We have restored the margin that had been depleted Monday. All storage tanks have stable water levels; no tanks are reporting low at this time," city spokesperson Justin Vicory said in a news release Wednesday morning. Conflict between the mayor and the governor, and the city and state governments more broadly, had escalated in recent days. Reeves, Lumumba and Regan spent much of Wednesday in discussions, which Lumumba called "fruitful," on what resources are available and how the city, state and federal governments can work together to form a plan. They were joined by U.S. Reps. Bennie Thompson and Michael Guest, who each represent part of Jackson, along with U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, both of whom participated virtually from Washington D.C. |
| Pete Perry steps down as Hinds Co. Republican chairman | |
 | The Hinds County Republican Party (HCRP) announced today that Pete Perry has retired as its Chairman. Perry announced his intention to retire at the July meeting of the HCRP Executive Committee. He served as Chairman of the HCRP since 2004, making him one of the longest tenured Republican county chairmen in Mississippi. Perry also previously served as Chairman of the Neshoba County Republican Party. "It has been a privilege to serve this party and to reach so many of our goals," Perry said. "I am thankful for the hundreds of volunteers, election workers, and candidates I have gotten to work with over the years. Now it's time to pass the baton to the next generation of leadership." Jackson attorney Spencer Ritchie was elected by the HCRP Executive Committee to replace Perry. Ritchie's chairmanship becomes effective immediately. Ritchie previously served as Executive Director of the Mississippi Republican Party before returning to practicing law. |
| On average, 25 mentally ill Mississippians wait in jail for hospital bed daily | |
 | The wife of a man who sometimes experiences crises related to his bipolar disorder feels he has been "subjected to treatment that should not happen in a civilized society." The unnamed woman, who moved to Mississippi with her husband, told the court-appointed special monitor of the state's mental health services that her husband was held in jail without medication and continued to decline as he waited for a bed at a state hospital. Another time, he was taken to a crisis stabilization unit (CSU), which can provide intensive treatment and serve as an alternative to hospitalization and to waiting in jails. But after the staff called police, he wound up back in jail. A year later, she took him to the CSU again, where a staff member said, "You can't come in here because of how you behaved last time." He was taken to jail again until his wife was able to get him a bed at a private hospital. He then had to wait for a state hospital bed to become available. Monitor Michael Hogan included her story in his second report to illustrate how Mississippians can be subjectively denied admission to their regional crisis stabilization units, increasing the odds that they spend time in jail while waiting for a bed at a state mental hospital, without ever being charged with a crime. Throughout his report, Hogan emphasized the issue of sick people waiting in jail for treatment. |
| Gloves off, Biden embraces tough tone on 'MAGA Republicans' | |
| In recent days, President Joe Biden has sharpened his attacks against Donald Trump and the so-called MAGA Republicans for posing a threat to democracy. He's likened the philosophy undergirding the dominant strain of the modern-day GOP to "semi-fascism." And Democrats are taking notice. The gloves-off, no-holds-barred approach from Biden as of late has emboldened Democrats across the country, rallying the party faithful ahead of the November elections even as his harshest rhetoric makes some vulnerable incumbents visibly uncomfortable. Biden's increasingly stark warnings about Trump-fueled elements of the Republican Party are making up the core part of his midterm message, combined with repeated reminders to voters about recent Democratic accomplishments and a promise that democracy can still produce results for the American people. But it's the blistering statements from Biden about his predecessor and adherents of the "Make America Great Again" philosophy that have given many Democrats a bolt of fresh energy as they campaign to keep control of Congress. |
| Biden sparks debate with Marine backdrop to combative address | |
 | President Biden sparked debate about his own adherence to political norms during his speech last week warning of GOP attacks on democracy, when the White House placed two Marines in the backdrop of his high-profile address from Philadelphia. It wasn't the first time a president has given a speech in front of the military. But as the nation becomes more polarized, even those who think Biden's imagery was not particularly political say it was bad optics. "This is -- to take sort of a football analogy -- this is a 5-yard penalty. Definitely not a 10- or 15-yard penalty or loss of downs," said Peter Feaver, a professor of political science and public policy at Duke University. During his speech at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on Sept. 1, Biden warned that former President Trump and other so-called MAGA Republicans represent a threat to the country. The White House insisted that the speech was an official address and not a political one, but Biden invoked his predecessor by name --- something he does not often do --- and urged Americans to "vote, vote, vote!" The speech elicited praise from the left and backlash from Republicans. But some common ground emerged over two Marines positioned behind him during the speech. Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, who commanded U.S. Army Europe from 2011 to 2012, said on Twitter that he thought Biden's speech was " well delivered" and "definitely needed at this time in our history." However, he said the military shouldn't have been in the background. The Department of Defense's long-standing policy is that active-duty service members can carry out the obligations of citizenship but will not "engage in partisan political activities." |
| Retailers struggle under load of unsold inventory | |
| We've been reporting about the efforts retailers are making to get rid of excess inventory. That's because people haven't been spending as much on all the stuff they were buying earlier in the pandemic. But this week, we learned that inventories actually increased in August, according to the Logistics Managers' Index. As it turns out getting rid of excess inventory isn't all that easy. Part of the issue is that the supply chain has a lot of momentum. Dale Rogers at Arizona State University helps put together the Logistics Managers' Index. He said all the product shortages during the pandemic created demand for new factories and distribution centers which are finally up-and-running this year. "These new factories and new distribution points that are coming online, are swollen with inventory, as they get going," he said. And even though people haven't been spending as much on things like furniture, clothing, and exercise equipment, Rogers said a lot of those products are still coming in from overseas. "Some of the finished goods are getting to the U.S., because the signal was 'Hey, we want exercise equipment,' but that signal is old," he said. It's also a challenge for retailers to figure out what to get rid of and what to keep in stock. |
| Children had better food access in 2021, but it got worse for senior citizens | |
 | Children had more access to food in 2021 compared to the previous year. But for other population groups, such as the elderly and women living alone, food insecurity was on the rise, according to the Agriculture Department. The rate of food insecurity was 6.2% for households with children in 2021, a decrease from 7.9% in 2020. The national average is 10.2%. The Department of Agriculture defines being food insecure as having had "difficulty at some time during the year providing enough food for all their members because of a lack of resources." Rates of food insecurity increased for households with no children, especially for women and senior citizens who live alone. Rates declined for households with children under age 18, married couples with children, households with single mothers, and households in the South. The average American spent $62.50 per person every week on food. |
| Police, Car Owners Wrestle With Growing Thefts of Kias, Hyundais | |
 | Darby Solmos was heading to work on a recent evening when she couldn't find her 2013 Kia Sportage in the underground garage of her Denver apartment building. The 28-year-old nurse had recently gotten the car back from the shop to repair damage from would-be thieves who had broken in earlier in the summer and ripped apart the steering column. This time, the thieves didn't fail. "The car was just gone," she said. Ms. Solmos had become another victim of a surge of Kia and Hyundai thefts across the U.S. The cars aren't being stolen to make money, according to law enforcement. Police say the thefts have been fueled by social-media challenges targeting certain models of the cars because they are so easy to steal. They typically are used for joy riding or to commit other crimes. The issue affects some models of Kia built between 2011 and 2021 and certain models of Hyundai between 2016 and 2021. Police from Atlanta to Seattle have warned about increases in thefts of the cars, which are equipped with traditional keys and can be quickly stolen in part because they, unlike many others, lack a chip that would prevent them from starting when the key isn't present. |
| Jackson-area colleges grapple with lack of water | |
 | Thomas Hudson, president at Jackson State University, had hoped to kick off this academic year by celebrating a large freshman class, record fundraising, new programs and the football team's quest to defend its national championship. He set those thoughts aside after the Pearl River, which runs through Jackson, Miss., flooded and knocked the city's water treatment plant off-line Aug. 29 -- leaving the city of more than 150,000 without safe tap water and extremely low water pressure for about a week. Jackson State and two of the area's other colleges and universities moved classes online as a result, brought in portable showers and restrooms, and provided students and staff with bottled drinking water, Mississippi Today reported. The city had already been under a boil-water notice for more than a month. This was not the first time Jackson State had to quickly improvise to respond to a water emergency. The university relies on an aging and dilapidated city water system that's been plagued with problems for more than a decade. The crisis reinforced the need for the university to build its own water system, something administrators have discussed for several years. Hudson said the university, which has lobbied state lawmakers for funds for such a project, is planning to conduct a feasibility study to determine whether such a project is possible and the associated costs. Jackson State's more than 7,000 students resumed in-person classes today, though Hudson said some have left because of the crisis, but he's not sure how many. "But it is clear that we did have some students, anecdotally, who did make other decisions based on some of the issues we're having here," he said. |
| Judge denies state auditor's motion to dismiss defamation case by Ole Miss professor | |
| A Hinds County Circuit Court judge has denied State Auditor Shad White's motion to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought by University of Mississippi Professor James Thomas. In his January 2021 motion, White alleged he could not be sued for defamation for allegations he made that Thomas, by participating in a two-day event called a "Scholar Strike," violated state law prohibiting public employees from striking. White argued that as a state executive officer, he is entitled to a legal doctrine known as "absolute immunity" -- the complete protection from liability for actions committed in the course of his official duties -- even though he acknowledged no Mississippi court has considered the issue. Judge E. Faye Peterson was not persuaded, writing that Mississippi law is clear state officers have "no absolute privilege for any and all comments," only those made during legislative, judicial and military proceedings. "Hence, Shad White is not entitled to absolute immunity for any and all statements which he makes as a state governmental official," Peterson wrote in a Sept. 2 order. "That blanket theory of immunity has not been recognized by our courts, nor does it comport with the laws of this state." Peterson added that "to the continued detriment" of White's defense, Mississippi courts have found that immunity does not extend "to fraud, malice, libel, slander, defamation or any criminal offense." |
| USM sees record-breaking donations in FY22 | |
 | FY22 was a record-breaking fiscal year for the University of Southern Mississippi. "We have spent all of our time actually creating relationships, building engagement opportunities for alumni and friends to gather private support for the university," said Stace Mercier, executive director of the USM Foundation. The USM Foundation is an organization that helps raise private support funds for the university. During FY22, the USM Foundation received $16.9 million in donations. "2022 was an amazing year," Mercier said. "There were a couple of really notable things that occurred." Out of that $16.9 million, about $4.9 million was given to 2,200 students for scholarships. "We, you know, aim every day to help those students to find people who want to invest in someone's future...," Mercier said. "We have seen scholarship support steadily increase now over the last couple of years highly as a result of new scholarship endowments." The record-breaking numbers come from the launch of the foundation's capital campaign. It's called Give Wing: The Campaign for Southern Miss. |
| Agreement brings new training to Neshoba Central | |
| Precision manufacturing and machining technology courses designed to train future workers with coveted skills in tool and die and machinery manufacturing, are now available in Philadelphia, thanks to a partnership between the Neshoba County Schools and East Central Community College. Precision manufacturing and machining technology prepares students to manufacture precision parts on machines such as lathes, grinders, drill presses, milling machines and CNC (Computer Numerical Control) equipment, according to information provided by ECCC. Included is instruction in making computations related to work dimensions, testing, feeds, and speeds of machines; using precision measuring instruments such as layout tools, micrometers, and gauges; machining and heat-treating of various metals; laying out machine parts; and operation and maintenance of computer equipment. Upon graduation, students will be immediately be qualified for top-paying jobs in industry, some starting at $60,000 per year, officials say. The initiative was announced last Thursday during a ribbon-cutting and open house. ECCC President Dr. Brent Gregory and Neshoba County School District Superintendent Dr. Lundy Brantley participated in a partnership agreement signing and the ribbon cutting. "What we are doing is moving East Central Community College out to our students," Dr. Gregory said. "We are bringing East Central from all over the district, to this site to learn skills where they can get jobs in this area." |
| Memphis police: 4 dead, 3 injured in string of Wednesday shootings prompting city lockdown | |
| The 19-year-old police say is responsible for several shootings in Memphis Wednesday evening is in custody, bringing to an end a two-hours-plus crisis that left four people dead and three people injured. The rampage left parts of the city paralyzed, with restaurants on lock down, residents told to shelter in place and MATA bus service suspended. Police said around 9:20 p.m. that officers arrested Ezekiel Dejuan Kelly in Whitehaven. Around three hours later, law enforcement brass and Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland spoke to media inside City Hall. In the press conference, Memphis police Chief Cerelyn "CJ" Davis connected Kelly to a sequence of shootings across Memphis. Authorities said formal charges on suspicion of the shootings would be forthcoming. The Memphis Police Department, after receiving a call from "a concerned citizen" at 6:12 p.m., launched a city-wide search for Kelly. The caller had told police Kelly was on Facebook Live threatening to "cause harm to citizens," according to Davis. At 7:31 p.m. the University of Memphis alerted the campus to shots fired in the area of Patterson Street and Southern Avenue, the southwest corner of campus. According to the alert, the person "immediately fled" the area. In an updated alert issued at 8:09 p.m., the U of M said "there is no threat currently at the University," but advised students to follow police advisement and stay inside. The university locked doors across campus "for general safety" and had officers in the area on patrol. |
| LSU says it has a 'rogue off-campus fraternity.' What can the university do about it? | |
 | Louisiana State University's Interfraternity Council is warning students not to participate in off-campus activities hosted by a "rogue fraternity" that was banned from campus in 2020 because of hazing allegations. It makes LSU the latest in a growing number of universities grappling with how to keep off-campus groups under control. In a statement posted to its Instagram account Wednesday, the governing body of LSU's fraternities condemned what it described as the "formation and operation of rogue off-campus fraternities," saying that "recent actions taken by the LA Alpha Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity" were in direct violation of the LSU Student Code of Conduct. The statement did not specify what rules the chapter violated. In March of this year, Jeremiah B. Shinn, LSU's Vice President of Student Affairs, wrote to the organization's national headquarters after the fraternity informed the school about its intention to maintain an unrecognized chapter for students, warning the group that continuing its operations would be in direct violation of the ban. |
| U. of Arkansas tops 30,000 in student enrollment at Fayetteville campus | |
| The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville reported record enrollment, with 30,936 students on campus this fall -- an 8.3% increase over last year and the first time the university has crossed the 30,000 mark -- according to preliminary figures released Wednesday. Degree-seeking new freshmen also represented a record, with 7,099 joining campus this year, according to the university. That's a 17% jump over last year. "It feels a lot busier during passing periods" between classes, and "it's really hard to get a parking spot," said senior Austin Bowerman. He also missed out on one course he wanted this semester, which was "a little frustrating," but that was due more to his late attempt to switch into that class than the number of students enrolled at the university. "It's a little busier this year than last -- you notice it walking around campus -- but that could also be just more people are out this year because we don't have the covid issues," said sophomore AJ Yost. "I see more people out and about, but once you get inside the buildings, class sizes aren't astronomically larger" than last year. |
| In Tenn., a Lawmaker Tells Colleges to Scrub References to Gay and Transgender Rights Under Title IX | |
 | A tug of war over gay and transgender rights has escalated across Tennessee in recent weeks as public universities statewide respond to a lawmaker's letter telling them to scrub references to Title IX protections for these groups from their policies and websites. At issue was an August 22 email from Rep. John D. Ragan, a Republican from Oak Ridge who co-chairs the Joint Government Operations Committee in the state's House of Representatives. In it, he told the leaders of Tennessee's public universities "to immediately revoke and/or remove any publications, policies, and website entries for which your institution is responsible that state or imply that LGBTQI+ students, etc., are a protected class under Title IX." He gave them until September 2 to do so. If they didn't, he warned, they could be violating state laws that conflict with the Biden administration's interpretation of the federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in educational settings. Ragan said he was sending the letter because a federal district court in July had issued a ruling temporarily preventing the U.S. Department of Education from enforcing 2021 guidance that included gay and transgender students under Title IX protections. The suspension applies to Tennessee and 19 other states that joined it in a lawsuit challenging that policy. Universities that violate Title IX risk losing federal funding, although that penalty has never been levied. Critics of Ragan's move, including some Democratic state lawmakers and advocates for gay and transgender people, accused him of overreaching his authority and meddling in university affairs. |
| U. of Tennessee program has helped 5,000 students go to college tuition-free | |
 | More than 1,380 students are attending a University of Tennessee institution tuition-free this year thanks to one innovative scholarship program that's helped nearly 5,000 students in two years. This year, the largest group of UT Promise recipients are attending classes since the program started in 2020. The last-dollar scholarship program covers all tuition and fees for students who fall below an income threshold. It kicks in after other financial aid sources are counted, such as the HOPE scholarship, Pell grant, or other institutional scholarships. Now UT System President Randy Boyd is making sure thousands more students know about it. He's been visiting high schools over across the state to get the word out about the UT Promise program. At a stop, Wednesday at West High School, Boyd, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman and Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor John Zomchick, explained the program to an auditorium packed with juniors and seniors. "Your senior year of high school is the year in which you're going to make some decisions that are going to affect the rest of your life," Boyd said. "Some of the most profound, important decisions you'll ever make in your life." |
| U. of Kentucky student shot, several others injured by shrapnel in shooting at an off-campus party | |
 | Eleven University of Kentucky students were taken to the hospital after a shooting took place at a party near campus Wednesday evening, according to UK officials. The party took place at 205 University Avenue. UK officials say shortly before midnight two uninvited individuals came to the party and an altercation ensued. Shots were fired sometime after the altercation. According to UK officials, one female student was shot in the leg and 10 other students suffered injuries from shrapnel and debris. None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening, according to UK officials. All injured students were sent to UK Chandler Hospital. Just after 2:07 a.m., UK announced police had made two arrests in connection to the shooting. The suspects are not UK students, according to university officials. Later Thursday morning, Lexington police said Jason Almanza-Arroyo, 19, was arrested and charged with first degree wanton endangerment, disorderly conduct, third degree assault and alcohol intoxication in a public place. Almanza-Arroyo is being held at the Fayette County Detention Center. Police said two other suspects have been detained, but those arrests were unrelated to the shooting. |
| U. of South Carolina sorority went viral on TikTok. Here's why they say it was a good thing | |
 | Members of Alpha Xi Delta at the University of South Carolina were shocked when a video they posted on the chapter's TikTok account started to blow up. One million views, then a few million more. The TikTok is now certifiably viral -- it sits at 8.1 million views. That's more than 200 times the number of students enrolled at USC and 3 million more than the entire population of South Carolina. It's also garnered almost 900,000 likes and over 14,500 comments. It was favorited by nearly 30,000 people. "POV: your party is ending but black beatles starts playing," the TikTok caption read. The video was an ode to 2016's viral "Mannequin Challenge," which featured people frozen in action as the song "Black Beatles" by Rae Sremmurd played. The idea to create their own version started as a joke but soon became reality. Chapter president Amanda Pometti said she loves a "throwback" and was inspired by other sororities to do the TikTok. Rachel Bowling, who runs the account and filmed the video, said it was done in one go and took 30 seconds. "We didn't think anything of it," Pometti said. "We didn't think it would go viral." It gave viewers a glimpse into sorority life at USC, and into AXiD's house on campus, the women said. Documenting sorority spirit week and recruitment -- especially at Southern state schools -- has grown in popularity over the last year. Whether it be dancing, sharing outfits of the day or participating in social media trends, TikTok users eat it up. |
| Bush series tells stories of former president as a person and leader | |
 | Humor, humility and service were some of the themes Wednesday night in the stories Neil Bush, R.C. Slocum, Ray Bowen and Mark Welsh shared of President George H.W. Bush and first lady Barbara Bush in the series "The 41 I Knew." Matthew Bennett, a first-year masters of international affairs student at the Bush School, said he was grateful to have the opportunity to hear more about the school's namesake and gain insight into who President Bush was. Amidst the stories and funny moments, he said he enjoyed learning about Bush's sense of humor and how he treated people well and wanted to make a good impression on anyone he met. "That's something I try to do for the most part, so it's great to have a role model like him," Bennett said. Mark Welsh, dean of the Bush School, served as moderator of the panel at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center in College Station and said the "The 41 I Knew" series began after President Bush's death to help students better know their namesake even if they were unable to meet him as others have done in the 25 years of the Bush School. "It's making sure the students understand that they're now part of the living legacy of this guy, who was just remarkable, and yet incredibly normal," Welsh said after the event. "Helping them understand who he really was as a human and not a public figure, I think, helps them be even prouder when they walk out the door to go represent that legacy." |
| U. of Missouri System approves new paid time off model for staff starting in 2024 | |
 | A new paid time off model is coming for University of Missouri System staff. The UM System Board of Curators on Wednesday approved a plan that will change how time away from work is determined, reducing by 10 the total number of regular days off per year for workers while adding parental, caregiver and short-term disability leave. When implemented in January 2024, the plan will eliminate categories of vacation, personal and sick days, opting for the single category of paid time off. The proposal was introduced at the curators' meeting in June. The curators passed the plan with a unanimous vote Wednesday morning at the University of Missouri-Kansas City over continued objections by the MU Faculty Council and the workers' union that represents university employees. The paid time off model is a "modernization program that is used to attract and retain our staff members," UM System President Mun Choi said during a news conference Wednesday. "I'm always concerned about employees leaving because of any actions we take as a university," Choi said after the meeting in response to a question on his level of concern about staff members leaving in response to the changes. "We are going to monitor if there are departures," Choi continued, "but we had 1,455 new staff members join the university during the past 12 months, and many of these individuals believe in the mission of our university and MU Health Care, and also appreciate the compensation and total benefit that we provide." |
| U.S. Tells Harvard It Could Be Liable for Retaliation by Professors | |
| The U.S. Department of Justice said on Wednesday that Harvard University could be held responsible for retaliation carried out by its professors. The government filed a brief in a case in which three graduate students sued Harvard, alleging that the university had failed to protect them from sexual harassment and threats of retaliation. The three students, all members of Harvard's anthropology department, had accused the university in federal court of "deliberate indifference to the retaliatory acts of its employees," including an anthropology professor, John L. Comaroff. The students alleged that Harvard's actions had violated Title IX and that the university's investigation into claims of misconduct by Comaroff had been insufficient. They wrote in their complaint that "Harvard denied that Professor Comaroff engaged in repeated sexual harassment or retaliation." Comaroff returned to the classroom this week, teaching his first class since the 2020 investigation, according to The Harvard Crimson. Harvard said in its response to the students' complaint that officials had conducted a deep and rigorous investigation into allegations about Comaroff. Earlier this year the university placed the professor on one semester of unpaid leave following a finding that he violated the college's sexual-harassment and professional-conduct policies. |
| Campus COVID cases spike at semester's start | |
| The start of the fall semester has brought more than students back to college campuses. As dorms and lecture halls fill up again, COVID-19 cases are spiking at some institutions. Ever since the pandemic started in March of 2020, campus COVID cases have surged with the return of students at the beginning of each new semester, only to level off a few weeks later. Still, some of this fall's numbers have been alarmingly high, raising concerns that safety protocols and guidelines were relaxed too early. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has seen more cases in the past few weeks than at any time since the start of the pandemic. On Aug. 30 the university reported 326 new cases, its highest ever single-day count; the next highest was on Feb. 1, 2022, when 287 cases of the virus were reported. During the first week of classes, which started Aug. 22, the university reported over 1,000 new cases of the virus -- a positivity rate of 21 percent. Anita Barkin, co-chair of the American College Health Association COVID-19 task force, said surges like Urbana-Champaign's are "not unexpected." She recommends that colleges maintain some kind of surveillance testing infrastructure and strongly encourage students to wear masks indoors, while coordinating with local health departments to respond to particularly severe outbreaks. But she doesn't anticipate, or recommend, a return to the weekly testing regimens and strict masking guidelines that defined college life for much of the past two years. "Unless we see a variant surface that presents with more serious consequences health-wise for the campus community, I don't see schools implementing a lot of the strategies that were used earlier on in the pandemic," Barkin said. |
| Cardona defends student loan plan as one-time COVID-19 remedy | |
 | Education Secretary Miguel Cardona pushed back Wednesday against Republican criticism of the Biden administration's new student loan debt forgiveness program, saying it would curb defaults and boost the economy. The program, announced last month, will cancel $10,000 in student loan debt for federal borrowers who earn less than $125,000 a year and $20,000 for recipients of federal Pell Grants, which target low-income students. The move is expected to benefit 43 million loan borrowers, including 20 million whose debt will be completely canceled. Republicans have attacked the Biden administration's executive action as a sop to relatively wealthy families that will be paid for by lower-income workers in the form of higher federal debt. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan research group, estimated the plan could cost roughly $500 billion over a decade. "President Biden's student loan socialism is a slap in the face to every family who sacrificed to save for college, every graduate who paid their debt, and every American who chose a certain career path or volunteered to serve in our Armed Forces in order to avoid taking on debt," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a recent statement. But Cardona said the debt forgiveness was a one-time remedy for the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. He said it would benefit even those students who already paid off their loans. |
| Mississippi Democrats swing, miss in using Jackson water crisis to promote Midterm candidates | |
| Frank Corder writes for Y'all Politics: Looking around much of Mississippi, it is easy to forget that the 2022 Congressional Midterm Elections are just weeks away. The campaigns on both sides of the political aisle have been relatively quiet since the initial Primary Elections and the subsequent Primary Runoffs. On Tuesday, the Mississippi Democratic Party tried to make some noise by releasing a joint statement from Chairman Tyree Irving and Vice Chair Jodie Brown, using the Jackson water crisis as a reason Mississippians should vote for Democrats in November. ... "In 2023, we will elect officials to lead our state for the next four years. We must vote for the best candidates to serve our state's people," Irving and Brown said. "Mississippians know that we can depend on our fellow citizens in times of crisis, and we deserve the same from our elected representatives." ... However, even Congressman Bennie Thompson in the 2nd Congressional District, the state's lone Democrat in D.C., has stated multiple times that the city of Jackson does not have a plan to fix the water system and that the city should not expect federal assistance without such a plan. Much to the chagrin of Democrats, it was Governor Tate Reeves, a Republican, along with state agencies under his guidance and coordination that stepped in to restore the water in the city of Jackson after decades of failed leadership in the municipal government led by Democrats that had allowed the system to be understaffed and underfunded. ... Within a week, Governor Reeves and the state were able to make significant strides in restoring water in Jackson, largely using means that were at the disposal of city leaders all along. |
SPORTS
| How MSU President Mark Keenum led college football playoff expansion | |
| Mississippi sports columnist Rick Cleveland writes: College football's playoffs will expand to 12 teams. It could happen as soon as 2024 -- and will happen no later than 2026. If you follow college football at all, you probably already knew that. It was big news last week. What you might not have known is that a former Northeast Mississippi Community College football center, Mark Keenum, led the way. Keenum -- born in Starkville, raised in Corinth, and now his 13th year as president at Mississippi State -- was integral in the process. His leadership was crucial. Indeed, many closely involved in the process say he made it happen. Keenum serves as chairman of the 11-person College Football Playoff Board of Managers, the group of university CEOs who voted on the 12-team format. We are talking about presidents at colleges ranging geographically from Buffalo, N.Y., to Pullman, Wash., and in size from Ohio State to Troy. As you might suspect, finding common ground was not always easy. "My message was simply, 'It's time,'" Keenum said in a phone conversation Tuesday. "I said, 'It's time for us to send a message to all the fans of college football. They want this. The country wants this. College football players and coaches want this. Let's move. Let's get this done.'" The vote, when finally taken last Friday, was unanimous. |
| Never boring, Cristil girls remember life with broadcasting Dad | |
 | The Daily Journal's Parrish Alford writes: or decades Mississippi State fans were thrilled when they heard their legendary play-by-play voice, Jack Cristil, close a rivalry game against Ole Miss with his signature call "You can wrap this one in maroon and white." Sometimes Cristil didn't get to make that call. It was on those occasions that sisters Kay Cristil and Rebecca Cristil-Nelson, Jack's children, remember approaching their Tupelo home with nervous anticipation. The fear was that it would be wrapped in two-ply white. "Our worst fear after losing to Ole Miss was getting to the corner of Marquette Street and Lumpkin, looking up and seeing that our yard was rolled. That would be more hell for us to pay listening to Daddy, and God forbid that they rolled the yard, and it rained. Then we really got an earful," Kay said. Jack Cristil's career is being remembered this month at the Oren Dunn Museum at Ballard Park as it partners with Mississippi State's Archives and Special Collections. The exhibit runs through Sept. 29. A reception honoring Cristil's legacy will be held at the museum Thursday from 6-9 p.m. Cristil, a Memphis native, began calling football games at MSU in 1953. He added basketball duties a few years later and was on the air with the Bulldogs for 58 years. |
| SEC teams get more chances for September statements | |
| The Southeastern Conference was perhaps one blocked kick away from perfection last weekend, with a few impressive nonconference victories and some no-brainers. For teams like No. 1 Alabama and No. 24 Tennessee, bigger tests start on Saturday, when they're among five SEC teams engaging in Power Five nonconference matchups. A league that prides itself on being the best in college football gets a chance for more September statements. Mississippi State has its first meeting with Arizona in a game scheduled to kick off about 10 p.m. Central time. Bulldogs coach Mike Leach went 4-2 against the Wildcats while at Washington State, and his team attempted 84 passes in the 2017 meeting. "I think we're all excited to be up late and go play Arizona," Leach said. |
| Bulldog grab bag: Zach Arnett demands improvement from Mississippi State defense | |
 | Zach Arnett was honest when he was asked about Mississippi State's safeties on Wednesday. "They did some good things in the first game; they've got things showing up that opponents are now going to game plan for and try to exploit," the third-year MSU defensive coordinator said. It was, Arnett admitted, the "same answer" he would have given for any player or position on the Bulldogs' defense. After one game, it was just too early for Arnett to make any other declarative statements. Except at least one. "We've got to get better in a lot of areas," Arnett said. Mississippi State (1-0) was strong through more than one half in Saturday's 49-23 win over Memphis at Davis Wade Stadium. The Bulldogs limited the Tigers to just 29 total yards in the first two quarters. Then Memphis scored 20 points in the game's final 23 minutes, not enough to make an impact on the final score but certainly sufficient to worry Arnett and his players. "I don't think we played well," nose tackle Cameron Young said, before realizing what that statement implied. "I'm not going to say Memphis didn't play well," Young added, trailing off. Whatever the case, Mississippi State expects a lot from Arizona (1-0) when the Bulldogs head to Tucson for a 10 p.m. Saturday matchup. The Wildcats opened the season by taking down San Diego State, 38-22. |
| Opposing beat writer Q and A: Michael Lev, Arizona | |
| Mississippi State will head to the desert for its Week 2 matchup. The Bulldogs (1-0) will take on Arizona (1-0) at 10 p.m. Saturday. The game will be televised on FS1. To get the scoop on the Wildcats, The Dispatch spoke with Michael Lev, who covers Arizona football and baseball for the Arizona Daily Star. Lev is in his seventh season covering Wildcats football. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. |
| Mike Leach offers marriage advice to newly engaged quarterback | |
| Following Mississippi State's victory over Memphis on Saturday night, senior quarterback Chance Lovertich decided that he would soon be turning from cowbells to wedding bells. Lovertich, a Brandon native, proposed to his girlfriend on the field and in typical Mike Leach fashion, the Bulldogs' head coach had a few comical words of conventional wisdom to offer the newly engaged couple. "First advice -- elope! Just eliminate all the family input aggravation, change of constant, change of course that exists with planning weddings, and the anxiety and the pressure that almost drives people to divorce before they even start," Leach said during Saturday's postgame press conference. "The second would be if you're not going to elope, let's get it done certainly by the off week. You can honeymoon it up during the off week." Leach, a husband and father of four, then pivoted and offered some actual fatherly advice to Lovertich and his bride-to-be. He encouraged the two to remain true to who they are and not to get sucked into a monotonous lifestyle for the sake of appearance. "The other thing, continue to make sure that you hang out with your friends and pursue all the interests and things you did that she fell in love with -- that you fell in love with," Leach added. |
| Pair of Eagles, Hole-In-One Highlight Day 1 | |
| After a 36-hole day at the Frederica Golf Club, Mississippi State sits in fifth place going into the final round. Three Bulldogs finished the day in the top 20, each shooting at least five birdies or better in the second round. "I thought we competed well today," head coach Dusty Smith said. "I was proud of all six guys for staying locked in throughout the day. We need to come out tomorrow with the excitement to compete to our standard. It was nice seeing the guys take advantage of some favorable scoring conditions today." Ford Clegg led the way for the Bulldogs, shooting 12-under through both rounds. Clegg shot at least seven birdies or better in each round, including an eagle he shot on the fourth hole in the second round. He is tied for fifth going into the third round. The Bulldogs will begin the third round of the Frederica Cup at 7:24 a.m. on Sept. 8th. Each player will start on the No. 10 tee. |
| Bulldogs Home Opener Set For Maroon And White Invite | |
| After two challenging and successful weekends on the road, the Mississippi State volleyball team is back inside of the Newell-Grissom Building for the Maroon and White Invite this weekend. Last weekend, the Bulldogs (5-0) swept Lipscomb, notched a reverse comeback victory over Oklahoma and topped Ball State in straight sets. The Maroon and White is joined by Auburn as the only two programs to be undefeated during the 2022 season. State turns its attention to Kennesaw State Thursday at 6 p.m. CT, Houston Friday at 6 p.m. and South Alabama Saturday at 3 p.m. for their first three home matches of its non-conference slate. "I am glad we got battle tested at Lipscomb," head coach Julie Darty Dennis said. "It was a good second weekend tournament for us to get some good experience. I am very excited to play at home. We are trying to be the most focused, dialed in team every single day at practice and every single set of every match. It's going to be good volleyball." Admission is free for all home volleyball matches with gates opening one hour prior to first serve. |
| Volleyball Launches Pregame Tailgating | |
| The Mississippi State volleyball program launches new pregame tailgating at Newell-Grissom. On certain volleyball match days, tailgating will take place on the grass island in front of the Newell-Grissom Building. Tailgating for the Maroon and White Invite will take place Friday Sept. 9 and Saturday Sept. 10. All picnic areas open two hours before each match. Personal tents or supplies can be placed on the island in front of the Newell-Grissom Building at noon on the day of the match. Generators are allowed, but battery inverters are preferred. Charcoal grills are allowed, but charcoal must be fully extinguished and disposed of in a responsible manner. Fire pits are not allowed. The university will follow local ordinances and state laws regarding alcohol. Pets are prohibited on campus beginning at noon the day before a game, except for service animals as prescribed by law. Safety lanes must remain clear and unobstructed. |
| Comedian Kevin Hart gives Jackson State coach Deion Sanders flowers. Here's why | |
 | It was the first win of the season and not only were fans gushing. Jackson State football dominated Florida A&M 59-3 on Sunday. The Tigers (1-0) moved up Tuesday in the Football Championship Subdivision poll to No. 13. Jackson State will be in the spotlight this week as it prepares to play Tennessee State (0-1) on Saturday (6 p.m., JSU Sports Network) in the Southern Heritage Classic at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis. On Wednesday, comedian Kevin Hart gave more than a shoutout to Tigers coach Deion Sanders for making an impact on HBCUs and young Black men. And he did it with flowers. "Every Wednesday, "Kevin Hart said, "I want to give flowers to people that deserve them and I want to celebrate greatness." Hart said for Sanders to be a legend on the football field is one thing, but to continually raise the bar and change the narrative and conversation is another. "Phenomenal football player and Hall of Famer you are," Hart said. "To rebrand that HBCU program (Jackson State) and get it to the point where you are changing those boys' lives, where you are implementing overall success in a groundbreaking way. It is visible and your impact is seen and felt." |
| Gumbo, Lucky Dog hot dogs, more: 8 new concession treats to debut in Tiger Stadium | |
| Many firsts will happen in Baton Rouge when the LSU Tigers play this season's home opener Saturday night. Brian Kelly will debut in Tiger Stadium. The LSU Tigers will play the Southern Jaguars for the first time ever, and eight new food vendors will be selling their treats to fans. The new concession lineup includes businesses like Tre's Street Kitchen, The Shed Barbecue, Simple Joe's and Queen Eats and Royal Treats. The new vendors' locations are scattered throughout the stadium. "Concessions are an integral part of our game day experience," Matthew LaBorde, the LSU Athletics executive associate athletic director/CFO. "Each year we review fan feedback to implement changes that will positively impact fans throughout our stadium. Food variety, branding and speed of service are just some of the changes you can expect in Tiger Stadium this season." Tierney Royal, owner of Queen Eats and Royal Treats, plans to serve her Royal nachos, Spicy Leroy's smoke sausage po'boy and Cajun smoked chicken sandwich, topped with Spicy Leroy's signature sauce. Fun fact: Herman Lange, Royal's uncle, was a part of the LSU football team in 1955. T-Beaux's Creole Café will also offer Louisiana-inspired selections, including gumbo, boudin, red bean po'boys, chicken sausage tacos and their Death Valley nonalcoholic Bloody Mary drink. A familiar New Orleans business, Lucky Dog, will roll its cart into Tiger Stadium Saturday night. Lucky Dog is a hot dog vending business that's synonymous with New Orleans culture and entertainment. |
| Auburn launches collaborative NIL program with Dyehard Sports | |
 | Auburn is rolling out a new way for alums, boosters, and friends to support their favorite Tiger athlete with their partnership with Dyehard Sports. The university announced the collaborative initiative to bring a broad-based name, image, and likeness Wednesday via press release. "This partnership between Auburn Athletics and Dyehard Fan Supply represents a victory for Auburn student-athletes and fans," Auburn Executive Associate Athletic Director Djenane Paul said. "The Auburn Family will be able to purchase apparel, jerseys, and merchandise of their favorite players with a portion of the revenue directly benefiting the student-athlete whose name, image, and likeness is portrayed." That's right; if you want to buy a jersey of your favorite Tiger now, it'll be a lot easier. Fans can now create custom Auburn apparel using the preferred student-athlete name and number, Auburn logos, and more. Many fans would likely want jerseys for running back Tank Bigsby, linebacker Owen Pappoe, or EDGE rusher Derick Hall. |
| Harsin: 12-team CFP 'will end up being a good thing' | |
 | Bryan Harsin has expressed support for the expansion of the College Football Playoff in the past, and his tune didn't change Wednesday, as he said the recent expansion to a 12-team format "will end up being a good thing." "I think it probably creates some excitement," Harsin said on the SEC coaches teleconference. "But there's also a lot in there, too. I don't know all the details, and I'm sure there's a lot of stuff that's got to be tweaked to make sure that it's doable, manageable and certainly fits within the college world." Harsin expressed that "the biggest thing" to him at this point is ironing out the details of balancing playoff games with classwork for athletes, as well as potential adjustments to the recruiting calendar and logistics of adding so many games to a team's season. "That's just something that is going to have to be dealt with, and probably more conversations about (that) down the road," Harsin said. "I think people are excited about it," Harsin said. "I know that people a lot smarter than me worked on it. It's going to give teams an opportunity to get into the playoffs and have a chance to win those games and go on and play for a national championship that probably wouldn't have happened before." |
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