| Tuesday, August 1, 2023 |
| MSU continues support of federal cyber workforce with $4.1 million in new NSF CyberCorps funding | |
 | Mississippi State University has a longstanding history of sending Bulldogs to the front lines of federal cybersecurity efforts, and that tradition will continue as MSU receives $4.1 million over five years from the National Science Foundation to renew its CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service Program. The NSF program helps bolster the federal cyber workforce by providing scholarships in exchange for government service in a cybersecurity capacity after graduation. MSU's CyberCorps program is among the oldest in the nation, graduating 141 cyber professionals over more than 20 years. The university's Department of Computer Science and Engineering, in collaboration with the MSU Center for Cyber Innovation, leads the CyberCorps program. "Cybersecurity is critical to our nation's economic and national security. Through this program, NSF has helped more than 4,500 students get the degrees they need to be part of the cybersecurity workforce and helped them give back through public service," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. “This new round of funding from the National Science Foundation underscores the excellence of our cybersecurity faculty members and their ability to prepare students to address our cyber challenges at the highest levels,” said Jason Keith, dean of the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering. “There is a growing demand for cyber professionals at all levels of government, and I am proud of the way the MSU CyberCorps program helps to meet that demand through world-class educational opportunities.” |
| Historic Black cemetery project discovers 40 unmarked graves | |
 | When University of Southern Alabama student Tia Jordan was researching a historic Black cemetery in Mobile earlier this year, she wanted to find more to continue her work. After hearing about Mississippi State University's Brush Arbor Cemetery Project, aimed at researching, cataloging and preserving the cemetery which sits on the north side of University Drive, she found what she was looking for. Jordan joined eight other students from around the country to participate in the project's first cohort and presented their findings about Brush Arbor Sunday at the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum to about 40 attendees. The Brush Arbor Cemetery project was started earlier this year by assistant professor of anthropology Jordan Lynton Cox and three other faculty to study the land and eventually build a digital database detailing the people buried at the site, its history and modern-day descendants. Cox said the research conducted this summer identified about 81 burials and only 41 headstones while also discovering three previously unknown people buried at the two-acre cemetery: N. B. and Annie Bell and John Love. Cox said the research conducted this past month will now act as a strong foundation for further analysis of the cemetery. She hopes to continue finding more burials and headstones and to turn those findings into an online database in two years. |
| Sales tax diversions down in Columbus, Starkville | |
| Monthly sales tax collections in Columbus and Starkville dropped 2.4% and 4.9%, respectively, compared to the same month a year prior, while West Point's increased 1.2%. Columbus received $943,570 from the Mississippi Department of Revenue, down $23,892 from July 2022. Starkville received $745,267 this month, compared to $783,435 in July 2022, a 4.9% drop. So far this fiscal year, the city collections of $7,414,643 are slightly up over last year's $7,319,826. Mayor Lynn Spruill said she attributes some of the lack of sales to a slowed spending rate of customers following a year of heightened consumerism in the area caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic. "I would say that the post pandemic spending spree of 2022 was more of an anomaly and that the sales are starting to settle back down to a more normal growth pattern," Spruill said. "That means the overall growth is continuing but the impact on a monthly basis is more driven by the local activities or lack thereof." According to figures released with its sales tax numbers, the city saw a slight dip in its 3% restaurant sales tax diversions and a jump in its 1% hotel tax as compared to last year. The city received $378,343 in July restaurant tax collections -- which assist in funding for economic development and tourism as well as sports facilities -- a 3.7% dip from July 2022. Fiscal year to date collections of $3,352,786 are up 7.8% over last year's $3,098,293. |
| Baptist hospital locked down after parking lot shooting | |
| Four people have been shot in a Monday afternoon incident which resulted in a lockdown at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle. According to Columbus Police Chief Joseph Daughtry, an incident occurred in the parking lot outside of the hospital just before 4 p.m., and officers responded within two minutes. The four shooting victims were taken into custody as active participants in the shooting, according to Daughtry. As one of the males was taken into custody, The Dispatch witnessed a civilian warning the victim not to talk to law enforcement. The Dispatch reporter approached the civilian to request an interview but was rebuffed. Two victims were in surgery at BMH-GT as of Monday afternoon, one was airlifted to a Memphis hospital and the fourth was being evaluated. Nearly a dozen armed law enforcement officers were seen entering the hospital in tactical gear after the incident to clear the building, but Daughtry said hospital staff and patients were not in immediate danger during the incident. The lockdown of the hospital was lifted just before 5 p.m. |
| Gipson announces proposal for agriculture infrastructure investment | |
 | During his speech at the Neshoba County Fair, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced his proposal for a new agriculture infrastructure plan. Commissioner Gipson, a Republican who is currently campaigning for re-election, said the number one question he has been asked on the campaign trail has to do with food supply challenges. While Mississippi seems stable now, there are shortages throughout the world. Gipson said if the state wants to stay proactive against future shortages lawmakers need to invest in agriculture. The Mississippi SAFE Plan, or Sustainable Agriculture Facilities Expansion Plan, is designed to support food resiliency across the state of Mississippi, according to Gipson. He says agriculture infrastructure has not been funded by the Legislature in 20 years. Gipson believes now is the time to do so. The first term AG Commissioner believes his proposed investment is vital to ensuring that Mississippi avoids the potential food shortages impacting other parts of the world. "I see storm clouds on the horizon," he told reporters regarding future food accessibility. "Agriculture infrastructure is the most important infrastructure we have and it's the most important investment we can make because we've got to eat." Interest in a career in agriculture continues to remain high. Nearly 4,000 students are currently enrolled in Ag Division Colleges at Mississippi State University. Gipson emphasized the need to ensure young people understand and have access to careers in the ag industry moving forward. |
| Let's Go Brandon? Brandon Presley jokes anti-Biden phrase is sign of support for his campaign | |
 | The Democratic candidate for governor of Mississippi appears to be embracing a rallying cry used by opponents of President Joe Biden, though perhaps in a joking way. Brandon Presley, who is trying to unseat Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, has co-opted the phrase Let's Go Brandon in a recent social media post, playfully pointing to a billboard displaying the Let's Go Brandon phrase in Lauderdale County as a sign of support for him. Critics of Biden began using the phrase in 2021, as a coded substitute for an attack on the president that included profanity. "Proud to see the great support in Lauderdale County!" Presley posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, over the weekend. It is unclear who paid for the billboard. While it is styled similarly to the campaign logo of former President Donald Trump, it is marked simply as "paid for by supporters." A spokesperson for the Presley campaign confirmed that it did not pay for the billboard, and they were also unaware of who funded it. It is not the first time Presley has embraced the fact that his name is included in the attack of his fellow Democrat. In December, before Presley had officially announced his candidacy, Corinth Alderman Chip Wood, a Republican, posted a photo on what was then Twitter with a homemade bumper sticker on his car. The sticker read "REPUBLICANS FOR PRESLEY LET'S GO BRANDON." "Any idea where I can get one of these for some friends?" Presley responded, to which Wood said he could get Presley as many as he needed. |
| Spending accelerates in PSC race as campaigns buy new TV ads | |
| The spigot of money funding TV, cable, radio and direct mail advertising in the Republican primary for the northern district's seat on Mississippi's utility regulation board has opened wide in the past few days. Rep. Chris Brown's campaign spent about $50,000 late last week on TV, cable and radio ads to run through the Aug. 8 election. On Monday, opponent Tanner Newman told the Daily Journal his own campaign was launching TV ads this week but did not specify the amount his campaign would spend. Brown placed his order July 27, a day after an outside PAC bought nearly $40,000 in TV ads attacking Brown and supporting Newman in the contest to join the Public Service Commission. The same third-party PAC mailed push cards supporting Newman to residents around the district in recent days. Despite advertising pushes from both campaigns, there is a major money mismatch between the two Republican candidates. Brown's campaign reported 17 times more cash on hand than Newman's in the most recent public campaign finance filings through the end of June. Most of Brown's campaign is self-funded, with relatively few individual donors compared to Newman's campaign. However, the third-party TV and direct mail spending against Brown has demonstrated some appetite by outside groups to invest in the race. This could offset Brown's cash advantage, although so far the PAC spending is nowhere near the amount Brown has in the bank. |
| 'Our limitation will be dollars': Jackson's sewer system is now under the control of Ted Henifin | |
| Jackson's sewer system is now under the control of Ted Henifin. On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Henry Wingate signed an order taking control of the city's sewer system and placing it under Henifin, the interim third-party manager. The order took effect immediately, with the judge initially doing away with the 30-day comment period included in the proposed order filed last week. However, Wingate later agreed to leave the 30-day comment period in place. The decision means Henifin is now in charge of the sewer per the stipulated order, but Wingate is willing to make changes to that order based on comments received by the EPA and U.S. Department of Justice prior to August 31. A copy of the 56-page order was filed last week. Provisions allowed for a 30-day public comment period similar to the one that was in place for the city's sewer consent decree prior to it being signed in 2013. Attorneys asked the judge to reconsider leaving the comment period in place. "Since the original consent decree was subject to public comment, we thought it would be appropriate to have public comment on the stipulated order," said Karl Fingerhood, an attorney for the DOJ's Environmental Enforcement Section. "There is a keen public interest in both the drinking water and [sewer] system issues." Comment period aside, Henifin says he's ready to hit the ground running. "We have two contractors lined up and ready to go. We have a TV camera contractor lined up to clean and inspect [sewer lines]. We have an engineering contractor who's worked with the city for many years," he said. "She's lined up to manage a lot of that work." |
| Wicker: More JROTC, fewer 'woke' programs would solve military recruitment issue | |
| Certain branches of the U.S. Military have been unable to meet recruitment quotas for the past three years, and Senator Roger Wicker is proposing two ideas to incentivize more people to enlist. "All of our military services are going to miss their goals this year, except for the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps has a smaller target and they've always met their quotas," Wicker (R-Miss.) said on The Gallo Show. "Every other service is not recruiting as many American young people as we need." According to Wicker, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, one of two major solutions to the recruiting challenges is the implementation of more Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) centers in high schools, specifically especially rural and inner-city ones. "Even if you've got a marginal school district, the Junior ROTC unit is a subset of kids that do great," Wicker explained. "They graduate at higher rates, they make better grades, they stay in school, they have lower absenteeism, and a lot of them are more likely to join the military." Wicker also contended that diversity programs and the teaching of critical race theory have dissuaded many young people from pursuing a future in the military. He argues that candidates should be vetted on merit and content of character, rather than skin color and sexual orientation. |
| Alabama senators: Biden's Space Command HQ decision 'irresponsible,' 'disastrous,' 'shameful' | |
 | Alabama's two U.S. senators called President Biden irresponsible today for a "shameful" decision to leave U.S. Space Command Headquarters in Colorado and not move it to Huntsville, Ala., which ranked first in an official Pentagon review of possible headquarters sites. "President Biden has irresponsibly decided to yank a military decision out of the Air Force's hands in the name of partisan politics," said U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) "Huntsville finished first in both the Air Force's Evaluation Phase and Selection Phase, leaving no doubt that the Air Force's decision to choose Redstone as the preferred basing location was correct purely on the merits." "As soon as Joe Biden took office, he paused movement on that decision and inserted politics into what had been a fair and objective competition," U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) said, "not because the facts had changed, but because the political party of the sitting president had changed." Tuberville called it "shameful" that Biden's administration waited until "Congress had gone into recess and already passed next year's defense budget before announcing this decision." Tuberville said the top three choices for Space Command headquarters in the Pentagon site selection process were all in red states: Alabama, Nebraska and Texas. "Colorado didn't even come close," Tuberville said. |
| Judge rejects Trump bid to upend Georgia probe | |
| A Fulton judge on Monday rejected a sweeping push from former President Donald Trump to gut the Fulton County district attorney's investigation of interference in Georgia's 2020 presidential election, which is expected to result in criminal charges in the weeks ahead. In a searing 9-page order, Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney ruled that Trump and Cathy Latham, an "alternate" GOP elector who joined the former president's motion, did not have sufficient legal standing to mount a challenge before any indictments are announced. "The movants' asserted 'injuries' that would open the doors of the courthouse to their claims are either insufficient or else speculative and unrealized," McBurney wrote. "They are insufficient because, while being the subject (or even target) of a highly publicized criminal investigation is likely an unwelcome and unpleasant experience, no court ever has held that that status alone provides a basis for the courts to interfere with or halt the investigation." The ruling came in response to a motion that Trump's Atlanta-based attorneys filed in March, which questioned the conduct of Fulton DA Fani Willis, the investigative special grand jury that helped her compile evidence -- and even McBurney himself. There will be a time and a forum in which to raise such a challenge -- after an indictment is handed up and a judge is assigned to hear the case, McBurney wrote, not speculating who will or will not be formally charged. "Guessing at what that picture might look like before the investigative dots are connected may be a popular game for the media and blogosphere, but it is not a proper role for the courts and formal legal argumentation," the judge wrote. |
| Trump steps up war with Senate GOP | |
 | Former President Trump is stepping up his war with Senate Republicans by calling for primary challenges next year against GOP incumbents who do not support investigating President Biden's family finances. Many Senate Republicans have made clear they don't want Trump to win their party's nomination for president, and they're leery about rallying to his defense given the former president's polarizing effect on moderate Republican and swing voters. Trump appears to be losing patience with Republican lawmakers on the fence about impeaching Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland, as the federal and state felony charges pile up against him along with his mounting legal bills. Ross Baker, a professor of political science at Rutgers University who served several fellowships in the Senate, said Trump's calls for Republicans to embrace the partisan investigations of Biden's family puts Republicans facing competitive general-election races next year in a tough spot. Baker warned that some Senate Republicans could be in "jeopardy" in primaries next year if Trump decides to launch a full-scale assault against incumbents he views as reluctant allies. "Think of people like Roger Wicker, who is someone who is seen as a pretty solid guy who votes the right way but is not an extremist," Baker said, identifying a senator who might have to watch his right flank. "There are constituencies that will respond to any demand that Trump puts out who will say, 'I can't support [a senator] unless he gets on the impeachment bandwagon.' "But I don't think any Republican who is up for reelection wants to have to do that," he said. |
| Trump PACs Burn Through $100 Million This Year | |
 | Political groups supporting Republican presidential contenders on Monday reported having tens of millions of dollars in the bank to help their favored candidates, while also footing the bill for expensive advertising, polling operations and -- in the case of former President Donald Trump -- millions more in legal fees. Never Back Down, the super PAC supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, reported nearly $97 million on hand at the end of June. Make America Great Again, Trump's super PAC, reported cash of about $31 million. The two super PACs topped the field of presidential-hopeful committees reporting fundraising and expense totals to the federal government. The fundraising of those so-called super political-action committees, which can raise unlimited sums and buoy campaigns with independent expenditures on ads, are among the biggest advantages the GOP has in its effort to win back the White House. But the former president's fundraising apparatus appears to be burning through cash. Three Trump-related entities -- his super PAC, joint fundraising committee and leadership PAC -- collectively spent more than $100 million during the first half of the year, Federal Election Commission data show. That figure can include financial transfers to other Trump groups affiliated with his campaign. Much of the GOP-backed field of super PACs, however, devoted much of their money to media expenses, voter canvassing and payroll. Opportunity Matters Fund, which is backing South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, spent at least $1 million on media and marketing costs. A group supporting former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who may not even qualify for the first Republican debate, paid more than $130,000 for polling. |
| 'It's a crisis': Maternal health care disappears for millions | |
 | Access to maternal health care is evaporating in much of the country, as hospitals close and obstetricians become harder to find for millions of pregnant people. New data from the nonpartisan health advocacy group March of Dimes shows that the U.S. -- which already has the worst maternal mortality rate among developed nations -- saw a 4 percent decline in hospitals with labor and delivery services between 2019 and 2020. But the raw figure masks the inequities playing out across the country, according to the report. Alabama and Wyoming lost nearly one-quarter of their birthing hospitals in that time period, while Idaho, Indiana and West Virginia lost roughly 10 percent. "It's a crisis," said Stacey Brayboy, the senior vice president of public policy and government affairs at March of Dimes. "Women are struggling to access care, and that's before and during and after their pregnancies, and we've seen an increase in terms of maternal and infant deaths." Access to care is also likely to worsen in the coming years, according to several public health experts, as obstetrics units struggle to stay financially afloat, more people become uninsured and new anti-abortion laws limit the number of physicians willing to practice in several states. The scarcity of maternal health care is particularly acute in areas with higher instances of underlying health problems that are risk factors for maternal mortality -- such as hypertension and diabetes -- and where states have not expanded Medicaid, leaving hundreds of thousands uninsured. One factor fueling the obstetric unit closures across the country is the financial mismatch facing hospitals -- maternal care is expensive to provide and reimbursements are low, particularly from Medicaid, which pays for more than 40 percent of births. That's a particular challenge for rural hospitals, which have a higher proportion of patients on government-run health insurance than their urban counterparts. |
| Mississippi again ranks first in nation for stillbirths, new data shows | |
| Mississippi continues to rank first in the nation in fetal deaths, according to 2021 data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week. The report examined deaths of fetuses in utero that occurred after 20 weeks' gestation, also known as stillbirths, in the United States. Mississippi led the nation with a rate of 10 deaths per 1,000 live births, almost twice the national rate of 5.73. Mississippi has also long led the nation in infant mortality, or the death of babies up to one year of age. State Health Officer Dr. Daniel Edney said "the time for study and evaluation has passed," and it is time for action. "We've been working for the past year to implement the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies program for high-risk moms and babies on Medicaid," Edney continued. "We've also just been given the endorsement of the state Board of Health to develop the best OB system of care that we possibly can, following the models of national organizations and the other 10 states that have mandatory maternal levels of care for hospitals." Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies is a partnership between the state's Health Department and the state Division of Medicaid that places registered nurse case managers in the homes of mothers undergoing high-risk pregnancies and who have recently given birth. Similar to the Mississippi State Department of Health's trauma, ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction, and stroke systems of care, the OB system will facilitate transferring high-risk pregnant women and their babies to the right level of care at the right time. The system of care is not yet in place -- the state Board of Health just authorized staff to start working on it at its board meeting earlier this month. |
| UM workshop helps teachers help impoverished students | |
| More than 75 educators from across Mississippi experienced one month in the life of an impoverished person last week as a part of the Missouri Community Action Network Poverty Simulation at the University of Mississippi in Oxford. The workshop, one of several free programs the UM School of Education is hosting this year as a part of its two-year Education Equity Initiative, was designed to educate Mississippi teachers about the hardships specific to students who live below the poverty level. The U.S. Census Bureau in 2022 estimated that 19.4% of Mississippians -- more than 560,000 -- are living below the poverty line, defined as an individual earning less than $14,580 or less than $30,000 for a family of four. "This is a simulation, not a game," said Rebecca Cummins, Community Action Poverty Simulation project manager. "Poverty is not a game for 562,000 people in your state, including about 1 in 5 in Mississippi." What may seem like a reasonable ask for one student -- such as $10 for a field trip -- could alienate a student living in poverty, said Sara Platt, UM assistant professor of special education. The simulation is one way that the university is preparing teachers to better understand and support all students, she said. |
| New UMMC nursing school facility to increase student body size by 25% | |
| A new $67 million nursing school on the campus of the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson will allow for a 25% increase in nursing students to help fill the ever-increasing need for nurses in the state. The estimated completion date for the new facility is December 2026. "The more advanced home for our School of Nursing will allow for a 25% increase in nursing students," said Dr. Tina Martin, UMMC School of Nursing professor and associate dean for administration, who began serving as the school's interim dean July 1. "Current enrollment is approximately 830." The importance of nurses in health care and the shortage of these professionals is well known. "According to the Mississippi Hospital Association, there are currently about 3,000 nurse vacancies in our hospitals," Martin said. "This shortage is directly impacting a wide range of health outcomes for Mississippians. We were facing nursing shortages even before the pandemic, and the pandemic exposed the true value and critical need for nurses in a health care system and exacerbated the nursing workforce shortage." Although the pandemic highlighted stress and burnout among nurses, Martin says for others it inspired a career in nursing. "We continue to see a strong and increasing interest in nursing as a career choice," Martin said. "Job opportunities in nursing will continue to grow as we are seeing an increase in telehealth utilization." |
| Jackson councilman calls for 'safe zones' around city's hospitals | |
| A recent shooting near St. Dominic's and the University of Mississippi Medical Center has one Jackson Councilman calling for safe zones near the city's hospitals. Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes says the zones would ramp up police presence and mean harsher penalties for those who commit crimes within them. He will be asking the city council to approve a measure backing the idea at Tuesday's meeting. "We will not tolerate violence of any kind, near or around a hospital or medical facility," he said. "I believe it should be a five-mile radius at least. And if the legislature helps us with enhanced penalties, we can stop the madness that's taking place near hospitals and medical facilities." Stokes announced the proposal at his Sunday afternoon press conference. The idea comes just days after a woman says a man fired multiple shots at her vehicle near the intersection of Meadowbrook Road and the southbound frontage road along I-55 North. The intersection is about two miles away from St. Dominic and UMMC. |
| USM researchers reflect on discovery of slave ship as new exhibit opens | |
| The unique Africatown Heritage House opened its doors earlier this month, treating visitors to "Clotilda: The Exhibition," which chronicles the voyage and sinking of the last-known slave ship. The museum and exhibition might never have happened without the expertise of marine scientists at the University of Southern Mississippi. The $1.3 million public building sits just north of Mobile, Alabama, within the Africatown community that the Clotilda survivors founded after they were freed from slavery following the Civil War. Inside the 2,500-square-foot exhibit is a chronological telling of the Clotilda slave ship's origins, its survivors and how the Africatown community was settled. Environmental author Ben Raines, believing he had uncovered evidence of the Clotilda, reached out to USM researchers in April 2018 for help in locating the schooner. The USM contingent conducted a hydrographic survey of the Mobile River on the east side of Twelve Mile Island using the RV Lemoyne, which was outfitted with sonar capable of both bathymetric mapping and side-scan sonar imagery. Raines has since written a book about the experience, "The Last Slave Ship." Although the team found hard evidence of 19th-century construction such as nails and believed the size was identical to the dimensions of the Clotilda, researchers were told their findings weren't consistent enough to confirm the discovery. However, one year later, further exploration and analysis by a different team led archaeology experts to conclude that the USM group's initial discovery was indeed authentic. |
| UGA grad named Rhodes Scholar, looks forward to return trip to Oxford | |
 | Although Natalie Navarrete graduated this spring from the University of Georgia with degrees in international affairs, Russian and Spanish (with minors in Latin American and Caribbean studies), it's likely her UGA experiences -- both at home and abroad -- will resonate with her for many years to come. Last November, Navarrete -- a native of Boca Raton, Florida -- became the 26th student in UGA's history to be awarded the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, the oldest and most celebrated international fellowship in the world. She'll spend the next two years in Oxford, England, where she'll continue her focus on Russian and East European studies and her research on nuclear nonproliferation. Navarrete, who spent the spring of 2022 at Oxford University, is the seventh UGA student to receive the scholarship in the last 15 years and was one of only three public university students to receive the honor for 2023. A UGA Foundation Fellow and Stamps Scholar, she said learning she'd be headed back to Oxford -- this time as a Rhodes Scholar -- represented "a surreal moment." "I'm incredibly proud to represent UGA and I'm incredibly grateful for all the support UGA and the Foundation Fellowship provided in making this happen," said Navarrete during a recent telephone interview from South Korea, where she's spending part of the summer conducting research on nonproliferation issues. |
| U. of Arkansas, Fayetteville Honors College names 79 students for fellowships | |
| The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Honors College has selected 79 high school students -- 67 from Arkansas -- to receive Honors College Fellowships. The fellowships, which award up to $80,000, largely cover tuition, fees, books, room and board, and other academic expenses over four years, providing the students more freedom to pursue original research, study abroad, and pursue service learning and other academic interests. The fellowship funds can also be combined with other scholarships and grants, such as the more than $1.2 million in study abroad and research grants that the Honors College awards to students each year. The new fellows have an average grade point average of 4.25 and an average composite ACT score of 33.9. About 10% are the first in their family to attend college. The members of the incoming class plan to major in a diverse range of subjects, from biology and chemical engineering to anthropology, data science and architecture. Of the new fellows, 29 are named National Merit Finalists. "We once again had an incredibly competitive pool for fellowships this year," said Noah Pittman, associate dean of enrollment for the Honors College, in a statement issued with a news release. "Each of our new Honors College fellows is incredibly bright and accomplished, and we look forward to helping each of them achieve their goals at the University of Arkansas and beyond." |
| U. of Kentucky's fall semester is only weeks away | |
 | In just a few weeks, the largest freshman class in University of Kentucky history will return to campus. Earlier this summer, UK projected nearly 6,400 first-year students would attend this fall. The university is also anticipating the largest-ever total enrollment for the upcoming school year. The week before the first day of classes -- August 13-16: Big Blue Move-In -- is when incoming students move in to dorms, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Students will have signed up for a 30-minute move-in appointment on one of those days, and UK encourages students to book their appointment as soon as possible because slots are limited. Nearly 7,000 students are expected to move in over those four days, so if you're driving near campus, make note of potential traffic delays and changes in the area. K Week, UK's new student orientation week, starts right after move-in. It's four days of events and meetings, designed to welcome first-time students to campus and introduce them to UK. Monday, August 21, is the first day of the fall semester. |
| Does Texas A&M's botched hire spell doom for classroom diversity? Some say yes | |
 | With pageantry that included balloons, a banner and an outdoor signing ceremony, Texas A&M University celebrated a diverse new chapter in its history with its June hiring of Kathleen McElroy. McElroy, a Black journalist whose background included decades at the New York Times and a reputation for promoting diversity in the workplace, was a major get for the university with the largest student body in the country. She was headed to her alma mater with a mission to revive its journalism program -- and it was all the sweeter for A&M because she had been lured away from its rival, the University of Texas at Austin. But the celebration didn't last long. Just days later, McElroy's tenure offer unraveled after the university buckled under backlash from Texas Scorecard, a conservative website, and an unspecified group of individuals close to the university who opposed her previous diversity initiatives. A new state law will limit that and the discussion of race and inclusion on college campuses next year. While the law is supposed to exempt academics and admissions, many are concerned it could be broadly applied -- chilling free speech in the classroom. They point to McElroy's unceremonious departure to show it's already happening. |
| U. of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine gets interim dean | |
 | The University of Missouri has chosen an interim dean to lead its College of Veterinary Medicine. MU Provost Latha Ramchand announced Monday that Leah Cohn will take over as interim dean of the college effective Tuesday, according to a news release. "I am excited about the expertise Dr. Cohn brings to this interim role," Ramchand said in a note sent to the college. Cohn, a board-certified specialist in small animal internal medicine, has been a part of MU's faculty for 28 years. According to the release, "Cohn is widely regarded as one of the country's leading researchers on the tick-borne disease Cytauxzoon felis, commonly known as bobcat fever." Cohn, along with a North Carolina State University researcher, discovered a drug combination that effectively treats the deadly disease, which affects domestic cats. Cohn previously served as interim associate dean for academic and student affairs at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine and associate chair for the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, according to the release. She has been section chief of small animal internal medicine at the Veterinary Health Center for over 15 years. According to the release, a national search will be conducted "with plans to name a permanent dean by the start of the spring 2024 semester." |
| West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee given contract extension | |
| The West Virginia University Board of Governors gave President E. Gordon Gee a one-year contract extension Monday amid a budget shortfall, falling enrollment and plans to cut some academic offerings. Gee, 79, was given an extension through June 2025 during the board's special meeting in Morgantown. His contract was set to expire next year. Gee thanked the board after the vote was announced, acknowledged the ongoing challenges and said the intent is to have "a process that is clear, that is visible to everyone" about improving the university. The move comes as the university is evaluating nearly half of its academic programs and addressing an estimated $45 million budget deficit. In June, the Board of Governors approved an estimated $1.2 billion budget for fiscal year 2024 that includes $7 million in staff cuts, or around 132 positions, including 38 faculty members. The board moved forward with slashing 12 graduate and doctorate programs and approved a tuition increase of just under 3%. Gee and other top university officials have said the budget shortfall is largely a result of enrollment declines. The student population has decreased 10% since 2015. Gee also has cited the factors of inflation stress and increases to premiums the school is required to pay for the state's government employees' health insurance program. |
| Falwell Jr. sues Liberty University, alleging trademark infringement | |
| Jerry Falwell Jr., the former president of Liberty University, is suing the school, arguing administrators are committing trademark infringement by using the late Jerry Falwell Sr.'s likeness without consulting with the family. The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court last week on behalf of Falwell Jr. and the family trust, accuses the school of misappropriating "for itself" the name and image of Falwell Sr., the conservative Christian evangelist who co-founded the evangelical university in 1971. Falwell Sr., a pastor and nationally known televangelist who emerged as a prominent political figure in the 1990s, ran the school until he died at his desk in 2007. It struggled financially during his tenure but rebounded under his son, Falwell Jr., who invested heavily in online education. During his tenure Liberty became one of the largest Christian schools in the country. Falwell Jr. resigned as president of the evangelical Christian school in 2020 in the wake of a series of scandals involving his family, including allegations that his wife, Becki, had a years-long sexual relationship with a business associate. Asked about the lawsuit, a Liberty spokesperson said the school prefers not to comment on active litigation but sent along a statement to provide context. In addition, the spokesperson alleged the lawsuit is a response to a request made by Falwell Jr. for Liberty "to pay $7 million dollars for his permission to continue to use the name of Liberty's founder for the next four years" and allow the former president to maintain "total editorial control of Liberty's use of the name of Liberty's founder." The school, the spokesperson said, denied the request. |
| Why Are So Many College Presidents Resigning? | |
 | The end of July brought a flurry of sudden presidential resignations. Over the course of a week, presidents stepped down at Stanford University, Texas A&M University, Seton Hall University, Thomas Jefferson University and Berklee College of Music. Their reasons for resigning are as varied as the institutions they led, with some departing amid scrutiny and scandal while others left shrouded in mystery. Only Marc Tessier-Lavigne at Stanford had been on the job for more than five years. The resignations come as the sector faces a long list of challenges, from the growing politicization of higher education to the shrinking number of students to go around. And while certain institutions may be more affected by these issues than others, experts believe that a difficult environment is likely driving presidents away. G. David Gearhart, chancellor emeritus of the University of Arkansas who has written books on higher education leadership, argues that the college presidency has become an increasingly hard job due to challenges that only seem to be increasing. "I personally believe that being a college or university president may, in fact, be the toughest job in America, or for that matter across the world, but certainly in this country. It's become a very difficult position to do the right way," Gearhart said. "There are so many groups out there that a college president has to try to appease, and it's almost impossible to do that with all of the political machinations that are happening these days, not to mention the huge decline that we're going to be seeing over the next several years in enrollment, which has already started." |
| Perks of being a legacy student can go beyond the admissions office | |
| In the wake of the Supreme Court decision to end racial preference in college admissions, more schools are pulling back on granting preference to applicants who are family members of alumni. Occidental College, a private liberal arts school in Los Angeles, is among the latest to end legacy admissions. The benefits of being a legacy applicant tend to be focused on the admissions office, where that status might provide an extra oomph to a student's application. But the perks don't stop there. About six decades ago, President Lyndon Johnson called education "the most important door that will ever open." Legacy applicants got more help then, and get more help now, opening those doors. "It's kind of like the difference between walking into a party and not knowing anybody and walking into a party and you know everybody there," said Jennifer Jessie, an independent college admissions consultant in Virginia. Legacy applicants know people who have been to the party and can make calls on their behalf. |
| Scholars React to UFO Whistle-Blower's Testimony: 'Show Me the Spaceship' | |
 | Last week a former intelligence officer testified to an explosive claim before Congress: that for decades the U.S. government has operated a secret program to retrieve and reverse-engineer unidentified flying objects. From some crashed UFOs, "biologics" that were "nonhuman" were recovered, the officer, David Grusch, said at a highly anticipated congressional hearing. He used the term UAPs, which stands for "unidentified aerial phenomena" or the more recently adopted "unidentified anomalous phenomena." That's how government officials refer to detected objects that don't fit a ready explanation. Grusch, who said he previously worked with a Pentagon task force on UAPs, testified before a House oversight subcommittee that the task force's director told him, in 2019, to identify all "special access" and "controlled access" programs related to the group's mission. Through that work, Grusch said, he learned of this retrieval and reverse-engineering program but was "denied access to those additional read-ons when I requested it." He eventually became a whistle-blower and went public with his claims in June. Grusch's testimony provoked an avalanche of speculation about the existence of aliens and a government conspiracy to cover it up. The Chronicle asked two scientists and a historian who writes about UFO lore what they made of his assertions. In typical academic fashion, they were unconvinced. "It's an extraordinary claim, and it requires extraordinary evidence, none of which we're getting," said Adam Frank, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Rochester who wrote the forthcoming Little Book of Aliens. "Science works by brutal, absolutely brutal, standards of evidence that link a claim to evidence for that claim," he said. "And in this case there's just nothing there." "Show me the spaceship, as I like to say," Frank said. |
| Opinion: Hosemann, not McDaniel Aug. 8 | |
| Attorney and columnist Robert Wise writes in The Northside Sun: Chris McDaniel is up against Delbert Hosemann in the Republican primary race on Tuesday, August 8. It is essential for those of us who have opposed McDaniel for any higher office in the past to show up for the Republican primary on Tuesday, August 8 and vote in opposition to him again. Even more than that, it is time on August 8 to show our appreciation for Delbert Hosemann's thoughtful use of the formidable powers of the Lt. Governor to move Mississippi forward. ... When McDaniel lost to Senator Thad Cochran in 2014, he was as ungracious a loser as any loser there ever was. McDaniel vigorously challenged his loss to Senator Cochran -- who was always, but always, a gentleman -- in the courts. I was one of a number of volunteer lawyers who went around to the courthouses to help audit the results for the Senator's team. Senator Cochran was the clear winner over his Tea Party opponent. McDaniel had no legitimate or timely challenge to make. The courts soundly rejected McDaniel's aggressive claims against Senator Cochran's victory. I felt strongly then. After listening to McDaniel's absurd, negative campaigning, I feel just as strongly now. McDaniel's noise needs to be stopped once again at the ballot box. We cannot afford for the strong powers of the Lt. Governor to fall into the wrong hands. |
SPORTS
| Getting to know Mississippi State football's DL room ahead of the 2023 season | |
| The countdown to this year's college football season has begun in earnest with just 32 days until Mississippi State football kicks off its season on Sept. 2 against Southeastern Louisiana at Davis Wade Stadium. The Bulldogs, under first-year head coach Zach Arnett, will open fall camp on Aug. 3 with the team's first practice taking place on Aug 4. Until then, we'll be taking a look at each position group on MSU's roster, noting who could be the potential starters, backups and impact players to look out for on the gridiron. MSU's defensive line brings back two big-play starters from last season in tackles, Nathan Pickering and Jaden Crumedy, who is once again healthy after missing the majority of last year. The Bulldogs will also have to replace Cameron Young, a fourth-round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks. However, a strong returning group should help minimize his departure this fall. Here is what to know about MSU's 2023 offensive linemen. |
| Mississippi State football: 3 position battles to watch and predictions | |
 | Mississippi State football opens preseason practices on Friday -- its first under coach Zach Arnett. While the Bulldogs return plenty of production from a nine-win season, there are questions to be answered before the 2023 season opener against Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 2. Position battles are perhaps the most intriguing part of the hot August days. It brings competition in a period where the only foes are teammates, and for Mississippi State, there are at least three crucial spots to be filled. Here's a look at the most important position battles for the Bulldogs. |
| Track & Field: #JavU Claims Four National Championships In 2023 | |
| Mississippi State's claim as #JavU was strengthened in 2023 as current or former Bulldogs won national javelin championships in four different countries. Most recently, Franck Di Sanza won the Swiss title, and Nico Quijera won the Spanish crown on Sunday. Earlier in the season, Curtis Thompson won the U.S. championship in June, and reigning world champion Anderson Peters won Grenada's title in March. "I'm proud of them, first of all," associate head coach April Thomas said. "I know they represented for their countries well, but also represent Mississippi State. Three of them were here at one time, and I'm happy they're still doing it. They're still throwing. They're still healthy and at that level. Whenever they have success after they leave here, they make the program look good." "With two of the four heading the World Championships, I'm excited," Thomas, who coached all four Bulldogs said. "I'm hoping to see Anderson do something special. They've done it before here, and it would be nice to see them do it on that level and both make the podium. Hopefully, they can put it all together on that day at that time, and we'll see some big throws." |
| Southern Miss Associate AD Brad Smith named UTSA deputy AD for external affairs | |
| Southern Miss' senior associate athletics director for external operations Brad Smith was announced as deputy athletics director for external affairs for the University of Texas at San Antonio on Monday. Smith, a graduate of Southern Miss in 2003, spent four years working at his alma mater after being hired there in January 2019. Preceding that, Smith worked in the same position at Morehead State from 2014 to 2019. He earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Southern Miss, as well as his doctorate degree in higher education. In his time at USM, he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the external units such as branding, communications, video, broadcasts, digital content and social media. He served as Southern Miss' primary contact for athletics branding and licensing as the baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, football and softball programs saw a rise in ticket sales under his tenure. Smith is now the second deputy athletics director to leave Southern Miss this year after Jeff Mitchell was hired as Ball State's athletics director in February. He will join UTSA's athletics department after former deputy athletics director Liz Dalton was hired as the athletics director for St. Mary's in January. |
| Memphis AD Laird Veatch discusses Big 12 shot, stadium renovation | |
| Colorado is leaving the Pac-12 to return to the Big 12, the rumors about what happens next in conference realignment are in overdrive again, and Laird Veatch believes diving into the particulars won't serve the best interests of Memphis. So the athletic director would not comment when asked by The Commercial Appeal on Monday whether the university had been in contact with the Big 12 or Pac-12 conferences the past week. What was he willing to say? Here are a few highlights from a wide-ranging interview conducted with Veatch, most notably his thoughts on the Tigers' positioning in conference realignment, an update on Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium renovation plans, and his expectations for coach Ryan Silverfield and Memphis football entering a pivotal 2023 season. ... What's the most important part of this project in terms of perception? "The word 'perception,' I think, is important. In the end, big picture, I want our stadium to look like we belong at the highest levels of college football. At the detail level, I want that to mean our players and our fans have the type of experience that you would expect at the highest levels of college football. Whether that's the general fan and the types of concessions and hospitality and tailgating experience that they can have to the level of premium seating to the locker room and playing experience that our players have." |
| Food trucks. Flights. Flowers. How Georgia football spent $4.5 million in recruiting | |
| Georgia football's recruiting machine under Kirby Smart keeps humming through evaluating talent, connecting with top prospects and pouring money into the process. During its run to the 2021 national championship, Smart and his staff closed out a No. 3 2022 recruiting class and in the months that followed set in motion a No. 2 ranked haul for 2023. The Bulldogs hosted many of those during the 12 months of fiscal year 2022 which ran from July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022. Georgia spent $4.506 million in recruiting expenses during that time frame, according to its NCAA financial report. Clemson's $3.2 million was a distant second and Texas A&M followed at $2.98 million. Georgia's recruiting budget was at least double that of 45 of the 51 other public schools in Power 5 conferences. Georgia spent $375,217 at five local restaurants, more than 59 percent of Mississippi State's entire recruiting budget. Recruits feasted at Five Bar for $179,143, Saucehouse Barbeque for $96,131, ate $46,440 worth of Chick-fil-A, devoured $38,588 at Outback Steakhouse and polished off $14,915 of food from Wing House Grill. "Do we spend on recruiting? Absolutely," Smart said. "The SEC schools spend on recruiting. Is it necessary to be competitive? It is, and our administration has been great about supporting us. The numbers that people put out, some of those are eye popping and catching where some people are counting their numbers a lot differently, especially with flights which is our No. 1 expense. ... I want to be efficient, and we make decisions and we're conscious of budgets and we try to be smart. ... We've got to do what we've got to do to compete." |
| Texas A&M tennis programs hits a big ace with indoor facility addition | |
 | It's almost impossible to predict the weather, especially in Texas. The Texas A&M tennis teams won't be able to beat the heat or stop the rain and high winds, but soon if the weather gets nasty, they'll be able to go indoors after the university and the city of Bryan agreed jointly to develop and operate an indoor tennis facility at Travis Bryan Midtown Park. The 65,000 square-foot multipurpose facility will cost approximately $20 million and feature six tennis courts and other sports. The Bryan City Council approved a 30-year agreement on Monday with A&M, which will pay the city $675,000 per year. A&M is the only school in the Southeastern Conference without an indoor tennis facility. The facility is expected to be completed 24 months after both parties sign the agreement. It will give A&M more flexibility and options hosting its summer camps along with options for the city, including the possibility of attracting pro events. |
| Sources: Notre Dame, Under Armour agree to massive college athletics apparel extension | |
| Notre Dame and Under Armour are extending their relationship, agreeing to a new 10-year apparel contract that'll keep the Irish toward the top of college sports with a price tag of more than $10 million annually in cash and gear, sources told Yahoo Sports. Notre Dame and Under Armour officials declined to comment. Notre Dame, in the final year of its previous 10-year contract with Under Armour, hit the open market this spring after the expiration of the exclusive negotiating window with UA. Under Armour won a bidding war against the other top two apparel brands in the country, Adidas and Nike. A win for Under Armour founder and chairman Kevin Plank as well as new president Stephanie Linnartz, UA lands one of the country's most valuable brands again. The school and apparel brand have been partners since 2014, when UA replaced Adidas as Notre Dame's apparel outfit in what was at the time believed to be the most lucrative apparel contract in college athletics history, a deal thought to be around $90 million. This one exceeds that amount and vaults the Irish to the top of college sports, alongside the likes of Texas (Nike), Kansas (Adidas), Louisville (Adidas), Ohio State (Nike), Nebraska (Adidas) and Michigan (Nike) -- all schools with deals believed to range from $8-10 million a year. Over the last several years, Under Armour has withdrawn from being a major player in college athletics. The Baltimore-based outlet has canceled deals with UCLA, Cal, Hawaii and Cincinnati, and Boston College ended its relationship with the company by signing with New Balance and Adidas. |
| Pac-12 leaders set to meet, receive details of potential media rights deal, AP source says | |
| Pac-12 leaders are scheduled to meet this week and Commissioner George Kliavkoff is expected to present the members with details of a long-awaited and critical potential media rights deal, a person familiar with the conference's plans told The Associated Press on Monday. The meeting is set for Tuesday for presidents and chancellors, along with athletic directors, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Pac-12 is not publicly addressing its internal discussions. The meeting, which was first reported by Oregon-based sports blogger John Canzano, comes less than a week after Colorado announced it was leaving the Pac-12 after this year and re-joining the Big 12. Pac-12 leaders have mostly been steadfast -- at least publicly -- that they want to keep the conference together and were cautiously optimistic the league's next media rights deal would provide enough revenue to do so. Kilavkoff has been pursuing a new deal to replace the ones that expire in 2024 since Southern California and UCLA announced a little more than a year ago that they will to join the Big Ten when the current contracts with ESPN and Fox run out. Meanwhile, the Big 12 swooped in last fall and agreed to an extension that kicks with the two networks that starts in 2025. With Colorado's planned departure, the Pac-12 is down to nine still-committed members. If Kliavkoff can't deliver a deal that gets close to the $31 million per year the Big 12's contract is expected to pay its members there could be more defections. |
| Tiger Woods Joins PGA Tour Board Amid Player Unrest Over Saudi Deal | |
| The PGA Tour has agreed to add golf legend Tiger Woods to its board of directors, in a direct response to pushback from players over how it handled the stunning deal with LIV Golf's Saudi backers. In a letter last week to Tour players, commissioner Jay Monahan ceded to the players a say over a board seat vacated by former AT&T chairman Randall Stephenson, who recently stepped down citing Saudi Arabia's record on human rights. Golfers who stuck with the PGA Tour, many of whom turned away enormous sums of money offered to them by LIV, had been publicly miffed over the lack of transparency that led to the bitter rivals becoming partners. The players' demand for that influential seat: appoint Tiger, and only Tiger. In a response to Monahan, signed by 38 top players on the PGA Tour and dated Monday, they wrote that Monahan had to take various steps in order to regain the trust of the players following the agreement, which they learned about at around the same time as the general public. Regarded as perhaps the greatest player ever despite a career upended by injury and scandal, Woods emerged as an elder statesman and firm backer of the Tour during the PGA Tour's battle with LIV. Woods has hardly played this season as he recovers from a surgery earlier this year stemming from injuries he suffered in a life-threatening 2021 car crash. |
| U.S. Sens. Cardin, Thune urge IRS to prevent NIL collectives from obtaining tax-exempt status | |
| U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) and John Thune (R-South Dakota) sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service and Department of the Treasury on Monday urging the bodies to strengthen their stance on NIL collectives. The office of the IRS Chief Counsel released a 12-page memo in early June, which outlined why the IRS believes donations made to nonprofit collectives are not tax exempt. Thune and Cardin both sit on the Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight. In Monday's letter, they called for formal guidance. Back in September, they introduced bipartisan legislation that would prohibit individuals and organizations -- collectives -- from using the charity tax deduction for contributions to compensate collegiate athletes in the NIL space. Titled the Athlete Opportunity and Taxpayer Integrity Act, the legislation is aimed specifically at collectives that have claimed 501(c)(3) status. Universities would be exempt from this legislation. Some of the top-funded NIL collectives have applied and been deemed as 501(c)(3) organizations by the IRS. Many nonprofit collectives compensate athletes for deliverables such as promoting charities on social media. Some have the athletes get out in the community and participate in work with other nonprofits. Collective leaders have pointed toward the work athletes have done thanks to NIL since the memo was released. That includes efforts benefiting YMCAs, Big Brothers Big Sisters groups, cancer research and programs focused on ending gun violence. |
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