| Friday, June 6, 2025 |
| MSU president criticizes budget cuts to university | |
 | A year of austerity looks to be on the horizon for the state's public universities, and Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum isn't happy about it. In a letter Keenum sent Tuesday to faculty, staff and students, Keenum openly criticized cuts to higher education reflected in the state's Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which the legislature approved in a special legislative session last week. "It is very disheartening to see this lack of support when the State of Mississippi is in great fiscal shape and seeing record-setting economic development," Keenum wrote. Keenum cited a 1.1% cut in university funding from the previous year's allocations. "Of course, when you factor in annual inflation, that amounts to a reduction of more than 5% in our operations budget for the coming year," Keenum wrote in his letter. Keenum wrote that funding shortfalls in the state's budget also impact faculty salaries and routine maintenance and repairs on campus. The average faculty salaries are roughly 30% below those at peer institutions, and that with no new funding designated for state capital improvement projects, the university's planned growth will be delayed, Keenum's letter continues. Keenum noted that these budget cuts come at a time that the state is sitting on a "billion-dollar surplus in unrestricted funding." |
| Mississippi State hosts emergency training drill on June 6 | |
 | Mississippi State's Crisis Action Team will host an emergency preparedness exercise, a training to drill university first-responders, decision-makers and partnering community agencies on a hypothetical emergency scenario this Friday [June 6]. Students, visitors and other members of the campus community are advised that emergency vehicles and first responders will be utilizing the space at Partnership Middle School on the north side of campus Friday morning for training purposes. The school is not in session, and Starkville Oktibbeha School District leaders are participating in the training exercise. "MSU welcomes the chance for our university responders and other first responders like local fire and rescue departments to come together for training purposes because this type of drill does help prepare for optimized response in an actual emergency," said MSU Emergency Manager Brent Crocker. |
| Sports journalist Rick Cleveland explores the Intersection of sports and entertainment with Malcolm White at The MAX | |
 | In celebration of the State Games of Mississippi's opening weekend, the public is invited to The Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience for a conversation between renowned sportswriter Rick Cleveland and Malcolm White, former executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission, to discuss the often-overlooked connection between creativity, the arts and athletics. The program will highlight the outstanding careers of both well-known and lesser-known multi-disciplined Mississippians, including Jim Weatherly, Charley Pride, John Grisham, Dizzy Dean, Lem Barney, Jerry Clower, and, of course, The King himself, Elvis Presley. The event is set to take place beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday at The MAX. After the conversation, Cleveland and White will be available to sign copies of their books, which will be available for purchase in The MAX Store. "We look forward to welcoming thousands of athletes and their families to The MAX this weekend and throughout the summer," said Penny Kemp, president and CEO of The MAX. "When Malcolm mentioned the opportunity to explore the intersection of arts and athletics with Rick, I couldn't think of a better time to explore this topic than the opening weekend of the State Games of Mississippi." |
| Will Ridgeland become center of Mississippi sports tourism? Voters' OK of $40M tax plan a big help | |
 | Ridgeland voters are all in on updating and expanding Freedom Ridge Park. On Tuesday, June 3, voters in the city in Madison County moved forward with plans to become the center of sports tourism in Mississippi. With more than 74% of the vote, Ridgeland citizens approved a proposal to raise taxes in order to make up to $40 million of improvements to Freedom Ridge Park in Ridgeland in order to lure more people to the city and area to spend money. The referendum puts into action a temporary 2% tax increase on hotels and 1% tax increase on restaurants within city limits. The revenue generated from the tax is dedicated solely to the expansion of Freedom Ridge Park, which the city believes will position Ridgeland as a premier tournament and event destination. "We have always looked at expanding Freedom Ridge Park with additional opportunities," McGee previously told the Clarion Ledger. "Having more fields for multiple sports will allow us to market Ridgeland as a place to come for regional and national tournaments." |
| Natchez Trace to close section of parkway for road repair all summer | |
 | The National Park Service on Monday is closing a section of the Natchez Trace Parkway in Choctaw and Webster counties through the summer. The roadway will be closed starting at 2 p.m. to all traffic, including vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians, as construction crews work to repair failing areas of the parkway. Jeff Busby Campground is included in the closure. The stretch on the Parkway starts at Mississippi Highway 413 and extends to U.S. Highway 82 in Choctaw and Webster counties in Mississippi. The last night to camp at Jeff Busby campground is Sunday. A signed detour will be in place between milepost 181 and milepost 204 to navigate around the closure. Travelers can expect about 15 minutes (10 miles) added to their drive. The closure is necessary to provide for safety of workers and visitors while the parkway undergoes full removal of failed sections of pavement and culverts. |
| Can new Rankin First director lure data center to Jackson area? | |
| Garrett Wright is coming home to Mississippi and wants to make sure Rankin County's economic development scene continues to grow. Wright was named the new executive director of the Rankin First Economic Development Authority June 2, and when he comes to work for his first day on June 16, he expects to hit the ground running. He replaces Tom Troxler, who retired. "I was sold on the vision on the Rankin County Board of Supervisors and the Rankin First board," Wright told the Clarion Ledger. "They are investing in the right things. So, I am excited about leading the economic development movement there." Wright brings more than a decade of economic and business development experience, most recently serving as Director of Economic Development and Business Development at Public Service Company of Oklahoma and American Electric Power in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His career includes leadership roles with the Bay Economic Development Alliance and the Area Development Partnership. |
| 'Sinners' puts 'truth on screen' for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians | |
 | It's a small part in a big movie, but for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, their scene in "Sinners" is a huge deal. The horror movie blockbuster, starring Michael B. Jordan as a gangster turned vampire slayer, paints a brief but impactful portrait of the tribe using Choctaw actors and cultural experts. For some, it's the first time they've seen the Choctaw way of life accurately portrayed on the big screen. In the scene, a posse of Choctaw, riding on horseback and in an old truck, arrives at a small farmhouse to warn the couple that lives there of coming danger. When the couple refuses their help, a Choctaw man wishes them luck in his native language before riding off. "I've not seen another movie that has our language, like, spoken correctly," said Cynthia Massey, a cultural consultant for "Sinners." Massey runs the tribe's Chahta Immi Cultural Center alongside Sherrill Nickey and department director Jay Wesley. All three were hired as cultural consultants to ensure a genuine depiction of the tribe in the film. Together, they sifted through archives, researching how their ancestors would have dressed, spoken and acted in the 1930s, when "Sinners" takes place. "I was honored and humbled by the fact that they wanted a true representation," said Wesley, who also acted in the movie. |
| Governor appoints Hattiesburg attorney as 12th Circuit judge | |
 | Hattiesburg attorney Thomas "Michael" Reed was named 12th Circuit judge, appointed to the office by Gov. Tate Reeves. Reed will take office July 1. The 12th Circuit serves Forrest and Perry counties. Reed will fill the remainder of retiring Judge Robert Helfrich's term. Helfrich was reelected in November. Helfrich's term expires at the end of 2028. "Michael's years of experience prosecuting criminals and trying cases will serve the 12th Circuit Court District well," Reeves said in a news release. "Mississippi residents deserve a strong criminal justice system -- that's why I've appointed people like Michael. I know his expertise and experience will strengthen the 12th Circuit Court District." In private practice, Reed handles criminal defense and personal injury cases, according to his website. He earned a juris doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law and a bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University. |
| GOP senators question cost of Army's parade spectacle | |
 | The top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee is expressing skepticism over the Army's plan to hold a multimillion-dollar parade in Washington on June 14 -- even as service leaders defend it as a vital recruiting tool. "I would have recommended against the parade," Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi said in an interview Thursday, shortly after learning from Army Secretary Dan Driscoll in an Army budget hearing that the event would have an estimated price tag in the range of $25 million to $40 million. "On the other hand, the secretary feels that it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for thousands of young Americans to see what a great opportunity it is to participate in a great military force, that it will be a recruiting tool," Wicker added. "So, we'll see." Driscoll defended the cost of the parade to members of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday morning. "We believe we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fill up our recruiting pipeline," he said. But he was not able to provide an exact cost, he said, because the Army will also need to cover whatever damage its tanks do to Washington's streets. The Army plans to roll 25 M1 Abrams main battle tanks and 150 vehicles down Constitution Avenue for a massive parade that will mark the Army's 250th birthday -- which also falls on President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. Critics have questioned the cost and potential harm to the capital city's infrastructure, which the Army hopes to prevent by placing heavy metal plates at key points. Wicker isn't the only Republican to question the parade plans. |
| Medicare cuts in play as Senate GOP hones budget bill | |
 | With deficit concerns top of mind as Senate Republicans go deep into reconciliation bill-drafting mode, Medicare is increasingly coming up as a potential pay-for, particularly with several GOP senators looking to scale back the size of proposed Medicaid and food stamp cuts while expanding some tax breaks. The Congressional Budget Office on Thursday confirmed the cost of the House-passed budget package would approach $3 trillion over a decade once added interest payments on the debt are factored in. Meanwhile concerns about shifting Medicaid costs to states haven't abated, and at the same time, it was becoming clear the Senate Agriculture Committee was going to have to significantly reduce the cuts in their panel's jurisdiction that came over from the House. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., for the first time acknowledged that Medicare, which covers about 20 percent of the U.S. population, mainly seniors, may be looked at. "I think anything we can do that's waste, fraud and abuse are open to discussions," Thune said when asked about whether Medicare cuts are on the table. Multiple Republican senators Thursday highlighted federal spending on Medicare Advantage, the private alternative to traditional Medicare that covers half of the Medicare population. Medicare Advantage plans have faced scrutiny from government watchdogs, regulators and budget hawks for driving up Medicare spending. |
| With hurricane season underway, Gulf Coast worries FEMA, Weather Service aren't ready | |
 | With hurricane season officially underway, worries are mounting around whether President Trump's cuts to the federal government have endangered the nation's disaster response. The concern is particularly pronounced on the Gulf Coast, where ominous storm systems are already beginning to form amid widespread staffing shortages at the area's critical weather stations. This week, a former FEMA chief compared the current state of the agency to what it looked like before the deadly debacles of 2005, when Hurricanes Rita and Katrina killed more than 2,000 people. Tulane University's Stephen Murphy, who helped lead New Orleans' recovery after Katrina, said the consequences of FEMA delays -- like those seen after recent tornadoes in Arkanas -- would be "catastrophic." "You have a city that's underwater -- no health care, no power, no water. The population cannot live there," Murphy said. The restructuring of FEMA and NWS tracks with proposals in Project 2025, a policy blueprint tied to the Trump campaign that calls for pushing FEMA's responsibilities to the states, reducing disaster declarations and privatizing NOAA while "disbanding" its climate research." |
| Trump administration races to fix a big mistake: DOGE fired too many people | |
 | Early this spring, the Food and Drug Administration fired nearly 50 workers in the Office of Regulatory Policy -- only to turn around and order them back to the office with one day's notice. After dismissing thousands of probationary employees for fabricated "performance" issues, the IRS reversed course and told them to show up to work in late May. And some staff at the U.S. Agency for International Development, dismantled in the first days of the Trump administration by a gleeful Elon Musk and his cost-cutting team at the U.S. DOGE Service, checked their inboxes this month to find an unexpected offer: Would you consider returning -- to work for the State Department? Across the government, the Trump administration is scrambling to rehire many federal employees dismissed under DOGE's staff-slashing initiatives after wiping out entire offices, in some cases imperiling key services such as weather forecasting and the drug approval process. Since Musk left the White House last week, he and Trump have fallen out bitterly, sniping at each other in public over the cost of Trump's sweeping tax legislation and government subsidies for Musk's businesses. But even before that, the administration was working to undo some of DOGE's highest-profile actions. |
| New UMMC tool helps women on Medicaid find prenatal care and family planning | |
 | At the University of Mississippi Medical Center, one researcher's full-time job for the past nine months has been to find out which clinics around the state offer different kinds of women's health care, and whether they accept various forms of Medicaid. The final result is a recently-launched database aimed at helping women locate the nearest clinic that can offer the care they need. The work that went into creating it highlights a pervasive problem: Even making an appointment can be a barrier that keeps women from improving their lives. "We Need to Talk" is a compilation of all Mississippi clinics offering prenatal care -- specifying which ones also offer family planning, and whether they take Medicaid insurance, Medicaid waivers and see women whose Medicaid applications are pending. There is also a hotline designed to give additional support to anyone having questions or feeling overwhelmed about the process. "Having gone through the work, it was remarkable. It wasn't easy to figure out where you should go for care," said Dr. Thomas Dobbs, former state health officer and dean of the John D. Bower School of Population Health at UMMC, who oversaw the project. "And that should be one of the most basic bits of information we have." The idea was born from the recent 900% increase in babies born with syphilis, Dobbs explained, which he called a "canary in a coal mine" signaling more danger to come. |
| Louisiana lawmakers urge colleges to crack down on antisemitism after campus protests | |
 | Lawmakers are urging Louisiana colleges and universities to adopt new policies aimed at curbing antisemitism on their campuses under a resolution advancing through the state Legislature. The proposal, which follows complaints of antisemitism on college campuses after a wave of pro-Palestine protests last year, aligns with President Donald Trump's promise to crack down on universities he says have done too little to protect Jewish students. House Resolution 167 by Rep. Mike Bayham, R-Chalmette, asks schools to adopt "policies and procedures" to address antisemitism and, starting in 2028, to annually report data about antisemitism-related complaints by students and staff and any follow-up investigations. The resolution asks the Board of Regents to submit a statewide summary of that data to the House Education Committee no later than Oct. 31. The committee unanimously approved the resolution this week. It's scheduled for final debate in the House on Sunday. |
| The U. of Florida's Presidential Search Imploded. Now What? | |
 | After a contentious process that ended dramatically on Tuesday with a rejected final candidate, the University of Florida faces difficult questions about what's to come for its presidential search. The statewide board that oversees Florida's public universities voted 10-6 against the sole finalist, Santa J. Ono, former president of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, who had been unanimously approved by the campus trustees. A UF spokesperson declined to comment on the search or to answer specific questions, such as whether a new committee will be formed, when a search might begin, or if there are plans to reconsider other candidates from this round. Sarah D. Lynne, who as chair of UF's Faculty Senate serves as a campus trustee, said she is worried about how the result of Tuesday's meeting will affect recruiting for UF's top job as well as other presidencies in Florida. Having so many leadership positions filled by interim candidates can also be complicated, Lynne added. For now, Kent Fuchs, who served as UF's president from 2015 to 2023, will continue as the university's interim leader until at least July 31, with the possibility of an extension. There are five temporary deans as well, including at the Levin College of Law, the College of Arts, and the College of Medicine. The presidential vacancy is exacerbating that challenge: Many dean searches are on hold until a new leader is selected, said Meera Sitharam, the UF chapter president of the United Faculty of Florida, the state's faculty union. |
| Texas A&M Transportation Institute celebrates 75th anniversary | |
 | The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) celebrated its 75th anniversary Thursday afternoon with comments by dignitaries and tours of its facility at the Texas A&M RELLIS campus. TTI Agency Director Gregory Winfree welcomed the crowd of over 200 and served as emcee of the event. "So, for 75 years, TTI has been at the forefront of developing and testing transformative transportation solutions," he said. "If you drove here today, you likely traveled on asphalt engineered by TTI, guided by road signs we designed, and protected by guardrails developed by our renowned roadside safety program. In fact, TTI research has touched nearly every mile of roadway in Texas, enhancing both safety and efficiency." He said TTI began in 1950 with a vision of safer and more efficient travel. "Our mission has been clear to ensure that every mile you travel is smoother, safer and smarter," he said. Kelly Templin, executive director of the RELLIS campus, said the work done by TTI is about more than making roadways better. "We're here to celebrate the people, the men and women that empower this institute with purpose and passion," he said. "The work of this institution has saved countless dollars for the American taxpayer for the state of Texas but has also saved countless lives in the safety measures that have been developed here on this campus." |
| As lawmakers tried to name an official steak, Texas students learned how to find the best beef | |
| Steaks are serious business in Texas. If you need proof of that, just count the meat judging trophies at Texas Tech University. "Texans love to compete, it doesn't matter what it is," said Mark Miller, a professor of meat science at Texas Tech. "It's no different when you get into the agricultural world and meat judging." It's right up there with football, Miller said. Nearly 400 miles from Lubbock, there was a different sort of meat competition at the Texas Capitol this year. State Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, sought to designate the tomahawk ribeye as the official steak of Texas. He did this after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called on the Senate to rename the New York strip steak to the Texas strip and designate it as the state's official steak. The success of the beef industry has energized meat judging in the state over the decades. Along with Texas Tech, Texas A&M, West Texas A&M, and Clarendon College are just a few Texas schools with accomplished meat judging teams and full trophy cases. While lawmakers didn't designate an official steak, teams around Texas are preparing for the next season of competition. And in Texas, where beef is considered king, meat judging has become just as big of a point of pride. |
| State oversight, protest rules: How Texas lawmakers changed colleges this session | |
| Texas college students could return to overhauled campuses this fall after Republicans pledged to hold taxpayer-funded educational institutions accountable this session. Lawmakers approved a number of higher education bills -- from more state oversight to tighter protest rules -- that aim to roll back what Republican leaders, including Gov. Greg Abbott, see as bias on public college campuses. The cornerstone of Abbott's promise to change higher education in Texas is a proposal to give governor-appointed regents more power over what is taught and who is hired. That bill cleared both chambers and is headed to Abbott's desk. The proposed changes come as federal leaders are aiming to expand their reach into colleges, particularly with regard to what schools teach, who they hire and what political activities occur on campus. Public universities in Texas already face increased scrutiny after a 2023 state law banned diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at those schools. |
| U. of Illinois names computer scientist, Wisconsin provost as new chancellor | |
| The University of Illinois System officially named the next Chancellor of its Urbana-Champaign campus. In a news release, System President Tim Killeen said Charles Lee Isbell Jr. will be the 11th Chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He comes to Illinois from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he served as a computer scientist and provost. "It's the honor of a lifetime to be appointed to the role of chancellor and I'm deeply grateful to President Killeen and the Board of Trustees," Isbell said. "I'm energized by this chance to serve the citizens of Illinois and advance the mission of learning, discovery, engagement and economic development." He will begin serving in a designate capacity on July 16, when current Chancellor Robert Jones finishes his term and starts transitioning to his new role at the University of Washington. Isbell will formally assume the role on Aug. 1, pending approval from the U of I Board of Trustees. Isbell is 56 years old and hails from Atlanta, Georgia. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology and received a bachelor's degree in information and computer science. He completed his master's and Ph.D. in electrical engineering and computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. |
| Purdue Cuts Off Student Paper, Citing 'Institutional Neutrality' | |
 | Purdue University has ended a long-standing partnership with its independent student newspaper, The Purdue Exponent, and will no longer distribute papers, give student journalists free parking passes or allow them to use the word "Purdue" for commercial purposes. The Purdue Student Publishing Foundation board (PSPF), the nonprofit group that oversees The Exponent -- the largest collegiate newspaper in Indiana -- said the changes came without warning. On May 30, PSPF received an email from Purdue's Office of Legal Counsel notifying the group that their contract had expired more than a decade ago and the university would not participate in newspaper distribution or give the students exclusive access to newspaper racks on campus. In addition, the message said, the university will not enter into a new contract for facility use with the paper to remain consistent with the administration's stated policy on institutional neutrality. According to a statement from the university, it is not consistent "with principles of freedom of expression, institutional neutrality and fairness to provide the services and accommodations described in the letter to one media organization but not others." "Purdue's moves are unacceptable and represent not only a distortion of trademark law but a betrayal of the university's First Amendment obligations to uphold free expression," Dominic Coletti, a student press program officer for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, told The Exponent. |
| Job Market Is Getting Tougher for College Graduates | |
 | Investors and central bankers will be closely watching the jobs report for signs of how the labor market is holding up amid President Trump's trade war. U.S. employers added 139,000 jobs in May, and the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2 percent. That's solid growth, but it comes as companies move to pause hiring over uncertainty around economic growth and the fallout from tariffs. Recent college graduates have been hit especially hard. Unemployment for those ages 22 to 27 rose to 5.8 percent in March, a four-year high, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Researchers attributed some of the difficulty finding jobs to larger societal shifts. "While some of it is related to a normalization after the post-pandemic surge," a recent report by Oxford Economics noted, "there are signs that entry-level positions are being displaced by artificial intelligence at higher rates." Layoffs are still relatively low, said Allison Shrivastava, an economist at the Indeed Hiring Lab. "But if you're trying to get into the labor market right now, that's where you're really facing challenges," she added. "And that's where new grads are facing challenges." For recent grads, jobs are more scarce in the finance and tech sectors, including software development, Ms. Shrivastava said. |
| Top US universities raced to become global campuses. Under Trump, it's becoming a liability | |
| Three decades ago, foreign students at Harvard University accounted for just 11% of the total student body. Today, they account for 26%. Like other prestigious U.S. universities, Harvard for years has been cashing in on its global cache to recruit the world's best students. Now, the booming international enrollment has left colleges vulnerable to a new line of attack from President Donald Trump. The president has begun to use his control over the nation's borders as leverage in his fight to reshape American higher education. Trump's latest salvo against Harvard uses a broad federal law to bar foreign students from entering the country to attend the campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His proclamation applies only to Harvard, and a federal judge late Thursday temporarily blocked it. But Trump's order poses a threat to other universities his administration has targeted as hotbeds of liberalism in need of reform. It's rattling campuses under federal scrutiny, including Columbia University, where foreign students make up 40% of the campus. As the Trump administration stepped up reviews of new student visas last week, a group of Columbia faculty and alumni raised concerns over Trump's gatekeeping powers. "Columbia's exposure to this 'stroke of pen' risk is uniquely high," the Stand Columbia Society wrote in a newsletter. |
| What to Expect as the Senate Tackles Reconciliation | |
| The clock is ticking for Senate Republicans as they rush to approve a sweeping bill that cuts spending and taxes and pays for some of President Donald Trump's top agenda items by the Fourth of July. If passed, the complex piece of legislation -- known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act -- could entirely reshape the student loan system, increase endowment taxes, force colleges to repay their students' unpaid loans and significantly cut Medicaid, among other changes. The House passed the measure late last month, putting the ball in the Senate's proverbial court. But key senators have since said little about the higher ed provisions in the bill, so it's unclear what lawmakers in the upper chamber will prioritize. Higher ed experts predict risk-sharing, or the plan to require colleges to pay a penalty for unpaid loans, likely won't survive. Other issues, like whether to change the eligibility criteria for the Pell Grant, are more uncertain. But any changes to the House bill will come at a cost, as saving one program likely will mean deeper cuts to another. Over all, lawmakers will face a difficult balancing act to get the legislation through the Senate without endangering a second passage in the House, where bill advanced by the skin of its teeth. And Trump has called the bill the single most important piece of legislation in his second term, suggesting that failure is not an option. |
| Make America Boring Again | |
| The Magnolia Tribune's Russ Latino writes: On Thursday, simmering tensions between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk erupted into a war of words on social media platforms owned by each of the billionaires. You know that redneck cousin of yours that post every sordid detail of her life online? Her husband's cheating. Her cousin got arrested for fighting dogs. Her son is addicted to meth. Well, like that, but between the leader of the free world and its richest man after a whirlwind bromance. Anyone who's watched either man for any length of time knew this day would come. Both have egos. Neither is particularly well known for impulse control. Proportionate response isn't really a part of their lexicon, either. Still the exercise was striking. For the chronically online, the back and forth offered a series of dopamine hits and a chance to "get the popcorn." But for the few among us who still believe the "how" is as important as the "what," Thursday was a reminder of how unserious we've become. One can only wonder what Putin or Xi thought in the moment. ... For all of the media bellyaching during President Trump's first term, he advanced serious conservative reform. ... If the first term looked a bit like Reagan conservatism come to fruition, the second term feels more like an effort to redefine what it means to be conservative -- and at times like someone got into Elon's alleged Adderall supply. |
SPORTS
| The Beginning Of A Promising New Era: Brian O'Connor introduced as MSU's 19th head baseball coach | |
| Dudy Noble Field was buzzing on Thursday night. Electricity was in the air and thousands of the Mississippi State faithful were in the park. Given the track record of the man everyone came to see, it's only the first of many big June moments The Dude will host in the years to come. Brian O'Connor was introduced as the 19th head coach in Mississippi State baseball history on Thursday. After 22 years as the leader of the Virginia Cavaliers, O'Connor officially traded in his blue and orange for Maroon and White, signaling the uniting of one of the game's premier coaches with one of the sport's most proud programs. O'Connor, already a hall of fame coach with his 900-plus wins, seven College World Series trips and national title, let it be known he's more than ready to embrace the lofty expectations that surround Bulldog baseball. O'Connor spoke for approximately 10 minutes directly to his newest fans, then for another half hour to members of the media. Those that heard what he had to say caught a glimpse of what's made O'Connor so successful and why MSU Director of Athletics Zac Selmon quickly identified O'Connor as the right man to take the reins of State baseball. |
| Why Brian O'Connor retained Justin Parker as Mississippi State baseball pitching coach | |
| New Mississippi State baseball coach Brian O'Connor brought two assistant coaches with him from Virginia, Kevin McMullan and Matt Kirby. However, he picked one MSU assistant to stay with him on staff. The Bulldogs retained Justin Parker as the pitching coach. The news was announced just hours before O'Connor's introduction at Dudy Noble Field on June 5. Parker was the interim MSU coach after Chris Lemonis was fired on April 28. He led the Bulldogs to a 9-1 finish to the regular season and an NCAA tournament at-large bid. "I felt like that we really needed on this staff, somebody who had connections in the southeast from a recruiting standpoint," O'Connor, hired on June 1, said. "A couple of things in Justin Parker's favor is that he's coached four years in the SEC. He knows this league." O'Connor also recalled last season's Charlottesville Regional where Mississippi State and Virginia played each other twice. The Cavaliers won both games, but O'Connor said he was impressed with Parker's pitching staff. He mentioned Parker's development with young pitchers, specifically Charlie Foster, Ryan McPherson and Dane Burns. "Not only is he a developer of their skill and going to help them not only win for Mississippi State, but also be successful after their time here, I happen to feel he's also a good man," O'Connor said, who'd been the Virginia coach since 2004. "That is the fiber of what he's about, is what I'm about." |
| How Brian O'Connor hire reaffirms Mississippi State as a top program in college baseball | |
| Everything about Brian O'Connor's public introduction was grand. A red carpet spilled from a stage in deep center field to the top of the infield at Dudy Noble Field. Another stage was set up over the pitcher's mound, with 19 Mississippi State baseball trophies surrounding it. A large crowd congregated behind home plate, while other stragglers were in the outfield grilling at their rigs. Concessions stands were open. It felt like a baseball game was being played. Except it wasn't. The Mississippi State fans were all gathered for O'Connor's public introduction on June 5 as the newly hired coach. The O'Connor hire is a big, one worthy of a celebration. He'd been the Virginia coach for 22 seasons with 18 NCAA tournaments, nine super regionals, seven College World Series and a national championship in 2015. Other teams have tried and failed to hire him away. By winning the O'Connor sweepstakes, Mississippi State reaffirmed itself as one of the premier baseball programs in the country, and displayed it during his introduction. "Tonight was amazing," O'Connor said. "Tonight showed what this place is about. I did not expect tonight." |
| Mississippi State's Brian O'Connor to be second-highest paid coach in college baseball | |
| Fireworks lined the sky above Dudy Noble Field on Thursday night when Brian O'Connor was welcomed by thousands of cowbell-ringing fans as Mississippi State's new head baseball coach. But the bigger fireworks -- at least figuratively speaking -- may have been when those across the college baseball scene found out just how much the Bulldogs are paying to get O'Connor to leave his 22-season post at Virginia and relocate to Starkville. Media members were handed a piece of paper about 30 minutes into the welcome party, one that disclosed for the first time the details of O'Connor's contract. The national championship-winning coach will start with a base salary of $2.9 million across four years with performance incentives. If O'Connor were to sweep the performance incentives during a single season, he could end that year with a whopping $3.4 million in his bank account. Either way, the base salary he and Mississippi State agreed to automatically launches O'Connor into the slot of second-highest paid college baseball coach in America. The only coach making more is Tennessee's Tony Vitello, who brings in an average salary of $3 million. |
| 'It took all of us': Brian O'Connor reflects on 22 years at Virginia and why he moved on | |
| He spent late Wednesday night reading through an overflowing inbox of text messages from his former players. On Thursday morning, former Virginia baseball coach Brian O'Connor said he was brought to tears by what the sentiment of those notes means to him. "Every one of them said like, 'Coach, thank you for the impact that you made on my life. Thank you for the experience. We'll be rooting you on like crazy and you'll forever be my coach,'" O'Connor told The Daily Progress in an exclusive interview on Thursday. "And that's what I love, because at its core, if you don't have that, you don't win. It's based on the relationships." O'Connor spent 22 years building UVa's program and coaching the Cavaliers. O'Connor accepted the gig as Mississippi State's coach on Sunday night. "I hope as time passes," O'Connor said, "the Virginia baseball fans can realize and understand that for 22 years I poured every ounce of energy I had into that program to make it the best that I could possibly make it for the players, the fans, for everyone involved. I hope they see that as time passes, with what was done there and what it took to get it done there. And it took all of us," he continued. "The coaches, the staff, the players, the fans, former players and donors. I said all along you can't have success without all of those people and they all have to be all in, and for 22 years, all of those groups of people were in." |
| Why new Mississippi State baseball coach Brian O'Connor left Virginia | |
| Brian O'Connor said there were two factors that led to him leaving Virginia to be the next Mississippi State baseball coach. The first was MSU athletics director Zac Selmon. The second was the timing of his career. O'Connor was hired by the Bulldogs on June 1 after 22 seasons as the Virginia coach. He achieved a lot at Virginia, reaching 18 NCAA tournaments, nine super regionals, seven College World Series and a national championship in 2015. Two of those CWS appearances were in 2023 and 2024, so it raised an obvious question. Why now? "Zac Selmon was a big part of this," he said after his public introduction at Dudy Noble Field on June 5. "I felt like, if I was going to leave this place that I loved and worked at for 22 years, it had to be the right partnership, first and foremost. And then, it had to be the place that you felt like you could be as successful as possible. I poured everything into that program in Charlottesville, and the timing was lined up from the standpoint of where I was at in my career and where my family was at." O'Connor added that he turned down other job opportunities in the past. "There's been a lot of schools over the years that have reached out about their jobs," O'Connor said. "But make no mistake about it, this was the right one for Brian O'Connor to take a different path in his career." |
| Jovanovic earns multiple All-American honors | |
| Mississippi State tennis standout Petar Jovanovic continues to reel in individual accolades after a historic season with the Bulldogs. Last week, he was named an All-American by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, and this week, he was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-American team. Jovanovic holds a perfect 4.00 GPA and is majoring in finance. He exceeds both the academic standard of 3.50 GPA as well as the athletic standards, having helped the Bulldogs into the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament. Jovanovic was a member of one of the top doubles teams in the country with teammate, fellow All-American Benito Sanchez Martinez. The pair finished the season ranked No. 2 in the nation and combined to win 17 straight doubles matches to close out the 2024-25 campaign, with only four matches going unfinished during that stretch. Jovanovic and Martinez have 58 career doubles wins together, the most in program history, and set a single-season record of 33 wins this year. |
| NCAA baseball tournament super regional schedule: Breaking down the eight matchups | |
 | We're just one step away from college baseball's elite determining this season's national champion. Well, OK, technically we're two steps away, but you get the idea. This weekend, the remaining 16 teams will square off in best-of-three super regionals, with the eight winners headed to Nebraska and the sport's ultimate destination, the College World Series. Here's a breakdown of all eight pairings with game times and TV channels to help you plan your weekend viewing. Keep in mind, of course, that weather might cause delays at some locales, and the schedules later in the weekend will hinge on which and how many series require third and deciding contests. |
| 'I am not for everyone': Love or loathe him, Tony Vitello has Tennessee rocking | |
| Baseball is a game that is built around and dominated by lines. Baselines. Foul lines. The batter's box. The on-deck circle. Even the walls are edged with bright yellow borderlines. Constant linear reminders of where one is allowed to be, lest someone literally run afoul of those boundaries and the seemingly endless rules that govern them. There are many people in baseball -- it would be an easy argument to say most -- who operate safely within those lines. Then, there are those who view their job to push back on those restrictions. To step over, or at least to place all 10 toes atop or up against the edge of all of those lines. And that brings us to Tony Vitello. He is the coach of the Tennessee Volunteers, the defending Men's College World Series champion. He has led the Vols to their fifth consecutive super regional this weekend, as No. 14 Tennessee travels to No. 3 Arkansas for an SEC showdown against Hogs coach Dave Van Horn, one of the many legendary college baseball minds under whom Vitello worked from 2014 to 2017. He's 46, single and, in his own words, "married to the game," but also isn't allergic to traveling to Nashville or the islands for a good time. All of the above should make a man nationally beloved. Instead, Vitello is a Tennessee Orange axe, splitting the college baseball community's feeling about him as a very clean, yes, line between love and loathe. |
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