| Thursday, June 12, 2025 |
| Scouts honor U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith on July 2 with the Champion for Scouting award at The Mill at MSU in Starkville | |
 | The Natchez Trace Council of the Boy Scouts of America will honor U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Brookhaven as winner of the Champion for Scouting award from the council at a reception and dinner at The Mill at Mississippi State University on July 2, at 6 p.m. The reception will provide an opportunity for sponsors to meet and greet the Senator before the dinner and program. The event is a fundraiser for the Natchez Trace Council of the Scouting program in northeast Mississippi. Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum is the honorary chairman for the event. "Mississippi benefits daily from the service and stature of Sen. Hyde-Smith and we are grateful to her for taking time to lead this fundraising effort for the 22-county Natchez Trace Council of the Scouting program in Mississippi. From her position on the U.S. Senate committees on Appropriations and Agriculture, Sen. Hyde-Smith's ability to serve Mississippi and the nation is formidable," said Natchez Trace Council president Sid Salter of Starkville. "Cindy is an outstanding public servant and a role model for youth who flourish in Scouting. This is an opportunity to recognize Sen. Hyde-Smith and support Scouting in our local communities from the Tennessee line to the Golden Triangle." |
| Theater camp keeps audiences watching with 44th musical | |
 | Superheroes and villains compete in a reality television show to find their arch nemesis. Employees at a mall food court are followed by a documentary crew. Amateur ghost hunters attempt to uncover the unknown, but they may find more than they expected. "Are you still watching?" Writing Director Eric Fritzius asked on Wednesday morning, quoting the name of the original student-written musical seventh-to-12th grade campers are working to create for the 44th year of the Summer Scholars On Stage theater camp at Mississippi State University. "It's based on the idea that people will just sit down to watch a streaming service and go from show to show to show, and the streaming service will say 'are you still watching?'" Fritzius said. Camp Director Stephen Cunetto said students arrived on campus earlier this week, starting the process of writing, producing, and performing the original show. The campers have only three weeks from start to finish, with the show taking the stage at 7 p.m. June 27 and at 1 p.m. June 28 in McComas Hall on the MSU campus. "It's amazing to be able to put on a production in three weeks, from writing it all the way down to producing it, putting it on," Cunetto said. |
| June is National Dairy Month. Here's how to celebrate Mississippi farmers | |
 | National Dairy Month is underway, taking place every June since 1937, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate. As of date, Mississippi has 48 working dairy farms with an average of 150 cows per farm. Laura Marbury, a registered dietician who works for the Dairy Alliance, said the best thing consumers can do to show their support for local farmers is to shop for locally produced dairy products. "The best thing you can do is enjoy a delicious, local dairy product," she said during an appearance on Good Things with Rebecca Turner, adding that more mile than you think is produced locally. "Your milk that you buy at the grocery store actually goes from farm to fridge within 38 hours. So, milk is actually pretty local and it's a great high-quality, nutritious product." For those who aren't big fans of glass of cold milk, other dairy products like cheeses, yogurt, and ice cream are made right here in Mississippi. Mississippi State University, home to the nation's second largest on-campus dairy farm, does produce around 370,000 gallons of milk each year. But its annual output of cheese stands at 300,000 pounds and ice cream at 9,000 gallons. "There are plenty of delicious, dairy products you can celebrate with especially during this hot month," Marbury said. |
| MSU vegetable field day set for July 23 in Verona | |
| Vegetable producers across the Southeast are invited to the 2025 Vegetable Field Day on July 23 at the Mississippi State University station in Verona. The half-day event is hosted by the MSU Extension Service and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center. No pre-registration is required. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the field day will conclude at 11 a.m. "Participants will have the opportunity to tour the research farm and see ongoing projects in multiple vegetable production systems, including tomatoes, bell peppers and southern peas," said Timothy Ayankojo, event organizer and Extension vegetable specialist. "Topics under discussion at the field day will be nutrient and water management, as well as organic soilborne disease management." |
| Mississippi State unveils 78th annual Lyceum Series events | |
 | Mississippi State University (MSU) will host the 78th annual Lyceum Series. Season ticket renewals opened on June 9. New season and mini-series ticket sales for the season's six-part series go on sale July 1, while individual tickets are available starting August 20. Additional Lyceum events all are scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Lee Hall's Bettersworth Auditorium. General public season tickets are $150 per person and $135 for MSU employees and senior citizens; mini-series tickets are $75 per person and $65 for employees and senior citizens; and individual tickets are $30 per person, $25 for MSU employees and senior citizens, and $10 for children. Individual tickets are free for MSU students and available for pickup at the Center for Student Activities, located on the third floor of Colvard Student Union, at any point in the year or reserved online at least one week prior to each show. |
| Mississippi State's Riley Center announces star-studded 2025-26 lineup | |
| A star-studded list of musical acts is coming to Meridian for the 2025-26 performance series at Mississippi State's Riley Center for Education and Performing, with shows that will appeal to wide-ranging audiences. The new season will include seven concerts at the restored Victorian theater, made up of well-known artists that span genres and generations. The acts include rising Americana quintet Band of Heathens, southern rock staple Marshall Tucker Band, soul powerhouse Leela James, country music legend Randy Travis, popular vocal group Straight No Chaser, Tony-winning Leslie Odom, Jr., and legendary classic rock band Kansas. "Each artist brings a unique energy to the stage, promising unforgettable experiences for our audiences," Riley Center director Morgan Dudley said. Current season ticket-holders will have until June 27 to renew existing seats. On June 23, patrons will also be able to create "Build-Your-Own" mini ticket packages by selecting three or more shows. |
| Columbus, Starkville plan multi-day celebrations for Juneteenth | |
| Federal troops marched into Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865 -- more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed -- to inform more than 250,000 enslaved people in the state of their freedom. The day became known as Juneteenth and was celebrated as the end of slavery in the United States locally and across the nation before becoming a nationally-recognized holiday in 2021. This year, the Golden Triangle will celebrate Juneteenth with multi-day festivities aimed to educate, celebrate and unite its communities. Yulanda Haddix, president for the Oktibbeha County Branch of NAACP, said she believes Juneteenth is a day to bring communities together, regardless of cultural background. The celebration in Starkville will kick off with an opening ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. June 19 at Fire Station Park, followed by live jazz, country and blues music for the event's Arts and Cultural Experience. Festivities will continue with a 5K walk or run at 8 a.m. June 21 from the Needmore Center to Unity Park. Registration for the 5K can be done at the Needmore Center at 7 a.m. After the 5K, a health fair, hosted by Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi Medical Center, will be held at Unity Park. |
| Severe weather pushes cotton production back in Mississippi | |
 | Jack Huerkamp is a cotton farmer in Noxubee County. With the recent frequent rainfall, he has doubts about this year's crop. "Cotton is a long season crop, and that's why it's only a southern crop and not a northern crop. It's got to have more days, more months to mature and we're kind of running out of time out of anything that we planted," said Huerkamp. He planted his first set of cotton on May 17 and it seems to be doing well. However, the seeds he planted more recently, on June 5, took a downfall when it flooded this past weekend. He may have to replant some. "Just everything we do, we only have a few days, so when we get a dry day, it's more than daylight into dark. You're running way past dark, trying to get things done," said Huerkamp. The United States Department of Agriculture reports 94% of cotton acres were planted in Mississippi by this time last year compared to the 65% that has been planted so far. |
| Mary Means Business: Zachary's to open wine bar tavern | |
| Columbus folks, it's time to wine down. Zachary's owner Doug Pellum's newest venture is taking off -- turning The Tavern from an event venue into The Tavern Wine Bar, Columbus' newest hangout. Expecting to open near the Fourth of July, you can check out The Tavern Wine Bar at 418 Second Ave. N. Restaurant general manager Caleb McCoy-Wren will lead operations at the new spot. "The Tavern Wine Bar will be a small, ambient space for people who like a more serene and quiet atmosphere to enjoy time with friends and family," he said. "We will offer a variety of wines and specialized cocktails with some of the custom ingredients being made in-house." In addition to specialty beverages, The Tavern will offer charcuterie boards, flatbreads and small appetizers. "(This is) something that we haven't quite had before," he said. "For our wine lovers and for those who want just a calm and relaxing atmosphere to enjoy a small bite to eat with a beverage." |
| Vicksburg contestants sweep preliminary awards in Miss Mississippi 2025's first night | |
| The theme for this year's Miss Mississippi Competition is "Oh, What a Night," and oh, what a night it was with Miss Vicksburg Morgan Nelson winning in the evening gown phase of the competition and Miss Mississippi State University Sarah Randolph taking top honors in talent. Both contestants are from Vicksburg. "I'm pretty sure you could see the shock on my face," Nelson said of winning a phase in the week's first preliminary round. "I was so surprised and just proud of myself, honestly. I truly felt like me; I felt like Morgan on the stage." When Miss Mississippi State University Sarah Randolph heard her name called as the preliminary talent winner, she said she was beyond excited. "I am feeling ecstatic," she said. "This is actually a song that I've been wanting to sing for a long time. I can literally recite to you the whole script of 'The Phantom of the Opera,'" Randolph, who has competed in the competition for three years, said she practiced her performance from "The Phantom of the Opera" tirelessly. "I don't think a lot of people understand how much prep goes into the pageants," she said. "There's this huge misconception that it's a beauty pageant, but there are so many categories of competition and you have to be strong in each one." |
| Two MSU alumni win first preliminary rounds of Miss Mississippi 2025 | |
 | The 2025 Miss Mississippi competition is officially underway. From Wednesday, June 11, to Friday, June 13, Miss Mississippi contestants will compete in preliminary rounds leading up to the big finale on Saturday night, June 14. On Wednesday night, the first two winners of the preliminary rounds were announced, and the final 10 will compete during the Saturday, June 14, finale. The winner will serve as Miss Mississippi for the next year, taking over the crown from last year's winner, Becky Williams. Miss Mississippi State University Sarah Randolph won Wednesday night's preliminary talent round. Randolph's talent is vocals. An MSU alum, Randolph is working to become a cosmetic dentist. Miss Vicksburg, Morgan Nelson, won the preliminary evening wear round on Wednesday night. Nelson, an MSU alum, is working to become an OB-GYN. The finale begins at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 14. |
| He Saved a Historic Frank Lloyd Wright. His Latest Project: Finding a Buyer for It. | |
 | Frank Lloyd Wright had more design ideas in a day than most architects have in a lifetime. Between the end of World War II, when he was almost 80, until his death in 1959, at 92, he designed more than 100 single-family homes. Their variety is staggering, which is why true Wright aficionados can never see enough of them. Each house, dozens of which are open to the public, packs surprises. What's more, even in his 80s, and even while trying to complete important public commissions like New York's Guggenheim Museum, Wright never took the easy way out. When J. Willis Hughes, an oil speculator from Jackson, Mississippi, asked Wright to design a house for his large family, he sent the architect photos of a relatively flat and open site. Wright asked him to find a lot with more complex, and challenging, topography. Hughes complied, buying a wooded acre that descends from Glenway Drive, in the Fondren neighborhood of Jackson, into a gully. That allowed Wright to play with level changes in the house, and to extend the bedroom wing into the landscape with a fountain that feeds a swimming pool that feeds a stream designed by Wright. The elaborate water feature is one reason the house is known as Fountainhead. The house, now on the market for $2.5 million, was designed around the Hughes family's requirements. |
| Mississippi's tech scene is in a catch-22. How can it move forward? | |
 | Jansen Cohoon is the kind of entrepreneur Mississippi wants. He's a native son who got his education at Mississippi State University and started his own tech company in the state -- V2 Forensics -- just a short walk from Gulfport's coast line. With V2, Cohoon investigates drones used for smuggling and other illegal actions and shares that knowledge with law enforcement in Mississippi and for the military. The problem for Mississippi is that Cohoon is the exception. Mississippi was named the least innovative state by the Consumer Technology Association and sits at the bottom of other lists for the size of its tech industry per capita. Louisiana isn't much better. Look beyond the tech darling city of Huntsville and Alabama is in the same situation. These states have missed out on the industry's massive growth of high paying jobs in hubs like Boston and San Francisco. But several of Mississippi's entrepreneurs believe the state is not far from its own tech boom. For all of its shortcomings, the Magnolia State also has some advantages. "If you're gonna come to Mississippi and be here before the boom I think now is the time," Cohoon said. "Mississippi is definitely gonna be on the rise." Despite the poor rankings, Mississippians have plenty of in-state opportunities for tech training at the collegiate level. But state tech leaders lament that as soon as those students graduate, they often leave for other states. |
| Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson announces 2027 governor bid | |
| Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson is the first Republican candidate to officially launch a campaign aimed at being the state's next governor. With Gov. Tate Reeves being term-limited, multiple GOP officeholders at the state level have mulled potential bids to run the state from the governor's mansion. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and State Auditor Shad White have not shied away from hinting that they intend to pursue a gubernatorial run. Prominent businessman Tommy Duff's name has also been floated as a potential Republican candidate. However, Gipson is the first to make an official announcement. If given the chance to serve as governor, Gipson plans to advocate for Mississippi's $9 billion agriculture industry by using his power to protect farmers, ranchers, loggers, and landowners against tax increases. He also vows to "identify, attack, and defeat leftist policies at the state and national levels," while leaning on his faith to guide the state. Earlier this week, Gipson teased the public that he would have new signs on display at this year's Neshoba County Fair. Though no other candidates have announced their candidacy yet, the Republican field is expected to become rather crowded well ahead of 2027. |
| Ag Commissioner Andy Gipson announces run for Mississippi governor in '27 | |
| Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson on Wednesday evening threw his cowboy hat into the ring for governor in 2027. "Gipson for Governor!" he posted on social media. "Mississippi knows Andy Gipson won't back down from our conservative principles, because when it comes to getting things done, Andy Gipson is Mississippi's proven conservative leader." Republican Gipson, 48, is a former state lawmaker, a lawyer, Baptist minister and, coming in July with the release of his first album, "Songs of Faith," recording artist. He served 10 years in the Mississippi state House District 77 seat representing Simpson and Rankin counties. He has served as commissioner of agriculture and commerce since 2018, and since then has been known for his ever-present cowboy hat. As chairman of the Judiciary B Committee in the state House, Gipson was known for shepherding numerous gun-rights bills through the Legislature, making Mississippi one of the most permissive states for owning and carrying a gun and earning him recognition and awards from the National Rifle Association and other groups. Besides Gipson, other Republicans considering a run for governor in bright-red Mississippi include Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, State Auditor Shad White, Attorney General Lynn Fitch, former U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper, former House Speaker Philip Gunn and billionaire businessman Tommy Duff. |
| Former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour honored for Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts | |
 | August 29, 2005. It's a date that will be infamously remembered in Mississippi, as the eye of Hurricane Katrina came over Waveland and ravaged the Coast. Governor Haley Barbour was in office at the time. He remembers the first time he saw the Coast after the storm rolled through. "It looked like the hand of God had wiped away the coast," said the former governor. "Like a nuclear weapon had been dropped in the sound." In the wake of tragedy, Governor Barbour fought for Mississippi, and many state leaders today credit Barbour for the Coast's ability to bounce back. The Harrison County Republicans honored the former governor at their empowerment dinner Tuesday evening, highlighting his efforts to recover and rebuild. "We owe Haley part of the reason that we stand here today looking at what's happened on the Mississippi Gulf Coast," said Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann. Some damages can still be seen today, but the coast has emerged stronger and better than before. "You learn while you're doing this. We did learn," said Governor Barbour. "We have many, many, many people to be thankful to and to be thankful for." |
| Republicans extend winning streak at Congressional Baseball Game | |
 | Democrats just can't seem to catch a break these days, especially on the baseball diamond. For the fifth year in a row, Republicans won the annual Congressional Baseball Game. They beat the Democrats 13-2 -- a relatively low score as far as these games go. Heading on to the field, Democrats knew they had their work cut out for them. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., hedged mightily when asked if the team would win. "I like to be direct. I think we'll be more competitive than last year," he said. "But if we win, I mean, these guys are gonna cry. Oh, the MAGA tears." The red team kept it to business as usual, starting Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., on the mound for his sixth consecutive outing. Democrats shook things up a bit from last year, choosing Pennsylvanian Chris Deluzio instead of Californian Pete Aguilar to lead things off. Steube set high expectations before the game. Asked about his predictions for the final score, he told reporters, "If I'm being generous, 20-10." That turned out to be north of the mark, but the game was still far from close. The annual charity game broke both fundraising and ticket sale records, according to organizers. In total, the event raised more than $2.81 million, a significant bump from 2024's $2.2 million. |
| Hospitals could lose millions under Trump plan to alter Medicaid funding formula | |
| Mississippi hospitals will lose at least $500 million if the Department of Health and Human Services head obeys a memo President Donald Trump issued Friday, according to Richard Roberson, CEO of the Mississippi Hospital Association. Trump's memo instructs U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to gut a program that helps states finance public health care, calling it a "gimmick." A presidential memorandum, while not as strong as an executive order, has significant power over government agencies and officials. Trump's memo comes as the president's mega-bill, involving deep cuts to Medicaid, moves through the U.S. Senate. The finance mechanism in question is called a state directed payment, which allows states to beef up Medicaid reimbursement rates, which are typically the lowest among insurance payors. Historically, the mechanism has increased health care quality and access for Medicaid beneficiaries and has reimbursed hospitals at competitive rates for treating these patients, but has faced backlash from critics, with some calling it "a legalized form of money laundering." The Mississippi Hospital Access Program (MHAP) is one such program. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves announced it weeks before his reelection in 2023 as a plan to help financially-struggling hospitals remain open. The governor's office did not respond to Mississippi Today's request for comment about Trump's memo by the time of publication. |
| U. of Southern Mississippi has interactive classroom on water | |
 | The University of Southern Mississippi is using one resource to help marine biology students prepare for their future careers. At USM's Gulfport campus, there's a research vessel called Point Sur. It's where students can get hands-on experience in all things marine science. "We've worked with fisheries," said Leila Hamdan, USM Assistant Vice President for Research. "We've tested new autonomous equipment and autonomous systems for the Navy. We've done quite a bit of ocean exploration. The National Science Foundation has chartered the ship to study organisms of the Gulf." One professor said students have an invaluable opportunity to learn from more than just textbooks, assignments and tests. "None of those provide these opportunities where they learn by actually doing hands-on science on a vessel of this caliber," said USM assistant professor Joris van der Ham. Marine biology students agreed that the ship provides unique educational opportunities. |
| 'Big Ideas' Mobile Learning Lab to help guide careers for area high school sophomores | |
| A mobile learning lab will help guide the careers of more than 3,300 10th graders this fall in an initiative sponsored by the Toyota Wellspring Education Fund at the CREATE Foundation, Toyota Mississippi and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Big Ideas, a Minnesota-based nonprofit, came to Northeast Mississippi to develop partnerships and work with local school districts before the 2025-2026 school year implementation. On Wednesday, local school district leaders, industry partners and community members had the opportunity to see the Big Ideas Mobile Learning Lab complete with nine modules. David Rumbarger, president and CEO of the Community Development Foundation, said ITP was an enhancement of what ICC, Ole Miss, Mississippi State were doing with career preparation. "We still need to get into the high schools because, just like me when I was in high school, I didn't think what to do until I was almost out of high school and even into college," he said. "Exposure to career paths, exposure to career opportunities to go through an environment specifically focused on career preparation and training will give this region ahead of many other regions in the country that are just taking the product of education and coming out and trying to educate them on career opportunities. That's too late ... this gives them a vision of what they can do in this region as a career." |
| International students bring $348 million to Alabama economy, report shows | |
 | Alabama's international student population contributes hundreds of millions of dollars to the state, money that could be at risk due to federal policy changes. Alabama gained $348.6 million from international students and created 2,373 jobs in the 2023-24 school year, according to a report by NAFSA: Association of International Educators, which advocates for international students. Some of those students come from countries now targeted by President Donald Trump's travel ban, may be at risk of immigration enforcement and attend universities navigating cuts to research. Advocates warn that changes to federal policy may hurt university research and the state economy. "If you cut off that international pipeline, you cut off a good chunk of economic flow that comes and supports that college town," said to Rachel Banks, senior director for Public Policy and Legislative Strategy at NAFSA. Meanwhile, Trump announced a restriction or partial restriction of foreign nationals from 19 countries. In the fall of 2024, 95 University of Alabama students hail from countries now under Trump's travel ban. Auburn had 105 students enrolled from these countries. Most of these students are from Iran. Banks said Iran typically exports many students to universities across the country. |
| Tulane scientist resigns citing university censorship of pollution and racial disparity research | |
 | A Tulane University researcher resigned Wednesday, citing censorship from university leaders who had warned that her advocacy and research exposing the Louisiana petrochemical industry's health impacts and racial disparities in hiring had triggered blowback from donors and elected officials. In her resignation letter, Kimberly Terrell accused the university of sacrificing academic freedom to appease Louisiana's Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. Terrell, the director of community engagement at Tulane's Environmental Law Clinic claimed the facility had been "placed under a complete gag order" that barred her from making public statements about her research. According to emails obtained by The Associated Press, university leaders wrote that the work of the law clinic had become an "impediment" to a Tulane redevelopment project reliant on support from state and private funders. The clinic represents communities fighting the petrochemical industry in court. Kate Kelly, a Landry spokesperson, denied that the governor threatened to withhold state funding. |
| Hispanic-Serving College Program Is Discriminatory, Lawsuit Argues | |
 | The state of Tennessee and the group that successfully sued Harvard to stop race-conscious college admissions is challenging a federal program that provides tens of millions of dollars a year to colleges that serve Hispanic students. The lawsuit, brought by Students for Fair Admissions, targets a program to support so-called Hispanic Serving Institutions, which include schools that meet a threshold of 25 percent Hispanic enrollment. The complaint says the program violates state and federal anti-discrimination laws and the Constitution because it provides a benefit -- additional federal funding -- to those schools. All public institutions of higher learning in Tennessee serve Hispanic and low-income students, the lawsuit says, yet none of them qualify for these grants because their Hispanic enrollment is below 25 percent. "The H.S.I. program does not pursue the general welfare," says the complaint, which was filed in federal court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. "It pursues the welfare of one ethnic group at the expense of everyone else, including other Hispanic students whose schools miss an arbitrary ethnic cutoff." The lawsuit does not have implications for historically Black colleges and universities, because any special funding for those schools is tied to their historical status, not the number of Black students they currently enroll, according to Edward Blum, the conservative activist behind Students for Fair Admissions. |
| Texas Republicans pioneered in-state tuition for undocumented students. Now they're celebrating its end | |
| Twenty-four years ago, Texas became the first state to grant in-state tuition to certain undocumented students. It was an uncontroversial law, passed by the Legislature in 2001 without much debate and just a handful of nay votes from lawmakers. Democrats, who at the time held a narrow House majority, wanted to boost the number of students in Texas accessing college and Republicans, looking for ways to attract Hispanic voters, reasoned that a more educated workforce would strengthen the state's economy. Back then, some prominent Republicans who are still in office voted for the proposal, including now-Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, state Sens. Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham and Phil King of Weatherford, and Midland Rep. Tom Craddick. Then-Gov. Rick Perry quickly signed the bill into law. Since then, more than 20 states have passed similar measures. But on Wednesday, Texas abruptly ended the longstanding policy after the federal government filed a lawsuit arguing the state law was unconstitutional. The Department of Justice argued that undocumented students shouldn't enjoy in-state tuition rates, if U.S. citizens that reside out-of-state must pay higher amounts. Bill Hammond, a longtime supporter of the policy who was CEO of the Texas Association of Business at the time it initially passed, said the legislatures of the past have supported the measure because there is "a tremendous advantage to a better educated workforce." |
| Federal R&D funding boosts productivity for the whole economy -- making big cuts to such government spending unwise | |
| Texas A&M University's Andrew Fieldhouse writes for The Conversation: Large cuts to government-funded research and development can endanger American innovation -- and the vital productivity gains it supports. The Trump administration has already canceled at least US$1.8 billion in research grants previously awarded by the National Institutes of Health, which supports biomedical and health research. Its preliminary budget request for the 2026 fiscal year proposed slashing federal funding for scientific and health research, cutting the NIH budget by another $18 billion -- nearly a 40% reduction. The National Science Foundation, which funds much of the basic scientific research conducted at universities, would see its budget slashed by $5 billion -- cutting it by more than half. Research and development spending might strike you as an unnecessary expense for the government. Perhaps you see it as something universities or private companies should instead be paying for themselves. But as research I've conducted shows, if the government were to abandon its long-standing practice of investing in R&D, it would significantly slow the pace of U.S. innovation and economic growth. |
| Texas A&M Corps of Cadets net $3.6M in funding, other benefits from legislative session | |
 | The recent Texas legislative session will bring changes to the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets as well as added benefits for members. During its most recent session, the Legislature approved direct appropriations of $3.6 million annually to the Corps. Most of that total -- $3 million -- will be used as a uniform allowance to offset uniform usage fees for drill and ceremony cadets to remain in the Corps. The funding and legislative support for the Corps is another item in the legacy of retiring Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp, who said he is hopeful the funding will help the Corps continue to remain an integral part of the A&M experience. "I think the reason that A&M has the spirit that it has is that it originates in the Corps," Sharp told The Eagle on Wednesday, just three weeks before he officially steps down as the longest-serving chancellor in system history. "All the students see the Corps standing [at football games] and they stand. Everything starts with the Corps, honoring the core values and the good stuff that A&M wants to keep in our culture. It begins with the Corps." In addition to appropriations, the Corps also benefits from other legislation passed this spring with three bills sponsored by Rep. Terry Wilson. House Bill 5646 provides in-state tuition to all students actively enrolled in ROTC, maritime academies or Corps of Cadets. House Bill 102 allows for early course registration for students enrolled in ROTC, Corps of Cadets or maritime academies. And House Bill 300 makes changes to the current Texas Armed Forces Services Scholarship Program by streamlining the nominations process. |
| Aspiring CPAs Consider Ditching Grad-School Plans as States Revamp Laws | |
| Recent changes to CPA licensing laws in many U.S. states mean one thing for some prospective accountants: School's out early. After a year of networking with graduate school representatives, Bryan Flannery, a rising senior at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, was dead set on continuing his education. Now, he is considering skipping his plan to start applying to master's programs after the state this year passed legislation allowing prospective CPAs to bypass a fifth year of school. "[The Ohio law] presents a great opportunity where I can start doing the job that I want to do," he said. Nearly 20 U.S. states have amended CPA licensing laws since January, in what may become a precursor for the entire country. Several professional groups say they expect close to or all 50 U.S. states to offer alternatives to the 150-hour rule by 2027. The changes permit CPA candidates like Flannery to use an additional year of work experience instead of schoolwork to qualify as a certified public accountant. Prospects would still have to hold a bachelor's degree, pass a qualifying exam and work another year to achieve two years of on-the-job experience. CPAs generally still have to fulfill continuing education requirements to renew their license, usually every one to three years depending on the state. |
| 'Did I do enough?' College grads face a tough job market. | |
 | Tyler Johnson was proud to be one of almost 6,500 students graduating from the University of Delaware in May. But what should have been a celebration was marred by his worries about being unemployed. It was incongruous with what he thought the end of four years of college would be. The communications major had worked on the student newspaper and done an internship at a local publication the summer before. But no employers were interested in him. "It kinda took a hit on my self-esteem," Mr. Johnson says. "It's like, 'Did I do enough? Am I actually going to make it?'" Mr. Johnson is one of a number of recent college graduates facing a tough job market. Even in the best of times, job hunting takes patience and determination. But 2025 has delivered an especially challenging environment for new grads, with tariffs causing uncertainty, federal government jobs gone or frozen, and more concern about the impact of artificial intelligence on entry-level positions vital to getting a foot on the career ladder. In November, employers initially planned to hire 7.3% more people from the class of 2025 than they had from the previous year's class. But by April, that number had adjusted to a 0.6% increase, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Additionally, 11% of employers said that they plan to reduce hiring overall. Typically, college grads fare better than average -- particularly in a downturn. That is not the case for the class of 2025. |
| Education Department struck deal with Labor Department to offload career programs | |
 | The Education Department struck agreements to send billions of dollars to the Labor Department to administer a suite of education grants and detail several agency employees to the Treasury Department to help manage collections on federal student loans. Those agency plans, revealed in court documents viewed by POLITICO, are now on hold because of a federal judge's ruling that temporarily blocked the Trump administration's efforts to slash the Education Department's workforce. But the quiet -- and largely unreported -- work laid out in the documents shows how the administration is making significant moves to outsource portions of the Education Department's operations to other Cabinet agencies as President Donald Trump tries to shutter the agency. The department had also been negotiating a memorandum of understanding with the Treasury Department regarding student loan management, agency chief of staff Rachel Oglesby said in a court declaration filed late Tuesday, but paused that work after a court halted the agency's effort to conduct a massive reduction-in-force in March. The agreement with Treasury was finalized in April, according to documents that identified nine Education Department employees -- including a person originally assigned to work as part of billionaire Elon Musk's DOGE effort -- who are detailed to the Treasury Department as advisers. |
| Entire Fulbright board resigns, citing Trump administration interference | |
 | All members of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board resigned on Wednesday, citing alleged political interference by members of the Trump administration. In a statement posted to Substack, the dozen former board members said they "voted overwhelmingly" to resign, "rather than endorse unprecedented actions that we believe are impermissible under the law, compromise U.S. national interests and integrity, and undermine the mission and mandates Congress established for the Fulbright program nearly 80 years ago." The prestigious program -- which awards a select group of scholars and academics the opportunity to continue research abroad each year -- is managed by the State Department, where career officials conduct a yearlong search for applicants, who are ultimately approved by the independent Fulbright board. But the former board members said the Trump administration "has usurped the authority of the Board" by denying Fulbright scholarships to "a substantial number of individuals" selected for the upcoming academic year. They said among the individuals whose awards have been revoked include those intending to pursue studies in biology, engineering, architecture, agriculture, crop sciences, animal sciences, biochemistry, medical sciences, music and history. |
| Should colleges share the risk of student loan debt? House Republicans think so | |
 | Nestled inside Republicans' One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a bold idea: to penalize colleges and universities whose students leave with mountains of student loan debt but not nearly the earnings boost to pay it off -- and to reward schools that do the opposite. Or, as U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon told lawmakers in a recent hearing, it's a way to force schools to have "a little skin in the game." This risk-sharing plan would, among other things, require higher education institutions -- public and private, for-profit and nonprofit, undergraduate and graduate – to reimburse the federal government for a portion of the federal loan debt their students do not repay. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that, if enacted, the full risk-sharing proposal would save the government more than $6 billion over the next decade. NPR spoke with student loan experts who saw both promise and cause for concern in Republicans' plan. |
| Senate Higher Ed Bill Walks Back Some House Proposals | |
 | Both chambers of Congress have now outlined their higher education budget proposals, giving colleges a clearer sense of the scope and impact of what would be a sweeping federal student aid overhaul. The Senate version, released late Tuesday night, is largely similar to the House's proposal, which prompted widespread condemnation from student aid advocates when it passed in late May. Both would cap graduate loans, open up the Pell Grant program to short-term programs and cut all but one option for income-driven loan repayment. But the Senate proposal includes a few key differences that have quelled some of higher education leaders' most dire concerns -- at least for now. Most notably, the Senate bill does not include a limit on traditional Pell Grant eligibility that would have excluded thousands of part-time students, as the House version did, and it walks back the House's controversial risk-sharing plan, which would force colleges to pay a penalty based on students' unpaid loans. As the two chambers seek to reconcile their versions of the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, many of the proposals are still up in the air, and it's not clear how much House Republicans will fight for their more drastic changes. Regardless, with the Senate permitting some of the most consequential proposals, the final bill will almost certainly upend the federal financial aid system. |
| U.S. vowed to 'aggressively' revoke Chinese student visas; Trump says Chinese students are welcome | |
 | In a potential pullback after U.S. officials said two weeks ago that they would "aggressively" revoke visas for Chinese students enrolled at U.S. universities and increase vetting of student visa applicants, President Trump said Wednesday that he had come to an agreement with China on students "using our colleges and universities." The president offered no details in the announcement posted to his Truth Social platform as part of a brief outline of a trade deal with China that he said was pending approval by each side. But the decision appeared to relax a clampdown on America's second-largest international student group that has been under increased scrutiny since May 28, when Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested the U.S. would broadly revoke Chinese student visas and target individuals tied to the Chinese Communist Party or studying unnamed "critical fields." On Wednesday, Trump said that having Chinese students at U.S schools "has always been good with me!" The May policy to aggressively cancel Chinese student visas has roiled higher education nationally and in California. Universities depend on the full tuition fees paid by international students and see Chinese and other foreign students as integral to their academic operations and missions to foster diverse campuses. The Rubio announcement -- and now the potential relaxing of it -- has exacerbated growing uncertainty at universities. |
| Linda McMahon: The Public Face of Trump's Fight Against 'Woke' Education | |
| Education Secretary Linda McMahon is presiding over a MAGA paradox. Sporting a red "Make Education Great Again" baseball cap, McMahon this week cracked jokes with staff at the department's Washington headquarters and spoke about their work to "return education to the states." Just moments later, she turned the meeting over to her deputies, who proudly ticked off the ways the department is wielding unprecedented federal authority to pressure Democratic-led states to change their education policies. The meeting laid bare McMahon's competing priorities: closing the department, as President Trump has tasked her to do, while also going after what the administration calls wokeness in K-12 schools and on college campuses. The secretary insists she can make progress on both fronts. But congressional and legal hurdles mean she will more likely refashion the Education Department in a smaller, MAGA image rather than close it completely. "We're still in the planning stage," McMahon said of efforts to do away with the department, noting that Trump's executive order directing her to close it had been halted, at least for now, by a federal court. McMahon said she sees no contradiction in her dual mandates. The department's actions against states and universities are driven by civil-rights enforcement, she said. |
| A victory for sorority sisters: The DOE affirmed what every 18-year-old pledge already knew | |
| Lesley Davis, the president and CEO of Mississippi Advocacy Group, writes for the Magnolia Tribune: The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (DOE OCR) just affirmed what every sorority woman in America knew before she ever walked into her chapter -- a sorority is for women. In a statement that would've been self-evident five minutes ago -- just as it was over a century ago when sororities were first formed -- the Department announced: "A sorority that admits male students is no longer a sorority by definition and thus loses the Title IX statutory exemption for a sorority's single-sex membership practices." Translation: If you let men in, you're not a women's organization anymore. You're just another co-ed club. Title IX has had a carveout for single-sex organizations almost from its inception. That means sororities and fraternities have a legal right to exist as women-only and men-only spaces. But if you start letting men who "identify as women" into the sisterhood, you forfeit that protection. The colleges and universities that support you are now on notice: support a sorority that admits men, and you lose the legal exception. ... or years now, a small but quickly-growing army of sorority women across the country -- mothers, professionals, sisters, and friends -- have watched in disbelief as NPC and national sorority leadership cast aside women who dared to say what biology, common sense, and the law have always affirmed: Men do not belong in women's private spaces. |
| Gipson in for Governor. What's the state of play for 2027? | |
| The Magnolia Tribune's Russ Latino writes: Former legislator. Securities lawyer. Part-time farmer. Gospel recording artist. Minister. All describe Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson -- a renaissance man, if the Gaithers count as renaissance. In Mississippi, they likely do. Could Governor be next on the list? While lots of people have been dipping, and re-dipping, their toes in the water, Gipson is the first to toss in his ten gallon cowboy hat, announcing his candidacy for Governor late Wednesday on social media. The election for Governor is more than two years out, but the aggressiveness of State Auditor Shad White in seeking out supporters and donors -- he's relentless -- is forcing others to move earlier than they would probably like. Money is the mother's milk of politics and the risk for late movers is that the usual suspect donors will already be locked up when they come to call. This is particularly true of darkhorse candidates that aren't always top of mind when the race is discussed. Gipson counts in that category. He brings a folksy, pro-MAGA brand likely to resonate with many Mississippians. He's also got traditional conservative bona fides from his time in the Legislature, where he proved a staunch defender of unborn life and the Second Amendment, and a consistent proponent for keeping taxes low. |
SPORTS
| Ace Reese and Noah Sullivan add postseason honors | |
| Mississippi State sluggers Ace Reese and Noah Sullivan picked up more postseason honors this week after impressive 2025 seasons. The pair were recognized in the American Baseball Coaches Association South All-Region team. Reese, a sophomore, was named to the First Team while Noah Sullivan, a senior two-way player, was listed as a designated hitter on the Second Team. On Wednesday, Reese also picked up a Third Team All-American selection from Perfect Game. He was a finalist for the Ferriss Trophy (awarded to the best college baseball player in Mississippi), a semi-finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy (awarded to the best player in college baseball) and a First Team All-SEC selection. Reese started 57 games at third base for the Bulldogs, garnering nationwide recognition for his play and picking up the SEC Newcomer of the Year award. Reese announced his return to the Bulldogs for his junior year in 2026, putting transfer doubts to rest and committing to the new leadership under new head coach Brian O'Connor. Sullivan is still able to return as well. He appeared at the public welcome ceremony for O'Connor, but his return will mostly depend on his professional status, as he is eligible for the Major League Baseball Draft in July. |
| Omaha bar where Brian O'Connor worked changing to Mississippi State hangout for College World Series | |
| Brian O'Connor walked into Barry O's Old Market Tavern in Omaha, Nebraska, 19 years ago during the 2006 College World Series. Normally, one would think, he wouldn't be bothered by sports decor in someone else's bar. But this time, he was. O'Connor had just completed his third season as the Virginia baseball coach. It was another strong one. The Cavaliers won 47 games and made their third straight NCAA tournament appearance for the first time in program history. They did not reach the College World Series, though. He entered the bar that day where Clemson fans had congregated. There was Clemson merchandise distributed throughout the bar. O'Connor was a bartender at Barry O's Tavern a decade prior, so he was perplexed as to why his former employer allowed a takeover from an ACC rival. "I was just dumbfounded because we're not in ACC country," bar owner Barry O'Halloran said. From then on, Barry O's Tavern turned into a Virginia bar. When the Cavaliers made the College World Series seven times between 2009-24 it became a gathering spot for their fans. O'Connor was hired as the Mississippi State coach on June 1 after 22 seasons at Virginia. The Bulldogs aren't in this year's College World Series, which begins June 13, but fans will have a new Omaha hangout spot in the future at Barry O's Tavern because of O'Connor. "Literally, my words to Brian were, 'We're on the bandwagon. Don't you worry,'" O'Halloran said. "That bandwagon, it started immediately. So yes, we will definitely support Brian." |
| Road to Omaha: How the MCWS became a town's pride and joy | |
| The true spirit of the Men's College World Series in Omaha is not found in a ballpark. Or a history museum. Or in the words of some bronze marker commemorating some amazing college baseball moment that took place on some amazing college baseball day, unleashed by some amazing college baseball player. Nor is it in a bar. Anyone who comes to Omaha over the next two weeks for the 75th edition of the MCWS in its great and rightful home, seeking to dip themselves into the waters of what makes it one of America's greatest sports marriages, need only visit a place that combines all of the above: a well-worn red, white and blue baseball card shop on the south side of 13th Street. Stadium View Sports Cards, owned and operated by local attorney-turned-de facto MCWS commissioner Greg Pivovar, contains pieces of ballparks, literal stacks of history worthy of any baseball museum: ticket stubs, baseballs, ball caps and posters of Series long gone. If you can catch the man himself behind the counter sifting through it all, he'll offer you a cold beer. So, yeah, it's a bar, too. And, yes, Stadium View once had a view of a stadium. The stadium. Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium, built in 1949 and dangled as a lure to convince the NCAA's struggling baseball tournament to come to town one year later. |
| Mississippi State to host 2025 MHSAA football championships | |
| The MHSAA football championships are returning to Starkville this year. The games will be played Dec. 4-6 at Davis Wade Stadium on the campus of Mississippi State. It's the first time MSU has hosted the championships since 2016, which was the first year the MHSAA moved them out of Jackson. The games have been played at Southern Miss six times, including last season, while Ole Miss has hosted twice (2017, 2023). "These championships showcase the tradition, talent and passion that define high school football in our state, while giving student-athletes the chance to compete on one of the premier campuses in the country," MSU athletics director Zac Selmon said in a press release. "We're excited to create a first-class experience these student-athletes will always remember." There will be two games on Thursday, Dec. 4: Class 1A at 4 p.m., followed by 5A at 7:30. The 4A and 6A games will be Friday at the same times. And then on Saturday, Classes 3A, 2A and 7A will play, starting at noon. |
| Starkville tabbed as host site for 2025 MHSAA football championships | |
| For the first time in nine years, Starkville has been tabbed as the host city for the Mississippi High School Activities Association's state championship football games. MHSAA officials announced Wednesday that title matchups from all seven of the state's classifications will be held in Davis Wade Stadium, the home of Mississippi State's football team, from Dec. 4-6. "First, we express our appreciation to Mississippi State University and Starkville for continued support and for graciously opening their doors to welcome us," MHSAA Executive Director Ricky Neaves stated. "We have zero doubt that the experience for our schools, student-athletes, coaches, and fans will be second-to-none." "We're honored to serve as the host for the 2025 MHSAA football state championships at Davis Wade Stadium and to bring teams, families, and fans from across Mississippi to 'The Best Small Town in the South,'" MSU Athletics Director Zac Selmon stated. The upcoming high school football season will kick off with various jamborees in late August. Last year's state champions were Baldwyn (1A), Heidelberg (2A), Choctaw County (3A), Poplarville (4A), West Point (5A), Grenada (6A), and Tupelo (7A). |
| SEC Announces Football Television Windows | |
| The Southeastern Conference announced additional kickoff times and television windows for SEC-controlled games Wednesday afternoon during a special SEC Now: Inside the 2025 Schedule TV program. In addition to the previously announced game times, the Bulldogs have learned kickoff times for two additional games this season. State will host Northern Illinois at 3:15 p.m. (CT) on Sept. 20, the game will be televised on SEC Network. The Bulldogs home contest against Georgia on Nov. 8 will kickoff at 11 a.m. (CT) and will air on either ABC or ESPN. Mississippi State's newly announced television window games will feature two afternoon games (at Florida and at Arkansas), two night games (at Texas A&M and at Missouri) and two flex games (vs. Tennessee and vs. Texas). Exact start times within the assigned windows (Early, Afternoon, Night, Flex) and network designations will be determined during the season. Season tickets for the 2025 season are on sale now and start at only $275. Single game tickets went on sale to the general public on Wednesday, June 11. |
| Track & Field: Bair Adds NCAA Record Holder To His Resume On Day One Of The Outdoor Championships | |
| Mississippi State track and field concluded the first day of the NCAA Outdoor Championships, with athletes competing in the decathlon, 800m and javelin. Peyton Bair (Kimberly, Idaho/Kimberly HS) was the first Bulldog to compete in the championships, kicking the day off in the decathlon. Bair broke the NCAA Decathlon 100m record in his first race of the day, earning a personal best of 10.25. He also broke the meet record, which he set at last year's championships. He has maintained the lead throughout the day, after earning a wind-legal long jump personal best of 7.28m. He also matched his high jump personal best with a 2.01m clearance. Bair finished the day in the 400m, running another personal best and NCAA Decathlon 400m record with 46.00. This is also the fifth fastest 400m time by anyone in a decathlon in history. He leads the field by 287 points, closing out day one with 4,479 points next to his name. He will resume competition in the 110m hurdles decathlon tomorrow morning. |
| Darty Dennis adds Raiola to volleyball coaching staff | |
| Mississippi State volleyball head coach Julie Darty Dennis announced a new addition to her coaching staff this week, introducing TCU alum Taylor Raiola as the new director of volleyball operations. "Taylor is an exciting addition to our program," Darty Dennis said of Raiola. "She has high-level experience as a player, organizational experience in volleyball along with football, and has infectious energy that is going to help us continue to elevate our operations. I'm so excited to have her join our family and bring new ideas to the staff." Raiola went to TCU after a standout high school career in Scottsdale, Ariz., graduating from Scottsdale Christian Academy. She comes from a sporting family, with her mother, Yvonne, a water polo player and her father, Dominic, an All-American offensive lineman at Nebraska. Her uncle, Donovan, is currently the offensive line coach for the Huskers. Raiola begins her coaching career after spending a year as a graduate manager with Nebraska, working with recruiting for the football team, where her brother, Dylan, is currently the starting quarterback. |
| Raising kids in an MLB family can be tough logistically, summer break provides relief | |
| In a baseball calendar that can span from mid-February to early November, the month of June often brings a sigh of relief for players and their families. The challenges associated with navigating the school year calendar are over, at least for a few months. For players who aren't close to their offseason homes, there are real choices. "Do you pull them and have them be with you homeschooled, or do you keep them in school with their friends and have some normalcy?" Dodgers pitcher Chris Stratton wondered. "It's a tough decision that a lot of people struggle with." Many players, like Stratton, employ a combination of the two. A father of three, Stratton's two school-aged children go to a public school from August until March. About a week before spring training ends, his wife, Martha Kate, takes over and homeschools them the rest of the way. She stays in contact with the kids' teachers virtually to make sure they don't fall behind. Stratton, whose parents are both teachers, said initially he and Martha Kate tried to stick to in-person school, but the time apart was too much of a strain. With a third child now approaching school age, they might get a nanny to help, particularly as sports and school activities ramp up in elementary school. "We're in Mississippi, and they've been so kind and understanding about the schedule," Stratton said. "I thought we might have to go the private school route (for flexibility), but we were able to stay in the (public) system, which I was happy about." |
| Female athletes appeal landmark NCAA settlement, saying it violates federal antidiscrimination law | |
| Eight female athletes filed an appeal Wednesday of a landmark NCAA antitrust settlement, arguing that women would not receive their fair share of $2.7 billion in back pay for athletes who were barred from making money off their name, image and likeness. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken approved the settlement last week, clearing the way for direct payments from universities to athletes and the end of the NCAA's amateurism model. The athletes who appealed the settlement competed in soccer, volleyball and track. They are: Kacie Breeding of Vanderbilt; Lexi Drumm, Emma Appleman, Emmie Wannemacher, Riley Hass, Savannah Baron and Elizabeth Arnold of the College of Charleston; and Kate Johnson of Virginia. They have standing to appeal because they previously filed objections to the proposed settlement. Ashlyn Hare, one of the attorneys representing the athletes, said in a statement that the settlement violates Title IX, the federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in education. "This is a football and basketball damages settlement with no real benefit to female athletes," Hare said. |
| Appeal of NCAA settlement won't stop current athlete payments | |
| An appeal of the NCAA's landmark antitrust settlement won't stop college teams from paying current athletes starting July 1, but it will pause the NCAA's plans to begin paying former athletes. Several college athletes filed the appeal Wednesday, claiming the deal violates Title IX law. Now the roughly $2.8 billion in negotiated back damages will sit while the appeal works through the system. Attorney John Clune told ESPN he filed the claim in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of several clients who also raised objections to how the back payments would be shared among athletes earlier this year. The overwhelming majority of the $2.8 billion pot of damages -- up to 90% -- is expected go to football and men's basketball players, according to the terms of the settlement. The lawyers and sports economists who decided how to divvy up the funds argued that the money each sport generated through television contracts should be an important factor in determining which athletes deserved the biggest portion of the money. Clune argues that because the broadcast rights money would have been flowing directly from the school to the athletes if they had been paying them fairly in the past, the schools would have to share that money equitably between men and women to comply with Title IX laws. |
| House v. NCAA settlement payments on hold amid legal challenge from female athletes on Title IX grounds | |
| The recently approved House v. NCAA settlement is facing its first challenge, CBS Sports confirms. A collection of women's sports athletes are planning to appeal the court decision, arguing that the structure of damages payments violates Title IX's gender equity statute. The settlement is set to pay out $2.8 billion in back pay to former athletes, but funds are on hold until the appeals process reaches a conclusion, NCAA lawyer Rakesh Kilaru told CBS Sports' Brandon Marcello. NCAA president Charlie Baker told Yahoo Sports that the organization currently has $285 million ready to distribute once it gets the court's permission. While the appeal will halt damage payments, it should not impact the implementation of revenue sharing, scheduled for July 1. Kilaru expressed optimism that the settlement will ultimately be upheld. "Judge Wilken wrote a really thorough order -- 76 pages," Kilaru told CBS Sports. "I think she addressed all the issues really persuasively. It's somewhat notable that this was actually not an issue that we even argued at the final approval hearing because I think typically, when you're challenging back damages, your kind of logical remedy is to opt out of the settlement and not be bound by it, as opposed to challenging it." |
| House Settlement Faces First Appeal as Title IX Takes Center Stage | |
| As expected, U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken's order to grant final approval of the 10-year settlement between the NCAA, power conferences and current and former Division I athletes represented by the House, Carter and Hubbard antitrust litigations has been challenged. A group of objectors -- Kacie Breeding, Kate Johnson, Lexi Drumm, Emmie Wannemacher, Savannah Baron, Riley Haas, Emma Appleman and Elizabeth Arnold -- filed a notice of appeal with Wilken on Wednesday. The objectors, all current or former Division I athletes, will appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In January, the objectors argued in a brief to Wilken that the settlement's damages feature violates Title IX. Over a 10-year period, around $2.8 billion will be paid to qualified Division I athletes who played at some point from 2016 onward. It will compensate them for lost NIL, video game and broadcasting opportunities resulting from past NCAA eligibility rules. The objectors argue that because over 90% of this money is going to be paid to male athletes, it runs afoul of Title IX's requirement of gender equity in educational programs. From an antitrust perspective, more money paid to male athletes reflects market realities. As a whole, football and men's basketball generates more revenue than women's teams, meaning players in those sports are more harmed by NCAA rules that restrained competition. But the objectors insist that Title IX would have prevented "such disproportionate damages in the first place." |
| Congress introduces bill addressing national guidelines for college sports | |
 | With the settlement of three athlete-compensation antitrust cases against the NCAA and the Power Five conferences having received final approval from a federal district judge on June 6, members of the U.S. House of Representatives have moved into action with new legislative proposals regarding national rules for college sports. Reps. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., and Janelle Bynum, D-Ore., introduced a bill this week that comes shortly after Reps. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., and Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., circulated a discussion draft of a bill that would largely put into federal law the terms and new rules-making structure of the settlement. The McClain-Bynum bill would have the same basic impact. The discussion draft is set to be the centerpiece of a hearing June 11 by a subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Bilirakis, who has been involved in previous college-sports bill efforts, chairs the subcommittee. Guthrie chairs the full committee. The bill -- in addition to being a bi-partisan presentation -- continues recent work related to college sports from McClain, who is the current House Republican Conference chair. That makes her the GOP's No. 4-ranking member in the House. |
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