| Thursday, July 24, 2025 |
| USDA helping fund Mississippi State's fight against invasive pests | |
 | The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is helping fund a fight spearheaded by Mississippi State University against destructive pests and diseases threatening farms and forests. Approximately $667,000 in USDA grant money is supporting multiple initiatives through the university's Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES), including diagnostic screening, youth education, and citizen science programs. The Mississippi Entomological Museum, a center within MAFES, is one of just two USDA identification labs in the country, processing more than 25,000 samples annually to detect more than 49 invasive pests across 12 states. The work supports quarantine decisions and pest management planning. The MAFES team also leads pest monitoring efforts across Mississippi in 24 counties and 22 state parks, targeting threats including Asian defoliators, pine pests, and exotic bark beetles. "What we do is vital to protect crops, natural resources, and people every day," said Jennifer Seltzer, an MSU Department of Agricultural and Plant Protection program manager who oversees the Mississippi Entomological Museum Screening Center. "I walk through a farmers market and think, 'We didn't grow this, but we helped protect it.' That makes me proud -- not just of our work, but that Mississippi is leading the way against invasive insects." |
| MSU professor revises Mississippi history textbook for middle, high school students | |
 | As students return to classrooms this fall, a new textbook revised by a Mississippi State veteran educator sheds new light on the Magnolia State's history. Kenneth Anthony, professor and head of MSU's Department of Teacher Education and Leadership, is the co-author of "Mississippi: Our History, Our Home," the most recent Mississippi history textbook adopted by the state for middle and high school students. The Clairmont Press book is a revision of the late David Sansing's 2013 textbook, "A Place Called Mississippi." "It's important to revise history textbooks because over time, we have more information about the past and our understanding of events changes," Anthony said. "This revision was guided by what I learned from research I conducted about reconstruction narratives in older Mississippi history textbooks." Anthony's book research also included visiting historical sites and museums across the state. He incorporated more primary sources directly into the text, drawing from Census data, maps from the Library of Congress and accounts compiled by Bradley Bond in "Mississippi: A Documentary History." |
| New Mississippi history textbook adopted for middle and high school students | |
| A new history textbook, revised by a Mississippi State University educator, will land on the desks of middle school and high school students across the state this fall. "Mississippi: Our History, Our Home" is the most recent history textbook about the Magnolia State to be adopted and approved for middle and high school curriculums. The book, published by Clairmont Press, is a revision of the late David Sansing's 2013 textbook titled "A Place Called Mississippi." Kenneth Anthony, professor and head of MSU's Department of Teacher Education and Leadership, is the co-author of "Mississippi: Our History, Our Home." Anthony added to the sections about Mississippi's literary traditions by including more writers such as Michael Farris Smith as well as David Sansing, whose work Anthony was revising to write "Mississippi: Our History, Our Home." "He was the historian who wrote the first Mississippi history textbook that broke the dominant 80-year narrative about reconstruction," Anthony said. "It was my honor to add him to the textbook, especially given that I was revising his original work." |
| Magnolia Mornings: MSU's Anthony co-authors new Mississippi history textbook for schools | |
| Mississippi State University announced Wednesday that their professor and head of MSU's Department of Teacher Education and Leadership, Kenneth Anthony, is the co-author of "Mississippi: Our History, Our Home," the most recent Mississippi history textbook adopted by the state for middle and high school students. The book is a revision of the late David Sansing's 2013 textbook, "A Place Called Mississippi." "It's important to revise history textbooks because over time, we have more information about the past and our understanding of events changes," Anthony said in a statement. "This revision was guided by what I learned from research I conducted about reconstruction narratives in older Mississippi history textbooks." The school said some of the 'new' history in the textbook includes the state flag adopted in 2021 and the state song "One Mississippi" adopted in 2022. The revision shines new light on Emmett Till's story, documenting the false accusation that led to his lynching in 1955. It also includes new archaeology information about the earliest inhabited site in the state and expands the Civil War narrative, adding battles and engagements throughout Mississippi. |
| PACCAR lays off some of Lowndes workforce Tuesday | |
 | PACCAR Engine Company's plant in Lowndes County laid off a round of employees Tuesday, Golden Triangle LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins confirmed. Higgins said he received a "heads up" from the company about the layoffs, though he could not confirm how many employees were affected. "I was not told the numbers, but there were some layoffs," Higgins said. "... Nobody has given me any reason for the layoffs." Ken Hastings, senior director of investor relations for PACCAR, declined to comment when reached Wednesday. In a press release issued Tuesday in conjunction with a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, PACCAR reported net income of $723.8 million earned company-wide in the second quarter of 2025, compared to $1.12 billion earned in the same period last year. The press release addressed challenges in the international company's North American market. "The North American truck market is being affected by economic conditions, the uncertain impact of tariffs, and a soft truckload market," the release said. "Customer demand in the less-than-truckload and vocational segments, including construction, is good." Despite news of layoffs, Higgins said he still expects a $209 million expansion at the Lowndes County plant to go forward. |
| Mary Means Business: CJ's Pizza opens new location | |
| After spending months fixing up their new location, CJ's Pizza's new joint is officially ready. The family-owned pizza parlor, formerly located on 18th Avenue North, opens Monday at its new location at 6188 Hwy. 45 N. in Columbus, previously the Louisiana Shrimp Shack. The location at 18th Avenue is officially closed as of this week. With a new location, that means we also have new menu items including loaded knots and stromboli. Moving toward Main Street, a new night spot is ready for customers. The Tavern Wine Bar, 418 Second Ave. N., opens Thursday for customers craving wine, custom cocktails and amazing snacks. Zachary's owner Doug Pellum's latest venture is open 4-10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and is open for patrons 21 and older only. Though reservations are not required, it is recommended. Make sure to check out the newest downtown spot for some charcuterie and wine! |
| Leadership Lauderdale Seeks Applicants | |
 | Leadership Lauderdale is looking for its Class of 2026. Leadership Lauderdale is a comprehensive program designed to cultivate and connect current and emerging leaders in Meridian and Lauderdale County. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of community issues, enhance their leaderships skills and build a powerful network of local decision-makers. "It depends on how many are in the class," said McCall Waller, Education Director of the EMBDC. "We have five or six groups that break up and each take a non-profit in our community to help to a project and give back to that non-profit. At the end, we talk about that and what each group did. That's a part of their graduation." Leadership Lauderdale offers both an adult and youth division. You can apply at EMBDC.org for this year's class. The deadline to register is August 11. |
| Mississippi Business Alliance: MEC, MMA, and BIPEC combination to soon become reality | |
| The Mississippi business community is fully vested in the plan to create a new statewide organization combining the Mississippi Economic Council (MEC), the state's chamber of commerce, Mississippi Manufacturers Association (MMA), and the Business and Industry Political Education Committee (BIPEC) of Mississippi. The Mississippi Business Alliance (MSBA), the name of the new entity, could be operational before the year's end, hopefully by January at the latest. "In the House of Representatives, we spend a whole bunch of time trying to create consensus on issues and it's this type of organization that y'all are looking at that enhances our ability as policymakers to support you fully as Mississippi's business community," said House Speaker Jason White, speaking at MEC's Hobnob Mississippi. MEC President and CEO, Scott Waller, initially discussed the idea of creating a partnership among business organizations with the MEC Board in 2019. He will have a role in the new organization focusing primarily on education and workforce development. "There's a lot of ability to use the foundations to promote research from a business alignment standpoint as it relates to workforce development," said Waller. A Shubuta native and Mississippi State University graduate, Waller began his career as a journalist, including turns as business editor of The Clarion-Ledger, and owner and editor of The Madison County Journal. He joined MEC in 2006. |
| New Landers Center leader talks expansion, DeSoto County tourism and more | |
| The Landers Center and DeSoto County Tourism have a new leader, and she has her sights set on expanding tourism in the county. Hernando native and University of Memphis graduate Debbie Mendenhall has a lengthy resume in business. She said she has built companies from the ground up, including multiple public companies for asset management firm BlackRock, and worked in real estate and investment with Starrex International and National Asset Direct. Mendenhall had already been with the DeSoto County Convention & Visitors Bureau as chief financial officer since March 1, and after many years working in California and Texas, home was exactly where she wanted to be. Getting the executive director position was still unexpected, but the change was "a really good one." From the Landers Center expansion to the upcoming Mid-South Fair, Mendenhall has a lot on her plate. One huge focus? Marketing. "We need more exposure," she said. "We've begun that process of talking to our marketing folks and our PR firm about getting outside the box and figuring out what that looks like. We're trying to bring in new things... that give us more exposure, especially as the [Landers Center] is coming along." |
| Last call isn't forever: Fenian's Pub, a Jackson staple, set for a comeback with upgrades | |
 | Fenian's wasn't the kind of place you went for anything fancy. You walked up those steps on the corner of Fortification and Jefferson because you knew it was a place you could count on -- like the kind of friend who never moved away. The bartenders were sharp. They knew your order but didn't put up with nonsense. A red-bearded security guard usually held down the far end of the bar, crowded with familiar faces from all walks of life. Outside on the deck, people smoked, swapped stories, cracked jokes or maybe relived the glory of a trivia night win. Then, almost without warning, Fenian's Pub called for its final last call in September 2024 after nearly 30 years -- and that corner's been quiet ever since. But soon, the pints will pour again. Jackson real estate developer William Lake recently bought Fenian's and plans to bring it back -- same name, same corner, but with a major facelift for both the bar and the block. Lake, 40, is no stranger to the area. Originally from Tuscaloosa, he came to Mississippi to attend the University of Mississippi and never left. After exploring opportunities back home and in Baton Rouge, he decided to plant roots in Jackson, buying his first property here in 2008. Since then, he's built a small portfolio of real estate holdings across the city, including The Admiral Apartments, a short walk from Fenian's. |
| Credit reporting company Experian working with Mississippi on voter roll maintenance | |
| Mississippi's Secretary of State has entered into an agreement with one of the largest credit reporting companies to ensure county election officials receive reliable and accurate voter information to maintain the Magnolia State's voter rolls. Under the new partnership with Experian, county election commissioners will continue to receive the U.S. Postal Service's National Change of Address information, but all will receive "reliable" commercial data from the credit reporting agency as well. County election commissioners will also receive information from the Social Security Death Master File for the first time to help supplement the existing processes to identify voters who have died. Secretary of State Michael Watson's office said in a statement that this new level of data, in addition to agreements with surrounding states to identify dually registered voters, will continue to build on the accuracy of Mississippi's voter rolls and strengthen the integrity of elections. Since the United States Census Bureau estimates around 12 percent of people move each year, the Secretary said it is imperative their office continually receives updated information to prevent double registration. |
| Lawmaker praises federal OK of quicker Medicaid coverage for prenatal care | |
| A key Mississippi lawmaker says low-income pregnant women should soon receive faster access to medical services because the federal government has approved a Mississippi law that was on hold for more than a year. "We know that prenatal care is critical for pregnant women," House Medicaid Committee Chairwoman Missy McGee, a Republican from Hattiesburg, said Wednesday. "It will give them the best opportunity to deliver a healthy, full-term baby." The law allows pregnant women to be presumed eligible for Medicaid coverage while their applications are pending. It was first passed in 2024 but has been stalled because of a discrepancy between state and federal requirements. Mississippi lawmakers revised the state requirements this year to match federal guidelines. The new bill became law without Republican Gov. Tate Reeves' signature in March, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved the policy Thursday. Women will be able to take advantage of the program after providers are trained to make eligibility determinations, Mississippi Medicaid spokesperson Matt Westerfield said Wednesday. The agency aims to schedule training sessions for early August. |
| Hyde-Smith backs bill to provide parental leave, compensation after miscarriages and stillbirths | |
| U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) announced Wednesday her support for a bill providing parental leave and compensation to parents following a miscarriage or stillbirth. Hyde-Smith joined Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) in introducing The Helping with Equal Access to Leave and Investing in Needs for Grieving Mothers and Fathers Act – being referred to on Capitol Hill as the HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act. The bill, if passed and signed by the president, would amend the Family and Medical Leave Act to include the "spontaneous loss of an unborn child as a qualifying medical condition for FMLA leave." It would also establish a tax credit for a woman who suffers the loss of a child in the womb. "It has taken policymakers too long to recognize that parents should be allowed to heal following a miscarriage or stillbirth," Hyde-Smith said. "The loss of a child is devastating and heartbreaking for families, and this legislation formally acknowledges their need for time following such a loss." |
| Justice Department Told Trump in May That His Name Is Among Many in the Epstein Files | |
 | When Justice Department officials reviewed what Attorney General Pam Bondi called a "truckload" of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein earlier this year, they discovered that Donald Trump's name appeared multiple times, according to senior administration officials. In May, Bondi and her deputy informed the president at a meeting in the White House that his name was in the Epstein files, the officials said. Many other high-profile figures were also named, Trump was told. Being mentioned in the records isn't a sign of wrongdoing. The officials said it was a routine briefing that covered a number of topics and that Trump's appearance in the documents wasn't the focus. They told the president at the meeting that the files contained what officials felt was unverified hearsay about many people, including Trump, who had socialized with Epstein in the past, some of the officials said. One of the officials familiar with the documents said they contain hundreds of other names. They also told Trump that senior Justice Department officials didn't plan to release any more documents related to the investigation of the convicted sex offender because the material contained child pornography and victims' personal information, the officials said. Trump said at the meeting he would defer to the Justice Department's decision to not release any further files. The decision to not release the files has triggered the most serious backlash from Trump's political base since he launched his bid for the White House a decade ago, with a vocal group of the president's allies seeing the move as a massive betrayal. |
| Thune: Johnson will have to 'deal' with Epstein mess | |
 | Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Wednesday that Speaker Mike Johnson has to figure out a way forward on the Jeffrey Epstein controversy that's derailed House business until the fall. "In some fashion, in some way, he's going to have to handle it and deal with it," Thune said during an interview from his Senate office. "And it sounds like, yeah, that'll be a September [issue]." Johnson chose to wrap up House votes early this week and send members home for the summer because of growing dysfunction fueled by the bipartisan push for more disclosure around Epstein, the deceased financier and former sex offender with ties to Trump and other prominent figures. "He's kind of handling it how I believe he thinks he needs to," Thune said of Johnson. "He has a constituency out there that feels, in his caucus at least, that feels very strongly about it, and can make it difficult to get anything else done." Thune said the Epstein conflict isn't yet bubbling up in his chamber. "I'm not hearing the hue and cry, I guess I would say, to do a deep dive into this -- to hold hearings or anything like that," he said. "At least not at the moment." |
| Trump will visit Federal Reserve in escalation of campaign to pressure Powell to cut interest rates | |
 | President Donald Trump plans to step foot in the Federal Reserve on Thursday as his allies scrutinize its expensive building renovations, a highly personal and confrontational escalation of his campaign to pressure the central bank to slash interest rates. Trump administration officials have used concerns about the building overhaul to cast doubt on Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's decision-making. They were scheduled to inspect the site on Thursday, and the White House announced late Wednesday that the president would also be visiting. The visit reflects Trump's disregard for the traditional independence of the Fed, which plays a foundational role in the American economy by setting monetary policy that is supposed to be free of political influence. While previous presidents have criticized the Fed's decisions, Trump's sustained campaign is an unusual and, his critics say, dangerous departure from the norm. He has called on Powell to resign, insulted him repeatedly and suggested he could be fired. More recently, Trump has said he has no plans to oust Powell, which could be illegal. Pushing Powell out also would send shockwaves through global markets, potentially having the opposite effect that Trump wants as he pushes for lower borrowing costs. |
| Trump signs executive orders to fast-track data center construction, target 'woke' AI | |
 | President Trump signed a trio of executive orders related to artificial intelligence (AI) on Wednesday, focusing on boosting data center construction and the adoption of American technology while targeting "woke" AI. The three executive orders seek to fast-track permitting for data centers, promote the export of the American technology stack abroad and bar "woke" AI systems from federal contracting. "Under this administration, our innovation will be unmatched, and our capabilities will be unrivaled," Trump said at an AI summit hosted by the Hill and Valley Forum and the "All-In" podcast, where he signed the orders Wednesday evening. "With the help of many of the people in this room, America's ultimate triumph will be absolutely unstoppable," he continued. "We will be unstoppable as a nation. Again, we're way ahead, and we want to stay that way." The orders accompany the Trump administration's "AI Action Plan" released earlier Wednesday, which lays out a three-pronged approach to "winning the race" on AI. In the framework, the administration called to cut federal and state AI regulations in an effort to boost innovation, pushed to expedite the build-out of AI infrastructure and sought to encourage the adoption of American technology abroad. |
| Trump is undermining his own 'action plan' for AI, experts say | |
 | President Trump revealed an "action plan" for artificial intelligence on Wednesday ostensibly designed to bolster the United States in its race against China for AI superiority. But experts in the field warn the administration is sidestepping safety precautions that sustain public trust, and is ignoring the impacts of research funding cuts and visa restrictions for scientists that could hold America back. Scholars of machine learning and AI believe that whichever country loses the race -- toward general artificial intelligence, where AI has capabilities similar to the human mind, and ultimately toward superintelligence, where its abilities exceed human thought -- will be unable to catch up with the exponential growth of the winner. Today, China and the United States are the only powers with competitive AI capabilities. Silicon Valley may be getting much of what it wants from Trump --- but the administration's continued assault on the student visa program remains a significant concern for the very same tech firms Trump aims to empower. The majority of America's top AI companies have been founded by first- or second-generation immigrants, and 70% of full-time graduate students at U.S. institutions working in AI-related fields have come from abroad. Funding cuts to research institutions, too, threaten the stability of programs and their attractiveness to the best foreign minds, said Sheila Jasanoff, a professor of science and technology studies at the Harvard Kennedy School. |
| You can't outrun a bad diet. Food -- not lack of exercise -- fuels obesity, study finds | |
 | Back in the 1800s, obesity was almost nonexistent in the United States. Over the last century, it's become common here and in other industrialized nations, though it remains rare among people who live more traditional lifestyles, such as the Hadza hunter-gatherers of Tanzania. So what's changed? One common explanation is that as societies have developed, they've also become more sedentary, and people have gotten less active. The assumption is that as a result, we burn fewer calories each day, contributing to an energy imbalance that leads to weight gain over time, says Herman Pontzer, a professor of evolutionary biology and global health at Duke University who studies how human metabolism has evolved. But in a major new study published in the journal PNAS, Pontzer and an international team of collaborators found that's not the case. "Surprisingly, what we find is that actually, the total calories burned per day is really similar across these populations, even though the lifestyle and the activity levels are really different," says Pontzer. And that finding offers strong evidence that diet -- not a lack of physical activity -- is the major driver of weight gain and obesity in our modern world. |
| Doctors are biased against higher-weight patients. Can nutrition education help them change? | |
| Everyone agrees that diet is important to good health. And yet fewer than a third of medical students receive the recommended minimum of 25 hours of nutrition education, and more than half report receiving no formal education on the topic at all. That's why health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may be pushing on an open door with his plans to require medical schools to include nutrition education in their curricula or else lose federal funding. Medical experts who spoke with STAT noted that there is no standardized curriculum for nutrition, and that it's not yet clear what specifics Kennedy may attach to funding or what training medical schools might have to cut back to make room for nutrition courses. But they were on board with Kennedy's general goal, noting that many nutrition and food policy experts have been calling for this kind of change for years. Beyond having students learn the ins and outs of nutrition itself, experts who spoke with STAT expressed hope that Kennedy's push would be an opportunity for future physicians to learn something they say is even more crucial: how to talk to patients about their eating habits sensitively and without judgment. Research shows that many medical professionals are biased against higher-weight patients -- a finding that makes sense given the prevalence of weight stigma throughout U.S. society, said Rebecca Puhl, deputy director for the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health at University of Connecticut. "They are exposed to the same sociocultural values of thinness, so they're not immune," she said. |
| The W launches program to tackle Mississippi's pre-K teacher gap | |
 | Pre-K education is a vital part of a child's educational development, and the Mississippi University for Women (The W) is looking to train a new era of instructors for these students. The W is set to launch a Bachelor of Science in Early Development in the Fall 2025 semester. This program is designed to prepare students for licensure as pre-K educators. The program will be offered through The W's School of Education. Formerly known as Early Childhood Development, the program emphasizes classroom management, developmentally appropriate curriculum and instructional methods tailored to young learners. This program will align with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Preparation Standards, with a focus on foundational knowledge and evidence-based practices for teaching children from birth through age eight. "The shift from a non-licensure model to a licensure-track program directly addresses Mississippi's urgent need for early childhood educators," said Dr. Martin Hatton, dean of the School of Education. "Given both statewide and national trends, we anticipate strong demand and have designed the program to meet that need." |
| Ole Miss professor developing more efficient AI chip | |
| Most computers use digital systems that separate memory, where data is stored, and processing, where it is used. This setup wastes energy because the computer must constantly move data back and forth, but a University of Mississippi professor is working to develop a more efficient alternative. Sakib Hasan, an Ole Miss assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Tamzidul Hoque, an assistant professor at the University of Kansas, are working on a system called analog in-memory computing. It lets computers process analog data right where it is stored, kind of like thinking and remembering in the same place. This saves energy and boosts computing speed. "Scientists have been inspired by the human brain, so why not make a computer with a different architecture where the processor and memory are co-located?" Hasan said. "That's the motivation behind in-memory computing, and why it's so critical today." The technology could have broad implications for the emerging development of artificial intelligence systems. |
| New scholarship opportunity offers affordable option for Mississippi college students to earn degree | |
| University of Southern Mississippi and Pearl River Community College announced Wednesday a new coastal pathways scholarship that will give graduates of the two-year school a way to complete their bachelor's degree at USM. The collaboration announced at USM's Gulf Park campus in Long Beach is part of a regional initiative to boost education access and add job opportunities to the Mississippi Gulf Coast region. In May, USM held a similar event with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. The partnership with the community colleges is also part of a larger effort to boost USM's enrollment, which continues to decline with only 564 students enrolled in the Gulf Park campus last fall, according to data from the school's Office of Institutional Research. “This scholarship pathway represents more than just financial support — it’s about creating opportunities for student success,” Joe Paul, president of USM, said in a press statement. “By partnering with Pearl River Community College, we’re building a direct and affordable route for students to continue their education and make meaningful contributions to our coastal communities.” |
| Co-Lin president shares recruiting vision with Lincoln County leadership | |
 | A product of Copiah-Lincoln Community College shared his vision recruiting others like himself. Dr. Dewayne Middleton, in his third year as president of the community college, gave a brief progress report to the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors during their regular meeting Monday. In May, 378 students graduated from Lincoln County and Brookhaven school districts as well Brookhaven Academy. Of those students, 161 pursued higher education at Co-Lin, he said. "I'm excited about that," he said. "We want that number to increase though so that means you all need to help get the word out so we can get those students here to Co-Lin." He said students choose Co-Lin for academic offerings, athletic opportunities and the significant cost savings. "We always say, 'A dollar goes a lot further at Co-Lin," he said. Athletic programs have produced several student-athletes and coaches who have won state, regional and national championships. "And they did it with local kids," Middleton said. "That's the best part about it. We are recruiting in the district. I think that's important. I had the opportunity to play sports because Co-Lin gave me that opportunity so I want to make sure all the other kids around here do, too." |
| AI in schools: How teachers plan to use new technology and prepare students for the future | |
| Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing daily life and will be incorporated into schools at all levels this year. Educators are working to prepare students for the future. "We need to make sure that our kids are prepped for what they're going to see in the next three to five years because it is going to change drastically," Pearl Public School District Superintendent Chris Chism said. Chism has been at the forefront of this shift, spending the last 14 months developing the district's own artificial intelligence server. He has also trained 47 school districts in AI and given 191 presentations across nine states. As AI develops, educators at every school level are having to figure out how to stay ahead of the curve and the code. "It requires us to keep our hand on the pulse of what's happening in industry. And we do that, and we have several institutional partnerships with tech firms that help us hear from industry what's actually happening, so we know what to build into the curriculum," Brett Andrews, Dean of the School of Business at Belhaven University, said. The increasing demand for educators equipped with artificial intelligence knowledge is also being recognized at the college level as universities are incorporating AI into both bachelor's and master's degree programs in order to meet the need. |
| 11 Tupelo band members taken to hospital and released because of heat | |
 | Eleven Tupelo High School band members went to the hospital on Wednesday morning because of heat-related illnesses. This happened during band camp, Tupelo Public School District Superintendent Rob Picou said. Director of Marketing and Communications Gregg Ellis said the students were taken to the hospital as a precaution, cleared and released. The camp prepares band members for the upcoming football season, and Picou said the band administration had already implemented safety precautions to combat the weather. The Mississippi High School Activities Association mandates the use of the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) to determine the safety of outdoor practice, including band practice. The WBGT "is a measure of the heat stress in direct sunlight, which takes into account: temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover (solar radiation)," according to the National Weather Service. Picou said Wednesday morning's WBGT reading was well-below the dangerous levels and reinforced the importance of staying hydrated during the hot weather. |
| State Board of Education hears update on federal funding, finalizes FY 2027 legislative budget request | |
| Members of the State Board of Education received mixed news pertaining to ESSER funding during last week's Mississippi Department of Education meeting. In March, the U.S. Department of Education alerted state education departments across the nation that it would be pulling back late liquidation ESSER funding, which totaled about $137 million for Mississippi. On June 26, MDE and other state education departments received word that the late liquidation ESSER funding process has resumed, State Superintendent Dr. Lance Evans told the Board. In some instances, local school districts were counting on the funds to help cover the costs of projects already underway. Evans said that districts were advised to not wait to request those funds. "We have urged our districts to move very quickly in those requests," Evans explained. "Because there is no guarantee that it will actually be there until March 2026." Four days later, the U.S. Department of Education then gave another update to states, this time advising that funding for some grant programs is being withheld due to an audit. "I think the term they used was 'impounding' federal dollars under ESSER," Evans added. "There was no clear timeline as to when where or how that would take place as far as their reviewing of those funds." |
| The Most-Taught Books in American Classrooms Have Barely Changed in 30 Years | |
| Teenagers in English classrooms today in many ways seem a world apart from students decades ago. The books sitting on their desks, however, are remarkably similar. Classics including Shakespeare plays, F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" and Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" all appear in the top 10 books assigned by English teachers at public middle and high schools today, according to a new report. Six of the top 10 -- John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" and "Hamlet" among them -- overlap with the most-taught books reported in an influential 1989 study. "We're all shocked that what's being taught has shifted so little from 30 years prior," said Emily Kirkpatrick, the executive director of the National Council of Teachers of English, which produced the new report. The staying power of the classics, Kirkpatrick and English teachers say, has as much to do with inertia as literary merit. Building the curriculum around a book and buying physical copies for each student takes time and resources. The internet is awash with ways to teach "Romeo and Juliet," the most popular book on the new list, but teachers say fewer resources exist related to newer releases. The power of the classics is their ability to create shared cultural touchpoints, said Michael Hicks, a recently retired English teacher in Los Angeles. "We need these through lines," he said. "We need common ways to think about our culture and talk about things." |
| UAB cuts some spending, hiring amid federal grant losses, 'uncertainty' | |
 | University of Alabama at Birmingham officials are telling staff to cut back on spending and limit hiring as the school adjusts to dramatic federal funding cuts. At a recent campus-wide town hall, UAB asked faculty and staff to adhere to "cost containment measures" after federal grants were terminated. AL.com also reviewed a document, circulated among the College of Arts and Sciences, that said staff should reduce discretionary spending, limit overtime and new hires and look for other ways to cut costs. According to the document, more specific budget details will be shared soon. A UAB spokesman told AL.com there are no plans for layoffs or benefits reductions at this time. "We are aware of inaccurate online rumors," Tyler Greer said. "There are no plans for institutional layoffs, and no decisions have been made regarding changes to benefits for next year. Benefit adjustments are typical and part of our regular annual benefits review process, which is ongoing. We will continue to focus on responsible financial stewardship. Regarding the town hall, there was no agenda or minutes taken." UAB is one of several Alabama universities losing millions of dollars in funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. The grants were cut because they may have involved diversity, equity and inclusion. |
| Louisiana to join conservative higher education accrediting body | |
| Louisiana will join six other university systems in the South to form a new alternative accrediting body, spurning long-established standards of higher education, Gov. Jeff Landry announced with an executive order Tuesday. In June, state university systems in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas launched the Commission for Public Higher Education. It is seeking expedited approval from the U.S. Department of Education to act as an accreditor, which is tasked with maintaining quality standards for colleges and universities. The move comes as conservatives have sparred with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, which evaluates colleges and universities in Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Conservative politicians have taken issue with traditional accreditors at times because of their standards related to diversity, equity and inclusion and because accreditors require safeguards that are intended to limit the influence of external forces, including politicians, in public higher education. Landry's executive order creates a new Task Force on Public Higher Education Reform, which will make recommendations for how to move forward with the new commission. |
| Tennessee launches direct admissions pilot with student aid component | |
| Tennessee is joining the ranks of states with direct admissions programs by launching a pilot this fall that will automatically offer certain high school students spots at the state's two- and four-year colleges based on their academic records. The program, led by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, will pair admissions offers with financial aid information for about half the high school students to test whether that boosts their chances of enrolling. In a statement Wednesday, THEC Executive Director Steven Gentile cast the initiative as a way to simplify the path to college. "For the first time in the nation, we are pairing direct admissions with personalized financial aid information, so students not only know where they've been accepted -- they'll also know how they can afford to go." The TN Direct Admissions pilot is to launch in November, when roughly 41,000 students from more than 230 randomly selected high schools in the state will receive letters listing which participating colleges have automatically accepted them. Around half of those students will also get information about available state and institutional financial aid tailored to them based on their GPA, test scores or other criteria. |
| A Novel Approach: Tennessee Will Pair Direct-Admission Offers With Financial-Aid Estimates | |
 | This fall, tens of thousands of high-school seniors in Tennessee will receive letters stating that they've got a guaranteed seat at dozens of in-state colleges -- no need to complete a traditional admission application. And many of those students will also receive personalized estimates of the state and institutional aid that they're eligible for. The new pilot program, called TN Direct Admissions, will make Tennessee the first state to link guaranteed admission offers with financial-aid commitments. "This effort is really about removing barriers and shifting the conversation to make it easier for young people, especially those who might not otherwise see college as an option, to take that next step," said Steven Gentile, executive director at the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. "We believe that kind of approach is critical if you want to move the needle on college-going in Tennessee and beyond." The program marks a new phase in a series of coast-to-coast direct-admission experiments, in which colleges have been flipping the traditional enrollment script by offering spots to students who haven't even applied. |
| U. of Florida Board of Trustees approves increase to out-of-state tuition; plans for next interim president unknown | |
 | The University of Florida Board of Trustees on July 23 unanimously approved the university's first increase to out-of-state tuition in more than a decade due to "rising education costs." The trustees voted for a 10% increase, the maximum allowed following a ruling on June 18 by the Board of Governors, which oversees the state's 12 public universities. Florida State University trustees are expected to vote on a similar increase on July 24. The University of Florida's decision, effective this fall, is in response to a budget shortfall of about $130 million due to a loss in state appropriations, as outlined by UF's interim Chief Financial Officer Nick Kozlov. Kozlov's presentation to the board included a slide that shows even with the increase, UF's out-of-state tuition will remain more than $10,000 lower than its peers. Despite the tenure of interim UF President Kent Fuchs expected to come to an end on July 31, no replacement or extension was announced during the meeting. "As we have discussed, we're looking for an interim president for a period of time, and then hopefully we'll start a new search this coming year," Hosseini said. "We'll get back and have another meeting on this once we know the direction we are going" |
| Texas A&M's collie mascot Reveille X has eye removed after glaucoma diagnosis | |
| Reveille X, Texas A&M's border collie mascot, had her right eye surgically removed after veterinarians diagnosed her with glaucoma, the university's president said Wednesday. The collie -- also known as the "First Lady of Aggieland" -- was diagnosed with glaucoma after experiencing discomfort and cloudiness in her right eye, President Mark A Welsh III said in a message on the school's website. The veterinary team removed the eye out of an abundance of caution after discovering signs of abnormal tissue, he said. "I'm grateful to report that Miss Rev has come through the surgery successfully, has been discharged and is resting comfortably," Welsh said. Texas A&M's Reveille mascot dates back to 1931, when a group of cadets found an injured dog and sneaked her on to campus. The dog barked when buglers played morning reveille, earning her the Reveille name. "According to her veterinary team, we can expect Miss Rev to be back to enjoying all her favorite activities -- cruising on Rev Force One, attending classes, cheering on the Aggies and keeping our campus squirrels in line -- this fall," Welsh said. |
| College Employees in Kansas Can't List Pronouns in Emails | |
 | Kansas public university leaders have ordered employees to remove "gender-identifying pronouns or gender ideology" from their email signatures. The officials say they're complying with new state prohibitions against diversity, equity and inclusion. In March, the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature passed Senate Bill 125, a nearly 300-page piece of budget legislation. The following month, Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, signed it into law. A spokesperson from the governor's office didn't respond to Inside Higher Ed's request for comment on why. According to a few lines on page 254, the Kansas secretary of administration must certify that all state agencies -- including colleges and universities -- have eliminated all positions, policies, preferences and activities "relating to diversity, equity and inclusion." Ross Marchand, program counsel at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, told Inside Higher Ed the new Kansas law is unconstitutional. "No one knows how to interpret this, and it's overly broad," Marchand said. "And both of these issues are fatal for First Amendment purposes." |
| How Governor Glenn Youngkin Reshaped Virginia's Universities | |
| Jim Ryan's decision last month to step down as president of the University of Virginia in the face of pressure from the Trump administration drew renewed attention to the political appointees steering the public institution who will pick the next campus leader. Multiple onlookers blamed Ryan's resignation at least partly on the university's Board of Visitors, which has been dramatically reshaped over the last three-plus years by Republican governor Glenn Youngkin's appointments. Since taking office in 2022, Youngkin has stocked the board with former GOP lawmakers, Republican donors and members of the Jefferson Council, a conservative alumni group that called for Ryan's ouster. But UVA's board isn't the only one that has seen a dramatic overhaul. An Inside Higher Ed analysis shows that boards at public institutions across the state are heavy with GOP donors, former lawmakers and Trump officials, and members with ties to conservative think tanks. Tensions between conservative boards and faculty have prompted two recent no confidence votes and concerns over whether members who are ideologically aligned with Trump will protect universities in the administration's crosshairs. Now, a battle is brewing over who gets to serve on Virginia's governing boards at a pivotal moment for higher education in the commonwealth. |
| Columbia Agrees to $200 Million Fine to Settle Fight With Trump | |
 | Columbia University will pay a $200 million fine to settle allegations from the Trump administration that it failed to do enough to stop the harassment of Jewish students, part of a sweeping deal reached on Wednesday to restore the university's federal research funding, according to a statement from the university. In exchange for the return of hundreds of millions in research grants, Columbia will also pledge to follow laws banning the consideration of race in admissions and hiring, and follow through on other commitments to reduce antisemitism and unrest on campus that it agreed to in March. The deal, which settles more than a half-dozen open civil rights investigations into the university, will be overseen by an independent monitor agreed to by both sides who will report to the government on its progress every six months. Columbia will also pay $21 million to settle investigations brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The deal is a significant milestone in the Trump administration's quest to bring elite universities to heel. Columbia is the first university to reach a negotiated settlement over antisemitism claims. The deal is designed to bring to rest months of difficulty at Columbia, which chose to negotiate with the Trump administration rather than sue. |
| Federal investigations target college aid to immigrants and minorities | |
 | The Education Department said Wednesday it has opened civil rights investigations into five universities for offering scholarships that targeted undocumented students and racial minorities, ramping up the Trump administration's fight against diversity and inclusion in higher education. The inquiry will examine complaints from the conservative Equal Protection Project that the schools engaged in discrimination by allegedly showing a preference for foreign-born students. The schools named in the complaint are the University of Louisville, the University of Nebraska Omaha, the University of Miami, the University of Michigan and Western Michigan University. Most of the scholarships in question offer financial support for either undocumented students or those covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. Neither group is eligible to receive federal grants or loans to attend college, making institutional, state and private grants critical for their ability to access higher education. "Neither the Trump Administration's America first policies nor the Civil Right Act of 1964's prohibition on national origin discrimination permit universities to deny our fellow citizens the opportunity to compete for scholarships because they were born in the United States," acting assistant secretary for civil rights Craig Trainor said in a statement. |
| Instructors Will Now See AI Throughout a Widely Used Course Software | |
| Artificial-intelligence tools -- including generative AI -- will now be integrated into Canvas, a learning-management platform used by a large share of the nation's colleges, its parent company announced on Wednesday. On the Canvas platform, faculty members will be able to click an icon that connects them with various AI features aimed at streamlining and aiding instructional workload, like a grading tool, a discussion-post summarizer, and a generator for image alternative text. Canvas's parent company, Instructure, is also in partnership with OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, so instructors can use generative-AI technology as part of their assignments. The announcement comes amid a still-tense debate about AI's place in the classroom. While many instructors in academe are skeptical of the technology, some universities have embraced it; starting in the fall, for instance, Ohio State University will require all its graduates to be "AI fluent." "We firmly believe that AI will not replace educators, but educators actually need to understand how to use these tools," said Ryan Lufkin, vice president for global academic strategy at Instructure. "We've moved beyond the age where educators can simply not use technology in the classroom. The modern student expects it; they're on their phone all the time. We need to meet them where they are, and if we're not doing that, we're failing them, essentially." |
| For some employees, education benefits such as tuition assistance prove life-changing | |
| After five years of working long nights as a truck driver, Julius Mosley wanted a change. He found driving unfulfilling, and his teenage son needed him to spend more time at home. So Mosley took a job as a customer service representative at a telecommunications company near his home. The employee benefits included being able to take job-related classes for free. He decided he wanted to study leadership so he could learn about managing teams and helping people become the best versions of themselves. His company, Spectrum, paid for a 10-week front-line manager certificate program that Mosley went on to complete. Then it covered the tuition cost for a bachelor's degree in leadership and organization studies that he's currently pursuing. The company also promoted him to a management position while he took college courses online. "It's completely changed the course of my life," Mosley said about the education benefit, which took care of his tuition up front instead of requiring him to pay and seek later reimbursement. "It's truly a blessing to be able to do this." As higher education costs have grown to heights many U.S. residents find unattainable or illogical, some adults are looking to their employers for help defraying the expense of college and professional credentials. Nearly half of public and private employers have a tuition reimbursement program for employees, according to the Society for Human Resource Management, or SHRM. |
SPORTS
| Bulldogs positioned to compete as NIL landscape shifts again | |
| The world of college sports continued its rapid evolution this week as the newly formed College Sports Commission amended its policy enforcing college collectives providing name, image and likeness funding to student athletes. Yahoo Sports national college football reporter Ross Dellenger broke the news that House attorneys struck an agreement with the NCAA and Power Four conferences on Tuesday, moving to amend a recent decision by the College Sports Commission related to restrictions on how NIL collectives pay student athletes. What SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey referred to as a "soft cap" of $20.5 million now seems to be nothing more than that. Efforts to make it a hard cap would have resulted in more legal challenges, and now NIL collectives are likely to continue operating as they were, as a bridge between schools and their primary donor-base. So how does this impact schools, and in particular, Mississippi State? |
| Mississippi State football schedule: Four games could determine a bowl | |
| Two seasons have passed since Mississippi State football last made a bowl game. The Bulldogs went 5-7 in 2023, the first season after coach Mike Leach's death. Then, they regressed to 2-10 in 2024 in coach Jeff Lebby's first season and didn't win an SEC game. A four-win improvement is needed for MSU to return to a bowl game. These are the four games that could determine Mississippi State's bowl fate in 2025. Mississippi State won't be starting the season without a challenge. Southern Miss was 1-11 last season and hired Marshall's Charles Huff as the new coach after he won the Sun Belt championship. With over 70 new players on the roster -- many of whom transferred from Marshall -- the Golden Eagles should be improved. Add in that this game is in Hattiesburg, and suddenly this isn't a guaranteed win. Starting 1-0 could be a nice confidence boost since Mississippi State didn't have many of those last season. But lose to Southern Miss, and MSU could be looking at an 0-2 start with Week 2's game against the reigning Big 12 champion. |
| Men's And Women's Track And Field Earn USTFCCCA All-Academic Honors | |
| Mississippi State men's and women's track and field teams earned USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams distinctions, as well as individual athlete awards. To earn a team distinction, a program must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Both track and field teams earned the award, with the men boasting a 3.45 and a 3.39 for the women. In addition to the team award, 12 Bulldogs earned the individual honor. Student-athletes were required to have a minimum 3.25 GPA and finish the indoor season ranked in the top 96 in their respective event or the top 48 regionally after the outdoor season. Eight men earned the individual distinction: graduate students William Aguessy, Alfonso Hale Jr., Abdullahi Hassan, and Louis Vercueil. Senior Remi Rougetet, junior Sherman Hawkins, sophomore Roury McCloyen and freshman Tuomas Narhi round out the men. Four women earned the individual award: junior Rickyla Fagan and sophomores Ramat Jimoh, Anje Nel and Kyndall Sessom. |
| ESPN returns to Mississippi for Neshoba County Fair | |
| ESPN is coming to Mississippi for the Neshoba County Fair as part of its 50 States in 50 Days campaign, marking a return to the fair since 2005. Known as Mississippi's giant house party, the Neshoba County Fair is the nation's largest campground fair. SportsCenter anchor Shae Cornette, who will be part of the broadcast, shared what she's looking forward to doing while at the fair. "I'm excited to get back on a horse. I am excited about that. And I think I'm doing an interview while riding a horse, so that'll be a new challenge," Cornette said. "I'm sorry. Judging a cow, I don't know. Is there lipstick? I don't know what's happening, so this is all going to be a surprise, and I can't wait. But I think the riding a horse, I'm probably most looking forward to because no one's done that yet on our 50 states." ESPN will feature select segments with Cornette during the hour-long broadcast beginning at 2 p.m. July 29 at the Neshoba County Fair. |
| ESPN saddles up for live broadcast | |
| The Neshoba County Fair will return to the national spotlight on Tuesday, July 29, when ESPN anchor Shae Cornette reports from the Fair during the 2 p.m. edition of SportsCenter. ESPN did a similar tour 20 years ago, when SportsCenter visited the Fair in 2005 during "SportsCenter Across America," making this year's effort a nod to that tradition, reimagined for a new generation of sports fans. Mississippi's Giant House Party officially opens Friday, July 25, and runs through Aug. 1. During the one-hour program, Cornette will do segments from the Fair, interacting with SportsCenter anchors in ESPN's studios in Bristol, Conn. She is expected to be on horseback to highlight the horse racing aspect of the Fair and how important it is to the Fair and county. She also will visit the midway to sample the games, rides and other activities. A full slate of events is set for the Fair, including the 46th running of the Heart O' Dixie Triathlon on Saturday morning, July 26, and the harness and running races starting the following day through the rest of the week. Political speaking begins Wednesday, July 30, at about 9:30 a.m. and runs through Thursday. |
| ESPN will highlight Coast locations in two episodes of Emmy-winning series | |
 | The show that travels the heart of football country in search of soul and food is returning this year with an episode dedicated to one Mississippi Coast town. Season eight of the Emmy Award-winning show TrueSouth is set to air later this year on SEC Network and will feature Ocean Springs as one of its four destinations across four main episodes. A fifth episode pulling back the curtains of the show's most recent travels will also spotlight a Biloxi burger joint. According to a press release from ESPN, the crew sets upon Ocean Springs in episode four to explore the arts and unique clash of culture found in the culinary scene of South Mississippi. It will spotlight famed artist Walter Anderson and his museum, spend time in the waters of Eagle Point and visit the Wat Buddhametta Mahabaremme Thai Temple in Gautier. An extra episode at the end of the season follows the crew on a hunt for burgers. Unsurprisingly, this lands them at Burger Burger in Biloxi. The season debuts Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. on SEC Network. |
| ESPN's Pat McAfee apologizes to Ole Miss' Mary Kate Cornett for sharing false story | |
| Pat McAfee made a public apology to Mary Kate Cornett, an Ole Miss student, for talking about and spreading a rumor about her. "I can now happily share with you that I recently got to meet Mary Kate and her family," McAfee said. "And I got a chance to sincerely apologize to them and acknowledge that what I said about Mary Kate was based solely on what others were saying on the internet." The ESPN personality addressed the matter Wednesday, roughly five months after the false rumor she allegedly slept with her boyfriend's father. "As a Girl Dad, I was very thankful for the opportunity to let Mr. Cornett know that I was wildly regretful for the part that our show played in his daughter, Mary Kate's, pain," he added. Cornett's father, Justin, told NBC News on Wednesday that the matter was "settled to each party's satisfaction." "It was refreshing to stand by Mary Kate's side and see a man that made a mistake look her in the eyes and apologize with sincerity," he said. "Now the healing can begin." Cornett told NBC News in April that she and her family faced harassment. Her family's home was "swatted," which is when a false report is made to police to get a law enforcement response to a home. She added her personal number was shared online, resulting in threatening calls and texts. "Having your life ruined by people who have no idea who you are is the worst feeling in the world," Cornett said at the time. "It makes you feel so alone. It's a horrible experience." |
| LSU again leads nation in college baseball attendance | |
 | LSU led the nation in college baseball attendance with 458,606 tickets sold in Alex Box Stadium. It's the 26th time since 1996 the Tigers finished No. 1 in total attendance. LSU was also No. 1 in average attendance with a figure of 11,186 per game, just two shy of the school record of 11,188 in 2023. The Tigers posted a home record of 35-6. LSU set a school single-game attendance record of 13,376 for an April 26 game versus Tennessee. LSU's attendance exceeded 12,000 six times during the 2025 season. The nation's top schools for total attendance were: LSU 458,606; Arkansas 407,196; Ole Miss 344,364; Mississippi State 330,009; South Carolina 251,414; Texas 250,754; Tennessee 235,035; Florida 226,903; Texas A&M 206,577; and Auburn 201,703. |
| Partnerships opens door for live music to come to Jordan-Hare Stadium and Neville Arena | |
 | Auburn University Athletics and Peachtree Entertainment have entered into a multi-year partnership to bring major live music experiences to Neville Arena and Jordan-Hare Stadium. This landmark collaboration will deliver more than five multi-genre concerts annually, further establishing Auburn's position as a premier destination for live entertainment in the Southeast. Concert announcements are expected to begin this fall, with the first performances scheduled for 2026. "We are elated to partner with Peachtree Entertainment and Elevate to bring nationally renowned artists and entertainers to Jordan-Hare Stadium and Neville Arena, further expanding Auburn's place as an entertainment destination," said Rhett Hobart, Auburn Deputy Athletics Director for External Affairs. "This collaboration will bring many additional memorable events to the City of Auburn each year for students and the entire Auburn-Opelika community alike to enjoy, while also growing essential revenue for our department in this new era of college athletics." The partnership was made possible in part by Elevate, a leading global sports and entertainment agency, with a dedicated group focused on revenue generation for college athletics. |
| NIL promises made to recruits, now coaches wait for key decision to learn whether they can keep them | |
| Next week, college football coaches can put the recruiting promises they have made to high school seniors on paper. Then the question becomes whether they can keep them. Uncertainty over a key element of the $2.8 billion NCAA antitrust settlement that is reshaping college sports has placed recruiters on a tightrope. They need clarity about whether the third-party collectives that were closely affiliated with their schools and that ruled name, image, likeness payments over the first four years of the NIL era can be used to exceed the $20.5 million annual cap on what each school can now pay players directly. Or, whether those collectives will simply become a cog in the new system. Only until that issue is resolved will many coaches know if the offers they've made, and that can become official on Aug. 1, will conform to the new rules governing college sports. Aug. 1 is key because it marks the day football programs can start sending written offers for scholarships to high school prospects starting their senior year. Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, whose program tapped into the transfer portal and NIL to make the most remarkable turnaround in college football last season, acknowledged "the landscape is still changing, changing as we speak today." |
| ACC to release availability reports before conference games | |
| The ACC will begin releasing public availability reports at least 48 hours before all conference games this football season, commissioner Jim Phillips announced Tuesday. The conference will require all schools to submit NFL-style reports that categorize players as "available," "questionable," "doubtful" or "out" with updates both the day before a game and two hours before kickoff. The decision, Phillips said, is intended to counter a push by gamblers to gain inside information. "There's stresses on our student-athletes from individuals who are trying to garner information," Phillips said. "Sometimes it's pretty innocent. They just want to know because they're a big fan. But other times it leads into the gambling and sports wagering path." Phillips said the availability reports will also be required for basketball and baseball. The ACC will also institute a fine structure for any school that misuses or does not participate in delivering availability reports on time, though the specific fines have not yet been determined. Phillips said he announced the policy to coaches who did not voice any pushback this offseason. |
| Oregon's Dan Lanning has his own idea to fix the College Football Playoff: Get rid of byes | |
| There's a lot going on in college football these days. There's a disagreement over the College Football Playoff format, debate over athlete compensation rules and uncertainty on the future of the transfer portal. But if Dan Lanning could change one thing, it wouldn't be associated with any of that. "College football season should end Jan. 1," the Oregon head coach told Yahoo Sports in an interview from Big Ten media days on Wednesday. "That solves a lot of the problems that exist." Shifting up the college football season -- long a discussion point among college administrators -- would result in what Lanning says will be a more condensed playoff, one spread across five weeks instead of seven, and one that does not, he said emphatically, include long byes for teams. After last season, he's done with those. His No. 1-seeded Ducks had 25 days off before a 41-21 loss to eighth-seeded Ohio State in the quarterfinals. "All four teams that had a bye lost. There's something to that," Lanning said. While Ohio State was an "unbelievable team," Lanning said, it's pretty clear what happened. One team had a month off and the other had played the weekend before in the first round of the playoffs. Perhaps long, extended off time isn't such a positive. |
| College sports bill moving to House floor in Congress after passing committee votes | |
 | Two U.S. House of Representatives committees on Wednesday, July 23 advanced a bill that would establish a variety of national rules concerning how college sports operate, making this the most comprehensive measure connected to the industry set to reach the chamber's floor in decades. After considering nearly a dozen amendments, the Energy and Commerce Committee ultimately voted 30-23 to send the bill to the House floor. It was a straight party line vote in which one vote was not recorded. The Education and Workforce Committee also signed off on the bill later in the afternoon by a narrower margin of 18-17, with Rep. Michael Baumgartner, R-Wash., joining all of the Democrats in opposition. In a brief moment of drama, the tally was deadlocked at 17 for several seconds before Rep. Michael Rulli, R-Ohio, cast the deciding vote. Barring last-minute intervention from another committee, the bill could receive a vote in September, perhaps within the first two weeks after the House is scheduled to return Sept. 2 from a summer recess. "Hopefully between now and in September we can work to get some more Democrat support," said Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky, who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee. Guthrie said the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten have "always put big pressure to try to move this forward" and expressed hope that schools from those conferences could help convince Democrats to get on board. |
| How House Republicans Want to Reshape College Athletics | |
| House Republicans advanced a bill Wednesday that, if passed, could overhaul America's college athletics system. The legislation, known as the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements, or SCORE, Act was designed to settle confusion over how college athletes can and should be able to profit off their name, image and likeness as well as their college's revenue. Introduced earlier this month, the bill preempts existing state-level NIL rules, prohibits student athletes from being recognized as university employees, exempts the National Collegiate Athletic Association from certain antitrust laws and ties athlete compensation to how much TV revenue the team generates. "We all agree that student athletes deserve to be compensated for their contributions to college athletics, but the current environment is unsustainable and risks exploitation of student athletes," said Representative Lisa McClain, a Michigan Republican. "It's time to bring stability to college sports." As a first attempt at ending the ambiguities, the SCORE ACT has generally received bipartisan support; seven Republicans and two Democrats sponsored the bill. But it's also received pushback as some lawmakers fear it will lead to the downfall of certain non–revenue-generating sports and won't properly protect the rights of all hardworking athletes. |
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