| Thursday, August 7, 2025 |
| Heather Forsythe named Outstanding Graduate of MSU's new MSN program | |
 | Mississippi State University recognized and awarded Heather Forsythe as its inaugural Outstanding Graduate honoree in the Master of Science in Nursing program's first graduation ceremony. Forsythe, a resident of Brandon, Mississippi, traveled the 160-mile round trip to MSU's Meridian campus every day since beginning the program last fall. She originally studied nursing 15 years ago and graduated from Meridian Community College's nursing program in 2008. At the time, amidst life changes and being a single mother, Forsythe chose not to complete the credentials to become a registered nurse. ... Upon learning about the new MSN program at MSU's Meridian campus, Forsythe leaped at the opportunity. "I think it was God," Forsythe said. "I think God pulled me here. I started getting these little postcards out of nowhere from different places for nursing programs, LPN to RN. Since I hadn't even been looking, I thought it was kind of crazy." According to Kayla Carr, a professor of nursing, Forsythe is the "model case" of the value in an accelerated MSN program. "Heather remained teachable, curious, and diligent throughout the program and is well-respected by her peers and faculty," Carr said. "We're honored to have her represent the MSU School of Nursing as she heads into the Meridian nursing workforce." Forsythe will graduate summa cum laude with the rest of the inaugural MSN class on Thursday. |
| Landscaping team at Mississippi State planted over 2,000 trees in last 5 years | |
 | Over the past five years, the landscaping team at Mississippi State University has planted more than 2,000 trees as part of a campus beautification and outdoor environment optimization campaign. From native hardwoods to decorative flowering species, the varied tree plantings are creating and enhancing shaded spaces for students, faculty, and visitors at the Starkville campus. In recognition of these efforts, Mississippi State has been tabbed a "Tree Campus Higher Education institution" by the Arbor Foundation for 12 consecutive years. "With every tree we plant, we're thinking 20, 30, even 50 years into the future," Saunders Ramsey, executive director of Campus Services at MSU, said. This summer, as Mississippi has experienced a severe heat wave, the benefits of the trees have been noticeable to those on campus. "Trees do so much more than provide shade," Jim Bo Hearnsberger, associate director of MSU Campus Landscape, said. "They clean the air we breathe, help manage stormwater, create habitats for wildlife, and reduce energy use by cooling buildings and sidewalks. It's a lasting return on investment for the entire campus community." |
| Mississippi State adds 2,000 trees to campus landscape, transforming university's 'great outdoors' | |
| Mississippi State's landscape team has planted more than 2,000 trees over the past five years, strengthening the university's canopy and advancing its current strategic effort to optimize the university's outdoor environment. From majestic native hardwoods to decorative flowering species, the varied tree plantings are creating and enhancing shaded spaces for students, faculty and visitors on the campus recognized for 12 consecutive years as a Tree Campus Higher Education institution. "With every tree we plant, we're thinking 20, 30, even 50 years into the future," said Saunders Ramsey, executive director of Campus Services. "It's about creating a landscape now that future generations of Bulldogs can also enjoy -- places to walk, study, gather and connect with nature." This summer, as Mississippi has experienced a severe heat wave, the benefits of trees are especially noticeable. Trees reduce rising ground temperatures and cool shaded areas by as much as 10 degrees, but the value doesn't stop there. |
| MSU campus featuring thousands of trees, project years in the making | |
| Mississippi State University is receiving a bit of a facelift on campus for the 2025-2026 school year. The school's landscape team planted more than 2,000 trees over the past five years. The types of trees vary from native hardwoods to decorative flowering species. The university hopes the trees will provide shaded spaces for students, faculty and visitors. The landscape team chose high-traffic walkways, gathering areas, parking lots and other places to maximize beauty, shade and comfort. Opening this fall adjacent to the new Jim and Thomas Duff Center, it will feature a mix of nearly 50 newly planted Nuttall and willow oak trees. |
| Mississippi State adds 2,000 trees to campus landscape, transforming university's 'great outdoors' | |
 | According to an MSU press release, Mississippi State's landscape team has planted more than 2,000 trees over the past five years, strengthening the university's canopy and advancing its current strategic effort to optimize the university's outdoor environment. "Trees are one of the most valuable investments we can make for the future of our campus," said Saunders Ramsey, executive director of Campus Services. "They shape the way people experience Mississippi State." Associate Director of Campus Landscape Jim Bo Hearnsberger's team carefully selects and places trees to maximize impact, focusing on high-traffic walkways, gathering areas, parking lots, and new developments -- places where shade, beauty and comfort matter most. One of those places is the university's newest green space -- McCarthy Quad. Opening this fall, adjacent to the new Jim and Thomas Duff Center, it will feature a mix of nearly 50 newly planted Nuttall and Willow Oak trees. The university has also added, in recent years new trees along the College View connector, around Chadwick Lake, and at Partnership Middle School as part of annual Arbor Day celebrations. |
| Mississippi State University launches new AI initiative | |
| Mississippi State University has announced a groundbreaking campus-wide AI initiative, powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), becoming the only university in the state, and the first in the Southeastern Conference, to implement AWS's artificial intelligence services to enhance engagement with prospective students, alumni, and supporters. "As Mississippi's leading research university, we take pride in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics -- along with high-performance computing, data science, cybersecurity studies, agriculture and forestry, and business," said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. "From that standpoint, this exciting partnership with a world-class organization like AWS is a great fit for the MSU community." Using the Higher Education AI platform from Quintilian, Inc. powered by AWS, a leading education data and technology firm, MSU will leverage machine learning models that optimize MSU's data to streamline key focus areas. "This is a bold step forward in how we connect with present and future Bulldogs," said MSU Vice President for Strategic Communications Sid Salter. |
| Brookhaven MSU student Allie Wall selected for Delta Scholars Program | |
 | Allie Wall, of Brookhaven, has been selected as one of 11 participants of the Delta Scholars Program, hosted by Mississippi State University's Shackouls Honors College. The program is presented in partnership with Brandeis University, Harvard University (including Harvard Law School and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health), Rutgers University, Southern Rural Development Center, and the University of Mississippi. During the 12-day summer institute, Wall met with community leaders, researchers and non-profits in the Mississippi Delta, learning about food insecurity, healthcare and other systemic challenges for the residents there. As part of DSP, each scholar must develop at capstone project to address a specific issue relating to equity, justice, access, or community development. Wall will present her project in the fall at Harvard. |
| Yalies in the Mississippi Delta: Bringing AP STEM classes to rural schools | |
| It's mid-afternoon on a hot summer day in Mississippi, and Matt Dolan '82 has assembled a small army of promising high school students at Mississippi State University in Starkville for some academic adventuring. "They're all upstairs right now," Dolan says, chuckling slightly but bracing for the logistical journey ahead. "It is a very complicated process, getting everyone here, signed up, and started for camp. But they're great kids. All they want to do is work hard and learn." Roughly 150 participants from across the Delta in northwestern Mississippi and beyond -- students from rural, low-income school districts -- will immerse themselves in a free, week-long bootcamp devoted to college-level science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills. They'll get instruction, tutoring, and mentoring from faculty, alumni, and students from some of the best universities in the country, and be steeped in the wisdom and rigor inherent in a thriving college environment. Then these students will head back to their local high schools, where, starting in the fall, they'll join hundreds of other classmates in the Global Teaching Project's (GTP) Advanced STEM Access Program. The program, founded by Dolan nearly a decade ago, brings science-related Advanced Placement (AP) courses, free of charge, to high schools where AP classes are not available. It's a kind of collaborative teaching approach that has firmly taken root in the Delta and elsewhere in rural Mississippi and which has potential across the United States. |
| 2025 Soybean Crop in All Growth Stages Across State | |
| Mississippi's soybean crop is literally all over the place in terms of development, but nearly all of it looks good. The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service estimates Mississippi will have 2.05 million acres of soybeans. As of July 27, USDA estimated 59% of the crop was in good or excellent condition. Another 27% was rated fair, with just 4% in poor condition. But those numbers do not describe what is actually happening in the field. Justin Calhoun, soybean specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the only blanket statement that can be made about the state's 2025 soybean crop is that it is in the field. "I don't mean that to be facetious; it's just the only broad truth we can use," Calhoun said. "In the past week, I have seen soybeans being planted, and I have seen the first soybeans of the year being harvested. Most of the crop across the state is in mid- to late-reproductive growth stages." |
| Mary Means Business: Indoor playground facility coming to Starkville | |
 | After sitting vacant for two years, the former Tuesday Morning location in Starkville is finally getting a playful, new lease on life. Starkville Playtopia, an indoor playground for children up to age 12, is set to open in the coming months. The new venture is led by owner Kelsey Anderson, alongside her husband Bryan, friend Kelsey Griggs, and a group of angel investors. Anderson said the opening date isn't set in stone due to uncertain manufacturing, shipping and installation times, but follow along on social media for updates for Playtopia of Starkville. ... Moving from a kid's playground to a fun pastime for adults: Hobie's on Main Street has its new home. Hobie's Tiki Dawgs and Drinks, 203 Maxwell St., is officially open. Check out the new spot for various drink and food specials, including the Mike Leach Dawg (rest in peace, pirate) with bacon, pineapple and jalapeños. ... Moving over to Washington Street, we've also got a bakery open this week. The Frosted Fork, 104 S. Washington St., Suite 3, held its soft opening last week, and it's time for sweets. The New Hope bakery, Taylor Made, announced a Starkville location earlier this year. You can check out custom cookies, cakes, chicken salad, charcuterie boards, frozen casserole, pre-made cakes and more from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays. |
| Little Sturgis Motorcycle Rally returns next week | |
| Motorcycles will once again be driving through the streets of Sturgis to support the city at this year's Little Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Between 3,000 and 10,000 attendees are expected for this year's three-day rally starting Aug. 14, which will include rides throughout Oktibbeha County, concerts and around 15 vendors. "Everybody is invited. ... This is not just for the town and not just for the people registered for the (rides)," Sturgis Mayor Jerry Bean said. "This is something that (the community supports) us in, and we need their support to keep putting it on every year." The festivities will kick off at 6 p.m. on Aug. 14 at Diane Jackson Memorial Park with a cruise-in organized by the Choctaw Cruisers, which will include motorcycles, cars and trucks from anyone who would like to participate, said Bean. The cruise-in will be followed by an opening concert at 7 p.m. by the Full Circle Party Band. On Aug. 15 Mississippi Highway Patrol will escort the Dinner Ride, which will leave from Sturgis at 4 p.m. and drive to Village Cycle Center Powersports in Starkville for dinner and continue travelling through Louisville and Ackerman before making the return to Sturgis, Bean said. Organizers are asking those interested in the Dinner Ride to pre-register and purchase a $20 wristband so they can get a head count for the dinner, Roben Dawkins, a member of the organizing board for the rally told The Dispatch. |
| Nissan officially delays EV production start at Canton plant | |
 | Despite all of the good news on what is expected to happen at the Canton Nissan Assembly Plant and despite the threat of closures of other plants around the world, there is one bit of bad news that many observers saw coming months ago. According to multiple industry sources, Nissan is delaying the 2028 production launch of two electric SUV models at its Canton plant. Nissan confirmed those reports to the Clarion Ledger on Aug. 5. "As part of our ongoing commitment to delivering the right product at the right value for our customers, we've made the strategic decision to slightly adjust the production timeline for our EVs at the Canton plant," Amanda Plecas of Nissan North America told the Clarion Ledger. "Our goal is to ensure that this facility continues to bring highly competitive vehicles to market that exceed customer expectations." It is a gigantic shift in strategy from just a couple of years ago. |
| Cunny celebrates 101st birthday with ERDC homecoming | |
| After graduating from Purdue University with a master's degree in industrial engineering, Bob Cunny began his career in 1948 as an engineer at the Waterways Experiment Station, working there until his retirement in 1980 after more than 30 years of federal service. In July, Cunny celebrated his 101st birthday with a special request -- to return to the place where his career began. Mary Margaret Edney and Annette Kirklin of the ERDC Public Affairs Office led him on a tour of the station, now known as the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). "It was such a privilege to spend time with Mr. Cunny. He represents a generation of engineers who laid the foundation for what ERDC is today," Edney, ERDC public affairs chief, said. "While the technology we use today may be different, our people have the same spirit of innovation and dedication to making the world safer and better." |
| McLendon defeats Stevenson in primary election | |
 | State Senator Michael McLendon emerged victorious in Tuesday's Republican primary, staving off a hard fought and contentious challenge from Hernando businessman Jon Stevenson. McLendon topped Stevenson 3,935 (66.93 percent) to 1,890 (32.15 percent) in DeSoto County Tuesday night, which did not include totals from Tate County. McLendon, who voted in Hernando earlier in the day then returned to Jackson to be with his family who are dealing with the loss of twin grandchildren, issued a statement thanking voters for their support and a pledge to continue fighting for the issues that matter to the district. "Despite a $12 million Super PAC, multiple mayors, dirty tactics, developers, outside money and outright lies, the voters had the final say tonight," McLendon said on Facebook. "Once again, you've honored me with your vote and I am deeply grateful. But this victory isn't mine - It's yours. It belongs to every family who opened their door, every neighbor who stood with us, and every conservative who refused to be bought or bullied." McLendon said the win showed that the establishment, despite throwing everything they had at him, underestimated the power of the voters. |
| Sen. Robin Robinson Loses Seat in Special Election Primaries; Reeves Blames Medicaid Expansion Vote | |
| Incumbent Republican Mississippi Sen. Robin Robinson, R-Laurel, lost her bid for reelection to Senate District 42 after Don Hartness defeated her in the Republican special primary election on Tuesday. She was the only incumbent to lose reelection in Tuesday night's contested special election primaries, which included five state Senate seats and two state House seats. Hartness garnered 4,241 votes while Robinson received 1,675 votes. Robinson's brother, RJ Robinson, also ran in the primary, collecting just 83 votes. No Democrats ran for Senate District 42, so Hartness will go unchallenged in the Nov. 4 special election. Gov. Tate Reeves framed Tuesday night's results as a rejection of Medicaid expansion by Republican primary voters, noting that while Robinson lost, two Republican senators (Michael McLendon and Chris Johnson) who voted against a bill to expand Medicaid in 2024 won reelection. The governor's attempt at identifying a pattern was misleading, though; Parker, a Republican from Southaven who represents Senate District 2, chose not to run for reelection this year and was not on the ballot. Robinson was the only pro-Medicaid expansion incumbent to lose a primary on Tuesday. One House Republican who voted for Medicaid expansion, Rep. Dana McLean of Columbus, ran unopposed for her Senate District 39 seat in Tuesday's special elections. |
| Auditor seizes hundreds of thousands from cities to pay for overdue financial reports | |
| Jeff Goodwin, director of the state auditor's compliance division, was congenial while describing to Canton officials how the office has taken $352,000 of the city's revenue to pay for past-due audits – the first time Auditor Shad White has exercised this authority. "I didn't write the law. Auditor White didn't write the law, but we're charged with enforcing it," Goodwin said at the Canton Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday. Canton is one of 68 local governments across Mississippi that received an auditor's letter in March, putting officials on notice of their delinquent audits. Audits are important, despite not appearing urgent, said Billy Morehead, Mississippi College accounting professor and member of the Mississippi Public Procurement Review Board. "All of a sudden, the can's been kicked down the road and the municipality is at risk of losing a variety of funding, a lot of their federal funds, but also their credit ratings," Morehead said. "It could be catastrophic to some of these places." Jason Camp, a Mississippi State University extension specialist who specializes in municipal government, said in some cases, current municipal officials were not in charge when the audits fell behind, but someone has to hold them accountable for following the law. "It does sound like the actions taken by the state auditor's office has made some urgency come into play with some of the cities who maybe didn't think it was such a big deal to be behind," Camp said in an interview with Mississippi Today. "They're now saying, 'Hey this is a serious issue and we have to put resources towards getting us caught up.'" |
| Commissioner Trusty shares FCC's plan to unleash growth, internet access | |
| The Federal Trade Commission's Build America Agenda will unleash new growth and opportunities, FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty said Wednesday at an event in Jackson. The agenda, unveiled last month, will focus on creating streamlined and quick internet connectivity as well as a telecom workforce. "Broadband is not a luxury, it's a necessity," said Trusty, an appointee of President Donald Trump in a speech at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson on Wednesday. "It provides quality lifesaving care, whether it's down the street or five counties away." Trusty was confirmed to her post by the U.S. Senate in June. Prior to joining the Commission, she served as a Professional Staff Member on the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services under the leadership of Mississippi U.S. Senator Roger Wicker. She previously served as a Policy Director on the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and a Legislative Assistant in Wicker's Office. The new commissioner and Senator Wicker were in Jackson meeting with UMMC officials to discuss telehealth, workforce issues, the next generation of technology, and Artificial Intelligence. |
| Who is Marsha Blackburn? What to know about the senator running for Tennessee governor | |
| It's official: Current U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn is looking to be the next governor of Tennessee. Blackburn announced her campaign on X, formerly Twitter, with a post and video just after 8 a.m. Aug. 6. "It's official!" the post reads. "I'm running for Governor to ensure Tennessee is America's conservative leader for this generation and the next." Current Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is term-limited and will leave the Tennessee governor's office in January 2027. Voters will decide in November 2026 who will succeed him. Blackburn is a senior U.S. senator from Tennessee now serving her second term in office. She is looking to leave Congress to serve as the next governor of Tennessee Blackburn is a prominent member of the Republican Party in Tennessee and vocally opposes abortion and supports deporting undocumented residents, creating more jobs in the Volunteer State and "fighting wokeness." Blackburn graduated from Mississippi State University in 1973 with a bachelor of science degree in home economics. |
| 'A gift': How Trump builds power for himself with 'no details' trade deals | |
 | For lawmakers and foreign leaders searching for the details of the multibillion-dollar trade deals Donald Trump has been making with a number of foreign governments, the president says there are none. That's by design -- to give himself even more powers. The dealmaker in chief himself dropped that revelation Tuesday morning, after financial analysts, lawmakers and foreign governments have -- for months -- been waiting for his administration to put some meat on the bones of his rather vague trade agreements. During a sometimes testy live phone interview with CNBC's morning show, co-anchor Becky Quick said this about Trump's various trade pacts: "We have been trying to figure out the details on that, Mr. President, so we appreciate the clarity on that." "Yeah, well, there are no details," Trump responded. He then used his recently announced trade deal with the European Union as an example, making clear that he structured the arrangement to give one individual almost exclusive say over how it would work: himself. "The details are $600 billion to invest in anything I want. Anything. I can do anything I want," Trump said. The telling description might have been focused on trade arrangements, but it also could apply to much of what has been a bulldozer-like second term so far. Over the past seven months, Trump 2.0 has steamrolled over norms, written a new how-to manual on usurping Congress' authority and blown through traditional limits on executive powers that his predecessors did not challenge. |
| Trump's tariffs take effect, potentially upending global trade and prices | |
 | President Donald Trump's long-awaited tariffs took effect shortly after the stroke of midnight Thursday, imposing sweeping new taxes on imports that economists say will probably get passed on to U.S. consumers and businesses. Trump has announced frameworks of trade agreements with roughly a dozen of the United States' closest trading partners, including the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan and South Korea. But goods from nations with which the U.S. does hundreds of billions of dollars of trade, such as India, Switzerland and South Africa, will see new taxes of up to 39 percent, with India's rate set to jump to 50 percent in three weeks. "BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, LARGELY FROM COUNTRIES THAT HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE UNITED STATES FOR MANY YEARS, LAUGHING ALL THE WAY, WILL START FLOWING INTO THE USA," Trump posted on Truth Social Wednesday night. The White House has yet to reach full agreements with the U.S.'s three top trading partners. The Trump administration agreed to hold off charging higher rates on merchandise from China and Mexico while negotiations with both countries continue. Trump is charging some Canadian imports a 35 percent tax that took effect Aug. 1. |
| Trump Pledged to Bring Back Manufacturing. The Sector Is Sputtering. | |
 | President Trump has claimed that his sweeping tariff regime will reshore American companies and revive manufacturing in the U.S. So far, that hasn't happened. Economic activity tied to manufacturing has shrunk for most of Trump's second term. A few investments and pledges aimed at beefing up domestic manufacturing appear timed to appease the president, and may or may not come to fruition. The latest is from Apple, which is planning to commit an additional $100 billion to the U.S., after saying in February it would spend more than $500 billion in the country over four years to make servers and parts for its key products. Beneath the shiny announcements lies a sector that can't seem to get off the ground. From March to July, U.S. manufacturing activity contracted, according to the Institute for Supply Management's monthly survey. The Manufacturing PMI last registered at 48, below the 50 score that differentiates growth and decline. The effective average tariff rate on all imported goods now stands at roughly 18% versus 2.3% last year, the highest levels since the 1930s. Still, some economists say Trump's tariffs, set to take broader effect on Thursday, aren't high enough to bring companies back. Major U.S. trade partners like South Korea, the European Union and Japan for example, all face 15% tariffs, below the 25%-to-30% levels the president once threatened. |
| Kentucky facility to make all glass covers for Apple iPhones, watches after $2.5B commitment | |
 | Apple is making a $2.5 billion investment in Kentucky. That means glass covers for every iPhone and Apple Watch sold around the world will be made in the commonwealth. The significant investment will finance an advanced smartphone glass production line that's expected to double the facility's local manufacturing and engineering workforce. New York-based Corning Inc.'s factory in Harrodsburg now has an estimated 420 employees. It's been making glass covers for Apple the past 18 years. Since 2007, Apple has sold 3 billion iPhones, the majority of which were sold between 2016 and now, according to its most recent earnings call. The Kentucky investment is part of a total $100 billion Apple is putting into the U.S. economy and its effort to bring foreign jobs back to the US. In addition to Apple's American Manufacturing Program, the company has planned more than $600 billion worth of domestic projects over the next four years. The history of financial commitment and the additional investment announced Wednesday come as President Donald Trump continues to push an aggressive tariff and trade agenda that's generally aimed at moving some manufacturing back to the U.S. Trump heaped praise on Apple's decision to invest even more in Kentucky. |
| Trump delivers a steady stream of wins for his conservative Christian base | |
 | In his first half-year in office -- amid his tariff campaign, government-slashing moves and immigration crackdown -- President Donald Trump has also repeatedly delivered for conservative Christians, who form the bedrock of his Republican support. While he has made overtures to Jewish, Muslim and other religious groups, his Christian supporters have been among his most high-profile surrogates and appointees. The Trump administration has green-lit political endorsements from the pulpit and encouraged religion in the federal workplace. Trump has established faith-focused entities with numerous influential Christian appointees. He's energized supporters with assaults on cultural and academic targets long seen as liberal bastions. His administration and his Supreme Court appointees have expanded areas for religious exemptions and expression in the public square. Critics say he's eroding the separation of church and state. "The ones celebrating this are the ones leaning toward this Christian nationalist bent, this ideology that Christians should have dominion over the United States government," said the Rev. Shannon Fleck, executive director of Faithful America, a progressive Christian group. "A president with a true Christian agenda would be most concerned with uplifting those in our country who have been cast aside," she said. "The most vulnerable among us are not billionaires. Those most vulnerable among us are not these manipulators of Christianity that are seeking nothing but power." |
| China Turns to A.I. in Information Warfare | |
 | The Chinese government is using companies with expertise in artificial intelligence to monitor and manipulate public opinion, giving it a new weapon in information warfare, according to current and former U.S. officials and documents unearthed by researchers. One company's internal documents show how it has undertaken influence campaigns in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and collected data on members of Congress and other influential Americans. While the firm has not mounted a campaign in the United States, American spy agencies have monitored its activity for signs that it might try to influence American elections or political debates, former U.S. officials said. Artificial intelligence is increasingly the new frontier of espionage and malign influence operations, allowing intelligence services to conduct campaigns far faster, more efficiently and on a larger scale than ever before. The Chinese government has long struggled to mount information operations targeting other countries, lacking the aggressiveness or effectiveness of Russian intelligence agencies. But U.S. officials and experts say that advances in A.I. could help China overcome its weaknesses. China's emerging capabilities come as the U.S. government pulls back efforts to counter foreign malign influence campaigns. |
| Federal judge to decide if Mississippi DEI ban should be indefinitely blocked | |
| A federal judge will soon decide if a Mississippi law banning educators from teaching diversity, equity and inclusion programs should be blocked indefinitely. Dozens of educators, students and parents watched on Tuesday as attorneys argued over a preliminary injunction. It would extend the pause issued by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate and prevent the controversial state law from being enforced until there's a final ruling in the case. The biggest hang-up? Whether teachers and students have First Amendment rights in the classroom. Lawyers for the plaintiffs argued over the course of two days about the law's unconstitutionality and vagueness. Rob McDuff, a Mississippi Center for Justice attorney, emphasized that entire curricula would have to be rewritten, and that widespread confusion about the statute could lead to a flood of complaints. "The statute is breathtaking in breadth and confusion," McDuff said. Attorneys for the plaintiffs called four witnesses -- a parent, a professor, a graduate student and a law-school professor -- to the stand. They all said they felt uncomfortable with and confused by the law. The two University of Mississippi educators -- sociology professor James Thomas and law-school professor Cliff Johnson -- said they were unable to finalize their syllabi, just weeks before classes begin. |
| New UM Museum director comes home to Ole Miss | |
 | In 1997, Karleen Gardner led a tour at the University of Mississippi's campus museum, sparking a lifelong love of museum collections, communities and learning opportunities. Now, she is back to lead the UM Museum. Gardner, who earned both her undergraduate and master's degrees in art history at the University of Mississippi, was named director of the University Museum and Historic Houses following the retirement of former director Robert Saarnio. For Gardner, coming back to Ole Miss is a homecoming. "In school, I did an internship at what was then the Marie Buie Museum and there was a moment in the gallery where I was connecting people with art and I realized I wanted to work in art museums," she said. "Lo and behold, that became my career. But it started at Ole Miss." Throughout her career, Gardner has championed access and empathy in museums. She plans to continue that mission at the university. "Museums are for people -- both the students and faculty and staff and the community," she said. "And sometimes that means meeting people where they are. I want this to be a museum that people come to, but also a museum that goes out into the community." |
| Delta State completes nursing school expansion as program admissions rise | |
| Delta State University announced Wednesday the completion of an expansion and renovation project at its school of nursing, the move aimed at increasing student capacity and providing the best education possible to future healthcare professionals. The project at the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing covered approximately 14,000 square feet of new construction and renovation on roughly 21,500 square feet of existing space. Upgrades include one new classroom and the expansion of another, bringing the total number of large classrooms to three with an 80-student capacity in each. The facility's skills lab now has 10 beds, compared to the previous number of five. The computer lab can seat up to 90 students, up from 58. The nursing school's simulation center also saw a major facelift, increasing from four to five fully functional beds and the addition of three observation rooms, two debriefing rooms, and two offices. A new nurse practitioner suite was added, featuring five exam rooms, a waiting room for standardized patients, and a conference room. The project was funded through state bond appropriations with support from the Delta State University Foundation and private donations through a nursing capital campaign. |
| Jackson residents meet to discuss ONELINE Corridor Development Study | |
| City residents are being encouraged to think about their own visions for the future of Jackson and becoming vocal about potential improvements. The City of Jackson is looking for the public's input on the ONELINE Corridor Development Study. The focus is to improve both transportation and development in Central Jackson. Organizers want to hear from citizens on the urgent need to improve bus service, maintain streets, and form ideas on how to bring more investments into this area of the city. At a workshop on Wednesday night at the Jackson Medical Mall, residents broke up into groups to discuss ways Jackson can build walking and bike trails, help residents feel safer as well as bring in more employers and develop neighborhoods plagued with vacant houses and buildings. "We want to understand how we can improve transit for existing riders and for future riders and use transit as a way to catalyze development in that area," said Consultant and Project Manager Gabi Brazzil. "So, if we can get people moving, where would they like to go along State Street and down into the JSU area." One goal is to better connect Fondren, the Medical District, the Downtown area, and Jackson State University. |
| MCC welcomes new students, parents at orientation | |
 | Incoming students and parents visited Meridian Community College on Wednesday as the college hosted an orientation session to help the newcomers familiarize themselves with the campus. The event kicked off with welcomes and information about MCC's support services, including financial aid, student support, the registrar's office, business office, MCC Police Department and more. Following the speakers, students split off into groups while parents and family members stayed behind for a session geared specifically for them. MCC Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Cedric Gathings said orientation is a great opportunity for both students and their families to learn more about the campus, connect with support services, get answers to questions and make new friends. "Today is our opportunity to share all the amazing things that we have to offer students," he said. MCC President Tom Huebner said college can be a clean slate for students. Those who struggled with grades in primary school can start over as straight A students and explore other interests. "It's your chance to explore and figure out who you are, who you were created to be, what you were created to do," he said. |
| Watchdog: ChatGPT gives teens dangerous advice on drugs, alcohol and suicide | |
| ChatGPT will tell 13-year-olds how to get drunk and high, instruct them on how to conceal eating disorders and even compose a heartbreaking suicide letter to their parents if asked, according to new research from a watchdog group. The Associated Press reviewed more than three hours of interactions between ChatGPT and researchers posing as vulnerable teens. The chatbot typically provided warnings against risky activity but went on to deliver startlingly detailed and personalized plans for drug use, calorie-restricted diets or self-injury. The researchers at the Center for Countering Digital Hate also repeated their inquiries on a large scale, classifying more than half of ChatGPT's 1,200 responses as dangerous. "We wanted to test the guardrails," said Imran Ahmed, the group's CEO. "The visceral initial response is, 'Oh my Lord, there are no guardrails.' The rails are completely ineffective. They're barely there -- if anything, a fig leaf." OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, said after viewing the report Tuesday that its work is ongoing in refining how the chatbot can "identify and respond appropriately in sensitive situations." |
| Louisiana colleges settle suit alleging they ignored rape reports. | |
 | A woman who sued the University of Louisiana System for failing to protect her from a student she and others accused of rape agreed to settle the lawsuit Aug. 1, days before a trial was set to begin. The woman, who filed the federal lawsuit in the Middle District of Louisiana in May 2022 under the pseudonym Jane Doe, is one of eight women who said that they were sexually assaulted by Victor Daniel Silva. The woman's settlement comes more than four years after a USA TODAY investigation revealed systemic failures by university and law enforcement officials to connect the dots on Silva, who from 2014 to 2020 transferred from Louisiana State University to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, then to Louisiana Tech University, then back to UL Lafayette -- racking up sexual misconduct allegations at every stop. Silva, who has not responded to requests for comment from USA TODAY, has never been convicted of a sex crime. He was arrested for forcible rape in 2015 but prosecutors did not move forward with the case. He has told police that the allegations against him are false. |
| Cattle market observers ask: How long will it be this good? | |
 | Randy Blach asked the crowd of hundreds inside Rudder Auditorium a question to begin his lecture at Texas A&M University's annual Beef Cattle Short Course on Monday. "Everyone enjoying this cattle market?" Hoots and hollers responded back to the chief executive officer of Cattle Fax, an industry leader in beef research and analysis. Over 2,000 people attended the 71st annual Beef Cattle Short Course, which concluded Wednesday. The event is hosted by the A&M's AgriLife Extension Service and A&M's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Animal Science. National cattle numbers are at 28.7 million, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's July cattle inventory report, which is just above a 73-year low of 28.2 million observed in January 2024. Yet, beef production and cattle prices continue to reach record highs. One thing is hard for industry experts like Blach to see, though: How high will the market go? The cattle cycle is typically 10-11 years long, he said. "You're not likely going to experience anything like this again in your lifetime," Blach said. "Yes, the market was too cheap in 2020 because of COVID, but we're probably getting a little bit to the high side of this thing if you look at it today." |
| Oklahoma Agrees to End In-State Tuition for Noncitizens After DOJ Sues | |
 | The U.S. Department of Justice sued the state of Oklahoma Tuesday over a state law that allows undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates. Oklahoma is now the fourth state the DOJ has sued for having such a policy. The state's Republican attorney general, Gentner Drummond, swiftly sided with the federal government and filed a joint motion in support of quashing the law. He said in a statement that it's "discriminatory and unlawful" to offer noncitizens lower in-state tuition rates "that are not made available to out-of-state Americans." "Today marks the end of a longstanding exploitation of Oklahoma taxpayers, who for many years have subsidized colleges and universities as they provide unlawful benefits to illegal immigrants in the form of in-state tuition," Drummond said. ow the state and the DOJ await a ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. Oklahoma's quick support for the legal challenge is reminiscent of what happened in Texas when the DOJ sued the state in June: Within hours of the lawsuit, Texas sided with the Justice Department and a judge ruled in favor of a permanent injunction, ending in-state tuition for noncitizens. The DOJ then filed similar lawsuits against Kentucky and Minnesota, though those legal fights are still ongoing. |
| Trump Comes for Public Universities, With UCLA Now in His Sights | |
| President Trump is ramping up his attacks on public universities. After months of waging a campaign against private, largely Ivy League institutions, the Trump administration has turned to the University of California, one of the nation's biggest public-school systems. The move follows recent pressure on other public campuses, including the University of Virginia and George Mason University. UC President James Milliken, just days into the job, said Wednesday that the university agreed to talks with the Trump administration to resolve allegations that University of California, Los Angeles, fostered antisemitism during campus protests in spring 2024. The Justice Department had given UCLA until Tuesday to come to the table after laying out its initial findings in a letter last week, threatening otherwise to sue. At risk is $584 million in UCLA's federal research funds, which the Trump administration suspended following the DOJ letter, Milliken said. The Justice Department said it is still investigating whether any other UC campuses, which include Berkeley, UC Irvine and UC San Diego, violated civil-rights laws. Public universities are generally intertwined with states in deeper ways than private ones, providing opportunities for upward mobility, employment and retirement to hundreds of thousands of workers and an education to a diverse swath of students. That diversity is part of why UC landed in the hot seat. |
| Harvard scientists say research could be set back years after funding freeze | |
| Harvard University professor Alberto Ascherio's research is literally frozen. Collected from millions of U.S. soldiers over two decades using millions of dollars from taxpayers, the epidemiology and nutrition scientist has blood samples stored in liquid nitrogen freezers within the university's T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The samples are key to his award-winning research, which seeks a cure to multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases. But for months, Ascherio has been unable to work with the samples because he lost $7 million in federal research funding, a casualty of Harvard's fight with the Trump administration. "It's like we have been creating a state-of-the-art telescope to explore the universe, and now we don't have money to launch it," said Ascherio. "We built everything and now we are ready to use it to make a new discovery that could impact millions of people in the world and then, 'Poof. You're being cut off.'" The loss of an estimated $2.6 billion in federal funding at Harvard has meant that some of the world's most prominent researchers are laying off young researchers. They are shelving years or even decades of research, into everything from opioid addiction to cancer. And despite Harvard's lawsuits against the administration, and settlement talks between the warring parties, researchers are confronting the fact that some of their work may never resume. |
| 'Hook Up?' College Kids Schedule Literally Everything on Google Calendar | |
| Early in her freshman year at Cornell, Vanessa Long got a Google Calendar invite from a classmate. "Come over to my dorm?" read the invitation, scheduled for 10 p.m. Long clicked "yes," but she was perplexed. Later, she realized this was a typical interaction on campus. Her classmate just wanted to hang out. At Cornell, students use what they call "GCal" for everything. Long ticked off some examples: "What time they go to sleep, what time they eat, if they're going on a five-minute walk, if they want to grab lunch with you at the one dining hall on campus that you go to every day." "I thought I was the peak of being organized, and it turns out that I don't even scratch the surface," she said. Across American campuses, it's commonplace for students to schedule out their days and weeks in color-coded blocks. No event is too small and virtually nothing is out of bounds. At some schools students have even used it to get a date. Some think it's gone too far, eliminating any spontaneity and reducing life to slots on a grid. Others say that some GCal superusers just want the world to know how busy they are. |
| Survey: Most Parents Still Want Their Kids to Go to College | |
| Despite public skepticism about the value of a college degree, the majority of parents still want their kids to pursue more education after high school, according to a report from Gallup and the Lumina Foundation published today. During the first two weeks of June, researchers surveyed more than 2,000 adults -- including 554 parents of children under 18 -- about what they thought their own children or the children in their lives should do after high school. Though there was some variation depending on political party affiliation and level of educational attainment, three-quarters of parents over all say they want their children to continue their education. "Even in this moment of skepticism around higher ed, the pull of college is still powerful for families," Courtney Brown, Lumina's vice president of impact and planning, told Inside Higher Ed. "The distinction is between their critiques of the system and their personal aspirations. They see there are some cracks in the system -- that it's not always affordable -- and they want to make sure that if they're going to pay for college that their child is going to see a return on investment." Parents had a clear preference for the type of institution their child should attend, with 40 percent of respondents indicating that their first choice would be a four-year university. |
| Overeducated and underemployed: Why a diploma no longer guarantees success | |
| "Go to college, get a good job." It's advice that's at the foundation of the American dream. However, for many adults today -- specifically young graduates -- it's not playing out as they would have hoped. According to the Federal Reserve Bank, in March 2025, the unemployment rate for college graduates aged 22–27 hit 5.8%, compared to an overall unemployment rate of just 4.2%. This 1.6 percentage point gap is the largest disparity between young graduates and the general population in over 30 years -- excluding the temporary pandemic-related spike in 2021. So what's going on? One reason is that too many jobs now require degrees that they never used to. Not because the work got harder -- but because more people have degrees. "In society at large, managers have come to see a degree as a minimum ticket to ride," said Matt Sigelmann, president of the Burning Glass Institute, a research organization focused on the future of work and workers. This shift in perspective has come to harm young graduates more than anyone else. While the deck might seem stacked against young graduates right now, not all paths lead to a dead end. The choices students make, like what they choose to study, can tip the odds in their favor. "Majors matter, Sigelmann said. "Some majors have three times as much underemployment as others with majors in nursing education in some STEM fields having the lowest underemployment risk." |
| Google to spend $1 billion on AI education and job training in the U.S. | |
 | Google said it will provide U.S. colleges and universities with $1 billion worth of artificial intelligence education and job training tools, the company announced Wednesday. The three-year commitment will also make the programs available to non-profits, free of cost, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and its parent company Alphabet, said in a blog post. So far, the tech giant says it has partnered with more than 100 public universities, including Texas A&M and the University of North Carolina. All accredited, non-profit colleges and universities in the U.S. are eligible for the partnership. The push comes as the world's biggest tech companies, including Microsoft and Meta, are vying for dominance in the AI space. At the same time, some corporate leaders have predicted that generative artificial intelligence could allow their businesses to trim their human workforce due to the tech's productivity gains. Future professionals must become fluent in AI to succeed professionally, as more companies lean on new AI tools to improve efficiency, Google's Pichai wrote. Through Google's "Career Certificates," the company will offer free AI training to all U.S. college students. |
SPORTS
| Jeff Lebby optimistic about Mississippi State's defensive line depth: 'A lot better place than we were' | |
| Mississippi State struggled mightily on its defensive line in 2024. Jeff Lebby and company responded by paying close attention to the position group this offseason. Not only are the Bulldogs set to return some of its top production in the unit, but they've also addressed its depth issues in the NCAA transfer portal. Lebby revealed his level of optimism about the position group heading into 2025. "We're in a lot better place than we were," Lebby told reporters. "Again, we've got a long way to go but our bodies today, compared to where it's been with us having the ability two-spot the entire practice. (That's) completely different and that's going to help us practice the way we need to practice so we can develop and get the depth that we need." Mississippi State returns its three-leading defensive tackles from last season, Trevion Williams, Sulaiman Kpaka and Kai McClendon. The trio of 300-pounders combined for 93 tackles in 2024 -- each logging at least 30 during the season. However, this wasn't enough to get the job done. The Bulldogs would eventually let up over 2,600 rushing yards and 47 total touchdowns during the 2024 season. Lebby went out and signed a handful of defensive tackles to back them up. |
| Jackson and Reese providing senior leadership for new-look offensive line | |
| Mississippi State football is in its second week of fall camp ahead of the 2025 season, and many of head coach Jeff Lebby's team leaders have had their turn speaking to the media about their return to practice. But one especially notable presence, literally and figuratively, has been guard Jacoby Jackson. The 6-foot-6, 320-pound senior guard was a reliable presence on the line in 2024, earning a pass-blocking grade of 81.1 from Pro Football Focus while allowing just two sacks all season. "It's been great," Jackson said of the early fall work. "A lot of new faces and tons of competition everywhere. Nothing solidified, but competition is what you need and it should be what you want, because competition keeps you going. You can't get too complacent. We've got tons and tons of talent in this room, and I'm excited to see how things end up." Jackson joined the Bulldogs in 2024 and started 11 games at left guard after transferring from Texas Tech. His familiarity with the playbook has made him one of the guys to lean on in his unit, and has helped bring the new arrivals along in preparation for a retooled starting group. "It's real familiar," he said of the playbook. "I wouldn't say things are easier, but being able to know the plays, and now I can help guys if somebody needs extra help after hours or anything. I can go in the film room and help those guys out." |
| SEC Releases 2025-26 Men's Hoops Dates | |
| The Southeastern Conference released game dates for the 2025-26 Mississippi State men's basketball schedule on Wednesday. In 91 days, the Bulldogs will meet North Alabama (Nov. 5) to open their 2025-26 campaign at Humphrey Coliseum. As previously announced, the Bulldogs 18-game SEC schedule features at least one matchup with all 15 league opponents. All nine of State's SEC home games are against fellow 2025 NCAA Tournament squads which includes home-and-home meetings with Alabama, Ole Miss and Missouri. The SEC and its television partners will finalize midweek game dates in addition to announcing tip times and TV network assignments at a later date. State will begin its SEC slate at Texas (Jan. 3) followed by a midweek tilt versus Oklahoma (Jan. 6/7). Additional January home games for the Bulldogs include Alabama (Jan. 13/14), Ole Miss (Jan. 17) and Vanderbilt (Jan. 24). State will start the SEC second half against Arkansas (Feb. 7) inside the Hump followed by additional home games versus Tennessee (Feb. 11), Auburn (Feb. 17/18), Missouri (Feb. 28) and Georgia (March 7). In addition to Texas, the Bulldogs will travel to Kentucky (Jan. 10), Texas A&M (Jan. 20/21), LSU (Jan. 27/28), Missouri (Jan. 31), Ole Miss (Feb. 14), South Carolina (Feb. 21), Alabama (Feb. 24/25) and Florida (March 3/4). |
| Volleyball Announces 2025 Schedule | |
| The Mississippi State volleyball program and head coach Julie Darty Dennis announced the team's 26-game schedule for the 2025 season on Wednesday, August 6. "We are excited that volleyball is back in StarkVegas," said head coach Julie Darty Dennis. "We have a solid schedule and some fun opponents coming to town that will challenge and prepare us for the SEC slate that we have in store. The ACC x SEC Showdown at the Net features Duke coming to the Griss, and I sure hope that our Maroon and White faithful will come to support us for a fun conference crossover match. All our home matches are fun and exciting when you have the best fans in the country supporting you and cheering you on every step of the way. We can't wait to get going and we hope to see our family at the Griss later this month! Hail State!" The Bulldogs will open the non-conference slate of the season inside Newell-Grissom Building, as the team will once again host the Maroon and White Invite, beginning on Friday, August 29 and concluding on Sunday, August 31. State will play host to Southeast Missouri State, Grambling State and North Alabama. |
| Changes to CWD management zones coming, hunters asked to kill more deer | |
| A record number of chronic wasting disease cases were found in Mississippi's deer herd in the 2025 sample year and two counties, at least in part, may be added to CWD management zones. Chronic wasting disease sample years run from July 1 through June 30 of each year and since 2019, the number of tissue samples from deer that have been submitted and tested for the disease has hovered around 8,000 each year. In the 2025 sample year, which ended June 30, the number of samples rose to 10,754. "We had a record year for the number of samples, which is great," said Russ Walsh, Wildlife chief of staff with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. "We're very appreciative of our hunters and our taxidermists for providing those samples." Not surprisingly, it was also another record year for the number of samples that tested positive for the disease as it has done almost every year since the disease was discovered in Mississippi. During the 2025 sample year, 128 samples tested positive. That was up from the previous record of 111 in 2024. Although Walsh said the number of positives didn't skyrocket, he said it is clear that the disease is spreading. |
| Could ESPN produce 'RedZone' channel for college football? | |
 | Among the major properties ESPN will take over in its new partnership with the NFL is the RedZone channel, the non-stop live highlights program that airs each Sunday during the pro football season. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell discussed that move during an appearance on SportsCenter Wednesday, saying that the current RedZone set-up will not change. However, ESPN could expand that to other sports, including college football. "It'll continue to be produced right here in this building," Goodell said from the NFL's Los Angeles studios, via Pro Football Talk. "It will be the NFL RedZone. I don't think fans will see any difference to that. "Obviously, in the context of that, though, ESPN purchased the RedZone name and they will be able to utilize that for other sports, college football and other things, and I think that could be an exciting thing for our fans also to see a RedZone, maybe in college football or other sports. A college football version of the RedZone would be an exciting prospect, with fans able to keep up with highlights and scoring plays in real time from dozens of games across the country each Saturday without changing the station. It's not yet clear if ESPN has plans to create such a channel, however. |
| NIL Collectives Will Stay, but a Big Question Looms: What Is NIL? | |
| The prospect of NIL collectives being rendered extinct by the House settlement has been avoided. For now. Last week, attorneys for the House plaintiffs and the College Sports Commission reached an agreement that will save collectives and avert a legal showdown. However, the fundamental question of what "NIL" means in the increasingly pro sports-like world of big-time college athletics remains in play and is sure to spark further conflicts. NIL is supposed to reflect use of an athlete's right of publicity, which forbids misappropriation of the unique and marketable qualities of an athlete, entertainer, actor, musician, artist, model and other people. The right of publicity includes NIL and voice, signature and anything that makes them unique. It's why Ed O'Bannon sued the NCAA and EA over use of college players' likenesses in video games without their consent and without paying them. This right is essential to endorsement deals by pro athletes and celebrities, since they are paid to urge their fans and consumers to buy a product or service. With some collectives, however, NIL has been used more like a signing bonus in that payment is contingent on a recruit picking a school. |
The Office of Public Affairs provides the Daily News Digest as a general information resource for Mississippi State University stakeholders.
Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.
