| Wednesday, August 13, 2025 |
| New students move to Mississippi State University | |
 | New students are moving into their new homes this week at Mississippi State University. "It's been really good so far. We haven't had too many yet. I think Wednesday through Friday is going to be most busiest time of move-in. But it's been really good so far. All the new residents seem super sweet and really excited to move in," said Makenzie Knight, MSU Resident Assistant. Ava Forrest is an incoming freshman. Her family helped her move into her dorm on Tuesday. "I'm super excited. I'm doing rush this week, so I'm excited to get into that and join a sorority, hopefully, and meet a bunch of new people and have a bunch of new friends," said Forrest. But this isn't her parents' first rodeo with move-in day. It's just their first this week. "Today, we're moving our freshman daughter into her dorm. Tomorrow, we'll move our son into Ruby Dorm, and then Sunday, we're moving our other daughter and son into two apartments," said Rob Forrest, Ava's father. The Memphis area family says they are grateful for the extra help getting things set up. |
| Mississippi State University offering new major in entrepreneurship | |
 | A new opportunity now exists for students looking to start their own businesses in Mississippi through a program being offered by a local university. Students at Mississippi State University can earn a major in entrepreneurship through the school's College of Business, with the area of study being created just in time for the 2025-26 academic year. The new major seeks to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences to launch their own ventures or bring innovative thinking to existing organizations. For many years, Mississippi State has offered courses in entrepreneurship, experiential innovation and entrepreneurship, and family business management. But the entrepreneurship major features additional core courses like creativity and innovation, along with business venture creation, providing a sturdier academic foundation for those looking to chart a path of their own in a future business career. "Many students come to Mississippi State with a plan to start something big," Mississippi State College of Business Dean Scott Grawe said. "Some of these big things are new businesses, and some are new paths within existing organizations. Our new entrepreneurship major provides the knowledge to succeed on either path." |
| MSU College of Business launches new entrepreneurship major this month | |
| Mississippi State University's College of Business is offering a new major in entrepreneurship, educating students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences to launch their ventures or bring innovative thinking to existing organizations. The new program builds on the college's long-standing commitment to entrepreneurship education. For many years, MSU has offered courses in Entrepreneurship, Experiential Innovation and Entrepreneurship (formerly Field Studies in Entrepreneurship), and Family Business Management. The new major adds new core courses like Creativity and Innovation and the capstone Business Venture Creation, providing a strong academic foundation for aspiring entrepreneurs. "Many students come to Mississippi State with a plan to start something big," said College of Business Dean Scott Grawe. "Some of these big things are new businesses, and some are new paths within existing organizations. Our new entrepreneurship major provides the knowledge to succeed on either path." |
| Starkville Police Arrest Felony Fleeing Suspect, Seize Motorcycle | |
| The Starkville Police Department has arrested a man accused of fleeing from officers during a traffic stop over the weekend. According to authorities, the incident began around 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, August 9, when an officer attempted to pull over a motorcycle for a traffic violation. The rider, later identified as 30-year-old James Reikhof of Starkville, allegedly refused to stop and fled. Due to the circumstances, officers terminated the pursuit. The case remained under investigation, and on Monday evening, August 11, officers executed a search warrant related to the incident. Reikhof was taken into custody without incident and charged with failure to stop when officer signals (felony fleeing) and possession of a weapon by a felon. The motorcycle was impounded as part of the investigation. Reikhof was booked into the Oktibbeha County Jail. |
| Defamation suit dismissed against former Oktibbeha supervisor | |
 | A defamation lawsuit against former Oktibbeha supervisor Bricklee Miller was dismissed last month, nearly two years after it was filed. The suit, filed by former Starkville police officer John Michael Lay in September 2023, was dismissed July 31 on the grounds "that no step has been taken to prosecute nor pursue this action for over one year," according to the order of dismissal. The order, signed by judge Lee Howard, dismisses both the original lawsuit, as well as Miller's counterclaim, filed against Lay in December 2023. Miller served on the board of supervisors from 2015 to 2023. Speaking with The Dispatch Tuesday, Miller said the dismissal proved she did nothing wrong. "The dismissal underscores the absence of any slanderous statements directed at John Michael Lay, as well as the lack of evidence to substantiate his false claims," Miller said in a text to The Dispatch. Tupelo attorney Matthew Wilson, representing Lay, declined to comment. |
| CoBuilders 2025 Launch Day: Mississippi's innovation ecosystem takes center stage | |
| Tuesday marks a pivotal moment for Mississippi's entrepreneurial landscape as Innovate Mississippi brings together seven impressive startups as they prepare to showcase their ventures at the CoBuilders 2025 Cohort Launch Day. The event, held Tuesday at The Capitol Club in downtown Jackson, signifies more than simply another networking opportunity. It's a window into the state's evolving economic future. The 2025 CoBuilders cohort unites companies spanning diverse industries, each backed by regional sponsors who recognized their potential early on. "This year's cohort reflects the creativity and diversity of Mississippi's entrepreneurial talent," said Tony Jeff, president and CEO of Innovate Mississippi. "Each startup solves real-world problems, and we're excited to help them scale their solutions." Study Placer, supported by the MSU E-Center, stands alongside Vertical Take-Off Reading from MSU Vicksburg. Automatic Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges from the Oxford/CDF partnership. ClaimTra represents the combined efforts of BeanPath and Higher Purpose Co., and SimpleScript showcases another success from MSU Vicksburg. MagnoliaEd carries the backing of the Mississippi Polymer Institute, while Altude represents the Gulf Coast. These seven companies will soon embark on an intensive 12-week accelerator program, collaborating with experienced Mississippi business professionals and mentors. The journey culminates in November's Pitch Day/ |
| Mississippi Book Festival unveils official festival art | |
 | The 11th annual Mississippi Book Festival has revealed this year's official festival art. Each year, the festival honors a Mississippi artist and prints the chosen piece on commemorative posters and other merchandise. This year, the official festival art is a vibrant scene of camaraderie, Southern food and Mississippi literature titled "Well-Fed and Well-Read" by Jackson artist Rosie Ferguson Gathings. "Well-Fed and Well-Read" includes several nods to Mississippi culture, including a plate stacked full of Moon Pies and a bottle of Barq's root beer. The painting also contains subtle nods to Mississippi literature such as polaroids of Eudora Welty and William Faulkner. A Mississippi Book Festival bookmark is tucked into a book in the bottom left corner. "Well-Fed and Well-Read" will be featured on commemorative posters, signed prints and other merchandise available for purchase in the merch tent during the festival. Gathings sells her original work through her business Rosie Hues Fine Art. Gathings obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2021 and Bachelor of Fine Art with an emphasis in print making in 2022, both from Mississippi State University. The 11th annual Mississippi Book Festival will take place on Capital grounds from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13. |
| New restaurant hatches at site of Jackson's landmark Sun-n-Sand hotel | |
| A new restaurant at the former Sun-n-Sand Motor Hotel in downtown Jackson says it will serve up comfort food in partnership with a state program that provides support to Mississippians who are legally blind. Hen & Egg was founded by the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration, the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services and Chef Nick Wallace. The old Sun-n-Sand is a midcentury modern structure that's a short walk from the Capitol. The hotel operated from 1960 to 2001 and was a longtime gathering spot for state legislators and lobbyists, as well as civil rights activists. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History designated it a state landmark in 2020. Hen & Egg opened to the public Tuesday with operating hours of 7 a.m.-7 p.m Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays. The restaurant has an event space on the second floor. Wallace said when the department reached out three years ago to ask him to join the project at the old Sun-n-Sand, it was easy for him to agree. "They're very honest people, and they just want the best for Mississippians," he said Monday. The restaurant is part of the Business Enterprise Program, which provides support and opportunities for Mississippians who are legally blind to become food service vendors. |
| Katie Blount announces retirement plans after 10 years of leading MDAH | |
| Katie Blount has announced plans to retire after over a decade of leading the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Blount, who led the agency through the creation of the Two Mississippi Museums and its role in changing and archiving the state's old flag, will retire on June 20, 2026. Blount first began at MDAH in 1994 as the agency's public relations coordinator and was later promoted to assistant to the director and deputy director for communication. In 2015, she became the second woman to get the role of director, following Charlotte Capers in 1955. She said the key to preserving Mississippi's past is to tell honest stories about its people and places, both the good and bad: "Embracing complex stories draws audiences and earns the trust of partners in a position to pour resources into Mississippi. We have consistently shared Mississippi's layers of rich narrative through our work." Spence Flatgard, president of the MDAH Board of Trustees, called Blount's work "transformational" and said the search for her successor will begin immediately. |
| Mississippi Archives and History Director Katie Blount will retire in June | |
| Katie Blount, who oversaw the opening of two state history museums in 2017 and helped coordinate a redesign of the state flag in 2020, said Tuesday that she will retire next year as director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Reuben Anderson, a former Mississippi Supreme Court justice who chaired the flag commission and is a past president of the Department of Archives and History Board of Trustees, said in a statement to Mississippi Today on Tuesday that his message to Blount is: "Just a Big Thank You for all you have done for the Museum the City of Jackson and Mississippi." Spence Flatgard, current president of the Archives and History board, praised Blount's work. "Katie is universally respected by her peers and state leaders," Flatgard said in the department's press release. "Her love for public service and for Mississippians has helped us tell our story to schoolchildren and to presidents." |
| Trump nominates two Mississippi Supreme Court justices to federal court | |
| Two sitting Mississippi Supreme Court Justices have been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi. Trump announced Tuesday by way of Truth Social that he was nominating Justices Robert Chamberlin and James Maxwell to the federal court. Of Chamberlin, Trump wrote, "Throughout his time as Justice on the Mississippi Supreme Court, State Trial Court Judge, and State Senator, Robert has proven his dedication to the wonderful People of Mississippi, and our Country's Heritage. He is TOUGH, SMART, and will fearlessly defend our Constitution, ensuring Liberty and Justice FOR ALL." In speaking of Maxwell, Trump wrote, "Prior to becoming a Justice on the Mississippi Supreme Court, James did an incredible job as Judge on the Mississippi Court of Appeals and, also, Assistant U.S. Attorney. I know James will continue to make his State, and Country, proud in his new position by strongly upholding the Rule of Law, and our Constitution." The two will be vetted by the Senate as part of the advice and consent process, which could take months as federal lawmakers turn their focus to spending bills in September after a lengthy recess. |
| Trump nominates pair of Mississippi Supreme Court justices for federal seats | |
| A pair of Mississippi Supreme Court justices could be moving to a different bench after receiving nominations from President Donald Trump on Tuesday. The Republican president announced on his Truth Social platform he is nominating Justices James Maxwell and Robert Chamberlin to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi. Maxwell was appointed to the Mississippi Supreme Court in 2016 and won re-election later that year before running unopposed in 2024. Before reaching the state's high court, he served as a judge on the Mississippi Court of Appeals and worked as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi. Chamberlin won an open seat on the Mississippi Supreme Court in 2016, and like Maxwell, faced no opposition during the most recent election cycle. He previously served as a circuit court judge for the 17th Circuit District and as a state senator representing DeSoto County. |
| Tommy Duff tries to stake out 'outsider' identity in first political speech | |
| It took Tommy Duff precisely 20 seconds to invoke the outsider businessman who rose to power with no experience holding elected office. Duff would have mentioned President Donald Trump even sooner had he not paused a few seconds to wait for applause to hush. Trump, Duff exclaimed before a room full of Republican insiders at a hotel in Rankin County on Monday night, has surpassed his 200th day in office. He said the changes Trump has brought about are self-evident, and the impact of the administration's agenda is as direct as the president at its helm. He said Trump is someone who says "this is what we're doing, and then does it." In a sit-down interview with Mississippi Today in June, at an event with business leaders in July, and at a "Lincoln-Reagan-Trump" dinner on Monday, Duff has hinted at the broad outlines of what could become a gubernatorial campaign agenda. But Duff has largely done so without offering specific policy proposals, citing the nearly 27 months remaining until Election Day in 2027. Keeping more Mississippi-educated college students and offering the job opportunities that may incentivize them to stay, along with improving the state's labor force participation rate, will set the stage for what Duff sees as the state's central challenge: overtaking other southeastern states in the race for economic investment. |
| MPB leans on neighbors after $2 million federal funding loss | |
| Mississippi Public Broadcasting will lose approximately $2 million in federal funding after President Donald Trump last month signed a law slashing funding for public broadcasting. The law pulls approximately $1.1 billion in total throughout the nation. Weeks after the bill became law, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced an "orderly wind-down of its operations." The cuts will affect local public media the most; CPB provides 70% of its federal funding to local outlets through National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting Service. In states such as Mississippi, many families rely on public broadcasting for educational programs. The federal funding cuts take effect next year, and MPB will lose access to PBS and NPR, leaving significant gaps in programming. Anna Neel, MPB chief operating officer, said PBS costs about $1 million per year and NPR costs a little less. Those fees cover more than just the national programs. They give Mississippians access to apps and online games. Many Mississippi teachers use PBS Kids games to teach both social skills and school lessons. If there's one program that MPB can save, Neel said she hopes it's PBS Kids, which streams popular children's shows such as "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood," "Sesame Street," "Reading Between the Lions" and "Mr. Rogers." |
| Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith tours Mississippi Industries for the Blind | |
| Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith was in Jackson on Tuesday, August 12, to tour the Mississippi Industries for the Blind. Mississippi Industries for the Blind has dozens of government contracts, mainly in the military, to produce nearly 20 different products that are sold around the country. Sixty or so employees work in a 120,000 square foot building just west of the stadium off State Street. The senator toured the entire facility and chit chatted with a dozen or so workers there. |
| With midterms more than a year away, a record number of lawmakers are eyeing the exits | |
 | Since President Trump returned to the White House this year, a record number of members are eyeing the exits as the Republican-led Congress has largely ceded its power to Trump's vision of the country. With just under 15 months to go until the 2026 midterms, nine senators and 21 House members have announced they don't plan to run for reelection, each a modern record for this point before the election, according to an NPR analysis of congressional campaign data since 2017. As of Aug. 12, there will be 470 congressional seats on the ballot in 2026: all 435 House seats, 33 regularly scheduled Senate contests and two special elections to fill the remainder of Senate terms in Ohio and Florida. Digging into the data of congressional retirements and relocations over the last decade since Trump first took office in 2017, this year's midterm cycle is notable, too, for the surge in members of Congress looking to leave Washington and serve as governor of their state. This includes three sitting senators: Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Colorado Democrat Sen. Michael Bennet. |
| White House sharply lowers expectations for Trump-Putin summit | |
 | President Donald Trump expects his encounter with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week to be a "listening exercise," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday, sharply downplaying the possibility that a deal to end the war in Ukraine could be imminent despite a warning from the president last week that Kyiv needed to "get ready to sign something." The lowered expectations for Friday's meeting in Alaska came as Russia made significant battlefield gains in eastern Ukraine and appeared to be in little mood to offer concessions that might be necessary to achieve a durable halt in the fighting. European leaders plan a video conversation with Trump on Wednesday that will include Ukraine. They have been concerned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not invited to the meeting and that Putin could take advantage of the moment, and have pressed to speak to Trump ahead of time. Leavitt made clear that the White House intends the summit as an opening face-to-face encounter, and not one that Trump expects will lead to a deal on the spot. Asked whether Trump might be willing to engage on issues that stray from resolving the war, such as thawing trade between Russia and the United States, Leavitt said the president intends to keep the focus on Ukraine. |
| US national debt reaches a record $37 trillion, the Treasury Department reports | |
 | The U.S. government's gross national debt has surpassed $37 trillion, a record number that highlights the accelerating debt on America's balance sheet and increased cost pressures on taxpayers. The $37 trillion update is found in the latest Treasury Department report issued Tuesday which logs the nation's daily finances. The national debt eclipsed $37 trillion years sooner than pre-pandemic projections. The Congressional Budget Office's January 2020 projections had gross federal debt eclipsing $37 trillion after fiscal year 2030. But the debt grew faster than expected because of a multi-year COVID-19 pandemic starting in 2020 that shut down much of the U.S. economy, where the federal government borrowed heavily under then-President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden to stabilize the national economy and support a recovery. And now, more government spending has been approved after Trump signed into law Republicans' tax cut and spending legislation earlier this year. The law set to add $4.1 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates. Wendy Edelberg, a senior fellow in Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution said Congress has a major role in setting in motion spending and revenue policy and the result of the Republicans' tax law "means that we're going to borrow a lot over the course of 2026, we're going to borrow a lot over the course of 2027, and it's just going to keep going." |
| As Social Security turns 90, a new survey shows that 65% of retirees rely on it | |
| Aug. 14 is the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act, which ushered in an era of retirement security for older Americans. The program is facing a fiscal cliff, however, in a few years, it will no longer be able to pay full benefits unless policymakers make changes. The looming shortfall comes amid signs that more older people are relying on Social Security to make ends meet. Before Social Security, America had literal poorhouses -- places where people who could no longer work could find shelter and food. Then, at the height of the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. Today, 74 million Americans receive the benefits. "Social Security is incredibly popular," said Bill Sweeney, senior vice president of government affairs at AARP. He said 96% of Americans approve of the program. In a new survey, AARP found that the number of people who said they significantly rely on Social Security payments went up to 65%, compared to 58% a decade ago. "We have a crisis around saving for retirement," Sweeney said. "Many people get to retirement age, they just don't have enough money saved, they don't have -- a lot of people don't have any money saved." The problem -- for them and everyone else -- is that Social Security is facing the real threat of having to cut benefits. |
| Data wonks warn of lasting damage as Trump weighs shake-up of government statistics collection | |
 | President Donald Trump is ramping up his attacks on the vast network of government data collection, leaving some statisticians and demographers worried the president is undermining the short- and long-term credibility of federal data. Trump's announcement of a mid-decade census on Thursday came less than a week after he fired Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner Erika McEntarfer following the release of a jobs report that painted an unfavorable picture of the economy. Those decisions to commandeer two of the most prominent data collection agencies in the federal government represent the Trump administration's broader reshaping of statistics agencies, his critics argue -- including eliminating surveys, cutting staff and delaying the release of reports that portray the Trump administration's policies in a negative light. Aaron Sojourner, senior economist at the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, a decades-old Michigan-based research organization, said Trump accusing McEntarfer of rigging labor data for political reasons shows a misunderstanding of what motivates BLS staff. "It's just a mistake to imagine that it's anything other than technical experts doing their best with the resources they have to tackle this really hard challenge," Sojourner said. |
| The Partisan Economist Trump Wants to Oversee the Nation's Data | |
 | Conservative economist Erwin John "E.J." Antoni sometimes jokes on social media that the "L" in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' acronym is silent. President Trump this week tapped Antoni to run the agency whose data and methodologies he has long criticized, especially when it produces numbers that Trump doesn't like. He recently proposed suspending the monthly jobs report, one of the most important data releases for the economy and markets. On Tuesday, a White House official noted that Antoni made the comment before he knew he was going to be chosen and that his comments don't reflect official BLS policy. If confirmed by the Senate, Antoni would run a 141-year-old agency staffed by around 2,000 economists, statisticians and other officials. The BLS has a long record of independence and nonpartisanship that economists and investors say is critical to the credibility of U.S. economic data. According to a commencement program from Northern Illinois University, Antoni earned a master's and Ph.D. in economics from that school in 2018 and 2020, respectively, and a bachelor of arts degree from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Antoni's LinkedIn profile says he attended Lansdale Catholic High School outside Philadelphia from 2002 to 2006. Past BLS commissioners have had extensive research experience, and many have climbed the ranks of the agency itself. Antoni doesn't fit that profile. |
| Trump administration calls for 'comprehensive review' of Smithsonian | |
| The Trump Administration sent a letter to The Smithsonian Institution on Tuesday requesting a "comprehensive internal review" of eight of its museums with the aim of bringing the organization in line with President Trump's cultural directives ahead of the country's 250th anniversary celebrations. "This initiative aims to ensure alignment with the President's directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions," states the letter, which was addressed to Smithsonian secretary Lonnie Bunch, signed by White House officials Lindsey Halligan, Vince Haley and Russell Vought, and reprinted on The White House's website. The process will include an analysis of everything from exhibition texts and social media content to the curatorial process and exhibition planning. The Smithsonian has found itself embroiled in an ongoing "culture war" since Trump took office. "Museums cannot change content to suit a political whim or agenda," said Lisa Strong, a professor of art history at Georgetown University. "The best way for museums to maintain the high public trust they already enjoy is by remaining independent. Museums are staffed by experts in their fields who interpret the collection to help educate the public about art, history, science and culture. Their content should not be reviewed, revised, or edited for political gain." |
| Freshmen begin moving into Southern Miss residence halls | |
 | It's move-in week for the Golden Eagles, including hundreds of freshmen. Those freshmen spent Tuesday moving into Century Park South and Hillcrest residence halls. "It's been really positive. I got to walk around campus a little bit. Campus is really nice and just everybody I talk to is really friendly," said Colby Cathcart, a USM freshman from Swindleville, Louisiana. On Wednesday, more freshmen will move into Century Park North and Wilbur Hall. Assisting the students were parents, upperclassmen and USM administrators. "All the fraternities and sororities are helping move in, and I'm sure other groups are as well... very impressive," said John Cummins, of Folsom, La. He was helping his son, Mitchell, move into one of the dorms. About 3,300 students are living on the USM campus this semester. "After all the move-in, then we host our Golden Eagle Welcome Week, where we welcome all of our incoming students, our freshmen, our transfer students to come and just celebrate," said Erin Lambert Dornan, who works with enrollment management at the Division of Student Affairs at Southern Miss. |
| USM welcomes new students for 2025 Fall semester | |
 | University of Southern Mississippi (USM) students are getting ready for the new semester. Hundreds of freshmen and transfer students arrived on August 12 to settle into their dorms. Faculty members and student organizations were on hand to welcome the new Golden Eagles. "I've loved every minute of it. Even just on campus, there are different preview days and orientations, especially. I think it's a beautiful campus, and I think that I can really find my home here," said Elizabeth Lenow, a freshman. With more than 3,300 students on campus, the residence halls are at full capacity. USM President Joe Paul said this year marks the third consecutive increase in the number of incoming freshmen. "I've literally spent my entire life with these unique beginnings and endings that higher education provides. So the month of August, when you hear the Pride practicing, you see the cars coming in, and the freshmen are moving in, it's a very exhilarating time. It's a new beginning," said Paul. The university is also celebrating the highest-ever retention rate, with 77% of first-year students coming back for a second year. |
| Meridian Community College students work on teen health study alongside Brown University | |
| A trio of nursing students at Meridian Community College recently partnered with Ivy League researchers and a fellow Mississippi native on an adolescent health study. The three MCC students -- Kaylee Pogue, Matelyn Herrington, and Brinley Dearman -- joined researchers at Brown University for a one-day initiative held in Meridian. The study is led by Mississippi native Dr. Erica Walker, who founded the Community Noise Lab at Brown. Titled "Mississippi and Alabama Adolescent Environmental Health Study: Greater Meridian," the study's portion at MCC included the trio of local students assisting with fieldwork like gathering blood samples, taking spirometry readings, collecting nail clippings, and measuring height, weight, and blood pressure of subjects. The study focuses on youth ages 12 to 17 and looks at how environmental factors affect adolescent health. Participants who qualified completed a series of health screenings and were compensated for their time. Over the next five years, researchers from Brown will continue to monitor their health and environmental exposure with future support from MCC. |
| MCC staff prep for new year with convocation | |
 | Meridian Community College faculty and staff readied themselves for students' return with convocation held Monday at McCain Theater. Speaking at Monday's event was Samuel Jones, a retired educator and leadership coach, who talked to school officials about challenging their ways of thinking and doing, opening up for new possibilities and letting their leadership in the classroom help students prepare for whatever career field they pursue. Jones said there are three questions staff can use to stay engaged throughout the year. The first question, he said, is why. "If you can't answer the why question, you're going to check out," he said. "As a matter of fact, in your classrooms, if your students can't answer the why questions, they're going to check out." The second question is how, Jones said. Understanding how information is applicable and how it can be put to use in a situation is vital, he said. The final question, Jones said, is when. When can the information be applied? |
| Hinds CC enrollment up as students begin fall class | |
| Greta Nalker's first day at Hinds Community College was also her first day ever to attend school with other students. The 18-year-old Raymond freshman was home schooled for 12 years. "This is my first day in a classroom in my life," Nalker said as she stood in a Beemon Hall corridor talking with friends in between classes on Monday. "There are a lot of people." Preliminary Hinds data shows fall enrollment has rebounded after several years of stagnant numbers during the pandemic. The number of students is up about 11 percent over fall of 2023, from 7,202 to 8,412 students, great news for the college. Hinds President Dr. Stephen Vacik said residence halls are at capacity for the first time since pre-COVID. "Yes, good things are happening," Dr. Vacik said in his weekly message to faculty and staff. |
| Mississippi Dept. of Education expects federal K-12 funding to continue | |
| The Mississippi Department of Education says it has not received any indication of federal funding cuts as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Last month, President Donald Trump signed the OBBBA into law, which included restructuring of federal welfare programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that is expected to result in spending reductions. Those reductions, combined with President Trump's signature on an executive order aimed at dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, sparked concern in some circles that federal K-12 education funding might also follow suit. However, it appears federal K-12 funding will go unchanged for the current school year. When reached for comment, the Mississippi Department of Education said officials have not received communication from the U.S. Department of Education regarding any adverse K-12 funding impacts because of the OBBBA, a spokesperson for MDE stated. Federal funding pays for a number of programs in Mississippi, including more than $300 million in Title programs that were established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) passed a decade ago. Since the OBBBA does not change Title programs established under the ESSA, those funds are expected to continue. |
| Auburn University to phase out controversial 'test optional' admissions process by fall 2027 | |
| Auburn University is phasing out its test-optional admissions avenue for students. The university will continue with a "very limited number" in 2026, and full testing will return in 2027, with applicants then required to submit a SAT or ACT score, as they did before the COVID-19 changes. A spokesman for the university told 1819 News, "The test-optional pathway began during COVID. It is a pilot program that will sunset after the 2026 admissions cycle. Historically, the test-optional pathway has represented a very small portion of the incoming class. Fewer than 10% of enrolled first-year students have been admitted without a test score." Earlier this year, sources familiar with Auburn University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions told 1819 News that among the tactics being used to promote diversity, equity and inclusion goals was the switching of minority students who would otherwise not be accepted to the university due to low test scores to test-optional applications during the admissions process so that they were not immediately rejected. A spokesman of the university denied those accusations. |
| Study: Georgia's universities made a $23 billion impact on the state economy last fiscal year | |
 | The University System of Georgia (USG) generated $23.1 billion in economic impact in fiscal 2024, while recent graduates stand to earn $1.4 million more over their lifetimes thanks to their college degrees, according to two studies released Tuesday. The economic impact total represented an increase of 5.4% over the previous fiscal year. Of that total, $15.2 billion was in direct spending by students and the system's 26 institutions on personnel and operating costs, while $7.9 million was the multiplier impact of those funds on local communities. The companion study found that graduates from the Class of 2024 earning bachelor's degrees on average will see $1.4 million in lifetime earnings more than those without a college degree. For those with master's degrees, those earnings rise to $1.7 million, while holders of doctorates earn nearly $2.5 million more in their lifetimes on average. "A degree from one of USG's 26 public colleges and universities is a million-dollar deal for graduates and a billion-dollar boost for Georgia," system Chancellor Sonny Perdue said Tuesday. "Students see real returns through higher earnings and better opportunities. Meanwhile, our institutions power Georgia's economy and help local communities thrive." |
| Kentucky to switch from ACT to SAT for college entrance exam | |
| After nearly two decades of requiring all high school juniors to take the ACT, the Kentucky Department of Education plans to switch to the SAT, a college admissions exam that lacks a science section -- a subject Kentucky students particularly struggle with. In 2006, Kentucky legislators passed a law requiring all juniors to take the ACT, regardless of whether or not they planned to go to college. "One benefit of having everybody take the ACT is ... 10 or 15% more students will realize: 'Hey, I am college material,'" former Sen. Dan Kelly said about sponsoring the bill. At the time, only a few other states required all students to take the ACT or SAT, though the exams are now required in more than two dozen states. Today, all rising seniors in Kentucky must take a standardized test that allows colleges to evaluate potential students, but the law doesn't dictate which exam to use. Kentucky superintendents were informed during a July 15 webcast that KDE awarded a contract allowing SAT to administer the exam this school year. Nearly a month after that news came out, it is unclear how the change will impact school districts. That lack of guidance could stem from the fact ACT officials have appealed the decision to award the contract to SAT. |
| New pilot program in Tennessee aimed at easing transition to post-secondary education | |
| The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) recently announced the launch of a pilot program called TN Direct Admissions. It uses existing academic data to automatically accept eligible in-state high school seniors to in-state universities and Tennessee's Community and Technical Colleges. Brett Gipson is the chief college access officer for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. "The idea is it takes some of the guess work out of college or post-secondary education and training," he said. According to research cited by the commission, one-in-four students start a college application but never finish. "These are students that could be successful in post-secondary education. We want the challenge for students to be in the classroom. We don't want them to be challenged on the way or a challenge for them to get there," Gipson said. The program is also the first in the nation to provide financial aid information with a student's direct admissions letter. A total of 53 institutions are participating in the program. |
| Oklahoma announces first university-wide chief artificial intelligence officer as part of next phase of strategic plan | |
| The University of Oklahoma's Norman and Health Sciences Center senior vice president and provosts announced the appointment of its first university-wide chief artificial intelligence officer in a mass email Tuesday. According to the email, Shishir Shah will provide direction for AI and data science efforts, and serve as director of Gallogly College of Engineering School of Computer Sciences. The role was created as part of the university's next phase of its "Lead On, University" strategic plan, which centers around five pillars representing significant goals set by the university. The email states the university aims to prepare students to navigate AI effectively after graduation. "By advancing a comprehensive, university-wide strategy to lead in AI innovation, research, education, and implementation, we are reimagining curriculum and academic opportunities to integrate AI across the student experience," the email states. "This ensures our graduates enter the workforce not simply as literate AI-users, but as responsible, informed ones who know how to leverage this technology for maximum impact." The email states about one-quarter of the university's research is AI-based in areas ranging from legal education to clinical imaging. |
| Indiana U. to Launch GenAI 101 Course for Students, Staff | |
 | As generative artificial intelligence skills have become more in demand among employers, colleges and universities have expanded opportunities for students to engage with the tools. Indiana University is no exception. It's developed a free, online course for campus community members to gain a basic understanding of generative AI and how the tools could fit into their daily lives and work. GenAI 101 is available to anyone with a campus login and comes with a certificate of in-demand skills for people who complete it. GenAI 101 at Indiana is free to anyone in the university community, including students, instructors and staff members at all campuses. The course is optional and has no academic credits attached, which allowed faculty designers to be flexible and creative with how content is presented. Brian Williams, faculty chair of the Kelley School of Business's Virtual Advanced Business Technologies Department, serves as the lead course instructor and he, alongside a team of other faculty members, identified key topics to know about generative AI. The goal is to prepare participants to engage in an AI-influenced world with practical takeaways and insights, Williams said. |
| Young men are struggling in a slowing job market, even if they have college degrees | |
 | Emanuel Barcenas feels like he's falling behind. At 25, he'd like to be living in his own place, saving money for the future and making enough money to take a date out to dinner. Instead, two years after he graduated with a computer science bachelor's degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology, he's unemployed and living with his parents in the suburbs of Chicago. Despite having applied to more than 900 jobs -- from secretary positions to a role at a prison -- he has gotten only a handful of interviews. "I want to be an adult," he said. "I need to lock in, I need to move forward, but right now, I'm just stunted. I'm trying my best, but I guess my best isn't good enough." Barcenas has found himself in a job market with fewer places for young men, according to economists and recent labor market data. Amid a wider slowdown in hiring, the unemployment rate for men ages 23 to 30 with bachelor's degrees has jumped in recent months to 6% -- compared with 3.5% for young women with the same level of education, according to data analyzed by NBC News. Now, young men with bachelor's degrees are slightly likelier to be unemployed than young men with just high school diplomas, the analysis found. That's a recent reversal after decades when young men with bachelor's degrees had an advantage in the labor market, economists said. |
| Gender Data Would Be Off-Limits Under Proposed NIH Policy | |
 | The National Institutes of Health is moving to prohibit scientists from collecting data about gender, according to a draft policy obtained by The Chronicle, as part of President Trump's order to end federal recognition of transgender people and others who identify as a gender that doesn't align with their sex assigned at birth. The proposed rule comes as the NIH is systematizing its aggressive crackdown on the study of gender identity, which includes canceling grants and closing an office dedicated to the topic. It was submitted for final edits and approval last week at the NIH, according to a person familiar with the matter, but had not been released as of Tuesday afternoon. Researchers inside and outside the agency "shall not use NIH funds to request, collect, or disseminate information related to gender," states the version of the policy seen by The Chronicle, which could change. However, data on sex can be gathered -- provided that the used definitions of sex reflect the Trump administration's view that there are only two sexes, female and male, and they are determined at birth and unchangeable. Historically, federal research, health, and survey efforts have used sex terms and gender terms interchangeably, and treated them as binary: Men are male, and women are female. But over the last decade, the U.S. government took steps to broaden its approach. |
| Trump Order on Grants Puts Politics Above Peer Review, Researchers Say | |
| Since Inauguration Day, the Trump administration has repeatedly frozen and terminated research funding for seemingly political reasons. Federal agencies have ended grants for studies because they allegedly advanced diversity, equity and inclusion or "gender ideology," and they've cut off research dollars across the board for some universities to pressure them to crack down on pro-Palestine advocacy and bar transgender women from women's sports. But, late last week, the president laid out new processes for how he wants "senior appointees" to take charge of awarding, or denying, new federal grants. He also ordered that they regularly review grants that have already been awarded -- and consider terminating them. The executive order, in one sense, puts into writing the administration's ongoing efforts to assert greater control over who receives grants and for what kinds of research. But researchers and those who advocate for them and their institutions also say some aspects of the order escalate this campaign. Moreover, they say the political review threatens to further slow the flow of federal research funding over all. Debbie Altenburg, vice president for research policy and advocacy at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, said, among the other provisions, "certainly, adding a term and condition to grants for cancellation for convenience is a significant change." |
| Inside science labs trying to survive in the Trump era | |
| Anastasia Khvorova is perched at the edge of a massive scientific opportunity. Her laboratory at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School deploys cutting-edge RNA biology with one aim: to solve diseases -- the ones that rob people of their memories or endanger pregnant women. Lately, she sees peril all around her. In the hallway, she bumps into one world-class chemist, then another, whose salaries are supported by federal funding the Trump administration has proposed to drastically slash. Many are immigrants like herself, who can no longer be sure America is the best country in the world to do science -- or that they are welcome. Khvorova built her career by thinking boldly, but if slowdowns and cuts to federal science funding continue, she'll be forced to winnow her ambitions. "What is happening right now is absolutely suicidal," said Khvorova, speaking softly in Russian-accented English. "I will stop making drugs. I will reduce my lab from 30 people to five. I will stop training scientists." With stunning speed, the Trump administration has over the past six months cut research dollars, terminated grants and hit the brakes on federal funding, destabilizing an 80-year-old partnership between the government and universities that has made the United States a scientific superpower. The policy twists may sound arcane, but to researchers, everything is at stake. |
| Term limits: Still a tired gimmick, still disempowers voters, still weakens Mississippi | |
| Columnist Sid Salter writes: The issue of term limits -- be they congressional term limits or state legislative term limits -- is a movement that Mississippi voters have consistently rejected at the ballot box despite claims from term limits supporters waving popularity polls that wide majorities support the concept. My experience has been that while popularity poll respondents may like term limits, Mississippi voters do not. Now in Mississippi, a respected, retired U.S. Army combat medic and current physician assistant named Ron Eller is leading the advocacy for U.S. Term Limits in our state. Eller ran as the Republican nominee against longtime Mississippi Second District U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Bolton, in the 2024 election after unsuccessfully seeking the GOP nomination in 2022. Thompson was re-elected in 2024 with 62% of the vote. ... State voters have consistently rejected term limits. In 1995 and again in 1999, Mississippi voters rejected two separate term limits initiatives, each by a margin of about 55 percent to 45 percent. Why? Mississippi voters weren't willing to give up their right to return competent, familiar public servants to office, from their local supervisor and justice court judge to their congressman and U.S. senators. Mississippi has not enacted state legislative term limits. |
SPORTS
| Issac Smith named to Bednarik Award watchlist | |
| Mississippi State linebacker Issac Smith was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award preseason watchlist by the Maxwell Football Club on Monday. The annual award recognizes the most outstanding defensive player in college football, an honor Smith will have ample opportunity to earn in 2025. Smith is making a move positionally to play more as a linebacker, but has continued taking reps as a defensive back as well. His versatility and close-down skills are well known by the coaching staff and fans alike, as is his role as a communicator and captain on defense. "He is everything that you love about the game of football," head coach Jeff Lebby said of Smith at the start of fall camp. "His toughness, his physicality, his leadership, his passion to be a great player. I love how much he loves Mississippi State, and I can't say enough great things about him. To me, there's just not a better spokesperson for our defense or our team." |
| Position Preview: Looking at Mississippi State's running backs room | |
| Mississippi State football is just over two weeks away from kicking off the season against Southern Miss in Hattiesburg on Aug. 30, and the pieces are starting to fall into place for the Bulldogs. The team held its first scrimmage behind closed doors on Sunday, and both the offense and defense are starting to come together after two weeks of intrasquad competition. As the 2025 season fast approaches, The Dispatch will be taking a look at the MSU roster position by position, starting with running back. |
| Soccer: Six Bulldogs Collect Preseason Recognition | |
| Six Mississippi State soccer players have earned preseason honors ahead of the Bulldogs' season opener against UT Martin on Thursday night. Ally Perry's preseason honors are numerous. She was named a Midfielder to Watch by United Soccer Coaches last week, one of five SEC players on this year's list. She was a First Team selection at midfielder in TopDrawerSoccer's Preseason Best XI and is ranked as the No. 10 player in the country by the outlet. Adia Symmonds was named to TopDrawerSoccer's Freshman Team Preseason Best XI as a midfielder. She was also placed on the SEC Watch List. Zoe Main found herself on the league's Preseason Watch List. Hannah Jibril, an incoming junior from NC State, was tabbed one to watch in her first season in the SEC. Alivia Buxton returns for her fourth year in Starkville as one of the most-veteran players on the squad. Laila Murillo is a freshman from Dallas, Texas, who introduced herself to the Bulldog faithful with a goal in the team's first exhibition match against Mercer two weeks ago. |
| Dr. Alecia Shields-Gadsen Shares Vision as MVSU New A.D. | |
| Mississippi Valley State University has named Dr. Alecia Shields-Gadson as its new Director of Athletics, effective Tuesday, July 15. With more than 25 years of experience in collegiate athletics leadership, Shields-Gadson brings a record of strategic innovation, competitive success, and student-athlete advocacy to the Delta Devils family. Shields-Gadson most recently served as Deputy Athletic Director at Alcorn State University, where she was responsible for strategic planning, executive consultation, and departmental oversight. Prior to her time at Alcorn, she served as Director of Athletics at Delaware State University, where she led 19 Division I varsity programs to historic achievements, including conference titles, national competition appearances, and a landmark $1 million private donation to support athletics. "We are excited to welcome Dr. Alecia Shields-Gadson to Mississippi Valley State University," said MVSU President Dr. Jerryl Briggs, Sr. "Her extensive experience, transformational leadership, and proven track record in athletics administration will be instrumental as we continue to elevate MVSU Athletics and enhance the student-athlete experience. We look forward to the future under her direction." She becomes the second woman to serve as Director of Athletics at MVSU and steps into the role with a strategic focus on excellence, equity, and student-centered leadership. |
| Millsaps College unveils new turf system for football field | |
| The Millsaps College football field has a new look ahead of the 2025 season. Officials said the new, state-of-the-art turf system was designed with safety, performance and comfort in mind. The new field also includes a shock pad beneath the turf to soften the impact of hitting the ground and an advanced infill material designed to stay significantly cooler under the sun. "This new turf system reflects our ongoing commitment to providing Millsaps student-athletes with the best possible resources," said Director of Athletics Justin LeBlanc. "Safety, performance and player experience were all at the top of our list when we selected these upgrades, and we're excited for our teams to compete on one of the best surfaces in the region." The new field will serve as the home turf for the Millsaps football team as well as men's and women's soccer. |
| Why fans can expect more events like Tyler Childers' concert at Kroger Field | |
 | It would have been impossible for anyone involved to have predicted the scene that played out at Kroger Field on April 19. There was Kentucky native Tyler Childers and his band performing in front of a sold-out crowd in a venue that had almost exclusively been previously used to host Wildcat football games. For Childers, it was a full-circle moment from the early days of his career when he dreamed of making a career as a musician while a student at Bluegrass Community and Technical College on the other side of the stadium parking lot. For UK, it was proof of concept for a possible new revenue source in a changing college sports landscape that will see the athletic department distribute $20.5 million directly to athletes this school year. "That wasn't an athletic event, right?" UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart said. "It wasn't our event, but it was. It was big for the community. Everyone had a great time. It was an awesome concert. Beautiful night in Kroger Field." Barnhart joked the concert was so successful that Kentucky planned to hold nine more a year in an effort to maximize revenue moving forward. While Barnhart was quick to make sure reporters understood his comment was in jest, the athletic department is serious about finding ways to use Kroger Field to drive more revenue. |
| Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer addresses old Venmo receipts that sparked online controversy | |
| In a world of online trolling and burner accounts, Oklahoma's new quarterback is in the middle of a controversy on social media. John Mateer, OU football's quarterback, had his public transaction logs exposed on X, formerly known as Twitter, from the payment app Venmo. The transaction logs led people to believe Mateer participated in sports gambling while he was at Washington State, using Venmo for transactions. Mateer released a statement Tuesday on the matter and said the allegations are false. "The allegations that I once participated in sports gambling are false," Mateer said. "My previous Venmo descriptions did not accurately portray the transactions in question but were instead inside jokes between me and my friends. I have never bet on sports. I understand the seriousness of the matter, but recognize that, taken out of context, those Venmo descriptions suggest otherwise. I can assure my teammates, coaches and officials at the NCAA that I have not engaged in any sports gambling." |
| College Football Left Clemson Behind. So Clemson Revolutionized College Football. | |
| In today's college football, where players change teams as often as they take a shower, standing pat means you're falling behind. Every offseason, the country's best teams frantically restock their rosters, poaching a star quarterback or receiver from a rival school because someone else is trying to poach theirs. This coast-to-coast game of musical chairs is simply the cost of competing for championships in college football's transfer-portal era. For everyone, that is, except Clemson's Dabo Swinney -- who still runs his program like it's 1995. He has built a new-school contender in a decidedly old-school way: coaching the players he already has until they're good enough to win a championship. "We're in this world where if you're not great as a freshman, you stink, and you move on to the next guy," Swinney lamented at the Atlantic Coast Conference media days last month. "It's a developmental game." When the 2025 season kicks off, a fully developed Clemson -- sitting at No. 4 in the Associated Press preseason poll -- will be among the small group of teams with reasonable expectations of conquering the College Football Playoff. That's because the Tigers have one crucial advantage. While rivals are auditioning new quarterbacks or pressure-testing rebuilt defenses, Clemson is returning nearly every key player from the team that won the ACC last year. |
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