| Thursday, November 13, 2025 |
| Mississippi State breaks ground for Nancy Fair Link Laminitis Research Center | |
 | According to an MSU press release, construction of Mississippi State's premier research facility to pioneer advancements in the prevention and treatment of equine laminitis is underway after a Monday, November 10, groundbreaking for the Nancy Fair Link Laminitis Research Center. Link's exceptionally generous gift funds both the construction and operation of the center that will elevate MSU CVM as a national and international leader in this critical area of research. "The Nancy Fair Link Laminitis Research Center will be a global center of excellence in the fight against this devastating disease. We are grateful for Nancy's visionary commitment and remarkable generosity as we work together to create this new center," MSU President Mark E. Keenum said. "Our College of Veterinary Medicine faculty, staff and students are making a difference in the lives of animals and the people who love them every day. They are also supporting industries that are vital to our state and nation, especially in our rural communities. The Link Center will significantly expand this impact and save the lives of countless horses." |
| Groundbreaking held for MSU's laminitis research center | |
 | Construction is underway on Mississippi State University's (MSU) premier research facility to pioneer advancements in the prevention and treatment of equine laminitis. A groundbreaking was held for the Nancy Fair Link Laminitis Research Center on November 10, 2025. "My horses are a passion in my life. It is heartbreaking to experience their suffering from laminitis. The mission of my partnership with the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University is to develop treatment and to work to find a cure for this dreadful disease," said Link. The center will include a large multi-investigator laboratory and clinical research space, including farrier space, and equipped with PET and CT scanners. An adjacent equine research barn will feature 24 stalls to house horses. The center is expected to open in fall 2027. |
| Bulldog Shop hosts Robertson for book signing | |
 | Photo: Meridianites had an opportunity to meet one of the Magnolia State's most known authors as The Bulldog Shop hosted Steve Robertson for a book signing Wednesday. Robertson, who lives in Starkville, has covered Mississippi State University athletics for more than two decades, written seven books and is the host of the "Boneyard" podcast. |
| 19 residents honored at EMCF's Horticulture Graduation Ceremony | |
 | On Wednesday, the East Mississippi Correctional Facility hosted its Horticulture Graduation Ceremony. This ceremony honored 19 graduates who completed the 6-month course, gaining knowledge and skills on the science and art of growing gardens, learning about pest control, maintenance, and irrigation while partnering with Mississippi State University's Extension Service. "Over six months, these guys have learned safety, irrigation, turf management, just making sure that they have the fundamentals so that when they get out, they can fall back on something. They can have skills to help with their families and just help sustain a life for themselves," Tammie Jennings, Horticultural Instructor, says. |
| Mary Means Business: New Mexican restaurant coming to Starkville | |
 | Nearly a year ago, Arnoldo Camarena started selling tortas, tacos, burritos and other Mexican food dishes from a bright yellow food truck in Starkville. Now, La Paisanita has expanded into a full restaurant at 106 Avenue of Patriots. Hoping to open in the next couple of weeks, you may have noticed upgrades and renovations to the former grillhouse. After more than two years, the building has sat vacant since OMG Grillhouse closed its doors. ... Also in Starkville, the new Community Bank location is officially open. The 120-year-old bank first started in Forest and has expanded throughout the Southern region. Be sure to check out the new bank 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Fridays. Located at 403 Russell St. in The Summit, the 1,925-square-foot office offers a full suite of banking services, including deposit and lending solutions, ATMs and financial planning. |
| Wastewater expansion advances in northeast Oktibbeha | |
| East Oktibbeha Wastewater District is nearly halfway done with a $1.4 million sewer expansion into the northeastern part of the county, while expansion south of Starkville remains stalled despite more than 200 residents paying deposits toward the project. "It will come," Dwight Prisock, manager for the district, told The Dispatch on Tuesday. "It's just a matter of when." The county in 2022 initially committed $7 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, which would have been doubled by a state match, to expand sewer infrastructure along Highway 182 and in rural areas south of Starkville. Last year, the county reallocated most of the funds to other projects, saving only $700,000 to cover a smaller portion of the project and leaving the larger expansion in limbo. The smaller project, which began in July, includes installing a sewer line parallel to Highway 182 from Hickory Grove Road to near the county line and upgrading service at the Habitat for Humanity subdivision on 16th Section Road. |
| Starkville coalition aims to fight food insecurity | |
| Before partnering with Starkville Strong about two years ago, Bridgeway Church was operating a food pantry that fed about 30 families every two to three weeks. Eventually, because of the influx of additional families seeking assistance, the church could not effectively run its food pantry, said Joe Horan, co-pastor with Bridgeway Church. That led the church to redirect efforts through a partnership with Starkville Strong. Together the two have been far more successful in addressing food insecurity, which was part of the inspiration for Tuesday night's Stand in the Gap community meeting, Horan said. More than 60 members of local churches, organizations and nonprofits gathered at the meeting held by Bridgeway Church, Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District and Starkville Strong to discuss forming a coalition to better address food insecurity in the county. The goal in hosting the event, Horan said, was to introduce different members from 27 groups who may have never met before in an effort to form better lines of communication for addressing issues in the community, like food insecurity and homelessness. |
| Community leaders recognized at CREATE annual meeting | |
 | Described as "the hands and feet of Christ in our community," Sarah Young has been generous with her time, talent and treasure, willing to share even when not asked. "You never know exactly what level of something Sarah is giving because she's always given," said John Bunch, the pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Tupelo. "She's always there." Young has touched the lives of many, from the Boys & Girls Club, the Gum Tree Museum of Art, to countless other groups and nonprofits, Young's admirers heaped praise on her as she received the McLean Award for Philanthropy at the CREATE Foundation's annual meeting on Wednesday. Created in 1997, the award celebrates individuals, families and organizations that exemplify the spirit of generosity shown by CREATE founders George and Anna Keirsey McLean. The award honors exceptional leaders working to improve the quality of life in Northeast Mississippi and their communities. "It's always good to get people together that have common interests, and that's what CREATE is all about -- regional and community development, and regional and charitable giving," said CREATE President Mike Clayborne. "We have relationships all over our 17 counties, and it's important for us to gather and talk about our accomplishments. So far, it's been a great year for us." |
| President Trump signs government funding bill, ending shutdown after a record 43-day disruption | |
 | President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill Wednesday night, ending a record 43-day shutdown that caused financial stress for federal workers who went without paychecks, stranded scores of travelers at airports and generated long lines at some food banks. The shutdown magnified partisan divisions in Washington as Trump took unprecedented unilateral actions -- including canceling projects and trying to fire federal workers -- to pressure Democrats into relenting on their demands. The Republican president blamed the situation on Democrats and suggested voters shouldn't reward the party during next year's midterm elections. "So I just want to tell the American people, you should not forget this," Trump said. "When we come up to midterms and other things, don't forget what they've done to our country." The signing ceremony came just hours after the House passed the measure on a mostly party-line vote of 222-209. The Senate had already passed the measure Monday. |
| The Secret Meeting That Ended the Shutdown | |
 | The turning point in the government's longest shutdown didn't involve President Trump or Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Instead, after the Senate adjourned for the day and most reporters had emptied out of the halls, a small group of breakaway Democrats and an independent slipped unnoticed into the office of Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.). The shutdown was nearing the one-month mark and the group was growing antsy as federal workers missed paychecks and food-aid programs ran out of money. Two nights before Halloween, the senators sat down with Thune, ready to reopen the government, people familiar with the meeting said. "It was a group of people trying to solve a problem," said Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats and helped lead negotiations. The meeting -- one of several -- had been requested by King and other centrists, including New Hampshire's Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, all former governors. Republicans in attendance were Thune and Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota, also a former governor and senior member of the powerful appropriations committee. The group told Schumer they were talking to Thune and read him into their discussions, but Schumer didn't participate directly, according to senators involved. Schumer wanted to extend the shutdown. The talks between the centrists and Republicans ultimately produced an agreement that would end the standoff but divide Democrats. |
| Latest Epstein files knock White House on its heels | |
 | Jeffrey Epstein is back in the news -- and it couldn't have come at a worse time for the president. Following a brutal week for President Donald Trump during which his party took a beating at the polls, the Supreme Court seemed skeptical of his beloved tariffs and Republicans continued to feud over accusations of antisemitism, the White House had hoped to take a victory lap on ending the 43-day government shutdown. But on Wednesday, House Democrats released documents revealing that, in the words of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Trump "knew about the girls" the late convicted sex offender was trafficking, the latest blow to a White House already reeling from a series of setbacks in recent days. One Trump ally said that the latest Epstein discourse has taken "things that are already complicated for the president and brings them to the surface." The fresh wave of chaos has knocked the administration on its heels. The president lashed out at Republicans on social media, some House Republicans are under pressure to withdraw from the effort to bring the matter to the floor and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed the media. |
| Vance: MAHA crowd 'asking the right questions' | |
 | Vice President Vance on Wednesday praised supporters of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, saying they are "asking the right questions." In a panel discussion alongside Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the leader of the MAHA movement, Vance described his wife, second lady Usha Vance, as "probably one of the, like, original MAHA people," adding, "though I don't think that she would have ever used that phrase." He recalled the second lady's insistence on feeding their oldest child carrots and applesauce, once he was able to eat real food, while the vice president said he suggested they provide "some cupcakes and ice cream." "So she was already thinking about health and nutrition in a way that was, frankly, kind of foreign to me, and that I think is very common among the MAHA crowd," Vance said at the forum. "You guys are asking the right questions: What are we putting into our bodies? Where was it sourced from?" he continued. "If we're eating animal-based protein, is it coming from a place where the animals are treated the right way? If we're putting medications into our body, are we actually confident that they're doing the thing that they're supposed to do, that they're safe and effective?" Vance added that the MAHA philosophy of asking critical question has had a "profound" impact on the way he approaches his own health and nutrition. |
| Chancellor Glenn Boyce Looks To The Future At ASB Informal Senate | |
 | Chancellor Glenn Boyce shared insight into new campus construction projects, possible admissions caps and a potential fall semester break during the Associated Student Body's last informal senate meeting of the semester on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at the Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union auditorium. As enrollment at the University of Mississippi increases each year, parking and housing problems for students continue to surge. Boyce referenced a series of new construction projects set for campus, such as new dorms for freshmen, additional parking lots and housing for upperclassmen. Boyce is against setting a cap on student enrollment, despite introducing the idea of a freshman admissions cap to the ASB Senate in March. "We can't afford, at this point in time, to cap enrollment when your trajectory is just flying," Boyce said. "Only about 13% of the money we receive is from our state or federal entities. If I don't have you (the students), I don't have anything. It's you that is providing the funding to make this university go." Boyce concluded with a discussion on the possibility of integrating a fall break into the university school calendar. |
| Ole Miss students, administration, look to address student housing challenges | |
 | Several weeks ago, Cavanaugh launched a petition asking the university to declare a student housing crisis, as part of UMForward, a student-led tenants' union. "When freshmen move here from in-state or out-of-state, they have a good chance of getting housing," he told MPB. "But really after that, you're on your own." He and other students say that there are few places to live in town, and the spots available are often well beyond the price range of most college students. A one-bedroom apartment in Oxford averages just under $1,300 -- up nearly 11% from last year. "To live comfortably in Oxford, you would need to make somewhere around $24 an hour, which for students and even for a lot of older members of the Oxford, Lafayette community is really simply unaffordable," said Cavanaugh. Last week, the Institutions of Higher Learning approved a request from the university for a leasing agreement that would be step one in building more dorms. One of the new dorm sites would also add a new dining facility and a new parking garage. MPB reached out to the university to speak with John Yaun, director of student housing, who was not available before publication. Cavanaugh and Wood both say adding more dorms is great, but have some concerns about the partner company involved. "We want Oxford to be affordable, sustainable and equitable," said Cavanaugh. |
| Joint Faculty Senate Session Passes Free Speech Resolution | |
| The University of Mississippi Faculty Senate passed a resolution supporting free speech protections for university workers at its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Representatives from all eight Mississippi Institutions for Higher Learning schools attended the 6 p.m. meeting at the Robert C. Khayat Law Center. This is the first of what is expected to be annual joint meetings with representatives from faculty senates at all IHL schools in attendance. Next year's joint session is set for the University of Southern Mississippi. "We, the members of the University of Mississippi Faculty Senate, affirm that the foundation of a university rests on the free exchange of ideas, and any action taken against members of our community for expressing constitutionally protected speech undermines both academic freedom and the integrity of higher education," the resolution's opening paragraph reads. The resolution passed by a vote of 40-4. Similar resolutions are expected to be adopted at the other IHL universities. Attending the meeting were representatives from faculty senates at Alcorn State University, Delta State University, JSU, Mississippi State University, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi Valley State University, UM, the University of Mississippi Medical Center and USM. |
| USM President speaks at Petal Chamber of Commerce | |
 | The Petal Chamber of Commerce hosted a luncheon today at the Petal Civic Center. University of Southern Mississippi President Dr. Joe Paul was the guest speaker, talking to members about the recent enrollment growth at his alma mater, as well as how the university is continuing the pursuit of excellence for current and future students. "College affordability is an incredibly important issue," Paul said. "We cannot put the cost of education outside of the reach of Mississippians. "And, so, with this growth in students, we can scale and provide scholarships in such a way to keep it affordable. We need help from the Mississippi state legislature. In appropriations for higher education, the cost for families is reachable." Paul also said several new projects were underway at the university, including a new, criminal justice building. |
| New Albany native crowned Miss U. of Southern Mississippi | |
| New Albany native Alea Hudson, a junior at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) majoring in broadcast journalism, was crowned Miss University of Southern Mississippi 2026 at the 80th edition of the scholarship pageant, held Nov. 8 on the Hattiesburg campus. Hudson will advance to the Miss Mississippi Pageant, set for next summer in Vicksburg. The event was presented by the Southern Miss Student Government Association (SGA). Hudson graduated from Itawamba Community College with high honors before transferring to Southern Miss. At the university, she is a Keystone Scholar, an active member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, and vice chair of the SGA Election Commission. Her career aspirations include becoming a sports broadcaster for ESPN. "Being crowned the 80th Miss University of Southern Mississippi still feels so surreal," said Hudson. "It's truly the honor of a lifetime to represent a university that has shaped me so deeply and given me a home I love so much." Southern Miss Assistant Dean of Students Daniel Rigel, who served as local director for the pageant, said Hudson "personifies the bold, outgoing spirit of being a Golden Eagle." |
| Jackson State University honors soldiers of the 53rd Colored Infantry Regiment for Veteran's Day | |
| Charles Adams. Henry Adams. Henry C. Adams. John Adams. John Q. Adams. Moses Adams. Jackson State University students and staff read the names of at least 1,300 men who served in the 53rd regiment of the United States Colored Infantry for Veterans Day, which was recognized Tuesday. These soldiers, many formerly enslaved, fought for the Union Army in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi during the Civil War. "These are men who were literally fighting for their freedom and fighting for the freedom of their families and friends and their courage should not be underestimated," said JSU Professor of History and Director of the Margaret Walker Center, Robert Luckett. He said roughly 18,000 Black men from Mississippi served in the U.S. Colored Troops. Including Edmund Watson, James Watson, Perry Watson, Squire Watson, Thomas Watson, Augustus Weaver, Spencer Webb, John Webb, Lewis Webb and James Wells. "Mississippi had the fourth most U. S. Colored Troops of any state in the nation," Luckett said. "That's a little less than 10% of the U.S. Colored troops who served in the American Civil War." |
| Alabama lawmakers drafting bill tying some higher ed funding to outcomes | |
 | The chairs of the Alabama Legislature's education budget committees are drafting legislation that could change the funding mechanisms for higher education. Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee chair Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, said after a hearing on the proposal before the Joint Modernizing Higher Education Funding Committee on Wednesday that they were working on criteria for the model, aimed at linking some public funding to education outcomes. As a model, Orr cited the Renewing Alabama's Investment in Student Excellence (RAISE) Act, passed earlier this year, which allocates more money to K-12 schools to help educate certain classes of students, such as English Language Learners and students in poverty. "With each institution, how can we help you, emphasis on help, improve your outcomes," Orr said. "One that the Legislature would like to see –- and I am filling in a blank -- would be jobs that the state of Alabama needs. One of them is educators or teachers, one is nurses or more qualified people in health care. We need more lab technicians, who are going to be junior colleges and not universities. What are the needs that our state has, and how can we help you with additional funds to increase your numbers for those particular outputs." |
| Tuskegee University sues to stop American Veterinary Medical Association's attempt to strip their accreditation | |
| Tuskegee University has filed a federal lawsuit and an emergency motion seeking to block the American Veterinary Medical Association from moving forward with an appeal hearing that could determine the future of its College of Veterinary Medicine, the nation's only historically black veterinary school. The two filings, a complaint and a time-sensitive motion for preliminary injunction, accuse the AVMA and its Council on Education of violating due-process requirements and failing to follow their own rules during an ongoing accreditation review. Tuskegee's College of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 1945 by Dr. Frederick Douglass Patterson, produces more than 70% of the nation's Black veterinarians and is recognized as the most diverse college of veterinary medicine in the U.S. According to official AVMA COE reports, the college has been under Probationary Accreditation since 2022. The lawsuit argues that the AVMA applied its standards inconsistently and conducted its review in a manner that deviated from its own established procedures, violating the university's right to a fair process. |
| See the cutting-edge FIFA World Cup turf research happening at U. of Tennessee | |
 | Sixteen stadiums across the United States, Canada and Mexico will host the FIFA World Cup in 2026, and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville is leading the research to ensure turf quality is pristine and consistent across all 104 matches next summer. John Sorochan, a distinguished professor of turfgrass sciences and management at UT, said the university is in the "11th hour" of research as his team of faculty members, technicians and students prepare for the ultimate test after putting their work into practice earlier this year at the Club World Cup. Sorochan, who's collaborating with Michigan State University, joined Knox News on an exclusive tour at the East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center-Plant Sciences Unit, where FIFA has built a covered facility to replicate the conditions of five domed stadiums hosting the 2025 FIFA World Cup between June 11 and July 19. Growing sod on plastic lets it develop roots, allowing UT and the growers to easily roll up the sod and place it in stadiums faster. This reduces stress on the grass and keeps growers from cutting the roots. Artificial fibers make up about 5% of the sod and provide stability as the grass grows, and each sod plot is about 2 inches thick. When combined with other technology to create a "shallow pitch," the sod can be assembled and disassembled in under 12 hours both ways. "We've come up with something that you can put in a temporary surface and still play at the highest quality level," Sorochan said. |
| United Campus Workers protest, hand-deliver petition to reinstate Shirinian to chancellor's office | |
| Fiery chants filled the cold air Wednesday afternoon as University of Tennessee students and faculty rallied for free speech. "Hey Plowman, hear our call, free speech rights are for us all," protesters said. The rally, organized by UT's chapter of the United Campus Workers, started off with speeches at the Humanities and Social Sciences Plaza and ended with the delivery of a petition to reinstate former UT professor Tamar Shirinian to the chancellor's office in Andy Holt Tower. Jacob Watkins, senior lecturer in human geography and member of UCW, spoke first. He discussed the contrast between the free speech rights of politicians, who responded on social media to Shirinian's post, and Shirinian herself. Watkins specifically mentioned U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, who alerted government officials of the comment. "He and Dr. Shirinian were both exercising their free speech on their own platforms. However, on Sept. 15, 2025, a day after Tim Burchett claimed 'on it,' Chancellor Plowman acquiesced to the congressman's request for Dr. Shirinian's termination," Watkins said. "How are we, as faculty, staff and grad workers and students, held to a different standard?" Shirinian's husband, Raja Swamy, associate professor in cultural anthropology at UT, wrapped up the conversation before protesters marched to the chancellor's office in Andy Holt Tower, chanting and raising signs in the air. |
| Georgia Tech first college in the nation with a Chick-fil-A vending machine | |
 | Last month, Chick-fil-A launched its first temperature-controlled market fridge in the U.S. It's basically a high-tech vending machine serving fresh food in a Georgia hospital. Since it went online, the news and excitement around the machine has been viral. Now, Chick-fil-A has installed a second one of these machines, and it's also located in the Peach State. The first machine is located inside Wellstar MCG in Augusta. The new one is at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Specifically, it's under the staircase in the Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons which is located at the end of 4th Street North West and next to Tech Green. The Georgia Tech machine holds the Chick-fil-A Cool Wrap with Avocado Lime Ranch, Southwest Veggie Wrap with Creamy Salsa, the Spicy Cool Wrap Avocado Lime Ranch, and the Chick-fil-A Sauce Flavored Waffle Potato Chips. Wraps are sealed in plastic and housed in a box with a napkin. Just like its traditional stores, Chick-fil-A's vending machine is not operational on Sundays. But it is available 24 hours a day during the rest of the week. |
| Texas lawmakers will hold first hearing Thursday to review college campus speech after Charlie Kirk killing | |
| Texas lawmakers on Thursday will hold their first hearing to review speech on public universities after some reactions on campuses celebrating or mocking the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk drew ire from Republican leaders. Kirk was killed on Sept. 10 while speaking at a college in Utah. State leaders announced the formation of bipartisan committees to discuss campus speech and related policies two days later. The Senate and House Select Committee on Civil Discourse and Freedom of Speech in Higher Education will convene jointly Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in Austin and take invited testimony only. According to the agenda, lawmakers plan to hear testimony on "encouragement of civil discourse and freedom of speech on, and protection from undue administrative censorship by, the state's college campuses." They will also take testimony on the implementation of Senate Bill 37, a new law that increases state oversight of university curriculum and operations, as well as campus safety measures related to public events. |
| Spanberger says U. of Virginia should pause search for president | |
 | Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger (D) asked the University of Virginia's board Wednesday to pause its search for a president until she takes office and appoints five new members, signaling she'll make reshaping the state's higher education institutions an early priority. The board, run exclusively by appointees of Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), has drawn controversy over its handling of federal investigations into the school's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives -- scrutiny that led James E. Ryan to resign as president. The university's presidential search committee said earlier this month that it would invite some candidates for in-person interviews later this month before identifying finalists for the role. Spanberger, a U-Va. graduate, said in a Wednesday letter to the heads of the Board of Visitors that Ryan's departure resulted from "federal overreach" that the governing body did not challenge and questioned how that could affect the "legitimacy" of the search for the school's next leader. Spanberger's letter could reignite a legal fight over appointees to boards to colleges and universities in the state. |
| College Leaders Are Facing More Threats. Some Are Getting Personal Security. | |
 | As higher education increasingly becomes a target for threats and even violence, a small but high-profile set of campus leaders have been assigned personal security by their colleges. In a recent interview, Jonathan Holloway, former president of Rutgers University, told The Chronicle that threats against him had gotten so serious that he needed security. Ana Mari Cauce, former president of the University of Washington, said in the same interview that she broke her leg in three places slipping on paint that pro-Palestinian protesters poured on her house. Holloway said the fact that he was Rutgers's first Black president made safety concerns more acute. The fact that his family was involved, he added, was a tipping point. "Two people are in jail because of threats against me," Holloway said. "This is what we're dealing with now." The University of Michigan assigned around-the-clock protection to at least three regents and some top executives were , The Detroit News reported in July. These measures were taken amid intense protest, on and off campus, against the war in Gaza. Given persistent campus tensions and the arms-race mentality that can take hold in the sector, the prevalence of security details could soon grow, experts on campus safety and leadership said. But tightened protocols could have downsides: For presidents in particular, visibility and accessibility have long been seen as key to good leadership. |
| With Government Reopened, Will Education Department Staff Return? | |
 | The House of Representatives passed a legislative package Wednesday evening in a 222-209 vote, putting Congress one step closer to ending the federal government's longest shutdown in history. President Donald Trump signed the legislation, which first passed the Senate on Sunday, into law late Wednesday night. One policy expert told Inside Higher Ed that he expects to see little operational change for institutions as the government reopens. But he and others will be paying close attention to whether the Trump administration follows through on one of the bill's key compromises: reversing the most recent round of federal layoffs. Part of the package would fund the Department of Veterans Affairs, military construction, the Department of Agriculture, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Congress through the end of the fiscal year. But it only appropriates funding for the Department of Education and most other agencies until Jan. 30, using what is known as a continuing resolution. For the most part, the CR gives agencies access to the same levels of federal funding as the last fiscal year. Jon Fansmith, senior vice president for government relations at the American Council on Education, said because some of the Education Department's staff continued working throughout October and into November, not much will change for colleges and universities. |
| 10 Universities Seek Recognition by a New Accreditor | |
| Just four months after the launch of the Commission for Public Higher Education, the aspiring accreditor has received letters of intent from a cohort of 10 institutions, making them the first potential members. The initial group to submit a letter of intent seeking CPHE accreditation comes from four states: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas. All are currently accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. They are: Appalachian State University (N.C.), Chipola College (Fla.), Columbus State University (Ga.), Florida Atlantic University, Florida Polytechnic University, Georgia Southern University, North Carolina Central University, Texas A&M Kingsville, Texas A&M Texarkana and University of North Carolina at Charlotte. With its inaugural cohort and draft standards in place, the newly formed commission -- introduced by Florida governor Ron DeSantis at a June press conference in which he railed against existing accreditors -- is making progress toward its eventual goal of recognition by the U.S. Department of Education, which is a years-long process. Now the first 10 potential member institutions will offer CPHE a chance to show how it might offer a different approach to accreditation, even as it simultaneously battles accusations that it is aligned with DeSantis and his partisan attacks on higher ed. |
| Accreditation of colleges, once low key, has gotten political | |
| When six Southern public university systems this summer formed a new accreditation agency, the move shook the national evaluation model that higher education has relied on for decades. The news wasn't unexpected: It arrived a few months after President Donald Trump issued an executive order in April overhauling the nation's accreditation system by, among other things, barring accreditors from using college diversity mandates. It also came after U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in May made it easier for universities to switch accreditors. The accreditation process, often bureaucratic, cumbersome and time consuming, is critical to the survival of institutions of higher education. Colleges and their individual departments must undergo outside reviews -- usually every few years -- to prove that they meet certain educational and financial standards. If a school is not accredited, its students cannot receive federal aid such as Pell grants and student loans. Some accreditation agencies acknowledge the process needs to evolve. But critics say the Trump administration is reshaping accreditation for political reasons, and risks undermining the legitimacy of the degrees colleges and universities award to students. Trump said during his campaign that he would wield college accreditation as a "secret weapon" to root out DEI and other "woke" ideas from higher education. He has made good on that pledge. |
| Abridged education | |
| Raymond Barranco, a professor of sociology at Mississippi State University, writes in The Dispatch: In four previous op-eds, I have drawn on my 18 years of experience teaching at the college level to explain why politics should not dictate what is taught in the classroom. In this piece, I invite readers to imagine the following scenario: You're reading a book. You finish Chapter 12, turn the page -- and suddenly it's Chapter 14. At first, you assume it's just a typo. You keep reading, but something feels off. The main characters are angry and fighting. This doesn't make sense -- when you left them in Chapter 12, things weren't perfect, but they certainly weren't this bad. What happened? What are they arguing about? You're missing a crucial piece of the story. Without Chapter 13, you can't fully understand what's going on. Most of us would be frustrated if a book we were reading was missing an entire chapter -- let alone multiple chapters. Many would ask for a refund and stop buying books from that publisher. This is the situation Mississippians may face when it comes to higher education. |
| Canoe camping on the Wolf River | |
| Mississippi newspaper publisher and columnist Wyatt Emmerich writes: The Wolf River is a beautiful southeast Mississippi river that feeds into Bay St. Louis. Although I have canoed and camped on many Mississippi rivers, I had never even heard of this gem until Tom Hughes, an old family friend who lives in Houston, Texas, proposed that we canoe it. ... Every river is unique. The Wolf River has amazingly strange and beautiful mud-rock formations along the banks and underneath the surface, creating an other-worldly appearance. The water was tannin tinted brown but clear as glass, obviously spring fed. The bottom of the river was a combination of rock, pebbles, sand and clay. On the bank, the two dominant trees were river birches and yaupon, one of two native north American trees that have caffeine. The native Indians drank yaupon tea. Other dominant trees were red oaks, willows, magnolias, cypress, water oaks and pine. ... At one point a bald eagle swooped right above our canoe and turned down the river. Only 30 or so feet away, we could see its white head and tail feathers perfectly as it flew away. It was breathtaking. |
SPORTS
| Women's Basketball: Bulldogs Set To Host In-State Foe Jackson State | |
| The non-conference slate continues for Mississippi State women's basketball, as the Bulldogs will welcome the Jackson State Tigers to Humphrey Coliseum on Thursday. Tipoff for the contest is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. State is coming off a victory against Mississippi Valley State, where they took the win 107-43. Chandler Prater finished with a career-high 25 points in the contest and tied a career-high of four makes from distance. Favour Nwaedozi collected a season-high 16 rebounds, the highest single-game total of any player in the Southeastern Conference. Madison Francis scored 17 points with eight rebounds and five blocks. Her five blocks increased her season total to 12, which leads the SEC as of Nov. 11. Jackson State moved to 1-1 on the season after falling to Tennessee Tech, 59-53. The Tigers average 47.0 bench points per game, a mark that puts them atop the SWAC and eighth in the nation as of Nov. 11. Jackson State also leads the SWAC in assists per game, scoring defense and scoring offense, among many other categories. |
| State back to work vs. Jackson State on Thursday night | |
| Three games into the season the 3-0 result from Mississippi State pleases Sam Purcell. The Bulldogs won a 66-57 battle with Davidson and have strung together blowout wins over Georgia State (88-62) and Mississippi Valley State (107-43) the last two games. It was a packed week full of game action, but the last few days have been all about getting back to the basics. "Just being cleaner in multiple areas," Purcell said of the improvements needed. "There are some mindless possessions at times where I'm really excited about something and then we do something else. Rebounding is a major concern going into this game and over the next couple of games. Our offense can get better execution wise." State is coming off its most complete performance of the season as Chandler Prater dropped a career-high 25 points. Prater and Destiney McPhaul are the leaders of this year's team as the only returning regulars from last year's team. Mcphaul leads the team with 14.7 points per game while Prater averaged 14.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. State has a challenge this Thursday night with Jackson State (1-1) and the Tigers always seem to bring their A game when they come to Starkville. It's a game that has to end with the Bulldogs being the unquestioned toughest team. |
| Mississippi State looking to play its best ball at Mizzou | |
| Mississippi State has not had the kind of success it had hoped for this season, but that isn't stopping the Bulldogs from aiming high. Such was the sentiment at Jeff Lebby's portion of the SEC's weekly teleconference on Wednesday afternoon. The Bulldogs are trying not just to win on Saturday against Missouri, but to play the best game they've played all season. "Our guys have the expectation to go play as well as we've played all year, to give us the opportunity to go win, and that's what it looks like for us," Lebby said. "That's the goal for this Saturday evening, and there's zero grey area in that." Defensively, the Tigers allow just 270 total yards per game, which is second in the SEC. They are also third in tackle-for-loss percentage (11.97%) and second in sack rate (10%). "They're a very, very complete defense at all three levels, and again, the thing that jumps out is their ability to create negatives, and the amount of sacks they've created," Lebby said. "For us, that's going to be a huge stress. We've got to play as well as we've played all year up front with that challenge." |
| Three keys to victory for Mississippi State at Missouri | |
| Mississippi State has two more opportunities to attain bowl eligibility, starting with an interesting road test against Missouri. The Bulldogs (5-5, 1-5 SEC) head to Columbia to face a Tigers team experiencing a big change of pace on offense after losing starting quarterback Beau Pribula. Freshman Matt Zollers is at the helm now, but is still looking for his first win under center after limited production in losses to Vanderbilt and Texas A&M. MSU is having its own quarterback worries, with starter Blake Shapen's status in question after leaving the game against Georgia with an injury. Head coach Jeff Lebby may have to trust his own freshman at quarterback against one of the top defenses in the country. The Bulldogs face the Tigers at an interesting time, with Mizzou having lost three of their last four games and having to bring a third-string quarterback up to speed. However, that does not guarantee victory. "He's incredibly talented, he's athletic, he can extend and keep things alive," Lebby said of Zollers. "A guy who can make every single throw. For him, I'm sure they're talking nonstop about finding ways to take care of the football." |
| If Kamario Taylor is Mississippi State QB vs Missouri what can Jeff Lebby expect? | |
 | Kamario Taylor took the shotgun snap, faked a handoff and slashed up the middle. The Mississippi State quarterback barreled through one Georgia defender, then reached forward with the football for an opening-drive touchdown. MSU fans have been accustomed to that now -- the freshman successfully running for first downs or touchdowns in short-yardage situations. But Taylor has mostly been limited to those plays this season. There's a chance Taylor, the former four-star from Noxubee County, makes his first career start when MSU (5-5, 1-5 SEC) travels to No. 24 Missouri (6-3, 2-3) on Nov. 15 (6:45 p.m., SEC Network). An injury to starter Blake Shapen held him out of practice on Nov. 10, putting his availability in question. So, if Taylor is the starter against Missouri, what can be MSU's realistic expectations as it seeks one more win to clinch bowl eligibility for the first time since 2022? "I feel like going into the game, if he is to be the starter, it would make a very complex gameplan to contain him as a defensive staff on their side," Mississippi State safety Jahron Manning said. |
| Mizzou injury report: Pribula moved to doubtful, Kitchen out against Mississippi State | |
 | Just 18 days removed from sustaining an ankle injury against Vanderbilt, Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula's status has been elevated from out to doubtful on the SEC injury report released Wednesday. While it's still unlikely he plays, the tweak gives Pribula a chance to suit up against Mississippi State at 6:45 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium. If Pribula doesn't progress above doubtful, true freshman Matt Zollers will make his second career start in Mizzou's quest to get back in the win column after two straight losses. Tight end Brett Norfleet was listed as unavailable with a shoulder injury in the Tigers' 38-17 loss to Texas A&M on Saturday but is now designated as questionable. Zollers didn't connect with any tight ends in that game, and Norfleet's return would provide the signal-caller with another reliable pass-catching option. For certain is that defensive end Langden Kitchen is out for Saturday's game. The injury is not specified, but it took place during the loss to Texas A&M. |
| Softball: Ricketts Signs Fifth Straight Top 25 Recruiting Class | |
| Samantha Ricketts and Mississippi State softball added nine players on National Signing Day, which bring such a variety of skills and positions to the table that they can fill out a lineup card on their own. The 2026 class includes five players that have been ranked among the top 100 in the country by at least one major recruiting outlet. Travel ball teammates Teagan Revette and Hannah Jo Sullivan are both among the top 15 in the class at their position by Softball America. Notably, Megan Woodrige is No. 12 in the Extra Inning Softball overall rankings and the No. 9 infielder, and Taylor Faga is No. 15 according to Perfect Game, making them the program's sixth and seventh top-15 overall recruits since 2015. "We are thrilled to bring this next class of Bulldogs to StarkVegas, and for our fans to have the opportunity to see their talent at Nusz Park in the near future," Ricketts said. MSU's signees hail from Mississippi, Alabama, California, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, New York and Oklahoma, and the class is made up of three utility players, three infielders, two pitchers and an outfielder. |
| Lane Kiffin to the Swamp? The buzz surrounding the Ole Miss coach creates a subplot to the game | |
| Florida is seeking a victory at No. 6 Ole Miss on Saturday that would potentially stave off its worst season since 1979. The fanbase would prefer to see the Gators bring back a head coach. A visor-wearing guy who needles opponents as well as he designs plays, to be precise. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin is Florida's presumed top target in its search to replace fired coach Billy Napier, creating an intriguing dynamic when the Rebels (9-1, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) host the reeling Gators (3-6, 2-4). "Nothing is final yet, so we don't know who is going to be our coach," Florida receiver TJ Abrams said. "Regardless, we've got to go out there try to win." Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin has remained quiet in the three weeks since he fired Napier, but there's a growing belief inside the program that Kiffin is at least considering a return to the Sunshine State. It's been THE topic in Oxford and Gainesville this week. The subplot to the matchup is the Gators have a chance to knock Ole Miss out of the College Football Playoff for a second consecutive season. |
| With CFP expansion still murky, college football's bowl system braces for another year of limbo | |
 | Uncertainty surrounding the College Football Playoff's structure for 2026 and beyond has filtered down to the bowl games outside the Playoff. The bowls' contractual ties to specific conferences, which inform which teams receive invitations to each game, expire after this season. Usually, new deals are completed at least a year, if not 18 months, ahead of the final contract year. But with CFP expansion talks approaching a Dec. 1 deadline to make changes for 2026, bowl executives have one eye on their upcoming matchups and another on the years ahead. "You want to make sure you're in touch with all the conferences about what's going on and what's the future look like," said Derrick Fox, executive director of the San Antonio-based Alamo Bowl. "The pregnant pause is a good analogy, because the CFP has to make a decision first. So, we wait until that decision is made, and then I think people will be ready to go certainly thereafter." For some bowls, another year of the status quo wouldn't change anything. The Citrus Bowl began a relationship with the Big Ten and SEC in 1992 through which it has the top choice of teams from both leagues beyond the CFP, and that's likely to continue. The Alamo Bowl is in a different spot. It currently owns the top selection from the Big 12 and the Pac-12 legacy members pool outside of the CFP. The Pac-12 legacy pool includes four teams from the Big Ten, four from the Big 12, two from the ACC and two in the reconstructed Pac-12. |
| Why HBCUs and female athletes fear being left behind in the new era of college sports | |
| Morgan State athletic director Dena Freeman-Patton faced a tough choice this year as she considered a new framework that allows colleges and universities to pay athletes directly. While opting in to the House settlement allows schools to remain competitive and attract top athletes, it can also create new financial pressure. Meanwhile, there are concerns that new limitations on roster sizes could shut women out from opportunities to compete, especially in non-revenue-producing sports like track and field. This is a familiar conundrum for leaders across the U.S. in the wake of the $2.8 billion antitrust settlement, which dismantled an amateur model that defined college sports for more than a century. But the challenges are especially acute for historically Black colleges and universities like Morgan State and other underfunded schools that remain committed to women's sports even as they navigate fierce budget pressures. "When you make that decision then your question is, 'OK, where's the money coming from?'" Freeman-Patton said. "One of the things we were adamant (about) is that we're not going to cut from what we are already offering to our student athletes." "Especially," she added, "our women's programs." |
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