| Tuesday, January 13, 2026 |
| A Decade of Partnership: How T2 Helped Mississippi State University Modernize Campus Parking | |
 | Mississippi State University has partnered with T2 since 2014. As the campus grew, MSU reached a point where its previous collection of parking tools could no longer keep up. Information lived in separate systems. The processes were manual and time-consuming. Staff often had to piece together data from multiple sources to solve even basic operational questions. The team needed a connected, reliable ecosystem that worked for a campus as large and complex as MSU. Parking leaders described the situation clearly: "Our operations are complex. We needed a system flexible enough to handle everything we were trying to do." Jeremiah Dumas, Transportation Executive Director. MSU needed one scalable system that could support enforcement, permits, access, ecommerce, LPR, reporting, and long-term planning. |
| Mississippi ag hits $9.51B despite row crop drop | |
| Despite some sharp decreases in row crop agriculture in Mississippi, cattle and poultry had a good year, bringing the state's 2025 estimated value of ag production to $9.51 billion. Poultry continues three decades as the state's top agricultural commodity, posting an expected year-end value of $3.73 billion and continuing its upward trend. Forestry is in second place with a 2025 estimated value of $1.47 billion. Row crops declined 9% overall, with corn seeing a huge increase but cotton, peanuts, rice and soybeans facing major declines in value. The poultry industry got a bump in value as eggs rose to an estimated $351 million. Broilers account for the bulk of the poultry industry's value at $3.38 billion. Josh Maples, ag economist with Mississippi State University Extension, said poultry's slight increase in value is a result of an increase in the pounds of broilers produced. "Prices were down slightly, but the increase in pounds sold still led to a larger value of production," Josh Maples said. "On the egg side, there was a jump in value of production driven by both increased production and stronger prices." Will Maples, MSU Extension ag economist, said row crops had another difficult year in 2025 driven by persistently low commodity prices and elevated input costs. The total estimated 2025 value for crops is $2.51 billion. |
| Free workshops on blueberry production available in Mississippi | |
 | Mississippi blueberry producers have two opportunities to learn more about production of the state's largest fruit crop. The Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service will host an in-person workshop in Hattiesburg and a virtual workshop. The in-person workshop will be held January 29, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the MSU Extension Service office in Forrest County. The office is located at 952 Sullivan Drive in Hattiesburg. A virtual workshop will be held February 19, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Both workshops are open to blueberry producers and those interested in growing blueberries at any production level. Topics for both workshops will include organic versus conventional weed control, disease management practices and pest scouting and integrated pest management practices. Also included is the Transition to Organic Partnership Program, which helps producers transition from traditional production practices to organic production practices. |
| Education: Hands-on learning meets entrepreneurship in Yellow Jacket MakerSpace Merchandise Stores | |
 | Students at Partnership Middle, Armstrong Junior High and Starkville High schools have put their creativity to work to plan and produce products for in-school Merchandise Stores through each school's MakerSpace. They worked with teachers last fall to brainstorm, design and produce products using the technology and equipment they have learned about during their time in MakerSpace. In December, Armstrong Junior High's Library Media Specialist Emily Russell and members of the MakerSpace team gave a sneak at the button pins students are producing for the AJHS store and a demonstration of how they are made. The button maker and materials needed to produce the pins are available as part of the MakerSpace activities located in the AJHS Library Media Center. Students have also designed Yellow Jacket earrings and are fine-tuning production. "The MakerSpace Merchandise Stores give students meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that blend creativity, problem-solving and real-world skills," said Camelia Robinson, one of the district's literacy technology specialists housed at Discovery Center. Early this spring, the Merchandise Stores will open for business with sales to students and parents, and MakerSpace participants will work to market their products, maintain inventory and track purchases. |
| Lauderdale County tourism sees growth as state pushes for standalone agency | |
 | Lauderdale County and the Queen City are seeing more people coming for a visit, according to new numbers from the county's tourism arm. On Monday, Visit Meridian Executive Director Laura Carmichael told the Council of Governments data for 2024 recently became available, and the area saw more than $453 million in tourism spending that year. Of that, $299 million was in direct spending while $154 million was in indirect spending in Lauderdale County. The spending shows an increase of approximately 7-8% over the previous year, Carmichael said. "When we talk about money that's being spent, it's the hotel, it's the eating, the retail, purchasing gas, all that equates to supporting tourism," she said. "So we were really happy with those numbers. They continue to go up." Data from the Mississippi Tourism Association for 2024 show tourism in Lauderdale County supports more than 3,500 jobs and generates more than $109 million in income for local residents. The industry also produces an estimated $25.3 million in state and local taxes. At the state level, tourism advocates are again pushing the State Legislature to make Visit Mississippi its own state organization. Currently, the state tourism arm falls under the Mississippi Development Authority. Efforts to separate tourism into its own entity were made in the 2025 Legislative Session but failed to make it through the political gauntlet of the state capitol. |
| Higgins contracted to lead Tate County economic development | |
| On Monday, the Tate County Board of Supervisors and the Tate County Economic Development Foundation announced an agreement with 2EQLAST Consulting, led by Joe Max Higgins, to head the Tate County EDF team. 2EQLAST stands for "Second Equals Last." Tate County District One Supervisor Leigh Ann Darby said in a statement that Higgins' "contacts and experience with economic development will only make Tate County more prosperous and a better place to live for years to come." Both boards publicly thanked State Representative Trey Lamar (R) for making the first contact and working hard to make the deal between the boards and Higgins happen. Higgins, whose contract begins February 1, said his role is to help provide a road map that will lead to exponential growth of Tate County. Back in August 2025, the Golden Triangle Development LINK abruptly announced that the organization was parting ways with Higgins, its 20-year CEO. It was later learned that Higgins' removal came "after learning of workplace behavior and speech espoused by Mr. Higgins over an extended period that do not reflect the values of this organization and the communities we serve," according to a statement from the LINK's executive committee days after the news of his ouster was first reported. |
| Senators consider ways to reduce redundancies, save taxpayer money | |
| A Senate committee responsible for restructuring and improving the efficiency of Mississippi state government met Monday to hear suggestions on how two agencies could reduce waste and save taxpayers' money. Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner Andy Gipson (R) and Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney (R) informed members of the Senate Government Structure Committee that their departments have identified ways to reduce redundancies within state government. Before the officials testified, Committee Chairman Senator Tyler McCaughn (R) said legislators are the watchers of taxpayer funds. "We believe that everyone should feel their tax dollars are going towards worthwhile endeavors," McCaughn said. At the end of 2025, the committee sent letters to state agencies seeking input on how those government offices could reduce waste and increase efficiencies, said McCaughn. "I am not here to tell you how to run your agencies; you know your agency and what is best for your agency. And what we can do to make it better. That is our goal on this committee," he said. |
| Senate passes bill to reimburse Mississippi National Guard members for health care costs | |
| The Mississippi Senate unanimously passed a bill on Monday to reimburse the state's National Guard members for costs associated with their health care premiums. "It's a simple bill. What this is going to do is it's a bill that allows our traditional guardsmen to be reimbursed for their health care," the bill's author, Sen. Jeff Tate, R-Meridian, told the chamber before his colleagues quickly moved forward with passage. SB 2018, which now heads to the House for consideration, would establish what's called the "Mississippi National Guard TRICARE Premium Reimbursement Program." The program is designed to help National Guard members pay for their premiums associated with TRICARE, the U.S. military's health program. The only qualifiers for National Guard members to receive reimbursements are that they are actively drilling and not obtaining health insurance from another employer. The adjutant general of the Mississippi National Guard will be responsible for administering the program, with funding based on future legislative appropriations. |
| Mississippi faces deepening nursing shortage that threatens rural, critical care access | |
 | Mississippi lawmakers heard stark warnings about a statewide nursing shortage that health professionals say is no longer just a workforce concern, but a growing threat to access and quality of care, especially in rural communities. At a Wednesday hearing of the Mississippi Senate's Public Health Committee, Dr. Phyllis Johnson, executive director of the Mississippi Board of Nursing, told lawmakers that the state's nursing workforce is aging fast and not growing fast enough to keep up with demand. "We currently have approximately 78,000 nurses licensed in the state of Mississippi... but when you look at our workforce by generation, almost 48 percent of our nurses are millennials who are approaching retirement age." Health officials say an aging nursing workforce will have ripple effects across the health system as more nurses leave the field and fewer enter it, a trend that predates the pandemic but has accelerated in recent years. Highlighting potential solutions, several speakers pointed to nursing education pathways that emphasize retention and rural placement. One example cited by lawmakers was the nursing program at Mississippi University for Women, which reports high retention rates and a majority of graduates working in the state's underserved communities. |
| Suspect in Mississippi synagogue fire laughed as he confessed to his dad, authorities say | |
| The man suspected of setting fire to Mississippi's largest synagogue allegedly confessed his crimes to law enforcement and referred to the building in northeast Jackson as the "synagogue of Satan," according to a federal court document filed Monday. Stephen Spencer Pittman, 19, of Madison -- who usually goes by his middle name -- is facing federal charges for using fire to maliciously damage or destroy a building involved in interstate commerce, according to a probable cause affidavit in the U.S. Southern District of Mississippi. The Beth Israel Congregation synagogue also houses the offices of the Institute for Southern Jewish Life, which provides school programs and traveling rabbinical services to Jewish congregations across the South. The predawn fire Saturday reduced the historic synagogue's library and administrative offices to charred ruins and left smoke damage throughout the building, the same one the Ku Klux Klan bombed in 1967 for its rabbi's support of civil rights. Pittman appeared in federal court on Monday afternoon via video conference, accompanied by a public defender. He affirmed to the judge, Andrew Harris, that he was competent and sober. Pittman appeared to be leaning back in his chair, gazing away from the camera. When the judge asked him if he understood his rights to an attorney, Pittman responded, "Yes sir, Jesus Christ is Lord." Pittman was a multi-year honor roll student and varsity baseball player at St. Joseph Catholic School in Madison, according to previous local news reports. After graduating from St. Joseph in 2024, Pittman played baseball at Coahoma Community College. |
| Defiant independence from the Federal Reserve catches Trump off guard | |
 | White House officials were caught by surprise when a post appeared Sunday night on the Federal Reserve's official social media channel, with Jerome Powell, its chairman, delivering a plain and clear message. President Trump was not only weaponizing the Justice Department to intimidate him, Powell said to the camera, standing before an American flag. This time, he added, it wasn't going to work. The lack of any warning for officials in the West Wing, confirmed to The Times, was yet another exertion of independence from a Fed chair whose stern resistance to presidential pressure has made him an outlier in Trump's Washington. For months, Trump and his aides have harshly criticized Powell for his decision-making on interest rates, which the president believes should be dropped faster. On various occasions, Trump has threatened to fire Powell -- a move that legal experts, and Powell himself, have said would be illegal -- before pulling back. The decision by the Justice Department to subpoena the Fed over the construction -- a $2.5-billion project to overhaul two Fed buildings, operating unrenovated since the 1930s -- comes at a critical juncture for the U.S. economy, which has been issuing conflicting signals over its health. |
| Trump may have damaged the case against Jerome Powell before it's even begun | |
 | President Donald Trump's campaign to criminally investigate his political adversaries keeps running into an intractable problem: his mouth. The news Sunday that the Justice Department has been secretly weighing charges against Fed Chair Jerome Powell -- a frequent target of Trump's attacks -- alarmed lawmakers, who called it an effort to weaponize the justice system to affect economic policy. But Trump's freewheeling commentary has gotten in the way of past prosecutions he demanded -- and could get in the way this time, too. Trump has long attacked Powell over his monetary policy, but more recently he has focused on Powell's management of the Fed itself, even suggesting Powell could be investigated or sued for his role overseeing a building renovation beset by cost overruns. Two Senate Republicans, Thom Tillis and Lisa Murkowski, have already accused the Justice Department of carrying out a White House errand, meant to coerce the Federal Reserve's monetary policy, rather than pursue a legitimate criminal investigation -- and a third, Kevin Cramer, said he does not believe Powell is a criminal. Those extraordinary broadsides from within Trump's own party are the backdrop to any charges that prosecutors might ultimately unveil. |
| Trump Allies and Officials Fear Blowback From Powell Probe | |
 | Some Trump administration officials and allies have expressed concern that the Justice Department's criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell could imperil the president's nominees in the Senate and rattle financial markets. Among those alarmed about potential fallout was Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who called President Trump Sunday night and told him that the investigation could cause several issues for the administration, according to people familiar with the matter. Bessent was worried about an impact on financial markets and hurdles during the Senate confirmation process for whomever the president selects to be the next Fed chairman once Powell's term ends in May, the people said. Bessent's prediction proved prescient. Late Sunday, after the probe became public, Sen. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.) said he would oppose any Fed nominee put forward by Trump "until this legal matter is fully resolved." Tillis, who sits on the Senate Banking Committee, could block a nominee from making it to a full floor vote by siding with Democrats in opposition, given the narrow split in the panel. Several other Senate Republicans on Monday expressed concern with the Justice Department probe, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.), who said he hoped the dispute was resolved quickly. Others worried that the fight would rattle markets and raise borrowing costs. The litigation will "cause interest rates to go up, not down. We need this like we need a hole in the head," said Sen. John Kennedy (R., La.), a member of the banking panel. |
| December core consumer prices rose at a 2.6% annual rate, less than expected | |
| Core U.S. consumer prices rose less than predicted in December, reinforcing hopes that inflation is tempering as the Federal Reserve contemplates its next move on interest rates. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, the consumer price index showed a seasonally adjusted 0.2% gain on a monthly basis and 2.6% annually, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday. Both were 0.1 percentage point below expectations. Though they look at both measures, Fed officials consider core inflation a better long-run gauge of where inflation is heading. On a headline basis, the CPI posted an increase of 0.3% for the month, putting the all-items annual rate at 2.7%. Both were exactly in line with the Dow Jones consensus estimate. The Fed targets inflation at 2% annually, so the report provides some evidence that the pace of price increases is moving back to target but remains elevated. Stock market futures briefly rose following the report while Treasury yields were lower. Traders kept bets intact that the Fed would stand pat at its meeting later this month and likely won't be considering another cut until June, according to the CME Group's FedWatch gauge. |
| Minnesota ICE shooting raises chances for partial government shutdown | |
 | The fatal shooting of an unarmed woman in Minneapolis by a federal law enforcement officer is threatening to blow up fragile negotiations over government spending that will be coming to a head later this month, creating challenges for leaders in both parties. House lawmakers have already approved six of the 12 funding bills for fiscal 2026, and bipartisan appropriators were on track to reach a delicate agreement on the remaining bills, which were expected to move as two larger packages over the next two weeks. But last week's killing of 37-year-old Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis has infuriated Democrats in both chambers, some of whom are now threatening to withhold their support for funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to demand reforms to the agency. "There are a lot of Democrats who want to see safeguards put on what ICE is doing," said one House Democrat, who requested anonymity to discuss the party's evolving strategy. Tossing another wrench into passing the remaining funding bills is timing on the Senate side. Further complicating matters is the Senate is slated to be out of town for recess next week for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. |
| The House Republican Majority Is Down to Almost Nothing | |
 | A surprise resignation and a sudden death have left House Republican leaders starting the new session of Congress with their already slim majority down to the bare minimum of 218 seats. Speaker Mike Johnson is now able to afford just two defections on any party-line vote if all members are present -- and in an election year, they seldom are. In the coming weeks, his situation is expected to become worse, whittling down the margin to a single vote. It is the continuation of a dynamic that has plagued House Republicans since President Trump took office in 2025: A majority so small that it gives outsize power to any one member who wants to buck the party. It makes governing difficult, if not impossible. Most major legislation cannot even come to the floor without a House vote to set the ground rules for debate. Without a working majority, Republicans effectively have no control over the floor and no ability to move their agenda. And under House rules, a tie vote fails. The result of it all has been a historically unproductive session of Congress so far: The House set a grim record in 2025, casting the fewest votes of the 21st century during the first session of a two-year Congress. |
| Make 'Star Trek real'. Hegseth vows military AI without 'woke' constraints | |
 | Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth laid out a plan for advancing military artificial intelligence during a speech in Texas, saying he's creating an "AI-first, war-fighting force" that won't be constrained by "woke" models. Hegseth has been outspoken about ridding the military of so-called "woke" policies, including diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and transgender troops. "Gone are the days of equitable AI and other DEI and social justice infusions that constrain and confuse our employment of this technology," Hegseth said. "Effective immediately, responsible AI at the War Department means objectively truthful AI capabilities employed securely and within the laws." "We will not employ AI models that won't allow you to fight wars," Hegseth added, saying the department would employ AI "without ideological constraints" that "will not be woke." Hegseth's comments come amid growing concern about the threats posed by AI. Hegseth said the U.S. won't be limited in its pursuit of new military capabilities. "We are done running a peacetime science fair while our potential adversaries are running a wartime arms race," he said. Hegseth was introduced at the event by SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who led the Department of Government Efficiency cost-cutting effort in the early months of President Donald Trump's second term and holds significant defense contracts. 'How about this,' Hegseth said as he offered a Vulcan salute as he stood next to Musk. 'Star Trek real.' |
| As MAHA wages war on pesticides, the GOP is caught in the middle | |
| The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement's crusade against pesticides is creating divisions in the Republican Party, as some members back the industry while others stand with MAHA activists. As the MAHA movement, spearheaded by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., gains power and influence within the GOP, efforts to limit liability for the pesticide industry are also growing on numerous fronts. The issue is coming to a head in Congress, at the Supreme Court and on the state level, while other Republicans remain at the forefront of pushing pro-pesticide policies. "I don't know what these Republicans are thinking, because this is a really powerful conservative movement that doesn't want this, and I think that they don't have the memo yet that they need to be lining up with MAHA, because they really stand to lose their seat," activist Kelly Ryerson said. Republicans have traditionally been supportive of big business. But the MAHA movement is vocally skeptical of pharmaceutical, agriculture and chemical companies. A key policy divide that has emerged is whether pesticide companies should have to disclose health impacts that are not officially recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -- and whether they can be sued under state failure-to-warn laws for not doing so. |
| Microsoft's Brad Smith pushes Big Tech to 'pay our way' for AI data centers amid rising opposition | |
 | It won't be easy for Big Tech companies to win the hearts and minds of Americans who are angered about massive artificial intelligence data centers sprouting up in their neighborhoods, straining electricity grids and drawing on local reservoirs. Microsoft is trying anyway. The software giant's president, Brad Smith, is meeting with federal lawmakers Tuesday to push forward an approach that calls for the industry, not taxpayers, to pay the full costs of the vast network of computing warehouses needed to power AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Google's Gemini and Microsoft's own Copilot. President Donald Trump gave Microsoft's effort a nod in a Truth Social post Monday evening, where he stated that he does not want Americans to "pick up the tab" for these data centers and pay higher utility costs. "Local communities naturally want to see new jobs but not at the expense of higher electricity prices or the diversion of their water," Smith said in an interview with The Associated Press. Smith's campaign comes as data center developers are increasingly running into hostility in towns where they want to build and meeting defeat at municipal boards that must approve zoning applications or construction permits. |
| America's Biggest Power Grid Operator Has an AI Problem -- Too Many Data Centers | |
| America's AI boom is pushing the nation's largest power-grid operator to the brink of a supply crisis. Sixty-seven million people in a 13-state region stretching from New Jersey to Kentucky get their power from a market operated by nonprofit PJM. So, too, do the many AI data centers springing up in Northern Virginia's "Data Center Alley," which have a bottomless appetite for electricity. Rates are going up for consumers. Older power plants are going out of service faster than new ones can be built. And the grid's capacity is in danger of maxing out during periods of high demand, which could force PJM to call for rolling blackouts during heat waves or deep freezes to avoid damaging grid infrastructure. Mark Christie, former chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, said that a few years ago he considered the PJM blackout threat to be on the horizon. "Now I'm saying that the reliability risk is across the street," he said. PJM expects power demand to grow by 4.8% a year, on average, for the next decade -- an astonishing pace for a system that hasn't had substantial demand growth in years. Consumers are furious about the rate increases. And tech companies, including Amazon, Alphabet and Microsoft, have fought against proposed rules that would require data centers to build their own power sources or go dark during demand surges. Other regions of the country are also seeing a surge in power demand tied to data centers. West Texas and the parts of the Southeast and the Southwest are becoming home to massive facilities. Power demand forecasts vary widely, but analysts expect significant growth in the coming years. An analysis by consulting firm ICF forecasts U.S. power demand in 2030 will be 25% higher than it was in 2023, largely because of data center needs. |
| Education: The W brings home Nightingale Award, secures student leadership positions at state nursing convention | |
| Four students from the Baccalaureate Nursing Program in the Vandergriff College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Mississippi University for Women were recently elected to state positions within the Mississippi Association for Student Nurses at the Mississippi Nurses Association annual convention. Additionally, The W received the Nightingale Award for the second year in a row. The Nightingale Award is a scholarship that fosters the development of leadership skills in nursing students. The award selection process is essay based, and The W's essay highlighted the community service and leadership development activities undertaken by students. "I am so proud of our students, program and faculty," said Brandy Larmon, dean of the college. "It is a testament to their dedication and well-deserved!" In addition to the award, four W nursing students were elected to leadership positions within the MASN. |
| 'Super flu' spreads in US: UMMC doctors advise caution | |
| Doctors at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) are encouraging Mississippians to be aware of the "super flu." "Every year around this time, we see a surge in flu cases, and this year is no different," said Dr. Kendall McKenzie, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine. "There's a baseline level of viral illness circulating all the time, and when you add seasonality on top of that, those numbers really start to climb." According to the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) weekly respiratory surveillance reports, influenza-like illness activity across the state has remained relatively stable in recent weeks, with an overall ILI rate around 4.9% of outpatient visits for the week ending January 3, 2026. While Mississippi hasn't reported major outbreaks or influenza-associated pediatric deaths this season yet, health officials continue to monitor trends closely. At the same time, national influenza data show a significant uptick in flu cases, hospitalizations and deaths this season, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating at least 11 million flu cases, 120,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths so far this season, including nine pediatric deaths. |
| MTA to host annual theater festival at UM | |
| The Mississippi Theatre Association will host its annual statewide theatre festival Jan. 15–18 on the campus of the University of Mississippi. This multi-day event is the largest theater festival in the state, bringing together high school students, community theatre groups, educators, and theatre professionals from across Mississippi. Throughout the weekend, participating schools and community theaters will compete in adjudicated performances for the opportunity to advance to the Southeastern Theatre Conference in March. In addition to mainstage productions, the festival will feature a wide range of programming, including Individual Events, a 10-Minute Play Festival, Theatre for Youth performances, workshops led by theatre professionals, and special events designed to educate, inspire, and celebrate Mississippi's theatre community. The public is invited to attend festival performances and workshops. Weekend passes and single-day passes will be available for purchase. |
| Higher education outcomes-based funding bill expected this week | |
| Legislation will be introduced this week in the Alabama Legislature to tie some new higher education funding to school performance markers, the education budget committee chairmen told Alabama Daily News. Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, said last week that the goal of outcomes-based funding is to improve educational results across the state's four- and two-year colleges, including graduation rates and the number of graduates ready for in-demand jobs. "This is an important first step, and it will take time, to elevate our institutions to do more and do better, " Orr said. "But that takes money." In 2024, performance-based funding was distributed to two-year colleges in 28 states and in four-year colleges in 21 states, according to the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association. Orr and Garrett last year led meetings on how a model could work in Alabama. "This is our attempt to look at what we can do to address and incentivize the outcomes at the institution of higher education," Garrett told ADN. Alabama has one of the lowest labor participation rates in the country, 57.2% in December compared to a national rate of 62.4%. "It's critical that we correct that," Garrett said. |
| UGA names NSF, national policy leader as vice president for research | |
| The University of Georgia has named David B. Berkowitz, an accomplished research administrator and nationally recognized science policy leader, to serve as its next vice president for research, overseeing the university's research enterprise and strategic priorities. Berkowitz currently serves as assistant director of the U.S. National Science Foundation's Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, where he oversees a portfolio of approximately $1.7 billion in funding of research and infrastructure in astronomy, chemistry, materials science, mathematics and physics. Berkowitz also holds an appointment as the Elmer H. and Ruby M. Cordes Professor of Chemistry at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. His appointment as UGA's vice president for research is effective July 1, 2026. "Dr. Berkowitz is an extraordinary leader with significant experience guiding cutting-edge research, driving policy on critical national priorities and forging successful partnerships," said President Jere W. Morehead. "He possesses a vision that will propel UGA's thriving research enterprise forward, expand our innovation ecosystem and maximize our positive impact on the state of Georgia and the nation." |
| U. of Tennessee plans large-scale active shooter training today | |
 | The University of Tennessee is hosting a large-scale active shooter training exercise today. The training will take place late this morning at Rocky Top Dining on Andy Holt Avenue. Rocky Top Dining will be closed until 1 p.m. Several agencies will participate: University of Tennessee Police Department, UT Office of Emergency Management, Knoxville Police Department and Knoxville Fire Department. "This exercise is part of our continued efforts to enhance campus safety and emergency preparedness. Regular drills like this ensure that our community remains ready to respond effectively to potential threats and emergencies," UTPD said in a statement. |
| Texas A&M hosts open house to highlight future of nuclear energy, technology | |
| Nuclear energy may play a major role in powering the future, and Texas A&M University staff say the future is already taking shape in the Brazos Valley. Texas A&M hosted a nuclear open house, giving community leaders a closer look at how nuclear energy is impacting their region and places across the country. As demand for reliable, clean energy grows, especially with the rise of data centers and AI, nuclear power is being considered a long-term solution, said Dr. David Staack, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research at Texas A&M. "AI and the data centers associated with them, there's a demand for large amounts of power and stable power," Staack said. "And so as we think about where that power is coming from, what is a reliable, clean, stable, always-on power source. Nuclear power is that." Texas A&M's Department of Nuclear Engineering, the largest in the United States, is at the center of advancing nuclear technology. Dr. Ayman Hawari, head of the department at Texas A&M, said the university's goal is to help the public understand nuclear energy's role in society. |
| Data Shows AI 'Disconnect' in Higher Ed Workforce | |
 | New data shows that while 94 percent of higher education workers use AI tools, only 54 percent are aware of their institution's AI use policies and guidelines. And even when colleges and universities have transparent policies in place, only about half of employees feel confident about using AI tools for work. "[That disconnect] could have implications for things like data privacy and security and other data governance issues that protect the institution and [its] data users," Jenay Robert, senior researcher at Educause and author of "The Impact of AI on Work in Higher Education," said on a recorded video message about the report. Educause published the findings Monday in partnership with the National Association of College and University Business Officers, the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources and the Association for Institutional Research. In the fall, roughly three years after generative artificial intelligence tools went mainstream and some higher education institutions began partnering with tech companies, researchers surveyed 1,960 staff, administrators and faculty across more than 1,800 public and private institutions about AI's relationship to their work. Ninety-two percent of respondents said their institution has a work-related AI strategy -- which includes piloting AI tools, evaluating both opportunities and risks and encouraging use of AI tools. And while the vast majority of respondents (89 percent) said they aren't required to use AI tools for work, 86 percent said they want to or will continue to use AI tools in the future. |
| Researchers May Be Forced to Rely on a Court You've Never Heard Of | |
| Several hundred feet from the White House, down a concrete path and across a quiet brick courtyard adorned with historical markers lie the doors to a small courthouse. Inside, etched into the stone wall, is a quote from Abraham Lincoln: "It is as much the duty of government to render prompt justice against itself, in favor of citizens, as it is to administer the same, between private individuals." It's apt for what's in this building: the Court of Federal Claims, a legal venue where the U.S. government is always the one being sued. The building is now poised to be the site of fights over droves of terminated research grants. Although it's the latest iteration of a court that's existed since 1855, predating Lincoln's election, it's not a well-known institution. It's not the subject of on-screen, steamy legal dramas. But the U.S. Supreme Court's preliminary rulings last year have elevated its importance for higher ed. A majority of justices say this 16-judge court likely has jurisdiction over lawsuits regarding thousands of National Institutes of Health federal research grants that the Trump administration has tried to terminate, as well as other fights concerning canceled grants. If the Supreme Court sticks by its current thinking in final rulings, the Court of Federal Claims could be handling fights over countless grants that the Trump administration and future higher ed-targeting presidencies may try to cancel in the future. One catch: This court doesn't have the authority to actually restore the grants. |
SPORTS
| Men's Basketball: Five Things To Know: State vs. No. 18 Alabama | |
| Mississippi State men's basketball returns home to face No. 18 Alabama for a Tuesday evening tilt at Humphrey Coliseum. The Bulldogs (10-6, 2-1 SEC) will look to start another winning streak after having their season's long six-game run come to close at Kentucky last time out. State has overcome a second-half deficit to win on seven occasions this season, the latest coming during a 72-53 romp over Oklahoma on Jan. 7. Alabama (11-5, 1-2 SEC) has lost back-to-back games to Vanderbilt and Texas after the Crimson Tide secured an 89-74 victory over Kentucky to begin SEC action. Bama's high octane attack averages 93.5 points per game on the strength of 12.8 made three-pointers per game. Bama has four players averaging in double figures fueled by Labaron Philon (21.3 PPG, 5.1 APG, 1.5 SPG), Aden Holloway (18.6 PPG, 3.8 APG), Amari Allen (11.6 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.1 BPG) and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (10.8 PPG, 2.2 APG). Five of the last six meetings in Starkville have been decided by single digits. |
| Mississippi State takes on No. 18 Alabama after Hubbard's 20-point game | |
| Mississippi State plays No. 18 Alabama Tuesday night after Josh Hubbard scored 20 points in Mississippi State's 92-68 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats. The Bulldogs have gone 7-1 in home games. Mississippi State is sixth in the SEC in rebounding with 37.5 rebounds. Achor Achor leads the Bulldogs with 7.1 boards. The Crimson Tide are 1-2 against SEC opponents. Alabama ranks sixth in the SEC with 11.1 offensive rebounds per game led by Aiden Sherrell averaging 2.5. Mississippi State makes 45.6% of its shots from the field this season, which is 3.3 percentage points higher than Alabama has allowed to its opponents (42.3%). Alabama averages 12.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 5.0 more made shots on average than the 7.8 per game Mississippi State gives up. Hubbard is averaging 22.8 points and 3.8 assists for the Bulldogs. Jayden Epps is averaging 16.7 points over the last 10 games. |
| Jans and MSU face short turnaround to prepare for No. 18 Bama | |
| Mississippi State men's basketball team wasn't happy with its loss to Kentucky on Saturday, but they haven't been afforded any time to dwell on it. No. 18 Alabama is coming to town today, and the Bulldogs have had to switch gears quickly after a difficult road trip. "We're in one of those stretches that everybody goes through, across the country," Jans said on Monday. "Three games in seven days, and it can be a lot, but it is what it is... We're at the end of the stretch, we've got prep today, play tomorrow, and Wednesday we'll have a day off. It's part of the deal, we understood that when we entered it. It's been a mixed bag of results so far, it ends tomorrow with game three, but our kids have been good all year long in terms of their approach to practice, in terms of energy level, and for the most part, ability to consume a scouting report and trying to get it on the floor." The Crimson Tide (11-5, 1-2 SEC) arrive in Starkville off the back of two straight losses, falling on the road to No. 11 Vanderbilt and suffering a home defeat against Texas. The latter game may give the Bulldogs (10-6, 2-1 SEC) a boost, knowing they bested the Longhorns in hostile territory just over a week ago, but they will have their hands full against a prolific group of Alabama scorers. |
| Nate Oats shares injury update for Alabama basketball's Latrell Wrightsell Jr. before Mississippi State | |
 | Alabama basketball will likely be without one of its veteran guards for the second straight game on Tuesday at Mississippi State. Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats said Latrell Wrightsell Jr. is still dealing with a right leg injury that kept him out of UA's loss to Texas on Saturday. The trip to Starkville would be the seventh missed game of the season for Wrightsell. "He didn't practice today," Oats said during his Monday press conference. "Vocal on the sidelines, like, he wants to be in, but Clarke's (Holter, Alabama's trainer) not comfortable yet, with where he's at with the right leg injury he's got going, so would say he's probably doubtful unless something happens." Wrightsell returned to the Crimson Tide in 2025-26 for his final season of eligibility after receiving a medical redshirt. He suffered a torn left Achilles tendon early during the 2024-25 campaign, missing the rest of the year. The fact that he didn't practice Monday made it even more difficult for Oats to believe he would be ready for the matchup with the Bulldogs. Alabama is currently on a two-game losing streak. |
| Mississippi State comes in at No. 4, Southern Miss at No. 20 in D1Baseball preseason poll | |
| Mississippi State, with a new head coach in Brian O'Connor and a transfer portal class full of high-caliber players, is picking up a lot of steam in the media with just over a month until the first pitch of the college baseball season. The latest example of that came Monday morning when D1Baseball dropped its preseason rankings, placing the Bulldogs at No. 4 in the country. The Bulldogs rank only behind UCLA, LSU, and Texas, respectively. Ole Miss didn't make the cut, while Southern Miss came in at No. 20. Mississippi State had a seemingly disaster season turn around after firing head coach Chris Lemonis, who won a College World Series with the team in 2021. A 9-1 record after the coaching change helped the team earn an NCAA Tournament berth, falling to Florida State in the regional round on June 1. The offseason in Starkville started immediately as Mississippi State announced O'Connor as its new coach the evening of the team's regional loss. O'Connor had chosen to leave for Starkville from Virginia, where he was the skipper for 22 seasons and led the Cavaliers to 18 NCAA Tournament appearances and winning it all in 2015. At the time, D1Baseball co-owner Kendall Rogers commended Mississippi State athletic director Zac Selmon for the hire that's widely considered the best by any team this offseason. |
| Autry-Dent transfers from Oklahoma to MSU | |
 | Former Itawamba AHS standout Isaiah Autry-Dent is transferring from Oklahoma to Mississippi State. MSU announced Monday morning that he has signed after two years with the Sooners. A 6-foot-6, 318-pound offensive tackle, Autry-Dent is the fourth offensive lineman MSU has picked up in the transfer portal this month. He will be a redshirt sophomore next season. Autry-Dent saw very little action at Oklahoma -- one game in 2024 -- but is a three-star transfer portal prospect, according to On3Sports. He was also a three-star recruit out of high school. At Itawamba AHS, Autry-Dent was a second-team Daily Journal All-Area selection as a senior and played in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game. |
| What Will Whitson getting seventh year of eligibility means for Mississippi State football | |
 | Another one of Mississippi State football's top defensive players will return for the 2026 season. Defensive lineman Will Whitson had his NCAA eligibility waiver approved, the school confirmed on Jan. 12. Whitson announced on Dec. 16 that he would return to MSU with the waiver's approval. He was out of eligibility and needed a medical redshirt waiver after suffering a season-ending injury in the first half of the Week 2 win against Arizona State. It will be Whitson's seventh season of college football. He played at Independence Community College from 2020-22, then Coastal Carolina before transferring to Mississippi State in 2025. Whitson's return is big news for the Bulldogs, who had one of the SEC's worst defenses for the second straight season that led to coordinator Coleman Hutzler's firing. Zach Arnett, the former MSU coach and defensive coordinator, was hired to replace Hutzler on Dec. 6. Despite Whitson only playing in a game and a half, he was Mississippi State's sack leader for much of the season. His two sacks in 2025 were tied for second on the team with three other players. |
| Softball: Bulldog Trio Named To Softball America Freshman Watch List | |
| Mississippi State's Kinley Keller, Brinkley Moreton and Gabby Schaeffer were named to Softball America's Freshman Watch List on Monday morning. Keller was also previously named to the D1Softball D100 Freshman Watch List last week. Keller played travel ball with Texas Bombers Gold, winning the 2024 Alliance Fastpitch 18U National Championship and finishing as runners-up in 2025. She hit over .300 on the travel circuit every year of her high school career. The outfielder played at Davenport High School in New Braunfels, Texas, where she holds the school's career batting average (.546) and career home run (54) records. Moreton pitched this summer in The Alliance Fastpitch All-Star Game and went head-to-head with Keller at the 2025 Colorado Fireworks National Championship. She was considered the No. 23 player in the class by Extra Inning Softball and the No. 44 player by Perfect Game when she signed. A two-way threat, she struck out more than 800 batters in her high school career and set the Arkansas single-season state record for RBIs with 65 as a freshman. Schaeffer, an infielder from Monroe, New York, won back-to-back state titles at Monroe-Woodbury High School and hit over .400 every season. She played travel ball with Rock Gold Manetta, hitting over .400 with the club and placing third at the 2022 PGF Platinum Nationals. The freshman excels defensively as well, winning her club's Golden Glove in 2021. |
| Commission rejected 500-plus NIL deals worth nearly $15 million | |
| The College Sports Commission has rejected nearly $15 million in name, image and likeness agreements since it started evaluating them over the summer, representing more than 10% of the value of all the deals it has analyzed and closed. The CSC released its latest statistics Monday, saying it did not clear 524 deals worth $14.94 million, while clearing 17,321 worth $127.21 million. All the data was current as of Jan. 1. The numbers came against the backdrop of a "reminder" memo the commission sent to athletic directors last week, citing "serious concerns" about contracts being offered to athletes before they had been cleared through the commission's NIL Go platform. The CSC is in charge of evaluating all deals worth more than $600 that are offered by third-party businesses that are often affiliated with the schools recruiting the players. The CSC said primary reasons for deals not being cleared were that they lacked a valid business purpose; they didn't directly activate a player's NIL rights, instead "warehousing" them for future use; and that players were being paid at levels that weren't "commensurate with similarly situated individuals." |
| Heather Dinich: Big Ten 'has leverage' over SEC, conferences regarding potential College Football Playoff expansion | |
| Momentum continues to build for an expanded College Football Playoff. According to ESPN's Heather Dinich though, the future of the format remains stalled, largely because the Big Ten Conference believes it holds significant leverage over the rest of the sport. Appearing Monday afternoon on SportsCenter, Dinich explained that while there is growing support for moving to a 16-team playoff as soon as next season, negotiations between the Big Ten and the Southeastern Conference have reached a critical impasse. "I can tell you that there is momentum for a 16-team field, but the Big Ten has leverage," Dinich said. "They're saying, 'You know what, I'll give you your 16-team Playoff for two or three years, if you agree, SEC, to a 24-team Playoff.' And agree is a very different word than consider." That distinction has become the central issue in ongoing talks. According to Dinich, some stakeholders are willing to consider a 24-team field in the future, but committing to it now would require sweeping changes , including the elimination of conference championship games and a complete reevaluation of the college football calendar. "I asked people, sources, 'What is your gut feeling about what's going to happen next year?'" Dinich added. "And they all said they think it's going to stay at 12, because they don't think the SEC and Big Ten commissioners can agree on this." |
| Vic Schaefer thinks the SEC has a 'vendetta' against Texas. Is he right? | |
| In Texas women's basketball coach Vic Schaefer's eyes, the Southeastern Conference has a "vendetta" against his program. Following the Longhorns' 70-65 loss Sunday at then-No. 12 LSU, Schaefer spoke negatively for several minutes about the schedule Texas was given for its conference games this season. Schaefer's soliloquy was not new -- he expressed similar thoughts as recently as last week on the American-Statesman's "On Second Thought" podcast -- but a packed media room at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center gave him perhaps the biggest stage to air his grievances. What is Schaefer's conference contention? For starters, all 16 SEC teams play just one opponent twice over their 16-game league schedules, and Schaefer has taken issue with the fact that Texas played South Carolina twice last season and gets LSU twice this season. He's also unhappy that the league scheduled LSU and South Carolina within five days of each other on this year's schedule -- Texas travels to South Carolina on Thursday -- and that both of those games are on the road. "They obviously have a vendetta against Texas," Schaefer said. "The league is hard enough as it is. But then to bless me and my group with that, it really has a stench to it. The common denominator is LSU and South Carolina both played Georgia before they played me, and South Carolina was at home today. I'm disappointed. I said that yesterday --- I said it to TV --- I'm really disappointed in the league for putting our kids in that position. But we play whoever's in front of us. |
| Supreme Court takes up culture war battle over transgender athletes in school sports | |
| The Supreme Court is hearing arguments Tuesday over state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams. Lower courts ruled for the transgender athletes in Idaho and West Virginia who challenged the state bans, but the conservative-dominated Supreme Court might not follow suit. In just the past year, the justices ruled in favor state bans on gender-affirming care for transgender youths and allowed multiple restrictions on transgender people to be enforced. The legal fight is playing out amid a broad effort by President Donald Trump to target transgender Americans, beginning on the first day of his second term and including the ouster of transgender people from the military and declaring that gender is immutable and determined at birth. The culture war cases come from Idaho and West Virginia, among the first of the more than two dozen Republican-led states that have banned transgender athletes from girls' and women's teams. The justices are evaluating claims of sex discrimination lodged by transgender people versus the need for fair competition for women and girls, the main argument made by the states. |
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