| Friday, November 8, 2024 |
| High-quality cadets help recruitment rise for MSU ROTC | |
 | While the Army is struggling with recruitment across the nation, Mississippi State University's Reserve Officer Training Corps program doesn't seem to have the same problem. MSU Professor of Military Science and Army Lt. Col. Jason R. Posey spoke Thursday to the Exchange Club of Columbus at Lion Hills Center about the program, saying this year the MSU ROTC program is actually overperforming in producing officers. "These officers will lead and command the sons and daughters of American citizens, and they are going to be officers of character," Posey said. Posey said the program has jumped from 98 total enrolled cadets in the 2023-2024 school year to 132 this year. While the program typically commissions 10 to 15 officers per year, Posey said MSU ROTC is set to commission 22 officers between December and May. Posey attributed the jump in recruitment numbers to leadership within the ROTC program. He also told The Dispatch after the meeting that a huge part of why recruitment is so high is because the program uses its current cadets as examples to interested candidates. Since current cadets challenge each other academically, physically and with building their leadership qualities, Posey said, the program encourages constant improvement and activity, which often appeals to prospective ROTC candidates. |
| Columbus Exchange celebrates early Veterans Day with service members | |
 | The Columbus Exchange Club recognized current and former service members ahead of Veterans Day. The club's "One Nation Under God" event featured special music, a moment of prayer, and keynote speaker Lieutenant Colonel Jason R. Posey. Even though he has served more than 20 years in the U.S. Army, Posey wasn't focused on past military service. As a Military Science Professor at Mississippi State University, Posey's attention is on training the officers of the future through the university's Army ROTC program. A program which he says is going strong both enrolling more cadets and commissioning more officers this year over last. Posey said the credit for building the program goes not to the instructors, but to the students. "Cadets have a huge role in recruiting because, you know, I'm getting up there in age; but when they see our cadets, they're young, they're athletic, and they're fit. They're involved in multiple activities across the campus. So, when candidates come there to visit the school and talk to our cadets, they find out what that experience is going to be like. So, I think that's our number one thing that has helped our recruiting is our cadets." |
| MSU, Ingalls Shipbuilding Partner for Employee Education Assistance | |
 | Mississippi State University and HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division formally partnered in October to give eligible employees at Ingalls expanded education assistance benefits, including a 10% tuition discount for those who enroll in MSU for undergraduate or graduate courses. The agreement applies to eligible employees -- defined as pre-approved through the Ingalls Education Assistance Program -- who may take online or in-person courses. The students must meet all admission criteria to receive the preferred tuition benefits. "We are so proud to give this benefit to the hardworking employees at Ingalls Shipbuilding to help individuals further their education and achieve their goals," said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. "Partnerships like this help MSU work with our state's leading industries to grow our state together." Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson said, "We are fully committed to the growth and success of our team and are excited to be providing this extra educational benefit to our shipbuilders. Through this partnership with MSU, we can continue ensuring our shipbuilders have every opportunity to gain the educational skills and training they need to excel." This partnership extends a cooperative relationship between Ingalls and MSU that includes research and development collaboration, such as a project with MSU's Athlete Engineering Institute and HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division to build a new wearable prototype device to aid shipbuilders in the mitigation of heat injuries. |
| Strength training early in life can set up kids and adolescents for a lifetime of health and well-being | |
| Mississippi State University's Zachary Gillen writes for The Conversation: "Aren't they a little young for that?" This is a question I used to hear regularly from parents when I'd recommend strength training for the kids I worked with, whose ages ranged from 6 to 18 years old, in youth sports. During my four years as a strength and conditioning coach, I often received questions from parents about the pros and cons of strength training -- that is, training that involves weight-bearing exercises -- for children. Some of the most common questions: Is strength training safe for children and adolescents? At what age is it appropriate for them to begin strength training? What are the benefits of strength training for this age group? Is strength training beneficial even for kids who are not involved in organized sports? Simply put, it is safe and appropriate for kids of all ages to perform strength training. ... My experience and research has shown that strength training can help to improve sports performance for youth, and that there are significant health benefits for youth participating in strength training beyond sports performance. |
| Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks discusses black bear research | |
| Biologists with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks work to better understand the black bear population in the Magnolia State every day. For the last 2 years, Anthony Ballard has been working for the department to gather and analyze the data. "The overall goal is to get as much collar data as we can, genetic data as we can for our research... so that we can come up with an updated estimate of our population," Ballard explained. The process begins with a landowner capturing a photo or video of a bear on a trail camera. Then, Ballard and his fellow biologists ask to set up a trap. Once they are caught, the bear is anesthetized so tests can be done. On Wednesday, Ballard trapped a 312-pound female bear, the largest female they've trapped in two and a half years. While the bear is sedated, Ballard and his team take blood, hair, and teeth samples. Vitals and measurements are also taken down. Then, a tracking collar and tag are added. Throughout the process, the bear's temperature and heart rate are continually checked to make sure none of the tests are impacting her health. Ticks are also collected from the bear and sent to Mississippi State University. "That will make her feel a little bit better and it will also help us identify tick species that are hanging out on bears," Ballard said. |
| Christmas Open House returns to Starkville Sunday | |
| The Greater Starkville Development Partnership is hosting its annual Christmas Open House starting at 11 a.m. Sunday. A total of 24 local businesses will participate in the event to kick off the holiday shopping season. Hunter Harrington, director of membership for The Partnership, said the event is organized to give the community a chance to shop local for Christmas. "Christmas Open House is just a day where all of our businesses get to showcase all of their Christmas decorations and merchandise, and it's a day for the community to kick off the shop local season," Harrington told The Dispatch. Most businesses will remain open until 4 or 5 p.m., she said. Some participating businesses will be running sales during the day, like buy an ornament, get one free. The Partnership will also have a promotion this season, Harrington said. "We're giving 'I Shop Local' totes to all of our retailers, and if you spend $100 or more, you get a free tote bag," she said. The Partnership distributed 1,000 bags to retailers, with hopes that shoppers spend $100,000 at local businesses on Sunday. |
| Energy barge businessman expects fewer mandates, fewer headwinds under new administration | |
| Business owners across the country are thinking about what a new administration will mean for their business. Austin Golding, CEO and president of Golding Barge Line, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, thinks the change will help his business out. "The energy I can feel within the energy sector is palpable," said Golding, who's business primarily transports oil and gas up and down the Mississippi River. "I think a lot of people see the future as having a lot less headwinds." "Marketplace" host Kai Ryssdal spoke with Golding about his expectations for the future. |
| A family-owned Global Powerhouse: The Taylor Group of Companies thrive by the mantra of service | |
| Founded in 1927, the Taylor Group of Companies (Taylor) has evolved from a struggling small family business into a privately-owned global industrial powerhouse. Poised to celebrate 100 years of business in 2027, third-generation Taylors lead the company, with the fourth generation coming up in the ranks. Taylor has 16 companies under its umbrella, and 1,807 employees worldwide. Even though Taylor is extremely successful today, with awards spilling over bookshelves and accolades pouring in from every direction, dark clouds loomed many times over the progression of the company. So far, 2024 has been a banner year for Taylor. The company opened Taylor's Tool & Supply, with Ace Hardware, in Starkville, and Taylor Tire & Lube Center in Louisville. In February, Taylor acquired 85 percent of controlling shares of CVS Ferrari, an Italian forklift company with plants in Piacenza and Parma. The Terberg Taylor Americas manufacturing plant opened in February, mirroring the exact proven production process of the Benschop Netherlands. On August 1, Taylor Machine Works delivered the first five battery-electric, zero-emission top handlers to Yusen Terminals in the Port of Los Angeles. Now, Taylor is moving forward with a fourth generation. |
| Officials break ground on Delta Blues substation in Greenville, marking $1.2B investment | |
| Elected officials joined Entergy Mississippi on Thursday to break ground on the company's newly announced Delta Blues Advanced Power Station in Greenville. Delta Blues Advanced Power Station will be a 754-megawatt facility capable of powering 385,000 homes across Entergy Mississippi's 45-county service area. The $1.2 billion investment will create more than 300 construction jobs in the Mississippi Delta area over the next several years, which will result in additional tax revenue for Washington County. Entergy plans to employ roughly 21 full-time personnel to operate the plant when it comes to fruition. "The groundbreaking of the Delta Blues Advanced Power Station is a significant step in our plan to transform our power generation portfolio for the future," Entergy Mississippi President and CEO Haley Fisackerly said. "The Delta Blues Advanced Power Station is a huge win for Greenville, Washington County, and the state of Mississippi. Entergy has been an exceptional partner in growing our state's economy," Governor Tate Reeves said. |
| Stealth candidate stuns with win over Mississippi Supreme Court incumbent | |
 | Just call David P. Sullivan a stealth candidate for the Mississippi Supreme Court. He won't be offended. The Gulfport attorney who lives in Biloxi wrested a South Mississippi Supreme Court seat from Justice Dawn Beam of Sumrall, who has served on the bench of the state's highest court since 2016. "I came out of nowhere," Sullivan said Wednesday. "I couldn't be prouder of what we accomplished." With 99% of precincts reporting, Sullivan had 189,357 or 54.8%, to Beam's 156,205, or 45.2% Sullivan believes several things worked in his favor in the race for the District 2, Position 2 seat: He was a "solid" Coast candidate with civil and criminal law experience, much of it in the courtroom. His father, the late Michael D. Sullivan, also served on the Supreme Court. Sullivan grew up in Hattiesburg and has connections across the South Mississippi district he'll serve. One facet of the campaign disturbed him. In campaign ads, he said, Beam promoted her endorsement from the Mississippi Republican Party even though the judicial race is supposed to be nonpartisan. "I think that rubbed a lot of people the wrong way," Sullivan said. "Judicial races are nonpartisan for a reason. A judge's impartiality could be called into question." |
| Bribery charges brought against Mississippi mayor, prosecutor and council member | |
| The mayor of Mississippi's capital city, the top prosecutor in the state's largest county and a Jackson City Council member have been indicted on conspiracy and bribery charges in a case that has already forced the resignation of another city council member, according to federal court records unsealed Thursday. The charges against Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and council member Aaron B. Banks were brought after two people working for the FBI posed as real estate developers who wanted to build a hotel near the convention center in downtown Jackson and provided payments to officials, including $50,000 for the mayor's reelection campaign, according to court documents. Lumumba, Jody Owens and Banks each pleaded not guilty Thursday during an appearance before a magistrate judge, with supporters of the mayor filling the small courtroom. The three men will remain free while awaiting trial. Outside the courthouse, Lumumba said he is grateful to people who have reached out to him locally, nationally and internationally. "I am not guilty, and so I will not proceed as a guilty man," Lumumba said. "I will continue to handle the business of the city of Jackson while my attorneys continue to handle the business of these court proceedings." |
| What happens if Hinds County DA Jody Owens resigns? | |
 | With Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens pleading "not guilty" to federal indictments on eight counts, many questions surround if he will resign and what that would look like going forward. Thursday morning, Owens, who was first elected as DA in 2019 and reelected in 2023, was indicted alongside Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks. All three leaders were scheduled to appear in a court hearing at 1:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon in the Thad Cochran United States Courthouse in Jackson. At 1:49 p.m. during the hearing, Owens pleaded "not guilty" to the charges against him. With the eight felony counts, Owens faces up to 90 years in federal prison and $2 million in fines. As of Thursday afternoon, Owens has no clear plans to resign. If Owens chooses to resign, his vacant position will be appointed by a district court judge or by the governor until an election is held, according to state law. Owens' second term ends in 2026. A similar event happened in Mississippi just last year. In 2023, Fifth Circuit Court District Attorney Doug Evans resigned six months before his term ended. Circuit Court Judge Joseph H. Loper Jr. then appointed an assistant district attorney to fill the spot until a winner for that district's Aug. 8, 2023 primary was announced. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves then appointed the winner of that race to serve the remainder of Evans' term, before officially starting a term in January of this year. |
| Biden to nation: accept 'will of the people' and Trump win | |
 | President Joe Biden on Thursday urged the nation to accept the results of the presidential election, saying "the will of the people" was clear and vowing a peaceful transfer of power following former President Donald Trump's decisive victory. "We accept the choice that the country made. I've said many times, you can't love your country only when you win," he said in the White House's Rose Garden. "I will do my duty as president. I'll fulfill my oath, and I will honor the Constitution," he added as Trump was on pace to also win the popular vote after surging in blue states and among men minority voters, something he did not do in his 2016 defeat of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. "On Jan. 20, we'll have a peaceful transfer of power here in America." For four years, since Trump attempted to overturn the 2020 election results and told an armed rally crowd on Jan. 6, 2021 to march to the Capitol and "fight like hell," Biden and Democrats argued to voters that the former president was a threat to democracy. They regularly slammed him for saying the 2020 election was "rigged" and Democrats were trying to "cheat" this year. He attempted to put out that fire on Thursday. "I hope we can lay to rest the question about the integrity of the American electoral system. It is honest, it is fair, and it is transparent, and it can be trusted, win or lose," Biden said, describing the now-concluded presidential contest as having been about "competing visions" and urging his countrymen and countrywomen to "see each other not as adversaries, but as fellow Americans." |
| Federal workers prepare for cuts, forced relocations in Trump's second term | |
 | With Donald Trump now less than three months away from retaking the White House, an office he won in part by pointing to his record as a businessman, thousands of federal workers in the D.C. region and across the country this week once again adjusted to a new status -- as his future employees. And he has signaled many of them could soon be on the chopping block. Trump, in his formal campaign platform, called to redistribute workers out of the Washington area and implement large-scale cuts to the federal government, which he has long derided as harboring members of the "deep state." Before leaving office in 2020, he issued an executive order that made tens of thousands of employees subject to firing with little due process if they were found to have resisted the administration's policies -- a move unwound by the Biden administration that Trump's allies have vowed to restore. His calls for cuts have been amplified by surrogates such as billionaire Elon Musk, who insists such moves are necessary to cut down on waste and inefficiency. The first Trump administration moved the Bureau of Land Management's headquarters to Grand Junction, Colorado, and relocated the Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to the Kansas City region. |
| Donald Trump picks Susie Wiles to be chief of staff | |
 | President-elect Donald Trump has tapped senior campaign adviser Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff, selecting one of his most trusted political confidants for the job. Wiles, who amassed outsized influence as one of Trump's two 2024 campaign managers, will be the first woman to ever hold the title of White House chief of staff. Many have credited the professionalization of the most recent Trump campaign to Wiles' leadership. "Susie Wiles just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history, and was an integral part of both my 2016 and 2020 successful campaigns," Trump said in a statement. "Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again." Trump called it a "well-deserved honor" to have Wiles as the nation's first female chief of staff to the president. Over the years Wiles -- a soft-spoken grandmother but sharp political operator -- has gained the trust and respect of Trump and his family, and the loyalty of his other aides. And she has proven she knows how to navigate the former president's whims and mercurial personality. Wiles is expected to continue running a tight ship in the White House. That will require her to navigate the competing factions already emerging in current Trump world -- with new and famous outside influences like Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vying for power with other longtime D.C. Republican hands. |
| Trump to Renew 'Maximum Pressure' Campaign Against Iran | |
 | President-elect Donald Trump plans to drastically increase sanctions on Iran and throttle its oil sales as part of an aggressive strategy to undercut Tehran's support of violent Mideast proxies and its nuclear program, according to people briefed on his early plans. Trump took a dim view of Iran during his first term, aborting a six-nation agreement with Tehran -- known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action -- that sought to curb Iran's nuclear-weapons work. He also imposed what was described as a "maximum pressure" strategy in hopes Iran would abandon ambitions for a nuclear weapon, stop funding and training what the U.S. considers terrorist groups and improve its human-rights record. But when he takes office on Jan. 20, Trump's approach to Iran is likely to be colored by the knowledge that its agents tried to assassinate him and former top national-security aides after they left office, former Trump officials said. Iran is believed to be seeking revenge for a 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, head of Iran's covert paramilitary operations. "People tend to take that stuff personally," said Mick Mulroy, a top Pentagon official for the Mideast in Trump's first term. "If he's going to be hawkish on any particular country, designated major adversaries, it's Iran." |
| Why Latino men voted for Trump: 'It's the economy, stupid' | |
 | Tomas Garcia and Maria Viesca-Garcia toasted the presidential win with an old fashioned and a martini inside the opulent, 64-story Trump International Hotel Las Vegas as the sun shone the day after a historic presidential election. Around the hotel bar, people donned "Make America Great Again" hats and one woman wore a red shirt with the numbers "45" and "47" printed above a flag. Garcia and his wife, from San Antonio, voted for Trump in 2016, again in 2020 and in this election. "Why am I for Trump? Because I'm an American first of all," said Garcia, 70, whose great-grandparents emigrated from Mexico to the U.S. Garcia grew up poor in San Antonio. And for 40 years he poured his life savings into a retirement fund. "When Biden came into presidency I lost $80,000 of my investment, but that's OK, I'm looking for rosier times," he said. "I know that I'm going to do good with Trump." Trump's economic populism and promises to "make America great again" have deeply resonated with some Latinos who turned sharply right on Tuesday amid concerns over inflation, the border and safety. They brushed off anti-immigrant language and backed him by 46%, compared with 2020 when he received 34% of their vote. Poll after poll has shown that the economy is a top issue for Latino men and women. |
| Young Voters Helped Fuel Trump's Win | |
| At first, Preston Hill helped the College Republicans campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by handing out stickers in the tailgating areas of football games. But in the final weeks before Election Day, he worked at a table they set up in the heart of campus and got a better response than he expected. "People would say, yeah, I want to own a house and make more money and I'll have a better shot under President Trump," said Hill, a 20-year-old sophomore from Asheville, in the state's mountainous west. Democrats had regularly pitched passing students in the same spot since the start of the semester, but College Republicans said they saw a boost to their ranks as well. President-elect Donald Trump's decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris was powered by gains across nearly every major demographic group, including Black and Latino voters. But one of the most pronounced upticks was among younger voters, particularly men such as Hill, some of whom were voting in their first election. The shift marked a blow to Democrats, who have long relied on young voters for electoral success. Nationally, Trump won men under age 30 by 14 percentage points, according to results from AP VoteCast, a large survey of people who cast ballots this year. |
| What Donald Trump's Win Will Mean for Big Tech | |
 | On Wednesday, the chief executives of the leading Big Tech companies congratulated the US president-elect. Sundar Pichai (Alphabet), Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), Tim Cook (Apple), Andy Jassy (Amazon), and Satya Nadella (Microsoft) have all sparred with Donald Trump before, but they were quick to get behind him as their companies face a fresh four years of operating under an influential politician who has proved volatile. Trump has shown disdain for Big Tech companies, and he's been vocal about pursuing policies that increase the cost of doing business for Big Tech and subject them to more unfavorable regulations. Ahead of the election, business leaders and venture capitalists expressed concern that an unpredictable administration would undermine the stability of their businesses. At the same time, Trump has vowed to back out of policies that might have hobbled growth for certain tech companies. The president-elect may also take a more hands-off approach when it comes to some tech mergers and acquisitions, analysts say. And now, with Elon Musk as his biggest supporter, "this might be a moment in which there's a picking of favorites amongst the Big Tech players," says Betsy Cooper, director of the Aspen Policy Academy. |
| Thousands expected for People's March on Washington ahead of Trump's inauguration | |
| Tens of thousands of people are expected in Washington ahead of Inauguration Day in January to protest President-elect Donald Trump and policy priorities that they say will undermine the rights of women, immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community and racial and religious minorities. The demonstration, dubbed the "People's March on Washington," is scheduled for Jan. 18, two days before the inauguration. It is being organized by leading civil rights, racial justice and reproductive health organizations, including the Women's March and Abortion Access Now, a coalition of organizations including the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and the National Women's Law Center. Organizers estimate 50,000 people will attend, according to a permit application, during a season when officials expect a surge of protests -- and celebrations -- from across the political spectrum as the nation's seat of power transitions from Joe Biden to Trump. There are more than 10 permit applications filed with the National Park Service for rallies, vigils and protests between now and the end of January. As supporters of Trump revel in his return to the White House, leftist activists are working to harness the passions and fears of those opposed to him and convert casual protesters into a more organized opposition to his incoming administration and its conservative policies. |
| Mississippi IHL Trustee Jeanne Carter Luckey dies | |
 | Officials with the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) announced Trustee Jeanne Carter Luckey died on Thursday, November 7. "Jeanne Luckey brought an energy and a commitment to her work as a trustee that resonated throughout our state's public university system, and we are all better for having worked with her," said Dr. Al Rankins, Jr., commissioner of higher education. "Students for years to come will benefit from her dedication to higher education in Mississippi." Luckey was appointed to the IHL Board of Trustees by former Governor Phil Bryant (R-Miss.) in May 2018, for a term to expire May 7, 2027. She was serving as vice president of the IHL Board of Trustees and chair of the ADA/Accessibility Services Task Force, which was created by the board in August 2023. According to the IHL, Luckey earned her bachelor's degree in special education at the University of Mississippi and a master's in special education at the University of Southern Mississippi. |
| MUW professor shares how election can impact Mississippi economically | |
| Donald Trump won the presidential election with 295 electoral votes against his opponent's, Vice President Kamala Harris, 226 votes. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win. In this election, Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker was also re-elected. "I think that's exciting a lot of people. It's not just a validation of conservative principles with Donald Trump's resounding victory, but it's also something very concrete in terms of having the senator poised to really assist the state economically in terms of our importance to our national security," said Dr. Brian Anderson, a political science professor at MUW. Anderson believed the results of the election will put the Magnolia State at an advantage economically. "President Trump wants to expand our military preparedness. I don't have the exact numbers, but he certainly wants much more spending than we've seen in the Biden administration and that will allow Senator Wicker to make sure Mississippi has good chunk of that," said Anderson. |
| University Opens New Space for Graphene Research, Innovation Hub | |
| The University of Mississippi christened a new space for the Center for Graphene Research and Innovation on Oct. 18. Housed in the Jackson Avenue Center, the new space allows the center to expand its thriving research into uses and applications of graphene and other nanomaterials. Graphene, a form of carbon made of a single layer of atoms, is just one of the many nanomaterials that the center focuses on, Al-Ostaz said. Nanomaterials are materials that have at least one dimension measuring between 1 and 100 nanometers, or about one thousand times smaller than the width of a human hair. The center has ongoing partnerships with multiple universities, government agencies and industry leaders, including Jackson State University, the University of Southern Mississippi and U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. "Certainly, your attendance today is an indication of the vital role this center will play in keeping Americans safe," said U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker. "We're going to make asphalt stronger with graphene, and we're going to do it right here. We're going to make concrete stronger and we're going to make life easier for our service members. |
| SAE National Office Lifts Cease And Desist Order From UM Chapter | |
 | A cease and desist order placed on the University of Mississippi's chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon by the SAE National Office has been lifted as of Tuesday, Nov. 5. The national office originally sent the cease and desist order on Friday, Oct. 25, after which an investigation took place. At the conclusion of the investigation, the national office notified the fraternity that it could resume chapter operations effective immediately, according to Steve Mitchell, eminent supreme recorder and CEO of SAE. The letter did not indicate what issues were being investigated. "The Fraternity Service Center is dedicated to the success of the Mississippi Gamma Chapter, as well as the health and safety of its members, guests and community," Mitchell said in the letter. "To that end, we encourage the chapter and its members to review Minerva's Shield and implement the procedures and requirements into chapter operations." Mitchell said that the national office is dedicated to working with the UM chapter moving forward. "Again, we appreciate the chapter's cooperation with this investigation," Mitchell said. "We look forward to helping the Mississippi Gamma Chapter commit to the health and safety of our members, their guests and the community." |
| Health officials are urging Mississippians to understand the signs of Alzheimer's disease | |
 | Mississippi has the highest mortality rate from Alzheimer's in the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 1,700 Mississippians died from the disease in 2021. November is Alzheimer's awareness month and health officials are urging Mississippians to understand the signs of the disease. Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that progressively destroys memory and thinking skills, and after some time, the ability to carry out simple tasks, according to the National Institute on Aging. It is caused by the buildup of two proteins in the brain and can begin years before symptoms are apparent. Dr. Kimberly Tarver is the division chief of geriatrics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. "The thing that lets me know that someone has Alzheimer's dementia versus some other type of disease is how they clinically present for the most part," she said. "So these patients will present with sort of a slow onset of memory loss that tends to be short term memory loss or what we would call delayed recall, where their longer term memories are preserved initially, but they are sort of losing the ability to remember what happened today or this week." Dr. Tarver says making an Alzheimer's diagnosis early is essential to the health of the patient, and helps families to gather whatever resources they have. |
| What's in the water? Environmental advocate Erin Brockovich will tell all at USM Forum | |
 | Erin Brockovich, best known for her efforts in finding justice for residents of Hinkley, California, after decades of exposure to contaminated water from the nearby Pacific Gas & Electric facility, will be speaking Tuesday at the University of Southern Mississippi. The activist's work in Hinkley led to one of the largest settlements for a direct-action lawsuit in U.S. history. Brockovich went on to work as a consultant on other pollution litigation. Brockovich's appearance is part of the University Forum series, now in its 50th year. The event is open to the public. Admission is free. The Forum will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Bennett Auditorium. The author of the 2020 book, "Superman's Not Coming: Our National Water Crisis and What We the People Can Do About It," will discuss the nation's water crisis and include a segment on Mississippi's water crisis. Brockovich also has authored two novels, "Rock Bottom" and "Hot Water." Water issues are complex, but that shouldn't be a deterrent, Brockovich said, noting that you don't have to be a scientist to know something is wrong when your water is discolored or smells funny. "It comes back to observation and intuition," she said. |
| Entergy Awards $2M Grant to Jackson State University for Power Grid Security Lab | |
| Jackson State University is the recipient of a $2 million grant from the Entergy Charitable Foundation to help fund the creation of the Critical Power Grid Network Security Lab. During a press conference at the University on Monday, Oct. 7, Entergy officials presented JSU President Marcus Thompson, Ph.D., with a big check to celebrate the occasion. This advanced initiative between Jackson State and Entergy will create an innovation hub to help train a highly skilled cybersecurity workforce to meet the growing needs of nuclear, electric and natural gas companies, and electrical cooperatives. "I am honored to receive this generous grant on behalf of Jackson State University. This gift will have a lasting impact on the lives of our students and the future of the energy sector," said Thompson. "Looking ahead, this lab will not only benefit Jackson State University and our students, but it will also play a critical role in shaping the broader energy landscape." Local, community, and political leaders were present during the event, including Congressman Bennie Thompson, whom the president thanked for supporting Jackson State, describing it as instrumental. |
| Millions of dollars in construction projects underway, soon to begin at Forrest Co. Pearl River Community College | |
 | Millions of dollars in construction projects are underway, or will soon begin at the Forrest County campus of Pearl River Community College. Right now, a new nursing building is under construction. The $4 million project was funded by the Mississippi Legislature and will serve up to 200 nursing students when completed. Another project will soon begin at the campus' Building No. 2. It's a $500,000 renovation, which will held establish a new Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic program. A grant from Accelerate Mississippi is paying for that work. And the Forrest County Board of Supervisors is supplying more than $2 million in funding for renovations and addition to the campus' academic building, which was built in 1970. "Our science department is going to receive a whole new lab, anatomy and physiology, so that those students can be prepared and then, our math and English, they'll get upgrades as well and we'll be able to add those sections," said Jana Causey, PRCC's Forrest County campus vice president. "There's a classroom going on the back that will be an addition, and, so, it's really going to add a lot to our student experience." |
| Black students at Alabama colleges get racist texts about cotton, plantations after Trump win | |
 | Alabama law enforcement is investigating after Black college students in Alabama received a barrage of racist text messages following the re-election of former President Donald Trump on Wednesday. Screenshots shared by parent groups and several Facebook users Wednesday show unknown phone numbers referencing students by name and telling them they have been "selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation." Students at the University of Alabama and Samford University, among others in Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia, according to news reports, appear to have received messages. "Be ready at 1:00 p.m. SHARP with your belongings," one message read. "Our Executive Slaves will come get you in a Brown Van, be prepared to be searched down once you've enter the plantation." In a statement to AL.com, University of Alabama spokeswoman Diedre Simmons said local law enforcement was looking into the matter. In a message to Samford University students and staff on Wednesday, President Beck Taylor said the college was aware of "despicable and disgusting behavior, including the uses of racial slurs, abusive language and other hateful content to demean beloved members of our community." |
| UGA study shows fewer monarch butterflies are migrating. Answer might be to leave them alone. | |
 | With vigorous debate surrounding the health of the monarch butterfly population, newly-released research from the University of Georgia may have answered the biggest question plaguing butterfly researchers: Why are the wintering populations declining while breeding populations are stable? A study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that monarchs are dying off during their fall migration south to Mexico. The UGA researchers found that roost sizes have declined by as much as 80% along the migration route. "The monarchs are increasingly failing to reach their winter destinations," said Andy Davis, lead author of the study and an assistant research scientist in UGA's Odum School of Ecology. "Either they're losing their ability to migrate or they're losing their will to migrate." The study was co-authored by Jordan Croy, a postdoctoral associate in UGA's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. "How do you say that the monarch butterfly is going extinct in the winter while they're perfectly healthy in the summer?" asked William Snyder, co-author of the study and a professor of entomology in UGA's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. "This paper fills in that gap by saying the problem is that fall migration." |
| A&M regents eliminate 52 programs despite protests from professors | |
 | The Texas A&M Board of Regents meeting became boisterous Thursday morning over an item pertaining to the proposed elimination of 14 minors and 38 certificate programs at the university. A&M professors sat in on the meeting en masse and the board listened to public comments from eight professors who were concerned about what would happen if those programs were cut. After listening to the comments, regents tried to assuage the gathered professors but in the end voted to approve the resolution calling for A&M President Mark Welsh to eliminate the programs, causing those professors to walk out of the meeting. "I am very concerned because I cannot believe that they had the full information about what they were doing," Texas A&M Faculty Senate Speaker Angie Hill Price said following the meeting. "There is a significant financial impact to our students who are already in pursuit of minors. Our students often don't declare minors until close to when they graduate so minors that are only two years old, there are students who are taking classes in pursuit of that they won't be able to finish that now because that opportunity has been taken away from them." The process of eliminating the courses began in June 2023 when inquiries around the LGTBQ minor that only a few students enrolled in led the university to examine all the programs in the university for low enrollment. |
| Oklahoma higher education officials ask to raise funding by $95 million, release legislative agenda | |
| Oklahoma's higher education officials announced Thursday a $1.12 billion budget request for fiscal year 2026 and the board's legislative agenda for the upcoming session. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education voted to approve the request which is a 9.3%, or $95 million, increase from the board's previous allocation from the Oklahoma Legislature. The Legislature approved an appropriation of $1.02 billion for the current 2025 fiscal year. Regents said the increase would fund legislative initiatives and programs, workforce development and "institutional excellence and student success." About $9.3 million would continue programs to waive tuition for concurrent enrollment students and to improve reading comprehension and literacy. Concurrent enrollment refers to high school students who are enrolled in some college courses while completing their high school education. Another $42 million would fund initiatives to meet Oklahoma's workforce needs in nursing, health care and STEM fields as well as programs encouraging adults in the state with "some college, no degree" to complete their degrees later in life. |
| Racist texts spam Black Americans across nation including at Mizzou | |
 | Racist text messages are being sent to Black Americans in and around the nation, including students on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia and on the Missouri State University campus in Springfield. While details were scant on what was in the messages, they have followed the same basic script across the U.S., telling recipients they're selected to be enslaved and assigned to pick cotton on a plantation. The widespread messages are being reported in multiple states and screenshots are going viral on social media sites. Students seem to be some of the targeted recipients. "The University of Missouri has received reports of individuals receiving text messages containing racially disparaging language. We are actively investigating the matter and working to identify the source of these messages," wrote Christopher Ave, director of media relations and public affairs, in a message to the Tribune. "Based on the information currently available, there is no indication of a credible threat to the safety of members of the MU community." Ave is directing anyone in the university community who receives a text message with disparaging language to report it to the MU Office of Institutional Equity. |
| University Boss Calls for the Firing of Embattled Superconductivity Scientist | |
| The president of the University of Rochester has recommended firing Ranga Dias, a star faculty member who claimed to have discovered a room-temperature superconductor, for research misconduct. Rochester President Sarah Mangelsdorf made her recommendation in an August letter addressed to the chair and vice chair of the Rochester Board of Trustees. The Wall Street Journal has seen the letter. "Please accept this as my recommendation that the Board of Trustees act to abrogate the contract of Dr. Ranga Dias as a faculty member of the University to include immediate termination of his employment," she wrote. As of Monday, Dias still holds appointments at the physics and mechanical-engineering departments, but no longer teaches classes or supervises students. A spokesperson for the Rochester, N.Y., university declined to comment on when, or if, the board would act on Mangelsdorf's recommendation. Dias's bold scientific claims about the discovery of new superconductors -- rare materials that pass electrical current without loss of energy -- drew worldwide media coverage amid persistent allegations from his peers that he had manipulated data and plagiarized material. |
| Cheating Has Become Normal: Faculty members are overwhelmed, and the solutions aren't clear | |
 | Before she returned to teaching last spring after a leave of absence, Amy Clukey braced for the possibility that her students might cheat with ChatGPT. She'd heard complaints from her fellow professors and thought, sure, that's not good. But plagiarism had never been much of a problem in her English classes. "I was always, like, I'll create unique assignments and they will be somewhat plagiarism-proof, and some students will get by me," said Clukey, an associate professor at the University of Louisville. "But that's fine because most of them will be doing their own work, and it'll be great." It wasn't great. "I was just hit," she said, "by a student army of cheating." Talk to professors in writing-intensive courses, particularly those teaching introductory or general-education classes, and it sounds as if AI abuse has become pervasive. Clukey said she feels less like a teacher and more like a human plagiarism detector, spending hours each week analyzing her students' writing to determine its authenticity. But it's not AI that has a lot of professors worried. It's what lies behind that willingness to cheat. While the reasons vary by student and situation, certain explanations surface frequently. Students are working long hours while taking full course loads. They doubt their ability to perform well. They arrive at college with weak reading and study skills. They don't value the assignments they're given. They feel like the only way they can succeed is to be perfect. They believe they will not be punished -- or not punished harshly -- if caught. And many, it seems, don't feel particularly guilty about it. |
| Education-Level Voting Gaps Are Highest Among Men, White People | |
 | College-educated and college-aged voters overwhelmingly favored Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, exit polls show. The divide in the political preferences of college-educated voters and those without a college degree has grown in the last decade, concerning higher education leaders who have said the gap reflects political polarization. They say the divide could fuel perceptions that colleges are out of touch with average Americans and shows a need to ensure that higher education is accessible to people from all backgrounds. While college-educated voters were more likely to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris than Donald Trump across all demographics, that gap is greatest among white voters and men. Women, Black people and Hispanic people generally voted similarly regardless of their educational background. Over all, college graduates -- which, in the exit polls conducted by Edison Research in collaboration with the National Election Pool, means individuals with a bachelor's or advanced degree -- made up 43 percent of the electorate this year. Of that group, 55 percent voted for Vice President Kamala Harris and 42 percent voted for Donald Trump. The numbers were almost exactly reversed among those who hadn't graduated college, 42 percent of whom voted for Harris and 56 percent of whom voted for Trump. |
| Axelrod: Democrats becoming 'smarty-pants, suburban, college-educated party' | |
 | Political strategist David Axelrod argued Thursday that Democrats are becoming a "smarty-pants, suburban, college-educated party" that could keep losing electorally if it does not change course. "You can't approach working people like missionaries and say, 'We're here to help you become more like us.' There's a kind of unspoken disdain, unintended disdain in that," Axelrod, a CNN contributor, said in an interview with the outlet. The longtime Democratic strategist praised President Biden for doing some "good things for working people," but stated that the party as a whole "has increasingly become a smarty-pants, suburban, college-educated party and it lends itself to the kind of backlash that we've seen." After Vice President Harris's loss, Democrats started pointing fingers at who or what was to blame for the upset. Axelrod weighed in on the defeat alongside CNN's Anderson Cooper. "I do have concerns about the way the Democratic Party relates to working-class voters in this country," Axelrod told Cooper. "The only group that Democrats gained within the election on Tuesday was White college graduates, and among working-class voters, there was a significant decline." |
| Trump's win brings uncertainty to borrowers hoping for student loan forgiveness | |
| Savannah Britt owes about $27,000 on loans she took out to attend college at Rutgers University, a debt she was hoping to see reduced by President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness efforts. Her payments are currently on hold while courts untangle challenges to the loan forgiveness program. But as the weeks tick down on Biden's time in office, she could soon face a monthly payment of up to $250. "With this new administration, the dream is gone. It's shot," said Britt, 30, who runs her own communications agency. "I was hopeful before Tuesday. I was waiting out the process. Even my mom has a loan that she took out to support me. She owes about $18,000, and she was in the process of it being forgiven, but it's at a standstill." President-elect Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans have criticized Biden's loan forgiveness efforts, and lawsuits by GOP-led states have held up plans for widespread debt cancellation. Trump has not said what he would do on loan forgiveness, leaving millions of borrowers facing uncertainty over their personal finances. Student loan cancellation was not a focus of the campaign for either Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris, who steered clear of the issue at her political events. |
| Universities come under fire for canceling classes, providing safe spaces to students upset by Trump's victory | |
 | Reports that several universities across the nation canceled classes and provided safe spaces for students to recover from the presidential election prompted a wave of criticism that these schools aren't preparing students for the "real world." Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., drew mockery on social media after news broke the college invited students to a "self-care suite" on Wednesday to recover from the stress of the 2024 presidential election. Students at Georgetown's McCourt School of Public Policy were reportedly offered treats like "milk and cookies" and "hot cocoa" as well as "Lego" toys and "Coloring and Mindfulness Exercises" to get their minds off the election results. Another elite school reportedly canceled classes and lessened course requirements on Wednesday in response to President-elect Trump's victory. The Harvard Crimson reported that several courses in the Sociology, Math and General Education Departments at Harvard University canceled classes that day, made attendance optional or extended assignment deadlines. The school's reaction prompted fierce criticism from academics and Harvard graduates on social media. "Fellow academics: This is nuts. Stop doing this. It makes you look like an out-of-touch crazy person. It further erodes respect for higher ed and trust in academic research. And it's not good for your students," William J. Luther, Associate Professor of Economics at Florida Atlantic University, wrote on X. |
SPORTS
| Women's Basketball: Mississippi State Runs Past Memphis, 100-56 | |
| Mississippi State women's basketball ran past Memphis, 100-56, in its 2024-25 season opener inside Humphrey Coliseum on Thursday night. With the win, Mississippi State improved to 18-1 overall under Head Coach Sam Purcell and 79-3 over the last 10 seasons in non-conference home games. Mississippi State extended its win streak to six-straight in Memphis series. "This team can be special," said Purcell. "I know how special we could be, but I'm not going to let up on them at all. We've got another level we can get to. On opening night, I didn't know what to expect because there are so many new pieces and new faces, but I learned a lot of great things about this team tonight." The story for Mississippi State was the impressive debuts of multiple transfers. Graduate student guard Eniya Russell introduced herself to the crowd with a career-high 26 points on 10-15 from the field and 4-8 from three in 25 minutes, while junior center Madina Okot added a double-double performance of 14 points and 17 rebounds in 23 minutes. The three-point field goals made and attempted were also career-highs for Russell. Mississippi State continues its five-game homestand when it takes on in-state opponent Alcorn State on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. |
| Women's Basketball: Bulldogs hit century mark in season-opening win over Memphis | |
| Most fans would assume, upon hearing that Mississippi State put up 100 points in its season opener against Memphis on Thursday night, that Jerkaila Jordan played a big role in the explosive offensive performance. But the Bulldogs' leading scorer from last year was held to just two points on 1-for-11 shooting, and yet MSU won comfortably anyway. Grad transfer guard Eniya Russell led the way with 26 points, Madina Okot had 14 points and 17 rebounds in her Bulldogs debut and MSU cruised in the second half for a 100-56 win over the Tigers. "We know how great of a player Jerkaila is," said Debreasha Powe, who added 16 points on 4-for-7 from 3-point range. "But if she has an off night, and that happens in basketball, she believes in us. She trusts in us to go in and pick up what's out there. It shows how diverse we are. We have different scorers, we all can score. I'm really excited to see where this team goes." Okot started in the post for the Bulldogs (1-0) and dominated the opening stretch with seven points, five rebounds and a block in the first quarter alone. The 6-foot, 6-inch center from Kenya played 23 minutes and finished with three blocks as well. |
| Eniya Russell's debut and why 'people are sleeping' on Mississippi State women's basketball | |
| Kayla Thomas drew a foul with eight seconds left in Thursday's Mississippi State women's basketball game. Normally, they wouldn't be pressure free throws for Thomas at that stage in the game. MSU was ahead by 42 points. But, the crowd was lively inside Humphrey Coliseum. She drained them both, pushing MSU (1-0) over the century mark for a 100-56 win against Memphis (1-1) in the season opener. It was the third loud ovation from the fans in the final minutes of MSU's win. Preseason All-SEC guard Jerkaila Jordan scored just two points, but impressive debuts from guard/forward Eniya Russell and center Madina Okot assisted in the win. Both Russell and Okot received rousing applause from the crowd of 4,971 when they checked out of the game for the final time to cap the win in coach Sam Purcell's third season. "I feel like a lot of people are sleeping on Mississippi State, and they are going to look at this score like, 'Mississippi State 100-56?' " Russell said. "They didn't watch the game. I feel like this game we put a stepping stool to Mississippi State women's basketball to respect us and respect coach Sam Purcell and the team he's built this year." |
| Men's Basketball: Five Things To Know: Mississippi State-Georgia State | |
| Mississippi State men's basketball continues its season-opening three-game homestand when Georgia State visits Humphrey Coliseum on Friday. State has secured back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances fueled by a pair of 21-win campaigns with Coach Jans at the helm. The last time the Bulldogs collected back-to-back NCAA Tournament bids was during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons. State will look to secure three straight NCAA Tournament trips for the third time in program history this season. State captured a convincing 95-60 victory over West Georgia during Monday's season opener. The Maroon and White drained 14 three-pointers which was a watermark under Coach Jans, and the most treys hit by State in a game since 2018-19. On the defensive end, the Bulldogs racked up 17 steals which matched the 8th highest total for State in a game. After selling out seven contests and boasting the program's fifth highest attendance average for a season in 2023-24, Humphrey Coliseum was rocking during Monday's season opener with an announced crowd of 9,125 which marked the fourth-largest attendance for a season opener. Fans can purchase single game tickets through Mississippi State's Athletic Ticket Office at www.HailState.com/tickets or by calling (662) 325-2600 / (888) 463-2947 (GO DAWGS). |
| Five keys for Mississippi State at No. 7 Tennessee | |
| Mississippi State (2-7, 0-5 Southeastern Conference) hits the road to Neyland Stadium in Knoxville for a matchup with No. 7 Tennessee (7-1, 4-1) at 6 p.m. Central Time (7 p.m. local) on ESPN. The Volunteers are coming off a win at home over Kentucky and are in good shape to reach the 12-team College Football Playoff. Here are five keys to victory for the Bulldogs as they seek the upset and their first SEC win of the year: Sell out to stop the run. Get Michael Van Buren on the move. Take the top off the defense. Make a big play on special teams. Stay disciplined. This is a night game in one of the largest and loudest venues in college football, and a sold-out Homecoming crowd of more than 100,000 orange-clad fans is expected. MSU lost its composure a bit in its last SEC game, a blowout home loss to Arkansas. If the Bulldogs play the way they did in the second half against Georgia and most of the first half against Texas A&M, they can at least make the crowd nervous, which could force the Volunteers into some mistakes. |
| No. 2 State Soccer Falls To No. 14 South Carolina In SEC Tournament Semifinals | |
| State soccer's remarkable 14-game undefeated streak came to an end in the SEC Tournament Semifinals on Thursday, as the No. 2 Bulldogs, in a season marked by historic achievements and resilience, fell 3-0 to No. 14 South Carolina for their first loss since Aug. 25 at Wake Forest. State's record now stands at a very impressive 17-2-0, following an undefeated run through conference play and the program's first-ever SEC Regular Season Championship. The Bulldogs fought valiantly throughout a scoreless first half, demonstrating the defensive strength and tenacity that have defined their season. As the second half opened, South Carolina capitalized on a moment of opportunity with Brianna Behm's goal at the 47:12 mark, assisted by Catherine Barry and Katie Shea Collins. Mississippi State regrouped quickly, but Behm struck again just moments later, building a two-goal advantage for the Gamecocks. The Bulldogs, who continued to push forward with determination, created several promising chances with 11 shots overall, though South Carolina's defense remained firm under pressure. Despite State's best efforts to shift the game's momentum, South Carolina extended their lead to 3-0 in the 80th minute with a penalty kick by Barry. The team will now shift focus to the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, Nov. 11 at 3 p.m. CT live on NCAA.com. |
| Colleges, student-athletes honored for academic success with Halbrook Awards | |
| At this year's annual Halbrook Award ceremony, student-athletes from Mississippi's public, private, two-year, and four-year postsecondary institutions were recognized for their achievements in the classroom. Colleges and universities that achieve and maintain high academic standards for student-athletes, while simultaneously promoting high graduation, rates were also honored. The award was endowed by former state lawmaker David Halbrook Sr. and his brothers in honor of their parents. The awards were announced during the annual business meeting of the Mississippi Association of Colleges and Universities, which brings together presidents and chancellors of the state's postsecondary institutions. The David M. Halbrook Certificate for Academic Achievement Among Athletes recognizes the efforts of individual student-athletes who excel in academics, leadership, and service. Each college or university selected a male and female student-athlete to receive this recognition, including Mississippi State University's Clifford Clegg and Madelynn Anderson. |
| Brian Kelly mum on plans to parade tiger in Tiger Stadium | |
 | Coach Brian Kelly doesn't have much to say about a Gov. Jeff Landry-backed plan to acquire a live tiger and bring it on the field Saturday before LSU's home football game against Alabama. When asked about the tiger at a news conference Thursday evening, Kelly only said, "I'm a huge tiger fan." LSU ended its custom of bringing Mike, its live tiger mascot, onto the Tiger Stadium field in 2015. This football season, Landry began pushing the university to revive that tradition, first behind closed doors and then publicly on Oct. 1, when he said in a news conference that LSU had "an unbelievable opportunity" to bring the mascot back into the stadium. Around that time, two university vice presidents, John Walters and Courtney Philips, met with Landry to tell him that the LSU veterinary school would now allow Mike VII to leave his enclosure and parade through Tiger Stadium. Two state legislators who are also veterinarians -- Sen. Bill Wheat, R-Ponchatoula, and Rep. Wayne McMahen, R-Springhill -- also pushed back against the idea in discussions with Landry. "As you would expect, it would be very difficult to be able to try to move Mike out of an area he's never been out of," Landry said in an interview Thursday. So, Landry pivoted to an idea of ushering a different live tiger through Tiger Stadium. The one that LSU will bring to the Alabama game, multiple sources said Thursday, is from Florida. |
| Billy Napier to continue coaching Florida football, AD says | |
| Billy Napier will continue to coach Florida, according to athletic director Scott Stricklin, who put to rest rampant speculation about the embattled coach's future with the Gators. In a letter Thursday, Stricklin stressed the need for a "disciplined, stable approach" and asked Florida fans to "continue standing behind Billy and his dedicated team while we work together to build a championship program." Napier, in his third season at Florida, is 15-18 with the Gators. After a 41-17 season-opening loss to Miami, he faced increased scrutiny over his job performance -- scrutiny that mounted after a 33-20 loss to Texas A&M two weeks later. Stricklin, however, has been unwavering in his support of Napier, who has repeatedly said he needs time to get the Gator program headed in the right direction. The buyout for Napier alone would have been more than $26 million, which would have been the second biggest in college football history, behind Texas A&M's $76 million for Jimbo Fisher last year. Sources indicated the cost of transitioning from Napier and staff and buying out an incoming coach was estimated internally at $40 million. There are other factors at play as well. Interim president Kent Fuchs, who returned after Ben Sasse stepped down, hired Napier and Stricklin and wants to see them succeed. |
| Money in NCAA sports has changed life for a few. For many athletes, college degree remains the prize | |
| Sponsorship deals were far from Jonny Bottorff's mind when he transferred to Northern Arizona University on a football scholarship. As money-making opportunities for college athletes have boomed since then, the offensive lineman has earned a few hundred dollars through name, image and likeness deals, but nothing that has changed his life. Bottorff, 23, earned an undergraduate degree and is now working on his master's degree at the Division I school in Flagstaff, Arizona. He transferred from Missouri Western State University, a small Division II school in Saint Joseph, Missouri. "I think the reality for most college athletes is things haven't really changed that much. We just got an extra little bit of cash in our pockets that probably needed to happen," Bottorff said. For some players, money from NIL deals has transformed what it means to be a college athlete. But outside the highest-profile athletes, who now can earn millions of dollars while still in school, many players say a college degree remains the ultimate prize. College athletes graduate at rates that are comparable to and often higher than non-athletes. For Division I schools, the NCAA last year reported data showing a record 91% of athletes are graduating. Where academics rates as a priority varies with each individual. But several Division I athletes said in interviews the money available to them through NIL remains a small consideration compared with earning a degree and competing in the sports they love. |
| SEC, Big Ten Continue Trying to Work Together, But Outside Entities Want Different Approach | |
| In the never-ending journey to find more money as college football hurtles toward a major reallocation of its resources, leaders appear to be exploring three different tracks: The Southeastern Conference–Big Ten power play. The College Sports Tomorrow initiative called the "College Student Football League," that would develop a multibillion-dollar "super league" encompassing all 136 FBS programs. The Smash Capital outside investment plan dubbed "Project Rudy," which would pour billions in new money into a single business entity that largely maintains the current structure of the Power 4 conferences (the SEC, Big Ten, Atlantic Coast and Big 12). All three tracks meet resistance at varying points. None is without flaws. They all have competing interests. But the race is on to plot the course into a future that will include sharing a massive amount of revenue with the athletes. How best to take on that added expense while simultaneously trying to get richer? Industry sources tell Sports Illustrated they believe the SEC and broadcast partner ESPN are "honing in on" talks that would alter the conference's scheduling while potentially enhancing its media-rights revenue. Specifically, the alleged plan revolves around an SEC–Big Ten scheduling agreement that would produce annual matchups between the two leagues. The presumptive accompanying piece of such a move would be the Big Ten and broadcast partner Fox sharing some of that game inventory and producing more money for that conference as well. |
| 10 Reasons Why GOP Takeover Won't Stop College Athletes as Employees | |
| The prevailing wisdom of Donald Trump returning to the White House and the Republicans winning control of the U.S. Senate and (likely) the U.S. House of Representatives says that college athletes' path toward employee recognition is imperiled. That's a logical take, but hardly a sure bet. Several twists, including litigation, could sideline any legislative and administrative pursuits backed by the NCAA. The election results are indeed a setback for advocates of college athletes becoming employees and unionizing. In Congress, those advocates have often been Democrats, such as Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass), while bills that attempt to limit those rights have typically been introduced by Republican lawmakers, such as Senator Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and outgoing Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.). With the balance of governmental power shifting away from Democrats, legislation supportive of college athletes as employees will face more daunting odds. Meanwhile, Trump will influence the National Labor Relations Agency in ways that could hinder employment recognition. Trump's NLRB is also likely to reverse relevant legal interpretations made during the Biden years. Lobbying efforts to block college athlete employment recognition could also gain traction given that college leaders are worried about the looming enrollment cliff. This outlook could provide the necessary ingredients for Congress and Trump to enact a law that prevents college athletes from becoming employees. But reality is a lot more complicated. There are at least 10 reasons why a federal ban on college athlete employment is unlikely. |
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