| Wednesday, September 18, 2024 |
| 11 Mississippi communities receive revitalization grants | |
 | Officials with Mississippi State University's (MSU) Fred Carl Jr. Small Town Center announced the recipients of a community-focused placemaking and revitalization program. The Small Town Revitalization program, supported by the Small Town Center, received 27 applications and was able to award funds to 11 communities to support projects. The projects range from master plans to pocket parks to street art to retail hubs. The Small Town Center will work with these selected communities to design and implement their proposed projects. "We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to help communities realize their visions in an impactful way through our wholistic approach," said Small Town Center Director Leah Kemp. "We are grateful for the opportunity to serve our state and are humbled that our longstanding record of service to our communities has been entrusted to carry out this task." |
| DEI restrictions gain ground nationally: Could Mississippi follow suit? | |
 | As more states pass laws to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in public universities, a question arises: Will Mississippi follow suit? Since 2023, more than 30 states across the U.S., including Mississippi, have reviewed bills that restrict DEI's reach into state-funded universities. So far, 12 states have passed those bills, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education's legislation tracker. In the 2024 Mississippi legislative session, two bills aimed at restricting DEI policies and programs -- Senate Bill 2402 and House Bill 127 -- were introduced, but died in committee, never reaching the floor. Senate Bill 2402 was held up in the Senate Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency Committee rather than moving forward to the Universities and Colleges Committee for consideration. Senator Nicole Boyd, chair of the Universities and Colleges Committee, said while her committee did not review SB2402, they remained attentive to DEI legislation across the U.S. "Although a bill did not come to our committee last session, we have been reviewing prior introduced legislation passed in other states on universities," Boyd wrote in her statement to The Reflector. |
| Inflation raises Starkville restaurant prices | |
| This summer, Moe's Original BBQ in downtown Starkville shut its doors, a casualty of rising costs that are forcing local restaurants to rethink how they do business. As the price of goods rises in the economy, the restaurant industry has to reshape its practices to adapt to inflation. Inflation is difficult to navigate within an industry that is dependent on consumer business, like the restaurant industry. To mitigate rising production costs, restaurants have to raise prices, but this risks turning away customers. Brian Blank, a researcher and professor of economics and finance at Mississippi State University, described the ties between inflation, restaurant costs and menu pricing. "In this recent trend, when inflation has risen so rapidly, there were two things that people talked a lot about as potential drivers of that inflation, one of which is supply chains. So when supply chains are snarled, we see these costs rise," Blank said. "But raising prices is challenging in those types of instances and likely to turn away customers." Despite the current economic climate, Blank has faith in the stability of the Starkville economy and described it as resilient. "The recent economic environment with high inflation has created more challenges for restaurants than it would have if, say, the economy was stronger and inflation was lower, but that said, Starkville has probably seen as many new restaurants open as it has seen close," Blank said. |
| Water, sewer rates to rise more modestly than originally proposed | |
 | Starkville Utilities has its rate increase, though the new rates are less than what was requested. General Manager Edward Kemp approached the board of aldermen in August, requesting it approve increasing the base monthly rate for water and sewer, plus increases in the variable rate for both, to generate extra funding for capital improvement projects. The board on Tuesday approved smaller increases in a 4-3 vote, adding $3 to both the water and sewer base monthly rates for users inside city limits with no change in the current variable rate of $4.50 for both sewer and water. Ward 2 Alderwoman Sandra Sistrunk, who voted against the approved increase, said the $6 hike falls short of addressing the long-term issues that the capital improvement projects are meant to resolve. "I don't think it provides enough support for the projects that need to be done," she said. "While I understand the idea of trying to minimize the burdens to the citizens, at some point we have to pay for these things. ... The rate increases proposed have us back here in nine to 12 months talking about another large rate increase." As for whether the new increase will adequately fund the capital improvement plan, Kemp said some projects will need to be prioritized over others. |
| Starkville prepares for construction on Highway 182 | |
 | What started as a small project, morphed into a game changer. "It's the largest project we've ever done. It's the largest funding that we've ever received from federal and state we've gotten from both, and we've put our own money into it too," Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill. Now that the money is in place, Starkville is ready to roll with a new look. "At its core, it's replacing all drainage, water, and sewer, then all of the electrical comes underground, so as you look down the corridor, the view shed, as we call it, really cleans up," said Cody Burnett, the city engineer for Starkville. Before all of that work can happen, there will be a few growing pains. Work is scheduled to begin next week. "There will be traffic disruptions, there will be lane closures, but we have a very robust traffic control plan to make it as navigable as possible, but at the end of the day, we have to build the project, so some of those things come along with it," said Burnett. Revitalization construction will begin on the West end of 182 around Long Street and end in the east by Old West Point Rd. City leaders believe visitors and business owners will benefit from the improvements. |
| National retailer interested in old Kmart | |
| A national retailer is interested in moving into the old Kmart building on Highway 45 North, Golden Triangle Development LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins told the city council Tuesday. The council voted 5-1 in executive session to enter a regional redevelopment agreement with Lowndes County that would provide tax incentives for the retailer to renovate and operate from the 110,000 square-foot building. Higgins, along with a consultant for the retailer, met with the council for about 40 minutes in closed session Tuesday. The board of supervisors will consider the county's end of the agreement at its Sept. 30 meeting. Instead of naming the retailer Tuesday, The LINK is dubbing it Project Buffalo until all agreements are signed. He expects to announce the retailer's identity Oct. 1. "We've vetted them. We know them," Higgins told The Dispatch after the meeting, though he didn't reveal the type of products the retailer sells. "They've got about 130 stores nationwide – in the Midwest and moving to the Southeast. As best I can tell ... I think this will be their first Mississippi store." |
| Supreme Court 5-4 decision paves way for Willie Jerome Manning's execution | |
| Willie Jerome Manning, sentenced to death for the murder of two Mississippi State University students 30 years ago, "has had his days in court" and now an execution date can be set, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled Monday. "Petitioner has had more than a full measure of justice," Chief Justice Michael Randolph wrote in the majority opinion joined by justices James Maxwell II, Dawn Beam, David Ishee and Kenneth Griffis. "(Victims) Tiffany Miller and Jon Steckler have not. Their families have not. The citizens of Mississippi have not. Finality of justice is of great import in all cases." The court wrote that unnecessary and unjustified delays affect justice and fairness owed to victims and defendants, and the Mississippi Constitution directs the court to balance the rights of both. This paves the way for the court to set Manning's execution. Within 21 days after an entry of judgment and issue of a mandate to the trial court, the state will be able to proceed. That timeline could be delayed if there is a rehearing, which Manning's attorneys have said they plan to pursue. |
| Mississippi revenues climb above $1 billion in August | |
 | Mississippi collected more taxes and other revenues in August, the second month of the state's Fiscal Year 2025, than projections had for the state, as well as compared to how much the state made by this time in Fiscal Year 2024. In August 2025, the state collected $547,482,375 in taxes and other revenues, rising about $20,000 from what it did during the same period last year ($527,646,533), as reported by the Legislative Budget Office. For 2025 fiscal year, Mississippi has so far received $1,126,169,127, which is about $1.2 million more than during the same period last year. Mississippi's fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30, meaning Fiscal Year 2024 began July 1, 2023, ended June 30, 2024. Legislative Budget Office revenue reports reflect earnings from the previous month and fiscal year-to-date figures. In Fiscal Year 2024, state investments' interest rates made up for a large chunk of revenue losses stemming from income tax cuts currenting being phased in. So far, this fiscal year, taxes have brought in $1,072,202662, and investments and other revenues generated $53,966,465. The personal income and franchise taxes are both experiencing a phasedown, which is reflected in ever-decreasing revenue totals. State lawmakers advocating for further cuts have said most losses could be made up for by other sources such as sales tax revenues. |
| Mississippi Secretary of State among election officials nationwide to receive suspicious package | |
| The Mississippi Secretary of State's Elections Division received a suspicious package on Monday, putting the Magnolia State among at least 10 other state election offices nationwide to receive similar packages. Other states reportedly receiving packages containing a white powdery substance include Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York and Rhode Island. No hazardous materials have been found. The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating the matter. The Mississippi Secretary of State's office said Tuesday that federal agencies and partners had notified them of the possibility of receiving the package and the office was on high alert. "Upon receipt, our staff handled the package in accordance with guidelines distributed by federal agents, and the package was promptly picked up by the Mississippi Department of Homeland Security where it is currently being tested," the Secretary of State stated on Tuesday. In addition, the Elections Division notified county election officials across Mississippi of the incident and urged to take extra precaution. As reported by the Associated Press, the latest scare comes as early voting has begun in several states ahead of the November General Election for President, Senate, Congress and key statehouse offices. |
| Insurance chief Chaney hopes Mississippi's homeowner rates are stabilizing | |
| Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney says he is hopeful that the homeowner insurance rates that have spiked in recent years are now beginning to stabilize. Chaney said he is hopeful that legislation passed during the 2024 session that provides grants to help homeowners put more wind resistant roofs on their homes will help lower the cost of premiums. He said the Legislature placed $5 million in the program. "While this will help launch the program, the Legislature will need to provide additional annual funding well above this amount so that the program can provide the necessary benefits to reach a significant number of policyholders across our state," Chaney said via email. While homeowners' insurance rates in Mississippi have risen significantly, the increases have been less than in many surrounding states, according to various studies. Chaney said his agency, which regulates the insurance industry in Mississippi, has received requests for double digit increases. "We worked with companies to consider less than what their indicated need was ... We feel that rate pressures will begin to stabilize along with inflation. Some companies that requested rates over 15% last year are now seeing a much lesser need -- many are now in single digits," Chaney said. Inflation and the frequency of severe weather causing insurance claims are the two primary reasons for the increases in the homeowners' insurance rates, according to Chaney. |
| Attorney general orders Jackson to turn over deed to Smith-Wills Stadium | |
| Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch is giving the city of Jackson until September 30 to surrender the land encompassing Smith-Wills Stadium to the state or else legal action will be taken. In a letter penned to Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba on Friday, the state's attorney general said she has been directed by House Bill 1983, which was enacted by Governor Tate Reeves earlier this year, to enforce language that would revert the Jackson-owned property to its original owner -- the state of Mississippi. Fitch's letter further instructed Lumumba to garner approval from the Jackson City Council to deliver the parcel of land located right off Lakeland Drive to the state as soon as possible. The state deeded the property to the capital city in 1944 to be utilized for "park purposes" only. However, a cigar shop that operated on the same land as the stadium became the centerpiece of controversy surrounding the stadium's ownership. Lawmakers cited the presence of Churchill Smoke Shoppe, which has since left the Smith-Wills Stadium grounds, as evidence that the land was not being used for its intended purposes. The business had also been cited by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for selling liquor without a license. |
| JD Vance's Scapegoating Theory Is Playing Out in Real Time | |
 | JD Vance's repeated attacks on Haitian immigrants have fueled a common refrain from Democrats -- that he and former President Donald Trump are "scapegoating" immigrants by trying to shift manufactured blame onto them for the real-world problems of Springfield, Ohio. The Republican ticket is indeed scapegoating Haitian immigrants. But for Vance, especially, there is likely nothing accidental or impulsive about it. In his own writing, the GOP vice-presidential nominee has clearly conveyed the power -- and possible dangers -- of scapegoating, casting "efforts to shift blame and our own inadequacies onto a victim" as "a moral failing, projected violently upon someone else." But now, as he doubles down on his scrutiny of Springfield, Vance appears to see scapegoating in a different light: as a powerful political tool in Republicans' quest to reclaim the White House. Vance's past writings about scapegoating also cast doubt on his claim that that he's merely trying to draw attention to a worsening humanitarian crisis in Springfield. Rather, Vance appears to be putting his past theorizing about scapegoating into practice, with potentially dangerous consequences for the people of Springfield. Vance's familiarity with the conservative discourse around scapegoating comes primarily via his relationship with the Silicon Valley venture capitalist Peter Thiel, whom Vance met in 2011 at Yale Law School and who subsequently became a sort of intellectual mentor and professional patron to Vance. |
| How the Trump Campaign Ran With Rumors About Pet-Eating Migrants -- After Being Told They Weren't True | |
 | City Manager Bryan Heck fielded an unusual question at City Hall on the morning of Sept. 9, from a staff member of Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance. The staffer called to ask if there was any truth to bizarre rumors about Haitian immigrants and pets in Springfield. "He asked point-blank, 'Are the rumors true of pets being taken and eaten?'" recalled Heck. "I told him no. There was no verifiable evidence or reports to show this was true. I told them these claims were baseless." By then, Vance had already posted about the rumors to his 1.9 million followers on X. Yet he kept the post up, and repeated an even more insistent version of the claim the next morning. That night, former President Donald Trump stood on a Philadelphia debate stage and shot the rumor into the stratosphere. "In Springfield, they're eating the dogs," he said to 67 million viewers. "The people that came in, they're eating the cats. They're eating, they're eating, the pets of the people that live there. And this is what's happening in this country." In an instant, the everyday struggles of a typical American city grappling with an influx of immigrants were transformed into a bombshell political message laser targeted at voters distressed by immigration. "It is depressing as a fact checker," said Bill Adair, founder of the fact-checking website PolitiFact and a professor at Duke University. "We like to think that fact-checks will stop elected officials and candidates from repeating false claims or at least persuade people that these false claims have no truth to them." But, he noted, "lying is really an economy. Politicians lie because they think it pays off." |
| MTSU Constitution Day: Former VP Mike Pence defends certifying Biden's victory in 2020 | |
 | Former Republican Vice President Mike Pence told a Middle Tennessee State University audience Tuesday about his role in certifying Democrat Joe Biden as the 2020 presidential election winner despite threats from rioters at the U.S. Capitol. "I did my duty that day to support the Constitution of the United States," Pence told about 900 people packed into Tucker Theatre at MTSU in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Although the former vice president faced questions about his conservative positions, the crowd gave Pence a standing ovation when he entered the stage to be the guest speaker of MTSU's Constitution Day celebration that's part of the university's Constitution Week activities. Some students including Aidan Ross and Alice Guo stood outside Tucker Theatre holding signs to protest Pence because of his positions on the rights of minority populations. MTSU history professor Mary A. Evins, the event moderator, asked Pence to respond to the concerns mentioned by the students. Pence responded by saying no one should feel mistreated for who they are or what they believe. The former vice president said he accepts the U.S. Supreme Court decision to legalize marriage for gay couples. Pence also supports the court's ruling that supports the First Amendment religious freedom on how people feel about the issue. |
| Hispanic Heritage Month puts diversity and culture at the forefront | |
 | Huge celebrations across the U.S. are expected to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, an annual tradition that showcases the awe-inspiring diversity and culture of Hispanic people. Celebrated each year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, the month is a chance for many in the U.S. to learn about and celebrate the contributions of Hispanics, the country's fastest-growing racial or ethnic minority, according to the census. The group includes people whose ancestors come from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. There are more than 65 million people identified as ethnically Hispanic in the U.S., according to the latest census estimates. Before there was National Hispanic Heritage Month, there was Hispanic Heritage Week, which was created through legislation sponsored by Mexican American U.S. Rep. Edward R. Roybal of Los Angeles and signed into law in 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The weeklong commemoration was expanded to a month two decades later, with legislation signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. Hispanic was a term coined by the federal government for people descended from Spanish-speaking cultures. But for some, the label has a connotation of political conservatism and emphasizes a connection to Spain. It sometimes gets mistakenly interchanged with "Latino" or "Latinx." For some, Latino reflects their ties to Latin America. So some celebrations are referred to as Latinx or Latin Heritage Month. |
| Emergency drill scheduled for 8 a.m. Thursday at The W | |
 | The Mississippi University for Women will hold a large-scale emergency drill on Thursday, September 19. The university said the drill -- which starts at 8 a.m. -- will be in between Pohl Gymnasium and Cromwell Communication Center. Nearby 10 Street South, 11th Street South, and Seventh Avenue will also be closed while it is underway. The goal of this drill is to test the university's emergency preparedness, The W's Police Chief Randy Vibrock said. It will include law enforcement, first responders, and The W nursing students and faculty. The university's tornado sirens and emergency alert system will also be tested. In the event of a real emergency, call 911 or campus police at (662) 241-777. The university said to use the words "real life" to communicate in the event of an actual emergency. |
| Jackson State University installs its 13th president | |
 | Jackson State University has formally installed its 13th president, Marcus L. Thompson. The investiture ceremony was held at JSU on Friday, September 13, 2024. The Lee E. Williams Athletic Center was filled to capacity with students, faculty, administrators and public figures. Guest speakers included Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann and State Senator Sollie Norwood. Norwood, who is an alum of JSU, spoke about his hope that President Thompson would improve the university and the community surrounding it. "President Thompson and First Lady Thompson, I'd like to welcome you to the hood," Norwood said. "This is our hood and we are proud of our hood. And as president, we look forward to getting you and the first lady out into our hood so you can see how much we have to offer through all of the richness that is here in this community." President Thompson has worked in early childhood education, K-12, as well as higher learning for over 20 years. He attended JSU and is from West Jackson. "To our students," President Thompson said. "You are the North Star of my administration and the very soul of this university." Myla Smith is a biology, pre-medicine junior at JSU. She says she appreciates how involved President Thompson has become on campus. However, she hopes he can improve the housing situation on campus. "There is a major increase of demand of on-campus housing for students, especially incoming freshmen and current students," Smith said. "But I do feel like that he has done a good job of trying to find other solutions, such as the loft downtown and being able to find more campus housing." |
| Can Mississippi College squeeze all the students in? See where enrollment stands | |
 | Mississippi College is squeezing every student it can onto its campus this fall. The private Christian school in Clinton off Interstate-20 has had surging enrollment the past two years, to a point that even after updating an older dorm that had been offline, it still nearly wasn't able to accommodate everyone who wanted to be on campus. Early in the summer, the school had 70 more people schedule for the dorms than it could hold. However, when all was said and done, enrollment at MC for the fall semester sits at 4,253, up 100 from last year and dorms are filled to 99% capacity. MC has had 3,300 freshman applications the past two years, a number that includes undergraduate, graduate, law school in downtown Jackson and dual-enrollment students. Applications have been up 9% from last year and up 60% from this point two years ago. "We are maxed out," said Michael Wright, dean of Enrollment Management and Admissions at Mississippi College. Mississippi College saw a surge in enrollment for 2023 thanks to the establishment of the Speed Scholarship, available to in-state high school students to receive full undergraduate tuition. The Speed Scholarship, made possible by Leland Speed of Jackson, was initiated to make Christian education attainable at a college dedicated to helping students academically, spiritually and emotionally, officials said. |
| MGCCC, Chevron hold information session for students in Jackson County | |
 | A room filled with opportunity could be found at MGCCC in Jackson County on Tuesday with one goal in mind: helping the students. "We're focusing on some of our career and technical fields, process operations, instrumentation and control, welding, procession manufacturing and engineering," said Dr. Emma Miller. A panel presentation with representatives of Chevron gave students an idea of how they started in the business and how beneficial it could be for them. "They can't understand what options are available to them if they don't see it and hear it," said Katarina Scott. It's something that students of Phi Theta Kappa were excited about --- getting to see how they can put their degree to use after graduation. "I would like to do something focused on Artificial Intelligence and just furthering it to see how we can use it for Cyber Security and combat threats to companies," said one student. "I feel special. It shows us what we can do in the future, what opportunities we have for internships and money, and shows our education isn't going wasted," said another student. Both Chevron and the college say with the help of their partnership, they can make sure the students at MGCCC can get a better understanding of what their future can be. |
| Record number of Mississippi school districts receive grade of C or higher in latest accountability report | |
| The Mississippi Department of Education on Tuesday released new accountability assessment scores showing more school districts than ever received a grade of C or higher. State Superintendent of Education Dr. Lance Evans shared that during the 2023-2024 school year, more than 85 percent of schools and 93 percent of districts in the state earned a grade of C or higher. Evans, who took over as the new state superintendent of education this July, added that the department has noticed all-time highs in proficiency of mathematics, English Language Arts and science. However, there was a half of a point decrease in U.S. History proficiency this year. Students in grades 3 through 8 are tested for proficiency in mathematics, science and ELA. High school students are assessed based on ACT results and tested for proficiency in Algebra I, English II, Biology and U.S. History. Evans notes that the improvements are indicative of students returning to class after the COVID-19 pandemic when schools shifted to an online learning model to protect children and families. "Online learning is definitely not the best alternative for all of our students," Evans added. |
| CMSD climbs to B accountability rating | |
| Columbus Municipal and Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated school districts both moved up a letter grade in the Mississippi Department of Education's 2023-2024 Accountability Ratings, while Lowndes County School District maintained its A rating. SOCSD's rating improved to an A, while CMSD moved to a B. MDE released the ratings Tuesday for each public district and their schools statewide. The ratings, which are federally mandated by the U.S. Department of Education, use different factors to grade districts and schools on an A-F scale with 1,000 being the highest number grade a district can receive. The 2023-2024 scores were calculated based on proficiency and growth rates in math and English Language Arts in grades 3-8; the growth of the lowest performing 25% of students in English Language Arts and math; performance in science on state assessments in grades 5 and 8; and English learners' progress toward proficiency in the language. For high schools, accountability scores use the four-year graduation rate; student performance on the ACT and the Algebra I, English II, Biology and U.S. History state assessments; and student participation and performance in Advanced Placement and dual enrollment/dual credit courses. Growth makes up more than half the grade for elementary schools and more than one third the grade for high schools and districts, according to MDE. |
| Hazard Lecture Series to focus on future of radiology | |
| Heritage Academy graduate Dr. Dallas Sorrell will present this year's Hazard Lecture at the school Sept. 23. The 33rd annual program, free to the public, will be at 7 p.m. in the Heritage Elementary auditorium at 623 Willowbrook Road. A 1992 alumna, Dr. Sorrel will speak on "The Future of Radiology." She is a board-certified diagnostic radiologist with the Radiological Group in Jackson. Heritage opened in 1964, and every five years, graduates return to offer lecture programs, said Lynne Sneed, principal of the upper school. "These alumni speakers consistently inspire our students and inform our community. With her outstanding career that showcases the achievements of another Heritage alumna, Dr. Sorrell will continue this tradition while enriching the knowledge of our audience. We are proud to have her back on campus," Sneed said. This year's speaker graduated from Mississippi State University with a major in microbiology. After medical school in Jackson, she completed her radiology residency and fellowship at the Mallinckrodt Institute at Washington University in St. Louis. She has practiced in Jackson since 2008 and lives in Madison with her family. "Heritage has always had a well-rounded perspective on student growth that I greatly appreciate and that I try to instill in my children," she said. |
| U. of Alabama joins 32 schools in a commitment to help rural students | |
 | The University of Alabama has joined STARS College Network, a union of 32 of the nation's most prominent institutions, in an effort to help rural and small town students. The STARS College Network, created in 2023, is dedicated to ensuring that students from rural and small-town communities have the resources they need to be successful. Pushing for efforts to help these students get the greatest benefit from higher education will create a cycle of support and success, according to a news release. UA and STARS will join together to support pipeline programs and recruiting efforts aimed at students. This helps students looking to go to college and colleges wishing for more diversity in their programs. Alabama is seeing increasing enrollment, including from in-state students, according to a recent report from the college. Fall 2024 total enrollment is 40,846, including 3,434 freshmen from Alabama, making the largest number of in-state freshmen ever. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 70% of Alabama high schools serve rural or small-town communities. |
| University releases census snapshot, confirming largest ever enrollment | |
| Auburn University released an official snapshot of the 2024–25 enrollment factbook on Monday, marking another year of the institution's largest student body. The current freshman class, like that of the past year and several preceding it, is the largest ever at the university, sitting at 6,103 first-time enrollments. This is a 2.83% increase from the previous year and a 15.08% increase from the 2022–23 academic year. As of the census, there are 34,195 students currently enrolled in the university, a 3.58% increase from last year's count of 33,015 students. The official count is slightly higher than the number put out in a university press release in late August. The same article also stated 62% of the 2024–25 student body consists of Alabama residents, a 4% increase from the previous year. The snapshot information released consists of only four figures -- total headcount enrollment, first-time freshman enrollment, one year retention rate and six year graduation rate. The census data on which the snapshot is based was conducted Sept. 9, the 15th day of class and last day to withdraw from a course without a grade assignment. The first year retention rate, which marks the percent of the full-time freshman cohort who are enrolled as of the census date for the subsequent fall semester, is 95%. The six year graduation rate is 82%. |
| Finalized U. of Tennessee enrollment numbers are actually higher than estimated | |
 | Classes have been in session for a few weeks now, meaning enrollment numbers have been set in stone, finalizing a new record for the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. This fall, campus welcomed 38,728 students, which is 1,000 more than estimated when classes began Aug. 19. A total of 6,804 first-year students joined the Volunteer family for the class of 2028. UT credits its record-breaking enrollment to a record 91.9% retention for first-year and sophomore students. In 2019, the retention rate was 86.5%, meaning UT has grown the rate by more than 5% in five years. This fall's enrollment had a 6.7% increase over last year. The number of undergraduate students grew 6%, and graduate students grew 10%. "The hands-on programming and community-building efforts that we have put into place over the last several years are paying off and helping ensure our students have the confidence and the resources they need to thrive here on Rocky Top," Chancellor Donde Plowman said in a news release. "I'm incredibly proud of the way everyone on campus, including faculty, staff and administration, take ownership in the success of our students." Across the UT System, enrollment has increased at nearly every campus. |
| Director of U. of Kentucky equine testing lab fired, federal law enforcement investigating | |
 | The University of Kentucky is moving to fire its former equine testing lab director amid allegations of misconduct and mismanagement, including falsifying the results of at least one drug test, the university said Tuesday. Scott Stanley, a professor at the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and former director of the Equine Analytical Chemistry Lab, falsified negative results of a test for a banned blood-doping agent called Erythropoietin, and at least four other results from his lab are in question, according to a preliminary audit released Tuesday by UK. Lisa Lazarus, CEO of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, said during a news conference after UK's announcement that federal law enforcement officials are also investigating Stanley and trying to determine if he was acting in concert with anyone else. "We don't know motive, and I imagine that will be their focus," Lazarus said. Lazarus said it's of "tremendous concern" if Stanley was communicating with any trainers, owners or other racing participants. HISA is seeking more than $1 million from UK for tests that were billed but not conducted properly. |
| Texas A&M only university In Texas among Newsweek's 'America's Greatest Workplaces' | |
 | Texas A&M University is one of the best places to work in America, according to Newsweek, and the only university in Texas on its list of "America's Greatest Workplaces." The elite ranking, which included just 14 universities out of 1,000 workplaces, surveyed more than 250,000 workers nationwide throughout 2022 and 2023 on job satisfaction. The final ranking represents the top companies whose employees "find it easy to stay engaged," Newsweek editors said. The survey covered topics including compensation and benefits, training and career progression, work-life balance and company culture. A&M received a four-star rating out of five stars. Other universities on the list are some of the nation's most prestigious, including Harvard, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins and Vanderbilt. "What makes Texas A&M special is our people; they are the foundation of this university's success. From our world-class faculty to our exceptionally talented staff, our employees are passionate about this university and what it stands for -- things like pride, patriotism, service, family, loyalty and respect," Mark A. Welsh III, president of Texas A&M, said in a statement. "These ideals are embraced by the Aggie Family and contribute to the supportive and dynamic environment that makes me and thousands of others proud to call Aggieland home." |
| $10M contribution to fund scholarships at UVa School of Data Science | |
| In only its fifth year of existence and first year in its new Charlottesville facility, the University of Virginia's School of Data Science has just scored a $10 million donation that will help fund the academic careers of future undergraduate students. This is not the first contribution that Scott Stephenson, an alumnus of the university's School of Engineering and Applied Science, and his wife Beth have made to UVa's School of Data Science. The couple gave $3 million in 2021 toward an endowment for the dean of the recently established school. Their latest $10 million gift, matched by an additional $10 million from the university's Bicentennial Scholars Fund, will invest a total of $20 million into the Stephenson Data Science Bicentennial Scholars Fund. "My sincere thanks to Beth and Scott Stephenson for this transformative gift to accompany what is a first -- a groundbreaking Bachelor of Science in Data Science program," Philip Bourne, the Stephenson Dean of the School of Data Science, said in a prepared statement. UVa has offered a master's in data science for nearly a decade, but it wasn't until September 2023 that the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia approved a three-year undergraduate path at UVa. The data science bachelor's degree was the first of its kind in the nation. To continue bolstering the rapidly growing program, the university invested millions -- with the help of a $120 million donation from the Quantitative Foundation -- into building a four-story, 61,000-square-foot facility for the school. |
| This Is Why Some Regional Public Colleges Are In So Much Trouble | |
 | Deep cuts at public comprehensive colleges have often made news, but this year they seem deeper and more brutal than ever. Last month, for example, Western Illinois University announced that it would lay off all eight of its tenured or tenure-track library staff members to help close a $22-million hole in its budget, after laying off 52 other faculty members weeks earlier. It's the kind of move that might have been inconceivable for a four-year public university a few years ago. What's going on? In addition to the looming demographic cliff and increasingly dire public confidence in higher education affecting many parts of the country, institutions' decisions just before and during Covid-19 may be partially to blame for the current wave of budget cuts roiling some public four-year institutions. More specifically, the federal funding that helped colleges withstand some of the worst financial challenges associated with the pandemic is now gone, leaving some institutions to face nagging problems that never really went away during Covid, and, in some cases, got even worse over the past four years. Now they face a reckoning that colleges that kept cutting through the pandemic may have avoided. Regional public colleges have been worrying over their budgets for more than 15 years, and disappearing government money has been a big reason why. When the Great Recession rocked the country in 2007-8, states responded by slashing support for higher education. |
| Harris Doesn't Think You Should Need a 4-Year Degree | |
 | Vice President Kamala Harris wants to build more homes and expand the child tax credit as part of her vision to create a so-called opportunity economy. As of last Friday, that plan now also includes ensuring "good-paying jobs are available to all Americans, not just those with college degrees," she said, highlighting the latest shifts in how Democratic lawmakers think about postsecondary education. "For far too long, our nation has encouraged only one path to success: a four-year college degree," Harris told a crowd last Friday at a rally in Pennsylvania, to uproarious cheers and applause. "Our nation needs to recognize the value of other paths, additional paths, such as apprenticeships and technical programs." She also vowed to nix unnecessary degree requirements for federal jobs and challenged "the private sector to do the same," arguing degrees aren't necessarily a proxy for skills. Her opponent, former president Donald Trump, similarly issued an executive order in 2020 to eliminate degree requirements for some federal jobs. Harris's remarks reflect a broader, national conversation about nondegree pathways to well-paying jobs and a policy shift for the Democratic Party, which once put a premium on students getting bachelor's degrees and in recent years emphasized proposals to make college more accessible. The comments were also a glimpse into Harris's higher ed agenda -- details of which have been scant. |
| Hurricane and wind threats destabilize insurance market | |
 | Columnist Bill Crawford writes: Hurricane Francine reminded us how prone our state is to severe weather from hurricanes and tornadoes. Not that we needed a reminder. Tornado activity in Mississippi nearly doubled over the past six years as did estimated damages compared to the prior six-year period. The number increased from 59 to 106 and estimated damages increased from $292.6 million to $464.9 million, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2024 data through May 31). Also increasing dramatically were insurance premiums for coverage of wind damage. "Because of hurricane and wind threats, Mississippi is among the top ten most expensive states for homeowners' insurance with an average premium greater than $1,500 per year," said Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney. "The largest increases are occurring above the lower six counties," Chaney told the Magnolia Tribune. "That area includes the areas north of Hattiesburg and across central Mississippi through Jackson and up to Madison over to Meridian, among other areas." ... This issue came to my attention last month when our condominium association in Jackson received notice its insurance carrier was cancelling wind and hail coverage. The Mississippi Insurance Department informed me that a number of Mississippi carriers are pulling out of the wind coverage market, especially for residential properties. As Commissioner Chaney indicated above, this area has been designated a high risk zone. |
| The state's incarceration rate tops the nation and exceeds most nations on the planet | |
| Columnist Sid Salter writes: The Mississippi Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations for the State Department of Corrections -- the state's prison system -- included $424.3 million from the General Fund, State Support Special Funds of $7.5 million, $19.5 million in federal funds, and other special funds of $27.07 million for a total of $458.9 million. Those funds support the incarceration of 19,242 inmates as of Aug. 23. That comes out to be just under $23,849 annually per inmate. 10,672 of those inmates are housed in the big three state prisons at Parchman, Central Miss. Correctional in Rankin County, South Miss. Correctional in Leakesville and several smaller, more specialized state facilities. About 1,297 inmates are in county jails. Another 533 are in community work centers. Some 4,489 are in regional correctional facilities. Around 2,194 inmates are in private prisons. Restitution centers house 142 inmates with 15 inmates in transitional housing. It would make sense that Mississippi taxpayers would, as former Gov. Haley Barbour famously said during his eight years in office, want to "decide who they're mad at and who they're afraid of." In other words, draw distinctions between inmates who represent an actual danger to society and merit the expenditure of nearly $24K a year to house, feed and guard them and those who don't. |
SPORTS
| Soccer: Bulldogs Nationally Ranked Ahead of SEC Play | |
| As Mississippi State soccer gears up for the start of SEC play on Thursday, the Bulldogs have solidified their place among the nation's top teams during the nonconference slate. State checks in at No. 24 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll and No. 22 in the TopDrawerSoccer rankings, highlighting the program's continued rise under head coach James Armstrong. In addition to their national recognition, the Bulldogs hold a solid No. 33 position in the first RPI rankings of the 2024 season, a testament to their strong early-season performances. With a 6-1-0 record, the Bulldogs now turn their attention to the highly anticipated start of SEC competition. First up is a trip to Norman for a Thursday night clash against Oklahoma. The match marks State's SEC opener and provides the Bulldogs an opportunity to start conference play with a brand new opponent. The Dawgs welcome No. 11/4 Texas to Starkville for the very first time in program history on Sunday for a ranked showdown under the lights. The marquee matchup is set for 6:30 p.m. CT at the MSU Soccer Field, and will be one of the most anticipated fixtures of the year in StarkVegas. The Longhorns, currently ranked No. 11 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll and No. 4 in TopDrawerSoccer, will provide a stern test for Mississippi State as they look to continue their unbeaten streak at home, which going back to 2023, currently stands at eight matches. |
| SEC to use Hawk-Eye for soccer and volleyball this fall | |
| The SEC has implemented Hawk-Eye Innovations' video replay system for soccer and volleyball this fall, the conference announced late last week. The Sony-owned company is providing its Synchronized Multi-Angle Replay Technology (SMART) solution to capture, replay, clip and distribute video. It is the same system used by the NFL and other major leagues. For soccer, SMART has been installed in every SEC home venue, with six high-speed cameras complementing what's recorded on broadcast. A replay operator sits in a designated room to review the video and communicate with the referee. In volleyball, 12 high-speed cameras have been added, including six "pylon cameras" on the floor for in/out decisions. In this case, the review referee sits at the scorer's table. The NCAA first approved video replay in soccer back in 2016, and SEC volleyball began testing video reviews in 2018. |
| SEC Volleyball Championship returns, to be held in Savannah | |
| The Southeastern Conference will relaunch the SEC Volleyball Championship beginning in 2025 and has signed a three-year agreement to host the event at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Ga. "With the restoration of the SEC Volleyball Tournament, we will now host a championship event in every Conference sport, providing our programs additional competitive opportunities as they prepare for NCAA postseason competition," said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. "We look forward to providing a memorable experience for SEC student-athletes, coaches and fans as we make Savannah home to the SEC Volleyball Tournament for the next three years." The 2025 SEC Volleyball Championship is slated to take place on November 21-25, 2025 at Enmarket Arena. In addition, upcoming tournaments at the venue are scheduled for November 20-24, 2026 and November 19-23, 2027. The SEC Volleyball Championship previously took place from 1979 to 2005. Enmarket Arena, which is a part of the Oak View Group (OVG), is a multi-purpose complex in Savannah. It opened in February 2022 with a 9,500 seat arena, including 12 luxury suites, five lodge boxes and one party suite. Enmarket Arena is home to the Savannah Ghost Pirates of the East Coast Hockey League. |
| Florida football has opportunity to quell noise at Mississippi State | |
| The track record for Florida football coach Billy Napier on road isn't good -- he's 2-7 in true road games and 2-10 away from The Swamp since taking over as UF's coach. But now may be a perfect time for Napier and the rest of the Florida Gators to leave the not-so-friendly confines of Gainesville for their first road game of the season Saturday at Mississippi State. Boos rained down from the stands throughout UF's 33-20 loss to Texas A&M last Saturday at The Swamp, a game in which Florida trailed 20-0 at halftime and by as many as 26 points in the third quarter before some window dressing TDs late in the game. Napier said postgame he would have booed himself. "Obviously Saturday was very disappointing and frustrating," Napier said. "You know, I think it's important for everybody to know personally I'm taking total ownership of that." The loss dropped Florida (1-2, 0-1 SEC) back below .500 in a make-or-break third season for Napier. Mississippi State (1-2, 0-0 SEC) is still finding its way under first-year coach Jeff Lebby, who worked as an offensive coordinator at both Ole Miss (2020-21) and Oklahoma (2022-23) before taking the MSU job. The Bulldogs were competitive in a 30-23 loss at Arizona State, but returned home and got throttled by Toledo, 41-17. "When it's your first road SEC game, regardless of who it is and where it is, you've got to be ready to go, because there is a little bit different intensity to that," Napier said. "You're going into enemy territory, and you've got to be ready." |
| Former Arkansas All-SEC QB Clint Stoerner slams Hogs A.D. Hunter Yurachek for NIL, state of Arkansas football program | |
| In the land of "It Just Means More," the Southeastern Conference, it just means more fan angst when things are going awry. We see you, Florida. But this is an Arkansas issue, too. Whether his intent or not, Razorbacks Athletics Director Hunter Yurachek just doused the barbecue spit with lighter fluid. Yuracheck spoke Monday at the Little Rock Touchdown Club, where he went in-depth on how collectives throughout college athletics have gerrymandered the spirt of Name, Image and Likeness opportunities into a de facto pay-for-play scheme funded by zealous boosters. Yet, Yurakchek also urged those in attendance to help the Razorbacks keep pace until the system -- presumably at a time when the House vs. NCAA settlement is formalized and schools begin to distribute approximately $22 million, with a 4% annual increase, to its student-athletes. The problem? Yuracheck admits the Hogs already lag behind. Clint Stoerner, a former Hogs All-SEC quarterback beloved by their fan base (and Tennessee's), pointed to Yurachek and head coach Sam Pittman as root problems in Arkansas's NIL space. "It's absolutely a Yurachek and Pittman problem," Stoerner posted on X, formerly Twitter. "The business decision, in the NIL world, is paying the right players. Gonna be hard to get buy in at any level when you lead with how awful it is." |
| Georgia football players can be paid by school for NIL after executive order by governor | |
 | Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order on Tuesday that will allow schools like the University of Georgia to pay players directly for the use of their name, image and likeness. The executive order bars the NCAA or conferences from punishing schools for such payments. Kemp signed the order, which it says will allow state schools to be "on a level playing field," and should not forgo compensation that would come with being able to pay athletes while a proposed NCAA settlement agreement is in limbo. Georgia football coach Kirby Smart said he was "appreciative," for Kemp signing the executive order. "Want to be as competitive as we can be in our field of endeavor, this world me live in," Smart said Tuesday night after practice. "It's not just us, apparently. It's the whole state of Georgia, USG (University System of Georgia). Very appreciative in Gov. Kemp and his staff for allowing us to be competitive and putting us on a level playing field and continuing to support our student-athletes." The executive order is similar to a law passed in Virginia and signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin in the spring. |
| Sources: ACC exploring new revenue structure to resolve Florida State, Clemson lawsuits | |
| The ACC is exploring a new revenue structure intended to bring an end to the litigation with its two restless members. The conference's presidents recently examined a proposal that would distribute revenue differently to league members in a move to provide stability and preserve the membership of Florida State and Clemson. Nothing is imminent and particulars of the deal remain mostly private, but the structure's ultimate goal is to resolve a dispute with the Tigers and Seminoles, both suing the conference in an attempt to exit the league. Those with knowledge of the discussions spoke to Yahoo Sports under condition of anonymity. Discussions among league presidents are ongoing and expected to continue. Details around the new revenue structure remain murky, but leaders have reviewed a plan to create a separate pot of revenue to be divided based on media value metrics. This separate distribution would be specifically tied to a school's television viewership ratings for football and potentially basketball. Any new distribution would be available to all schools. Along with the new revenue structure, leaders are examining amending the length of the league's grant of rights, the binding agreement at the center of lawsuits from the Seminoles and Tigers. The ACC grant of rights, binding the schools together through 2036, would presumably be shortened. It is unclear if enough support exists to approve these drastic moves. |
| EA Sports College Football 25 announces 6.5 million players to date | |
| Electronic Arts announced at Tuesday's Investor Day that EA Sports College Football 25's release has been "above expectations." The original EA college football video game franchise ran from 1998 until 2013. Moving from the Bill Walsh College Football moniker to NCAA Football, the annual game was eventually discontinued. The game returned this summer for the first time in more than a decade. In the Investor Day call in New York City, EA announced the College Football 25 franchise is the largest new console game launch in North America in 2024. EA also announced the video game has seen 6.5 million unique players to date. Quick math shows EA has brought in over $400 million in sales from the game. When the game launched in July, EA announced more than 500,000 played the EA Play trial for the game. "EA delivered a strong start to FY25, beating net bookings guidance as we continue to execute across our business," EA Sports CEO Andrew Wilson said in a July earnings report. "Our focus on delivering bigger, bolder, and more connected experiences for our players has never been sharper and is illustrated by the record-breaking launch of EA SPORTS College Football 25 as we head into another historic Q2 sports season at EA." For the first time in the game's history, athletes are being compensated for having their name, image and likeness included in the game. More than 14,000 college football players opted in, pushing EA past its goal of 85 players per roster. All athletes who are in the game received $600 plus a copy of the game. |
| College football guarantee games pay millions to small-budget schools but opportunities could shrink | |
| Ohio State and Kent State, separated by 135 miles in the same state, occupy extreme ends of the spectrum of major college football. Buckeyes football pulled in $127 million in revenue in 2023. Golden Flashes football has a budget of about $9 million. Still, Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork and Kent State AD Randale Richmond share a similar problem for different reasons. Both look at their football schedules this season and see more so-called guarantee games than they would prefer. Guarantee games are those one-off matchups where a school pays another to come to its stadium, with no return date. For power conference schools such as No. 3 Ohio State that typically means cutting a check of around $1.5 million -- give or take a few hundred thousand -- to a school such as Kent State. More often than not, the games are not competitive. Occasionally, the smaller program gets to take home a historic victory along with a big check the way Northern Illinois ($1.4 million) did at No. 17 Notre Dame or Memphis ($1.3 million) did at Florida State earlier this season. But as the model for compensating athletes evolves and more money needs to be directed to players, all the ways business has traditionally been done in college sports are being evaluated. The guarantee game seems unlikely to go away any time soon, but Bjork and Richmond are unsure if they will be as common as they are now. "I think we have to put it under review to see what is the future of those kind of games," Bjork said. |
| Attorneys working to address judge's qualms with NCAA settlement | |
| Attorneys negotiating a $2.78 billion settlement of class-action antitrust cases against the NCAA and the nation's biggest college conferences are working to clarify parts of the agreement that a judge wanted addressed before deciding whether to let the landmark deal move forward. At a hearing two weeks ago, U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken declined to grant preliminary approval and expressed dismay with a plan to regulate and potentially restrict third-party name, image and likeness payments to athletes from booster-funded organizations called collectives. Wilken set a Sept. 26 deadline for attorneys on both sides to report back to her with certain parts of the settlement agreement reworked. "We've been making good progress in our discussions with the NCAA about how to answer the judge's questions and to provide some clarifications where the judge did not believe the language was sufficiently clear as to how these things will work," Jeffrey Kessler, one of the lead attorneys for the plaintiffs in House vs. the NCAA, said Tuesday. "And we feel confident that when we provide all this information, the judge will grant preliminary approval." |
| Interest Rate Cuts Will 'Benefit Everybody' in Sports | |
| Later Wednesday the Federal Reserve Bank is expected to announce the first cut in interest rates in more than four years. For most everybody in the sports business, there's little downside to it. "Rates coming down will benefit everybody," Steve Vogel, managing director and head of the sports finance group at U.S. Bank, said on a phone call. The Fed probably will announce a quarter rate cut after its regular meetings conclude in mid-afternoon. In practice that means the central bank cuts the amount of interest it pays to commercial banks on their deposits with the Fed, a rate that then reverberates throughout the economy. The Fed Funds Rate is currently 5.5%, its highest level since early 2001 when regulators were eager to throttle down the dotcom stock boom. Rates rose to their current level combating the inflation seen after the government slashed rates to just 0.25% to sustain the economy during the pandemic. High interest rates have affected everything from the decision to renovate or build a stadium to the price of insuring player contracts. "There have been situations I have seen over the last couple of years where rates being at such a high level have caused a team to slow down and wait and see if rates would come down before executing a refinancing or potentially using a different financing structure," Peter Dorfman, managing director of the sports banking group at Wells Fargo, said on a phone call. |
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