| Thursday, January 15, 2015 |
| Plans Unveiled for Starkville Partnership School | |
 | A new relationship between Mississippi State University and the newly formed Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District is producing a new school. At a location on the campus of MSU where you only see trees now, a new middle school is expected to be built. 6th and 7th graders in the consolidated Starkville and Oktibbeha County schools are expected to get enhanced learning, and teachers will be prepared for future careers in a new way. "We envision having MSU teachers education classes right there in the school. So that our faculty, our teaching class, then the pre service teachers and students in action. And then come back to class and talk about what they just saw," said Mississippi State's Devon Brenner. |
| Locals commemorate MLK through 21st Unity breakfast, memorial march | |
 | Events around town Monday will prompt locals to remember the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mississippi State University's annual MLK Jr. Unity Breakfast will begin at 7 a.m. on Monday. The event, now in its 21st year, is free and open to the public. Breakfast will be followed by a program by William B. Bynum Jr., president of Mississippi Valley State University at 8 a.m. (Subscriber-only content.) |
| Stakeholders pull together for bee health | |
 | It was no surprise when agriculture listened, gathered information and developed plans of action to address recent concerns about honeybee colony collapse disorder and declining honeybee health. Agriculture has long been keenly aware of the relationship between bees and crops. Today science and agriculture are working together again for honey bee health. There's been no shortage of creativity in making life better for bees either. Several Mississippi organizations are involved in the Mississippi Honey Bee Stewardship Program, an integral part of which is the yellow and black "Bee Aware" flag to indicate where hives are located. One participant, Mississippi State University, says the flag will become synonymous with the presence of bees or other pollinators in an area. MSU says it is receiving requests for the flag from beekeepers all around the country. |
| Russell Street Work Slated for Next Year in Starkville | |
| Work to expand a major Starkville connector street to link downtown and Mississippi State could begin by this time next year. Northern District Transportation Commissioner Mike Tagert told Starkville business leaders Wednesday the state hopes to award the contract by late this year to improve intersections and add traffic and turn lanes, sidewalks and bike paths to Russell Street between Highway 12 and Lampkin Street. The $800,000 project also will serve The Mill conference center, hotel and retail complex under construction on Russell Street. |
| Petitioners deliver about 2,000 signatures against public school funding bond | |
 | Oktibbeha County School District Conservator Margie Pulley took no action Tuesday on a proposed $13.2 million bond for consolidation construction after opponents of the process delivered about 2,000 signatures from residents seeking an election on the matter. OCSD will begin its own process to confirm the signatures were provided by those qualified to oppose the state-ordered reverse referendum: registered voters who reside within OCSD's territory. It is not known when the process will conclude. Tensions ran high before Tuesday's county meeting. Historically, the county has not supported bonds for school improvement. |
| Yokohama Boulevard officially opened | |
 | The road that leads to the Yokohama Plant is officially open following a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday morning in West Point. Governor Phil Bryant and other dignitaries were on hand to help the tire manufacturer pave the way to more jobs in the area. The road provides smooth access to the $300 million commercial tire plant scheduled to open this year. |
| Report: Mississippi women make $11,500 less than men | |
 | Women's median income in Mississippi is $25,000, compared to $36,500 for men, according to the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women. The state commission released its 2014 annual report Wednesday. "Although women represent 50.3 percent of the state workforce, Mississippi continues to lag behind most other states in degree of female representation and influence in major areas, including the political arena," said Commission Chair Gloria Williamson, a former state legislator. Williamson said the commission hopes the report will help state agencies and the Legislature to improve upon women working for the state and the general public. |
| Mississippi files fraud lawsuit against Khosla over KiOR failure | |
 | The state of Mississippi has sued billionaire Vinod Khosla and others, saying they knew long ago that bankrupt biofuel firm KiOR had poor prospects for success, but misled the state into loaning the company $75 million. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Hinds County Circuit Court, alleges Khosla and others engaged in fraud, negligence and conspiracy to hide the fact that KiOR's technology never performed as well as they represented. "The State of Mississippi reasonably relied upon these misrepresentations, omissions and ratifications, and as a consequence, loaned KiOR Columbus $75 million," the lawsuit states. A spokeswoman for Khosla didn't immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment. The lawsuit says KiOR management repeatedly tried to silence internal critics who raised questions about the numbers the company gave to the state and to investors. |
| MEC discusses Jackson County's economic strengths, struggles, opportunities | |
 | Industry and people are Jackson County's biggest strengths, business leaders told the Mississippi Economic Council on Wednesday, and insurance is the greatest challenge. MEC President and CEO Blake Wilson brought the organization's Regional Roundup Tour to the Hilton Garden Inn in Pascagoula to gauge local opinions on economic development topics and to update leaders on upcoming legislative efforts. The meeting was one of 14 planned for around the state. Participants told MEC that the region's best quality-of-life offerings are mostly location-specific. The best assets are water, the Gulf of Mexico, climate, recreation and diversity, Jackson countians said. |
| State Auditor Pickering talks corruption, upcoming elections | |
| State Auditor Stacey Pickering spoke Tuesday at the meeting of the Lowndes County Republican Women, talking about corruption in the state as well as upcoming state and national elections. Pickering's talk was optimistic. He called it an "exciting" election year, pointing out that the Republican Party has gotten bigger and the increasing number of Republicans in Mississippi offices. He predicted the number of Republican voters and the number of Republicans running for office will mean more primary elections for Republicans and fewer for Democrats and even suggested that some towns and counties will not have Democratic primaries this year. Pickering said the growing popularity of the Republicans means that there will be a lot of disagreement within the party. |
| Alternative to school funding measure going on ballot | |
| The Mississippi ballot in November will list two proposed state constitutional amendments dealing with education funding. Critics say having two proposals on the same ballot is a formula for confusion, and the complexity of the state's law governing initiatives makes it unlikely either proposal will succeed. "This is about pulling the rug out from under the people's initiative," said Sen. David Blount, D-Jackson. Senate Education Committee Chairman Gray Tollison, R-Oxford, said the alternative is a better option because it wouldn't give a judge control over state budgets. Better Schools, Better Jobs spokeswoman Patsy Brumfield said legislators pulled a trick on voters. |
| Senate completes initiative pushback | |
 | The Mississippi Senate ignored accusations of creating confusion and voted 30-20 along straight party lines to place on the November ballot an alternative to the citizen-sponsored education funding initiative. The Senate debated the issue for more than two hours Wednesday afternoon only hours after the House gave its final approval to the measure along a similar straight party-line vote. The measure does not require the approval of Gov. Phil Bryant, though he has endorsed it. It was evident the House and Senate leadership placed on the fast track the first alternative in the state's history to a citizen-sponsored initiative. The measure was introduced late Monday, approved by the House on Tuesday and a motion to reconsider the vote in the House was tabled Wednesday morning. |
| Musgrove asks judge to order state to pay districts | |
| Former Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove asked a judge Wednesday to order the state to pay money that 21 school districts say they are owed from past school underfunding. Musgrove, a Democrat who helped write the Mississippi Adequate Education Program and push it into law in 1997 when he was lieutenant governor, also asked Hinds County Chancery Judge William Singletary on Wednesday to order lawmakers to never underfund the program again. Singletary said he'd consider the arguments and rule later. Both sides have asked the judge to rule for them without a trial. The 21 districts, including the city of Jackson and Hattiesburg Public School District, say they're owed $236 million. |
| Wright surprised by Common Core controversy | |
 | State Superintendent of Education Carey Wright said she is a little surprised by the Common Core controversy generated by Gov. Phil Bryant, who last month said the state should change its academic goals, even if Wright wants to stick with the standards. During a Hattiesburg American editorial board meeting Wednesday, Wright said the standards shouldn't really be all that divisive. "If you look at the standards, they're simply what you would want a child to know and do from kindergarten to 12th grade," she said. "I'm not sure what the controversy is over." Wright also said it's important to make sure students are college- and career-ready. She said $35 million is spent on remedial courses for students who come to college unprepared. |
| No 'lame duck' term for state Rep. Martinson | |
 | State Rep. Rita Martinson said 2015 won't be a lame duck year for her as she hopes to push through a few pieces of legislation before ending a 24-year career as state representative. The second week of the 90-day session began this week and Martinson said she's been too busy to have any bittersweet moments. "I feel like I'm working harder than ever," she said. "There's so many things I'd like to see happen." Martinson has already filed several bills, ranging from education to radar use for sheriffs and plans to introduce a couple more before it's all said and done. "I'm very anxious about the year," she said. Martinson will join her senate colleagues from Madison County - Will Longwitz (R-Madison) and Kenny Wayne Jones (D-Canton) - to lobby for a single circuit court district for the county with its own district attorney and judges. |
| Longwitz bill would curb school district spending | |
| Local legislators were putting the finishing touches on bills this week ahead of the Monday filing deadline. State Sen. Will Longwitz (R-Madison) has a handful he's introducing this session, with a couple focused on education. One bill would place a cap on administrative spending by school districts in the state. "Madison County does a great job and that's the example we should use," he said, noting the district spends the least percentage-wise on administration in the state. "We should be spending on public education, but we should be spending it wisely." He added, "The first priority is spending it on educating children and not on paying bloated administrative tasks." Outside of education, Longwitz plans to increase the reach of a bill he successfully passed last year that required GPS tracking of sex offenders who failed to register after being released. |
| Cruz out at Senate campaign arm | |
 | Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who repeatedly clashed with GOP leaders in the last Congress, has not been asked to return as vice chairman of grassroots outreach for the Senate Republican campaign arm. National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said neither Cruz nor Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who was the NRSC's finance vice chairman in the last election cycle, would serve additional stints in the committee's leadership. There are several reasons why Senate Republicans might not want Cruz to return to their campaign arm. He drew the ire of colleagues in 2013 by raising money for the Senate Conservatives Fund, which backed primary challengers to now-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Sen. Thad Cochran (Miss.). |
| Obama to push for new paid leave policies for federal workers | |
 | President Obama plans to sign a memorandum ordering that federal employees have access to at least six weeks of paid leave when a new child arrives in their family, while also urging Congress to extend greater family leave benefits to their own workers and to millions of other Americans. Obama will call on lawmakers to pass a law allowing Americans to earn up to seven days a year of paid sick time, senior advisor Valerie Jarrett announced Wednesday afternoon. Obama is expected to promote the plan Thursday as he travels to Baltimore to meet with Democratic lawmakers. He will call on Congress to pass the Healthy Families Act, which would allow millions of workers to get seven days of paid sick time, and urge states and cities to pass similar measures, Jarrett said. |
| Businesses Try To Stave Off Brain Drain As Boomers Retire | |
 | In the U.S., roughly 10,000 people reach retirement age every day. And though not everyone who turns 62 or 65 retires right away, enough do that some companies are trying to head off the problem. The need is not across the board; not all retirees are in demand. But the older-worker brain drain is a big concern for industries like mining and health care. They are trying to retain older employees because demand is increasing and fewer younger workers are rising through the ranks. In a survey out this week, the Society for Human Resource Management reports that a third of employers expect staffing problems in coming years. |
| U. of Southern Mississippi's NCS4 hosts first training session for new security course | |
 | The University of Southern Mississippi's National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) is about to launch a new program which is designed to make after-school events at high schools safer. The "Risk Management for Interscholastic Athletics and After School Activities" course will be ready in March. It's designed for school superintendents, law enforcement officers, athletic directors and principals. Wednesday, NCS4 hosted a first-ever, training session for people who will teach the new course at school districts across the country. |
| JSU Poll Indicates Local and National Feelings About Education | |
 | Results from a poll conducted by the polling center at Jackson State University's Institute of Government suggest that public opinion regarding the quality of k-12 public schools locally and nationwide is not too hot. Less than half of Mississippians, for example, said schools in the state are adequately funded, while almost 70 percent agreed better schools are generally those that are better funded. Giving credence to the importance of successful public schools, 86 percent of Mississippians agreed that the better the education a state has, the better its economy will be. "The polling results confirm what we already know," said Dr. Daniel Watkins, dean of the College of Education and Human Development at JSU. "And that is, collectively, we can do more for the state of Mississippi. We must make education our number 1 priority, especially early childhood education." |
| Congressman Thompson announces $499K grant for Alcorn State | |
| The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing $499,794 in food and farm research funds to Alcorn State University. The grant announcement came Wednesday from U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss. The money comes from the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. |
| Area college presidents weigh in on Obama's tuition plan | |
 | President Barack Obama's proposed plan to make publicly funded community colleges available to all Americans was viewed as a worthy endeavor by three East Mississippi area community college presidents and a Lauderdale County administrator. The overall cost, and the current political climate in Mississippi and Congress, however, could be prohibitive, two of the community college presidents said. Another cautioned against federal overreach. Meridian Community College President Dr. Scott Elliott said his school was one of the first in Mississippi to offer tuition free grants and that greater access would be a good goal. East Central Community College President Dr. Billy Stewart also liked that President Obama saw the value of community college education. "Thrilled that the president and the White House are impressed with the importance for community college education and this proposal is a by-product, so I'm in favor of that," Stewart said. |
| Auburn University plans King Week events next week | |
 | Auburn University will host a week-long tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Monday through Friday, Jan. 19-23, to commemorate the late civil rights icon's life and legacy. Events throughout the week will reflect the theme, "Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere." In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Auburn University campus will be closed Monday. On Monday, Clifton Davis, an actor, singer, composer, producer and minister best known for his five-year run as the Rev. Reuben Gregory on the popular television series, "Amen," will be the keynote speaker at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Scholarship Breakfast at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. |
| Louisiana higher education officials say campus closures are a possibility | |
 | Public college and university campuses in Louisiana could close if the state ends up cutting $300 million or more out of its higher education budget during the next fiscal cycle. Legislators and higher education officials said Louisiana college systems would have to shut the doors of multiple institutions and campuses if the schools have to absorb a funding reduction of that size. Around 15 locations -- including three in the University of Louisiana system and six in the community and technical college cohort -- could be directly affected. "Higher ed is worrying [legislators] probably more than any other thing. ...Institutions would probably have to close [if nothing changes]," said state Sen. Robert Adley, R-Benton, when asked about Louisiana's budget woes. |
| Gov. Scott still backs U. of Florida's pre-eminence drive, Fuchs says | |
 | During a private luncheon with Gov. Rick Scott last week, University of Florida President Kent Fuchs said he was assured of the governor's commitment to give UF the money it needs to pursue its goal of becoming a top 10 public research institution. "He said his budget will include money for higher education," Fuchs told a group of reporters Wednesday after addressing about 200 community, business and civic leaders at a UF-sponsored breakfast in the UF Hilton Hotel and Conference Center. Making higher education more affordable has been a centerpiece of Scott's administration. He has called repeatedly for universities to hold the line on tuition and has vetoed proposals sent over by the Florida Legislature to raise it. |
| UGA student fatally shot during suspected drug deal | |
 | A University of Georgia student was fatally shot Tuesday in what police are calling a drug-related homicide. Min Seok Cho, 21, reportedly was shot in the head when he met someone to buy marijuana. "Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim met the person or persons responsible for the shooting to exchange marijuana," Athens-Clarke County police said Wednesday in a media release. His homicide is being investigated by the Athens-Clarke County and UGA police departments and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. |
| Sharp: Chancellor's Research Initiative will expand to reach all Texas A&M University System schools | |
 | Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp announced Wednesday that the Chancellor's Research Initiative will expand to reach all system schools. The program through the next three years will make available $10 million in one-time funds for system schools to use at their discretion to pursue researchers and faculty members "who will have a transformational impact upon the academic and research missions of the schools," according to a system press release. System Vice Chancellor for Research Dr. Jon Mogford said the $10 million in funds made available over the next three years will give schools the freedom they need to accomplish their individual goals that will help enhance research environments. |
| Consumer Financial Protection Bureau urges colleges to look more closely at bank deals | |
 | Federal consumer protection officials want colleges to more thoroughly vet the agreements they make with financial institutions to provide banking products on campus. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said Tuesday that it will create voluntary guidelines for colleges as they negotiate deals with financial institutions. The goal, officials said, is for colleges to keep students' financial interest in mind as they negotiate the terms of the arrangements with the companies. The CFPB said Wednesday that it would seek public comment on a draft set of questions that it recommends colleges use when making deals with financial companies. The draft guidelines tell colleges to ask financial institutions about, for instance, the product's various fees for students, its marketing practices and revenue the company makes from the accounts. |
SPORTS
| Prescott returning to Mississippi State for senior year | |
| Mississippi State received a boost heading into the offseason as quarterback Dak Prescott announced he would be returning for his senior campaign. Prescott held a press conference Wednesday afternoon to make his decision public. "I looked at some of the NFL quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck, guys who had a chance to leave early in their (college) careers and didn't and decided to come back for another year," Prescott said. "I want to do that as well to redefine my skills. I think this is another year for Mississippi State to compete for a national championship and an SEC championship." |
| Mississippi State's expectations higher with Prescott's return | |
| Mississippi State secured its most important piece for the 2015 season on Wednesday. Dak Prescott's announcement to return for his senior season made the lives of MSU head coach Dan Mullen and quarterback coach Brian Johnson a lot easier in preparation for next season. "That's the best recruiting job of all right there," Johnson said. "Getting an opportunity to get a player back of Dak's caliber." Now, the expectations for him and MSU increases with his return. "We have a great team coming back with a lot of athleticism," Prescott said. "I'm just excited to be a part of it and wear the maroon and white again for another year and go compete for championships." |
| No. 15 Bulldogs look to get back in win column | |
| No. 15 Mississippi State will attempt to rebound from its first loss of the year by returning home against LSU at 7 p.m. tonight steamed on SEC Network+. The Bulldogs (18-1, 3-1 SEC) tasted defeat for the first time Sunday falling 78-62 at Vanderbilt snapping a school record 18-game winning streak. LSU (8-8, 2-2) owns a 46-6 all-time record in the series. The Tigers have won eight straight over MSU including a 65-56 victory in Baton Rouge last year. |
| McFatrich ready for building process for volleyball at Mississippi State | |
| David McFatrich knows how to build a winning program. When Steven McRoberts hired McFatrich as an assistant volleyball coach at Central Arkansas in 2007, McFatrich knew a foundation needed to be laid to help the Sugar Bears become competitive. In four seasons as a head coach at UCA, McFatrich helped elevate the program to another level. McFatrich knows he and his staff will have to go through a similar construction process at Mississippi State. He made that sentiment very clear Tuesday when he was introduced as MSU's new volleyball coach in a news conference at the Bryan Building. "I think it can be done here or else I wouldn't be here, to be honest with you," McFatrich said. MSU Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin said McFatrich isn't afraid to do things differently, which he feels fits the mold of coaches at MSU. |
| Saban, Mullen headline 52nd Gulf Coast Coaching Clinic | |
 | Lindy Callahan, the former Ole Miss standout and Gulfport coach and athletics director, flipped through a binder Wednesday full of brochures from former Gulf Coast Coaching Clinic. Schemes have changed in the 52 years of the football clinic, but the talent level has remained elite. This year is no exception as Alabama coach Nick Saban, Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen, Ole Miss offensive line coach and former Gulfport standout Matt Luke and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College coach Chad Huff are among the 13-plus coaches on the three-day slate. Callahan said the clinic started in 1964 -- at the Broadwater Beach Hotel -- out of a yearning to share new coaching ideas and philosophies. |
| Boyd, former Mississippi State and USC basketball coach, dies at 84 | |
| Bob Boyd, the Southern California basketball coach who led the Trojans to four postseason appearances in the 1960s and '70s, died Wednesday. He was 84. The school said Boyd died of natural causes at his home in Palm Desert. He had planned to attend the UCLA-USC game at Galen Center in the evening with his son. Boyd was also head coach at Mississippi State from 1982-86. |
| 11-year-old with brain cancer named honorary U. of Alabama cheerleader | |
 | The University of Alabama cheerleaders have a new, much younger member on their squad: an 11-year-old girl from Prattville. Sara Lightsey, who has brain cancer, was welcomed as an honorary UA cheerleader this month. Sara, a fifth-grader, tumbles and cheers competitively in her hometown and first started serving as an athletic mascot when she was in preschool. Being adopted by the team was like a dream, said Sara, who hopes to one day become a college cheerleader. University of Alabama cheerleading head coach Jennifer Thrasher first found out about Sara through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, which contacted UA. The foundation's mission is to help children with brain cancer and improve their quality of life by pairing them with college and high school sports teams. |
| Shoe store employee chooses jail over helping police unravel how LSU football cleats ended up on eBay | |
 | A Baton Rouge shoe store employee recently told police he would rather go to jail than cooperate with authorities in an investigation into some official, game-worn LSU football equipment that recently was sold on eBay, LSU police said. And go to jail he did. A police officer contacted Fletcher Sanders, 25, after an investigation revealed that he was the seller of a pair of cleats and gloves advertised on eBay as having been worn during LSU's thrilling upset win against the Ole Miss Rebels in October, according to a police report. Sanders told police that he sold the gear for an LSU football player. But when an investigator asked Sanders to name the football player, Sanders clammed up, according to the report. |
| Vandy rape case: Attorneys battle claims of slur, urination | |
 | As the trial of two former Vanderbilt University football players accused of rape chugs along, issues are coming up that could change what evidence is allowed and what charges the jury can consider. On Tuesday, defense attorneys for Brandon Vandenburg, 21, and Cory Batey, 20, filed a memo saying the state's indictment was not specific enough to back up the charges against the two men. They are accused of five counts of aggravated rape and two counts of aggravated sexual battery, which are felonies. Meanwhile, disputes over claims made by Deputy District Attorney Tom Thurman in his opening statement might also come up later at trial. Wednesday was the first full day of testimony in the case and the third day of trial. Vanderbilt University Lt. Donnie Harville was on the witness stand all day describing surveillance video to jurors. |
| Clemson cuts ties with new fundraising site, UBooster | |
| UBooster, a Greenville-based website, allows college sports fans to pledge funds to their favorite school if the school signs a coveted recruit -- unless the fan's favorite school is Clemson University. UBooster launched Jan. 5. Three days later, Clemson's general counsel Chip Hood sent a cease and desist letter to UBooster founder and CEO, Rob Morgan. The letter instructed UBooster to "immediately refrain from purportedly raising funds on behalf of Clemson University directly or indirectly." UBooster allows fans to set up a simple account at UBooster.org and select high school athletes who may consider attending the fan's favorite school. To support the school's recruiting efforts, the fan pledges to donate funds if that player signs with the school. |
| New Benefits for Athletes Trigger Talk of Cutbacks in College Sports | |
 | After years of rapid spending increases in major-college athletics, a series of large new outlays, including more scholarship assistance for players, has Division I leaders on edge about their budgets. Since December, at least four big-time programs have announced plans to eliminate sports or make multimillion-dollar cuts. As athletics leaders gather for the National Collegiate Athletic Association's annual convention, being held just outside Washington this week, there is expected to be more talk of cuts. A group of 10 associations of coaches plans to raise concerns about the elimination of teams. In recent weeks, the group has met with conference commissioners, athletic directors, NCAA leaders, members of Congress, and the U.S. Olympic Committee to try to thwart potential program cuts. |
| Changes in NCAA rules raise Title IX concerns | |
| Recent and upcoming changes to National Collegiate Athletic Association rules -- including a new pilot program that will provide travel expenses to the families of basketball players who play in national championship games -- are rife with "serious Title IX complications," a panel of gender equity experts said Wednesday. "We're seeing a sea change in college athletics and people are scrambling," Erin Buzuvis, director of the Center for Gender and Sexuality Studies at Western New England University, said during presentation at the NCAA's annual convention. "And the Title IX voice in all of this is not strong." As many of these changes stem from criticism surrounding revenue-generating male sports, Buzuvis said there seems to be little discussion about how they will comply with the federal law barring gender discrimination. |
| Will Penn State Rain on NCAA's Parade? | |
 | Something unprecedented will take place this week at the NCAA's annual meeting near Washington, D.C.: The NCAA's five richest conferences are expected to vote for the right to offer pay and other new benefits to athletes. But the real fireworks could erupt 200 miles to the north, where a showdown is expected between Penn State trustees over a legal challenge to the penalties the NCAA imposed on the school following the Jerry Sandusky child-molestation scandal. The simultaneous events illustrate how the NCAA faces never-ending challenges to its authority and influence. |
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