| Wednesday, February 25, 2015 |
| Mississippi State to close Wednesday due to winter weather | |
 | Mississippi State University's Starkville and Meridian campuses will close Wednesday due to the current winter weather warning from the National Weather Service and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. Severe winter weather conditions, including predictions of 3-6 inches of snow in Central and North Mississippi, are predicted to make driving conditions extremely dangerous. Monitor local news outlets for changing conditions and advisories. Monitor www.emergency.msstate.edu and www.twitter.com/maroonalert for updates. |
| Golden Triangle expected to receive snow today | |
 | A winter storm warning is in effect for all of north Mississippi and the central part of the state is under a winter weather advisory. The weather alerts remain in effect until midnight. The National Weather Service said sleet was expected to fall over northern Mississippi this morning. It was expected to change to snow this afternoon. David Cox, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Jackson, said the system is expected to move out of the region Thursday morning. The greatest snow accumulations are expected south of Clarksdale to Oxford to Tupelo. Forecasters say 3 to 6 inches of snow could fall over the area with higher amounts in some areas. With a wintry mix of rain, freezing rain and some sleet expected to spread across central Mississippi this morning, public schools, universities and colleges in the Golden Triangle announced closings. |
| Governor delays opening of some state offices due to potential winter weather | |
 | After consulting with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and other emergency officials, Gov. Phil Bryant has delayed opening of state offices in areas affected by winter weather, including the Jackson Capitol Complex, until 10 a.m. today. State agency directors have discretion to bring in essential personnel and should notify those employees who need to report to work prior to 10 a.m. Gov. Bryant and emergency officials will continue to monitor the weather and will issue further guidance and updates today as necessary. |
| Keenum continues push for faculty pay raises | |
 | Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum has continued to push for a five percent raise for faculty at all eight universities under the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning in recent weeks. The topic was the focus of Keenum's address to the MSU Faculty Senate on Feb. 16. In January, Keenum went with IHL Commissioner Hank Bounds to speak to the appropriations committees of both the Mississippi Senate and House of Representatives. Keenum and Bounds pushed for the Legislature to appropriate funds for a five percent raise for the state's university faculty and staff. (Subscriber-only content.) |
| Thorny farm problems addressed by producers | |
| The middle of winter seems a strange time to be talking about heirloom tomatoes, snap beans and watermelon but it seemed the perfect time for representatives of Mississippi State University and the MSU Extension Service who were on hand to listen to the problems faced by the agricultural community. The prudent use of pesticides was among hot topics of conversation last week when agricultural producers from 27 counties and 16 commodity groups in North Mississippi met with representatives from MSU to discuss research and outreach needs. (Subscriber-only content.) |
| Farmers get some breathing room on base, yield decisions | |
 | Farmers who wish to reallocate base acres and update yields can contact their county Farm Service Agency office and make an appointment to do so later if they cannot complete the paperwork by Friday's national deadline. Tony Franco, chief of farm programs for the Farm Service Agency in Arkansas, confirmed the appointment-setting process is now in effect. Larry Falconer, Extension agricultural economist with Mississippi State University, said farmers may need to change their thinking on farm programs. Falconer and other agricultural economists at Mississippi State University have developed a computer software program that can show farmers how selecting different crop mixes can affect farmer incomes in the remaining four years of the farm bill. |
| Three-man race develops for District 43 state representative | |
| A three-candidate race has taken shape in the race for District 43 state representative. Starkville restaurateur Mac Smith has announced he will take on Starkville attorney Rob Roberson in a Republican primary for the seat. Roberson, a former state representative, announced his candidacy late last year. Both have qualified with the state Republican Party in Jackson. Whichever Republican survives the primary is guaranteed a general election opponent, too, as another Starkville attorney, Paul Millsaps, qualified Friday as a Democrat. District 43 includes portions of Oktibbeha and Winston counties, notably the Mississippi State University campus and part of Starkville. |
| Starkville ethics complaints: 'Anything goes in executive session' | |
| Four pending ethics complaints against the Starkville Board of Aldermen charge the seven-person body with circumventing public discourse and trivializing transparency by improperly holding closed-door meetings. The complaints, penned on behalf of former Chief Administrative Officer Lynn Spruill, ask the Mississippi Ethics Commission to investigate "an ongoing lack of respect for the need of the public to be aware of the board's deliberations" and seek $1,000 fines upon offending members, the maximum penalty for second and subsequent violations. While the four complaints stem from three different policy changes, they all carry a common allegation -- that Starkville aldermen improperly use executive session to hide discussions from the public. |
| Oktibbeha County man denied new trial | |
 | The Mississippi Court of Appeals denied the request by an Oktibbeha man for a new trial. Tyrune Paty, 28, was sentenced in Oktibbeha Circuit Court in 2010 to a total of 16 years in prison for two counts of possession of cocaine. He appealed, arguing that his lawyer did not put his best interests first. According to Paty, he acted as his own lawyer while the court-appointed attorney was just a "shadow counsel." |
| Riverwalk expansion bill clears House | |
| A bill to extend a multi-use path from Riverside Park to Columbus Air Force Base is headed to the Mississippi Senate. The House approved the bill on Thursday by a 118-2 margin, with full support from Golden Triangle representatives. The bill (HB1453) calls for the state to issue up to $25 million in bonds -- at a clip not to exceed $5 million per year -- to specifically fund recreational and quality of life improvements for the Air Force base, namely a 14-mile multi-use path extension that would run between Riverside Park and the base. A revenue bill, it required three-fifths approval from House members to move on to the Senate. District 39 Rep. Jeff Smith (R-Columbus), the chairman of the House ways and means committee and the bill's sponsor, said he was elated to see his colleagues approve the plan. |
| ASA postmortem: industrial recruiting is a constant cycle of death and life | |
 | Raising $1.2 billion for an industrial project can be a challenge, if not a showstopper. For local and state economic developers in Mississippi, American Specialty Alloys' protracted and secretive efforts in that regard became an issue that ultimately sent the project south to Pineville, La. American Specialty started out last year with a show of force that bode well for Mississippi. It established an office in Columbus, and hired one of the top law firms in the state, Butler Snow, and Yates Construction, one of the top builders in Mississippi. Yet by Feb. 20, what had started out with promise was gone. |
| Governor sets U.S. House election to replace Nunnelee | |
 | Gov. Phil Bryant has set the special election to replace the late U.S. Rep. Alan Nunnelee for May 12. The qualifying deadline for candidates will be March 27th at 5 p.m. If a runoff is required, it would be held on June 2. Nunnelee held the 1st Congressional District House seat from 2010 until he died Feb. 6 from brain cancer at age 56. |
| Gunn wants to eliminate income tax; opponent calls it 'lunacy' | |
| The House Ways and Means Committee after some heated debate this morning approved a measure to eliminate Mississippi's personal income tax over 15 years -- a plan House Speaker Philip Gunn is pushing this election year, as Gov. Phil Bryant and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves push their own, more modest tax cuts. Under the House plan, authored by Rep. Brad Mayo, R-Oxford, Mississippi would no longer have a state income tax by 2030. The House Democratic leadership decried the plan as election-year Republican pandering that could have dire consequences on state government. "Think of the lunacy about what you're about to do," Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, said before Ways and Means approved the measure 15-7. |
| Differing tax cut plans advance in Mississippi House, Senate | |
 | Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves' $382 million tax-cut proposal was big, until fellow Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn rolled out his own $1.7 billion plan to eliminate Mississippi's personal income tax. The Senate voted 38-9 Tuesday for Reeves' plan to phase out Mississippi's business franchise tax over 10 years and reduce some income taxes, with Reeves calling Senate Bill 2839 a "responsible plan that provides meaningful tax relief." The step toward a long-held goal of the business community was in danger of being obscured by House Republicans' proposal, though, as election-year tax-cutting efforts continued to escalate. |
| House to vote on phasing out state income tax | |
| House Republicans, led by Speaker Philip Gunn of Clinton, are proposing to phase out the Mississippi income tax -- the state's second largest source of revenue. The proposal, which House leaders said would take an estimated $1.38 billion, or 30 percent of revenue out of the general fund when fully enacted in 2029, passed the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday along partisan lines. In reality, though, according to figures from the Legislative Budget Committee, the impact on the state general fund would be even greater -- about $1.75 billion, based on what the income tax generates currently. |
| Bill seeks to curb state college grads' migration | |
| A House bill seeks to curb the migration of educated and professional people from Mississippi by enticing recent graduates of four-year colleges and universities located in the state to seek employment and remain within the state. If they do, they would get a break from state income taxes. House Bill 1601, called the Mississippi Jobs Creation Act of 2015, would exempt the gross income of recent in-state college from state income taxes. The bill was filed by state Rep. Chuck Espy, D-Clarksdale. |
| Johnson seeks Northern District Transportation Commission post | |
 | Hernando Mayor Chip Johnson has filed qualifying papers to run for Northern District Transportation Commissioner as a Republican candidate for that post. Johnson has served as mayor of the DeSoto County seat since 2005. He served as an alderman before his election as the city's mayor. Johnson is a U.S. Navy veteran of the Cold War, having served on a nuclear submarine and was in the private sector as CEO and owner of a cleaning company franchise prior to that. |
| Obama Vetoes Keystone XL Pipeline Bill | |
 | President Barack Obama on Tuesday made good on a promise to veto legislation to approve the long-debated Keystone XL pipeline, potentially heralding intensifying clashes between the White House and congressional Republicans. The bill would have authorized a Canadian company to construct the 1,179-mile pipeline, which has been under review by the Obama administration for more than six years and has become a touchstone issue both for environmentalists and North America's booming energy industry. Mr. Obama vetoed the legislation, not the pipeline itself. |
| U.S. military vehicles paraded 300 yards from the Russian border | |
 | U.S. military combat vehicles paraded Wednesday through an Estonian city that juts into Russia, a symbolic act that highlighted the stakes for both sides amid the worst tensions between the West and Russia since the Cold War. The armored personnel carriers and other U.S. Army vehicles that rolled through the streets of Narva, a border city separated by a narrow frontier from Russia, were a dramatic reminder of the new military confrontation in Eastern Europe. The soldiers from the U.S. Army's Second Cavalry Regiment were taking part in a military parade to mark Estonia's Independence Day. |
| Drone warfare: life on the new frontline | |
 | Safely ensconced behind flickering computer screens, military personnel are waging war in lands thousands of miles away. But is there a hidden human cost to remote-controlled combat? With the air force needing thousands more analysts, there are challenges in training and retaining enough personnel. "The stress, particularly on the air force and army intelligence communities from 2001 until really now has been horrific," said General Jim Poss, who retired as director of air force intelligence at the end of 2012. "Our nations produce only so many people who'll join the military and are of high enough capability to work in intelligence. And we're constantly running out of those folks." |
| Old McRae's gets new life as telehealth, data center | |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center has partnered with a Baton Rouge data company to transform part of Fondren's old McRae's building into a hub for the hospital's burgeoning telehealth program. UMMC has entered into a lease agreement with Venyu Solutions, LLC, which will construct a stand-alone, 16,000-square-foot facility to accommodate the increase in the services UMMC's Center for Telehealth provides to hospitals, clinics, corporations and patients across the state. Venyu CEO Scott Thompson said construction would start in April or May and take a little less than a year. The hospital's lease will begin on or around July 1, 2016. |
| Ole Miss School of Law claims another national championship | |
| For the fourth time in five years, a team from the University of Mississippi School of Law has won the national environmental moot court competition. Triumphing over 61 other law schools, Ole Miss prevailed at the 27th annual Jeffrey G. Miller Pace National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition, held Feb. 19-21 at Pace Law School in White Plains, New York. Collecting the trophy for Ole Miss were two second-year law students, John Juricich of Anniston, Alabama, and Mary Margaret Roark of Cleveland. |
| Ole Miss 'Idol' contestant faces crucial test | |
| Lumberton native Michael Simeon will appear as one of the top 12 men Wednesday night on "American Idol," broadcast from the Filmore Detroit Theater. He'll sing "How am I Supposed to Live Without You," by Michael Bolton. His performance is crucial because it is the first this season where his fate will be decided by the nation's voters. The results will be revealed next week. The Ole Miss junior said the competition is tough. "Everybody this year is insanely talented," he said. "I have no idea how America is going to vote." |
| Southern Miss professor appointed to Governor's Task Force | |
 | Dr. Tamara Hurst, assistant professor in the University of Southern Mississippi's School of Social Work, has been appointed to Gov. Phil Bryant's task force on human trafficking. The task force was created in December 2014 and is facilitated by the Mississippi Department of Homeland Security. Hurst's current role is to educate other members about opportunities, challenges and research related to trafficking. She has also been asked to chair a subcommittee responsible for reviewing call center practices and reporting protocols. |
| USM dean to present at Mississippi Academy of Sciences annual meeting | |
| Dr. Michael Forster, dean of the College of Health and professor of social work at The University of Southern Mississippi, will be a guest speaker at the 79th Annual Mississippi Academy of Sciences Meeting. Forster will present "Public Health-Related Implications of Climate Change" Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in the Thad Cochran Center. His presentation is part of the population health symposium, titled "Improving Health Outcomes in Mississippi." Other symposium speakers include Mary Currier, State Health Officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health and Kristi Henderson, Chief Telehealth and Innovation Officer at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. |
| U. of Alabama student arrested for striking fellow student with piece of wood | |
 | A University of Alabama student arrested Monday is accused of striking another student in the head with a piece of wood, rupturing his eardrum and causing temporary hearing loss. The victim, 19, also received facial fractures, according to court documents filed in the case. William Harper, 18, was charged with felony second-degree assault. According to the court documents, Harper and the victim were among two groups of men involved in an argument behind the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity house between 2:20 and 2:30 a.m. on Jan. 30. |
| Louisiana sets uniform campus sex-assault policies to rein in 'wild, wild West' atmosphere | |
 | Louisiana's public colleges must follow a new statewide policy for handling sexual-assault allegations and bolstering prevention efforts, though the broad guidelines stop short of requiring a specific prosecution response. The Board of Regents approved the state's first "Uniform Policy on Sexual Misconduct" at its Monday meeting. The guidelines, prompted by legislative questions about the adequacy of campus sexual-assault policies, take effect immediately. Louisiana's four college system management boards also are required to develop more campus-specific requirements. |
| U. of South Carolina's Innovista research center prepares for groundbreaking | |
 | Springtime 2016 is slated to provide downtown Columbia with development bookends: pro baseball on the north end of the city center and a long-awaited opening of a key link in the future of USC's Innovista campus. Shovels no doubt are being shined for the groundbreaking Thursday of the University of South Carolina's $25 million research and office building at the one of the city's best-known intersections: Blossom at Assembly streets. The state's flagship public university will join corporate giants IBM and Fluor and site contractor Holder Properties of Atlanta in heralding the construction start of the five-story structure deemed vital to the university's Innovista research campus. |
| UGA, other area schools to close early Wednesday as winter weather approaches | |
 | The University of Georgia and Athens area public schools will end classes early today as a winter storm bears down on north Georgia. UGA will end classes at 1:30 p.m. today. School activities planned after that time are canceled. Athens should see rain after about 2 p.m. today, accompanied by falling temperatures. Precipitation will switch over to rain and snow sometime before 4 a.m. Thursday, with a chance of snow as the thermometer dips to a low of around 32 degrees. |
| U. of Arkansas Engineer Receives $500k for Wireless Sensor Networks Research | |
 | University of Arkansas engineer Jing Yang has received a $500,000 federal grant to further develop sensing and transmission systems for energy-harvesting, wireless sensor networks, the university said Tuesday. Yang is an assistant professor in the UA College of Engineering, and her grant is a Faculty Early Career Development Program award from the National Science Foundation. Energy-harvesting, wireless sensor networks are systems that include collaborating embedded devices, such as sensor nodes, that are capable of sensing, computation and communication, according to a university news release. |
| Finalist for spot as dean of Texas A&M's College of Liberal Arts discusses the arts at open forum | |
 | Texas A&M College of Liberal Arts Interim Dean Dr. Pamela Matthews told faculty and staff Thursday that communicating the value of a liberal arts degree and meeting research demands of the school's land grant mission would be top priorities if she is hired for the position permanently. Matthews was the last of three finalists for the College of Liberal Arts dean's job to hold an open forum for more than 40 professors that provided an opportunity for candidates to share their qualifications and goals for the position this month. Vanderbilt University College of Arts and Sciences Interim Dean Dr. John M. Sloop and Johns Hopkins University Humanities Center Director Dr. Hent de Vries visited campus and hosted forums during the second and third weeks of February respectively. |
| U. of Missouri hires leader for Title IX office | |
 | The University of Missouri has hired a permanent leader for its Title IX office. Ellen Eardley, one of our finalists brought to campus for a series of interviews and an open forum in December, starts at MU as the Title IX administrator and assistant vice provost on April 20. In her new role, Eardley is responsible for making sure MU is compliant with the Title IX federal sex discrimination law, working with the campus' Title IX investigator and creating and disseminating educational materials and training throughout campus. |
| U. of Missouri student diagnosed with rare type of meningitis | |
 | During a weekend at home in mid-February, University of Missouri freshman Shelbi Basler began experiencing flu-like symptoms. Then she began to have a headache, a pain worse than she could even describe. The trip home to the St. Louis area turned into three days in the intensive care unit, another week in the hospital and at least two weeks at home. Basler was diagnosed with meningococcal B meningitis, an illness so unusual in Missouri that doctors may see only one case per year. Although Basler lives in a residence hall and received the vaccine, it protects only against four of the five main strains that cause the disease, said Michael Cooperstock, pediatric infectious disease specialist at MU Women's and Children's Hospital. |
| Universities Urge Lawmakers Not to Make Patent Defense Too Costly | |
 | More than 100 universities are urging federal lawmakers not to pass legislation that would make it too costly for them to defend their patents. One hundred and forty-four universities wrote to leaders of the U.S. Senate's Judiciary Committee on Tuesday to air their concerns about pending legislation that would go "well beyond what is needed to address the bad actions of a small number of patent holders." At issue, the universities wrote, are two aspects of the possible legislation: mandatory fee-shifting, which would award legal fees in patent cases to the winning party, and involuntary joinder, which "could force universities and inventors into paying damages for actions of third parties over which they had no control." |
| Chancellors Urge Congress to Ease Costly Rules on Colleges | |
| A pair of influential college chancellors asked Congress for regulatory relief on Tuesday, two weeks after they issued a report concluding that colleges are "enmeshed in a jungle of red tape." Testifying before the Senate education committee, the chancellors -- William E. (Brit) Kirwan, of the University System of Maryland, and Nicholas S. Zeppos, of Vanderbilt University -- told lawmakers that compliance costs are driving up college tuition. They urged the committee to roll back some of the rules and take steps to improve the federal rule-making process. The chancellors got a sympathetic ear from the chairman of the committee, Sen. Lamar Alexander, a Tennessee Republican who is himself a former college president. |
| Alexander says Congress will pass Higher Ed Act, backs plan to cut regulations on colleges | |
 | Senator Lamar Alexander on Tuesday committed to finishing a rewrite of the Higher Education Act by the end of this year as he backed a plan written by colleges and universities to roll back federal requirements on higher education. "We'll get it done this year," Alexander, the Tennessee Republican who chairs the Senate education committee, told reporters. He said he planned to hold a round of hearings in April, draft a version of the bill by summer, and then have a vote on the Senate floor after the August recess. A key priority for Alexander in renewing the massive law that governs colleges and universities is reducing federal red tape in higher education that "should be an embarrassment to all of us in the federal government." |
| Arizona congressman asking questions about outside funding for UAH climate expert | |
 | A U.S. Congressman from Arizona is requesting information from the University of Alabama in Huntsville about outside funding sources of John Christy, director of the school's Earth System Science Center. Arizona Democrat Raul Grijalva sent a letter dated Tuesday to UAH President Robert Altenkirch about Christy - an outspoken critic of climate change governmental policies. Altenkirch's chief of staff, Ray Garner, said the school has not received the letter. The letter from Grijalva asks UAH to provide such details as any sources of outside funding for Christy, the amount of that funding and the reason for the funding. It also asks for all drafts of government testimony Christy has either prepared or helped others prepare. |
| S.C. State struggles to stay afloat: Can historically black colleges survive? | |
 | A financial crisis plaguing the South Carolina State University has pushed a larger issue into the spotlight: the fate of historically black colleges and universities across the United States. Earlier this month, South Carolina lawmakers proposed shutting down the state's only public historically black college for a two-year period. The announcement came the same week President Obama met with the Congressional Black Caucus to discuss the future of the nation's historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs. To the chagrin of many attending the meeting, Mr. Obama reportedly said that the lowest performing institutions "should fall by the wayside." The discussion raised questions about the future of HBCUs in America. |
| SAM R. HALL (OPINION): Kansas suffering under Gunn-like income tax cut plan | |
| The Clarion-Ledger's Sam R. Hall writes: "House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, wants to end Mississippi's personal income tax. That sounds like a great idea. I'm all for not paying anymore personal income taxes. And I'm sure we'll never miss the revenue because Mississippi is flush with cash, our state agencies are running at maximum potential and we're able to recruit the best and brightest minds to work in our schools and agencies because we offer competitive salaries, regular pay increases and an attractive benefits package that is completely solvent. I like the speaker, and for most of his term he's proven to be the most level-headed of the three top state leaders. However, he's made some head-scratching moves this session, none more itch-inducing than this one." |
| SAM R. HALL (OPINION): Tagert, Adams likely top candidates for MS01 | |
| The Clarion-Ledger's Sam R. Hall writes: "All signs point to Mike Tagert and Boyce Adams as the top contenders to replace the late-U.S. Rep. Alan Nunnelee in the May 12 special election. Tagert, the northern district transportation commissioner, and Adams, who unsuccessfully challenged Brandon Presley for northern district public service commissioner in 2011, will not be the only candidates. ...Tagert, who has been considered the presumed frontrunner from the beginning, became all but a certainty when Hernando Mayor Chip Johnson filed to run for Northern District Transportation Commissioner on Tuesday. Tagert and Johnson are friends and allies, and this looks like an obvious political switcheroo." |
| BRIAN PERRY (OPINION): Friday deadline looms for candidates to file qualifying papers | |
| Jackson-based consultant and columnist Brian Perry writes: "We should finally have a fairly firm view of the statewide 2015 elections this Friday at 5 p.m., the deadline for candidates to file their qualifying papers with their respective parties and for independent candidates to file with the Secretary of State. The past two weeks have shored up many of the races. ...In all these races, a lot can happen before Friday's deadline. Tuesday, March 3 at 5 p.m. is the deadline for parties to submit their lists to the Secretary of State, at which time, we'll know if any minor parties (Reform, Libertarian, Green, Constitution) have candidates." |
| CHARLIE MITCHELL (OPINION): Malingerers draw criticism | |
| Longtime Mississippi journalist Charlie Mitchell writes: "What state Rep. Gene Alday put in words earlier this month struck a chord with many. They believe America in 2015 is a place where a decreasing number of people work to support themselves and their families and are forced to support an increasing number who are shiftless and lazy – yet have cars, homes, plenty of food, health care, vastly more children than they can afford or care for, super cellphones and plenty of frou-frou including the latest in clothing and jewelry designs. ..To his discredit, Alday, a Republican and former mayor of Walls, also injected race. ...In the big picture, blaming people who line up for giveaways is disingenuous for at least three real reasons." |
SPORTS
| Mississippi State men gearing up for No. 1 Kentucky | |
| Even if others were mistaken, John Calipari had no problem remembering who is next on the No. 1 Kentucky men's basketball team's schedule. As Calipari joined the Southeastern Conference's weekly basketball teleconference Monday morning, the conference call moderator introduced the Kentucky coach and said he and his team were preparing to face Texas A&M on Wednesday night. "I thought we were playing Mississippi State," Calipari said. "These goofballs have me watching Mississippi State tape. Should I go watch Texas A&M tape?" With that, Calipari laughed off the gaffe and confirmed Kentucky -- which is a unanimous No. 1 in both major polls -- is focused on its matchup against MSU at 6 p.m. Wednesday (SEC Network) at Humphrey Coliseum. |
| Mississippi State preparing for Kentucky's combination of size, talent | |
| From a distance, Kentucky's post play doesn't doesn't warrant the fear of past Wildcats Demarcus Cousins or Anthony Davis. But Mississippi State will have an up-close view of the frontcourt for the top team in the country. "Be prepared," senior Roquez Johnson told his teammates of UK's length. "We don't have guys at practice that are taller than them, so they'll figure it our in the game on Wednesday." |
| Mississippi State slowly rebuilding as No. 1 Kentucky looms | |
| Mississippi State was the worst team in the Southeastern Conference last season. Now the program is simply mediocre. It's far from a miraculous turnaround, but the Bulldogs (12-15, 5-9 SEC) have slowly shown signs of improvement during their third season under coach Rick Ray. The past week was a synopsis of how much Mississippi State has progressed -- and also how far the program has to go to beat the league's elite. The Bulldogs narrowly lost home games to Mississippi and Arkansas, leading for most of both games before faltering in the final minutes. Now Mississippi State gets its chance Wednesday to knock off No. 1 Kentucky. |
| Gridley helps Bulldogs run to 9-0 | |
| No. 22 Mississippi State improved to 9-0 on the year with a 10-2 victory over Alcorn State on Tuesday. The Bulldogs collected 14 hits, led by SEC Freshman of the Week Ryan Gridley, who was 4-for-5 with a double and two RBI. "I just try to put good swings on the ball and keep my barrel flat and good things will happen," Gridley said. MSU continues its homestand this weekend, hosting Arizona and Samford beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. |
| Gridley continues tear in Bulldog victory | |
 | Second baseman Ryan Gridley continued his early hitting tear as the No. 13 Mississippi State baseball team moved to 9-0. This week's Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, Gridley had four hits and two RBIs as MSU knocked off Alcorn State 10-2 in a chilly Tuesday afternoon contest played at Dudy Noble Field. A native of Milton, Georgia, Gridley became the first Bulldog to take home the weekly award since 2012 after hitting .455 in four victories. |
| Weather affecting Mississippi State women's hoops trip to South Carolina | |
| Mississippi State's women's basketball team departed for South Carolina a day early due to the inclement weather expected to affect the area on Wednesday. "We've got some travel issues today. So we're going to have to practice here and cut practice short," MSU coach Vic Schaefer said. "Today is supposed to be our long day." Mississippi State left Starkville at 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday. Mississippi State plays No. 2 South Carolina on Thursday at 6 p.m on FSN. |
| Preston Smith surges, Benardrick McKinney drops after Combine | |
| Since Mississippi State's season ended on Jan. 1, it was universally believed the team had one first-round pick on its roster. Nearly two months later, the belief remains with some, but the name has changed. Preston Smith jumped into the first round on some draft boards after his performance at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last weekend. Benardrick McKinney, who had been projected as a first round pick since he declared, fell out of the first-round projections. |
| Gil Hanse hired to create new golf course in Mississippi | |
| The George Bryan family has hired the architect behind the Rio 2016 Olympic course to develop the Mossy Oak Golf Club near the city of West Point in the northeastern part of the state. The project is a joint venture between the family, Hanse and outdoor brand Mossy Oak. The development will have a specific focus on nature preservation. Hanse will also design a new practice facility for the site, which will serve as the official home of the Mississippi State University men's and women's golf teams. This facility will include a five-green driving range, short game training areas and a putting green. "This facility is a program changer for us and we are overjoyed by the partnership and vision of both Mossy Oak Golf Club and Gil Hanse to make our dream a reality," said Clay Homan, men's golf head coach at Mississippi State. |
| Scoreboard construction to close part of Auburn's Heisman Drive through August | |
 | The westbound lanes of Heisman Drive, which runs from the Stadium Parking Deck on Auburn University's campus to South Donahue Drive, will be closed from March 2 to Aug. 31. The closing will facilitate the construction of the new Jordan-Hare Stadium scoreboard, which at 200 feet wide and 105 feet tall will be the largest in college football. While Tiger Transit buses will not be affected by the closing, the sidewalk located on the stadium side of Heisman Drive will be closed. |
| AD Dave Hart campaigns to combat Lady Vols criticism | |
 | After a recent wave of media criticism of Tennessee's decision in November to limit the use of the nickname "Lady Vols" to the women's basketball team and refer to the rest of the women's teams as the Volunteers, athletic director Dave Hart has gone on the offensive again. In an interview Sunday on the statewide Vol Network radio show "The Nation," Hart explained the process of the decision to streamline the university's mark, but also harshly criticized those who have protested the change. Hart also defended his record on gender equity. A Tennessee athletics spokesman said Tuesday that Hart would not be available to elaborate because the school was closed and referred the News Sentinel to Sunday's comments. |
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