| Thursday, March 5, 2015 |
| Severe winter weather closes Mississippi State's Starkville campus Thursday | |
 | Mississippi State's Starkville campus will close Thursday due to the current winter weather advisories from the National Weather Service and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. Severe winter weather conditions, including predictions of freezing precipitation and significant ice accumulations on roads, bridges, sidewalks, trees and power lines in north Mississippi, are predicted to make driving conditions and pedestrian travel on campus dangerous. The MSU-Meridian campus will operate on a normal schedule on Thursday. Commuter students are urged to exercise caution in travel decisions. Monitor local news outlets for changing conditions and advisories. For campus updates, see www.emergency.msstate.edu or www.twitter.com/maroonalert. |
| Gov. Bryant Delays Opening of Some State Offices Due to 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 noon today. State agency directors have discretion to bring in essential personnel and should notify those employees who need to report to work prior to noon. The National Weather Service says freezing rain, sleet and snow are expected to continue throughout the morning, from the I-20 corridor northward making travel dangerous. The Mississippi Department of Transportation is reporting ice on roads and bridges in most counties in north and central parts of the state. |
| Mississippi State Student Is Truman Finalist | |
 | A Mississippi State political science and mathematics double-major from Flowood is a finalist for the nation's most prestigious scholarship for students committed to public service. University senior Jamie A. Aron interviews March 16 in Nashville, Tennessee, in hopes of becoming the land-grant institution's 17th Harry S. Truman Scholar. In expressing gratitude for support received throughout her collegiate career, Aron gave a special thanks to her parents, brothers and friends. She also cited five individuals at MSU, including President Mark E. Keenum and wife Rhonda Newman Keenum; Tommy Anderson, Presidential Endowed Scholars mentor; Brian Shoup, assistant professor in the political science and public administration department; and Chris Snyder, honors college dean. |
| Mississippi State grad students map out downtown Booneville | |
 | Downtown Main Street Association Director Trudy Featherston works hard to get more people to invest in Booneville. "Right now, I think there's the mindset that there's not enough traffic to justify someone locating into our downtown area," said Featherston. Hoping to have a profound impact on that mindset is Dr. Joseph Fratesi and a group of Mississippi State University graduate students. "They're doing some good things, but they could use a little bit of help," said Dr. Fratesi. Help has arrived and recently. Students working to complete their masters degrees in public policy and administration are conducting a research project which takes them street level in Booneville. |
| Trauma Kits Donated To MSU Police Department | |
| A Mississippi State student is making sure law enforcement have life saving tools at their finger tips. Kellie Abbott 20 donated trauma kits to the MSU Police Department Wednesday. She founded Blue Forever after her friend, a Shreveport police officer, bled to death. Abbott wants to raise enough money to provide officers across the country with Quick Clot Belt Trauma Kits. |
| Starkville aldermen say 'no deal' to Cadence Bank | |
 | Starkville aldermen ended months of speculation surrounding a potential purchase of Cadence Bank's Main Street property Tuesday by shifting their attention to renovating City Hall for Starkville Police Department's permanent home. In the end, aldermen acknowledged the cost of purchasing the bank -- an expected $2.55 million -- and minimum renovations would outpace revenue streams. They voted 5-0 -- Aldermen David Little and Henry Vaughn were absent Tuesday -- to end negotiations with Cadence. Although the board showed interest in a partial City Hall renovation, one estimated to cost at least $2.44 million, aldermen failed to motion the plan forward, opting instead to continue studying it and its associated funding measures. |
| Drug sting targets Maben, Starkville residents | |
| Oktibbeha County law enforcement agents landed a major blow against drug trafficking Tuesday after a year-long investigation yielded 11 arrests and the seizure of drugs, firearms and cash. Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Department and Starkville Police Department, assisted by numerous other Golden Triangle and state officers, executed numerous search and arrest warrants Tuesday in and around Maben and Starkville. During the course of those raids, agents seized marijuana, cocaine, firearms, three vehicles and $3,000 in cash. |
| Airbus gets FAA airworthiness approval for helicopters manufactured in Golden Triangle | |
| The first Airbus Helicopters AS350 AStar helicopter completely assembled in the U.S. has received airworthiness certification from the Federal Aviation Administration. The AS350 B3e rolled off the Airbus Helicopters Inc. final assembly line in Columbus at the end of December. Airbus officials say in a news release that the Columbus plant is set up to produce 30 AStars in 2015 and 60 or more in 2016 and beyond. The AStar is used by law enforcement agencies, air medical service providers and others. |
| Mississippi Energy Institute launches workforce development website | |
 | The Mississippi Energy Institute would like for every available energy job in the state to be filled. To get there, the think tank has launched getonthegridms.com, a website designed to get those interested in technical and professional occupations in the energy sector connected to the places and people who can help. MEI, with help from Jackson ad and PR agency Godwin Group, built the site and is responsible for its content. The effort was funded totally by private money. "It's modeled after similar workforce development websites in Alabama and Georgia," MEI president Patrick Sullivan said. |
| Tupelo attorney Pirkle announces bid for Congress | |
 | Tupelo attorney Greg Pirkle announced today his candidacy for the open 1st District congressional seat, casting himself as a political outsider who would work hard to "fix the mess we're in." Pirkle is the fifth candidate in the May 12 election to fill the term of the late U.S. Rep. Alan Nunnelee, who died Feb. 6 after a battle with cancer. Pirkle, who grew up in New Albany, has been active in civic affairs for many years. He has a bachelor's degree from Baylor University, a law degree from the University of Mississippi, and a master of tax degree from New York University. |
| House approves tax cut on alcohol sold to retailers | |
 | Restaurants and package stores that sell alcohol in Mississippi could get a tax break, if the governor agrees. The House on Wednesday sent Senate Bill 2207 to Republican Gov. Phil Bryant. It proposes wiping out a $225 tax on every purchase of alcohol over $5,000 from the state alcohol warehouse in Madison. Bryant spokeswoman Nicole Webb says he will review the bill before either signing or vetoing it. |
| Senate to propose changes to 'no-bid' contracts bill | |
| An omnibus reform and transparency act aimed at cracking down on "no-bid" contracts, such as those at the heart of a recent bribery and corruption scandal, suffered what its author called a detrimental amendment weakening the entire effort. House Bill 825, authored by state Rep. Jerry Turner, R-Baldwin, would make it harder for state agencies to award contracts without competitive bidding for the best price and service, eliminate generous exemptions to bidding and open the process and paperwork to the public and media. It also would require lawmakers and other state public officials to annually report gifts they are given by those trying to curry their favor. |
| House would let prisons chief fire office employees | |
| Mississippi House members want to authorize new Corrections Commissioner Marshall Fisher to reorganize the department's central office and fire some employees without regard to civil service status. However, when the House passed Senate Bill 2804 Wednesday, it didn't go as far as the Senate, which wants to allow Fisher that power over all the department's employees. Fisher wants the ability to shift people around in the whole agency, as well as lay people off. The amended version would only authorize Fisher to fire roughly 100 central office employees for two years through June 30, 2017. |
| Collins says new Iran bill won't impact Toyota; Senate OKs it | |
| Sen. Nancy Collins, R-Tupelo, told the Senate her new proposal "to send a message to Iran" will not have any impact on Toyota and its manufacturing plant in Blue Springs. Collins' new Iran Divestment Act was passed Wednesday morning 35-11 after about one hour of debate where some members questioned whether the proposal would have unintended consequences. Collins said Toyota, which expressed concerns about her original proposal, had signed off on the bill that was passed Wednesday. The bill would prevent the state treasurer and the Public Employees Retirement System from investing in any company that does business with Iran's oil and energy industry. But Collins conceded on the floor of the Senate that the PERS Board could decide on "a case-by-case basis," based on its fiduciary responsibility, whether to invest in companies doing business with Iran. |
| Baria says he has better idea for helping Mississippi's special needs kids | |
 | A Coast lawmaker says an amendment he'll offer to replace a school-voucher bill would save the state millions. David Baria, D-Waveland, said creating an Office of Special Needs Counsel would cost $1.5 million per year and cover all of the state's approximately 63,000 special needs children. He said he'll make another attempt to get that passed in the next couple of days by replacing a bill that would offer "education scholarship accounts" to help meet the needs of special needs children. He said the ESA proposal would cover about 500 children at an annual cost of $3.25 million. |
| Mabus: Money for Navy ships crucial for readiness | |
| Despite federal budget constraints, the Navy must have the money to continue building and maintaining its fleet, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said Wednesday. Mabus, a former Mississippi governor, told the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense that the Navy's ships are a critical component of military readiness. "I will do everything in my power to protect shipbuilding," he said. "The specific actions I'm going to take (are), in any budget decision, shipbuilding is protected until the very last, until the last dollar dies." Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., chairman of the subcommittee, held Wednesday's hearing to review the administration's fiscal 2016 budget request for the Navy and Marine Corps. Mississippi is home to several shipbuilding-related businesses, including Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, the largest private employer in the state. |
| Supreme Court justices split in key challenge to Obamacare subsidies | |
 | Supreme Court justices split along ideological lines Wednesday in a dramatic but collegial showdown in the latest legal battle over the Affordable Care Act, with the outcome difficult to predict. If President Obama could draw hope from the 1 hour and 25 minutes of debate about his signature domestic achievement, it would be because of Justice Anthony M. Kennedy. Three years ago, Kennedy was among the four dissenters who would have found the entire act unconstitutional. But Wednesday, with his comments and questions seeming to cut both ways, he appeared to be back in play. The outcome could also hang on Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. |
| Senate Cybersecurity Bill Stalls After White House Pushback | |
 | The White House and some congressional Democrats have raised privacy concerns about a cybersecurity bill drafted by top Senate Intelligence Committee lawmakers, stalling -- at least temporarily -- one of Congress's top priorities. A draft of the bill was circulated last week by the panel's chairman, Sen. Richard Burr (R., N.C.) and the ranking Democrat, Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California. The legislation is meant, in large part, to make it easier for companies to share information with the government about potential cyberattacks, malware, viruses, or computer intrusions. The information-sharing focus of the draft has broad support from many -- but not all -- large companies. |
| Young, conservative, and ...atheist? A test for the GOP | |
 | Conservatives made history this year. For the first time, an avowed atheist addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, the big annual gathering of conservative activists. And atheists occupied an exhibitor's booth, another first. Jamila Bey, an African American journalist and board member of the group American Atheists, didn't exactly wow the crowd, for whom professions of religious faith and a belief in God are standard fare. But she wasn't booed either. For the atheists, long held at arm's length by Republicans, that's progress. Republicans have lost badly among young voters in recent presidential elections. And doubts about God's existence among young adults are growing fast. This rising secularism among young voters could put the very ability of the Republican Party to compete nationally at stake. |
| Ferguson Police Tainted by Bias, Justice Department Says | |
 | The Justice Department on Wednesday called on Ferguson, Mo., to overhaul its criminal justice system, declaring that the city had engaged in so many constitutional violations that they could be corrected only by abandoning its entire approach to policing, retraining its employees and establishing new oversight. In one example after another, the report described a city that used its police and courts as moneymaking ventures, a place where officers stopped and handcuffed people without probable cause, hurled racial slurs, used stun guns without provocation, and treated anyone as suspicious merely for questioning police tactics. |
| Volvo speeding toward South Carolina, state lawmakers say | |
 | Volvo soon could drive into South Carolina with a manufacturing plant, likely in the Charleston area, four state legislators told The State on Wednesday. South Carolina is a finalist for a Volvo plant, which would join BMW as a major automaker in the Palmetto State, the lawmakers said. North Carolina and Kentucky also are pursuing the Swedish carmaker's plant, according to media reports. Gov. Nikki Haley returned Wednesday from a four-day economic-development trip to an undisclosed location with state Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt. Foreign carmakers have found homes for new plants in the South over the past two decades. |
| Editorial cartoon in UM student newspaper raises anger | |
| An editorial cartoon in the University of Mississippi's student newspaper has drawn national attention after some people felt it advocates violence and infidelity. Several letters to the editor, some fairly verbose, on the Daily Mississippian's site, expressed outrage at the idea that the publication would publish what they felt was such a misogynistic cartoon. |
| Upperclassmen at UM struggle to find off-campus housing | |
 | With nearly 3,500 freshmen currently enrolled at The University of Mississippi, more upperclassmen are on the hunt for off-campus housing than ever before. "When we first started providing off-campus housing in Oxford, people weren't signing leases until mid-February or March," said Scott Stage, senior vice president and property manager of Core Campus in Oxford. "We are now seeing these dates being pushed back. I urge students to start looking between Thanksgiving and Christmas break and signing their lease soon after they return from the Christmas holidays." |
| Vinyl release to immortalize Barry Hannah lecture | |
| As a student in award-winning Mississippi writer Barry Hannah's creative writing class while at Ole Miss, David Swider said his notes from Hannah's class are the only things he has saved from college. Swider eventually struck up a friendship with the "Airships" author while working at one of Hannah's favorite spots in Oxford, Square Books, bonding over music all the while listening to Hannah's unique drawl. He eventually ran across a two-hour recording by William Ferris, the founder of Ole Miss' Center for Study of Southern Culture, made of Hannah speaking to his Southern literature class in 1989. A portion of Hannah's discussion with the class will be released April 18 as a spoken-word album titled "Barry Hannah: I have no idea what tradition I'm in. Don't care." |
| Southern Miss student competes on 'The Voice' | |
| Briar Jonnee, who grew up in the small Noxubee County town of Shuqualak, passed her audition Tuesday night on The Voice, NBC's popular reality singing competition. Jonnee, a 20-year-old sophomore broadcast journalism major at the University of Southern Mississippi, sang Rihanna's Take A Bow. Judges Pharrell Williams and Blake Shelton pleaded for the chance to mentor her. She chose to join Pharrell's team. Jonnee, the youngest of six children, is a graduate of the Mississippi School for the Arts in Brookhaven. |
| Former USM student turns chairs on 'The Voice' | |
 | A former University of Southern Mississippi student turned a couple chairs on Tuesday's edition of "The Voice." Briar Jonnee Blakley, 20, of Shuqualak, sang Rihanna's 2007 hit "Take A Bow" during her blind audition on the NBC reality singing competition, and had Pharrell Williams and Blake Shelton vying for a chance to add her to their roster. A broadcast journalism major, Briar Jonnee ultimately chose Team Pharrell. She admitted she had to leave her classes this past fall but feels it was worth it. "...Recently I had to give all that up to do 'The Voice,' but honestly it wasn't a tough decision because hey, it's 'The Voice,'" she said during an interview on the show's website. |
| LSU group plans forum to 'bring students into budget conversation' | |
 | LSU President and Chancellor F. King Alexander, state Rep. Pat Smith and chief economist for the state Legislature Greg Albrecht will participate in a forum on the state budget March 18. The event is being organized by Geaux Vote LSU, a student group that encourages involvement in the political process. "We are hosting this event to bring students into the budget cuts conversation, because we hold a stake in this," co-organizers Valencia Richardson said in a news release. Gov. Bobby Jindal's budget proposal released last week would slash funding for higher education by about $211 million. |
| Louisiana higher ed leaders say funds to push high-demand programs plagued by delays, uncertainty | |
| About a third of the money from the Jindal administration's much-trumpeted WISE Fund has made its way to campuses -- several months after colleges and universities developed plans for spending it. Higher education leaders gave an update on the $40 million Workforce Investment for a Stronger Economy Fund, meant to strengthen programs to get more graduates in high-demand fields, during a Workforce Investment Council meeting at the State Capitol on Wednesday. About a third of the fund came from unrestricted general revenue dollars, but the rest was filled with money from the state's capital outlay fund, which isn't available until June 30, and federal grants linked to Louisiana's recovery from hurricanes Gustav and Ike. |
| Leaders push fee proposal that doesn't rely on Louisiana university students directly paying | |
| It has been dubbed a "student fee," but it's unlikely college and university students will directly see increased costs from the Jindal administration's latest plan to pump more money into higher education in the coming year. As The Advocate reported Wednesday, higher education leaders and Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration have been working together to fine-tune the "student fee" plan and how it might work in practice. The biggest result from that is that both sides now agree students won't face out-of-pocket costs for the new fee -- a dollar figure for which hasn't been set and would likely vary by campus or program. "We are all on the same page and working with higher education on this proposal," Jindal assistant chief of staff Stafford Palmieri told The Advocate. |
| Arkansas Senate Panel Approves Changes to Lottery-Funded College Scholarships | |
| Lottery-funded scholarships for incoming freshmen would be cut in half under a proposal to overhaul the program's requirements advanced by an Arkansas legislative panel Wednesday. The Senate Education Committee endorsed the changes, which supporters say is needed because of the lottery's dwindling revenue. The bill could go before the Senate as early as Thursday. About 32,000 students are currently receiving scholarships through the lottery program, which voters approved in 2008. Bill sponsor Sen. Jimmy Hickey said it would help save money and address the number of students who aren't retaining the scholarship after their freshman year. |
| 'Dreamers' at Texas A&M march for right to in-state tuition | |
 | Texas A&M University "Dreamers" want to send a message to Texas legislators that they are not backing down in the ongoing fight for in-state tuition for undocumented students. More than 50 students organized by the Texas A&M University Council for Minority Student Affairs marched on campus Wednesday afternoon to rally support for the Texas Dream Act amid talks of repealing the bill and legislative actions to eliminate some provisions. Students who identified as undocumented Aggies, activists who support the Dream Act and documented students backing their peers delivered testimonials on Simpson Drill Field following the march. |
| Just How Private Are College Students' Campus Counseling Records? | |
 | The U.S. Department of Education on Wednesday weighed in on an alleged case of sexual assault at the University of Oregon that has prompted heated debate about how privacy protections apply to students' therapy records. While the department's statement appears to lend credence to the university's assertion that it was justified in obtaining the student's records, it also seems unlikely to settle a dispute that has intensified in recent days. The case has created uncomfortable questions about the confidentiality of on-campus counseling sessions for alleged rape victims who sue their colleges. |
| LAYNE BRUCE (OPINION): Taxpayers deserve sun shining on public hospitals | |
| Layne Bruce, executive director of the Mississippi Press Association, writes in The Clarion-Ledger: "Let's get one thing straight. Problems that engulfed Singing River Health System are by no means indigenous to Jackson County. One might think so, however, after a House committee voted this week to gut a transparency bill and make only Singing River accountable under the state's Open Meetings and Public Records Acts. It was a misguided action that, as one sharp editorial writer opined, amounts to putting a Band Aid on a severed artery. Mississippi's publicly owned hospitals have for decades enjoyed an exemption from the so-called sunshine laws that require government bodies and public institutions to be more transparent. ...All public hospitals should be accountable to the public under Mississippi law. Transparency should apply to all of them, not just the hospitals that have been put in a corner for naughty behavior." |
| BOBBY HARRISON (OPINION): Ford was a master coalition-builder | |
| The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal's Bobby Harrison writes: "Tim Ford's secret is that he genuinely cared about people. He liked and got along with most everybody and was a tremendous observer of people. Plus, he knew the process -- all aspects of it. In Tupelo, I went to church with Tim, and along with my wife, taught his son, Ken, for a short while in Sunday school. I will never forget being at a church picnic at his house after I had committed to move to Jackson to cover state government for the Journal. The then-speaker spent time that day telling me about other members of the Capitol press corps, who would be both my colleagues and my competition. His observations were both precise and penetrating." |
| SID SALTER (OPINION): Tim Ford guided Mississippi House into modern era | |
| Syndicated columnist Sid Salter writes: "The House that freshman state Rep. Tim Ford joined in 1980 was one ruled by an all-powerful speaker who took care of his friends, ignored his enemies and marginalized the relatively small number of African-American lawmakers -- a group that had grown from four to 17 in the election that brought Ford to the Legislature. Before his career was over, Ford became a remarkably effective leader of the Mississippi House of Representatives at a time when the chamber had been rocked by a bloody political battle between 'old guard' legislators and a group of so-called House 'rebels.' ...Ford left Mississippi better than he found it when he entered public service -- and that's a powerful legacy." |
SPORTS
| Mississippi State announces pricing plans for new Dudy Noble | |
| Mississippi State Athletics unveiled Tuesday pricing information for fans interested in purchasing seats at the new Dudy Noble Field. MSU also announced fans can make premium area deposits toward their seats. The new $40 million project aims to remake the Bulldogs' home ballpark into the finest in college baseball. Several premium area opportunities are being planned in the new facility, including Diamond Suites, The Backstop, the Omaha Level Club and Loge, and the unique Left Field Lofts. Deposits for each area are being accepted now. |
| Bulldogs audition for pro teams | |
| The collective eyes of the NFL were focused on Mississippi State as the Bulldogs held their annual pro day Wednesday with scouts from all 32 teams in attendance. It was a day for known commodities such as potential first round selections Benardrick McKinney and Preston Smith to maintain their stock while others like Matt Wells to make a name for themselves and move onto draft boards. "These guys are all part of our family and when you see a family member get to go and accomplish their dream, it's so special," said MSU coach Dan Mullen. "The whole program takes so much pride in these guys getting this opportunity to show what they can do at the next level." |
| Matt Wells among Bulldogs that shine at MSU Pro Day | |
| A pile of NFL scouts from every NFL team waited 40 yards away, their hands cocked at a 45 degree angle with a stop watch. With Matt Wells' first motion forward, beeps from the watches echoed inside the Palmiero Center on Wednesday. Four seconds later, whispers from current Mississippi State players met another beep. Beniquez Brown recorded 4.38 seconds. Dak Prescott clocked Wells, his former teammate, at 4.33. When the official numbers were released, Wells ran a 4.41, the best of any player at MSU's Pro Day. |
| Schaefer leads Mississippi State's award winners | |
| The Mississippi State women's basketball team piled up the Southeastern Conference honors from league coaches Tuesday. MSU coach Vic Schaefer was named SEC co-Coach of the Year as well as one of 10 semifinalists for Naismith National Coach of the Year. Victoria Vivians and Martha Alwal were named second-team All-SEC. Alwal also claimed her third-straight selection to the All-Defensive team, while Vivians joined Morgan William on the All-Freshman team. Schaefer shared coach of the year honors with South Carolina's Dawn Staley after guiding the Bulldogs (26-5, 11-5 SEC) to a third-place finish in the SEC. The team's overall win total and 11 wins in the league are school records. |
| Mississippi State, Ole Miss prepare to boost postseason resumes in Little Rock | |
| While Mississippi State and Ole Miss captured the nation's attention on the gridiron, the schools' women's basketball team began their seasons last fall. Much like their helmet-wearing compatriots, the Bulldogs and Rebels didn't receive much preseason recognition. The Southeastern Conference media and coaches projected MSU to finish eighth and Ole Miss dead-last on the hardwood. Months later, the two teams head to Little Rock for the SEC tournament with NCAA aspirations. |
| Mississippi State softball downs Kennesaw State | |
| With the opportunity to continue growing, the young Mississippi State softball team (17-3) did just that amidst a rain-delay to down Kennesaw State (10-5), 4-2, for another non-conference victory on Wednesday at the MSU Softball Field. "I thought we did a good job answering back both times Kennesaw State scored tonight," assistant coach Samantha Ricketts said. MSU will open conference play Friday against No. 8 Georgia (17-2) at the MSU Softball Field at 5:30 p.m. The contest will air live on SEC Network+. Admission to all games at the MSU Softball Stadium is free and open to the public. |
| Southern Miss baseball shuts down Ole Miss | |
| Austin Roussel has thrived against Ole Miss and Southern Miss has wallowed in his offensive prowess. The beat went on for both the senior catcher and the Golden Eagles Wednesday at Pete Taylor Park. Roussel got the scoring started with a sacrifice fly in the second inning and Southern Miss went on to beat the Rebels 5-1 in front of 4,022. "I don't know what it is," he said. "You don't even need to tell us to get up. We just know how to handle business when we play Ole Miss." The victory is the fourth in a row for Scott Berry's club this season and the fifth straight over Ole Miss dating back to 2013. The Golden Eagles improve to 7-4-1, while the Rebels fall to 6-5. |
| Kellenberger named columnist; Blevins heads to Ole Miss | |
| Familiar faces are taking on new roles for The Clarion-Ledger's sports team. Hugh Kellenberger, who has covered Ole Miss for nearly four years, is taking on the new role of columnist and enterprise sports writer. Stepping into the Ole Miss role will be Riley Blevins, who covers recruiting and high school sports. "Both Hugh and Riley are tremendous talents who do great work, and I think these moves are really going to strengthen an already award-winning, high-performing sports department," Executive Editor Sam R. Hall said. As columnist, Kellenberger will widen the scope of his coverage to include all of Mississippi's teams at the college and high school levels. |
| Former College Lineman Now on the Streets, Looking for Answers, and Help | |
| With sunset minutes away, the man in the neon yellow knit hat took his usual spot here at a busy intersection. Across from a Publix supermarket and on the edge of a Circle K parking lot, he sat against a streetlight holding a worn cardboard sign with dirt-stained hands that could easily palm a basketball. "Lost Job. Laid Off. Homeless." Here was the man I had been looking for. At the urging of his family, I had tracked him down after a string of texts to several prepaid cellphones kept -- and lost -- by this man, who is plagued with short-term memory problems. His life wasn't always like this. Nearly 20 years and more than 100 pounds ago, this panhandler in the yellow knit cap, Ryan Hoffman, was a hulking offensive lineman for a college football team ranked in the top 10, a starting player renowned for his toughness and durability. |
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