| Monday, April 6, 2015 |
| Grant supports Mississippi State mobile vet program | |
 | Mississippi State University has received a $300,000 grant from the Humane Society of the United States to continue its popular traveling veterinary service program to animal shelters. The mobile veterinary clinic provides professional services to 18 North Mississippi animal shelters. The student-staffed, faculty-supervised clinics spay and neuter homeless animals. Officials say in addition to helping promote animal health at animal shelters in the region, the grant will enable opportunities for more students to expand their proficiencies in shelter medicine. |
| Edward French takes the helm at MSU's Stennis Institute of Government | |
 | The new executive director of the Stennis Institute of Government & Community Development brings to the post a vast store of knowledge about public administration and how to effectively run local governments. But Dr. Edward P. "Eddie" French can also tell you the best places to stop for a quick bite to eat along the highways between Bristol, Va., and Starkville. It's the kind of expertise you can acquire if you commute from Southwest Virginia to Mississippi State University weekly in pursuit of a PhD. Small wonder Marty Wiseman, the professor who taught the public policy and administration classes French took in earning his doctorate in public administration, descries French as "a very energetic type." |
| North Mississippi Allstars acoustic show comes to MSU Riley Center April 23 | |
 | As kids, Luther and Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars soaked up the gritty rural blues that surrounded their northwest Mississippi home. They flavored it with rock 'n' roll influences from their father, a noted Memphis record producer. Now they've distilled their music into its acoustic essence, which they'll present at the MSU Riley Center on April 23, during the North Mississippi Allstars Acoustic tour, featuring Sharde Thomas and Lightnin Malcolm. |
| PHOTO: High school students learn dinner etiquette at MSU-Meridian | |
| Fine dining was the order of the day Thursday for 23 West Lauderdale High School students who took part in a dinner etiquette lesson at Weidmann's presented by Dr. Natasha Randle, associate professor of management and Heather Woodall, senior coordinator of The Career Center at MSU-Meridian. Participating students were either members of the Family Career & Community Leaders of America club at the school or were part of Suzie Sanders' Nutrition and Wellness class at West Lauderdale. Pictured, from left, are: Austin McDonald, Terrell Melillo, Dynasty Avery, Kamryn Gilbert, Carmen Hollis, Dr. Randle. and Kasey Neal. |
| Row-crop prices tank but livestock, poultry save Mississippi's bacon | |
| Row crop prices fell anywhere from 19 percent to nearly 30 percent last year in Mississippi, taking a huge chunk out of farm income. However, a major factor in that drop was the roughly $340 million that black Mississippi farmers got in 2013 as their share of a national settlement of $1.1 billion with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a result of alleged longterm discrimination. Nevertheless, more than $600 million of the income fall-off was the result of a decrease in commodity prices, Litkowski pointed out. Livestock, poultry and forestry bailed out the row crops and helped push overall income to about $7.7 billion, matching the record set in 2013, according to a report from Mississippi State University. |
| Farmers ante up and place bets in risky year | |
| Mississippi farmers have doubled down on soybeans as a way to remain a player in the high-risk poker game that has seen winnings from past years dwindle. Farmers say they will plant 2.3 million acres of the beans this year, up 4 percent from 2013, the most land devoted to that crop since 1988, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service report released Tuesday. Beans, like the other major row crops, took it on the chin, with its price down 26 percent last year from 2013. Among other losing bets last year in the state: corn, down nearly 24 percent; cotton, down 19 percent, wheat, down 29 percent. "How does a producer handle that? A producer handles that by really getting a sharp pencil," said John Michael Riley, ag economist at Mississippi State University. |
| Kudzu bug and other insects emerge in Miss-Lou | |
 | The Adams County Extension Service has received nearly two dozen calls in recent days because an insect apparently unfamiliar to many has started to emerge, seemingly invading homes. The insect in question is the kudzu bug. But the invasion is actually one in reverse. "Stink bugs, and kudzu bugs, overwinter as adults," said Blake Layton, an entomologist with Mississippi State University. "Apparently, they have a mechanism that allows them to withstand some pretty cold temperatures, and it gets cold in their native lands. But during the winter they will leave their plant hosts and come into buildings -- they think they are looking for cracks and rocks, but what they see are our houses." And that seems to be the story with many of the supposed spring insect invaders. |
| On the move: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | |
 | Cori Carraway has been selected chief of the permit section of the regulatory branch of Operations Division for the Vicksburg District. She previously served as a senior environmental specialist in the permit section. A Vicksburg native, Carraway has a bachelor's degree in environmental science from Mississippi State University. |
| U. of Alabama partners with Auburn, Mississippi State on water resources | |
 | Sports may divide schools in the Southeastern Conference, but one of Earth's most basic resources has brought together three Southern institutions. On March 12, Mississippi State University officially signed into a partnership with The University of Alabama and Auburn University to collaborate on water resource issues. Bennett Bearden, director of The University of Alabama's Water Policy and Law Institute, said the initiative will bring together the strengths of each of the schools' long-term research programs. "Our two states have tremendous common interests and challenges that we face in water quality and quantity," said David Shaw, vice president for research and economic development at Mississippi State University. "No one institution can bring all of the strengths and capabilities that are needed for these complex issues, so a partnership between our universities is an excellent means of bringing a diversity of talents together." |
| State House, Senate pass Starkville food and beverage tax extension | |
 | State lawmakers extended Starkville's 2 percent food and beverage tax through June 30, 2018, this week, and the move's associated legislation now awaits Gov. Phil Bryant's signature. The House and Senate both concurred Tuesday on HB 1664, which extends the city's 2 percent tax on the sale of prepared food and beverages, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic. "The 2 percent food and beverage tax has transformed the economic vitality and quality of life of our community," said Mayor Parker Wiseman. "I am pleased that the Legislature has given us the opportunity to continue to use the tax to move Starkville forward through 2018." Tax receipts were divided between Starkville Parks Commission (40 percent), Mississippi State University student groups (20 percent), the Oktibbeha County Economic Development Authority (15 percent) and the Starkville Convention and Visitors Bureau (15) percent. The remaining 10 percent returns to the city for use toward economic development projects, initiatives and opportunities. |
| Yokohama making an impact in West Point | |
| Cruising the fresh pavement on the newly opened Yokohama Boulevard, it can be easy to forget you are passing country homes that enjoyed solitude for so long. No more. Yokohama is here. The brand name written on a water tower that looms over a massive building can be seen from far, far away. Six months from now, Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mississippi, which will eventually produce 1 million tires a year, will begin cranking out tires. But in West Point, the rubber has already hit the road. "I think people will see it as a benefit now that the construction is completed," Robbie Robinson, the mayor of West Point, said on Friday. |
| Southern Motion adding 60 jobs in Baldwyn | |
 | One of Northeast Mississippi's largest furniture manufacturers is getting bigger. Pontotoc-based furniture manufacturer Southern Motion said Thursday it is expanding its operations at its Baldwyn facility. The company is investing $600,000 and is adding 60 jobs over the next 12 months, according to Gov. Phil Bryant and the Mississippi Development Authority. MDA said it provided help by expanding the company's parking lot. The Prentiss County Development Association, the city of Baldwyn and Prentiss County also provided assistance. Founded in 1996, Southern Motion builds motion furniture, including recliners, sofas and loveseats, sectionals and home theater furniture. |
| Net metering to be considered; Presley touts energy program to Rotarians | |
 | The Mississippi Public Service Commission (PSC) is expected next week to take up a proposal to allow public comment on a plan to approve "net metering," or the ability to charge back to utilities solar power produced but not used by homeowners. Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley described the plan to the Olive Branch Rotary Club meeting on Tuesday. Net metering allows residents who produce their own electricity through solar panels to be able to charge back what they don't use during the daylight hours to their electric utility, amounting to a discount on their power bills. Offering net metering is required by federal law, but Mississippi is one of only four states that have not adopted a statewide policy, something that Presley said he supports. |
| Q&A: Mississippi tourism in an important transition | |
| Malcolm White is Mississippi's tourism director, a post he was named to in December 2012. Tourism is a division of the Mississippi Development Authority. White has long been associated with Jackson but has roots in Northeast Mississippi. He moved to Booneville in 1964 from the Mississippi Gulf Coast and graduated from Booneville High School in 1969. He graduated from Northeast Mississippi Community College, where he played football, and he later graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi. Before being named the state's tourism director by Gov. Phil Bryant, White led the Mississippi Arts Commission for seven years. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal shares excerpts from a recent question-and-answer session with White. |
| Analysis: 2015 session was about modest changes, not big | |
| This is a year of modest accomplishments for the Mississippi Legislature. During their three-month session that just ended, lawmakers outlawed texting while driving; authorized people to carry guns in purses or briefcases without a concealed-carry license; and eliminated the $5 vehicle inspection sticker that, for many drivers, had become more of an annual annoyance than a genuine way to keep clunkers off the road. Facing pressure from conservatives who distrust the Common Core academic standards that Mississippi and most other states adopted in recent years, legislators voted to create a 15-member commission to examine what schools should teach. The group will make recommendations to the state Board of Education, but the board won't be obligated to accept the suggestions. |
| State religious freedom laws draw pushback | |
| Arkansas and Indiana are where Mississippi was exactly a year ago. Each state is deep into debate about religious freedom legislation that supporters say will strengthen individual rights and opponents warn will create statutory authority to discriminate against the LGBT community. As happened here, discomfort with original language from the business community spurred changes. The only difference is the degree of change each piece of legislation will endure. Originally dubbed the "turn away the gays bill," Mississippi's legislation drew outrage from LGBT advocacy groups, who claimed it cleared the way for businesses to refuse service to gay customers if the owner had a religious objection. The bill was modified to mirror 1993's federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act. |
| Political Battle Ramps Up Over Iran Nuclear Deal | |
 | President Barack Obama's bet on a diplomatic agreement to deter Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon faces an immediate test at home, where he must overcome the politics of skeptical Republicans as well as some Democrats in Congress. The political struggle -- part of the most complex battle of Mr. Obama's presidency -- is already under way as the GOP-controlled Congress aggressively presses for a bigger role in reviewing the nuclear-framework agreement reached last week between Iran, the U.S. and five other nations. Mr. Obama also must navigate the complicated leadership factions in the Middle East against the backdrop of the region's increasing volatility. And he has to do all this amid a hotly contested presidential contest. |
| Flurry of Contracts Spark US Navy Shipbuilding | |
| The past few days have been good for a number of the US Navy's shipbuilders. The service issued building contracts for two new destroyers, three littoral combat ships (LCS) and two new landing craft. Long-lead funding was issued for another LCS, and even the Coast Guard got in on the action. Down at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, the DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer John Finn (DDG 113) was launched on March 28. Ingalls also is building the Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) and Delbert D. Black (DDG 119), and the current block buy includes DDGs 121, 123 and 125. Ingalls Shipbuilding got another boost March 31 with a $500 million fixed-price incentive contract to build the eighth and last National Security Cutter (NSC) for the US Coast Guard. |
| Intent of Russian military aircraft near U.S. shores remains unclear | |
 | The air is frigid and the wind is howling as Air Force Col. Frank Flores lifts a pair of foot-long binoculars and studies a hazy dot about 50 miles west across the Bering Strait. "That's the mainland there," he shouts above the gusts. It's Siberia, part of Russia, on the Asian mainland. Named for an old mining camp, Tin City is a tiny Air Force installation atop an ice-shrouded coastal mountain 50 miles below the Arctic Circle, far from any road or even trees. The Pentagon took over the remote site decades ago and built a long-range radar station to help detect a surprise attack from the Soviet Union. At least from this frozen perch, America's closest point to Vladimir Putin's Russia, the Cold War is turning warm again. |
| The South: The present past | |
| For something that ended 150 years ago on April 9th, America's civil war is strangely newsworthy. Last month the Supreme Court heard a case that asked whether Texas should allow the Sons of Confederate Veterans to put a Confederate flag on their car licence-plates, and two white students were expelled from the University of Oklahoma for singing a song about lynching taught to them by a fraternity founded in the antebellum South. Yet the war is more than an excuse for dressing up. It created a divide that has yet to disappear. For all the economic dynamism of the South, which over the past few decades has almost caught up with the rest of the country economically, it remains a region apart, from the bedroom to the ballot box. |
| Beneath California Crops, Groundwater Crisis Grows | |
 | Even as the worst drought in decades ravages California, and its cities face mandatory cuts in water use, millions of pounds of thirsty crops like oranges, tomatoes and almonds continue to stream out of the state and onto the nation's grocery shelves. But the way that California farmers have pulled off that feat is a case study in the unwise use of natural resources, many experts say. Farmers are drilling wells at a feverish pace and pumping billions of gallons of water from the ground, depleting a resource that was critically endangered even before the drought, now in its fourth year, began. California has pushed harder than any other state to adapt to a changing climate, but scientists warn that improving its management of precious groundwater supplies will shape whether it can continue to supply more than half the nation's fruits and vegetables on a hotter planet. |
| Contract talks over; board starts search for Jones' replacement | |
| Contract renewal negotiations between Ole Miss chancellor Dan Jones and the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning are over and a search for his replacement will begin. "Over the past several days, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and Dr. Dan Jones made a good faith effort regarding Dr. Jones' continued service as Chancellor of the University of Mississippi," IHL commissioner Jim Borsig said in a statement. "A proposal to extend the contract of Dr. Jones was discussed. Dr. Jones declined that proposal, so the Board of Trustees will move forward with the search for a new Chancellor." In a letter Jones released just before a 2 p.m. news conference, Jones said the College Board offered to extend his contract for 21 months beyond September, with the promise he'd retire in June 2017. |
| UM search could require interim leader | |
| The University of Mississippi likely will require an interim leader before its next chancellor is selected. The contract of current Chancellor Dan Jones expires on Sept. 14. Although Jones and the state Institutions of Higher Learning had recently discussed a possible extension, both sides announced Thursday they could not come to terms. That leaves about five months before the office is vacated, which may not be enough time for the College Board to choose Jones' replacement. IHL Commissioner-elect Jim Borsig said Friday the average search for a university leader takes about six months, from beginning to end. Each search is unique, however, in how long it takes, he said. |
| Jones decision prompts governance discussions | |
| Momentum may be building for Mississippi to re-evaluate the way it governs its universities. Disappointment over Dan Jones' exit as chancellor at the University of Mississippi has given energy to discussions on that topic. Two legislators introduced bills on the matter late in the recently completed session and said they remain committed to studying that issue. "It's time for us to have the conversation about the governance structure for higher education in Mississippi," Jones said Thursday, during a press conference called to announce that he and the College Board could not reach an agreement that would have extended his contract. There are advantages to one state board, however, said Higher Education Commissioner-elect Jim Borsig. For one, it evaluates the system as a whole to prevent unnecessary duplication of programs. By having one entity make funding and bond requests of the Legislature, individual schools are not lobbying against each other for those funds, he said. |
| More than 2 dozen treated for 'spice' overdoses at UMMC | |
| Health officials at the University of Mississippi Medical Center are warning the public about a synthetic drug called spice. Over Easter weekend, more than two dozen people were treated for overdose symptoms in the hospital's emergency department. The drug is suspected as the cause of one death. Symptoms include agitation, sweating, hyperactivity, hallucinations and acute psychosis. In some cases, the user can fall into a coma. |
| Suspect in zoo flamingo deaths, a former Southern Miss student, indicted on 2 charges | |
 | A former University of Southern Mississippi student who was arrested after a fraternity scavenger hunt resulted in the deaths of two flamingos at the Hattiesburg Zoo last fall has been indicted on grand larceny and conspiracy charges. Devin Nottis, 19, was indicted by a Forrest County grand jury in an incident this past October that led to the deaths of two of the zoo's Chilean flamingos. In October, Southern Miss placed Nottis on interim suspension, and the fraternity he was pledging -- the Delta Mu chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha -- on indefinite suspension. Southern Miss officials said Friday that Nottis had withdrawn from the university. |
| Point Sur chef visible part of USM vessel's crew | |
| Every crew member on board a research vessel plays an important role, many behind the scenes. But one role that is more visible than others is the cook. The galley is the place where scientists can take a break from work, have a meal or snack, and unwind. Alex Forsythe of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a chef who spends his time on board various vessels as part of the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium chef pool that works one month on, one month off. He also served as chef on the Point Sur research vessel that recently was purchased by the University of Southern Mississippi. Monty Graham, USM Department of Marine Science chairman, said serving good meals in the vessel's galley can make researchers more comfortable in closed quarters. |
| Delta State students attend Legislative Day | |
| In March, many Delta State University students and faculty headed out to Jackson to visit the state capitol and attend Legislative Day. Legislative Day started in 1988 but was called Brown Bag Day because students literally took lunches in brown paper sacks. "The purpose of Legislative Day is to give students a way to communicate to legislators what DSU has done for them," said Magnolia Gatlin, SGA Governmental Affairs Chair. "It also gives the legislators a deeper insight into what really goes on at DSU, because students see the university differently than our adult leaders." |
| U. of Alabama's 'father of music education' dies at 98 | |
 | To the public, Edward Cleino will be remembered as the "father of music education at the University of Alabama," but to his family and friends, he will be remembered as a kind, inspiring man who lived his life by Christian principles. Cleino, former chairman of the music education department at the University of Alabama's College of Education, died Saturday at Hospice of West Alabama. He was 98 years old. While Cleino is known primarily for his musical influence at the university, his daughter, Barbie Cleino, said she will remember his musical influence from her childhood. |
| Acacia frat house at LSU trashed after chapter is booted from campus | |
 | LSU's now-banned Acacia fraternity house has sustained serious property damage just weeks after its members were told the fraternity was being removed from campus. The fraternity has until Monday, April 13 to remove their belongings from their house on West Lakeshore Drive. But by Saturday morning, damage to the alumni-owned house was clearly visible from the parking lot beside the backyard. Two Acacia members, who declined to give their names, said fellow members caused the damage and added that "everyone was really mad." One new member said, "We basically paid dues to get hazed for a semester." On Saturday, LSU Police arrived to assess the extent of the damage, which extended to both the interior and exterior. |
| U. of South Carolina student suspended for racial slur; are millennials racist? | |
 | A University of South Carolina student has been suspended after a photo showing her writing a racist slur on a campus whiteboard went viral. The incident is the latest in a series of high-profile racist episodes in colleges in the United States -- a series that has some critics questioning whether today's youth really are more tolerant and open to diversity than previous generations. Other experts have said that such incidents are a mark of the nation's struggle as it transitions into a place where, for the first time in its history, whites are no longer the majority. |
| South Carolina NAACP hits back after racist photo surfaces online | |
 | After University of South Carolina officials suspended a student in connection with a photograph of a racial slur on one of the school's whiteboards, the South Carolina NAACP issued a statement that said the racist comment is evidence that some "wish they were still in Dixie." Although Lonnie Randolph Jr., president of the S.C. NAACP, said the decision by university officials to suspend the student after the photo appeared on social media was a step forward, the student's actions are a step back in social equality. The student, who was not named, also faces university code of conduct investigations, USC President Harris Pastides said. A school spokesman would not say if the student faces expulsion. |
| Vanderbilt letter spurs conversation, debate | |
 | A scathing letter criticizing Vanderbilt University's chancellor has sparked a campus-wide debate over the school's priorities, and while opinions differ, the sides agree an ongoing conversation is the right path forward. The anonymous letter began circulating among faculty members in March. The writers, who say they represent "the combined interests of faculty from each of Vanderbilt's Schools," blast a number of initiatives championed by Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos. Faculty Senate Chair Paul C.H. Lim received "an inordinate number" of emails, text messages and phone calls in the days since the letter began circulating, according to an email obtained by The Tennessean. At least one longtime professor, David Dickinson, has distributed a letter of his own to faculty leaders, seconding the concerns listed by the anonymous writers. |
| UA System Names Dan Ferritor U. of Arkansas Interim Chancellor | |
 | University of Arkansas System President Don Bobbitt on Thursday named Dan Ferritor interim chancellor of the UA's flagship university upon Chancellor G. David Gearhart's retirement on July 31. Ferritor was UA chancellor from 1986-97 and held various other positions during a 32-year career with the university. Most recently, he has been vice president of learning technologies for the UA System. Gearhart is the UA's fifth chancellor. He took over the post on July 1, 2008, after 10 years as vice chancellor for University Advancement. He previously worked as director of development. |
| Texas A&M Viz Lab graduate working to make virtual reality more accessible | |
 | Social media and smartphones have allowed people to instantly share their experiences through photos and videos. Aggie Chris Wheeler says he wants to take those experiences one step further. Wheeler, 33, who earned his master's from A&M's Department of Visualization in 2009, is the co-founder of Emergent VR, a San Francisco-based startup. The company is aiming to develop a mobile app that will let users capture virtual reality movies with their devices. Others would then be able to navigate through these clips with their phones or through a virtual reality headset. A&M visualization professor Ann McNamara said the attention the Rift has gotten is impressive for a product still in development, and that it was a springboard of sorts for such do-it-yourself virtual-reality viewers as Google's Cardboard. |
| U. of Missouri faculty can ask questions about new Title IX policy at two forums | |
 | Two legal consultants from Pennsylvania will be at MU on Tuesday to conduct an open forum and listen to faculty questions and concerns about the university's new Title IX policies. Faculty can attend one of two sessions, which will be held at Reynolds Alumni Center. The speakers are Gina Maisto Smith and Leslie Gomez, partners from the Philadelphia law firm of Pepper Hamilton, LLP. In February, the UM System Board of Curators adopted new rules and regulations for pursuing sexual harassment and discrimination cases against faculty or staff members. Some faculty members were concerned about a lack of representation during hearings under the new rules. |
| U. of Missouri music students celebrate composer's birthday with impromptu performances | |
 | A music celebration of sorts started Friday at the University of Missouri with a belated birthday event honoring renown German composer Johann Sebastian Bach. Paola Savvidou, assistant professor of piano pedagogy, said she learned about a worldwide celebration called "Bach in the Subways" in which random performances take place March 21 in honor of the composer's birthday. Because of Spring Break, the idea students developed for a similar, random act of music, took place a few weeks later. |
| Rolling Stone retracts discredited U-Va. rape story | |
 | A months-long investigation into a flawed Rolling Stone magazine article about an alleged gang rape at the University of Virginia has concluded that the story reflected failures at virtually every level, from reporting to editing to fact-checking. In a 12,000-word report that reads like a reportorial autopsy, a three-person team at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism called the November article "a story of journalistic failure that was avoidable... The magazine set aside or rationalized as unnecessary essential practices of reporting" that would likely have exposed the story as dubious. Also on Sunday evening, U-Va. President Teresa Sullivan said in a statement: "Rolling Stone's story, 'A Rape on Campus,' did nothing to combat sexual violence, and it damaged serious efforts to address the issue. Irresponsible journalism unjustly damaged the reputations of many innocent individuals and the University of Virginia." |
| Old Dominion U.'s new shipbuilding apprenticeships come with a bachelor's degree | |
 | Apprenticeships often are touted as a neglected alternative to enrolling in college, one that leads to jobs. A smattering of colleges, however, think apprenticeships can go hand in hand with earning a degree. Students at Old Dominion University, for example, now can do a four- to eight-year stint as apprentices at a nearby shipyard while simultaneously earning a bachelor's degree in mechanical or electrical engineering. The apprentices spend a day or two per week in the classroom and the rest of their workweek on the job at Newport News Shipbuilding. Relatively few colleges in this country have partnered with companies to offer apprenticeships that lead to degrees. The reason, he said, is inertia. But that may be changing, slowly. And community colleges are where most of the action is. |
| The Hackathon Fast Track, From Campus to Silicon Valley | |
| The goal of a hackathon, a portmanteau of marathon and hacking, isn't to obtain confidential data the way hackers infiltrated Sony Pictures last year. Instead, teams attempt to build a new piece of tech, either of their choosing or with code provided by one of the sponsors. At the end, the judges walk from table to table as the programmers show off their projects, just like a school science fair. Hackathons have become commonplace among professional developers, especially in booming tech centers like San Francisco and New York, and have emerged as prime places for networking, job recruiting, entrepreneurial pitching and, in many cases, winning cash. Now weekend hackathons organized by and for college students are surging in size, scale and frequency. |
| Strategies for an Era of Tighter Research Budgets | |
 | Harold E. Varmus, a co-recipient of the 1989 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, left the federal government last month after serving as director of the National Institutes of Health and, for the past five years, as the head of its largest division, the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Varmus began work this month as a university professor of medicine and a senior adviser to the dean at the Weill Cornell Medical College, in New York. Just before leaving Washington, Dr. Varmus visited The Chronicle to discuss the budgetary challenges facing the NIH, their likely effect on younger scientists, and the future of medical research in the United States. |
| BOBBY HARRISON (OPINION): Legislature's history in keeping financial commitments shaky | |
| The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal's Bobby Harrison writes: "As Sen. Buck Clarke, R-Hollandale, and Rep. Herb Frierson, R-Poplarville, the chairs of their respective chamber's Appropriations Committee, explained the budget deal they reached last Saturday, one thing was obvious from the comments of the Legislature's two lead budget negotiators -- they both believed they did not have enough money. ...What was left unsaid is that Frierson and Clarke would have had about $25 million less than the nothing they already had 'to plug' last-minute needs if the legislative leaders, including Frierson and Clarke, had gotten their way." |
| BILL CRAWFORD (OPINION): Will voters be satisfied with legislative session? | |
| Syndicated columnist Bill Crawford of Meridian writes: "The Mississippi Legislature wrapped up its 2015 session last Thursday, but it may not be through working for the year... nor should it be, say some. When Senate and House conferees on Gov. Phil Bryant's popular $50 million workforce training bill suddenly let the bill die, speculation immediately began that Bryant will call a special session to revive it. ...This workforce bill debacle is just one of several incidents in Republican dominated state government that points to GOP leaders' difficulty in working together. ...The real message from this session may be that Republicans can't get along well enough to govern effectively." |
| GEOFF PENDER (OPINION): Next session: roads and bridges | |
| The Clarion-Ledger's Geoff Pender writes: "Last year about this time, as the 2014 legislative session ended, I predicted the election-year 2015 session would include a push for 'a tax break for the masses.' It did, although it failed. My prediction for the big issue for the 2016 session: roads and bridges. Why? Get in your car and take a drive pretty much anywhere in Mississippi. Try not to spill your coffee or tear out the front end. Also, state business leaders will be pushing the issue. The Mississippi Economic Council, the state's chamber of commerce, is working on a study of road conditions and funding. MEC agreed to hold off on recommendations during the election year but will come out with them next year." |
| MARTY WISEMAN (OPINION): Just biding time with human capital | |
| Marty Wiseman, professor emeritus of political science and public administration and director emeritus of the Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University, writes in The Clarion-Ledger: "The fact that the 2015 legislative session is drawing to a close with the status quo having been maintained may be viewed as a victory of sorts -- but alas all indications are that it may be only a temporary reprieve. Just prior to the beginning of the current legislative session Senior State Economist Dr. Darrin Webb was interviewed by the Northeast Daily Journal of Tupelo. He was asked the question what is the biggest problem faced by Mississippi? His answer was simple yet profound and arguably quite accurate -- the status of human capital in Mississippi." |
| LYNN SPRUILL (OPINION): It took the village | |
| Contributing columnist Lynn Spruill of Starkville writes in the Dispatch: "We had the formal groundbreaking for the Lynn Lane multi-use path project this week complete with MDOT gold shovels. It has been years in the making -- literally, years and lots of effort from a dedicated group of people. The grant funding opportunity for this project started with the Carl Small Town Center group at MSU back in 2003. The project is mostly the foster child of Dr. Ron Cossman, co-founder of Starkville in Motion, the local watchdog over all things dedicated to alternative modes of transportation for our community. We are all the better for it. ...That this project became a reality is a testament to the perseverance of such people as Ron Cossman and the members of the SIM group as well as the city leaders who continued to believe in the marketability of quality of life for our residents." |
SPORTS
| Bulldogs can't complete SEC sweep | |
| Mississippi State scored seven times and had 10 hits but it was not enough to complete the series sweep against No. 21 South Carolina. The Gamecocks scored in six of the nine frames including a pair of four-run innings to salvage the final game of the series 13-7 on Saturday. "Taking two out of three from them is a big deal, especially from them," said MSU pitcher Levi Mintz. "They're a great team but we're not going to let one loss define an entire series for us. We swung the bats incredibly, especially the first two days. Today we put up seven runs and that's no small feat." The Diamond Dogs (21-13, 5-7 SEC) plated 27 runs on 36 hits over the weekend including 11 doubles, which is is the most during John Cohen's seven-year tenure as head coach. |
| Diamond Dawgs clinch series vs. No. 13 South Carolina | |
 | For the Mississippi State baseball team, it was a Good Friday indeed. The positive momentum of a nationally-televised win over No. 13 South Carolina Thursday night carried over as the Bulldogs beat the Gamecocks 7-5 Friday to clinch the weekend Southeastern Conference series at Dudy Noble Field. "We have really swung the bats well in this series," MSU head coach John Cohen said. MSU received another solid pitching performance. Preston Brown (4-3) allowed 10 hits and five runs (all earned) in 7.1 innings of work to garner the win. |
| Mullen pleased with Bulldogs' first scrimmage | |
| Mississippi State held its initial scrimmage of the spring inside Davis Wade Stadium on Friday. The session included eight offensive touchdowns, two field goals and a defensive score, leaving head coach Dan Mullen pleased with what he saw on both sides of the ball. "I think we got a lot of the things we needed to done," Mullen said. "We'll get a great opportunity to evaluate some players, and let guys see how they're doing. I think what especially a lot of younger players are going to see is they do some really good things sometimes. But for us to be successful they've got to do good really things all the time." |
| Young players shine at Mississippi State scrimmage | |
| For every authoritative run by freshman Aeris Williams, there was a pinpoint pass from freshman quarterback Nick Fitzgerald. For every decisive cut from running back Dontavian Lee, there was a tackle from redshirt freshman linebacker Gerri Green. And with every snap during a Friday morning scrimmage on Friday morning at Davis Wade Stadium, the future of Mississippi State football was on display. During a two-hour scrimmage that was free to the public, MSU coach Dan Mullen and his coaching staff sent the Bulldogs through an extended workout that leaned heavily toward the offense. |
| Mullen pleased with Bulldogs' first scrimmage | |
| Mississippi State held its initial scrimmage of the spring inside Davis Wade Stadium on Friday. The session included eight offensive touchdowns, two field goals and a defensive score, leaving head coach Dan Mullen pleased with what he saw on both sides of the ball. "I think we got a lot of the things we needed to done," Mullen said. "We'll get a great opportunity to evaluate some players, and let guys see how they're doing. I think what especially a lot of younger players are going to see is they do some really good things sometimes. But for us to be successful they've got to do good really things all the time." |
| Fitzgerald waiting in wings in Prescott's final season at Mississippi State | |
| A maze of about a dozen, small, neon-orange cones rose above the grass field behind Mississippi State's football complex. Dak Prescott's Adidas cleats shuffled up and down through the obstacle course without any wasted motion. The senior's upper body and head remained silent. Nick Fitzgerald stepped in next. He was clean through the cones, but the redshirt freshman finished a bit slower and looked a little more mechanical than the senior. "Getting around cones, that kind of stuff. Everything, keeping your eyes up so you see the rush," Fitzgerald said. "It's really helped a lot." The gap between Fitzgerald and Prescott is closing as the Georgia native experiences his second spring practice season with the Bulldogs. |
| Mississippi State softball mounts rally to clinch series win at Arkansas | |
 | Once again trailing late, Mississippi State (28-10, 7-7 SEC) captured the late innings and mounted a rally to capture a 3-2 win over Arkansas (14-23, 0-11 SEC) on Sunday at Bogle Park. The Bulldogs now have 14 come-from-behind wins this season and 49 under head coach Vann Stuedeman. "Another great team win today," Stuedeman said. "Good pitching, solid defense and a few timely hits, it was just a solid outing all around. Cassady Knudsen got her first collegiate win with three scoreless innings of work and big hits from Caroline Seitz and Mackenzie Toler lifted us late when we needed it." The Bulldogs will go for the three-game series sweep in the series finale on Monday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and the game will air live nationally on the SEC Network |
| Avery Johnson to become Alabama basketball coach | |
| The University of Alabama has come to an agreement in principle with former NBA Coach of the Year Avery Johnson to become its new men's basketball coach. Details of what is currently a "handshake agreement" are being finalized with UA expected to make a formal announcement today. Financial terms are expected to be announced when the deal is finalized. The hiring of Johnson will end a three-week search that began when Anthony Grant was fired. Johnson, 50, has never coached at the collegiate level, but served as head coach for the Dallas Mavericks from March 2005 until 2010, leading the team to the NBA Finals in 2006 and earning NBA Coach of the Year honors for that season. |
| Is SEC's Greg Sankey the Most Powerful Man in College Sports? | |
| As the new SEC chief, Greg Sankey is positioned to become the most powerful person in college athletics, assuming the job at a crucial point in NCAA history. Mr. Sankey has lots of ideas. He wants colleges to work more closely with high schools to better prepare athletes for higher education, and he believes that players should be held more accountable both in and out of the classroom. He has plans to create more opportunities for elite athletes to be a part of decision-making in college sports. Many observers say he has an understanding of issues and a way of dealing with people that few leaders have. |
| Billy Martin's Education of Buck Showalter | |
| In February 1988, Billy Martin was about to turn 60 years old. A month earlier, he had been married for the fourth time, which equaled the number of times he had been fired by George M. Steinbrenner. But at spring training that year, Martin was again leading the Yankees. On his staff was a young coach, 31-year-old Buck Showalter, then a promising managerial star of the Yankees' lower minor leagues. Showalter, who has since become a three-time winner of the American League Manager of the Year Award, was about to receive an eye-opening education watching as Martin embarked on his final season in baseball. It was Steinbrenner's idea that Martin should mentor Showalter. |
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