Mississippi

Senate Appropriations strips financial bill of changes, further revisions anticipated

Published

2 years ago

March 1, 2023

Senate Appropriations strips financial bill of changes, further revisions anticipated

The Senate Appropriations committee on Tuesday stripped a sweeping Home school monetary assist invoice of modifications that will develop eligibility to grownup and part-time college students.

The committee additionally voted to scale back awards below Mississippi’s solely need-based assist grant from full tuition for all 4 years at in-state establishment to $7,274, the price of annual tuition at least costly college, which is Mississippi Valley State College.

Sen. Briggs Hopson, R-Vicksburg, the chair, learn out the modifications to Home Invoice 771 yesterday. No different lawmakers on the committee stated something in regards to the invoice.

“Are there questions?” Hopson requested. Listening to none, he moved to a vote.

The transfer alerts that the ultimate model of Home Invoice 711 will doubtless be labored out in a closed-door convention. A minimum of three competing variations of the invoice have been urged all through the session.

As initially launched by Rep. Donnie Scoggin, R-Ellisville, Home Invoice 771 would have expanded the Mississippi Resident Tuition Help Grant to full-Pell-eligible college students and grownup and part-time college students, and doubled award quantities below this system. The ACT rating requirement of 15 or increased could be eliminated, and college students from households that make greater than 200% of the state’s median family earnings would now not be eligible.

These modifications would result in 17,000 extra college students receiving state monetary assist, a consulting agency estimated.

In a extra controversial measure, Scoggin’s model additionally would have decreased awards below the Greater Schooling Legislative Plan for Needy College students in order that it now not would pay full tuition for all 4 years of faculty no matter what establishment a scholar attends. As a substitute, the primary two years of the award could be equal to the common tuition on the state’s two-year group schools.

Hopson informed Mississippi At this time that these modifications have sparked a “pretty hearty disagreement” between representatives from the four-year universities and the group schools who’re competing for HELP recipients and HELP {dollars}.

The group schools are in favor of this modification, as a result of it would incentivize extra HELP recipients to attend two-year establishments, and the four-year universities need HELP to remain as it’s. By and huge, HELP recipients use the beneficiant award to attend four-year universities.

Hopson stated his modification was an effort to maintain HB 771 alive so there may be extra dialogue.

“It’s a little little bit of a compromise, I suppose, however this has nonetheless bought some work to be executed,” he stated.

Hopson added that he hopes to deliver the colleges and group schools collectively to debate the invoice earlier than convention.

“Whenever you cope with this stuff … you want alternatives to sit down down collectively face-to-face and go over choices,” he stated. “We sometimes hear from one group versus the opposite group and are by no means actually getting these teams collectively.”

Final week, the Senate Faculties and Universities Committee voted to make a special set of modifications to the invoice. That model would have eliminated any modifications to the HELP grant and saved the revisions to MTAG. This modification, known as a committee substitute, wasn’t uploaded to the Legislature’s web site.

However final week’s model of the invoice would entail growing spending on state monetary assist. So does Scoggin’s proposal, which might improve the price range for the Workplace of Scholar Monetary Support by an estimated $21 million.

Jennifer Rogers, the director of OSFA, stated her workplace is supportive of Scoggin’s authentic proposal and comfy with not making modifications to the HELP grant.

“I very a lot hope that significant modifications to the applications may be made to advertise effectiveness and effectivity,” she stated, “and I’m nonetheless hopeful that that could be a risk.”

Schooling coverage consultants like Toren Ballard, Okay-12 coverage director of Mississippi First, have been chastened by the modifications made by the Senate Universities and Faculties.

Ballard stated Hopson’s proposed discount to the HELP grant is healthier than Scoggin’s authentic proposal just because it isn’t as massive a lower in awards. Below Scoggin’s invoice, HELP recipients on the universities would lose a mean of $11,200 in monetary assist over the course of 4 years. Hopson’s proposal means these HELP recipients would lose a mean of $6,504 over 4 years.

All informed, this is able to save the state roughly $1.4 million million a yr in spending on HELP, in keeping with a Mississippi At this time evaluation.

“I don’t perceive what they’re making an attempt to attain,” Ballard stated, “as a result of the financial savings are very marginal.”

Ballard’s different situation with Hopson’s proposal is that it doesn’t make any modifications to MTAG, a program he desires to see up to date. MTAG has not been considerably amended because it was created within the late Nineteen Nineties.

“We now have an awesome alternative to revise a grant program that doesn’t have any form of value-add for the state,” he stated. “It’s a handout of $500 to $1,000 to center to excessive earnings households that doesn’t give us any return on funding. By scrapping all these modifications to MTAG … we’re simply taking pictures ourselves within the foot.”

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by Molly Minta, Mississippi At this time
March 1, 2023

<h1>Senate Appropriations strips monetary invoice of modifications, additional revisions anticipated</h1> by Molly Minta, Mississippi At this time March 1, 2023 The Senate Appropriations committee on Tuesday stripped a sweeping Home school monetary assist invoice of modifications that will develop eligibility to grownup and part-time college students.  The committee additionally voted to scale back awards below Mississippi’s solely need-based assist grant from full tuition for all 4 years at in-state establishment to $7,274, the price of annual tuition <a href=”https://mississippitoday.org/2022/04/22/tuition-increases-at-every-public-university-but-jsu/” goal=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>at least costly college, which is Mississippi Valley State College</a>. Sen. Briggs Hopson, R-Vicksburg, the chair, <a href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XcN_MmiZIg” goal=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>learn out the modifications to Home Invoice 771 yesterday</a>. No different lawmakers on the committee stated something in regards to the invoice.  “Are there questions?” Hopson requested. Listening to none, he moved to a vote.  The transfer alerts that the ultimate model of <a href=”http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2023/pdf/historical past/HB/HB0771.xml” goal=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Home Invoice 711</a> will doubtless be labored out in a closed-door convention. A minimum of three competing variations of the invoice have been urged all through the session.  As initially launched by Rep. Donnie Scoggin, R-Ellisville, Home Invoice 771 would have expanded the Mississippi Resident Tuition Help Grant to full-Pell-eligible college students and grownup and part-time college students, and doubled award quantities below this system. The ACT rating requirement of 15 or increased could be eliminated, and college students from households that make greater than 200% of the state’s median family earnings would now not be eligible.  These modifications would result in 17,000 extra college students receiving state monetary assist, <a href=”https://mississippitoday.org/2023/01/18/mississippi-financial-aid-proposal/” goal=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>a consulting agency estimated</a>.  In <a href=”https://mississippitoday.org/2023/01/24/mississippi-financial-aid-change-bad-idea/” goal=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>a extra controversial measure</a>, Scoggin’s model additionally would have decreased awards below the Greater Schooling Legislative Plan for Needy College students in order that it now not would pay full tuition for all 4 years of faculty no matter what establishment a scholar attends. As a substitute, the primary two years of the award could be equal to the common tuition on the state’s two-year group schools.  Hopson informed Mississippi At this time that these modifications have sparked a “pretty hearty disagreement” between representatives from the four-year universities and the group schools who’re competing for HELP recipients and HELP {dollars}. The group schools are in favor of this modification, as a result of it would incentivize extra HELP recipients to attend two-year establishments, and the four-year universities need HELP to remain as it’s. By and huge, HELP recipients use the beneficiant award to attend four-year universities.  Hopson stated his modification was an effort to maintain HB 771 alive so there may be extra dialogue.  “It’s a little little bit of a compromise, I suppose, however this has nonetheless bought some work to be executed,” he stated.  Hopson added that he hopes to deliver the colleges and group schools collectively<robust> </robust>to debate the invoice<robust> </robust>earlier than convention.  “Whenever you cope with this stuff … you want alternatives to sit down down collectively face-to-face and go over choices,” he stated. “We sometimes hear from one group versus the opposite group and are by no means actually getting these teams collectively.”  Final week, the Senate Faculties and Universities Committee <a href=”https://www.mississippifirst.org/legislative-tracker-2023/” goal=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>voted to make a special set of modifications</a> to the invoice. That model would have eliminated any modifications to the HELP grant and saved the revisions to MTAG. This modification, known as a committee substitute, wasn’t uploaded to the Legislature’s web site. However final week’s model of the invoice would entail growing spending on state monetary assist. So does Scoggin’s proposal, which might improve the price range for the Workplace of Scholar Monetary Support by an estimated $21 million.   Jennifer Rogers, the director of OSFA, stated her workplace is supportive of Scoggin’s authentic proposal and comfy with not making modifications to the HELP grant.  “I very a lot hope that significant modifications to the applications may be made to advertise effectiveness and effectivity,” she stated, “and I’m nonetheless hopeful that that could be a risk.”  Schooling coverage consultants like Toren Ballard, Okay-12 coverage director of Mississippi First, have been chastened by the modifications made by the Senate Universities and Faculties.  Ballard stated Hopson’s proposed discount to the HELP grant is healthier than Scoggin’s authentic proposal just because it isn’t as massive a lower in awards. Below Scoggin’s invoice, HELP recipients on the universities would lose a mean of $11,200 in monetary assist over the course of 4 years. Hopson’s proposal means these HELP recipients would lose a mean of $6,504 over 4 years.  All informed, this is able to save the state roughly $1.4 million million a yr in spending on HELP, in keeping with a Mississippi At this time evaluation.  “I don’t perceive what they’re making an attempt to attain,” Ballard stated, “as a result of the financial savings are very marginal.”  Ballard’s different situation with Hopson’s proposal is that it doesn’t make any modifications to MTAG, a program he desires to see up to date. MTAG has not been considerably amended because it was created within the late Nineteen Nineties.  “We now have an awesome alternative to revise a grant program that does not have any form of value-add for the state,” he stated. “It’s a handout of $500 to $1,000 to center to excessive earnings households that doesn’t give us any return on funding. By scrapping all these modifications to MTAG … we’re simply taking pictures ourselves within the foot.” This <a goal=”_blank” href=”https://mississippitoday.org/2023/03/01/senate-strips-financial-aid-bill-of-changes/”>article</a> first appeared on <a goal=”_blank” href=”https://mississippitoday.org”>Mississippi At this time</a> and is republished right here below a Artistic Commons license.<img src=”https://i0.wp.com/mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/MT_square-thumb.jpg?match=150percent2C150&ssl=1″ type=”width:1em;top:1em;margin-left:10px;”><img id=”republication-tracker-tool-source” src=”https://mississippitoday.org/?republication-pixel=true&put up=1091921&ga=UA-75003810-1″ type=”width:1px;top:1px;”><div class="mvp-post-ad-wrap">Advertisement<div class="mvp-post-ad"> <div id="M815923ScriptRootC1332091"> </div> <script src="https://jsc.adskeeper.co.uk/n/e/newspub.live.1332091.js" async> </script>  </div></div>

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Mississippi State Football Depth Chart for ASU: Kelly Akharaiyi Status Uncertain

Published

30 mins ago

September 5, 2024

Press Room

Mississippi State Football Depth Chart for ASU: Kelly Akharaiyi Status Uncertain

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State debuted 41 new players against Eastern Kentucky, including 23 transfers. But one of the biggest transfer portal additions wasn’t on the field and may not be again this week.

Senior receiver Kelly Akharaiyi was left off Mississippi State’s depth chart that was released and coach Jeff Lebby didn’t provide much clarity on the situation either.

“He’s getting closer and closer,” Lebby said at Tuesday morning press conference. “We need to be patient with him. We hope he has a good week and can create some confidence for himself more than anything. But I’m not ready to say he’s going to be available.”

Akharaiyi was one of the transfers most were looking forward to seeing in Lebby’s fast-paced, passing offense. But he was held out of season-opener for what was thought to be a minor injury. However, his uncertain status might be a sign of a more serious injury?

Or is Lebby playing a game of cat-and-mouse with Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham? We’ll found out soon enough.

Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Blake Shapen looks to pass against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels during the second quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. / Matt Bush-Imagn Images

QB1 – 2 Blake Shapen, 6-1, 210 lbs., Sr.
QB2 – 16 Chris Parson, 6-1, 215 lbs., Rs Fr.
or – 0 Michael Van Buren Jr., 6-1, 200 lbs., Fr.

Mississippi State Bulldogs running back Davon Booth (21) runs the ball against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels during the third quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. / Matt Bush-Imagn Images

RB1 – 24 Keyvone Lee, 6-0, 225 lbs., Sr.
-or- 21 Davon Booth, 5-10, 205 lbs., Sr.
RB2 – 20 Johnnie Daniels, 5-10, 200 lbs., Jr.

Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Jordan Mosley runs the ball while defended by Eastern Kentucky Colonels defensive back Sam Robertson during the third quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. / Matt Bush-Imagn Images

SLWR1 – 3 Kevin Coleman, 5-11, 180 lbs., Jr.
SLWR2 – 8 Creed Whittemore, 5-11, 185 lbs., So.
SLWR 3 – 80 Kade Kolka, 5-11, 190 lbs., Sr.

WR1 – 6 Jordan Mosley, 6-0, 195 lbs., Jr.
WR2 – 5 Stonka Burnside, 6-0, 200 lbs., Fr.
WR3 – 13 Sanfrisco Magee, 6-2, 200 lbs., Fr.

WR1 – 14 Trent Hudson 6-3 180 Jr.
WR2 – 7 Mario Craver 5-10 170 Fr.
WR3 – 11 Jaden Walley 6-0 190 Sr.

TE1 – 18 Seydou Traore, 6-4, 235 lbs., R-Jr.
– or – 84 Justin Ball, 6-6, 250 lbs., Sr.
TE2 – 86 Nick Lauderdale, 6-3, 225 lbs., Sr.
or – 10 Cameron Ball, 6-6, 250 lbs., So.

LT1 – 66 Makylan Pounders, 6-5, 310 lbs., Jr.
LT2 – 51 Luke Work, 6-6, 305 lbs., Fr.
– or – 74 Jimothy Lewis Jr., 6-6, 310 lbs., Fr.

LG1 – 75 Jacoby Jackson, 6-6, 320 lbs., Jr.
LG2 – 53 Malik Ellis, 6-5, 285 lbs., So.

C1 – 67 Ethan Miner, 6-2, 305 lbs., Sr.
C2 – 72 Canon Boone, 6-4, 315 lbs., Jr.

RG1 – 77 Marlon Martinez, 6-5, 320 lbs., Sr.
RG2 – 52 Grant Jackson, 6-6, 325 lbs., Sr.

RT1 – 76 Albert Reese IV, 6-7, 330 lbs., Jr.
RT2 – 55 Leon Bell, 6-8, 325 lbs., R-Jr.
RT3 – 78 Amari Smith, 6-7, 325 lbs., R-Fr.

DT1 – 22 Kedrick Bingley-Jones, 6-4, 310 lbs., Jr.
– or – 23 Trevion Williams, 6-4, 295 lbs., R-Fr.
DT2 – 98 Ashun Shepphard, 6-3, 280 lbs., Jr.

DT1 – 35 Kalvin Dinkins, 6-2, 315 lbs., So.
– or – 8 Sulaiman Kpaka, 6-3, 300 lbs., Sr.
DT2 – 92 Eric Taylor, 6-4, 310 lbs., Jr.
– or – 90 Kai McClendon, 6-2, 305 lbs., Fr.

DE1 – 9 De’Monte Russell, 6-4, 285 lbs., Sr.
DE2 – 91 Deonte Anderson, 6-3, 270 lbs., Jr.
– or – 46 Joseph Head Jr., 6-4, 240 lbs., R-Fr.

Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive lineman Kedrick Bingley-Jones (22) reacts after a play against Eastern Kentucky.

Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive lineman Kedrick Bingley-Jones (22) reacts after a play against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels during the third quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. / Matt Bush-Imagn Images

JLB1 – 11 Ty Cooper, 6-4, 245 lbs., Jr.
– or – 44 Branden Jennings, 6-3, 240 lbs., Jr.
JLB2 – 36 Donterry Russell, 6-4, 225 lbs., So.

MLB1 – 7 Stone Blanton, 6-2, 230 lbs., Jr.
MLB2 – 26 JP Purvis, 6-1, 245 lbs., Sr.

DLB1 – 40 Nic Mitchell, 6-2, 230 lbs., Jr.
– or – 5 John Lewis, 6-3, 240 lbs., Jr.
DLB2 – 16 Zakari Tillman, 6-2, 225 lbs., So.

FS1 – 2 Isaac Smith, 6-0, 205 lbs., So.
FS2 – 12 Tyler Woodard, 6-2, 200 lbs., Jr.

SS1 – 21 Hunter Washington, 5-11, 190 lbs., Jr.
SS2 – 27 Chris Keys Jr., 6-0, 190 lbs., Jr.
– or – 17 Jordan Morant, 6-0, 210 lbs., Sr.

CB1 – 1 Kelley Jones, 6-4, 195 lbs., R-Fr.
– or – 6 Traveon Wright, 6-0, 180 lbs., R-Fr.
CB2 – 13 Raydarious Jones, 6-2, 180 lbs., Sr.
– or – 18 Khamauri Rogers, 6-0, 180 lbs., So.

CB1 – 14 Brice Pollock, 6-1, 190 lbs., So.
CB2 – 4 DeAgo Brumfield, 6-0, 190 lbs., Sr.

Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Kevin Coleman (3) runs the ball against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels during the first quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. / Matt Bush-Imagn Images

K1 – 80 Kyle Ferrie, 6-1, 205 lbs., So.
K2 – 82 Nick Barr-Mira, 6-0, 185 lbs., Sr.
K3 – 49 Marlon Hauck, 6-3, 195 lbs., So.

P1 – 82 Nick Barr-Mira, 6-0, 185 lbs., Sr.
P2 – 83 Zach Haynes, 6-1, 195 lbs., Sr.
P3 – 88 Ethan Pulliam, 6-1, 190 lbs., R-Fr.

KO1 – 49 Marlon Hauck, 6-3, 195 lbs., So.
KO2 – 82 Nick Barr-Mira, 6-0, 185 lbs., Sr.

PR1 – 3 Kevin Coleman, 5-11, 180 lbs., Jr.
PR2 – 8 Creed Whittemore, 5-11, 185 lbs., So.

KR1 – 21 Davon Booth, 5-10, 205 lbs., Sr.
– or – 20 Johnnie Daniels, 5-10, 200 lbs., Jr.
– or – 3 Kevin Coleman, 5-11, 180 lbs., Jr.

Mississippi State at Arizona State: How to Watch Bulldogs Football vs the Sun Devils

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Mississippi State vs. Arizona State: Top 5 Sun Devils to Watch

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Arizona State eyes first win against an SEC opponent vs. Mississippi State

Published

7 hours ago

September 5, 2024

Press Room

Arizona State eyes first win against an SEC opponent vs. Mississippi State

Mississippi State at Arizona State, Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Arizona State by 6 1/2.

Series record: First meeting.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Arizona State and Mississippi State both had dominant wins in the season-opening weekend and now have a tougher challenge when they face each other on Saturday night. The Sun Devils are trying to build off an impressive 48-7 win over Wyoming and prove they might be a factor in the Big 12 race. Arizona State has never beaten an SEC opponent. Mississippi State plays its second game under new coach Jeff Lebby. The Bulldogs beat Eastern Kentucky 56-7 in their season opener..

KEY MATCHUP

Mississippi State QB Blake Shapen vs. the Arizona State defense. The Sun Devils scored a touchdown on the second play of their opener when Zyrus Fiaseu picked off a pass and returned it to the end zone. It was one of two interceptions on the day for Arizona State. Shapen had a great debut against Eastern Kentucky but will face a much tougher defense on Saturday.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mississippi State: Shapen had a terrific first game with the Bulldogs, throwing for 247 yards and three touchdowns while also running for 44 yards and a TD against Eastern Kentucky. The 6-foot-1 senior played the previous three college seasons at Baylor with mixed success. Shapen has thrown a TD pass in 12 consecutive games dating to this time at Baylor in 2022.

Arizona State: RB Cam Skattebo led a balanced rushing attack against Wyoming, gaining 49 yards and scoring a touchdown. Skattebo was a do-it-all player for Arizona State last year, spending time at quarterback, running back and receiver. The Sun Devils might not need him to be as versatile this season, but he’s still a threat from just about anywhere on the field.

FACTS & FIGURES

Mississippi State had six different players score touchdowns against Eastern Kentucky. … The Bulldogs’ 93.7 passing grade in the opener was the second-best mark in all of the FBS, trailing only Purdue, according to Pro Football Focus. … Mississippi State’s Kevin Coleman Jr. returned five punts for 117 yards last week. … Arizona State was credited with just two missed tackles on defense in the opener, tied for the third-lowest tally among FBS schools. … Skattebo is 270 rushing yards away from reaching 3,000 in his career. He is 342 all-purpose yards away from reaching 4,000 and 202 receiving yards away from reaching 1,000.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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How Mississippi State football is preparing for Arizona State weather, late kickoff

Published

14 hours ago

September 5, 2024

Press Room

How Mississippi State football is preparing for Arizona State weather, late kickoff

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football is preparing to play a team that, at least through one game, looks vastly improved from last season.

Coach Jeff Lebby admitted on Monday, and Bulldog players have noticed it too after Arizona State (1-0) thumped Wyoming 48-7 in its opener.

MSU (1-0) must also factor in the late kickoff that is scheduled Saturday (9:30 p.m. CT, ESPN) at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Mississippi is hot, but so is Arizona — a different kind of hot, too.

Modifications and remedies are being made, such as the team leaving Starkville on Thursday instead of how it normally would on a Friday for a Saturday game.

“For our guys, just knowing exactly what we are getting into,” Lebby said. “We continue to talk about that through yesterday and this morning and (are) having those conversations to understand what it’s going to look like late in the week. We got to do a great job from a preparation standpoint of how we are hydrating, how we are eating and how we are resting to give us the ability to go on the road on this flight and be able to be at our best Saturday night.”

Just this week, Phoenix broke a record with its 100th straight day of 100-degree temperatures. According to AccuWeather, the high on Saturday in Tempe will be 107 degrees with a low of 86. The temperature should dip to around 91 near kickoff with a humidity of 24%.

“Coach Lebby has already been harping on that,” tight end Justin Ball said. “We’ve already been hydrating and making sure we are getting rest every single day. We leave on Thursday, so we already talked about the plan to make sure we are hydrating the entire plane ride there, making sure when we get there we get acclimated as quickly as you can and just staying together. Making sure we’re focused, make sure we keep the goal first and then execute the game plan.”

MORE: Jeff Lebby says Mississippi State football didn’t put on a good enough show. Here’s how he’s wrong

Mississippi State played well the last time it played in Arizona

The Bulldogs played Arizona in Tucson two seasons ago. They squandered a pedestrian Wildcats team 39-17. Kickoff for that game was at 8 p.m. PST though the temperature was 84 degrees at game time.

Not many players remain on Mississippi State’s roster from that 2022 season. But the ones who are, like linebacker Nic Mitchell, can benefit from the experience and also share it with teammates.

“We know it’s going to be a long flight, so we know we got to be hydrated,” Mitchell said. “It gives people experience that have done it before and they can tell the young guys how it’s going to be in the flight, how you got to hydrate and stuff like that.”

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

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