The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Senate passes $36B budget with raises, begins House negotiations
By James Salzer
The Georgia Senate on Tuesday passed a $36.1 billion state budget for the coming year that includes raises for 300,000 educators and state workers and more money for law enforcement, education and mental health programs. The raises are included in the spending plan for fiscal 2025 — which begins July 1. The Senate passed it 53-1, setting up negotiations with the House for a final deal before the session adjourns Thursday. The House passed its version of the budget earlier this month.
Atlanta News First
WATCH: UGA students receive standing ovation in Georgia House after saving family from sinking car
By Hope Dean
Five University of Georgia (UGA) students were honored in the Georgia House on Tuesday after they helped a family survive a car crash earlier this month. Jane McArdle, Molly McCollum, Eleanor Cart, Clarke Jones and Kaitlyn Lannace received a standing ovation from lawmakers. A resolution commended their “selfless actions to save their fellow citizens” and extended “sincere best wishes for future health, happiness, and success.” “These five women are heroes,” Rep. Houston Gaines said while introducing them to the House. “I’ve certainly never been prouder of the University of Georgia, never been prouder to represent Athens and I just want to say thank y’all.”
The Union-Recorder
GCSU graduate nursing programs now allow simultaneous doctorate
Special to The U-R 22
At Georgia College & State University, those with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing can now receive training as an Advanced Practice Nurse while simultaneously obtaining their Doctor of Nursing Practice. To take advantage of the new program, students seeking graduate studies in nursing should complete the graduate application process before March 15. “As the state’s designated liberal arts university, this program of study provides a unique blend of essential clinical principles and prepares students to meet the unique challenges of healthcare in underserved communities,” said Dr. Josie Doss, director of the School of Nursing. …The three-year program allows those with a BSN to seek training as a Family Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner—all while simultaneously obtaining a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at Georgia College.
The Union-Recorder
GCSU theatre student Collier headed to the Kennedy Center as national finalist
Matthew Brown
The role is basically one of a researcher of a show, an advisor to each actor about his or her role. That might be the best way to describe a dramaturg. That is the role Georgia College & State University theatre student Mary Morgan Collier started taking up in recent productions, such as the musical “Head Over Heels.” For her work, she participated first in Region IV of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival that was held at Albany State University in February. …Among all of the students from all of those states and territories, Collier emerged as the national finalist for dramaturgy. There are eight regions in all, but only four are selected to participate in that national festival at the base for the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. One of those happens to be Collier. She learned about the concept of dramaturgy from her GCSU theatre professor, Dr. Amy Pinney.
WGAU Radio
Regents Professors deliver UGA Charter Lecture
By Tim Bryant
UGA Regents Professors Diana Downs and Amanda Murdie deliver today’s Charter Lecture at the University of Georgia. It gets underway at 11 o’clock this morning in the Chapel on the University’s North Campus.
From the UGA master calendar…
Diana Downs is a 2024 Regents’ Professor and Distinguished Research Professor in the department of microbiology. Downs has made transformative contributions to her field by using genetic analysis to help solve important biochemical mysteries of bacterial life. A key theme of her research is that pulling one thread of metabolism reveals interconnected threads in unexpected ways. …Amanda Murdie is a 2024 Regents’ Professor, Georgia Athletic Association Professor of International Affairs and head of the department of international affairs. Murdie studies international relations, specializing in the behavior of international non-governmental organizations and their interactions with states, local populations and intergovernmental organizations.
The Red & Black
Palladia: UGA’s secret society for women emerges from shadows
Nava Rawls
Since the 1800’s, the University of Georgia has been home to several secret societies and organizations, all of which seek high-achieving students and community leaders to make up their membership. The Gridiron Secret Society, likely the most well known secret society started at UGA, has initiated a long line of business and political leaders, including U.S. senators. The Mystic Seven Society, constituted in 1803, is said to be the first secret society at UGA. The societies each had different values and requirements for membership, but they all had one requirement in common: They were only open to men. However, despite these societies “limited” membership, there was an abundance of high-achieving women leaders on campus who went without any recognition or celebration for their hard work.
Everyday Health
9 Tricks to Help You Start Working Out and Actually Stick to It
Whether you’re a pro athlete or just getting into working out, there are days when we all need a little bit of extra motivation. Here are a few tips for when you’re tired, it’s cold and rainy, or you had the most frustrating day at work.
By Stephanie Eckelkamp
You know you should exercise. But how do you keep up your dedication to the gym or a training routine when your schedule is overloaded with a million other things, from work to household responsibilities to travel and other social engagements? Or how do you push yourself to start working out if it’s been years (or basically forever) since you last had a good self-imposed sweat? …We asked sports psychologists and other fitness pros to share their top tips for finding a workout you’ll actually enjoy and sticking with it for the long haul. Here’s what they say: …“We know from motivation research that humans have a desire to be ‘good’ at something,” says Brandonn S. Harris, PhD, program director and professor of sport and exercise psychology at Georgia Southern University School of Health and Kinesiology in Statesboro. “So I’d encourage people to not only seek out things they find pleasurable and enjoyable, but also things that they’re confident doing or would like to become more proficient in.”
13WMAZ
How to see a partial eclipse in Central Georgia
The 2024 solar eclipse happens April 8; Georgia will be in the path of the next one in 2045.
Author: Fareeha Abrar
Solar eclipses happen every year, according to an astronomy professor, but total solar eclipses over certain regions of the world are rare. You get to see the next one on April 8. Though Georgia isn’t in the path of totality, the Peach State may still get to experience a partial eclipse. Even though the sun will be partially covered by the moon during the solar eclipse, do not look directly at the Sun. If you want to see the partial eclipse and learn more about it during the experience, you can join the viewing event on the Milledgeville campus of Georgia College & State University from 1:47 p.m. until 4:21 p.m.; it should last about 2 hours and 34 minutes. Maximum sun coverage will happen at 3:05 p.m.; at its peak time, you may get to see sun flares, according to Professor Donovan Domingue.
WTOC
Savannah officials extend support to Baltimore following collapse of Francis Scott Key Bridge
By Flynn Snyder
As recovery efforts continue in Baltimore, officials in Savannah are offering their thoughts. The Georgia Ports Authority says Savannah Port Pilots handled two thousand ships in fiscal year 2023. Mayor Van Johnson says as an active Port City with large ships passing under a critical Talmadge Bridge, officials are monitoring the situation in Baltimore very closely. …Following the crash in Baltimore, attention is shifting locally to the Port of Savannah and the ships that pass under the Talmadge Bridge. In a statement the Georgia Ports Authority says the Talmadge Bridge does not have any support columns in the Federal shipping Channel, and that Savannah Port Pilots use two to three tugs as a precaution when bringing ships in and out of the river port. “There’s about a dozen vessels in the Chesapeake Bay wondering what are we going to do now,” said Dr. Christian Rossetti, Georgia Southern University Logistics Professor. With the incident forcing the closure of Baltimore’s port, Georgia Southern University logistics professor Dr. Christian Rossetti says it’s possible southeastern areas could see an increase in rerouted cargo…particularly automobile shipments.
Fox News
King Arthur is a ‘dominant male alligator’ and measures over 11 feet long
Andrea Vacchiano
By Andrea Vacchiano
A South Carolina alligator was found with a strange object on its head – and wildlife experts in Georgia were called to get to the bottom of it. The University of Georgia Coastal Ecology Lab made a Facebook post about the 11-foot-long alligator, which has been named King Arthur, on Monday. The lab explained that it was recently contacted about a “dominant male alligator” wearing an unusual contraption at Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort in St. Helena Island, South Carolina.
The Baldwin Bulletin
Future of art at GSCU: Transeuntis Mundi Derive 01
By News Staff
Georgia College & State University (GCSU) recently exhibited an awarded and international exhibition called the Transeuntis Mundi Derive 01. As part of the Visiting Artist program at GCSU, Brazilian artist Cândida Borges was in residency for a week, working with students and installing her work in the Leland Gallery. The exhibition ran from Feb 24 through March 14, on an invitation from the Chair of the Department of Art’s Visiting Artists and Scholars Program Dr. Ruben Yepes, and gallery curator Megan Mcnaught. The Transeuntis Mundi Project proposed to capture the sound and visual memory of peoples, cultural expressions, and places to artistically tell the story of the millennial passersby who have been crossing the world.
Savannah Morning News
Georgia football coach Kirby Smart on DUI, reckless driving arrest of RB Trevor Etienne
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald
Georgia football coach Kirby Smart spent much of last spring and into the preseason facing questions about high-speed driving incidents involving Bulldog players, but it had been a quiet 2024 offseason until early Sunday. Running back Travis Etienne, the most-high profile transfer addition, was charged with DUI, reckless driving and two other misdemeanors and had to bond out of jail. Police said Etienne drove at least 30 miles over the speed limit on a 50 MPH road and he said he drank three beers earlier, according to the incident report. “As we also know, sometimes kids don’t make the best decisions,” Smart said Tuesday. “The older you get sometimes the tougher the consequences are for your mistakes. He’s not going to let this mistake define him. He’s embarrassed, he’s upset. He know he made a mistake. It’s a teaching moment and we hope he gets better from it.” … Smart said Tuesday he thinks Georgia educates players on off-field issues better than anyone in the country. Offensive tackle Earnest Greene said local police, athletic director Josh Brooks and Smart have addressed the team in the past on what to do and not do when it comes to driving and alcohol.
See also:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Union-Recorder
Bobcats stand on top of PBC baseball standings
Matthew Brown
Two starting pitchers lasted into the ninth inning, Matthew Mebane added to his Peach Belt Conference home run-leading total two times, and overall Georgia College & State University baseball jumped into first place in the league this weekend at John Kurtz Field. Nolan Belcher and the Bobcats swept Flagler College, visitors from St. Augustine, Florida, to improve to 9-3 in the Peach Belt, 18-11 overall. Belcher, however, wasn’t celebrating first place in late March with still more than a month of baseball still to be played, like this upcoming weekend at USC-Aiken. “We were able to sweep, and that’s always tough in this league,” said Belcher after Sunday’s Game 3 victory. “Coach (Dave) Barnett has a fantastic club over there. Very happy for our guys to win all three. “As far as being in first place, we could care less about that right now. We are just trying to get better each and every day. When the dust settles at the end, we’ll see what happens.”
Albany Herald
Georgia beats Ohio State, advances to NIT Semi-Finals
From Staff Reports
The University of Georgia’s men’s basketball team defeated Ohio State, 79-77, on Tuesday evening at the Value City Arena and has advanced to the NIT semifinals for the first time since 1998. “Unique team to say the least,” said Georgia head coach Mike White. “Resilient team. We’ve said it all year. Consistent team. We’re really proud of these guys — I mean really proud of these guys. Really tough environment the other day, and an even tougher environment tonight.
WTOC
15 athletes were on the list to compete at Paulson; representative from the Jaguars to the Steelers were in attendance.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Citing FAFSA Mess, Colleges Want Relief From New Gainful Rule
The Education Department asked for two years’ worth of data by July 31—a task that will be “a significant institutional undertaking,” administrators say.
By Katherine Knott
As colleges and universities scramble to process student financial aid applications and send out award letters, institutions want more time to comply with reporting requirements in the Education Department’s new gainful employment and financial value transparency rule. The rule aims to provide prospective students with more information about whether college programs pay off. The department will calculate whether graduates of programs can afford their yearly debt payments and whether they make more than an adult in their state who didn’t go to college—and then publish the results. Programs at for-profit colleges, as well as nondegree programs in any sector, could lose access to federal financial aid if they fail either of those tests. When others fail, the department will inform students and families that those academic offerings could lead to adverse financial consequences. In order to provide that information to families, the department is requiring all colleges and universities to report more program-level information, including the total cost of attendance and the amount of private education loans disbursed to students.
Inside Higher Ed
New Bachelor’s Degrees Coming to California Community Colleges
By Sara Weissman
Six new bachelor’s degrees programs have been approved at campuses within the California Community Colleges system, according to a news release from the system’s chancellor’s office. The system now offers, or will soon offer, 39 bachelor’s degree programs in total. …The release emphasized that all of the system’s bachelor’s degree programs “are exclusive to the system and do not duplicate degrees offered at California State University or University of California campuses,” a concern that has waylaid some of these programs in the past.
Higher Ed Dive
New Jersey healthcare company introduces upfront tuition coverage for employees
The program offers 100% payment for full-time and part-time workers to pursue degrees and skill courses.
By Carolyn Crist
Saint Peter’s Healthcare System has launched New Jersey’s first tuition-free education benefit program for healthcare employees, according to a March 19 announcement. Called the Learning, Education and Advancement Program (LEAP), the initiative provides upfront coverage for both full-time and part-time employees, with the aim of advancing healthcare careers.
Higher Ed Dive
Birmingham-Southern to shutter May 31
The beleaguered Alabama college said it lost its last shot at staying open when the state’s treasurer denied it a $30 million bridge loan.
Laura Spitalniak, Staff Reporter
Dive Brief:
Birmingham-Southern College, in Alabama, will close May 31, after a failed year-and-half campaign to secure $37.5 million in federal, state, county and city aid, college officials announced Tuesday. The financially distressed college got partway to that goal, and lawmakers tried to give it a second chance in the form of a $30 million state loan program. But the state’s treasurer denied Birmingham-Southern’s loan application in October. A workaround legislative push failed to gain enough support from Alabama House lawmakers last week, and the college’s trustees Tuesday unanimously voted to cease operation at the end of the spring 2024 semester.
Inside Higher Ed
Opinion
The next step in addressing student mental health is to focus more on loneliness, Daniel Eisenberg, Joe Behen, Jan Collins Eaglin, Zainab Okolo and Jeremy Nobel write.
By Daniel Eisenberg , Joe Behen , Jan Collins Eaglin , Zainab Okolo and Jeremy Nobel
Efforts to support student mental health in higher education continue to grow, but are still far from adequate. A key next step, in our view, is to focus more on loneliness. Loneliness is one of the most important factors influencing mental health, and there are many opportunities to reduce its toll on students, as well as faculty and staff, in college and university environments. The ideas presented here are based on our collective experiences working with hundreds of institutions of higher education on both research and practice related to student wellbeing and success. What is Loneliness? As a starting point, it is important to discuss what loneliness is and is not.
Cybersecurity Dive
Phishing remains top route to initial access
Tricking individuals to reveal sensitive information or grant access to systems doesn’t require technical expertise. These lures turn human behavior and trust into a weapon.
Matt Kapko, Senior Reporter
Dive Brief:
Threat actors used phishing links or attacks in 71% of all security incidents in 2023, according to ReliaQuest’s Annual Cyber-Threat Report released Tuesday. Most of the tactics, techniques and procedures threat actors used last year to achieve initial access to a compromised environment were linked to user interaction or error, the report said. “This indicates attackers overwhelmingly gained initial access by exploiting the trust and vulnerability of unsuspecting individuals.” Phishing remains the most common route threat actors use to achieve initial access, accounting for 70% of all initial access related incidents last year, ReliaQuest said.
Cybersecurity Dive
Software makers urged to flush SQL injection vulnerabilities
CISA and FBI officials linked attacks against MOVEit file transfer software to preventable defects.
David Jones, Reporter
Dive Brief:
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and FBI urged software manufacturers to take steps to eliminate SQL injection vulnerabilities in an alert issued Monday. CISA and the FBI are asking leadership at software manufacturers to launch formal reviews of their code to find out whether they are susceptible to SQL injection compromises. If found, the agencies are asking the companies to take immediate steps to eliminate these defects from existing and future software. The agencies cited the role SQL injection defects played in the widespread attacks linked to MOVEit file transfer software, which impacted thousands of organizations in 2023.