Seeking students, colleges reduce out-of-state prices

Seeking students, colleges reduce out-of-state prices

HATTIESBURG, Miss.

Graduating high school seniors: does the University of Southern Mississippi have a deal for you!

The 14,500-student school has cut annual out-of-state tuition and fees from $16,529 this year to $9,964 next fall, even as it increases the cost for Mississippi residents by 4 percent, to $7,963.

The idea is to reverse a 2,000-student enrollment dip by pricing a USM education below some public universities in nearby states, and attract enough high-schoolers from Houston, Dallas and San Antonio to raise overall revenue.

Southern Mississippi is joining a trend: The Associated Press counted at least 50 public colleges and universities nationwide that have lowered nonresident tuition by more than 10 percent in recent years without making similar reductions for in-state students.

Florida boy calls 911 to invite deputies for Thanksgiving

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, Fla.

While his mother was preparing food in the kitchen, a 5-year-old Florida boy called 911 to invite law enforcement officers over for Thanksgiving dinner.

Monica Webster of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office tells the News Herald that with all the bad calls they receive every day, this was a happy call. But young Billy Nolin’s family had no idea he’d invited guests to dinner.

Mom Landi McCormick says she was cooking when Billy’s grandfather noticed him talking to someone on an old cellphone. McCormick reprimanded Billy when he admitted calling 911. He was crying when Deputy Dannon Byrd drove up. She says the deputy thanked Billy for his kind invitation, then reminded him he should use 911 only for emergencies. The deputies gave Billy a sheriff’s badge.

Protesters vow to stay camped on federal land

CANNON BALL, N.D.

Dakota Access oil pipeline protesters will not follow a government directive to leave the federal land where hundreds have camped for months, organizers said Saturday, despite state officials encouraging them to do so.

Standing Rock Sioux tribal leader Dave Archambault and other protest organizers explained they’ll stay at the Oceti Sakowin camp and continue with nonviolent protests a day after Archambault received a letter from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that said all federal lands north of the Cannonball River will be closed to public access Dec. 5 for “safety concerns.”

The Corps cited the oncoming winter and increasingly contentious clashes between protesters.

Associated Press