Today's front pages from around the South.
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Terry Mattingly, a member of The Overby Center panel of experts, discusses Robert Duvall and his movie “The Apostle”. He touches on the influence that faith and the Deep South had on the movie.
Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, was among a group of lawmakers who posted an online video that said military members “can refuse illegal orders.” President Donald Trump immediately accused the lawmakers of sedition. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued Kelly a formal censure and took steps to reduce his rank. Kelly sued, claiming the government was retaliating against him for free speech. A federal judge agreed with Kelly and wrote that the government “trampled on Kelly’s First Amendment freedoms.” Do members of the military enjoy the same First Amendment rights other citizens have? It’s a complex issue. Scott A. Leadingham, staff writer at the Freedom Forum, examines the question.
R.J. Morgan, a member of the Overby Center panel of experts, discusses how Mississippi went from near the bottom in education to the top. It began with a controversial plan, but the results have been a remarkable success.
Terry Mattingly, a member of The Overby Center panel of experts, discusses Robert Duvall and his movie “The Apostle”. He touches on the influence that faith and the Deep South had on the movie.
Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, was among a group of lawmakers who posted an online video that said military members “can refuse illegal orders.” President Donald Trump immediately accused the lawmakers of sedition. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued Kelly a formal censure and took steps to reduce his rank. Kelly sued, claiming the government was retaliating against him for free speech. A federal judge agreed with Kelly and wrote that the government “trampled on Kelly’s First Amendment freedoms.” Do members of the military enjoy the same First Amendment rights other citizens have? It’s a complex issue. Scott A. Leadingham, staff writer at the Freedom Forum, examines the question.
R.J. Morgan, a member of the Overby Center panel of experts, discusses how Mississippi went from near the bottom in education to the top. It began with a controversial plan, but the results have been a remarkable success.
The Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics will present a program on Soggy Sweat’s iconic Whiskey Speech on Tuesday, March 24. This date is changed from the earlier announcement because of scheduling conflicts. The program will feature a screening of a documentary film on the speech followed by a discussion of the historical context and importance of the speech. Cosponsors for the event are the University of Mississippi School of Law, the Mississippi Judicial College, and the Lafayette County Bar Association.
Charles Mitchell, associate professor in the School of Journalism and New Media at the University of Mississippi, discusses a jury trial involving Meta and Google to decide whether the companies are intentionally addicting customers, especially young customers, without their customers’ knowledge or consent.
Carlos Sanchez, a member of the Overby Center panel of experts, discusses Tejano singer Bobby Pulido as a Democratic candidate for the 15th Congressional District in Texas. The Texas 15th may determine whether Hispanic support for Trump two years ago was an anomaly or if the Republicans have the staying power to sustain the Hispanic vote.
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About the Overby Center
The Overby Center for Southern Journalism & Politics explores the current intersection of media and politics in the American South and supports the principles of the First Amendment.
An independent center based on the University of Mississippi campus, it is an affiliate of the Freedom Forum in Washington, D.C.
Overby Center Events
“Only a Pawn in Their Game: Bob Dylan, Medgar Evers and the Delta Folk Jubilee of 1963”
Wednesday, October 9, 2025 — As Mississippi celebrated the 100th anniversary of Medgar Evers’s birth, the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics hosted a panel discussion titled, “Only a Pawn in Their Game: Bob Dylan, Medgar Evers and the Delta Folk Jubilee of 1963,” on Oct. 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the Overby Center Auditorium on the Ole Miss campus. Dr. R.J. Morgan lead the program, joined by Jerry Mitchell of Mississippi Today and Evers’ daughter, Reena Evers-Everette.
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“Overby Center to present program on Black gospel music and free speech in February”
February 25, 2026 —
Black gospel music and its free speech implications will be the focus of a program by the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics. “Free Speech, Freedom Songs and the Music of Liberation” will be presented in the Overby Center auditorium on Feb. 25 as a part of Black History Month.
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“Overby Center program on iconic Whiskey Speech by Soggy Sweat changed to March 24”
March 24, 2026 —
The Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics will present a program on Soggy Sweat’s iconic Whiskey Speech on Tuesday, March 24. This date is changed from the earlier announcement because of scheduling conflicts. The program will feature a screening of a documentary film on the speech followed by a discussion of the historical context and importance of the speech. Cosponsors for the event are the University of Mississippi School of Law, the Mississippi Judicial College, and the Lafayette County Bar Association.