Mississippi Edition

UMMC and the FCC come together to champion new efforts in tele-health. 

And Senator Wicker discusses the American Rescue plan and corporate response to the Georgia voting laws.

Then, health officials provide updates on vaccine progress in the state.

Plus, violence is down in Mississippi prisons. We hear from the commissioner of MDOC.

Segment 1:

The tele-health center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center is being recognized by federal officials for meeting the rising demand of remote medicine. The center received $1 million dollars in federal funding last year from the FCC's COVID-19 tele-health program. The funding helped to purchase tablets and other take-home electronics so patients can monitor their health and keep in touch with physicians. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and Mississippi U.S. Senator Roger Wicker toured the facility last week. Chairman Carr says Senator Wicker was an early advocate for tele-health at the start of the pandemic, and recalled a visit to a pilot program in Ruleville.

The Senator has also recently spoken out against the corporate response to the new Georgia voting laws, and has championed some of the relief provided through the American Rescue Plan despite voting against earlier this year. He discussed his positions on the two issues with our Kobee Vance.

Segment 2:

Mississippi's health leaders are calling on health care providers to help vaccinate more Mississippians. During a roundtable with the Mississippi Medical Association last week, State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers and State Heath Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs laid out a plan to get more vaccines to local providers.

Segment 3:

Violence at Mississippi prisons has gone down significantly, according to the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Both serious and minor infractions at Parchman fell by about 63 percent from 2019 to 2020. MDOC is reporting violence at all state prisons is down by 52 percent in the same time period - statistics that include riots that occurred January 2020. Commissioner Burl Cain, who took over the department in May of 2020, tells our Becca Schimmel the drop is a result of new strategies implemented to reduce incentives for gang activity.