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Mississippi Edition
ME 2/28/29 - Coronavirus Preparations | New ESA Bill | 2020 Poetry Out Loud Champion
With new documented cases of the coronavirus emerging in the United States, Mississippi officials make preparations.
Then, a bill to renew the Education Scholarship account gets debated in the Senate.
Plus, the 2020 Poetry Out Loud State Champion.
Segment 1:
Health officials in Mississippi are preparing for an outbreak of COVID-19: the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Currently there are no known cases of the coronavirus in Mississippi. MPB's Kobee Vance talks with State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers and Dr. Bhagyashri Navekele, the Medical Director of the Office of Infection Prevention at UMMC.
Segment 2:
Mississippi lawmakers are in the first stages of rewriting the states special needs voucher program. Educational Scholarship Accounts or ESAs provide about $6,500 to help students with private schools tuition or services. A state oversight agency found there was little accountability. Republican Senator Dennis DeBar of Leakesville chairs the Education Committee. He shares some of the new bill's revisions with MPB's Desare Frazier, and we hear from Chief of Government Relations and Communication Pete Smith.
Segment 3:
Morgan Love left her home school of Murrah in Jackson to attend the Mississippi School of the Arts in Brookhaven. This week she returned to the capital city for the state Poetry Out Loud Finals, and walked away a champion. She shares her experience with MPB's Michael Guidry.
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01/08/2025: Legislature Convenes | Holly Springs Power | Law Enforcement after Attack
23:04|The 2025 legislative session is underway in Jackson. Hear what lawmakers are naming as their top priorities.Then, the Mississippi Public Service Commission is investigating the town of Holly Springs for a failure to supply reliable electricity. But a formal meeting has been delayed.Plus, how are law enforcement officers in Mississippi responding to the New Year's Day terrorist attack in New Orleans? That's ahead.
01/07/2025: Supreme Court | Legislative Session Preview | Cold Weather Alerts
23:31|There are two new faces on the Mississippi Supreme Court.Then, leadership for the state House and Senate share their expectations for this year's legislative session.Plus, cold weather alerts are in place for much of Mississippi.
01/06/2025: Extreme Cold | Changes to PERS | Blood Donations
23:28|It's going to be extremely cold this week. We speak with the National Weather Service about how to stay safe during the icy weather.Then, The Mississippi Public Employees Retirement System or PERS has approved a plan to give less pension benefits-- to newly hired state and local government employees.Plus, blood centers in Mississippi and Louisiana are putting out a call for donations in the wake of the deadly terrorist attack on Bourbon St. last week.
12/23/2024: Winter | New Homes | Toy Donations
23:46|It's officially wintertime in Mississippi. The Emergency Management Agency shares tips on how to protect your house.Then, seven families who had their houses destroyed in 2023 storms are being given a new place to call home.Plus, how thousands of toy donations are helping bring holiday cheer to the state's only children's hospital.
12/20/2024: Shopping | Air and Road Traffic | Seasonal and Holiday Depression
24:00|With just a few days before Christmas, holiday spending is up this year. What does this shopping boon mean for Mississippi's economy? Then, Airline and road travel is expected to be the busiest on record during this holiday period. Experts share tips on how to get to your destination safely.Plus, Mental health experts are encouraging everyone to be aware of the signs and causes of holiday depression.
12/19/2024: Education Opportunity Gaps | Blood Donations | Coach O
24:01|A new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center finds funding disparities in the state’s public education system have created opportunity gaps for Black and Brown students. Then, Mississippians are being asked to donate the gift of life. There's an urgent need for blood donations across the state. Plus, We meet a strength and conditioning coach in the South who trains athletes from the WNBA to the NFL to middle schoolers.
12/18/2024: Electoral Voting | Farm Bill | Addiction during Holidays
23:50|Mississippi's electoral college formally votes to elect Donald Trump president. Then, Mississippi's Agricultural Commissioner is urging Congress to act quickly to help the state's farmers who are facing economic hardships.Plus, the holidays can be a joyful time for many, but for folks struggling with addiction, it can be tough.
12/17/2024: Jackson Casino | MS Association of Educators | Jails and Slavery
23:56|A group of businessmen along with a former governor is looking to bring life back to the capital city of Jackson by building a casino. Then, The Mississippi Association of Educators is outlining its K-12 agenda for next year's legislative session. Plus, How did jails and prisons take root in Louisiana? A recent book argues, it started with slave owners well before the Civil War.
12/16/2024: Healthcare for Inmates | Tuition Assistance | Lottery
24:10|Beginning in January, states will be required to provide young people who are locked up with medical services 30 days before they’re released.Then, Mississippi lawmakers are considering a proposal to reform and expand a tuition assistance program to help some of the state’s poorest recipientsPlus, the Mississippi Lottery Corporation celebrates 5 years of gaming in the state, with millions of dollars going towards improving the state’s infrastructure.