Mississippi Edition

Mississippi Edition for Thursday, October 10, 2019:

A new survey shows parents have some information - and some misinformation - on charter schools. Then, a gulf coast woman shares her breast cancer story of survival. Our conversation with Heather Wiggins and her husband, Senator Brice Wiggins. And in our Book Club, a renowned artist from Mississippi champions a Mississippi folk artist in his book, "Pappy Kitchens and the Saga of Red Eye, the Rooster."

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Segment 1:

More work is needed to educate Mississippi parents about charter schools. That's according to a survey by the nonprofit Mississippi First. Thirty-seven percent of parents whose children attend charter schools think they're private. Forty-four percent of parents with children in traditional public schools also think they're private. But charter schools are funded with taxpayers dollars.  

Torren Ballard of Mississippi First says, even though some people need better information on charter schools, overall the survey is encouraging. He talked with our Desare Frazier.

Joanne Mickens is the Executive Director of Parents for Public Schools. Her organization doesn't have an official position on charter schools. But on a personal level, she has some concerns.  

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Segment 2: 

More than 245,000 women get breast cancer every year in the U.S. and more than 40,000 women die from the disease.  That's according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  October is breast cancer awareness month and health care providers are urging all women over the age of 50 to get regular mammograms. But Heather Wiggins of Pascagoula was just 44 when she was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in October 2015. She and her husband, Republican Senator Brice Wiggins, shared their story with MPB's Ezra Wall.

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Segment 3: 

O.W. “Pappy” Kitchens was a Mississippi artist, who started painting at the age of 67. He said he was a folk artist, saying "I paint about folks, what folks see and what folks do.” Today’s Book Club selection is called, ”Pappy Kitchens and the Saga of Red Eye the Rooster.” Its author is no slacker in the art community either. William R. Dunlap, also a Mississippian, is a renowned artist, arts commentator, and writer. His work has been displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art. He tells us that he and Kitchens admired each other.  

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